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Full text of "History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations ... and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers"

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CORNELL 

UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 


BOUGHT  WITH  THE  INCOME 
OF  THE  SAGE  ENDOWTMENT 
FUND    GIVEN    IN     189I     BY 

HENRY    WILLIAMS    SAGE 


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— Overs 


The  original  of  this  book  is  in 
the  Cornell  University  Library. 

There  are  no  known  copyright  restrictions  in 
the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028805948 


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ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY, 


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BY 

BRINK,   McDOIN^OTJaH   &   CO., 

PHILADELPHIA. 


CORRESPONDIN&  OFFICE,  EDI ARDSVILLE,  ILL. 


^  1881 


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A]?X^66S 


Missing  Page 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


COUNTY  HISTORY. 

CHAP.  PAGE. 

I. — Brief  Sketch  of  north- 
west Territory.    .   .      9 
II.— Brief  Hist'cal  Sketch 

of  Illinois 20 

III. — Geography,  Agricul- 
tural Eesources  and 
Bailroad  facilities   .    30 

IV.— Geology 37 

v.— Flora 41 

VI.— Fauna 42 

VII. — ^Ahorigines 44 

VIII. — Pioneers    and   Early 

Settlers 44 

IX. — European  Immigration  62 

X.— Civil  History  ....    67 

XI.— Bench  and  Bar   .   .    .    88 

XII.— The  Press 98 

XIII.— Common  Schools ...  109 

XIV.— Patriotism 123 

XV. — Eiiolesiastical  History  155 


BIOGRAPHIES. 
Abend,  Hon.  Edward  ....  204 
Adams,  Capt.  Lyman  (dec'd)  .  343 

Anthony,  D.  D 314 

Askins,  Chas.  T 257 

Baird,  E.  (dec'd) 260 

Barth,  John  .    .' 359 

Barthel,  Henry 275 

Bates,  Dr.  0.  C 292 

Baugh,  Levi 320 

Becker,  Charles 221 

Becker,  Chas 280 

Begole,  J.  (dec'd) 290 

Blanck,  Charles  (dec'd)  ...  346 

Blanok,  Hermann  J 340 

Book,  G.  C.  (M.  D.) 366 

Bland,  Dr.  E.  P 350 

Boemer,  Caspar 259 

Brenfleck,  G.  V 257 

Broeius,  Jacob 223 

Butler,  John  O.  ....  310 


PAGE. 

Chandler,  Hon.  S.  B.  (dec'd)  .  200 

Corniok,  Dr.  Boyd 360 

Dake,  C.  R.  (M.  D.) 231 

Darrow,  Chas.  B.  (dec'd) ...  292 

Dausch,  G.  W 310 

Deneen,  Prof  S.  H 343 

Dilg,  Fred 358 

Dobschutz,  M.  J 228 

Eckert,  Geo.  M 370 

Eokert,  T.  W 218 

Eversmann,  Louis 252 

Fietsam,  0.  H 276 

Fietsam,  S 240 

Fike  Family 277 

Fischer,  Chas.  F 294 

Fischer,  F.X.^M.D.)  .   .   .    .  371 
Forman,  Isaac  (dec'd)  ....  291 

Gintz,  Adam 226 

Graner,  Louis    .......  238 

Graney,  Thomas 312 

Griffen,  Charles 277 

Griffen,  Chas 244 

GrifFen,  Joseph  (dec'd)  .   .   .   .  243 

Griffen,  Joseph 359 

Grossman,  George 365 

Guthrie,  George  W 267 

Halbert,  E.  A 212 

Hamilton,  J.  H 266 

Hartmann  Brothers 240 

Hausmann,  CD 370 

Heim.  F 318 

Heim,  M 316 

Heimberger,  R.  W 273 

Heineman,  H.  A 238 

Heinfelden,  Curt 224 

Henrici,  J.  E 260 

Herman,  Peter,  Jr 279 

Herman,  Peter,  Sr 280 

Higgins,  Robert 364 

Hilgard.T.,  Jr.,  (dec'd)  ...  232 

Hoeltmann,  John  T 251 

Holder,  Robert  D.  W.  .   .  239 

Horner,  Hon.  H.  H.  .    .  339 


PAGE. 

Houser,  Eliaa,  Jr 289 

Huber,  Henry 258 

Huhn  Henry 211 

Hypes,  Benj 340 

Illinski,  A.  X 332 

Jennings,  T.  C.  (M.  D.)   .    .    .  313 

Jones,  Oliver  V 344 

Kalbfleisch,  Peter     .    .        .    .  257 

Karch,  Charles *t  357 

Keim,  Heinreck 367 

Kempff,  William 222 

Koeberlin,  F.  (M.  D.)  .    .    .    .  280 
Koerner,  Hon.  Gustavus  .    .   .  203 

Kohl,  Julius  (M.D.) 207 

Krause,  Dr.  B 293 

Laeuffert,  Wm.  H.  (M.  D.)  .    .  366 

Land  Family 277 

Lebkuecher,  L 237 

Lemen,  Joseph 286 

Lindauer,  G.  J 256 

Little,  J.  M.  (dec'd) 260 

Loelkis,  George  (M.  D.)    .   .   .  230 

Loreiizen,  John 235 

McBride,  W.  J.  (dec'd)    ,    .    .  258 

McConaughy,  T.  A 227 

MoCracken,  N 331 

McCullough,  J.  W 239 

McLean,  John  J 309 

MeintB,  A.  M 312 

Messick,  J.  B 316 

Metschan,  F.  F 226 

Miller,  Hon.  J.  R 249 

Miller,  Lloyd  T.  (M.  D.)  .    .    .  251 

Moore,  R.  A 209 

Nairn,  Hugh  ...  .    .  267 

Nearen,  James  ...  .    .  290 

Nichols, -Wm 341 

Noetling,  C.  F 220 

O'Brien,  H.  D.  .  .    .  322 

Ogle,  Joseph 206 

Padfield,  J.  R 351 

Padfield,  "Wm.  R 349 

Perrin,  Francis 360 


PAGE- 

Perryman,  J.  L.  (M.  D.)  .    .    .  215 

Pitthan,  Louis 236 

Ploudre,  Louis 333 

Poigne^,  Frank 293 

Postel,  Philip 354 

'  Price,  Daniel 246 

Probstmeyer,  C.  L 259 

Quick,  Hon.  Thomas    ....  219 

Rayhill,  J.  J 357 

Reichert,  J.,  Jr 272 

Reiheoke,  C.  .' 225 

Reith,  J 370 

Renshaw,  J.  W.  ....  321 

Rentchler,  D 220 

Eembe,  Dr.  C.  H.  E.  E.  .  .  .  273 
Reuss,  Adolphns  (M.  D.)  .  .  .  245 
Reynolds,  Ex-Gov.  John .  .   .  197 

Richardson,  James  H 356 

Ries,  Michael 238 

Ropiequet,  F.  K 218 

Rubaoh,  Dr.  Ferdinand  .  .  .219 
Saffold,  David  (M.  D.)  .    .   .    .  230 

Sager,  Charles  H 344 

Saltenberger,  John  (M,  D,)  .   .  256 

Scheel,  Fred  B 239 

Scheel,  John 202 

Sohubkegel,  Philip 361 

Sohmahlenberger,  D.  0.  .  .  .  259 
Scott,  Benjamin  (dec'd)    .    .   .  288 

Scott,  Felix 205 

Sehliager,  Anton  .  ...  359 

Seibert,  Peter 359 

Seiter,  Henry 342 

Semmelroth,  George  .       ...  232 

Shultz,  John 249 

Sikking.  J.  B 314 

Smith,  J.  P 280 

Smith,  Samuel  G 344 

Stack,  P.  H 322 

Starkel,  L.  C 214 

Stauder,  John  A 237 

Stolberg,  George  H 232 

Stookey,  Dr.  L.  P 213 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Swahlen,  Eev.  Wm.  F.    .    .    .  345 

Thomas,  James  H 222 

Thomas,  Hon.  John 201 

Tiedemann,  0.  A 294 

Tiedemaun,  E.  J 295 

Tiemann,  August 234 

Tissier,  M.  F 317 

Touchette,  Baptists 330 

Trendley,  John  .......  315 

Turner,  L.  D 224 

Underwood,  W.  J 226 

Vahlkamp,  S 274 

Van  Court,  B.  J 287 

Veile,  Hon.  Joseph 366 

Ward,  James ........  293 

Wastfield,  A.  J.  (dec'd)    ...  294 

Watts,B.  I.(M.  D.) 268 

Waugh,  James 211 

Weir,  M.  W 206 

West,  B.  J.,  Jr 222 

West,  Washington,  (M.  D.).  .  217 
White,  John  K.  (deo'd)    ...  268 

Whittaker,  James  M 350 

Wider,  E.  W.  (dec'd)    ....  311 
Wiggins,  J.  L.  (M.  D.)  .    .    .    .  250 

Wilderman,  J.  C 279 

Wilderman,  A.  S 229 

Willoughby,  J.  A 237 

Winkelman,  Wm 216 

Yoch,  Joseph 233 


PRECINCT  HISTORIES. 

Athens   261 

Belleville  183 

Caseyville  .  .    .  247 

Centervillo  .    .  252 

Cahokia  .    .  ...  325 

East  St.  Loui.<  ....  298 

Fayetteville      .  ....  269 

French  Villatie  .    .  323 

Lebanon .   .  334 

Masooutah .  351 

O'Fallou 281 

Prairie  Du  Pont 296 

Richland    .........  361 

Shiloh 241 

Summeriield  347 

St.  Glair 367 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Appel,  P.  H facing  216 

Backer  &  Sterns    ...      "      254 


PAGE. 

Bates,  Dr.  O.C.  (office)  .facing  328 
Bevelot,  Clement  .   .   . 
Boul,  Nicholas  .... 

Burr,  J.  C.     ..... 

Business  Houses.Lenzburg 
Calbreath,  J.  H.   .    .    . 

Catholic  Ch.,  Masooutah 
City  Hall,  Belleville    . 
City  Hall  and  Central  Market, 
East  St.  Louis  .   .    .  facing  328 


322 
324 
266 
264 
350 
353 
159 


County  Buildings     .    . 

County  Map 

Costello,  Wm.   ... 
Eisenmayer.  Philip  E. . 
"Emerald  Isle  Mills"  . 
Engelmann,  Theodore  . 
Falling  Spring  .... 
Finger,  Henry  (M.  D.). 
Fischer,  Chas.  F.  .    .    . 
Fischer,  Christian     .   . 
Fischer,  Dr.  F.  X.    .   . 
Friedewald,  H.     . 
Forman,  Mrs.  Rebecca, 
Qer.  M.  E.  Ch.,  Masooutah 
Green,  J.  W.  (dec'd)    . 
Griffen,  Charles 
Griffen,  Joseph  . 


80 
9 
250 
360 
360 
360 
296 
266 
294 
259 
360 
159 
292 
359 
268 
bet.  242  &  243 
.  facing  359 


Guerdan  Hat  Co.  .    . 

Guthrie,  G.  W 

Guthrie,  S,  J 

Halbert,  R.  A.  .  .  .  . 
Hall's  Metal  Separator. 
Heim's  Brewery   .    .    . 

Helbron,  J.  R 

Hendren,  J.  H.     ... 
Hermann,  Peter    .    .    . 
Hoeltmann,  J.  T.  .   .    . 
Houser,  Elias    .... 
Howe  Literary  Institute 
Jones,  Ambrose    .   .    . 
Kalbfieisoh,  P.  .    . 
Ladies'  Academy  .    .    . 
Lebkuocher,  L.  . 
Lindauer,  G.  J.     ... 
Log  School-hou  ic  .    .    . 

Lo'rtz,  John 

Maule,  John  .   .   .   .    : 

Mayor's  Office  &  Police 

Headquarters    .    .    . 

MoKendree 

Miller,  D.  D 

Miller,  Jo6eph  E.  .   .    . 

Miller,  W.  J 

Monk,  C.  A 


310 
262 
264 
212 
306 
318 
264 
268 
280 
250 
289 
122 
322 
257 
120 
201 
257 
109 
280 
220 

328 
115 
366 
218 
232 
218 


PAGE. 

facing  250 

"      226 

"      266 

"      366 

"      266 

240  &  241 

facing  206 

Cahokia"      328 

266 


bet 


bet, 


Morbach,  D.  .    . 
Mueller,  Solomon 
Nairn,  Hugh  .    . 
Nehrings,  John 
Nuernberger,  L. 
Ogle,  David  .    . 
Ogle,  Joseph  . 
Old  Court  House, 
Orth,  John    .    . 
Padfield,  W,  R. 
Ferryman,  J.  L. 
Pitts,  Wm.     .    . 
Reichert,  Joseph 
Eeinecke,  Conrad 
BeusB,  A.  C. 
ReuBs,  Dr.  A.  (dec'd) 
Richardson,  J.  H.     . 
St.  Agness  Asylum  . 
St.  Elizabeth  Hospital 
St.  Peter's  Church     . 
Saltenberger,  J.  (M.  D. 
Schmahlenberger,  D.  C. 
Scott,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Seiter,  Henry    .    .    . 
Shiloh  M.  E.  Church 
Shultz,  John  .    .    . 
Starkel,  Louis  C.  .    . 
"Star  Mills" 
Stauder,  Peter  .    . 
Stephens,  M.  M.    . 
Stookey  Homestead 
Stookey,  J.  D. 
Stookey,  M.  M 
Taylor,  Henry  .    . 
Thomas,  Col.  John 
Tiedemann,  C.  A. 
Trendley,  John     . 
Van  Court,  B.  J.  . 
Watts,  Dr.  R.  J.   . 
West,  Dr.  W.     .    . 
White,  John  K.    . 
Whittaker,  J.  P.  . 
Williams'  Carr'ge  Faot'ry  " 
Workingmen's  Bank    .      " 


bet, 


"  348 
"  215 
"  278 
"  273 
224  &  225 

facing  246 
"  246 
"  356 
"  159 
"  159 
"   157 

I  "  260 
"  259 
"  287 
"  342 
"  296 
"  324 
"  198 
354  &  355 

facing  220 
"  310 
"  216 
"  238 
"  238 
"  204 
"  204 
"  294 
••  314 
"  2S7 
"  266 
"  198 
"  262 
"  348 
226 
314 


PORTRAITS. 

Barthel,  Henry 275 

Baugh,  L 320 

Brosius,  Jacob 223 

Chandler,  Hon.  S.  B 200 

Dake,  C.  R.  (M.  D.) 231 

Dilg,  Fred 353 


PAGE. 

Dobschutz,  M.  J 228 

Fietsam,  C.  H 276 

Griffen,  Joseph  (dec'd)  ....  243 
Griffen,  John  (deo'd) .  .  facing  277 
Grossman,  George  and  wife .  .  365 

Halbert,  E.  A 212 

Hamilton,  J.  H.    .    .    .    .    .    -266 

Heim,  F 318 

Heim,  M _  •  319 

Higgins,  Robert 364 

Horner,  Hon.  H.  H 339 

Houser,  Elias,  Jr 289 

Illinski,  A.  X 332 

Jenning,  T.  C.  (M.  D.)  .    .    .    .  313 

Lorenzen.John 235 

McConaughy,  T.  A 227 

McLean,  John  J .  309 

Messiok,  J.  B.    .......  316 

Moore,  R.  A 209 

Moore,  Mrs.  R.  A 209 

MoCracken,  N 1 

Ortrance  Brackett    ....   J 

Nichols,  Wm 341 

Padfield,  Wm.  R.  and  wife  .   .  349 

Park,  James 243 

Ferryman,  Dr.  J.  L.  .    .  facing  215 

Fitthan,  Louis 236 

Ploudre,  L 333 

Postel,  Philip .354 

Eeinecke,  C 225 

Reichert,  Joseph, 272 

Renshaw,  J.  W 321 

.  ReusB,  Adolphus  (M.  D.)  .    .    .  245 
Reynolds,  Ex-Gov.  John     .    .  197 

Richardson,  James  H 356 

Rubach,  Ferdinand  Dr.,  facing  219 
Ratter,  Henry  ....  facing  370 

Scheel,  John      202 

Seiter,  Henry    ......  342 

Starkel,  L.  C 214 

Thomas,  Hon.  John  .    .  facing  201 

Tiemann,  August 234 

Tissier,  M.  F, 317 

Trendley,  John 315 

Vahlkamp,  S 274 

Wider,  E.  W.  (dec'd)    ....  311 

Wilderman,  A.  S 229 

West,  Washington,  (M.  D.)  .  217 
Yoch,  Joseph 233 

Partial  List  of  Patrons.  .  .  372 
Constitution  of  Illinois.  .  .  386 
Declaration  of  Independence.  393 
Constitution  of  United  States  .  394 


INTRODUCTION, 


JHERE  are  few  studies  more  interesting  and  pro- 
fitable to  mankind  than  that  of  the  past  expe- 
riences, deeds,  thoughts  and  trials  of  the  human 
race. 

The  civilized  man  and  the  untutored  savage 

alike  desire  to  hnow  the  deeds  and  lives  of 

their  ancestors,  and  strive  to  perpetuate  their 

story.     National  patriotism  and  literary  pride 

have  prompted  many,  in  all  times,  to  write  and  preserve  the  annals 

of  particular  peoples.     But  narrow  prejudice  and  selfish  interests 

too  often  have  availed  to  suppress  the  truth  or  to  distort  facts. 

It  is  the  aim  of  this  work  to  collect  and  preserve  in  enduring 
and  popular  form  some  of  the  facts  of  the  early  settlement  and  sub- 
sequent growth  of  a  great  county  of  a  grand  State.  The  families 
whose  ancestors  were  early  on  the  ground,  and  whose  members  have 
made  the  county  what  it  is,  are  worthy  of  remembrance ;  and  their 
difficulties  and  sorrows,  customs,  labors  and  patriotism,  should  not 
be  allowed  to  fall  into  oblivion.  By  a  knowledge  of  these  the 
present  generation  will  be  instructed,  and  the  future  will  be 
guided. 

All  history,  if  properly  written,  is  interesting ;  and  there  is  not 
a  country,  or  a  city,  or  a  hamlet, — nay,-  we  might  say,  not  a  family 
or  an  individual  on  the  globe, — whose  history  might  not  be  more  or 
less  valuable  to  posterity. 

From  the  ancient  days,  away  back  in  the  dim  and  shadowy  past, 
when  the  human  race  first  arrived  at  a  state  of  intelligence  suffi- 
cient to  enable  them  to  transmit  a  traditionary  or  written  account 
of  themselves,  all  along  down  the  teeming  ages,  our  progenitors 
have  left  in  various  ways,  and  by  difierent  means,  information, 
more  or  less  mythical,  of  the  age  and  generation  in  which  they 
played  their  ephemeral  part  on  the  world's  ever-changing  theatre 
of  action.  It  is  graven  in  bronze  on  the  wdnderful  works  of  the 
central  nations  of  Africa,  around  those  "  dim  fountains  of  the 
Nile ; "  the  gray  old  pyramids  in  the  valley  of  "  twenty  thousand 
cities"  are   covered   with    the    hieroglyphical    language    of  the 


"  shadowy  past."  The  vast  and  mighty  "  palaces  and  piles  stu- 
pendous," hoary  with  the  dust  of  unknown  centuries,  that  bewilder 
the  traveler  'mid  Egypt's  drifting  sands,  upon  the  plains  of  the  Eu- 
phrates, and  hidden  away  in  the  tiger-hunted  jungles  of  the  "  farthest 
Ind ;"  the  gigantic  ruins  of  Southern  and  Central  America,  under  the 
snow-capped  Cordilleras  and  among  the  wondrous  forests  of  Yucatan ; 
the  seamed  and  wrinkled  pyramids  of  the  Aztecs,  in  Mexico  and 
California,  and  the  ten  thousand  crumbling  evidences  of  a  power- 
ful civilization  scattered  throughout  the  great  valley  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, all  bear  testimony  of  countless  attempts  to  transmit  knowl- 
edge to  posterity. 

The  written  history  of  the  American  Continent  dates  back 
scarcely  four  centuries,  yet  within  that  comparatively  short  period 
its  pages  have  garnered  from  her  hills  and  mountains,  from  her 
grand  rivers  and  mighty  inland  seas,  valuable  additions  to  the 
world's  stock  of  knowledge. 

Like  the  Eastern  Continent,  our  own  has  its  historic  points, — its 
nuclei  around  which  cluster  the  memories  of  heroic  deeds,  the 
story  of  martyrs,  and  the  legends  of  a  barbarous  past.  St.  Augus- 
tine, Jamestown,  Plymouth  Koek,  Quebec,  Montreal,  Boston,  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  and  Detroit,  are  localities  about  which  gather 
volumes  of  history. 

The  advance  of  civilization  on  the  North  American  Continent 
has  been  more  rapid  than  in  any  other  portion  of  the  globe  ;  and, 
within  the  memory  of  living  men,  the  fairest  and  richest  portions 
have  been  wrested  from  the  dominion  of  the  wilderness  and  the 
savage,  and  changed  into  a  highly-cultivated  region,  filled  with  a 
race  of  industrious  and  thriving  people.  Prominent  among  the 
localities  rich  in  historic  lore  is  the  region  around  the  Mississippi 
river.  It  early  claimed  the  attention  of  two  of  the  most  powerful 
nations  of  Europe,  whose  pioneers  and  avant  couriers  were  boldly 
pushing  into  the  then  unknown  countries  lying  towards  the  "  Great 
South  Sea,"  eagerly  looking  for  gold  and  precious  stones,  for  fabled 
Eldorados,  and  fertile  lands. 

Dim  traditions,  fragmentary  legends,  stories  of  bloody  warfare, 


8 


INTRODUCTION. 


of  disaster  and  defeat ;  egsays,  letters,  and  public  documents,  all 
bearing,  more  or  less,  upon  the  history  of  the  county,  have  been 
carefully  examined. 

To  collect  and  arrange  in  one  volume  these  various  fragments, 
this  abundant  material,  and  to  give  the  cream  of  all  the  best 
authors  who  have  treated  the  subject,  together  with  all  addi- 
tional information  it  was  possible  to  obtain,  and  present  it  in 
readable  form,  has  been  the  object  of  the  publishers  of  the  present 
work. 

We  know,  full  well,  the  task  is  not  a  light  one  ;  the  contempla- 
ted work  is  by  no  means  a  holiday  frolic.  Hard,  steady,  close  ap- 
plication and  untiring  energy  are  necessary  to  accomplish  it,  and 
we  have  approached  the  subject  with  the  greatest  diffidence,  not 
unmindful  of  our  shortcomings,  yet,  at  the  same  time,  fully  deter- 
mined to  do  our  best,  and  trust  a  generous  and  discriminating  pub- 
lic to  do  us  justice,  hoping  and  believing  that  our  labors  shall  not 
have  been  wholly  in  vain. 

The  utmc  st  pains  have  been  taken  to  read  thoroughly  and  com- 
pare carefully  the  various  writers,  and  to  sift  out  and  reconcile 
discrepancies,  for  historians  not  unfrequently  disagree  upon  minor 
points.  The  work  of  reading  and  comparing  has  been  no  ordinary 
one,  and  the  difficulty  has  not  been  so  much  in  collecting  as  in 
making  a  judicious  and  truthful  use  of  the  abundant  material  at 
hand. 

The  traditions  of  the  Indians,  as  given  by  Heckewelder  and 
others,  have  been  quoted  quite  extensively,  and  as  an  important 
factor  in  the  sum  total  of  knowledge  concerning  this  region  ;  and 
the  early  discoveries  of  Marquette,  La  Salle,  Hennepin,  and  other 
French  adventurers  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  basin 
of  the  great  lakes  of  the  Northwest,  have  also  demanded  a  large 
share  of  attention,  as  preliminary  to  the  troubles  which  grew  out  of 
the  conflicting  claims  of  the  French  and  English  crowns,  resulting 
in  a  contest  for  supremacy,  and  in  which  not  only  all  the  con- 
tiguous region,  but  the  entire  French  and  English  possessions 
in  America,  a  large  share  of  Europe,  and  immense  regions  in  Asia 
and  the  islands  of  the  sea,  were  interested  and  involved. 

Another  object  to  be  gained  by  this  work,  is  to  bring  to  the  no- 
tice of  the  people,  the  immense  resources  which  a  bountiful  Provi- 
dence has  bestowed  upon  them,  and  which  it  becomes,  not  merely  a 
privilege  to  use,  but  a  duty  to  improve.  How  little  is  now  known 
of  these  treasures,  and  how  greatly  profitable  such  information  may 
be,  needs  only  a  thought  to  comprehend.  Our  fertile  soils,  our 
noble  timber  trees,  our  genial  climate,  our  inexhaustible  mineral 
treasurers,  and  our  easy  facilities  for  commerce,  are,  in  a  great  de- 


gree, unknown  even  to  our  own  population.  This  volume  seeks  to 
develop  an  appreciation  of  them,  and  to  stimulate  a  desire  to  im- 
prove and  extend  them. 

Then,  local  customs,  old  family  traits  and  anecdotes  are  so  rich 
in  interest  and  so  full  of  instruction  to  the  young,  that  they  ought 
never  to  be  forgotten.  These,  so  many  as  time  and  diligence  could 
gather,  are  here  recorded  and  will  be  found  to  form  no  unimportant 
or  uninstructive  portion  of  this  volume. 

Among  the  most  influential  agencies  in  building  a  nation,  and  in 
establishing  a  character  for  its  people,  are  the  efforts  of  its  citizens 
to  educate  their  children  and  to  provide  for  social  religious  wor- 
ship. These  two  interests  will,  therefore,  show  most  accurately  the 
tastes,  the  habits  and  aspirations  of  a  community. 

Hence  they  have  been  made  prominent  in  the  ensuing  narrative, 
and  it  is  confidently  hoped  that  they  will  not  only  interest  our 
readers,  but  will  be  studied  and  appreciated. 

The  work  will  be  found  embellished  with  views  of  public  and 
private  property,  in  various  parts  of  the  County,  and  with  por- 
traits and  biographies  of  many  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  past 
and  present. 

The  chapter  on  the  early  Jiistory  of  the  State,  will  be  found  inter- 
esting and  instructive. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  of  this  State,  and  a 
roster  of  the  soldiers  of  the  late  war,  have  been  inserted  with  a 
view  to  make  the  work  more  creditable,  alike  to  the  publishers  and 
people  of  the  county. 

The  work  may  be  incomplete  in  some  particulars.  Nor  indeed  is 
it  possible  for  it  to  be  otherwise ;  but  we  hope,  so  far  as  it  goes,  it  is 
truthful  and  accurate. 

We  trust,  however,  that  it  will  be  the  means  of  preserving  from 
the  empire  of  decay  a  host  of  incidents,  recollections,  and  anec- 
dotes, relating  to  the  hardy  pioneers  and  first  settlers  of  the  county, 
which,  in  the  estimation  of  the  historian  and  student  of  history,  are 
of  priceless  value,  but  which  otherwise  would  soon  fade  from  the 
memories  of  the  living. 

Whether  this  has  been  well  done,  is  not  for  us  to  say.  A  gener- 
ous and  intelligent  public  must  decide.  It  is  not  permitted  any 
man  to  attain  perfection.  Its  regions  lie  beyond  our  reach.  We 
feel,  however,  in  submitting  this  work  to  the  inspection  of  the  pa- 
trons, whose  public  spirit  made  possible  its  preparation,  that  satis- 
faction which  results  from  a  consciousness  of  faithful  endeavor  and 
an  earnest  desire  to  fulfil  the  expectations  of  all. 

Our  work  is  accomplished,  and  its  result  is  submitted,  with  tran- 
quility, to  your  inspection. 


HISTOEY 


OF 


ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY,    ILLINOIS, 


s 


CHAPTER  I. 

A  BBIEF  SKETCH  OP  THE  NORTH-WEST  TEBBITOBT. 
GEOGKAnilCAL   POSITION. 

N  1784  the  North-western  Territory  was  ceded  to  the 
United  States  by  Virginia.  It  embraced  only  the 
territory  lying  between  the  Ohio  and  Mississipi  rivers; 
and  north,  to  the  northern  limits  of  the  United  States. 
It  coincided  with  the  area  now  embraced  in  the  states  of  Wiscon- 
sin, Illinois,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Ohio,  and  that  portion  of  Min- 
nesota lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  river.  On  the 
first  day  of  March,  1784,  Thomas  Jeflferson,  Samuel  Hardy, 
Arthur  Lee,  and  James  Monroe,  delegates  in  Congress  on  the 
part  of  Virginia,  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  extended  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Northern  Pacific  Ocean.  It  includes 
an  area  of  1,887,850  square  miles,  being  greater  than  the  united 
areas  of  the  Middle  and  Southern  states,  including  Texas.  Out 
of  this  magnificent  territory  have  been  erected  eleven  sovereign 
states  and  eight  territories,  with  an  aggregate  population  at  the 
present  time  of  13,000,000  inhabitants,  or  nearly  one-third  of  the 
entire  population  of  the  United  States. 

Its  rivers  are  the  largest  on  the  continent,  flowing  thousands 
of  miles  through  its  rich  alluvial  valleys  and  broad,  fertile 

prairies. 

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

For  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  the  increase  of  population 
and  wealth  in  the  north-west  has  been  about  as  three  to  one  in 
any  otlier  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  pos- 
sessed 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  151G,  a  Spanish  sea-captain,  Diego  Mi- 
ruelo,  had  visited  the  coast  first  reached  by  Ponce  de  Leon,  and 
in  his  barters  with  the  natives  had  received  considerable  quan- 
tities of  gold,  with  which  he  returned  home  and  spread  abroad 
new  stories  of  the  wealth  hidden  in  the  interior. 

Ten  years,  however,  passed  before  Pampldlo  de  Naroaez  un- 
dertook 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  wan- 
dered. They  suffered  untold  privations  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. 

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  conquer 
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 


•  Pascua,  the  old  English 
day  of  Flowers." 


'  Pash  "  or  Pasaoyer ;  "  Pascua  Florida  "  is  the  "'  Holy- 


10 


EISTOEY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


coast  of  the  Peninsula  of  Florida,  in  the  bay  of  Spiritu  Santa, 
or  Tampa  bay. 

De  Soto  entered  upon  his  march  into  the  interior  wiih  a  deter- 
mination 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  mountains  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, 
the  resolute  Spaniard  set  forward,  and  upon  the  first  of  May 
reached  the  banks  of  the  great  river  of  the  West,  not  far  from 
the  35th  parallel  of  latitude.* 

A  month  was  spent  in  preparing  barges  to  convey  the  horses, 
many  of  which  still  lived,  across  the  rapid  stream.  Having 
successfully  passed  it,  the  explorers  pursued  their  way  north- 
ward, into  the  neighborhood  of  New  Madrid ;  theii  turning 
westward  again,  marched  more  than  two  hundred  miles  from  the 
Mississippi  to  the  highlands  of  White  river ;  and  still  no  gold, 
no  gems,  no  cities — only  bare  prairies,  and  tangled  forests,  and 
deep  morasses.  To  the  south  again  they  toiled  on,  and  passed 
their  third  winter  of  wandering  upon  the  Washita.  In  the  fol- 
lowing 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  disappointed 
warrior.  His  health  yielded  to  the  contests  of  his  mind  and  the 
influence  of  the  climate.  He  appointed  a  successor,  and  on  the 
21st  of  May  died.  His  body  was  sunk  in  the  stream  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Daprived  of  their  energetic  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  themselves  by  land,  they  proceeded  to  pre- 
pare 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.  One-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 
re.d  man  against  the  white  man,  and  disheartened  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 
Soto'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 

*  De  Soto  probably  was  at  the  lower  Chioka«aw  bliiffn.  The  Spaniards  called  the 
Mississippi  Rio  Grande,  Great  River,  whioh  is  the  literal  meanius  of  the  aboriginal 
name. 

t  De  Biedna  says  there  ianied  62C  men. 


his  name,  Champlain  ascended  the  Sorelle  river,  and  discovered, 
embosomed  between  the  Green  mountains,  or  "  Verdmont,"  as 
the  chivalrous  and  poetic  Frenchman  called  them,  and  the  Adi- 
rondacks,  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  possession  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  Kevolu- 
tion,  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  ad- 
vance, and  began  vigorously  the  work  of  Christianizing  the 
savages  in  1632. 

In  1634,  three  Jesuit  missionaries,  Br6beuf,  Daniel,  and  Lal- 
lemand,  planted  a  mission  on  the  shores  of  the  lake  of  the 
Iroquois  (probably  the  modern  Lake  Simcoe),  and  also  esta- 
blished 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,  including  consider- 
able portions  of  Lake  Michigan. 

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

Father  Kaymbault  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,  tlie 
missions  St.  Louis  and  St.  Ignatius  were  also  destroyed,  and 
Fathers  Br6beuf  and  Lallemand  barbarously  tortured  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  1654,  two  fur-traders  ac- 
companied a  band  of  Ottawas  on  a  journey  of  five  hundred 
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  seen 
and  the  various  red  nations  they  had  visited,  and  described  the 
lofty  mountains  and  mighty  rivers  in  glowing  terms.     A  new 

•Western  Annals. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


11 


impulse  was  given  to  the  spirit  of  adventure,  and  scouts  and 
traders  swarmed  the  frontiers  and  explored  the  great  lakes  and 
adjacent  country,  and  a  party  wintered  in  1659-60  on  the  south 
shore  of  Lake  Superior. 

In  1660  Father  Mesnard  was  sent  out  by  the  Bishop  of 
Quebec,  and  visited  Lake  Superior  in  October  of  that  year. 
While  crossing  the  Keeweenaw  Point  he  was  lost  in  the  wilder- 
ness and  never  afte  rwards  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 
1665.  The  Company  of  the  Hundred  Associates,  who  had  ruled 
it  since  1632,  resigned  its  charter.  Tracy  was  made  Viceroy, 
Courcelles  Governor,  and  Talon  Intendent.*  This  was  called 
the  Government  of  the  West  Indies. 

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

In  the  same  year  (1665)  Pierre  Claude  Alloiiez  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  Chippewas,  and  established  a  mission.  He  also  made  an 
alliance  with  them  and  the  Sacs,  Foxes  and  IUinois,'\  against 
the  formidable  Iroquois.  Alloiiez,  the  next  year  (1666)  visited 
the  western  end  of  the  great  lake,  where  he  met  the  Sioux,  and 
from  them  first  learned  of  the  Mississippi  river,  which  they 
called  "  Messipi."     From  thence  Jie  returned  to  Quebec. 

In  1668  Claude  Dablon  and  Jacques  Marquette  established 
the  mission  at  the  Sault  called  St.  Marie,  and  during  the  next 
five  years  Alloiiez,  Dablon  and  Marquette  explored  the  region 
of  Lake  Superior  on  the  south  shore,  and  extending  to  Lake 
Michigan.  They  also  established  the  missions  of  Chegoimegon, 
"St.  Marie,  Mackinaw  and  Green  Bay. 

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

In  1670  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  1671,  a  great  council  was  held  at  Sault  St.  Marie, 
at  which  the  Cross  was  set  up,  and  the  nations  of  the  great 
North-west  were  taken  into  an  alliance,  with  much  pomp  and 
ceremony. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1673,  Marquette,  Joliet,  and  five  voyageurs, 
embarked  in  two  birch  canoes  at  Mackinaw  and  entered  Lake 
Michigan.  The  first  nation  they  visited  was  the  "  FoUes-Avoines," 
or  nation  of  Wild  Oats,  since  known  as  the  Menormnies,  living 
around  the  "  Bale  des  Puans,"  or  Green  Bay.  These  people, 
with  whom  Marquette  was  somewhat  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  in- 
habited by  monsters  which  would  devour  them  and  their  canoes 
together.! 

*  The  duties  of  Intendent  included  a  superrision  of  the  policy,  justice,  and  finance 
of  the  province. 

tThe  meaning  of  this  word  is  said  to  be  "Men." 

tSee  legend  of  the  great  bird,  the  terrible  "Piasa,"  that  devoured  men,  and  was 
only  overcome  by  the  sacrifice  of  a  brave  young  chief.  The  rocks  above  Alton,  Illin- 
ois, haye  some  rude  representations  of  this  monster. 


Marquette  thanked  them  for  their  advice,  but  declined  to  be 
guided  by  it.  Passing  through  Green  Bay,  they  ascended  the 
Fox  Eiver,  dragging  their  canoes  over  the  strong  rapids,  and 
visited  the  village,  where  they  found  living  in  harmony  together 
tribes  of  the  Miamis,  Mascoutens  *  and  Kikabeax,  or  Kickapoos. 
Leaving  this  point  on  the  10th  of  June,  they  made  the  portage 
to  the  "  Ouiscomin,"  and  descended  that  stream  to  the  Missis- 
sippi, which  they  entered  on  the  17th  with  a  joy,  as  Marquette 
says,  which  he  could  not  express."  f 

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.  Pass- 
ing the  wonderful  rocks,  which  still  excite  the  admiration  of  the 
traveler,  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  another  great  river,  the 
Pehitanoni,  or  Missouri  of  the  present  day.  They  noticed  the 
condition  ,of  its  waters,  which  they  described  as  "muddy,  rush- 
ing and  noisy." 

Passing  a  great  rock,  J  they  came  to  the  Ouaboushigon,  or 
Ohio.  Marquette  shows  this  river  very  small,  even  as  compared 
with  the  Illinois.  From  the  Ohio  they  passed  as  far  down  as  the 
Akamsca,  or  Arkansas,  where  they  came  very  near  being  de- 
stroyed by  the  natives  ;  but  they  finally  pacified  them,  and,  on 
the  17th  of  July,  they  commenced  their  return  voyage. 

The  party  reached  Green  Bay  in  September  without  loss  or 
injury,  and  reported  their  discoveries,  which  were  among  the 
most  important  of  that  age.  Marquette  afterwards  returned  to 
Illinois,  and  preached  to  the  natives  until  1675. 

On  the  18th  of  May  of  that  year,  while  cruising  up  the  eastern 
coast  of  Lake  Michigan  with  a  party  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  pray,  and  being  gone  longer  than  his  companions 
deemed  necessary,  they  went  in  search  of  him,  and  found  him 
dead  where  he  had  knelt.     They  buried  him  in  the  sand. 

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

La  Salle  was  a  native  of  Rouen,  in  Normandy.     He  was  edu- 
cated at  a  seminary  of  the  Jesuits,  and  designed  for  the  ministry,     1% 
but,  for  reasons  unknown,  he  left  the  seminary  and  came  to 
Canada,  in  1667,  where  he  engaged  in  the  fur  trade. 

Like  nearly  every  intelligent  man,  he  became  intensely  inte- 
rested 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  Govern- 
or-General, Count  Frontenac,  and  desired  his  co-operation.  The 
Governor  at  once  fell  in  with  his  views,  which  were  strength- 
ened by  the  reports  brought  back  by  Marquette  and  Joliet,  and 


*  Prairie  Indians. 


f  Marquette's  journal. 


X  The  grand  tower. 


12 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


advised  La  Salle  to  apply  to  the  King  of  Prance  in  person,  and 
gave  him  letters  of  introductioii  to  the  great  Colbert,  then  Min- 
ister 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  possi- 
ble favor  shown  to  him. 

He  was  mads  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  13  th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  after  a  few  days'  delay,  proceeded  to  Frontenac. 
Father  Lewis  Hennepin,  a  Franciscan  friar,  of  the  Recollet  sect, 
was  quietly  working  in  Canada  on  La  Salle's  arrival.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  ambition,  and  much  interested  in  the  discoveries  of 
the  day.  He  was  appointed  by  his  religious  superiors  to  accom- 
pany 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  embarked,  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  con- 
structed the  first  fortification,  which  afterwards  grew  into  the 
famous  Fort  Niagara.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1679,  the  keel 
of  the  first  vessel  built  on  Lake  Erie  was  laid  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Cayuga  Creek,  on  the  American  side,  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  Au- 
gust, the  new  vessel  was  launched,  and  made  ready  to  sail.  She 
was  about  seventy  tons'  burden. 

La  Salle  christened  his  vessel  the  "  Griffin,"  in  honor  of  the 
arms  of  Count  Froatenac.  Passing  across  Lake  Erie,  and  into 
the  small  lake,  which  they  named  St.  Clair,  they  entered  the 
broad  waters  of  Lake  Huron.  Here  they  encountered  heavy 
storm?,  as  dreadful  as  those  upon  the  ocean,  and  after  a  most 
tempestuous  passage  they  took  refuge  in  the  roadstead  of  MichilU- 
mackmao  (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  determined  to  load  his  vesssl  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 
mp  Lake  Michigan,  leisurely  examining  its  shores  and  noting 
everything  of  interest.     Tonti,  who  had  been  sent  to  look  after 


»  Annals  of  the  West. 


strao'o-lers,  was  to  join  him  at  the  Head  of  the  lake.  From  the 
19th  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  wait, 
ing  for  tidings  of  his  vessel ;  but,  hearing  nothing,  he  determined 
to  push  on  before  the  winter  should  prevent  him.  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-M, 
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  bluflTs,  a  few  miles  above  the  present  city  of  La  Salle,  Illi- 
nois. They  found  it  deserted,  but  the  Indians  had  quite  a 
quantity  of  maize  stored  here,  and  La  Salle,  being  short  of 
provisions,  helped  himself  to  what  he  required.  Passing 
down  the  stream,  the  party,  on  the  4th  of  January,  came  to  a 
lake,  probably  the  Lake  Peoria,  as  there  is  no  other  upon  this 
stream.  Here  they  found  a  great  number  of  natives,  who  were 
gentle  and  kind,  and  La  Salle  determined  to  construct  a  fort. 
It  stood  on  a  rise  of  ground  near  the  river,  and  was  named 
Creve-  Cceur  *  (broken-heart),  most  probably  on  account  of  the 
low  spirits  of  the  commander,  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  the  lead  of 
Father  Hennepin,  and  he  himself  would  proceed  on  foot  to  Niag- 
ara and  Frontenac,  to  raise  more  means  and  enlist  new  men ; 
while  Tonti,  his  lieutenant,  should  stay  at  the  fort,  which  they 
were  to  strengthen  in  the  meantime,  and  extend  their  intercourse 
with  the  Indians. 

Hennepin  started  on  his  voyage  on  the  last  day  of  February, 
1680,  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  and  Ontario,  to 
Frontenac,  which  he  finally  reached  in  safety.  He  found  his 
worst  fears  realized.  The  "  Griffin  "  was  lost,  his  agents  had 
taken  advantage  of  his  absence,  and  his  creditors  had  seized  his 
goods.  But  he  knew  no  such  word  as  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's  absence  the  Indians  had  become  jealous  of  the  French, 
and  they  had  been  attacked  and  harassed  even  by  the  Iroquois, 
who  came  the  long  distance  between  the  shores  of  Lake  Ontario 
and  the  Illinois  River  to  make  war  upon  the  more  peaceable 
tribes  dwelling  on  the  prairies.  Uncertain  of  any  assistance 
from  La  Salle,  and  apprehensive  of  a  general  war  with  the  sav- 
ages, Tonti,  in  September,  1680,  abandoned  his  position  and  re- 
turned to  the  shores  of  the  lakes.  La  Salle  reached  the  post  on 
the   Illinois   in   December,  1680,  or  January,-  1681.        Again 

*  The  bite  of  the  work  is  at  present  unknown. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


13 


bitterly  disappointed,  La  Salle  did  not  succumb,  but  resolved  to 
return  to  Canada  and  start  anew.  Tl)'"  he  did,  and  in  June  met 
his  lieutenant,  Tonti,  at  Mackinaw. 

Hennepin  in  the  meanwhile  had  mm  with  strange  adventures. 
After  leaving  Creve-Coeur,  he  reached  the  Mississippi  in  seven 
days ;  but  his  way  was  so  obstructed  by  ice  that  he  was  until  the 
11th  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  fells  of  St.  An- 
thony, which  they  reached  on  the  1st  of  May.  These  falls  Hen- 
nepin 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  returned 
to  the  borders  of  civilized  life  in  November,  1680,  just 
after  La  Salle  had  gone  back  to  the  wilderness.  Hennepin  re- 
turned to  France,  where,  in  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  posses- 
sion 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  Bluffi,  where  they  had  erected  a  fort  on  their  down- 
ward voyage,  and  named  it  Prudhomme.  Here  La  Salle  was 
taken  violently  sick.  Unable  to  proceed,  he  sent  forward  Tonti 
to  communicate  with  Count  Frontenao.  La  Salle  himself  reached 
the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  the  latter  part  of  September.  From 
that  point  he  sent  Father  Zenobe  with  his  dispatches  to  represent 
him  at  court,  while  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  fur  trade  and 
to  the  project  of  completing  a  fort,  which  he  named  St.  Louis, 
upon  the  Illinois  River.  The  precise  location  of  this  work  is  not 
known.  It  was  said  to  be  upon  a  rocky  bluff  two  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  high,  and  only  accessible  upon  one  side.  There  are  no 
bluffs  of  such  a  height  on  the  Illinois  River  answering  the  de- 
scription. 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  Frontenac  as  Governor 
of  Canada.  This  man  was  unfriendly  towards  La  Salle,  and 
this,  with  other  untoward  circumstances,  no  doubt  led  him  to  at- 
tempt the  colonization  of  the  Mississippi  country  by  way  of  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  Notwithstanding  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  ves- 
sels sailed  from  Rochelle  to  America,  four  of  which  were  destined, 
for  Louisiana,  and  carried  a  body  of  two  hundred  g,nd  eighty 
people,  including  the  crews.  There  were  soldiers,  artificers,  and 
volunteers,  and  also  "  some  young  women."  Discord  soon  broke 
out  between  M.  de  Beaujeu  and  La  Salle,  and  grew  from  bad  to 
worse.  On  the  20th  of  December  they  reached  the  island  of  St. 
Domingo. 

♦From  this  man  undoubtedly  comes  the  name  of  Duluth. 


Joutel  *  was  sent  out  with  this  party,  which  left  on  the  4th  of 
February,  and  traveled  eastward  three  days,  when  they  came  to 
a  great  stream  which  they  could  not  cross.  Here  they  made  sig- 
nals 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  misfortune  overtook 
La  Salle,  and  the  vessel  was  wrecked,  and  the  bulk  of  the  sup- 
plies was  lost.  At  this  juncture  M.  de  Beaujeu,  his  second  in 
command,  set  sail  and  returned  to  France.  La  Salle  now  con- 
structed a  rude  shelter  from^  the  timbers  of  his  wrecked  vessel, 
placed  his  people  inside  of  it,  and  set  out  to  explore  the  sur- 
rounding country  in  hope  of  finding  the  Mississippi.  He  was,  of 
course,  disappointed ;  but  found  on  a  stream,  which  is  named  the 
Vaches,  a  good  site  for  a  fort.  He  at  once  removed  his  camp, 
and,  after  incredible  exertions,  constructed  a  fortification  suffi- 
cient 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  embarked 
on  the  river,  with  the  intention  of  proceeding  as  far  up  as  he 
could.  The  savages  soon  became  troublesome,  and  on  the  14th 
of  July  La  Salle  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  histo- 
rian'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  purpose  of  making  further  discoveries,  Joutel  leaves  in 
doubt.  Giving  his  last  instructions,  he  left  the  fort  on  the  12th 
day  of  January,  1687,  with  a  company  of  about  a  dozen  men, 
including  his  brother,  two  nephews.  Father  Anastasius,  a  Francis- 
Can  friar,  Joutel,  and  others,  and  moved  north-eastward,  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  1687,  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  bat- 
tling 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  colonists 
were  harassed  and  many  of  their  people  killed  or  carried  cap- 
tives to  the  Canadas.  In  1688,  the  French  possessions  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  River ;  by  way  of 
Lake  Michigan,  the  Kankakee  and  Illinois  Rivers ;  and  by  way 

*  Joutel,  historian  of  the  voyage,  accompanied  La  Salle,  and  subsequently  wrcto 
his  "Journal  Historique,"  which  was  published  in  Paris,  1713. 


14 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


of  Lake  Erie,  the  Maumee  and  Wabash  Rivers,  and  were  pre- 
paring  to  explore  the  Ohio  as  a  fourth  route. 

In  1699,  D'Iberville,  under  the  authority  of  the  crown,  disco- 
vered, on  the  second  of  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  travers- 
ing 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  im- 
proved. 

At  this  time  a  census  of  New  France  showed  a  total  popula- 
tion 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  Colonies,  and  its  close  left  every- 
thing as  before,  with  the  exception  that  Nova  Scotia  was  cap- 
tured 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  Napo- 
leon. 

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  Ca- 
hokia  are  to  this  day  monuments  of  La  Salle's  labors ;  for, 
though  he  had  founded  neither  of  them  (unless  Peoria,  which 
was  built  nearly  upon  the  site  of  Fort  Greveooeur),  it  was  by  those 
he  led  into  the  west  that  these  places  were  peopled  and  civilized. 
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  Kaskaskia.  For 
some  time  it  was  merely  a  missionary  station,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  the  village  consisted  entirely  of  natives ;  it  being  one  of  three 
such  villages,  the  other  two  being  Cahokia  and  Peoria.  This  we 
learn  from  a  letter  written  by  Father  Gabriel  Marest,  dated 
"  Aux  Gascaskias,  Autrement  dit  de  I'lmmaculee  concepcion  de 
la  Sainte  Vierge,  le  9  Novembre,  1712."  In  this  letter,  the 
writer  tells  us  that  Gravier  must  be  regarded  as  the  founder  of 
the  Illinois  missions.  Soon  after  the  founding  of  Kaskaskia,  the 
missionary,  Pinet,  gathered  a  flock  at  Cahokia,f  while  Peoria 
arose  near  the  remains  of  Fort  Crevecoeur.J 

An  unsuccessful  attempt  was  also  made  to  found  a  colony  on 
the  Ohio.    It  failed  in  consequence  of  sicknes9.§ 

In  the  north,  De  La  Motte  Cadillac,  in  June,  1701,  laid  the 

*  The  authorities  in  relation  to  La  Salle  are  Hennepin ;  a  narrative  published  in 
the  name  of  Tonti,  in  1697,  but  disclaimed  by  him.  (Charlevoix  iii.  ses.-Lettres 
Edifiantes). 

f  Bancroft,  iii.  196. 

X  There  was  an  old  Peoria  on  the  North-west  shore  of  the  lake  of  that  name,  a  mile 
and  a  half  above  the  outlet.  From  1778  to  1796  the  inhabitants  left  this  for  New  Peo- 
ria, (Fort  Clark)  at  the  outlet.  American  State  Papers,  xviii.  476. 

g  We»tefrn  Annals. 


foundation  of  Fort  Pontchartrain,  on  the  strait,  (le  Detroit),* 
while  in  the  southwest  efforts  were  making  to  realize  the  dreams 
of  La  Salle.  The  leader  in  the  last  named  enterprise  was  Le- 
moine  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's  Bay." 

The  post  at  Vincennes,  on  the  Oubache  river,  (pronounced 
Wa-ba,  meaning  summer  cloud  moving  swiftly),  was  established 
in  1702.  It  is  quite  probable  that  on  La  Salle's  last  trip  he 
established  the  stations  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia.  Until  the 
year  1750,  but  little  is  known  of  the  settlements  in  the  north- 
west, as  it  was  not  until  this  time  that  the  attention  of  the 
English  was  called  to  the  occupation  of  this  portion  of  the  new 
world,  which  they  then  supposed  they  owned.  Vivier,  a  mission- 
ary among  the  Illinois,  writing  "  Aux  Illinois,"  six  leagues  from 
Fort  Ghartres,  June  8th,  1750,  says :  "  We  have  here  whites, 
negroes,  and  Indians,  to  say  nothing  of  the  cross-breeds.  There 
are  five  French  villages,  and  threa  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  sixty  red  slaves  or  savages.  The 
three  Illinois  towns  do  not  contain  more  than  eight  hundred 
souls  all  told.f  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  ca,n  be  consumed,  and  great  quan- 
tities of  gram  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  Mississippi,  one  sees 
no  dwellings  *  *  *  * ,  New  Orleans  contains  black,  white  and 
red,  not  more,  I  think,  than  twelve  hundred  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,  writing  from  the  post  at  Vincennes,  makes  the 
same  observation.  Vivier  also  says,  "  Some  individuals  dig  lead 
near  the  surface,  and  supply  the  Indians  and  Canada.  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  country,  beyond  doubt,  copper  mines,  as 
from  time  to  time,  large  pieces  have  been  found  in  the  streams."J 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1750,  the  French  occupied  in  addition 
to  the  lower  Mississippi  posts  and  those  in  Illinois,  one  at  Du 
Quesne,  one  at  the  Maumee,  in  the  country  of  the  Miamis,  and 
one  at  Sandusky,  in  what  may  be  termed  the  Ohio  Valley.  In 
the  northern  part  of  the  north-west,  they  had  stations  at  St. 
Joseph's,  on  the  St.  Joseph's  of  Lake  Michigan,  at  Fort  Pont- 

*  Charlevoix,  ii.  284.    Le  Detroit  was  the  whole   strait  from  Erie  to  Huron.    The 
first  grants  of  land  at  Detroit,  i.  e.,  Fort  Pontchartrain,  were  made  in  1707 

t  Lettres  Edifiantes  (Paris,  1781),  vii.  97-106. 
X  Western  Annals, 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


15 


chartrain  (Detroit),  at  Michillimackinac  or  Massillimacinac, 
Pox  River  of  Green  Bay,  and  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  The  fondest 
dreams  of  La  Salle  were  now  fully  realized.  The  French  alone 
were  possessors  of  this  vast  realm,  basing  their  claim  on  discovery 
and  settlement.  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. 

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

DISCOVERY   OP  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.  AVhile  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  conversing  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  con- 
sidered 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  embark  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  Intend- 
ent,  Talon.  They  issued  letters  patent,  authorizing  the  enter- 
prise, 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  ofier  was  accepted  by  the  Superior,  and  two  thousand  eight 
hundred  dollars  were  raised,  with  which  La  Salle  purchased  four 
canoes  and  the  necessary  supplies  for  the  outfit. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1669,  the  party,  numbering  twenty-four 
persons,  embarked  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  On- 
tario. Their  guides  conducted  them  directly  to  the  Seneca  vil- 
lage 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  disap- 
pointed. After  waiting  a  month  in  the  hope  of  gaining  their 
object,  they  met  aii  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.  Delighted 
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  ex- 
plore the  copper  mines  on  Lake  Superior,  but  had  failed  and  was 
on  his  way  back  to  Quebec. 

On  arriving  at  Lake  Superior,  they  found,  as  La  Salle  had 
predicted,  the  Jesuit  fathers,  Marquette  and  Dablon,  occupying 


the  field.  After  parting  with  the  priests.  La  Salle  went  to  the 
chief  Iroquois  village  at  Onondago,  where  he  obtained  guides 
and  passing  thence  to  a  tributary  of  the  Ohio  south  of  Lake 
Erie,  he  descended  the  latter  as  far  as  the  falls  of  Louisville. 
Thus  was  the  Ohio  discovered  by  La  Salle,  the  persevering  and 
successful  French  explorer  of  the  west  in  1669. 

AVhen  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  commandant  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 
Talley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  first  travelers  reached  that  river 
in  1673,  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 
1785.*  Bishop  Brute,  of  Indiana,  speaks  of  a  missionary  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  Carignau,  and  was  killed  in  1735."  f 
Bancroft  says  a  military  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,  II  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  ^  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  ma- 
tured a  plan  and  commenced  movements,  the  object  of  which  was 
to  secure  the  country  beyond  the  Alleghenies  to  the  English 
crown.  In  Pennsylvania,  also.  Governor  Keith  and  James  Lo- 
gan, Secretary  of  the  Province  from  1719  to  1731,  represented 
to  the  powers  of  England  the  necessity  of  taking  steps  to  secure 
the  western  lands.     Nothing,  however,  was  done  by  the  mother 

*  Volney's  View,  p.  336.  t  Butler's  Kentucky.  %  History  U.  S.,  iii  ,  3M. 

I  American  State  Papers,  xvi.,  32.  ||  Hiatoire  General  Des  Voyages  xiv.,  758. 

K  Now  called  Miami. 


16 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


country,  except  to  take  certain  diplomatic  steps  to  secure  the 
claim  of  Britain  to  this  unexplored  wilderness.  England  had 
from  the  outset  claimed  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  on  the 
ground  that  the  discovery  and  possession  of  the  sea  coast  was  a 
discovery  and  possession  of  the  country ;  and  as  is  well  known, 
her  grants  to  Virginia,  Connecticut,  and  other  colonies,  were 
through  from  "  sea  to  sea."  This  was  not  all  her  claims ;  she  had 
purchased  from  the  Indian  tribes  large  tracts  of  land.  This  was 
also  a  strong  argument. 

In  the  year  1684,  Lord  Howard,  Governor  of  Virginia,  held  a 
treaty  with  the  five  nations  at  Albany.  These  were  the  great 
Northern  Confederacy,  and  comprised  at  first  the  Mohawks, 
Oneidas,  Onondagas,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas.  Afterward  the 
Tuscajoras  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  England,  "  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  In- 
dians 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  began  to  complain, 
the  promise  of  further  pay  was  called  to  mind,  and  Mr.  Conrad 
Weiser  was  sent  across  the  AUeghenies  to  Logstown.  In  1784,* 
Col.  Lee  and  some  Virginians  accompanied  him,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  ascertaining  the  feelings  of  the  Indians  with  regard  to 
further  settlements  in  the  west,  which  Col.  Lee  and  others  were 
contemplating.  The  object  of  these  proposed  settlements  was  not 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  but  the  monopoly  of  the  Indian  trade. 
Accordingly,  after  Weiser's  conference  with  the  Indians  at  Logs- 
town,  which  was  favorable  to  their  views,  Thomas  Lee,  with 
twelve  other  Virginians,  among  whom  were  Lawrence  and  Augus- 
tine, brothers  of  George  "Washington,  and  also  Mr.  Hanbury,  of 
London,  formed  an  association  which  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  AUeghenies,  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 
suflicient  to  protect  the  settlement.  The  company  accepted  the 
proposition,  and  sent  to  London  for  a  cargo  suited  to  the  Indian 
trade,  which  should  arrive  in  November,  1749.  Other  companies 
were  also  formed  about  this  time  in  Virginia  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.f 

The  French  were  not  blind  all  this  time.    They  saw  that  if  the 


*  Plain  Facts,  pp.  40, 120. 


t  Revised  Statutes  of  Virginia. 


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  possession  of  the  whole 
country.  Upon  the  10th  of  May,  1744,  Vaudreuil,  the  French 
governor,  well  knowing  the  consequences  that  must  arise  from 
allowing  the  English  to  build  trading  posts  in  the  north-west, 
seized  some  of  their  frontier  posts,  to  further  secure  the  claims  of 
the  French  to  the  west.  Having  these  fears,  and  seeing  the 
danger  of  the  late  movements  of  the  British,  Gallisoniere,  then 
Governor  of  Canada,  determined  to  place  along  the  Ohio  evi- 
dences of  the  French  claim  to,  and  possessioif  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  William  Trent, 
an  Indian  commissioner,  sent  out  by  Virginia  in  1752,  to  treat 
with  and  conciliate  the  Indians,  while  upon  the  Ohio,  and  men- 
tioned in  his  journal.  One  of  these  plates  was  found  with  the 
inscription  partly  defaced.  It  bears  date  August  16th,  1749,  and 
a  copy  of  the  inscription,  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  explora- 
tions. 

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  November  he  commenced 
a  survey  of  the  company's  lands.-  In  1751,  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  otliers  wounded,  captured  the  garrison. 
The  traders  were  carried  away  to  Canada,  and  one  account  says 
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  center  of  the  terri- 
tory 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,* 
Lomax  and  Patton,  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 
June  the  commissioners  met  the  red  men  at  Logstown.  This 
was  a  village  seventeen  miles  below  Pittsburgh,  upon  the  north 
side  of  the  Ohio.  Here  had  been  a  trading  point  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 

•Afterwards  Commnndcr-in-Chicf  over  Washington,  at  the  commcncemont  of  the 
French  War  of  1775. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


17 


an  agreement  was  effected,  and  upon  the  13th  of  June  they  all 
united  in  signing  a  deed,  confirming  the  Lancaster  treaty  in  its 
fullest  extent.  Meanwhile  the  powers  beyond  the  seas  were  try- 
ing to  out-manoeuver  each  other,  and  were  professing  to  be  at 
peace.  The  English  generally  outwitted  the  Indians,  and  secured 
themselves^  as  they  thought,  by  their  politic  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  con- 
templation. And  in  September,  1753,  William  Fairfax  met  their 
deputies  at  WiuShester,  Virginia,  where  he  concluded  a  treaty. 
In  the  month  following,  however,  a  more  satisfactory  interview 
took  place  at  Carlisle,  between  the  representatives  of  the  Iroquois, 
Delawares,  Shawnees,  Twigtwees,  and  Wyandots,  and  the  com- 
missioners 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  pur- 
poses of  the  French,  Robert  Dinwiddie,  then  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, determined  to  send  to  them  another  messenger,  and  learn 
if  possible  their  intentions.  For  this  purpose  he  selected  a  young 
surveyor,  Avho,  at  the  ago  of  nineteen  had  attained  the  rank  of 
major,  and  whose  previous  life  had  inured  him  to  hardships  and 
woodland  ways  ;  while  his  courage,  cool  judgment,  and  firm  will, 
all  fitted  him  for  such  a  mission.  This  personage  was  no  other 
than  the  illustrious  George  Washington,  who  then  held  consider- 
able interest  in  western  lands.  He  was  twenty-one  years  old  at 
the  time  of  the  appointment.*  Taking  Gist  as  a  guide,  the  two, 
accompanied  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  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  no- 
thing could  be  done,  went  on  to  Venango,  an  old  Indian  town 
at  the  mouth  of  the  French  Creek,  Here  the  French  had  a  fort 
called  Fort  Machault.-  On  the  11th  of  December  he  reached  the 
fort  at  the  head  of  French  Creek.  Here  he  delivered  Gover- 
nor Dinwiddle's  letter,  received  his  answer,  and  upon  the  16th 
set  out  upon  his  return  journey  with  no  one  but  Gist,  his  guide, 
and  a  few  Indians  who  still  remained  true  to  him.  They  reached 
home  in  safety  on  the  6th  of  January,  1754.  From  the  letter  of 
St.  Pierre,  commander  of  the  French  fort,  sent  by  Washington 
to  Governor  Dinwiddie,  it  was  perfectly  clear  that  the  French 
would  not  yield  the  West  without  a  struggle.  Active  preparations 
were  at  once  made  in  all  the  English  colonies  for  the  coming  con- 
flict, while  the  French  finished  their  fort  at  Venango  and  strength- 
ened their  lines  of  fortifications  to  be  in  readiness.  The  Old 
Dominion  was  all  alive.  Virginia  was  the  center  of  great  activities. 
Volunteers  were  called  for,  and  from  the  neigTiboring  colonies 
men  rallied  to  the  conflict,  and  everywhere  along  the  Potomac 
men  were  enlisting  under  the  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 

*  Sparks'  Washington,  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  428^47. 


want,  to  fortify  that  point  at  ths  fjrk  of  ths  Ohio,  to  which  both 
parties  were  looking  with  deep  interest.  The  first  birds  of  spring 
filled  the  forest  with  their  songs.  The  swift  river  rolled  by  the 
Allegheny  hillsides,  swollen  by  the  melting  snows  of  spring  and 
April  showers.  The  leaves  were  appearing,  a  few  Indian  scouts 
were  seen,  but  no  enemy  seemed  near  at  hand,  and  all  was  so 
quiet  that  Frazier,  an  old  Indian  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  surrender  :  by  the 
advice  of  the  Half-King,  Ward  tried  to  evade  the  act,  but  it 
would  not  do.  Contrecoeur,  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  Mon- 
onghahela."  The  French  and  Indian  war  had  begun.  The 
treaty  of  Aix  la  Chapelle,  in  1748,  had  left  the  foundries  between 
the  French  and  English  possessions  unsettled,  and  the  events 
already  narrated  sho'w  that  the  French  were  determined  to  hold 
the  country  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  Foundland 
to  Florida,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  The  first  deci- 
sive 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  completed  gave  to  the  fort  the  name 
of  Du  Quesnc.  Washington  was  at  Will's  creek,  when  the  news 
of  the  capture  of  the  fort  arrived,  He  at  once  departed  to  re- 
capture it.  On  his  way  he  entrenched  himself  at  a  place  called 
the  "Meadows,"  where  lis  erected  a  fort  called  by  him  Fort 
Necessity.  From  there  he  surprised  and  captured  a  force  of 
French  and  Indians  marching  against  him,  but  was  soon  after 
attacked  by  a  much  superior  force,  and  was  obliged  to  yield  on 
the  morning  of  July  4th.  He  was  allowed  to  return  to  Virginia. 
The  English  Government  immediately  planned  four  cam- 
paigns, one  against  Fort  Du  Quesne,  one  against  Nova  Scotia, 
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  defeat.  This  occurred  on  the 
morning  of  July  9th,  and  is  generally  .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  preparations  were  made  to  carry  on  the  war.  Three 
expeditions  were  planned  for  this  year:  one  under  General 
Amherst,  against  Louisburg ;  another  under  Abercrombic, 
against  Fort  Ticondcrcga ;  and  a  third  under  General  Forbes, 


18 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


against  Fort  Du  Quesne.  On  the  26th  of  July,  Louisburg 
surrendered  after  a  desperate  resistance  of  more  than  forty  days, 
and  the  eastern  part  of  the  Canadian  possessions  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  British.  Abererombie  captured  Fort  Frontenac, 
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  illustrious 
statesman,  changed  the  name  to  Fort  Pitt. 

The  great  object  of  the  campaign  of  1759,  was  the  reduction 
of  Canada.  General  Wolfe  was  to  lay  siege  to  Quebec ;  Am- 
herst 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  cap- 
tured 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,  Montcalm  and 
Wolfe  both  lost  their  lives.  De  Levi,  Montcalm'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  Montreal.  The  Governor  signed  a  capitu- 
lation 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  Eng- 
land 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  Iberville  river  in  Louisiana,  were 
ceded  to  England.  At  the  same  time,  Spain  ceded  Florida  to 
Great  Britain. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1760,  Major  Robert  Rogers  was 
sent  from  Montreal  to  take  charge  of  Detroit,  the  only  remaining 
French  post  in  the  territory.  He  arrived  there  on  the  9th  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  1 762,  France,  by  a  secret  treaty,  ceded  Louisiana  to  Spain, 
to  prevent  it  fulling  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  who  were 
becoming  masters  of  the  entire  West.  The  next  year  the  treaty 
of  Paris,  signed  at  Foutainbleau,  gave  to  the  English  the  domi- 
nion in  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,  comprehending  a  largo 
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  of  England,  estab- 
lished himself  at  Fort  Chartres,  bearing  with  him  the  jiroclania- 
tion  of  General  Gage,  dated  December  30th,  1764,  which  pro- 
mised religious  freedom  to  all  Catholics  who  worshiped  here 
and  the  right  to  leave  the  country  with  their  effects  if  they 
wished,  or  to  remain  with  the  privileges  of  Englishmen.  During 
the  years  1775  and  1776,  by  the  operations  of  land  companies 


and  the  perseverance  of  individuals,  several  settlements  were 
firmly  established  between  the  AUeghenies  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, 
Cahokia,  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  Vincennes  as  the  agent  of  the  association  called  the  "  Wa- 
bash 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  Vincennes,  and  afterward  recorded  in  the  oflSce 
of  a  Notary  Public  at  Kaskaskia.  This  and  other  land  compa- 
nies had  extensive  schemes  for  the  colonization  of  the  West;  but 
all  were  frustrated  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  On  the  20th  of  April,  1780,  the  two  companies  named 
consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  "  United  Illinois  and  Wabash 
Laud  Company;"  they  afterwards  made  strenuous  efforts  to 
have  these  grants  sanctioned  by  Congress,  but  all  signally  failed. 
When  the  war  of  the  Revolution  commenced,  Kentucky  was  an 
unorganized  country,  there  being  settlements  within  her  borders. 

In  Hutchins'  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  Mississippi  river,  about  the  year 
1771 — when  these  observations  were  made — "300  white  men 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  and  230  negroes."  From  1775  until 
the  expedition  of  Clark,  nothing  is  recorded  and  nothing  known 
of  these  settlements,  save  what  is  contained  in  a  report  made  by 
a  committee  to  Congress  in  June,  1778.  From  it  the  following 
extract  is  made:  "Near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Kaskaskia,  there 
is  a  village  which  appears  to  have  contained  nearly  eighty  fami- 
lies from  the  beginning  of  the  late  Revolution ;  there  are  twelve 
families  at  a  small  village  at  La  Prairie  Du  Rochers,  and  nearly 
fifty  families  at  the  Cahokia  village.  There  are  also  four  or  five 
families  at  Fort  Chartres  and  St.  Philip's,  which  is  five  miles 
further  up  the  river."  St.  Louis  had  been  settled  in  February, 
1764,  and  at  this  time  contained,  including  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  Orleans  to  the  United  States.  At  Detroit,  there 
were,  according  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  culti- 
vated, the  people  being  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  the  British  held  every 
post  of  importance  in  the  West.  Kentucky  was  founed  as  a 
component  part  of  Virginia,  and  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  the  West, 
alive  to  their  interests,  and  recognizing  the  great  benefits  cf 
obtaining  the  control  of  the  trade  in  this  part  of  the  New  World, 
held  steadily  to  their  purposes,  and  those  within  the  common- 
wealth of  Kentucky  proceeded  to  exercise  their  civil  privileges 
by  electing  John  Todd  and  Richard  Gallaway  burgesses,  to  rep- 
resent them  in  the  assembly  of  the  present  state.    The  chief  spirit 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


19 


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  movements  of  the  British 
throughout  the  north-west,  and  understood  their  whole  plan. 
He  saw  it  was  through  their  possession  of  the  posts  at  Detroit, 
Vincennes,  Kaskaskia,  and  other  places,  which  would  give  them 
easy  access  to  the  various  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,  ener- 
getic man  was  Colonel,  afterwards  General  George  Rogers  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  settle- 
ments 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  instruc- 
tions :  one  secret,  the  other  open.  The  latter  authorized  him  to 
proceed  to  enlist  seven  compuijies  to  go  to  Kentucky,  subject  to 
his  orders,  and  to  serve  three  months  from  their  xrrival  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,  choosing 
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  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  New 
Albany,  Indiana.  Remains  of  this  fortification  may  yet  be 
found.  At  this  place  he  appointed  Col.  Bowman  to  meet  him 
with  such  recruits  as  had  reached  Kentucky  by  the  southern 
route.  Here  he  announced  to  the  men  their  real  destination. 
On  the  24th  of  June  he  embarked  on  the  river,  his  destination 
being  Fort  Massac  or  Massacre,  and  thence  marched  direct  to  Kas- 
kaskia. 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  American  arms,  and  when  Clark  desired  to  go 
to  Cahokia  on  the  6th  of  July,  they  accompanied  him,  and 
through  their  influence  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  surrendered. 
Thus  two  important  posts  in  Illinois  passed  from  the  hands  of 
the  English  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. 


DIVISION   OF   THE   NOETH-WEST  TEEEITORY. 

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.  Congress,  in  1800^  appointed  a 
committee  to  examine  the  question  and  report  some  means  for 
its  solution. 

This  committee  on  the  3d  of  March  reported :  "  In  the  three 
western  countries  there  has  been  but  one  court  having  cognizance 
of  crimes,  in  five  years,  and  the  immunity  which  offenders  expe- 
rience 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  terri- 
tory 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  terri- 
torial 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  Indian  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  $15,000,000.  Thus  by  a  peace- 
ful 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.  Harrison  obtained  additional  grants  of  land 
from  the  various  Indian  nations  in  Indiana  and  the  present 
limits  of  Illinois,  and  on  the  18th  of  August,  1804,  completed  a 
treaty  at  St.  Louis,  whereby  over  61,000,000  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  terri- 
tory of  New  Orleans,  which  city  was  made  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment, and  the  district  of  Louisiana,  which  was  annexed  to  the 
domain  by  General  Harrison. 

On  the  11th  of  January,  1805,  the  territory  of  Michigan  was 
formed,  and  Wm.  Hull  was  appointed  governor,  with  headquar- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLUB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


ters  at  Detroit,  the  change  to  lake  effect  Jane  30th.  On  the 
11th  of  that  month,  a  fire  occurred  at  Detroit,  which  destroyed 
almost  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  country.  Kebuilding,  how- 
ever, 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  Assembly  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.  Tecuraseh  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
Tecumseh  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  victory  on  Lake  Erie 
occurred,  and  shortly  after,  active  preparations  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,  iu  a  few  hours,  stood  around  the  ruins  of 
Maiden,  from  which  the  British  army  under  Proctor  had  re- 
treated 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  posses- 
sion of  Detroit  and  the  territory  of  Michigan.  On  the  2(1  of 
October  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  practically 
closed  the  war  in  the  northwest.  In  1806,  occurred  Burr's 
insurrection.  He  took  possession  of  an  island  in  the  Ohio,  and 
was  charged  with  treasonable  intentions  against  the  Federal  gov- 
ernment. 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  himself  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- 
western 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,  between 
the  United  States  and  the  Indian  tribes.  On  the  24th  of  De- 
cember, the  treaty  of  Ghent  was  signed  by  the  representatives 
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  the  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  north  west,  and  we 

*  American  State  Papers. 


now  turn  to  the  contemplation  of  its  growth  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  stronger  foothold,  the  trade  area  of  the 
region  is  becoming  daily  more  extended,  and  wc  have  been 
largely  exempt  from  the  financial  calamities  which  have  nearly 
wrecked  communities  on  the  sea-board,  dependent  wholly  on 
foreign  commerce  or  domestic  manufacture.  Agriculture  is  the 
leading  feature  in  our  industries.  This  vast  domain  has  a  sort 
of  natural  geographical  border,  save  where  it  melts  away  to  the 
southward  in  the  cattle-raising  districts  of  the  south-west.  The 
leading  interests  will  be  the  growth  of  the  food  of  the  world,  in 
which .  branch  it  has  already  outstripped  all  competitors,  and 
our  great  rival  will  be  the  fertile  fields  of  Kansas,  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  foothold 
that  bids  fair  to  render  the  north-west  independent  of  the  outside 
world.  Nearly  our  whole  region  lias  a  distribution  of  coal  mea- 
sure which  will  in  time  support  the  manufactures  necessary  to 
our  comfort  and  prosperity.  As  to  trauspottation,  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,  De- 
troit, Cleveland  and  Toledo,  with  any  number  of  minor  cities 
and  towns  doing  ^  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  magnifi- 
cent 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  keystone  of  the  national  union 
and  national  prosperity. 


CHAPTER  II. 

BRIEF  HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  ILLINOIS. 

T  is  necessary  to  treat  the  history  of  this  great  State 
briefly.  And  first  we  direct  attention  to  the  dis- 
covery and  exploration  of  the  Mississippi.  Hernando 
De  Soto,  cutting  his  way  through  the  wilderness  from 
Florida,  had  discovered  the  Mississippi  in  the  year  1542.  Wasted 
with  disease  and  privation,  he  only  reached  the  stream  to  die 
upon  its  banks,  and  the  remains  of  the  ambitious  and  iron-willed 
Spaniard  found  a  fitting  resting-place  beneath  the  waters  of  the 
great  river.  The  chief  incitement  to  Spanish  discoveries  in 
America  was  a  thirst  for  gold  and  treasure.  The  discovery  and 
settlement  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  Chip- 
pewas  in  1668,  and  established  the  mission  of  St.  Mary,  now  the 
oldest  settlement  within  the  present  commonwealth  of  Michigan, 
formed  the  purpose  of  its  exploration. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


21 


In  company  with  Joliet,  a  fur-trader  of  Quebec,  who  had  been 
designated  by  M.  Talon,  Intendent  of  Canada,  as  chieftain  of  the 
exploring  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  joyfully  entered  the 
broad  current  of  the  Mississippi.  Stopping  six  days  on  the 
western  bank,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Des  Moines  River,  to  enjoy 
the  hospitalities  of  the  Illinois  Indians,  the  voyage  was  resumed, 
and  after  passing  the  perpendicular  rocks  above  Alton,  on  whose 
lofty  limestone  front  are  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, 
early  in  July,  the  adventurers  glided  past  it.  They  continued 
their  voyage  to  a  point  some  distance  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Arkansas,  and  then  retraced  their  course  up  the  river,  arriving 
at  their  Jesuit  Mission  at  the  head  of  Green  Bay,  late  in  Sep- 
tember. 

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.  At  its  mouth  he  erected  a  column,  and 
decorating  it  with  the  arms  of  France,  placed  upon  it  the  follow- 
ing inscription : 

LOUIS  LE  GRAND,  EOI  DE  FRANCE  ET  DE  NAVARRE,  REGNE ; 
LE  NEUVIEME  AVEIL,  1682. 

Thus  France,  by  right  of  discovery,  lay  claim  to  the  Missis- 
sippi 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  villages  of  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,but 
the  statement  rests  on  no  substantial  foundation. 

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  bears  their  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  Im- 
maculate Conception."  The  town  was  called  Kaskaskia,  a  name 
afterwards  transferred  to  another  locality. 

La  Salle,  while  making  preparations  to  descend  the  Missis- 
sippi, 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  Creoecmur,  "broken-hearted." 
Traces  of  its  embankments  are  yet  discernible.  This  was  the 
first  military  occupation  of  Illinois.  There  is  no  evidence,  how- 
ever, that  settlement  was  begun  there  at  that  early  date. 

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

Marquette's  mission  (1675),  Crevecoeur  (1680),  and  the  Fort 
of  St.  Louis  (1682),  embrace,  so  far,  all  the  attempts  made 
toward  effecting  anything  like  a  j)ermanent  settlement  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  produce  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  Kaskaskia  is  merely  the  northern  one  transplanted. 
The  Mission  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  is  the  same. 

FOUNDING   OP   KASKASKIA. 

On  the  death  of  Marquette,  he  was  succeeded  by  Alloiiez,  and 
he  by  Father  Gravier,  who  respectively  had  charge  of  the  Mis- 
sion on  the  Illinois  River.  Gravier  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
to  reduce  the  principles  of  the  Illinois  language  to  rules.  It  was 
also  he  who  succeeded  in  transferring  Marquette's  Mission  from 
the  banks  of  the  Illinois  south  to  the  spot  where  stands  the 
modern  town  of  Kaskaskia,  and  where  it  was  destined  to  endure. 
The  exact  date  is  not  known,  but  the  removal  was  accomplished 
some  time  prior  to  the  year  1690,  though  probably  not  earlier 
than  1685. 

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  in- 
sufficient 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  conver- 
sion of  the  savages.  He  accompanied  the  Kaskaskias  on  one  of 
their  annual  hunts  to  the  upper  Mississippi,  that  his  pastoral 
relations  might  not  sufier  intermission.  His  frame  was  poorly 
fitted  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  vio- 
lent fever,  and  "  left  his  bones  on  the  wilderness  range  of  the 
buffaloes."     Pinet  shortly  after  followed  his  comrade. 

Father  Gabriel  Morrest  had  previously  arrived  at  Kaskaskia. 
He  was  a  Jesuit.  He  had  carried  the  emblem  of  his  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 


22 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


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  sesm  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  canti- 
cles ;  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  mission- 
aries proceed  to  visit  the  sick  and  administer  medicine,  and  their 
skill  as  physicians  did  more  than  all  the  rest  to  win  confidence- 
In  the  afternoon  the  catechism  was  taught  in  the  presence  of  the 
young  and  the  old,  when  every  one,  without  distinction  of  rank 
or  age,  answered  the  questions  of  the  missionary.  At  evening 
all  would  assemble  at  the  chapel  for  instruction,  for  prayer,  and 
to  chant  the  hymns  of  the  church.  On  Sundays  and  festivals, 
even  after  vespers,  a  homily  was  pronounced  ;  at  the  close  of  the 
day  parties  would  meet  in  houses  to  recite  the  chaplet  in  alter- 
nate choirs,  and  sing  psalms  until  late,  at  night.  These  psalms 
were  often  homilies  with  words  set  to  familiar  tunes.  Saturday 
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  accord- 
ing to  the  rites  of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  occupation  of  the 
country  was  a  cantonment  of  Europeans  among  the  native  pro- 
prietors 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,  how- 
ever, authority  for  believing  that  the  following  were  among  the 
principal  settlers :  Bazyl  La  Chapelle,  Michael  Derouse  (called 
St.  Pierre),  Jean  Baptiste  St.  Gemme  Beauvais,  Baptiste  Mon- 
treal, Boucher  de  Montbrun,  Charles  Danie,  Francois  Charles- 
ville,  Antoine  Bienvenu,  Louis  Bruyat,  Alexis  Doza,  Joseph 
Paget,  Prix  Pagi,  Michael  Antoyen,  Langlois  De  Lisle,  La 
Derroutte  and  Noval. 

AS  PART  OF   LOUISIANA. 

The  settlements  of  Illinois  had  been  a  separate  dependency  of 
Canada.  -In  1711,  together  with  the  settlements  on  the  Lower 
Mississippi,  which  had  been  founded  by  D'Iberville  and  Bien- 
ville, 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 

*  Bancroft. 


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  iu  large  quantities  in  Missouri,  but 
of  gold,  and  silver,  and  precious  stones  not  a  trace  was  found. 
After  Crozat  had  expended  425,000  livres,  and  realized  only 
300,000,  he,  in  1717,  petitioned  the  king  for  the  revocation  of 
his  charter.  The  white  population  had  slowly  increased ;  and 
at  the  time  of  his  departure  it  was  estimated  that  the  families 
comprising  the  Illinois  settlements,  now  including  those  on  the 
Wabash,  numbered  three  hundred  and  twenty  souls. 

The  commerce  of  Louisiana  was  next  transferred  to  the 
Mississippi  Company,  instituted  under  the  auspices  of  the  notori- 
ous John  Law.  The  wild  excitement  and  visionary  schemes 
which  agitated  France  during  Law's  connection  with  the  Com- 
pany 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  fabulous  riches  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley.  Attempts  to  colonize  the  country  were  conducted  with 
careless  prodigality.  Three  ships  landed  eight  hundred  emi- 
grants in  August,  1718,  near  Mobile,  whence  they  were  to  make 
their  way  overland  to  the  Mississippi.  Bienville,  on  the  banks 
of  that  river,  had  already  selected  the  spot  for  the  Capital  of  the 
new  Empire,  which,  after  the  Regent  of  France,  was  named  New- 
Orleans.  From  among  the  emigrants,  eighty  convicts  from  the 
prisons  of  France  were  sent  to  clear  away  the  coppices  which 
thickly  studded  the  site.  Three  years  after,  in  1721,  the  place 
was  yet  a  wilderness,  overgrown  with  canebrakes,  among  which 
two  hundred  persons  had  encamped. 

Phillip  Renault  was  created  Director-General  of  the  mines  of 
the  new  country,  and  an  expedition  was  organized  to  work  them. 
Renault  left  France,  in  1719,  with  two  hundred  mechanics  and 
laborers.  Touching  at  San  Domingo,  he  bought  five  hundred 
negro  slaves  for  working  the  mines.  On  reaching  the  Mississippi, 
he  sailed  to  Illinois,  the  region  in  which  gold  and  silver  were 
supposed  to  abound.  A  few  miles  from  Kaskaskia,  in  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  con- 
siderable 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  CHAETRES. 

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  Kaskaskia.  A  Spanish 
expedition  had,  indeed,  been  fitted  out  at  Santa  Fe,  but  their 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


23 


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  1720,  Boisbriant 
was  despatched  to  Illinois.  He  began  the  building  of  Fort 
Chartres,  long  the  strongest  fortress  on  the  Western  Continent, 
and  of  wide  celebriiy  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 
Eocher.  The  Company  of  the  West  finally  built  their  ware- 
houses here.  In  1721,  on  the  division  of  Louisiana  into  seven 
districts,  it  became  the  headquarters  of  Boisbriant,  the  first  local 
Governor  of  Illinois.  Fort  Chartres  was  the  seat  of  the  govern- 
ment of  Illinois,  not  only  while  the  French  retained  possession 
of  the  country,  but  after  it  passed  under  English  control.  When 
the  fort  was  built,  it  stood  about  one  mile  distant  from  the  river. 
In  the  year  1724  an  inundation  of  the  Mississippi  washed  away 
a  portion  of  bank  in  front  of  the  fort. 

Captain  Philip  Pitman  visited  Illinois  in  1766.  He  was  an 
engineer  in  the  British  army,  and  was  sent  to  Illinois  to  make  a 
survey  of  the  forts,  and  report  the  condition  of  the  country, 
which  had  recently  passed  under  British  control.  He  published 
in  London,  in  1770,  a  work  entitled,  "The  present  State  of  the 
European  Settlements  on  the  Mississippi,"  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  Eng- 
lish 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  hundred  and  ninety 
feet.  It  is  built  of  stone,  and  plastered  over,  and  is  only  de- 
signed for  defence  against  the  Indians.  The  walls  are  two  feet 
two  inches  thick,  and  are  pierced  with  lo'opholes  at  regular  dis- 
tances, and  with  two  portholes  for  cannon  in  the  facies,  and  two 
in  the  flanks  of  each  bastion.  The  ditch  has  never  been  finished. 
The  entrance  to  the  fort  is  through  a  very  handsome  rustic  gate. 
Within  the  walls  is  a  banquette  raised  three  feet,  for  the  men  to 
stand  on  when  they  fire  through  the  loopholes.  The  buildings 
within  the  fort  are,  a  commandant's  and  a  commissary's  house,  the 
magazine  of  stores,  corps  de  garde,  and  two  barracks.  These 
occupy  the  square.  Within  the  gorges  of  the  bastion  are  a 
powder-magazine,  a  bake-house,  and  a  prisou,  in  the  floor  of 
which  are  four  dungeons,  and  in  the  upper,  two  rooms  and  an 
out-house  belonging  to  the  commandant.  The  commandant's 
house  is  thirty-two  yards  long  and  ten  broad,  and  contains  a 
kitchen,  a  dining  room,  a  bed-chamber,  one  small  room,  five 
closets  for  servants,  and  a  cellar.  The  commissary's  house  is 
built  on  the  same  line  as  this,  and  its  proportion  and  the  distri- 
bution 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  sol- 
diers' and  officers'  guard-room,  a  chapel,  a  bed-chamber,  a  closet 
for  the  chaplain,  and  an  artillery  store-room.    The  lines  of  bar- 


racks 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." 

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  neighbor- 
ing 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  Prance 
to  the  hated  English  rule,  ignorant  that  by  secret  treaty  the  ter- 
ritory west  of  the  Mississippi  had  been  ceded  to  Spain,  even  be- 
fore 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  cotton  woods.  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  Bottom  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  blufi"  opposite  Kaskaskia, 
which  then  became  the  seat  of  government.  From  this  date  its 
demolition  proceeded  rapidly.  In  1820  the  south-east  angle  was 
still  remaining.  Only  vestiges  of  the  old  Fortress  can  now  be 
traced.  Much  of  the  stone  was  carried  away,  and  used  for 
building  purposes  elsewhere.  Trees  of  stately  growth  cover  the 
foundations.  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  completion 
of  Fort  Chartres,  prosperity  prevailed  in  the  settlements  between 
the  Kaskaskia  and  the  Mississippi  rivers.  Prairie  du  Rocher, 
founded  about  the  year  1722,  received  considerable  accessions  to 
its  population.  Among  the  earliest  French  settlers  to  make 
their  homes  here  were  Etienne  Langlois,  Jean  Baptiste  Blais, 
Jean  Baptiste  Barbeau,  Antoine  Louvier,  and  the  La  Compte 
and  other  families,  whose  descendants  are  still  found  in  that 
locality.  New  settlements  sprang  up,  and  the  older  ones  in- 
creased 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  in- 
habitants a  commons.  The  Bottom  land,  extending  upward 
along  the  Mississippi,  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  gov- 
ernment 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  proclama-. 


24 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


tion  by  whicli  Louisiana  was  declared  free  to  all  his  subjects,  and 
all  restrictions  on  commerce  were  removed.  At  this  tiaie  many 
flourishing  settlements  had  sprung  up  in  Illinois,  centering  about 
Kaskaskia,  and  the  inhabitants  were  said  to  be  more  exclu- 
sively devoted  to  agriculture  than  in  any  other  of  the  French 
settlements  in  the  West. 

M.  D'Artaguette,  in  1732,  became  commandant  of  Fort  Char- 
tres,  and  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana.  Between  New  Orleans 
and  Kaskaskia  the  country  was  yet  a  wilderness.  Communica- 
tion by  way  of  the  Mississippi  was  interrupted  by  the  Chicka- 
saws,  allies  of  the  English  and  enemies  of  France,  whose  cedar 
barks  shooting  boldly  out  into  the  current  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  his  life.  An  officer  arrived  at  Fort  Chartres  from  M.  Prer- 
rier,  Governor-General  at  New  Orleans,  in  the  year  1736,  sum- 
moning M.  D'Artaguette,  with  his  French  soldiers,  and  all  the 
Indians  whom  he  could  induce  to  join  him,  to  unite  in  an  expe- 
dition 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  ou  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  consented,  against  his  better 
judgment,  to  an  immediate  attack.  One  fort  was  carried — an- 
other— and  then  in  making  the  assault  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  Chicka- 
saw country.  La  Buissoniere  joined  Bienville,  then  Governor- 
General  of  Louisiana,  with  a  force  of  two  hundred  Frenchmen 
and  three  hundred  Indians.  The  whole  force  under  Bienville 
was  twelve  hundred  French  and  five  hundred  Indians  and 
negroes.  His  men  suffered  greatly  from  malarial  fevers  and 
famine,  and  returned  the  following  spring  without  conquering  the 
Chickasaws,  with  whom  afterward,  however,  amicable  relations 
were  established. 

The  period  from  1740  to  1750  was  one  of  great  prosperity  for 
the  colonies.  Cotton  was  introduced  and  cultivated.  Kegular 
cargoes  of  pork,  flour,  bacon,  tallow,  hides  and  leather,  were 
floated  down  the  Mississippi,  and  exported  thence  to  France. 
French  emigrants  poured  rapidly  into  the  settlements.  Cana- 
dians 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  Macarty 
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  Mont- 
calm on  the  plains  of  Abraham,  and  the  capture  of  Quebec, 
began  with  a  struggle  for  the  territory  on  the  U]iper  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  conflict  on  the  border 


between  the  French  and  English  settlements.  But  France  was 
vanquished  in  the  struggle,  and  its  result  deprived  her  of  her 
princely  possessions  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

CHAEACTEE    OF   THE   EARLY   FEENCH  SETTLEES. 

The  early  French  inhabitants  were  well  adapted  by  their  pe- 
culiar traits  of  character  for  intercourse  with  their  savage  neigh- 
bors 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  ex- 
isted between  the  two  races.  They  stood  on  a  footing  of  equal- 
ity. The  Indian  was  cordially  received  in  the  French  village^ 
and  the  Frenchman  found  a  safe  resting-place  in  the  lodge  of 
the  savage.  In  scenes  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  pos- 
sible. Frequent  intermarriages  of  the  French  with  the  Indians 
strongly  cemented  this  union.  For  nearly  a  hundred  years  the 
French  colonists  enjoyed  continual  peace,  while  the  English  set- 
tlements 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  surroundings^ 
and  the  natural  address  with  which  Frenchmen  ingratiated 
themselves  in  the  favor  of  the  savages,  that  this  happy  condition 
of  affairs  existed.  But  something  must  be  ascribed  to  the  differ- 
ence of  character  between  the  French  and  English  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  bsing  projected,  and  the  white 
population  pushed  farther  and  farther  into  the  wilderness. 
AVhen  the  Indians  saw  their  favorite  haunts  broken  up,  and  their 
hunting  grounds  invaded,  a  natural  feeling  of  distrust  and  jeal- 
ousy 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  so  narrow  that  the  merry 
villagers  could  converse  with  ease  across  the  street,  each  from 
his  own  cottage.  Hunting  was  a  favorite  pursuit,  and  the  chief 
means  of  support.  With  this  mode  of  life  the  French  were  con- 
tent. Ambition  failed  to  incite  them  to  conquer  the  wilderness, 
and  push  their  settlements  to  unknown  regions,  and  avarice  was 
wanting  to  lead  them  to  grasp  after  great  possessions.  The  de- 
velopment of  the  "territorial  paradise,"  as  La  Salle  had  called 
the  region  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  to  retain 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


25 


command  until  it  was  found  possible  for  the  English  to  take  pos- 
session. M.  Neyon  de  Villiers  was  commandant  of  Fort  Char- 
tres,  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  am- 
munition 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  fur- 
nish 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  appear-  , 
ance  in  the  neighborhood  of  St.  Louis.  Arrayed  in  the  French  , 
uniform  given  him  by  the  Marquis  Montcalm  a  short  time  pre- 
vious 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  gather- 
ing of  Indians  at  Cahokia.  Becoming  intoxicated  he  started  to 
the  neighboring  woods,  when  an  Indian  of  the  Kaskaskia  tribe, 
bribed  by  an  English  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  possession  of 
Illinois  and  Fort  Chartres;  had  been  made  by  way  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, but  hostile  Indians  on  the  banks  of  the  river  had  driven 
back  the  expeditions.  Meantime  a  hundred  Highlanders  of  the 
Forty-second  Regiment,  those  veterans  "  whose  battle  cry  had 
echoed  over  the  bloodiest  fields  of  America,"  had  left  Fort  Pitt, 
now  Pittsburg,  and  descending  the  Ohio,  appeared  before  Fort 
Chartres  while  the  forests  were  yet  rich  with  the  varied  hues  of 
autumn.  St.  Ange  yielded  up  the  citadel.  It  was  on  the  tenth 
day  of  October,  1765,  that  the  ensign  of  France  on  the  ram- 
parts of  the  Fort  gave  place  to  the  flag  of  Great  Britain.  Kas- 
kaskia had  now  been  faunded  more  than  three-fourths  of  a 
century. 

On  the  surrender  of  Fort  Chartres,  St.  Ange  with  his  garrison 
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  Kaskaskia  and  other  set- 
tlements refused  to  live  under  English  rule.  Many  of  the  wealth- 
iest families  left  the  country  ;  some  removed  across  the  Mississip- 
pi, 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  government  of  France,  while  in  truth  that  ter- 
ritory  had  been  ceded  to  Spain  by  a  secret  treaty  in  1762. 
Others  joined  in  founding  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  inhabitants  have  declined  in  numbers  and  influence.  In 
1765,  the  population  of  the  Illinois  settlements  was  computed  as 
follows :  White  men  able  to  bear  arms,  seven  hundred ;  white 
women,  five  hundred ;  white  children,  eight  hundred  and  fifty  ; 
negroes,  nine  hundred ;  total,  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
fifty.  One-third  of  the  whites,  and  a  still  larger  proportion  of 
the  blacks,  removed  on  the  British  taking  possession.  A  popu- 
lation 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  enjoy- 
ment 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  mouths  after  his  arrival.  In 
the  period  that  elapsed  before  the  coming  of  his  successor,  St. 
Ange  d'Bellerive  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  Colonel  Wilkins  assumed  com- 
mand in  1768. 

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  Kaskaskia,  as  it 
appeared  \n  1766  : 

The  village  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  advantageous  situa- 
tion. 

"  Mons.  Paget  was  the  first  who  introduced  water  mills  in  this 
country,  and  he  constructed  a  very  fine  one  on  the  river  Cascas- 
quias, 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  JesuiU' 
house,  which  has  a  small  chapel  adjoining  it;  these,  as  well  as 
some  of  the  other  houses  in  the  village,  are  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  cat- 
tle, and  a  brewery  which  was  sold  by  the  French  commandant, 
after  the  country  was  ceded  to  the  English,  for  the  crown,  in 
consequence  of  the  suppression  of  the  order. 

"  Mons.  Beauvais  was  the  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 


26 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


and  ou  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  It  was  an  oblong  quad- 
rangle, of  -which  the  extreme  polygon  measured  290  by  251  feet. 
It  was  built  of  very  thick  square  timber,  and  dove-tailed  at  the 
angles.  An  officer  and  twenty  soldiers  are  quartered  in  the  vil- 
lage. The  officer  governs  the  inhabitants  under  the  direction  of 
the  commandant  at  Fort  Chartres.  Here  are  also  two  companies 
of  militia." 

Of  Prairie  du  Roeher,  Pitman  writes  that  "  it  is  a  small  village, 
consisting  of  twenty-two  dwelling-houses,  all  of  which  are  inhab- 
ited 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  corn  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  Mississippi  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  Roeher.  The  writer  goes  on  to  describe 
"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  the  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  Mississippi. 

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  Provence.  In  the  late  wars.  New  Orleans  and 
the  lower  parts  of  Louisiana  were  supplied  with  flour,  beef, 
wines,  hams,  and  other  provisions,  from  this  country.  At  pre- 
sent, its  commerce  is  mostly  confined  to  the  peltry  and  furs 
which  are  got  in  traffic  from  the  Indians;  for  which  are  received 
in  turn  such  European  commodities  as  are  necessary  to  carry  on 
that  commerce  and  the  support  of  its  inhabitants." 

CONQUEST   BY   CLAEKE. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  it  is  pro- 
bable that  the  British  garrison  (removed  in  1772  from  Fort 
Chartres  to  Fort  Gage,  opposite  Kaskaskia,)  had  been  with- 
drawn. 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  inha;bitants  were  rather  in 
sympathy  with  the  Americans  than  the  Eoglish,  but  probably 
understood  little  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  com- 
prehend the  advantages  which  would  result  from  the  occupation 
of  Illinois  by  the  Americans.  He  visited  Virginia,  where  he 
laid  his  plans  before  Patrick  Henry,  the  Governor  of  the  State. 
Clarke  received  his  instructions,  January,  1778,  and  the  follow- 
ing month  set  out  for  Pittsburg.  His  instructions  were  to  raise 
seven  companies  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  Cana- 
dian, 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  Kaskas- 
kia, 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  hun- 
dred and  fifty  houses.     The  British  commander  last  in  charge 
had  instilled  in  the  minds  of  the  people  the  impression  that  the 
Virginians,  otherwise  the  "Long  Knives,"  were  a  ferocious  band 
of  murderers,  plundering  houses,  slaughtering  women  and  chil- 
dren, and   committing   acts  of  the  greatest  atrocity.      Clarke 
determined  to  take  advantage  of  this,  and  so  surprise  the  in- 
habitants 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  entered  Kaskaskia  at  the  opposite 
extremities,  and  with  terrible  outcries  and  hideous  noises,  aroused 
the  terrified  inhabitants,  who  shrieked  in  their   alarm,  "  The 
Long   Knives !"    '"  The   Long  Knives   are  here !"     The  panic- 
stricken  townsmen  delivered  up  their  arms,  and  the  victory  was 
accomplished  without  the  shedding  of  a  drop  of  blood.     M. 
Rocheblave,  the  British  commandant,  was  unconscious  of  the 
presence  of  the  enemy,  till  an  officer  of  the  detachment  entered 
his  bed-chamber,  and  claimed  him  as  a  prisoner.     In  accordance 
with  his  original  plan  of  conquering  the   inhabitants  by  terror, 
and  then  afterward  winning  their  regard  and  gratitude  by  his 
clemency,  Clarke,  the  next  day,  withdrew  his  forces  from  the 
town,  and  sternly  forbade  all  communication  between  it  and  his 
soldiers.     Some  of  the  principal  militia  officers,  citizens  of  the 
town,  were  next  put  in  irons.    The  terror  now  reached  its  height. 
The  priest,  and  a  deputation  of  five  or  six  elderly  men  of  the 
village,  called  on  Clarke,  and  humbly  requested  permission  to 
assemble  in  the  church,  to  take  leave  of  each  other  and  com- 
mend their  future  lives  to  the  protection  of  a  merciful  God, 
since  they  expected   to  be  separated,  "perhaps   never  to  meet 
again.   Clarke  gruffly  granted  the  privilege.   The  whole  popula- 
tion convened  at  the  church,  and  after  remaining  together  a  long 
time,  the  priest  and  a  few  others  again  waited  upon  the  com- 
mander   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 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


27 


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  inhabi- 
tants of  Kaskaskia  were  readily  reconciled  to  a  change  of  gov- 
ernment. In  October,  1778,  the  Virginia  Assembly  erected  the 
conquered  territory  into  the  County  of  Illinois.  This  County 
embraced  all  the  region  north-west  of  the  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-commandant  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 
Eocher,  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 
de  Montbrun,  a  Frenchman,  succeeded  him  as  commandant  of 
Illinois  County.     Of  his  administration  but  little  is  known. 

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 
as  the  Commons.  All  the  villagers  had  free  access  to  this  as  a 
place  of  pasturage  for  their  stock.  From  this  they  also  drew 
their  supply  of  fuel. 

Individual  grants  were  likewise  made.  Under  the  French 
system,  the  lands  were  granted  without  any  equivalent  considera- 
tion in  the  way  of  money,  the  individuals  satisfying  the  authori- 
ties that  the  lands  were  wanted  for  actual  settlement,  or  for  a 
purpose  likely  to  benefit  the  community.  The  first  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  Bottom  they  commonly 
extended  from  the  river  to  the  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  Kas- 
kaskia 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  privilege  of 
making  grants,  subject  to  the  approval  of  his  Majesty,  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  Eocher,  much  of  it  already 
covered  by  French  grants  previously  made.  For  the  better  car- 
rying 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  conveyances  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  pre- 
viously 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 
Fj'ench  and  Canadian  inhabitants,  and  other  settlers,  who  had 
professed  allegiance  to  Virginia,  should  have  their  titles  con- 
firmed 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  to  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  unable  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.  Before  this,  in  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  Eocher,  Cahokia,  Fort  Chartres,  or  St.  Phillips. 
These  were  known  as  "  bead-right "  claims. 

At  an  early  date,  speculation  became  active  in  the  land 
claims  of  different  kinds ;  bead-rights,  improvement  rights,  mili- 
tia rights,  and  fraudulent  claims  were  produced  in  great  num- 
bers. The  French  claims  were  partly  unconfirmed,  owing  to  the 
poverty  of  that  people,  and  these  were  forced  on  the  market 
with  the  others.  The  official  report  of  the  commissioners  at 
Kaskaskia,  made  in  1810,  shows  that  eight  hundred  and  ninety 
land  claims  were  rejected  as  being  illegal  or  fraudulent.  Three 
hundred  arid  seventy  were  reported  as  being  supported  by  per- 
jury, and  a  considerable  number  were  forged.  There  are  fourteen 
names  given  of  persons,  both  English  and  French,  who  made  it 
a  regular  business  to  furnish  sworn  certificates,  professing  an 
intimate  knowledge,  in  every  case,  of  the  settlers  who  had  made 
certain  improvements  upon  which  claims  were  predicated  and 
when  and  where  they  were  located.  A  Frenchman,  clerk  of  the 
parish  of  Prairie  du  Eocher,  "  without  property  and  fond  of 
liquor,"  after  having  given  some  two  hundred  depositions  in 
favor  of  three  land  claimant  speculators,  "  was  induced,"  in  the 
language  of  the  report,  "  either  by  compensation,  fear,  or  the 
impossibility  of  obtaining  absolution  on  any  other  terms,  to  de- 
clare 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  confirmations  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 


28 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


commissioners  under  this  law  were  Michael  Jones,  John  Cald- 
well and  Thomas  Sloo.  Facts  damaging  to  persons  who  occu- 
pied positions  of  high  respectability  in  the  community,  were 
disclosed.  They  reported  that  the  English  claim  of  thirty  thou- 
sand acres  confirmed  by  Governor  St.  Clair  to  John  Edgar  and 
the  Governor's  son,  joha  Murray  St.  Clair,  was  founded  in 
neither  law  nor  equity,  that  the  patent  was  issued  after  the 
Governor's  power  ceased  to  exist,  and  the  claim  ought  not  to  be 
confirmed.     Congress,  however,  confirmed  it. 

For  a  period  of  several,  years,  emigration  was  considerably 
retarded  by  the  delay  in  adjusting  land  titles.  The  act  of  Con- 
gress passed  in  1813,  granting  the  right  of  pre-emption,  to  set- 
tlers, was  influential  in  bringing  the  public  lands  into  market. 
Emigrants  poured  into  the  country,  and  improvements  were 
rapidly  made. 

CIVIL   OEGANIZATION. 

The  history  of  Illinois  has  been  traced  while  a  possession  of 
France,  and  when  under  the  British  government ;  and  the  for- 
mation of  Illinois  as  a  County  of  Virginia  has  been  noted.  The 
several  States  afterwards  agreed,  on  the  adoption  of  -the  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  imper- 
fect administration  of  the  law  in  Illinois.  The  French  customs 
partly  held  force,  and  afiairs  were  partly  governed  by  the  pro- 
mulgations of  the  British  commandants  issued  from  Fort  Char- 
tres,  and  by  the  regulations  which  had  subsequently  been  issued 
by  the  Virginia  authorities. 

By  the  ordinance  of  1787,  all  the  territory  north-west  of  the 
Ohio  not  constituted  into  one  district,  the  laws  to  be  administered 
by  a  governor  and  secretary,  a  court  was  instituted  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,  afterward  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  In- 
diana was  formed,  of  which  Illinois  constituted  a  part,  with  the 
seat  of  government  at  Vincennes.  About  1806,  among  other 
places  in  the  "West,  Aaron  Burr  visited  Kaskaskia  in  an  en- 
deavor to  enlist  men  for  his  treasonable  scheme  against  the 
government.  In  1805,  George  Fisher  was  elected  from  Ran- 
dolph County  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Legislature,  and 
Pierre  Menard  was  chosen  member  of  the  Legislative  Council. 

By  act  of  Congress,  1809,  the  Territory  of  Illinois  was  con-  ' 
stituted.    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  Territorial 
Government  no  legislature  existed  in  Illinois.  All  election  for 
representatives  was   held  on  the   eighth,  ninth,  and   tenth  of 


October,  1812.  Shadrach  Bond,  then  a  resident  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  Legislature  convened  at  Kaskaskia  on 
the  twenty-fifth  of  November,  1812. 

In  April,  1818,  a  bill  providing  for  the  admission  of  Illinois 
into  the  Union  as  a  sovereign  State  was  passed  by  Congress.  A 
Convention  to  frame  a  Constitution  assembled  at  Kaskaskia  in 
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  the  Union  as  on  equal 
footing  in  all  respects  with  the  original  States.  The  Legislature 
again  met  at  Kaskaskia  in  January,  1819.  This  was  the  last 
session  ever  held  at  Kaskaskia.  Vandalia,  the  same  year,  was 
selected  as  Capital  of  the  State.  It  was  stipulated  that  Vanda- 
lia was  to  be  the  Capital  for  twenty  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  it  was  changed  to  Springfield.  Below  we  give  list  of 
governors  and  chief  officers  of  Illinois. 

Illinois  was  constituted  a  separate  Territory  by  act  of  Con- 
gress, February  3d,  1809. 

OFFICERS  OF  TSE  STATE  OF  ILLINOLS. 


FEOM  1809, 


TO  1878. 


ILLINOIS   TERRITORY. 

DATE     OF      COMMISSION 
NAME  or  ornC«E.  office.  OB    INArocnATION. 

Nathaniel  Pope, Secretary  of  the  Territory March  7,  1809. 

SNuiian  Edwards, Governor, ._. April  21,  1809. 

H,  H.  Maxwell, Auditor  Public  Accounts, 1816. 

Daniel  P.  Cook "  "  "  January  13,  1816. 

Joseph  Phillips Secretary December  17,   *16. 

Enbert  Blackwell Auditor  Public  Accounts, April  5,  1817. 

Elijah  C.  Berry "  "  "  August  29,  1817. 

John  Thomas, Treasurer li\%. 

STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Shadrach  Bond Governor, October  6  1818. 

Pierre  Menard Lieut-Governor, "         g  jgig. 

Elias  K.  Kane, Secretary  of  State, "  6  1818. 

Elijah  C.  Berry, Auditor  Public  Accounts, '  1818. 

John  Thomas Treasurer, jg^g] 

Robert  K.  McLaughlin,...        "        !August  2,  1819. 

Edward  Coles Governor, December.  1822. 

Adolphus  P.  Hubbard Lieut.- Governor, "  1822 

Samuel  D.  Lockwood, Secretary  of  State. •'        jg  jg22 

AUner  Field, Treasurer ".'.".'."'.".'.".'.January  14,' 1823* 

David  Blackwell, Secretary  of  State April  2  1823 

MorrisBirbeck "  «  , October  15,  1824. 

George  Forquer, "  »  January  15.  1825. 

^«.an  Edwards Governor December,  1826 

William  Kinney Lieut-Governor, «  ig2(5' 

James  Hall, Treasurer, Febr'v  12  18'>7 

Alexander  P.  Field, Secretary  of  State '.January  23,  1829. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


29 


John  Keynolds, Governor, December  9, 1830. 

Zadook  Casey, Lieut-Governor, "        9,1830. 

John  Dement Treasurer, February  5,  1831. 

James  T.  B.  Stapp, Auditor  Public  Accounts, August  27,  1831. 

Joseph  Duncan, Governor, December,  1834 

Alexander  M.  Jenkins, ...Lieut-Governor, "  1834. 

Levi  Davis Auditor  Public  Accounts Nov.   16,  1835. 

Charles  Gregory, Treasurer,- December  5, 1836. 

John  D.  Whiteside, '•         March  4,1837. 

Thomas  Carlin, Governor December,  1838. 

Stinson  H.  Anderson Lieut-Governor, "  1838. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas, Secretary  of  State, Nov.  30,  1840. 

Lyman  Trumbull "  "  March  1,  1841. 

Milton  Carpenter, Treasurer "  1841. 

James  Shields, Auditor  Public  Accounts, "  1841. 

Thomas  Ford, r: Governor, December  8, 1842. 

John  Moore, Lieut-Governor, "        8,  1842. 

Thomas  Campbell, Secretary  of  State, March  6,  1843. 

William  L.D.Ewing Auditor  Public  Accounts, "      6,  1843. 

Thomas  H.Campbell "     P.  A.  (to  fill  vacancy),     "    26,1848. 

Augustus  C.  French, Governor, December  9, 1846. 

Josephs.  AVells Lieut-Governor, "        9,1846. 

Horaces.  Cooley Secretary  of  State, "      23,  1846. 

John  Moore Treasurer,  (to  fill  vacancy), August  14,  1848. 

William  McMurtry, Lieut-Governor, January,  1849|. 

David  L.  Gregg, Sec'y.  of  State  (to  fill  vacancy),April  3, 1850. 

Joel  A.  Matteson, Governor, January,  1853. 

Gustavus  Koerner, Lieut-Governor, "        1853. 

Alexander  Starne, Secretary  of  State,.., "         1853. 

•<tfinian  W.  Edwards, Super't.  Public  Insfruction, March  24,  1854. 

William  H.Bissell, Governor, .January  12,  1357. 

John  Wood, Lieut-Governor, '•      12,  1857. 

Ozias  M.  Hatch Secretary  of  State, "      12,  1857. 

JesseK.  Dubois Auditor  Public  Accounts, "      12,1857. 

James  Miller, , Treasurer ''      12,  1857. 

William  H.  Powell, Super't.  Public  Instruction, "     12,  1857. 

Newton  Bateman, "  ''  "      10,  1859. 

William  Butler, Treasurer  (to  fill  vacancy) September  3, 1859. 

Eichard  Yates Governor, January  14,  18G1. 


Francis  A.  Hoffman, Lieut-Governor, 

Ozias  M.  Hatch, Secretary  of  State, 

JesseK.  Dubois Auditor  Public  Accounts, " 

William  Butler, Treasurer, '' 

Newton  Bateman Super't.  Public  Instruction, " 

Alexander  Stame, Treasurer, '' 

John  P.  Brooks, Super't.  Public  Instruction, '' 

Eichard  J.  Oglesby, Governor •' 

William  Bross, Lieut-Governor, " 

Sharon  Tyndale,  Secretary  of  State, '• 

Orlin  H.Miner Auditor  Public  Accounts, Dec.  12,  1864. 

James  H.  Beveridge, Treasurer, January  9,  1865. 

Newton  Bateman, Super't.  Public  Instruction January  10,  18G5. 


14,  1861. 
14, 1861. 
14, 1861. 
14, 1861. 
14, 1861. 
12, 1863. 
12, 1863. 
16, 1865. 
16, 1865. 
16, 1865. 


George  W.  Smith, Treasurer, January,  1867. 

John  M.  Palmer, Governor January  11,  1869. 

John  Dougherty, Lieut-Governor, «       u^  jggg 

Edward  Eummell, Secretary  of  State •'      n'  1869 

Charles  E.  Lippincott Auditor  Public  Accounts, "       11,' 1869. 

ErastusN.  Bates, Treasurer, "      ll' 1869 

Newton  Bateman, Super't.  Public  Instruction, January,  1871. 

ErastusN.  Bates, Treasurer, Nov.  8  1870. 

Eichard.  J.  Oglesby^. Governor January  13,  1873. 

John  L.  Beveridge, Lieut-Governor, "      13  i873 

George  H.  Harlow, Secretary  of  State, "      13  1873. 

Charles  E.  Lippincott,  ....Auditor  Public  Accounts, "      13.  1873. 

Edward  Eutz, Treasurer, «       13  I873. 

John  L.  Beveridge Governor, " 

John  Early,.., Lieut-Governor, " 

S.  M.  Cullom, Governor, <' 

Andrew  Shuman Lieut-Governor, «' 

George  H.  Harlow, Secretary  of  State, " 

Edward  Eutz, Treasurer, •< 

T.  B.  Needles, Auditor  Public  Accounts " 

S.  M.  Etter Super't.  Public  Instruction,....        " 

J.  P.  Slade, "  " 

J.  C.  Smith, Treasurer, •' 

S.  M.  Cullom, Governor " 

John  M.Hamilton, Lieut.-Govemor •' 

Henry  O.  Dement, Secretary  of  Sate, " 

Charles  P.  Swigert, Auditor  PublicAccounts, " 

Edward  Eutz, Treasurer,....- " 

Believing  that  it  will  be  interesting  to  the  youiiger  readers  of 
our  work,  we  subjoin  the  following  list  of  Presidents  of  the 
United  States : 


23,  1873. 
23, 1873. 

8, 1877. 

8, 1877. 

8, 1877. 

8, 1877. 

8, 1877. 

8, 1877. 

8, 1879. 

8, 1879. 
10,  1881. 
10,  1881. 
10,  1881. 
10,  1881. 
10,  1881. 


PREfllDENTS  UNDEE  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


TEEM  OF  SEEVICE. 


George  Washington Virginia 1789  to  1797,  eight  years. 

John  Adams Massachusetts,. ...1797  to  1801,  four  years. 

Thomas  Jefferson Virginia 1801  to  1809,  eight  years. 

James  Madison Virginia 1809  to  1817,  eight  years. 

James  Monroe Virginia, 1817  to  1825,  eight  years. 

John  Quinoy  Adams Massachusetts,. ...1825  to  1829,  four  years. 

Andrew  Jackson Tennessee, 1829  to  1837,  eight  years. 

Martin  Van  Buren New  York, 1837  to  1841,  four  years. 

William  H.  Harrison Ohio, 1841,  one  month. 

John  Tyler Virginia, 1841  to  1845,  four  years. 

James  K.  Polk Tennessee, 1845  to  1849,  four  years. 

Zaohary  Taylor Louisiana, 1849  to  1850,  one  year. 

Millard  Fillmore New  York, 18-50  to  1853,  three  years. 

Franklin  Pierce New  Hamp.shire,.1853  to  1857,  four  years. 

James  Buchanan Pennsylvania, 1857  to  1861,  four  years. 

Abraham  Lincoln,  (murdered)..IlHnois ,...1861  to  1865,  4  yrs.  1  mo. 

Andrew  Johnson Tennessee, 1865  to  1869,  four  years. 

Ul.vsses  S.  Grant :.. ..Illinois, 1869  to  1877,  eight  years. 

Eutherford  B.  Hayes Ohio, 1877,  to  18'!1,  fo-ir  vears. 

James  A.Garfield Ohio, 1881,  present  incumbent. 


POPUL^TIOISr  OF  ILLIINrOIS,  BY  OOUI>TTIES. 


P0PTJI.ATION. 

COUNTIES.  ,„_„ 

1870.  1880. 

Adams 56,362  69,148 

Alexander 10,564  14,809 

Bond 13,152  14,873 

Boone 12,942  11,527 

Brown 12,205  13,044 

Bureau 32,415  33,189 

Calhoun 6,562  7,471 

Carroll 16,705  16,895 

Cass 11,580  14,494 

Champaign 32,737  40,869 

Chrisfian 20,363  28,232 

Clark 18,719  21,900 

Clay ; 15,875  16,195 

Clinton 16,285  18,718 

Coles 25,235  27,065 

Cook  349,966  607,468 

Crawford 13,889  16,190 

Cumberland...  12,223  13,762 

De  Kalb '  23,265  26,774 

De  Witt 14,768  17,014 

Douglass 13,484  15,857 

Du  Page 16,685  19,187 


rOPTJLATION. 

COUNTIES.  ,„_„  _„„„ 

1870.  1880. 

Edgar 21,450  25,504 

Edwards 7,665  8,600 

Effingham 15,663  18,924 

Fayette 19,638  ?3,243 

Ford 9,103  15,106 

Franklin 12,652  16,129 

Fulton 88,291  41,249 

Gallatin 11,134  12,862 

Greene 20,277  23,014 

Grundy 14,938  16,738 

Hamilton 13,014  16,712 

Hancock 36,935  35,362 

Hardin 5,113  6,024 

Henderson 12,662  10,766 

Henry 36,506  36,609 

Iroquois 26,782  35,457 

Jackson  ..: 19,634  22,608 

Jasper....; 11,234  14,615 

Jefferson 17,864  20,686 

Jersey 15,054  15,646 

Jo  Daviess 27,820  27,534 

Johnson 11,248  13,079 


COUNTIES. 


POPULATION. 

1870.         1880. 


Kane, 39,091  44,966 

Kankakee 24,362  24,961 

Kendall 12,390  13,(184 

Knox 39,622  38,360 

Lake 21,014  21,299 

La  Salle 60,792  70,420 

Lawrence 12,533  13,663 

Lee 27,171  27,494 

Livingston 31,471  38,460 

Logan 23,053  25,041 

McDonough ...  26,609  27,984 

MoHenry 23,762  24,9U 

McLean 53,988  60,115 

Macon 26,481  30,671 

Macoupin 32,726  87,705 

Madison 44,131  60,141 

Marion 20,622  23,691 

Marshall 16,966  15,036 

Mason 16,184  16,244 

Massac 9,581  10,443 

Menard 11,735  13,028 

Mercer 18,769  19,601 


COUNTIES. 


POPULATION. 
1870.  1880. 


Monroe 12,982  13,682 

Montgomery...  25,314  28,086 

Morgan 28,463  31,619 

Moultrie 10,386  13,706 

Ogle 27,492  29,946 

Peoria 47,540  55,419 

Perry 18,723  16,008 

Piatt 10,963  16,583 

Pike 30,768  33,761 

Pope 11,4.37  13,2.56 

Pulaski 8,762  9,507 

Putnam 6,280  5,655 

Randolph 20,859  25,691 

Eiohland 12,803  15,546 

Eock  Island ...  29,783  38,314 

St.  Clair 61,068  61,860 

Saline 12,714  15,940 

Sangamon 46,352  52,902 

Schuyler 17,419  16,249 

Scott 10,530  10,745 

Shelby 26,476  30,282 

Stark 10,761  11,209 


POPULATION. 
COUNTIES. 

1870.         1880. 

Stephenson 30,608  31,970 

Tazewell 27,903  29,679 

Union 16,618  18,100 

Vermillion 30,388  41,600, 

Wabash  8,841  9,945 

Warren 23,174  22,940 

Washington ...  17,599  21,117 

WayOe 19,758  21,297 

White 16,846  23,089 

Whitesides 27,503  80,888 

Will 48,013  63,424 

Williamson ....  17,329  19,326 

Winnebago ....  29,301  80,618 

Woodford 18,956  21,630 

Total 2,639,891 3,078,769 

White,  3,032,174;  Colored,  46,- 
595,  including  214  Chinese,  and 
133  Indians. 


30 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


•CHAPTER  V. 


GEOGRAPHY,  AGRICULTURAL  RESOURCES,  AND  RAILROAD 

FACILITIES. 


I N  view  of  the  irregularity  of  conformation  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  it  is  hard  to  locate  St.  Clair 
county  specifically ;  to  speak  of  it  as  one  of  the 
south-western  counties  is  eminently  proper.  Geo- 
graphically it  lies  wholly  within  the  degree  belt 
lying  north  of  the  thirty-eighth  parallel  of  lati- 
tude, whilst  the  thirteenth  meridian  of  longitude, 
west  from  Washington,  bisects  it  north  and  south. 
Its  northern  boundary  is  38°  33'  north  latitude :  its 
southern  38°  10'  45"  north  ;  whilst  its  eastern  is  12".  42'  30"  west 
longitude  and  its  most  western  point  13°  16'  west.  Its  greatest 
length  east  and  west  is  thirty  miles.  Its  width  thirty  miles.  It 
contains  653.36  square  miles  or  418,162  acres.  It  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Madison ;  east  by  Clinton  and  Washington  ;  south  by 
Eandolph  and  Monroe ;  west  by  Monroe  county  and  the  State  of 
Missouri.  The  Mississippi  river  washes  its  western  shore  for  a  dis- 
tance of  thirteen  miles.  Belleville,  situated  north-west  of  the  cen- 
tre, and  midway  between  the  Mississippi  and  Kaskaskia  rivers  is 
the  capital  of  the  county.  It  is  fourteen  miles  distant  from  St. 
Louis,  and  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  from  Springfield,  111.  It  em- 
braces sixteen  full  and  five  fractional  parts  of  congressional  town- 
ships, and  is  divided  for  political  purposes  into  sixteen  voting  pre- 
cincts, known  as  Athens,  Belleville,  Cahokia,  Caseyville,  Center- 
ville,  Fayetteville,  French  Village,  East  St.  Louis,  Lebanon,  Mas- 
coutah,  O'Fallon,  Prairie  du  Pont,  Richland,  St.  Clair,  Summer- 
field  and  Shiloh. 

The  first  surveys  of  land  under  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  were  made  by  William  Rector  in  1808.  They  were  part  of 
Cahokia  Commons  and  military  claims.  The  surveying  of  Con- 
gressional townships  was  not  made  until  1814,  when  much  of  the 
work  was  done  by  John  Messinger,  who  was  a  sub-contractor  under 
Rector.  The  first  land  entries  of  these  lands  were  by  Robert  Le- 
man,  of  441.63  acres  in  section  1,  T.  2  N.  R.  8  W.  August  12th. 
1814 ;  by  John  Scott  of  320  acres  being  the  south  half  of  section 
1,  T.  1  N.  R.  8  W.,  August  13th,  1814;  by  Hugh  Alexander  320 
acres,  being  the  south  half  of  section  4,  T.  1  N.  R.  7  W.,  August 
13, 18 14.  After  August  15th,  there  were  many  more  the  same  year  ; 
for  records  of  which  see  histories  of  precincts.  Numerous  claims 
had  been  made,  notably  on  the  score  of  military  service  performed 
prior  to  this,  elsewhere  recorded  in  this  work. 

Pjpit^ixftoft.— According  to  the  census  of  1880  the  population  of 
the  county  is  61,850,  composed  of  persons  of  German,  English, 
French,  Swiss,  Irish  and  African  descent.  The  German  element 
largely  preponderates.  In  1870  the  population  was  51,068,  show- 
ing an  increase  of  nearly  twenty  per  cent,  during  the  last  decade. 

^Topography  .—The  surface  of  the  country  presents  a  pleasing 
variety,  gently  rolling  prairies  predominating.  Along  the  water 
courses,  or  in  some  instances,  notably  along  the  Mississippi,  at  a  re- 
move from  five  to  seven  miles  distant  are  precipitous  bluffs.  The 
valleys  intervening  are  low,  level,  and  oft-times  covered  to  con- 
siderable depth  with  rich  alluvial  deposits  from  swollen  rivers  hav- 
ing inundated  their  surface.  These  bluffs,  like  adamantine  walls 
checking  the  course  of  destruction  of  raging  floods,  are  from  eighty 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  height.  In  places  the  valleys  bear 
strong  evidences  of  having  been  beds  of  rivers  or  lakes.  The  relative 
proportion  of  open  and  woodland  is  as  six  to  one.     On  many  of  the 


prairies  are  stretches  of  young  and  vigorous  timber,  where  once 
was  an  open  space  consequent  upon  annual  fires  sweeping  everything 
before  them.  The  timber  belts  follow  the  meanderings  of  the  various 
streams  or  crown  the  bluffs  that  hem  in  their  valleys.  Following 
up  the  course  of  the  Kaskaskia  river  from  where  it  furnishes  a  di- 
viding line  between  this  and  Monroe  counties,  to  where  it  enters  on 
the  eastern  boundary,  a  shifting  of  bluffs  from  one  bank  to  the  other 
is  noted.  Opposite  these  bluffs  are  usually  low,  level  and  swampy 
tracts,  dotted  here  and  there  with  lakes.  These  low  lands  are  high-, 
ly  productive,  but  to  be  brought  to  their  highest  excellence  must  be 
drained  and  protected  against  overflow  by  means  of  levees.  The 
same  is  true  of  that  part  of  the  Great  Mississippi  bottom  lying  with- 
in this  county.  Sloughs  of  hundreds  of  acres  in  extent,  lie  along 
the  base  of  the  foot  hills  and  bluffs  bounding  this  "  bottom,"  rich 
in  vegetable  growth ;  prolific  in  exerting  miasmatic  influence ;  for- 
bidding both  to  the  eye  and  hand,  waiting  to  be  made  to  "  bloom 
and  blossom  as  the  rose"  before  the  hand  of  industry  when  once 
redeemed  by  drainage. 

Turkey  Hill: — Is  the  highest  point  in  the  county,  being  a 
short  distance  south-east  of  Belleville.  Its  situation  is  command- 
ing and  imposing,  overlooking  a  vast  stretch  of  prairie  and  valley, 
twenty  to  thirty  miles  in  extent  to  the  eastward.  To  the  south 
trends  Prairie  Tamarawais,  named  for  the  Indians  who  once  resort- 
ed hither.  The  largest  prairie  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the 
county  is  Twelve  Mile  prairie,  luxuriant  in  its  herbage  and  happy 
in  its  home.  East  of  Belleville  surrounded  by  gently  rising  hills, 
is  the  beautiful  Shiloh  Valley.  Its  loveliness  is  unsurpassed  by  any 
in  the  state.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  in  Mascoutah  pre- 
cinct, as  also  in  the  southern  in  Richland,  are  sloughs  of  consider- 
able extent  awaiting  the  construction  of  ditches  to  carry  off  their 
surplus  waters,  in  turn  to  become  fruitful  fields. 

The  native  kinds  of  timber  are  fully  set  forth  in  the  chapter  on 
the  Flora  of  the  county,  hence  demand  but  brief  mention  here. 
The  largest  bodies  of  timber  skirt  the  streams.  Oak  in  great  va- 
riety abounds  ;  embracing  black,  white,  over-cup,  post,  &c.  There 
are  also  white,  black  and  shell  bark  hickory ;  soft  and  sugar  maple; 
ash;  sasafras  ;  black  and  white  or  English  walnut ;  wild  cherry; 
elm;  pecan;  sycamore;  honey-locust ;  box-alder ;  paw-paw;  buck- 
eye ;  red-bud  ;  persimmon  ;  hackberry  and  other  woods  indigenous 
to  south  and  central  Illinois.  Of  shade  trees  there  are  black-locust, 
poplar,  elm,  maple,  catalpa  and  the  numerous  family  of  evergreens. 
The  preservation  of  forests  is  a  question  of  vital  importance.  When 
it  is  remembered  that  wood  is  an  article  of  constant  daily  consump- 
tion, positively  indispensable  to  nearly  every  use  and  appliance  of 
modern  civilization  ;  that  railroads  require  millions  of  ties  annual- 
ly for  purposes  of  construction,  as  well  as  reparation  ;  it  becomes 
a  question  of  moment,  when  will  the  supply  be  exhausted  ?  The 
cessation  of  prairie  fires,  with  their  besom  of  destruction,  admits  a 
growth  not  enjoyed  before  the  occupation  of  the  land  in  the  inter- 
ests of  agriculture. 

Hydrography:— The  county  is  well  supplied  with  natural  water 
courses.  Along  a  part  of  its  western  boundary  roll  the  waters  of 
the  Mississippi,  whilst  entering  from  the  east,  flowing  a  south-west- 
erly course,  leaving  on  the  south,  is  the  Kaskaskia.  Its  length 
within  the  county  is  about  thirty  miles.  It,  together  with  its  tribu- 
taries, drain  the  eastern  half  of  the  county.  Prominent  among  its 
tributaries  are.  Silver  Creek  (so  named  because  of  a  belief  in  the 
existence  of  silver  along  its  course)  which  enters  the  county  from 
the  north,  flows  a  southerly  course,  emptying  into  the  Kaskaskia 
above  New  Athens.  Big  Mud  creek  which  enters  the  county  from 
the  south-east,  flows  a  north-westerly  course,  emptying  into  the  Kas- 
kaskia below  Fayetteville.      Dosa  creek,  which  drains  much    of 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


31 


Athens  precinct  and  their  numerous  smaller  tributaries,  many  of 
which  are  fed  by  springs. 

The  south-central  part  of  the  county  is  drained  by  Richland 
creek  and  its  affluents  ;  the  western  by  Prairie  du  Pont  and  its  trib- 
utary Grand  Marius.  The  Prairie  du  Pont,  with  its  swift  current, 
furnished  the  first  utilized  water  power  in  the  county.  In  addition 
to  these  natural  means  of  drainage,  tiling  has  been  resorted  to  with 
excellent  results.  "Wet,  marshy  lands  have  through  its  agency,  been 
reclaimed  and  made  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  progressive  husband- 
men by  the  rich  harvests  of  the  cereals  they  have  borne.  This  til- 
ing, which  has  been  in  general  use  only  a  few  years,  is  made  out  of 
a  species  of  fire  clay,  of  which  extensive  beds  are  found  in  the 
county.  As  the  benefits  of  tile  draining  become  more  manifest 
it  will  be  still  more_  extensively  used,  and  millions  will  be  added  to 
the  wealth  of  the  county. 

Springs:  — In  many  places,  particularly  along  the  hill  sides  which 
fringe  the  valleys,  are  perennial  springs  of  clear,  pure,  cold,  water. 
The  most  notable  of  these  are.  Falling  Springs  in  section  22,  T.  1 
S.  R.  10  W.  two  miles  south-east  of  Prairie  du  Pont.  The  French 
Call  the  spring  L'eau  Tomb.  It  gushes  out  of  a  perpendicular  rock 
of  the  Mississippi  bluff,  with  a  fall  of  seventy  feet  to  the  bottom 
below.  At  times  in  the  spring  the  volume  of  water  is  greatly  aug- 
mented ;  when  its  rushings  may  be  heard  for  a  considerable  distance. 
At  one  time,  away  back  in  the  dim  past,  when  Catholic  missiona- 
ries sought  its  surrounding  shades,  wherein  to  teach  savages  the 
ways  of  life  everlasting,  an  effort  was  made,  under  their  direction, 
to  utilize  these  waters  by  the  construction  of  a  water-mill.  All 
traces  of  it  have  long  since  disappeared.  "  The  oldest  inhabitant," 
in  early  childhood,  had  the  crumbling  ruins  pointed  out  to  him,  and 
was  told  that  a  hollow  log  conveyed  the  water  to  the  wheel  of  the 
mill.  At  the  present  the  springs  are  much  visited  by  pleasure  and 
picnic  parties. 

A  short  distance  east  of  Falling  Springs  in  sccton  24,T.  1  S.,R- 10 
W.,  are  springs  quite  strongly  impregnated|with  magnesia.  Their  tem- 
perature is  uniform  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  fluctuating  only  from 
54°  to  56°  Fahrenheit.  The  Bellville  Fish  Club,  organized  some 
six  years  ago,  have  constructed  artificial  ponds,  wherein  they  are 
propagating  trout.  The  third  year  after  the  stocking  of  the  ponds, 
trout  of  a  pound  weight  were  taken  from  them. 

On  section  35,  same  township  and  range,  is  the  largest  spring 
in  the  county.  It  pours  forth  from  an  aperture  in  the  rocks,  at 
about  the  height  of  a  man,  from  the  general  surface  below.  Tliis 
entire  township  is  full  of  springs,  some  of  them  only  filled  in  wet 
seasons.     After  the  waters  recede,  they  become  dry  sink-holes. 

Mounds. — Much  speculation  has  been  indulged  in  respecting  the 
group  of  mounds  to  the  south  and  south-west  of  Cahokia,  and  also 
Monks  Mound,  just  across  the  line  in  Madison  county.  Many 
archaeologists  have  claimed  them  as  evidences  of  the  existence  of  a 
prehistoric  race ;  others  as  the  work  of  aborigines — the  progenitors 
of  the  Indian  race.  Others  still  have  asserted  that  the  finding  of 
crosses  within  these  mounds,  attest  the  builders  to  have  been  de- 
scendants of  European  races,  perhaps  the  Northmen  who  crossed 
the  Arctic  Ocean  several  centuries  before  Columbus  made  his  dis- 
coveries in  the  new  world.  They  cannot  think  of  crosses  save  as 
emblems  of  Christianity.  To  them  the  link  between  the  Christian 
religion  and  the  cross  is  plain.  Again,  there  are  those  who  in  view  of 
the  irregularity  of  position  of  these  mounds, — fifty  to  sixty  in 
number,  scattered  over  St.  Clair  county,— believe  them  but  the 
result  of  natural  causes — drift-clay  and  loess,  deposited  by  waters 
which  have  receded  from  them.  The  fact  that  human  bones  are 
found  within  them,  instead  of  proving  them  to  have  been  made  for 
interment  of  the  dead,  only  proves  their  having  been  selected  for 


such  purpose.  That  they  were  erected  as  fortresses,  or  as  homes,  is 
scouted  by  many  ;  whilst  scientists  are  laboring  earnestly  to  satisfy 
prying  human  curiosity  respecting  these  speculations,  the  mounds 
have  an  existence,  whether  by  human  or  divine  agency.  They  vary 
in  height  from  ten  to  sixty  feet,  or  more,  and  in  other  dimensions 
their  variance  is  equally  noticeable.  Sugar  Loaf,  on  the  Bluff, 
near  Falling  Springs,  is  among  the  highest  of  these  mounds  in  this 
county.  From  its  summit  a  view  of  rare  beauty  spreads  out,  like  a 
panorama,  before  the  eye. 

Soil. — This  county  contains  nearly  all  the  elemental  classes  of 
soil  known  to  agricultural  writers.  Argillaceous,  calcareous  and 
silicious  soils,  vegetable  and  alluvial  loams,  are  represented  by 
turns  in  the  different  geological  formations  which  abound,  often 
blended  with  each  other  in  such  minute  gradations  as  to  make  it  a 
task  of  some  difficulty  to  classify  them  without  preceding  analysis. 
All  these  soils  are  characterized  by  an  abundance  of  live  spring- 
water,  and  a  spontaneous  growth  of  natural  grasses  and  forest 
trees.  Cultivation  of  the  soil  has  greatly  diminished  the  former,  so 
that  where  once  a  luxuriant  growth  of  wild-grasses  furnished  suste-. 
nance  to  herds  of  cattle  and  droves  of  hogs,  cultivated  fields  more 
than  compensate  for  their  extinguishment.  Here  we  find  a  stretch 
of  the  great  sedimentary  basin  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  with  its 
aggregations  of  centuries,  constituting  a  soil  of  inexhaustible  fer- 
tility, and  destined  yet  to  be  the  great  market-garden  whence  will 
be  supplied  the  wants  of  one  of  our  nation's  great  cities.  Hard  by, 
frowning  down  upon  this  v.alley,  are  the  bluffs,  whose  heights  are 
crowned  with  clay  loam,  or  here  and  there,  but  a  thin  covering  of 
silicious  soil,  whose  unfruitfulness,  by  a  wise  dispensation  of  nature, 
is  compensated  for  by  the  coal  measure  beneath.  Then  again, 
farther  to  the  east,  are  reached  vast  prairies  with  a  wondrous 
wealth  of  black  soil,  from  one  to  six  feet  in  depth,  and  commonly 
termed  "vegetable  mould,"  from  the  fact  that  for  untold  ages,  ex- 
tending back  to  the  glacial  period,  immense  accummulations  of 
decayed  vegetable  matter  have  been  successively  adding  their 
treasures,  fertilizing  these  plains, — fitting  them  to  become  the  sup- 
ply stations  for  a  dense  population.  Imperceptibly  do  the  different 
varieties  of  soil  blend  and  intermingle.  There  is  too,  a  cold, 
yellowish  clay,  protruding  itself  to  the  surface  in  places  on  the 
uplands,  but  its  extent  is  limited.  With  proper  appliances,  such 
as  drainage,  there  is  but  little  land  in  the  county  not  susceptible  of 
cultivation. 

Agriculture. — In  no  branch  of  industry  have  more  rapid  strides 
been  made  than  in  the  development  of  agriculture.  The  earliest 
inhabitants,  after  the  aborigines,  of  this  county,  were  the  French, 
at  Cahokia.  Their  lands  were  allotted  to  them  in  long,  narrow 
strips,  usually  one  arpent  in  width,  containing  sixty  acres  and 
upwards.  To  supply  a  home  demand  in  cereals  was  the  height  of 
their  ambition.  Hence  inventive  genius  sought  no  improvement  in 
the  sickle  or  reap-hook,  no  substitute  for  tramping  out  the  ripened 
grain  with  horses  or  oxen,  nor  yet  an  improvement  on  the  wooden 
mould-board  plow.  Their  plowing  was  mostly  done  with  oxen, 
which  were  yoked  together  by  the  horns,  and  not  by  the  neck,  as 
now.  It  was  probably  a  hundred  years  after  the  first  settlements 
were  made  before  a  wagon  was  brought  into  requisition.  They  were 
constructed  without  an  atom  of  iron.  Because  of  this,  the  first 
Americans  that  located  here  called  them  "bare-footed  carts."  But 
little  corn  was  raised.  Spring  wheat  was  mostly  sowed ;  potatoes 
were  raised  in  considerable  quantities.  Exportation  of  surplus 
crops  was  occasionally  attempted,  by  means  of  flat-boats,  to  New 
Orleans.  The  market  was  uncertain ;  the  navigation  of  the  river 
more  so.  Apples,  pears,  and  a  few  peaches  and  apricots  were  culti- 
vated.    The  French  rarely  ever  troubled  themselves  with  milking 


32 


HISTOE  OF  ST.  CLAIR  CO  UNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


cows,  but  turned  the  calves  out  with  other  cattle,  and  hence  not 
sufficient  butter  or  cheese  was  made  for  home  consumption.  But 
little  advancement  was  made  by  early  settlers  m  other  parts  of  the 
county  for  many  years,  although  a  spirit  of  industry  was  every- 
where manifest.  In  1810  parties  constructed  a  raft  on  the  Kas- 
kaskia,  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  Athens,  and  after  loading  it 
with  corn,  potatoes,  chickens,  etc.,  floated  down  to  New  Orleans, 
where  they  disposed  of  cargo  and  raft.  Comparing  then  and  now, 
what  changes  are  noted ;  what  rapid  strides  have  been  made  in  the 
onward  march,  keeping  time  to  the  music  of  progress  which  every- 
where pervades  the  Mississippi,  the  greatest  of  earth's  valleys. 
Figures,  those  Roman  sentinels  placed  upon  the  watch-towers  of 
human  understanding,  present  this  story  of  growth  in  their  true 
light.  According  to  the  returns  made  by  the  assessor,  there  were 
raised  in  this  county  last  year  2,509,381  bushels  wheat;  1,774,740 
bushels  corn ;  269,465  bushels  oats ;  149,136  bushels  apples,  and 
other  crops  in  like  proportion — figures  that  will  compare  favorably 
with  those  presented  by  some  entire  states.  (For  agricultural 
statistics  in  full,  see  table  elsewhere  in  this  work.) 

The  mission  of  the  farmer  is  to  create  wealth,  and  here  it  is 
being  well  fulfilled.  St.  Clair  is  second  to  no  county  in  the  state 
when  we  consider  the  great  variety  and  lavish  production  of  grains, 
fruit3,  etc.  Not  only  are  great  crops  of  the  cereals  produced,  but 
the  potato  and  other  tuberous  plants  are  successfully  cultivated, 
adding  largely  to  the  export  trade  of  the  county.  All  varieties  of 
grapes,  berries,  currants  and  garden  vegetables  grow  well,  pro- 
ducing a  trade  that  adds  liberally  to  the  profits  of  agriculture. 
Blue-grass,  timothy  and  clover  are  the  principal  cultivated  grasses, 
and  afibrd  rich  pasturage  for  stock,  and  the  finest  quality  of  hay 
for  the  market  The  acreage  of  pasturage  and  grass  lands  is  con- 
stantly being  increased. 

Transportation  Facilities. — The  first  means  employed  for  trans- 
portation of  surplus  products  were  rafts  and  rudely-constructed 
boats,  on  the  Mississippi,  along  the  western  boundary  of  the  county  ; 
then  the  Kaskaskia,  an  important  tributary,  which  furnished  an 
outlet  for  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  As  early  as  1811  Jacob 
Short  and  Moses  Quick  made  a  trip  by  raft,  carrying  provisions 
to  the  New  Orleans  market.  It  was  doubted  whether  the  Mississippi 
river  could,  with  its  swift  current,  be  navigated  by  steamboats. 
These  doubts  were  dispelled  by  the  landing  at  St.  Louis  of  the 
"  General  Pike,"  commmanded  by  Capt.  James  Reed,  on  August  2, 
1817.  It  was  nearly  two  years  thereafter  that  a  second  boat 
ascended  the  river.  This  was  the  "  Harriet,"  from  New  Orleans, 
on  June  2,  1819 ;  it  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Armitage.  The  trip 
was  made  in  twenty-seven  days.  This  was  the  beginning  of  river 
communication  between  the  cities  of  New  Orleans  and  St.  Louis, 
by  steamboat.  And  at  this  writing,  a  large  per  cent-  of  the  coal, 
manufactured  and  agricultural  products  of  St.  Clair  county,  find 
their  way  to  the  various  markets  of  the  world,  by  means  of  numer- 
ous barges  and  steamboats,  on  the  national  highway  of  this  valley, 
the  bosom  of  the  Mississippi,  whose  waters  lave  the  western  bounda- 
ries of  this  county. 

Railroads. — Railroading  is  comparatively  a  new  industry.  Six 
thousand  years  have  added  their  contributions  to  science,  yet  during 
fifty  years  only  have  railroads  been  known.  Scientists  of  all  ages 
have  grappled  with  problems  of  government,  social  life,  and  ques- 
tions of  demand  and  supply,  and  left  the  records  of  their  efforts  for 
our  instruction.  The  accumulated  wisdom  of  centuries  furnish 
store-houses  from  whence  we  can  draw  such  instruction  ;  but  rail- 
roads are  things  of  to-day.  Our  fathers  died  after  welcoming  their 
birth,  and  yet,  brief  as  the  span  of  time  since  their  conception,  what 
mighty  levers  they  have  become  in  the  advancement  of  the  world's 


material  industries  !  Archimedes  said,  "  Give  me  whereon  to  stand, 
and  I  will  move  the  world."  Railroads  have  found  the  standing- 
space,  reached  forth  their  iron  arms,  and  moved  the  world.  All 
this,  too,  within  the  memory  of  living  men.  The  locomotive  steam- 
engine  was  invented  by  George  Stephenson,  of  England,  and  was 
first  successfully  used  September  27, 1825,  on  a  short  road  built 
from  Stockton  to  Darlington.  In  1830  there  were  only  twenty-three 
miles  of  railroad  in  the  United  States.  The  road  between  Baltimore 
and  Ellicott's  Mills,  Maryland,  114  miles  in  length,  was  the  first 
regularly  opened  for  passenger  traffic,  which  was  in  July  of  that 
year.  The  train  was  termed  a  "  Brigade  of  Cars."  It  was  the  first 
road  to  present  a  time-card.  The  "Brigade  of  Cars"  was  drawn 
by  horses  or  mules.  It  had  not  then  been  demonstrated  that  loco- 
motives could  attain  a  speed  of  over  six  miles  an  hour,  nor  was  it 
until  later  in  the  same  season,  when  George  Stephenson's  "  Rocket " 
attained  the  then  remarkable  speed  of  fifteen  miles  an  hour.  In 
the  Baltimore  American  of  July,  1830,  was  the  advertisement  of  this 
road,  stating  that  a  sufficient  number  of  cars  had  been  provided  to 
accommodate  the  traveling  public,  and  that  a  brigade  would  leave 
the  depot  on  Pratt  Street  at  6  and  10  o'clock,  A.M.,  and  at  3  and  4 
o'clock,  P.M. ;  returning,  would  leave  the  depot  at  Elllicott's  Mills 
at  6  and  8  J  o'clock,  A.M.,  and  12i  and  6  o'clock,  P.M.  This  time- 
card  was  accompanied  with  positive  orders  prohibiting  any  passen- 
gers from  entering  the  cars  without  tickets,  also  with  a  provision 
for  engaging  cars  by  the  day,  where  parties  were  so  disposed. 

In  1837  was  constructed  the  first  railroad  in  the  Mississippi  val- 
ley, now  known  as  the  Illinois  and  St.  Louis  railroad.  It  was  built 
by  Governor  Reynolds,  Samuel  B.  Chandler,  George  Walker  and 
Daniel  Pierce.  In  "  My  Own  Times,"  Governor  Reynolds  says : 
"  I  had  a  large  tract  of  land  located  on  the  Mississippi  Bluff,  six 
miles  from  St.  Louis,  which  contained  in  it  inexhaustible  quantities 
of  bituminous  coal.  This  coal  mine  was  the  nearest  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
of  any  other  on  this  side  of  the  Mississippi  river.  I  had  also  most 
of  the  land  on  which  a  railroad  might  be  constructed  to  convey  the 
coal  into  the  market.  Under  these  circumstances,  a  few  others, 
with  myself,  decided  to  construct  a  railroad  from  the  bluff  to  the 
Mississippi,  opposite  St.  Louis.  This  road  was  about  six  miles 
long,  and  although  short,  the  engineer  made  an  erroneous  calcula- 
tion of  the  cost — making  the  estimate  less  than  one-half  of  the  real 
cost.  We  all  embarked  in  this  enterprise  when  we  knew  very 
little  about  the  construction  of  a  railroad,  or  the  capacity  of  the 
market  for  the  use  of  the  coal.  lu  fact,  the  company  had  nothing 
but  an  excessive  amount  of  energy  and  vigor,  together  with  some 
wealth  and  standing,  with  which  to  construct  the  road ;  and  we 
accomplished  it.  We  were  forced  to  bridge  a  lake  over  2,000  feet 
across,  and  we  drove  down  piles  more  than  eighty  feet  into  the 
mud  and  water  of  the  lake,  on  which  to  erect  the  bridge.  We  put 
three  piles  on  the  top  of  one  another,  fastened  the  ends  together, 
battering  the  piles  down  with  a  metal  battering-ram  of  1,400  pounds 
weight.  The  members  of  the  company  themselves  hired  the  hands— 
at  times  one  hundred  a  day— and  overlooked  the  work.  They  built 
shanties  to  board  the  hands  in,  and  procured  provisions  and  lodging 
for  them.  They  graded  the  track,  cut  and  hauled  the  timber, 
piled  the  lake,  built  the  road,  and  had  it  running  in  one  season  of 
the  year  1837.  This  work  was  performed  in  opposition  to  much 
clamor  against  it,  that  it  would  not  succeed,  that  we  would  break  at 
it,  and  such  predictions.  We  had  not  the  means  nor  the  time  in 
one  year  to  procure  the  iron  for  the  rails,  or  the  locomotive,  so  we 
were  compelled  to  work  the  road  without  iron,  and  with  horse- 
power. We  did  so,  and  delivered  much  coal  to  the  river.  It  was 
strange  how  it  was  possible  we  could  construct  the  road  under 
these  circumstances.     It  was  the  first  railroad  built  in  the  Mi-sis- 


HI8T0BY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


33 


sippi  valley,  and  such  an  improvement  was  new  to  every  one,  as 
well  as  to  our  company.  The  members  of  the  company  and  I — 
one  of  them — lay  out  on  the  premises  of  the  road  day  and  night 
while  the  work  was  progressing  ;  and  I  assert  that  it  was  the 
greatest  work  or  enterprise  ever  performed  in  Illinois  under  the 
circumstances.  But  it  well-nigh  broke  us  all."  Such  is  the  history 
of  what  is  now  known  as  the 

Illinois  and  St.  Louis  Railroad,  which  was  not  regularly  char- 
tered until  February,  1841,  when  the  name  "St.  Clair  Railroad 
Coal  Co.,"  was  bestowed  on  it.  In  1859  the  name  was  changed  to 
"Pittsburg  Railroad  and  Coal  Co.,"  and  in  1865  it  was  changed 
to  that  it  now  bears.  For  years  it  was  run  without  suitable  ter- 
minal facilities.  Its  bridge  connections  and  depot  grounds  in  St. 
Louis  were  not  secured  until  1878.  The  enti/e  cost  of  the  road, 
including  these  added  facilities,  has  not  been  less  than  $75,000  per 
mile.  Under  its  present  manageraeot,  which  is  aggressive,  it  is 
proving  remunerative.  It  has  a  length  of  15  miles,  1,799  feet,  with 
10  miles,  3,581  feet  of  side-track  and  switches.  Its  assessed  value 
is  8202,914.  The  gross  earnings  for  the  year  ending  December 
31,  1880,  were  $203,830.62,  or  an  average  of  $7,549.28  per  mile  of 
road.  Of  these  earnings  $32,534.  82  were  derived  from  the  trans- 
portation of  passengers ;  $159,566.12  from  freight,  and  $11,70968 
from  miscellaneous  sources,  The  working  expenses,  including 
taxes,  amounted  to  $132,994.40,  an  average  of  $4,922  02  per  mile ; 
and  the  excess  of  earnings  over  expenses  and  taxes  was  $40,365.32. 
In  addition  to  paying  the  annual  interest  on  mortgage  bonds  and 
floating  debt  amounting  to  $20,169.54,  the  company  expended 
$41,041.74  on  equipment  and  construction. 

Cairo  Short  Line. — This  road  crosses  St.  Clair  county  diagonally 
from  East  St.  Louis,  via  Centreville  station,  Belleville,  Freeburg, 
Lementon,  New  Athens,  Lenzburg  and  Marissa,'  a  distance  of  40i 
miles,  leaving  the  county  a  few  rods  west  of  its  most  south-eastern 
corner.  Its  business  within  the  limits  of  this  county  is  large,  en- 
gaged as  it  is  in  the  transportation  of  coal  from  a  majority  of 
.stations ;  of  flour  from  Marissa,  Athens,  Freeburg  and  Belleville ; 
of  building  stone  from  Centreville  station ;  of  grain  from  every 
station.  Its  extension  from  Belleville  eastward  to  its  present  termi- 
nus, Du  Quoin,  in  Perry  county,  seventy-three  miles  from  St. 
Louis.  Number  of  miles  of  road,  71 ;  aggregate  length  of  sidings,  19 
miles ;  total  track  mileage,  90  miles.  Miles  of  main  line  are  mostly 
laid  with  steel  rails,  where  it  connects  with  the  Illinois  Central, 
was  made  in  1870.  When  first  built  it  was  called  Belleville  and 
Southern  Illinois  railroad,  and  was  at  once  leased  to  the  St.  Louis, 
Alton  and  Terre  Haute  railroad  company  for  a  term  of  nine  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  years,  the  lessees  covenanting  to  pay  $88,000 
per  annum.  Large  amounts  are  being  expended  on  equipment; 
passenger  cars  are  being  equipped  with  all  modern  appliances  for 
safety  and  comfort ;  in  brief,  everything  possible  is  being  done  to 
popularize  the  "Short Line"  and  utilize  its  resources  in  the  interest 
of  patrons. 

The  Ohio  and  Mississippi. — This  road  crosses  the  northern  part 
of  the  county  from  East  St.  Louis,  via  Caseyville,  Forman,  O'Fallon, 
Lebanon  and  Summerfield,  two  miles  east  of  which  last  mentioned, 
it  eaves  the  county.  In  1848  the  legislature  of  Indiana  passed  an 
act  incorporating  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad,  empowering  it 
to  locate,  construct  and  maintain  a  road  leading  from  Lawrence- 
burg  on  the  Ohio,  to  Vincennes  on  the  Wabash,  and  contemplating 
an  eastern  extension  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  a  western  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  Illii^ois, 
extended  the  contemplated  aid  by  acts  of  their  respective  bodies, 
and  in  1857  the  entire  length  of  the  road  was  opened  through  for 
5 


business.  The  panic  of  that  year  greatly  affected  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 
direction  the  road  was  maintained  until  its  reorganization  was 
effected.  Parties  desiring  the  establishment  of  the  road  on  a  firmer 
basis  bought  largely  of  its  stock,  organized  a  new  company,  and 
held  c  ntrol  until  1874,  when  it  again  became  embarrassed,  and 
after  much  litigation,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver,  John 
King,  Jr.,  Vice-President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad, 
acting  in  that  capacity.  Under  the  present  administration,  the 
road  has  been  put  in  excellent  order ;  the  credit  of  the  company 
has  been  maintained,  and  the  floating  debt  has  been  materially 
reduced. 

Louisville  and  Nashville  formerly  (St.  Louis  and  South  eastern). — 
This  road  crosses  the  county  from  East  St.  Louis  in  a  South-easterly 
direction  via  French  Village,  Birckner,  Belleville,  Reutchler  Sta- 
tion, Mascoutah,  and  Pensoneau,  leaving  the  county  about  two 
miles  east  of  the  latter.  Its  length  in  the  county  is  thirty-five  and 
four-fifth  miles,  including  side  tracks  and  switches.  Trains  first  ran 
over  the  line  from  East  St.  Louis  to  Mt.  Vernon,  a  distance  of  76 
miles,  in  November,  1870,  a  little  more  than  a  year  after  its  incor- 
poration. This  road  transports  annually  large  quantities  of  coal, 
grain,  flour,  and  other  products,  and  has  done  much  toward  build- 
ing up  Mascoutah,  Belleville,  and  other  places  along  the  line.  The 
company  was  marked  by  great  enterprise  and  energy  in  the  prose- 
cution of  their  work.  , 

Cairo  and  St.  Louis. — This  road,  which  owns  but  little  less  than 
four  miles  of  track  in  this  county,  makes  an  East  St.  Louis  connec- 
tion by  running  its  trains  over  the  East  St.  Louis  and  Carondelet,  a 
distance  of  nine  and  a  half  miles,  was  incorporated  in  February, 
1865,  but  was  not  completed  until  1873.  It  is  a  narrow  gauge 
(three  feet)  so  constructed  because  it  was  thought  to  be  economical 
both  in  construction  and  operation.  Many  townships  and  some 
counties  through  which  it  passed  refused  to  make  good  their  sub- 
scriptions, hence  the  road  has  been  financially  crippled.  It  now 
does  a  good  business,  a  prominent  factor  in  which  is  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  Big  Muddy  coal.  Its  local  business  is  not  thoroughly 
developed,  and  its  through  traffic  is  competitive. 

Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific. — More  widely  and  commonly 
known  as  the  Wabash,  has  a  length  of  but  two  and  one-eighth 
miles  in  this  county,  running  north,  parallel  with  the  C.  and  A., 
and  I.  and  St.  L.  lines.  Through  a  system  of  consolidation,  unpa- 
ralleled in  American  railways,  it  has  become  a  giant  among  them. 
This  consolidation,  it  is  estimated,  has  added  $50,000,000  to  the 
value  of  bonds  and  shares  of  the  various  companies  now  incDrpora- 
ted  in  the  Wabash  system.  The  road  takes  its  title  from  the  river 
of  that  name,  a  tributary  of  the  Ohio,  which  in  part  separates  the 
States  of  Indiana  and  Illinois. 

For  convenience  in  management  and  operation  the  road  is  divided' 
into  two  grand  divisions,  the  eastern  and  western,  with  headquarters 
in  St.  Louis.  Under  its  new  name  it  has  rapidly  extended  its  lines 
east  and  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  at  present  comprises  the 
following  divisions,  with  termini  and  lengths  as  presented : 

EASTERN    DIVISION. 

Toledo,  Ohio,  to  St.  Louis,  Mo 136  njiles. 

Decatur,  III.,  to  Quincy,  111 151  " 

Blufis,  111.,  to  Hannibal,  111 50  '' 

Maysville,  111.,  to  Pittsfield 6  " 

Clayton,  111.,  to   Keokuk,  Iowa 49  " 

Logansport,  Ind.,  to  Butler,  Ind 93  " 

Ed wardsville.  111.,  to  Edwardsville  Crossing  .  10  " 

Bement,  111,,  to  Chicago .  151  " 


34 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Decatur,  111.,  to  Havana,  111 141  miles 

Peoria,  111.,  to  Jacksonville 83      " 

State  Line,  111.,  to  Warsaw.  Ill 227      " 

Total  miles  east  of  the  Mississippi  .    .    .    .    V6^\ 

WESTERN    DIVISION. 

St.  Louis  to  Kansas  City 277  miles. 

Brunswick,  Mo.,  to  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa..  .    .  224  " 

Eoseberry,  Mo.,  toClarinda,  Iowa 22  " 

Moberly,  Mo.,  to  Ottumwa,  Iowa, 131  " 

North  Lexington,  Mo.,  to  St  Joseph,  Mo  .    .      76  " 

Centralia,  Mo.,  to  Columbia,  Mo 22  '  " 

Salisbury,  Mo.,  to  Glasgow,  Mo 15  " 

Ferguson,  Mo.,  to  St.  Louis 10  " 

Total  miles  west  of  the  Mississippi  ....  777 

Grand  total 2158 

In  addition  to  this  a  branch  road  is  being  now  constructed  to 
Detroit,  Michigan,  which,  with  a  connection  whose  terms  are  already 
agreed  upon  with  the  great  railway  system  of  Canada,  and  with  a 
further  addition  of  double  steel  track  thence  to  the  seaboard,  will 
make  this  the  most  stupendous  combination  known  to  railway  sys- 
tems. The.  management  of  the  Wabash  have  recently  secured  a  con- 
trolling interest  in  the  Iron  Mountain  Kailway,  and  its  connection 
with  the  system  of  railways  of  Texas,  and  the  Southwestern  States 
and  Territories  will  greatly  increase  its  earnings,  and  will  do  much 
toward  populating  and  developing  the  resources  of  the  great  south- 
west. This  road  is  progressive  in  every  respect.  The  finest  pas- 
senger cars  on  the  continent  are  run  on  its  lines,  and  every  effort  is 
being  made  to  advance  the  interests  of  its  patrons.  The  length  of 
the  line  in  St.  Clair  county  is  two  miles  and  816  feet.  The  Wa- 
bash is  one  of  the  best  roads  in  the  west. 

Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis  R.  R — Its  general  offices  are  located 
at  Indianapolis,  which  point  is  its  eastern  and  St.  Louis  its 
western  terminus.  The  length  of  the  line  of  this  road  in  St.  Clair 
county  is  two  miles,  2,640  feet,  and  the  entire  length  of  the  track 
from  either  terminus  is  261  miles.  The  road  bed  is  of  substantial 
build,  and  well  ballasted,  tied  and  ironed  :  the  only  station  in  this 
county  on  its  line  is  East  St.  Louis.  In  January,  1851,  the  "  Terre 
Haute  and  Alton  Railroad  Company,"  now  (I.  and  St.  L.)  was  in- 
corporated by  special  act  of  the  Illinois  legislature,  with  power  to 
build  and  operate  a  road  between  Terre  Haute  and  Alton.  Subse- 
quently, in  1852,  the  "  Belleville  and  Illinoistown  Railroad  Com- 
pany" was  authorized  by  act  of  the  Illinois  legislature  to  construct 
a  road  from  East  St.  Louis,  or  Illinoistown,  to  Belleville,  also  to  ex- 
tend the  same  in  the  direction  of  Alton.  In  February,  1854,  a 
special  act  was  passed,  authorizing  the  consolidation  of  the  two 
roads.  The  two  companies  did  not  avail  themselves  of  this  act  until 
October,  1856,  at  which  time  the  whole  line  was  put  in  operation 
and  opened  to  traffic. 

Rock  Island  Division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  R.  R. 
— This  road  has  no  line  in  this  county,  but  operates  its  cars  and  ex- 
tensive traffic  from  Alton  Junction  to  East  St.  Louis  over  the  I.  and 
St.  L.  R.  R  ;  it  also  has  terminal  facilities  in  St.  Louis.  It  was 
formerly  the  (Rockford;  Rock  Island  and  St.  Louis  R.  R.)  and  was 
built  in  the  years  '69  and  '70.  Trains  commenced  running  between 
Beardstown  and  East  St.  Louis  about  the  middle  of  May,  1870.  In 
December,  1876,  a  lease  was  effected,  and  it  passed  under  the 
management  of  the  C.  B.  and  Q.  R.  R.  Comany. 

St  Louis,  Vandalia  and  Terre  Haute  R.  R. — The  length  of  line 
of  this  road  in  St.  Clair  county  is  ten  miles,  3,690  feet,  and  in  July, 
1868,  trains  were  first  run  between  East  St.  Louis  and  Highland, 
and  in  July  of  the  following  year  the  road  was  completed  from 


East  St.  Louis  to  Effingham,  ninety-eight  miles,  and  a  through 
train  service  established  between  East  St.  Louis,  and  Chicago  in 
connection  with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  in  July,  1870, 
the  last  rails  were  laid  between  Effingham  and  the  Indiana  State 
line.  Immediately  thereafter  a  through  line  of  sleeping  cars  was  es- 
tablished between  New  York  and  St.  Louis,  and  the  "  Vandalia 
route "  at  once  became  the  popular  route  from  St.  Louis  to  the 
seaboard. 

Belleville  and  0' Fallon,  a  railroad  of  eight  miles  length,  uniting 
Belleville  and  0  Fallon,  was  built  by  General  E.  F.  Winslow  in 
1870-71.  The  city  of  Belleville  paid  $50,000  in  bonds  to  the  road, 
which  liberal  donation  was  supplemented  by  one  from  OFallon  of 
$15,000.  The  original  design  was  to  extend  the  road  to  Troy,  Madi- 
son county,  where  it  would  forma  junction  with  the  Vandalia  Line. 
After  grading  the  road  north-easterly  from  O'Fallon  to  the  Madison 
county  line  the  project  was  abandoned,  and  only  eight  miles  of  track 
were  laid.  It  is  controlled  by  the  South-eastern  railroad  company. 
All  its  traffic  is  accommodated  by  a  single  daily  train,  which  makes 
a  trip  from  Belleville  in  the  morning,  returning  the  same  day. 

Chicago  and  Alton.*— T\ns  is  one  of  the  most  important  roads  of 
the  great  system  of  railroads  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  entire 
length  of  line  in  St.  Clair  county,  including  side  tracks,  is  only  two 
miles,  2,264  feet. 

The  air-line  between  St.  Louis   aod  Chicago,  the  two  most  pro- 
minent cities  of  the  Great  West,  and  the  most  pronounced  commer- 
cial rivals,  occupies  a  prominent  position  among  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi railroads.     This  may  be  attributed  partly  to  the   persistent 
manner  in  which  the  management  has  fostered  and  developed  the 
local  business  along  the  line  of  the  road,  and  partly  to  the  fact  that 
since  its  reorganization  in  1862  the  company  has,  until  recently, 
been  the  only  one  in  the  railroad  system  of  St.  Louis,  east  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  which  paid  dividends  to  its  stockholders.     Little 
did  they  dream  who  obtained  a  charter,  in  or  about  1847,  for  the 
Altou  and  Sangamon  Railroad,  and  who  were  indefatigable  in  se- 
curing subscriptions  along  the  proposed  line,  (72  miles  in  length), 
for  its  construction  and  equipment,  that  they  were  laying  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  one  of  the  most  valuable  railroad  properties  in  the  coun- 
try, and  that  within  the  comparatively  brief  period  of  thirty  years, 
the  line  between  Alton  and  SprlngSeld  would  be  merely  a  small 
link  in   an  extended  railroad   system,  under  one  comprehensive 
management,  of  more  than  840.34  miles.     The  road  between  Alton 
and  Springfield  was  comiiienoed  in   1846,  and  completed  in  1852, 
with  the  proceeds  of  Iidiui  fide  local  subscriptions  to  stock,  under  the 
management  of  a  local  board  of  directors.     After  the  completion  of 
the  road  to  Springfield,  additional  legislation  was  obtained  for  ex- 
tending the  line  to  Bloomington.     Mr.  Henry  Dwight  conceived 
the  idea  of  extending  the  road  to  Joliet,  and  making  a  connection 
at  that  point  for  Chicago  and  the  East.     In  furtherance  of  this  idea 
he  obtained  a  charter  for  a  company  called  the  "  Chicago,  and  Mis- 
sissippi Railroad  Company,"  and  having  obtained  a  board  of  direc- 
tors  in  his  interest,  issued   bonds  to  the  amount   of  $3,500,000  in 
1856,  with  the  proceeds  of  which  the  line  was  completed  through  to 
Joliet.     Subsequently  a  lease  of  the  road  from  Alton  to  Joliet  was 
made.     The  road  was  sold  at  auction,  and  it  was  bid  off  by  Gover- 
nor Mattison  and  one  or  two  associates  in  December,  1857,  for  the 
paltry  sum  of  $5,000.     The  road  between  Alton  and  Joliet,  at  the 
time  of  this  sale,  represented  a  cost  for  construction  and  equipment 
of  $9,535,000,  or  about  $46,640  per  mile  of  road.     The  purchasers 
at  this  auction  sale  organized  themselves  into  a  company,  called  the 

*  For  data  on  C.  and  A.  R.  R.  we  are  indebted  to  an  article  by  Mr.  Ed. 
Vernon,  in  a  work  entitled,  "  Railway  and  River  System  of  St.  Louis,"  and 
published  by  L.  U.  Eeavis. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


35 


"  St.  Louis,  Alton  and  Chicago  Railroad  Company,"  and  perhaps 
under  ordinary  circumstances  might  have  made  their  venture  a 
success ;  but  the  business  and  general  interests  of  the  whole  coun- 
try were  so  crippled  by  the  panic  of  1857,  that  failure  seems  to  have 
been  accepted  as  a  foregone  conclusion,  and  after  various  struggles 
for  existence,  the  property  passed  in  1860  under  the  hands  of  a  re- 
ceiver, Mr.  James  Robb,  formerly  a  banker  of  New  Orleans,  and  a 
gentleman  of  recognized  executive  and  financial  ability.  Under  Mr. 
Robb's  management  an  era  of  prosperity  was  inaugurated,  and  the 
afiairs  of  the  company  were  so  successfully  managed  that  in  1862 
measures  were  taken  for  reorganizing  the  company,  and  in  October 
of  that  year  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  Company  was  formed, 
with  the  former  receiver,  as  president  of  the  new  company.  The 
attention  of  the  management,  after  the  reorganization,  was  directed 
to  securing  an  independent  line  under  their  own  control  between 
Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  which  were  recognized  as  the  future  ter- 
mini of  the  property.  In  furtherance  of  these  views,  a  lease  in 
perpetuity  was  first  secured  of  the  Joliet  and  Chicago  Railroad. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Mr.  John  J.  Mitchell,  a  warm  friend 
and  supporter  of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  interests,  offered  to  build 
an  independent  road  from  Alton  to  East  St.  Louis,  provided  that 
the  Chicago  and  Alton,  on  completion  of  the  road,  merge  the 
franchises  of  the  Alton  and  St.  Lpuis  charter,  obtained  in  1850, 
then  owned  and  controlled  by  Mr.  John  J.  Mitchell,  with  their  own. 
The  proposition  was  accepted,  and  during  the  winter  of  1864  trains 
of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  were  running  to  East  St.  Louis, 
and  terminating  on  valuable  depot  grounds,  obtained  by  Mr.  Mit- 
chell for  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  from  the  Wigging's  Ferry 
Company.  From  this  date  forward  this  railroad  company  assumed 
an  independent  position  in  the  metropolis  of  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
as  the  chief  transportation  line  between  St.  Louis  and  Chicago. 
Four  years  later  viz. :  in  1868,  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad 
Company  secured  control  of  the  line  from  Bloomington  to  Godfrey, 
a  distance  of  180  miles,  built  under  the  charter  of  the  St.  Louis, 
Jacksonville  and  Chicago  Railroad  Company.  The  lease  of  this 
valuable  property  covers  a  period  of  nine  hundred  and  ninety 
years,  and  the  rental  paid  is  40  per  cent,  of  gross  earnings,  with  the 
understanding  that  such  40  per  cent,  shall  in  no  case  amount  to  a 
less  sum  annually  than  $240,000. 

Subsequently  in  1870-71,  arrangements  were  made  with  the  St. 
Louis,  Jacksonville  and  Chicago  Railroad  Company  for  building 
a  branch  road  from  Roodhouse  to  Louisiana,  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  a  distance  of  38  miles,  under  an  agreement,  whereby  the  Chi- 
cago and  Alton  Railroad  Company  guaranteed  the  annual  interest 
on  bonds  issued  on  construction  of  such  branch.  At  the  same  time 
control  was  obtained  of  the  charter  and  franchises  of  the  Louisiana 
and  Missouri  River  Railroad  Company,  which  has  been  incorpora- 
ted by  the  legislature  of  the  state  of  Missouri,  to  build  a  railroad 
from  Louisiana  to  Kansas  City,  an  estimated  distance  of  216  miles, 
together  with  a  branch  from  Mexico  to  Cedar  City,  opposite  Jeffer- 
son City,  five  miles  in  length.  It  is  believed  that  in  consideration 
of  building  this  road  in  Missouri,  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad 
Company  were  to  receive  $80,000  per  mile,  $15,000  mortgage  bonds, 
$10,000  preferred,  and  $5,000  ordinary  stock  of  the  Louisiana  and 
Missouri  River  Railroad  Company,  and  in  addition  such  county 
and  local  aid,  as  has  been  donated  in  favor  of  the  enterprise.  The 
fifty  miles  of  road  from  Louisiana  to  Mexico  were  opened  for  trafiic 
in  the  winter  of  1871-72,  the  line  from  Mexico  to  Fulton,  24J  miles, 
March  6th,  1872,  and  the  line  from  Fulton  to  Cedar  City,  25J  miles, 
in  July  of  the  same  year.  At  the  time  when  the  Chicago  and  Alton 
Railroad  Company  assumed  control  of  the  road  in  Missouri,  it  was 
intended  to  build  an   independent  line   from  Louisiana  to   Kansas 


City,  but  when  the  road  had  reached  Mexico,  and  when  considera- 
ble grading  had  been  done  between  that  point  and  Glasgow,  legal 
questions  were  raised  as  to  the  legality  of  certain  county  and  town- 
ship aid  which  had  been  voted  beyond  the  Missouri  river  at  Glas- 
gow, and  the  courts  held  that  the  charter  only  contemplated  a  line 
between  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers,  and  not  crossing  the 
river  at  various  points,  hence  the  subventions  beyond  Glasgow  were 
illegal.  The  decision  involved  the  suspension  of  the  through  line 
project,  and  arrangements  were  made  with  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas 
City  and  Northern  Railway  Company  for  trafiic  arrangements,  over 
its  road  from  Mexico  to  Kansas  City,  and  for  running  through  pas- 
senger and  sleeping  cars  on  the  line  between  Chicago  and  Kansas 
City,  via  Bloomington,  Roodhouse,  Louisiana  and  Mexico.  It  is 
almost  needless  to  say  that  the  advantages  for  through  business  thus 
obtained,  have  been  abundantly  utilized,  to  the  pecuniary  advan- 
tage of  both  railroad  companies  interested  in  the  through  line ;  also 
that  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Kansas  City  line  has  been  one  of  the 
most  popular  for  passenger  traffic  between  the  east  and  west.  The 
rapid,  and  it  might  be  truly  said  unparalleled  development  of  Kan- 
sas, Colorado  and  South-western  Missouri,  during  the  past  six  years, 
convinced  the  managers  of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  of  the 
necessity  for  owning  and  controlling  an  independent  line  from 
Mexico  to  Kansas  City,  and  the  views  thus  entertained  assumed  a 
practical  shape  during  1878,  by  the  formation  of  an  independent 
company,  to  build  what  is  known  as  the  Missouri  Extension,  from 
Mexico  to  Kansas  City,  it  being  understood  that  the  extension, 
when  built,  should  be  leased  in  perpetuity  by  the  Chicago  and 
Alton  Railroad  Company,  and  thus  become  an  integral  part  of  that 
extended  railroad  system.  The  through  line  from  Chicago  to  Kan- 
sas City,  via  Mexico  and  Glasgow,  will  not  exceed  485  miles  in 
length,  and  the  distance  will  be  about  four  miles  shorter  than  that 
via  Galesburg  and  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad. 

CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  ROAD. 

Main  Line — Chicago  to  Joliet,  perpetual  lease  .    .    .    87.20  miles. 

Joliet  to  East  St.  Louis,  owned    ....  243.50  " 

Western  Division — Dwight  to  Washington,  owned  .    .    69.80  " 

Branch  to  Lacon,  owned    ....    10.00  " 

Chicago  and  Illinois  River,  leased 23.86  " 

Coal  Branch,  owned, 3.98  " 

Jacksonville  Division — Bloomington  to  Godfrey,  leased  1 50.60  " 

Roodhouse  to  Louisiana,  including  bridge,  owned  .    .    38.10  " 

Louisiana  and  Missouri  Railroad — perpetual  lease  .  .  " 

Louisiana  to  Mexico 50.80  " 

Mexico  to  Cedar  City 50.00  '< 

Missouri  Extension — perpetual  lease " 

Mexico  and  Glasgow,  Marshall  to  Kansas  City  .  162.50  " 

Total  length  of  road  owned  and  leased 840.30      " 

Number  of  counties  in  the  state  of  Illinois  traversed  by  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  sixteen,  15.68  per  cent,  of  the  whole  number  of 
counties  in  the  state. 

True  value  of  real  and  personal  estate  in  said  sixteen  counties, 
44.42  per  cent,  of  the  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate  in  the 
state. 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  land  in  said  sixteen  counties,  23.25 
per  cent,  of  the  whole  improved  property  in  the  state. 

Value  of  farms  in  said  sixteen  counties,  26.46  per  cent,  of  the 
total  value  of  improved  farms  in  the  state. 

Estimated  value  of  farm  productions  in  said  sixteen  counties, 
23.09  percent,  of  the  total  estimated  value  of  farm  productions  in 
the  state. 


36 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS 


Value  of  live  stock  in  said  sixteen  counties,  24  per  cent,  of  thg 
total  value  of  live  stock  in  the  state. 

Number  of  counties  in  the  state  of  Missouri  traversed  by  Chicago 
&  Alton  Eailroad,  eight,  7  per  cent,  of  the  whole  number  of  coun- 
ties in  the  state. 

Population  of  said  counties,  about  16  per  cent,  of  the  total  popu- 
lation of  the  state. 

Assessed  value  of  real  and  personal  estate  in  eight  counties, 
about  15  per  cent,  of  the  total  assessed  value  of  real  and  personal 
estate  in  the  state. 

True  value  of  real  and  personal  estate  in  said  eight  counties,  9.81 
per  cent,  of  the  total  true  value  of  real  and  personal  estate  in  the 
state. 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  land  in  said  eight  counties,  15  92 
per  cent,  of  the  whole  improved  property  in  the  state. 

Value  of  farms  in  said  eight  counties,  14.88  per  cent,  of  the  total 
value  of  improved  farms  in  the  state. 

Estimated  value  of  farm  productions  in  said  eight  counties,  13.50 
per  cent,  of  the  total  estimated  value  of  farm  productions  in  the 
state. 

Value  of  live  stock  in  said  eight  counties,  13.66  per  cent,  of  the 
total  value  of  live  stock  in  the  state. 

In  brief  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Eailroad  Company  has,  by  a 
judicious  system  of  permanent  improvement,  and  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  all  the  inodern  appliances  which  tend  to  the  preservation 
of  life  and  property,  placed  itself  in  such  a  condition,  materially 
and  physically,  that  its  financial  future  cannot  be  aifected  by  the 
contingencies  which  severally  affect  other  roads.  Its  success  as  one 
of  the  great  highways  of  the  west  is  an  assured  reality.  It  might 
be  appropriately  noted  here  that  while  much  of  this  road's  past  suc- 
cess may  be  attributed  to  its  admirable  geographical  location,  em- 
bracing a  very  rich  section  of  the  country  for  local  traffic,  and  with 
termini  on  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers, 
equally  as  much  is  due  to  the  stability  and  management  during 
the  past  decade  and  a  half,  and  to  the  fact  that  the  property  has 
never  yet  become  the  foot-ball  of  speculators.  Nothing,  perhaps, 
has  a  greater  tendency  to  demoralize  the  working  force  on  any  rail- 
road, and,  it  might  be  said,  impair  its  usefulness  to  the  public,  than 
the  spasmodic  changes  in  the  control  and  management,  which 
have  characterized  the  history  of  most  western  railroads,  and  from 
these  vicissitudes  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  has  been  happily 
exempt.  The  executive  management  and  the  entire  directors  have 
been  practically  the  same  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and  where  to 
recognized  skill  in  operating  there  has  been  added  the  financiering 
and  engineering  ability  of  the  president,  and  the  solid  unanimous 
support  of  wealthy  stockholders,  and  directors  distinguished  for 
business  ability,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  Chicago  and  Alton 
Eailroad  has  maintained  a  firm  position  as  an  investment  in  the 
moneyed  centers  of  the  world,  and  has  acquired  a  well-merited 
popularity  with  the  traveling  and  shipping  public. 

Illinois  Central  Railroad. — This  is  one  of  the  largest  corporations 
in  Illinois,  and  through  its  connections  with  the  Vandalia,  and  the 
Cairo  Short  Line  R.  R.,  it  properly  becomes  a  part  of  the  railroad 
systere  of  St.  Clair  county  and  St.  Louis.  In  September,  1850, 
Congress  passed  an  act,  and  it  was  approved  by  President  Fillmore, 
granting  an  aggregate  cif  2,595,053  acres  to  aid  in  building  this 
road.  The  act  granted  the  right  of  way,  and  gave  alternate  sec- 
tions of  land  for  six  miles  on  either  side  of  the  road.  The  grant  of 
land  was  made  directly  to  the  State.  On  the  10th  of  February, 
1851,  the  legislature  of  Illinois  granted  a  charter  to  an  eastern 
company,  represented  by  Eantoul  and  others,  to  build  it  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $1,000,000.     The  legislature,  in  granting  the  char. 


ter,  and  transferring  to  the  corporation  the  lands,  stipulated  that 
seven  per  eent.  of  the  gross  earnings  of  the  road  should  be  paid  semi- 
annually into  the  treasury  of  the  state  forever.  This  wise  provision, 
in  lieu  of  the  liberal  land  grant,  yields  a  handsome  annual  revenue 
to  the  state;  also  that  in  the  event  of  war  government  transporta- 
tion should  be  furnished  at  a  certain  reduction  from  the  prices 
regularly  paid  by  the  general  government  for  such  service.  The 
proceeds  of  land  sales  have  been  regularly  applied  to  the  redemp- 
tion of  constiuction  bonds,  and  it  is  significant  that  while  the 
original  issue  of  mortgage  bonds  amounted  to  $22,000,000,  that 
amount  has  been  so  reduced  that  in  1890  the  whole  issue  will  be 
retired,  and  the  stockholders  will  own  a  road  more  than  700  miles 
in  length,  fully  equipped,  with  no  outstanding  liability,  other  than 
the  share  of  capital.  It  may  be  noted  here,  that  when  the  general 
government  donated  lands  to  the  states  of  Illinois,  Mississippi,  and 
Alabama,  it  was  intended  that  through  the  aid  derived  from  these 
lands  a  through  artery  of  travel  should  be  established  between  the 
Lakes  and  the  Gulf-ports.  Had  the  war  not  supervened,  the  pro- 
ject would  then  have  been  carried  out  in  its  entirety,  and  the  North 
and  South  movement  of  traffic  would  have  been  fully  developed, 
but  the  enforced  delay  in  carrying  out  the  original  programme,  was 
utilized  in  building  up  the  state  of  Illinois,  and  in  perfecting  the 
track  of  this  road.  The  resources  of  the  company  were  taxed  to 
their  utmost  capacity  during  the  war,  in  furnishing  transportation 
for  the  general  government ;  but  the  interests  of  communities  along 
the  line  were  carefully  watched,  and  a  local  business  was  built  up, 
which  in  volume  and  value  far  exceeded  the  most  sanguine  expec- 
tation of  the  proprietary.  Strict  attention  to  local  business  has 
always  been  a  marked  characteristic  of  Illinois  Central  Eailroad 
management,  hence  their  lands. have  been  eagerly  sought  after; 
and  they  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  the  value  of  the  road 
is  not  dependent  entirely  upon  its  identification  with  the  through 
business  of  the  country,  but  on  the  contribution  of  local  traffic, 
which  shows  a  permanent  and  certain  increase.  On  the  opening  of 
the  Vandalia  line,  the  Illinois  Central  made  its  first  direct  advance 
toward  securing  a  representation  in  the  traffic  between  Chicago 
and  St.  Louis.  Two  through  trains  were  run  daily,  via  Effingham. 
In  1870,  on  completion  of  the  Belleville  and  Illinois  Southern  Eail- 
road to  Du  Quoin,  the  southern  business  of  the  Illinois  Central  Eail- 
road, originating  in  St.  Louis,  was  transferred  from  Odin  and  Ash- 
ley, the  former  connections,  to  the  Cairo  Short  Line.  The  following 
statistics  in  reference  to  the  physical  condition  and  equipment  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Eoailroad  will  not  be  devoid  of  interest : 

Main  line,  Cairo  to  La  Salle,    opened  for  business 

Jan.  8, 1855 308.99  miles 

Galena  Branch,  La  Salle  to  Dunleith,  opened  June 

12,  1855 146.73      " 

Chicago  Branch,  Chicago   to   Centralia   Junction, 

opened  Sept.  26,  1856 249.78      " 

Springfield  division,  Gilman  to  Springfield,  opened 

Sept.,  1871 111,47     « 

Total  length  of  main  Line  and  Branches  .    .    .      816.97      " 

Aggregate  length  computed  as  single  track  .  .  .  .  833.68  miles. 
Length  of  Sidings 132.68      " 

Total  length  of  track  owned  in  Illinois.  .    .    .      966. 36      " 
Railroad  iands.— Believing  that  there  are  many  farmers  of  St. 
Clair  county  who  desire  a  profitable  investment,  we  would  there- 
fore call  the  attention  of  all  who  are  desirous  of  procuring  more 
land  or  larger  farms,  to  the  large  quantity  of  good  farming  land 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


37 


the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  still  offer  for  sale,  along 
their  line  in  Washington,  Jefferson,  Jackson,  Perry,  Franklin  and 
Williamson  counties  in  this  state. 

Title. — The  title  to  these  lands  offered  for  sale  is  as  perfect  as 
human  agency  can  make  it.  It  was  originally  donated  by  Act  of 
Congress  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature transferred  to  this  company  and  its  Trustees.  No  incum- 
brance of  any  kind  whatever.  To  all  who  desire  in  good  faith  to 
examine  any  of  these  lands,  the  railroad  company  issue  half  rate 
tickets  to  and  from  the  nearest  points  to  the  land,  and  if  such 
ticket-holder  buys  even  a  forty  acre  tract,  they  will  allow  what  he 
paid  for  such  ticket  as  part  payment  on  the  purchase.  These  lands 
are  productive,  the  climate  healthy,  and  prices  very  low — usually 
from  $4  to  $8  per  acre,  on  easy  terms  and  a  low  rate  of  interest. 
These  lands  can  be  purchased  on  the  following  terms : 

One-quarter  cash,  with  five  per  cent,  interest  for  one  year  in  ad- 
vance on  the  residue ;  the  balance  payable  in  one,  two  and  three 
years,  with  five  per  cent,  interest  in  advance  each  year  on  the  part 
remaining  unpaid.  For  example,  for  forty  acres  of  land  at  $5.00 
per  acre,  the  payments  would  be  a3  follows : 

Cash  Payment,  $50.00  principal,  and  $7.50  interest. 

In  one  year,         50.00  "  "       5.00 

In  two  years,       50.00  "  '•       2.50 

In  three  years,     50.00  " 

$200.00  $15.00 

Or,  the  same  land  may  be  bought  for  $180.00,  all  cash,  as  we  deduct 
ten  per  cent,  when  all  cash  is  paid.  Full  information  on  all  points 
relating  to  any  particular  locality  or  tract,  will  be  furnished  on 
application,  either  in  person  or  by  letter,  to 

P.  Daggy,  Land  Commissioner, 
Room  11,  No.  78  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  III. 

A  Railroad  was  built  by  the  Illinois  Coal  Company,  operating 
at  CaseyvJUe,  from  that  point  to  Brooklyn,  a  short  distance  north 
of  East  St.  Louis,  which  was  completed  in  February,  1851.  It  was 
supplied  with  T  rails.  In  three  years  the  company  failed ;  the 
road  and  fixtures  were  sold  to  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad 
Company.  The  rails  were  taken  up  and  used  in  the  construction 
of  that  road.     The  old  road  bed  can  still  be  traced. 

St.  Louis  Bridge.^ — Spanning  the  Mississippi  from  East  St.  Louis, 
111.  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  is  the  great  railway  and  roadway,  bridge.  The 
initial  step  toward  commencing  this  celebrated  structure  was.  An  act 
passed  by  the  Missouri  legislature  in  1864,  incorporating  the  "  St. 
Louis  and  Illinois  Bridge  Company."  This  act  was  approved 
February  5,  1864.  An  amended  act  was  passed  and  approved 
February  20,  1865.  About  the  same  time  the  legislature  of  Illinois 
passed  an  act  authorizing  the  incorporators  under  the  Missouri  act, 
under  certain  stipulations,  to  build  a  bridge  to  the  Illinois  shore 
near  the  dyke.  An  act  of  Congress  was  also  passed  and  approved 
July  25,  1866,  authorizing  the  construction  of  certain  bridges,  one 
of  which  was  to  be  built  at  St.  Louis.  Having  thus  secured  the 
necessary  legislation,  the  projectors  directed  special  attention  to  the 
work  itself.  Preliminary  steps  were  taken,  soundings  made,  plans 
proposed,  and  estimates  considered.  May  1st,  1867,  the  company 
was  organized  ;  and  contracts  for  the  masonry. were  soon  after  let, 
and  the  first  stone  was  laid  on  the  western  abutment  pier,  Jan. 
25th,  1868,  and  the  pier  had  been  built  above  the  water-level  by 
the  spring  of  1868.  Captain  James  B.  Eads,  chief  engineer  of  the 
work. 

*  For  data  on  the  St.  Louis  Bridge  we  are  indebted  to  Dr.  William  Taussig, 
General  Manager.  And  to  an  article  by  L.  U.  Reavis,  on  Kailway  and  River 
System  of  St.  Louis. 


The  four  piers  of  the  bridge  are  as  follows  in  their  height  above, 
and  depth  below,  low-water  mark,  respectively  : 
W".  abut.  Pier,  22  ft.  bel.  low-water  mark,  130  ft.  ab.  low-water  mark. 
West  "    78    "        "        "        "      186    "        "        "        " 

East  "    92    "        "        "        "     200     "        "        "        " 

East  abut.  "  102  "  "  "  "  210  "  "  .  " 
In  the  construction  of  the  masonry,  12,000  cubic  yards  of  gray 
granite  from  Portland,  Maine,  were  used.  12,000  cubic  yards  of 
sandstone  from  the  St.  Genevieve  quarries  in  Missouri  are  used  in 
the  approaches,  and  two  thousand  cubic  yards  of  granite  from  the 
quarries  at  Pilot  Knob,  Mo.,  were  used  in  the  base  course  of  the 
approaches. 

Superstructure. — The  superstructure  is  made  of  chrome  steel,  and 
every  possible  test  was  made  long  in  advance  of  its  use,  so  as  to 
prove  that  its  tensile  strength  corresponded  with  the  general  re- 
quirement of  the  whole  structure.  In  placing  the  spans  in  position, 
Mr.  Flad,  the  chief  assistant  of  Captain  Eads,  introduced  a  system 
of  hog-chains  reaching  over  immense  wooden  structures  on  the  top 
of  the  piers.  These  were  let  down  and  made  fast  to  the  growing 
spans,  and  as  each  part  grew  from  the  pier  towards  the  centre  in 
open  space,  chains  were  applied  from  time  to  time  to  support  the 
great  weight  of  the  growing  arch.  By  the  method  of  working  with 
hog-chains,  Mr.  Flad  was  enabled  to  dispense  with  the  old  cumber- 
some way  of  scaffolding  below  to  support  the  span,  as  it  was  being 
built  out  from  the  pier.  The  superstructure  contains  2,200  tons  of 
steel,  and  3,400  tons  of  iron.  The  tons  of  metal  aggregate  5,600 
tons. 

The  bridge  proper  consists  of  three  spans  or  arches ;  the  centre 
being  520  feet;  and  the  others  502  feet  each.  The  arches,  or  spans 
and  abutments,  make  2,046  feet,  including  the  approaches  on  each 
side  of  the  river ;  the  total  length  of  the  bridge  is  6,220  feet,  or  more 
than  one  mile.  The  bridge  is  connected  with  the  yard  of  the  Union 
Depot,  St.  Louis,  by  means  of  a  tunnel  4,866  feet  in  length,  and 
double  tracked  through  the  whole  distance. 

The  cost  of  the  bridge  and  tunnel,  at  the  time  of  its  being  thrown 
open  to  the  public  in  June,  1874,  had  been  between  $12,000,000 
and  $13,000,000.  It  was  amid  great  parade  dedicated  to  the  tra- 
veling public,  July  4th,  1874.  It  may  be  mentioned  here,  that  on 
the  top  of  the  arches  a  road  is  constructed  for  vehicles,  animals  and 
street  cars  ;  there  are  also  suitable  paths  for  pedestrians.  Thus  we 
have  given  a  brief  sketch  of  probably  the  greatest  bridge  in  the 
world ;  the  building  of  which  was  one  of  the  great  engineering  tri- 
umphs of  the  age. 

CHAPTER   IV. 


GEOLOGY. 


EOLOGISTS  have  studied  closely  the  strata  be- 
neath the  earth's  surface,  and  evolved  thereby 
knowledge  that  is  rapidly  taking  its  place 
among  the  exact  sciences.  Upheavals  of  na- 
ture have,  here  and  there,  arranged  these  strata 
like  the  leaves  of  a  book  inclined  at  an  angle 
of  forty-five  degrees,  to  be  read  by  close  obser- 
vers, who  have  thereon  indulged  much  specu- 
lation regarding  the  age  of  the  earth,  and 
attempted  to  assign  to  natural  causes,  reaching  through  almost  in- 


38 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


calculable  stretches  of  time,  their  presence.  These  observations 
have  been  rewarded  by  a  general  acceptance  of  a  classification  of 
these  strata,  such  as  appears  in  text  boolij  of  Geology  of  to-day. 
Here,  in  St  Clair  county,  researches  have  not  reached  beyond  the 
Carboniferous  system,  nor  is  it  likely  that  records  reaching  back 
further  in  point  of  time  will  ever  be  made,  since  even  this  system 
has  not  been  probed  to  its  depths,  most  of  the  coal  being  taken  out 
of  the  upper  seams.  West  of  Belleville  a  lower  stratum  has  been 
penetrated,  but  being  only  about  twenty  inches  iu  thickness  it  was 
abandoned.  There  are  represented  in  Illinois,  the  Quaternary, 
Tertiary,  Carboniferous,  Devonian  and  Silurian  systems.  Beneath 
them  may,  and  if  generally  accepted  theories  be  true,  must  be  for- 
mations of  those  systems,  antedating  these.  Nature's  terrible  throes 
by  earthquake,  or  volcanic  action,  have  spared  the  empire  state  of 
the  valley,  so  that  her  prairies  spread  out  in  beautiful  repose  unin- 
terrupted by  unsightly  masses  of  representatives  of  a  long  past  age. 

The  economical  value  of  the  Quatenary,  or  uppermost  stratum, 
is  greater  than  that  of  all  other  formations  combined,  thus  evidenc- 
ing the  wisdom  of  the  Creator  in  his  preparation  of  the*earth  for 
the  habitation  of  man.  It  comprises  the  drift  and  all  the  deposits 
above  it,  of  whatever  quality  the  soil  may  be.  In  scientific  terms  it 
includes  the  Alluvium,  Bottom  Prairie,  Bluff,  Drift  of  various 
thicknesses,  which  crop  out  here  and  there  upon  the  surface. 
All  those  deposits  which  have  been  formed  since  the  inauguration 
of  the  present  order  of  things  might  be  appropriately  classified 
undeir  the  head  Albumen,  as  it  embraces  soils,  pebbles  and  sand, 
clays,  vegetable  mold,  all  of  which  are  found  in  St.  Clair  county. 
Soils  are  a  well  known  mixture  of  various  comminuted  and  decom- 
posed mineral  substances,  combined  and  mingled  with  decayed 
vegetable  and  animal  remains,  and  composing  those  ingredients  so 
well  adapted  to  the  nourishment  of  the  vegetable  kingdom.  They 
are  formed  by  the  action  of  water,  in  form  of  rain  or  dew,  by  at- 
mospheric changes  of  heat  and  c<jld,  by  decay  of  vegetable  and 
animal  matter.  Those  of  this  county  are  very  deep  and  exceedingly 
productive.  The  vegetable  kingdom  has  contributed  largely  to 
their  formation.  In  the  American  Bottom,  as  it  is  termed,  which 
has  an  area  in  this  county  of  about  53.760  acres,  the  soil  is  a  sandy 
loam,  exceedingly  fertile.  Much  of  it  has  been,  from  time  to 
time,  deposited  by  recession  of  waters  of  swollen  rivers.  It  has 
been  borne  on  by  the  irresistible  currents  of  the  Missouri,  from 
the  far  off  plains  of  Nebraska,  known  to  early  Geographers  as  the 
Great  American  desert,  and  here  deposited.  Its  depth  varies 
greatly  from  a  merely  perceptible  stratum  to 'a  thickness  often 
or  more  feet.  That  consequent  upon  the  flood  of  1844  is  very  con- 
spicuous. When  the  onrushing  fury  of  the  waters  was  checked  by 
a  growth  of  fall  weeds,  young  willows  or  sycamores,  the  de]ith  from 
that  single  flood  was  as  great  as  ten  feet.  After  such  a  flood,  upon 
subsidence  of  the  waters,  lagoons,  sloughs  and  lakes  are  left.  The 
sand  iu  these  waters,  by  virtue  of  its  specific  gravity  first  finds  its 
level,  and  above  it  clay  intermixed  with  decomposed  organic  mat- 
ter, forms  a  thin  layer,  and  thus  after  each  flood  new  strata  of  sand 
and  clay  are  left  until  the  general  level  is  attained  by  the  new  for- 
mat'ons.  When  vegetable  life  finds  subsistence,  the  annual  growth 
adds  its  complement  of  humus,  and  thus  this  marvellous  soil  is  cre- 
ated. In  course  of  time,  by  a  continuation  of  these  processes, 
these  alluvial  plains  support  a  rank  vegetable  growth. 

Adjacent  to  and  overlooking  this  bottom  land,  are  the  bluffs, 
filled  in  places  with  fossil  shells,  indicating  there  having  been  at 
onetime  the  boundary  lines  of  a  great  inland  lake.  Then  again 
are  the  prairies  forming  the  greater  part  of  the  surface  of  the 
county ;  their  formation  is  a  subject  that  has  provoked  much  scien- 
tific discussion.     Prof.  A.  H.  Worthen,  State  Geolog'st  of  Illinois, 


asserts  that  they,  with  their  peculiar  surface  soil,  owe  their  origin 
to  the  same  causes  that  are  at  present  operating  to  form  prairies, 
though  on  a  less  extensive  scale.  The  black,  rich  soil  is  doubtless, 
he  tays,  due  to  the  growth  and  decay  of  successive  crops  of  vege- 
tation, which  in  the  geological  ages  of  the  past,  under  a  far  higher 
temperature  and  more  favorable  atmospheric  conditions  than  now 
exist,  grew  to  an  extent  unknown  since  the  appearance  of  man 
upon  the  earth.  These  prodigious  crops  of  plants  and  grasses  were 
from  year  to  year  submerged,  and  becoming  decomposed,  contri- 
buted their  annual  accumulations  to  the  surface  of  the  country. 
By  the  continuation  of  this  process  for  untold  centuries,  and  by  the 
subsequent  recession  of  the  waters  that  once  covered  the  entire  Mis- 
sissippi valley,  a  black,  mucky  soil  was  formed,  and  the  whole  re- 
gion emerged  as  vast  swamps  or  swales  interspersed  with  hills  and 
valleys,  mountains  and  table  lands.  These  by  gradual  growth 
become  outlined  in  prairies. 

There  have  been  found  boulders  of  like  composition  and  origin 
with  those  so  common  to  a  prairie  country,  and  which  are  usually 
accepted  as  evidences  of  a  glacial  period,  which  are  affirmed  to  have 
brought  with  them,  borne  before  great  masses  of  ice,  snow  and  water, 
these  irregularly  rounded  masses  of  rock  leaving  them  scattered 
here  and  there  over  the  plains.  They  are  a  conglomerate  of  quartz, 
feldspar,  mica  and  hornblende.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the  county 
was  found  granite  rock  about  5i  feet  in  diameter,  which  was,  as 
early  as  1828  utilized  as  a  buhrstone,  and  which  was  pronounced 
by  millers  to  be  equal  to  any  French  buhrstone  for  purposes  of 
grinding  grain. 

Having  thus  defined  the  surface  indications  briefly,  the  writer 
compiles  from  the  Geological  Survey  of  Illinois  by  A.  H.  Worthen, 
a  record  of  facts  respecting  the  other  formations.  At  the  base  of 
drift  deposits  are  found  beds  of  plastic  clay,  containing  sometimes 
small  pebbles,  at  other  localities  there  are  stratified  sands  -below 
the  clay.  At  the  Alma  shaft,  this  deposit  is  seventy  feet  thick. 
At  the  Summerfield  shaft  the  drift  clays  are  but  thirty-five  feet 
thick,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Athens  it  was  found  to  be  fifty  feet 
deep,  and  consisted  of  clay  and  sand,  with  rounded  boulders  at 
the  bottom.  On  the  farm  of  Mr.  Eugelmann,  Mascoutah  pre- 
cinct, the  following  beds  were  patsed  through  in  sinking  a  well : 

Soil  and  yellow  clay, 14  feet. 

Reddish-brown  gravel  and  sand  layers, 28     " 

Blue  clay .  .      83    '' 

Making  an  aggregate  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  of  drift. 

North,  at  Mascoutah,  it  was  found  to  be  but  eighty-two  feet  thick, 

showing  the  following  divisions : 

Soil  and  clay, 20  feet. 

Quicksand .        6     " 

Blue,  gray  and  reddiph  clay •    •      60     " 

Coarse  quick  sand,  with  bits  of  wood, 6     " 

At  Freeburg  it  was  found  to  be  but  forty-five  feet,  thus  showing 
a  great  diversity  in  different  parts  of  the  county.  There  is  an  im- 
perfect stratification  of  these  deposits,  which  consist  chiefly  of  fine 
sand,  clay  and  gravel. 

Coal  Measures  —Underlying  fully  three-fourths  of  the  surface  of 
the  county,  embracing  all  the  central  and  eastern  portions,  is  coal 
to  be  found.  Thus  far,  five  coal  seams  have  been  developed,  only 
two  of  which  have  proven  to  be  of  economic  value.  The  thickest 
coal  seam  is  perhaps  that  at  Freeburg,  which  is  found  to  reach 
a  thickness  of  eleven  feet.  That  out-cropping  in  the  River  bluff,  and 
along  the  western  boundaries  of  the  coal  fields,  in  the  south-western 
part  of  the  county,  is  of  about  equal  thickness.  The  dip,  though 
very  moderate,  is  in  an  easterly  direction,  hence  the  coal  lies 
deepest  in   those  mines   near   the   eastern   boundary   line  of  the 


HISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


39 


county.  The  following  section  of  the  measure  containing  coal,  is 
compiled  from  the  shaft  at  Summerfield,  commencing  immediately 
below  the  drift  clays : 

Bituminous  shale  (No. "3,  coal?) 3  feet,  0  in. 

Fire  clay 0  "  6  " 

Gray  shale  and  sandstone 35  "  0  '' 

Hard  limestone  (fossiliferous), 5  "  0  " 

Sandstones  and  shales 90  "  0  " 

Coal,  No.  2?   ...  , 0  "  4  " 

Conglomerate  with  ferruginous  pebbles,  ....  4  ''  0  " 

Fire  clay, 1  "  0  " 

Clay  shale  (soapstone) 10  to  12  "  0  " 

Coal, 0  ''  3  " 

Fire  clay, 0  "  8  " 

Gray  »hale.i 20  "  0  " 

Limestone, 4  "  6  " 

Gray  and  variegated  shales, 35  "  0  " 

Limestone 8  "  0  " 

Black  and  gray  shales, 25  "  0  " 

Coal  No.  1.  C? 4  "  0  " 

There  seems  to  be  a  difference  of  opinion  about  the  classification 
of  coal  No.  1,  C,  because  of  the  remarkable  thickening  of  the 
shales  between  it  and  the  limestone  that  ordinarily  forms  the  roof 
of  the  coal ;  and  the  comparative  thinness  of  the  coal  itself,  which 
is  harder  and  more  impregnated  with  the  sulphuret  of  iron,  in 
which  respect  it  is  like  No.  1,  B.  Some  would  classify  it  as  No. 
1,  B.,  considering  coal  No.  1,  C.  to  be  occupied  by  the  black  shale 
immediately  below  the  eight  feet  limestone. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Belleville  are  found  the  following  succession  of 
strata : 

Compact  bluish-gray  limestone '.    .    4  to    8  feet. 

Sandy  shales 10  ''  15  " 

Limestone  and  calcareous  shales 5  "  15  " 

Bituminous  shale  (local) 1  " 

Coal,  Belleville  seam  (No.  1.  C) 5  "    7  " 

Clay  shale  (local) 1  '' 

Nodular  argillaceous  limestonB 4  '■     8  " 

Shales 5  "  10  " 

Brown  argillaceous  limestone 4  " 

Bituminous  shales 3  ''     5  " 

Coal  No  1.  B 3  " 

Clay  shale,  passing  into  sandy  shale 20  ''  30  ■  '' 

Bituminous  shale 2  "     3  " 

Coal  No  1.  A 1    ''   6  in. 

Fire  clay 2  "    3  " 

Conglomerate  8and»tone  (local) .5"     8  '' 

These  beds  form  a  continuous  outcrop,  from  their  first  appearance 
in  the  river  bluffs,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  below  Centreville 
Station  to  the  north  line  of  the  county. 

The  Belleville  coal  seam  No.  1.  C.  is  the  principal  one  worked  at 
the  present  time,  and  it  was  the  first  ever  worked  in  the  state.  Its 
natural  out-crop  along  the  bluffs  in  such  close  proximity  to  St.  Louis, 
called  attention  to  its  value  at  an  early  day,  and  it  was  worked  in 
open  trenches,  and  by  tunnelling  into  the  seam  along  the  face  of  the 
bluff  long  before  its  continuation  under  the  highlands  to  the  east- 
ward was  ever  suspected.  It  has  a  limestone  roof,  as  noted  above, 
rendering  its  working  safe  and  economical.  Now  and  then,  pockets 
of  slate  intervene  between  this  limestone  and  the  coal  itself,  as  in 
John  Maule's  mine,  of  sufficient  thickness  and  strength  to  furnish  a 
roof  independent  of  the  limestone.  This,  however,  is  local  and  con- 
fined to  few  localities.  The  upper  two  layers  of  coal  are  not  to  exceed 
twenty-four  inches  in  thickness,  but  of  purer  quality,  commanding  a 
premium  of  two  cents  a  bushel  over  the  lower,  which  is  charged  with 
sulphuret  of  iron.  Beneath  this  coal  is  usually  a  nodular  argilla- 
ceous limestone,  but  sometimes  it  is  sandwiched  between  regular 
layers  of  limestone.     The  working  of  Coal  No.  1.  A,  only  about 


eighteen  inches  in  thickness,  in  connection  with  the  fire-clay  of  about 
twice  the  thickness  immediately  above  it  has  been  carried  on  with 
small  succtfs.  The  limestone  above  the  coal  is  quite  fos-siliferous, 
the  mines  at  Caseyville.  Belleville  and  Pittsburg  having  fur- 
nished some  fine  specimens. 

The  shale  yet  above  this  limestone  likewise  contains  fossils,  fish 
teeth,  etc.  It,  in  turn,  is  overlaid  with  another  limestone  which  is 
quarried  to  supply  the  demand  for  building-stone.  It  is  a  brownish- 
gray,  rather  argillaceous  limestone,  more  regularly  bedded  than  the 
limestone  immediately  above  the  coal  seam. 

On  Jack's  run,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  Freeburg,  there  is  a  fine 
exposure  of  the  strata  above  the  Belleville  quarry  rock,  showing  the 
following  succession  of  layers  from  the  top  downward  : 

Shale  and  sandstone,  the  latter  micacioui 35  feet. 

(iray  fhale 20    " 

Blue  clay  shale  with  bands  of  iron  ore  .  .    .  15    " 

Coal 0    "    4in. 

Clay  shale 3    " 

Sbaly  gray  limestone 1    ''     6  " 

Argillaceous  strata 3   "     0  '' 

Hard  gray  limestone  (Belleville  Quarry  rock)  .    .  10    " 

Descending  from  this  limestone  there  is  found  : 

Ferruginous  shale 8  feet. 

Band  of  hard  arenaceous  limestone 1  '' 

Shales  (irregular) 10  " 

Hard  gray  limestone 3  " 

Bituminous  shale  (local) 1  " 

Coal— Belleville 7  to  11  " 

By  reference  to  the  list  of  mines,  subjoined,  giving  depth  of  shafts 
will  be  found  the  different  depths  at  which  coal  is  worked.  About 
three  miles  south-east  of  Freeburg,  surface  coal  of  seven  feet  thickness 
is  presented.  Beyond  its  exposure  it  is  covered  to  the  depth  of  two 
feet  with  a  layer  of  shale.  South  a  few  miles  this  seam  is  worked 
by  horizontal  drifts  on  the  hill-sides. 

At  the  Alma  shaft,  the  coal  was  fouad  at  a  depth  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy  feet  below  the  surface,  overlaid  with  eleven  feet  of  black 
shale  and  limestone.  Above  this  again  are  seventeen  feet  of  shale  and 
sandstone,  when  a  limestone  representing  the  Belleville  quarry  rock 
is  met  with.  The  dip  of  the  coal  has  already  been  referred  to  as 
being  to  the  east  of  the  bluffs.  Comparisons  of  depth  of  coal,  taken 
in  conjunction  with  ascent  of  the  surface,  leads  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  dip  is  not  more  than  five  to  six  feet  to  the  mile. 

Limestones  thus  far  incidentally  noted  in  connection  with  coal 
measures  are  supplemented  by  others  occupying  a  considerably 
higher  position  and  outcropping  in  but  two  or  three  places  in  the 
county,  north  and  north-east  of  Belleville,  the  nearest  being  two 
miles  north,  then  again  at  Rock  Spring.  This  stone  is  illy  adapted 
to  building  purposes,  since  it  splits  into  fragments  when  exposed  to 
the  action  of  frost. 

A  coarse-grained,  thin  bedded  gray  or  brown  limestone,  belong- 
ing to  the  sub-carboniferous  group,  and  containing  fossils  characte- 
ristic thereof,  outcrops  south-west  of  Belleville  near  Centreville 
Station.  It  probably  represents  the  lower  limestone  division  in 
Randolph  county  in  which  there  is  six  hundred  feet,  whilst  in  St. 
Clair  it  does  not  exceed  forty  feet,  in  thickness.  The  lower  sand- 
stone of  this  group  underlies  this  limestone.  It  is  extensively  quar- 
ried. It  is  a  light  brown  freestone,  even  textured  and  soft  enough 
to  be  sawed  or  cut  into  any  desirable  form.  It  hardens  on  exposure, 
and  makes  an  excellent  building  stone. 

Beneath  this  sandstone,  and  worked  in  close  proximity  to  it,  is 
what  is  classed  as  St.  Louis  limestone,  a  regularly  bedded,  close- 
grained  stone  of  a  light  color.  The  upper  portion  of  it  is  a  pure 
carbonate  of  lime,  well  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  quicklime. 


40 


HISTORY  OF  SI.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  dip  of  these  strata  is  northward  at  an  angle  of  30°,  iso  that  near 
the  Monroe  county  line  are  exposed  the  brown  niagnesian  and  semi- 
volitic  limestones  that  constitute  the  lower  division  of  this  group. 
Its  outcroppings  are  confined  to  the  south-western  part  of  the 
county.  At  the  old  lime-kilns,  four  miles  from  Centreville  station, 
it  forms  a  mural  cliff  from  sixty  to  seventy  feet  high,  and  continues 
gradually  increasing  in  elevation,  until  the  "  Falling  Spring,"  where 
it  measures  one  hundred  and  fifteen  feet  in  thickness,  above  the 
level  of  the  Mississippi  bottoms. 

A  most  interesting  study  connected  with  these  various  strata,  es- 
pecially of  beds  of  calcareous  shales  and  limestone,  is  that  of  the 
fossils.  Just  as  the  print  of  ferns,  leaves,  and  semi-transformed 
bits  of  wood  are  held  as  suflBcient  proof  of  the  origin  of  coal  away 
back,  when  a  tropical  sun  nursed  plant  life  into  an  unparalleled 
growth,  to  be  hidden  away  by  processes  of  nature,  and  prepared  by 
her  silent  chemists  into  coal  measures,  so  too  are  these  fossils  ac- 
cepted as  evidences  of  a  period  when  seas  swept  their  full  volume 
of  waters  over  the  remains  of  marine  animals,  Crustacea,  jnollusca, 
crinoidea,  corals,  and  bryozoa,  with  the  teeth  and  spines  of  carti- 
laginous fishes  among  them.  From  their  great  number,  life  among 
the  lower  orders  of  created  animal  existence  must  have  been  quite 
as  phenomenal  as  was  plant  growth  during  the  ages  preceding. 

Many  fine  specimens  of  a  fossiliferous  character  have  been  gathered 
in  this  county,  and  more  than  as  many  more  ruthlessly  tossed  aside 
as  possessed  of  no  value. 

Economical  Geology. — From  this  brief  resume  of  the  outcroppings 
of  the  various  strata  observed  in  this  county,  it  is  manifest  that  it 
is  a  region  highly  favored.  Its  great  and  inexhaustible  beds  of 
coal  are  supplimented  with  quarries  of  both  lime  and  sandstone, 
useful  in  a  great  variety  of  arts. 

Limestone. — In  the  river  blufls  contiguous  to  the  Falling  Spring, 
is  the  St.  Louis  limestone,  well  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  lime. 
These  quarries  are  yet  in  the  infancy  of  their  development,  although 
first  opened  many  years  ago.  They  ought  to  be  made  of  sufficient 
capacity  to  furnish  all  southern  Illinois  with  lime,  and  that,  too,  of 
very  superior  quality. 

Cement  has,  for  a  number  of  years,  been  obtained  on  T.  Miller's 
place  on  section  T.  E.  W.  The  material  is  a  bluish-gray  earthy 
limestone,  and  is  quarried  by  drifting  into  the  bed  horizontally 
along  the  line  of  outcrop.  Its  capacity  also  might  very  profitably 
be  increased. 

Building  Stone. — This  county  contains  a  great  abundance  of 
building-stone,  confined  principally  to  Centreville  precinct.  From 
William  Lark's  quarries  on  section T.  1  N.  R  9  W.,  was  ob- 
tained the  material  for  constructing  Grace  Church  in  St.  Louis, 
upon  a  contract  amounting  to  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  same 
stone  has  been  largely  shipped  since,  and  been  employed  in  the 
construction  and  ornamentation  of  many  buildings.  Some  of  the 
coarser  layers  have  been  successfully  employed  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  grind-stones.  In  the  same  vicinity,  overlying  the  above, 
is  a  lime-stone  suitable  for  flagging,  for  heavy  abutments  of  bridges, 
cellar  walls,  pillars,  walls  of  buildings,  where  massiveness  of  pro- 
portions are  desired.  The  pillars  of  the  court-house  at  Belleville 
are  of  this  material,  and  were  taken  from  these  quarries.  The  more 
compact  fine  grained  strata  are  susceptible  of  a  high  polish,  and 
could  be  used  for  cappings,  ornamental  designs,  and  anything  where 
strength  and  beauty  are  desired  in  combination  in  ornamentation 
of  buildings. 

Fire  and  Potter's  Clays. — The  advent  of  tiling  has  given  a  fresh 
impetus  to  the  working  up  of  clays  suitable  thereto.  Such  clays 
abound  in  this  county,  and,  as  the  demand  increases,  the  supply  will 
likewise  increase.     Clays  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  common 


stone  ware  are  being  developed,  and  under  skillful  hands,  are  being 
wrought  into  various  patterns.  They  are  found  in  conjunction  with 
coal,  and  are  taken  from  the  same  shafts  with  comparatively  little 
extra  trouble. 

Goal.—li  has  been  aptly  said  that  "  coal  is  to  the  world  of  indus- 
try what  the  sun  is  to  the  natural  world,  the  great  source  of  light  and 
heat,  with  their  innumerable  benefits."  It  furnishes  the  power  that 
evolved  the  spirit  of  steam  from  the  water,  which,  in  turn  propels 
the  machinery  run  in  the  world's  material  interests;  it  weds  the 
rough,  uncouth  ores  of  the  mountains  to  the  various  arts  devised  by 
man's  genius  ;  it  renders  the  cold,  cheerless  winter  such  aid  as  dis- 
pels its  gloom,  and  by  its  wondrous  power  is  destined  yet  through 
pipe  lines  like  those  underneath  the  streets  of  Belleville,  to  extend 
its  cheer  through  dirtless,  permeating  heat,  like  heart-throbs  all 
along  the  highways  of  our  cities- 

Bituminous  coal  is  by  far  the  most  important  mineral  resource  of 
this  county.  It  is  calculated  that  the  seams  already  partially  de- 
veloped and  which  are  being  profitably  worked,  will  produce  four 
billion  and  fifty  million  tons  of  coal. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  below  these  seams  it  is  quite  probable 
that  other  deposits  will  eventually  be  made  manifest,  the  enormous 
proportions  of  the  coal  industry  will  be  partially  apparent.  These 
vast  deposits  of  coal  fix  the  status  of  Belleville,  and  indeed  of  all 
the  county,  as  a  natural  centre  of  manufactories.  Hard  by,  are 
Missouri's  mountains  of  iron  ;  her  vast  fields  of  lead  and  zinc  ready 
for  the  hand  of  the  artisan  ;  whilst  above  these  coal  beds  are  lands 
unsurpassed  in  the  production  of  wheat  demanding  conversion  into 
flour  through  the  kindly  aid  of  this  fossilized  sunshine  of  by-gone 


The  discovery  of  coal  was  singular.  As  related  by  Reynolds  in 
his  sketches  published  in  Belleville  in  1857,  "A  citizen  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bottom  discovered  smoke  issuing  from  the  ground,  for  weeks 
together,  which  attracted  his  attention.  He  saw  the  coal  in  the 
Bluff  on  fire,  and  supposed  it  had  caught  from  the  dry  roots  of  a 
tree,  that  the  prairie  had  set  on  fire.  The  fire  had  communicated 
to  the  coal  from  the  burning  wood.  Soon  after  this,  in  182 1,  the 
coal  trade  commenced. 

Analysis  of  the  Belleville  coal  by  Henry  Pratten,  former  assist- 
tant  geologist  and  chemist  to  the  survey,  reveals  the  following : 


Caseyville  Mines. 


Specific  gravity 

Loss  in  coking 39.8 

Tolal  weiglit  of  coke  .    .    .  60.2 


1.304. 
100.00 


Analysis. 

Moistnre 6  0 

Volatile  matters 33.8 

Carbon  in  coke 55.2 

Asti  (pale  red) 5.0 

Carbon  in  coal 55.3 

Ppeifper's  Mine. 

Specific  gravity 

Loss  in   coking 44.3 

Total  weight  of  coke  .   .   .  55.7 


•  100.00 

1.293 
100.00 


Analygis. 

Moisture 8.5 

Volatile  matters    ....    35.8 

Carbon  in  coke 51.8 

Ash  (pale  red 4.5 

1 

Carbon  in   coal 57.5 


-100.00 


Belleville  Mines.— Various 
Openings. 


Specific  gravity 

Loss  in  coking 45.0 

Total  weight  of  coke  .   .   .55. 

Analym. 

Moisture 5.5 

Volatile  matters 39,5 

Carbon  in  coke 49.6 

Ash  (gray) 5.4 

Carbon  in  coal 54.6 


1.293 


100.00 


The  variation  in  other  analyses  made,  shows  from  38.7  to  46  per 
cent,  less  in  coking  ;  from  51  to  68  per  cent,  carbon  in  coal,  and  from 
44  to  56  per  cent,  carbon  in  coke.  From  this  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  coal  here  compares  favorably  with  that  of  surrounding  coun- 
ties. 

To  summarize:  St.  Clair  county  presents  a  great  variety  of  build- 
ing and  other  stone,  clays,  coal,  and,  though  undeveloped,  seams  of 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLUB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


41 


iron  ore.  Her  manufacturing  industries  are  increasing  in  impor- 
tance and  in  the  production  of  wealth.  The  hum  of  machinery 
makes  sweet  music ;  ores  from  furnace  throats  send  forth  their  ban- 
ners of  flame  to  declare  that  labor  is  king ;  thunderingrailway  trains 
on  a  dozen  roads  within  her  limits,  take  up  the  cry,  as,  enveloped  in 
clouds  of  smoke  and  steam  they  cross  her  prairies,  adding  to  her 
wealth  with  every  transit.  Her  resources  are  great,  and  the  energy 
of  her  citizens  in  their  development  keeps  pace  with  the  progress  of 
the  age. 

The  annual  report  of  the  Mine  Inspector,  James  Ward,  is  ap- 
pended as  follows : 


1 

o 

0 
O 

•3 

o 

■a  _ 

S  o 

i- 

CI 

o 

Name  of  Operator. 

Name  of  Mine 

Location 

CJ 

S 

IS 

^1 

c*-l 

a 
■g 

ft      Vc 

OJ       O 

o 

1 

o 

■s  - 

p.     • 

■A     " 

d 

d 

!>.S: 

Ji 

0)        J 

85 

Z 

mo 

00 

3 

O     E 

H      C4 

Abby  Coal  Co. 

Abby  No.  1. 

Van. 

93 

20 

Leaset 

Shaft 

Engine 

109  0 

2 

<i 

2. 

tt 

80 

40 

" 

(1 

'* 

115  6 

2 

B;irtlett  Coal  Co. 

Bartlett. 

i( 

162 

45 

Own'n 

!        " 

tt 

100  6 

2 

Garlside  Coal  Co. 

Alma  No.  1. 

O.&M 

60 

40 

(( 

(< 

tl 

200  7 

2 

<i 

2. 

ii 

-80 

40 

li 

(r 

ti 

200  7 

J    2 

tc 

Cross  Boad. 

II 

160 

6 

ft 

il 

It 

210  7 

h   2 

Herring  &  Co. 

Bennetts. 

It 

140 

20 

Leasee 

" 

tt 

140  5 

k   2 

Morris  &  Co. 

Nichols. 

11 

30 

15 

ti 

it 

it 

150  5 

1 

G.  F.  Savitz. 

Van  Curtis. 

tt 

60 

25 

« 

a 

it 

160  6 

2 

« 

St.  Clair. 

U 

80 

20 

ti 

a 

tt 

80  6 

J    2 

■( 

Union. 

tt 

50 

30 

It 

If 

it 

90  6 

h    2 

G.  F.  Schmidt. 

Humboldt. 

N.&C. 

80 

10 

tt 

tt 

tt 

80  6 

i    2 

Grantz  &  Co. 

Brown. 

il 

80 

15 

tt 

ti 

ti 

90  6 

2 

C.  Beinicke. 

Beinicke. 

tt 

80 

25 

Owner 

a 

tf 

130  7 

2 

<< 

it 

•  ( 

90 

8 

Leased 

ft 

il 

130  6 

}    2 

Philip  Dish. 

r.  &s. 

a 

240 

8 

it 

tt 

a 

100  6 

1 

Adam  Ogden. 

Enterprise. 

tt 

120 

10 

it 

a 

tt 

120  6 

2 

Ed   Avery  &  Co. 

Birkner. 

tt 

48 

20 

ti 

ii 

it 

130  7 

2' 

(( 

Emmet. 

tt 

40 

12 

tt 

it 

it 

130  6 

\    2 

tt 

Dutch  Hollow 

tt 

80 

25 

It 

tt 

il 

130  6 

',    2 

E.  W.  Harris. 

Excelsior. 

*• 

60 

15 

u 

IC 

a 

120  6 

2 

ti 

Victor. 

tt 

40 

10 

it 

ii 

tl 

115  6 

2 

Koelb  Bros. 

Vulcan. 

it 

120 

35 

Own'rs 

tt 

ft 

120  6 

\   2 

D.  Kneohte. 

Knechte's. 

it 

106 

30 

il 

it 

tt 

140  7 

2 

Pollack  Coal  Co. 

Pollack. 

it 

26 

6 

ti 

tt 

11 

115  6 

i    2 

D.  Eeutchler. 

Reutehler's. 

ft 

600 

10 

tt 

ti 

ft 

110  7 

2 

North  Western  Co. 

NorthWest'rn 

rii&stL 

40 

10 

Leased 

tt 

tt 

100  6 

\    2 

Green  Mound  Co. 

Green  Mound 

(( 

60 

15 

(f 

it 

it 

100  6 

2 

Maul  &  Ganot. 

Maul's. 

it 

30 

10 

tt 

Engine 

tf 

80  6 

2 

Jas.  Beatty. 

Beatty. 

it 

30 

20 

ft 

Gin 

Gin 

80  0 

2 

It 

"    No.  2. 

It 

30 

15 

tt 

(t 

ti 

80  6 

2 

Western  Coal  Co. 

Western. 

ft 

40 

15 

ti 

Engine 

Engine 

85:6 

!    2 

Henry  Taylor. 

GreatWestern 

tt 

60 

15 

a 

Gin 

Gin 

90iG 

',    2 

"    ,     [Co. 

Taylor. 

" 

60 

20 

tt 

*l 

if 

80  6 

'>    2 

Hazard  Wilson  & 

Rose  Hill. 

(( 

80 

20 

it 

Engine 

Engine 

90  7 

2 

Yocfa  Bros. 

Yoch's. 

tt 

145 

20 

it 

44 

150  6 

2 

Sohurraann  Bros. 

Schurmann. 

it 

150 

25 

tt 

tl 

a 

150  6 

\   2 

John  Beard. 

Union. 

il 

160 

15 

a 

it 

it 

lIOo 

\    2 

n 

Briar  Hill. 

tt 

80 

12 

t' 

Ii 

If 

130  5 

2 

Gartside  Coal  Co. 

New  Pit. 

tt 

90 

2 

It 

tt 

tt 

180  7 

1 

Yoeh  Bros. 

Johnston. 

tt 

100 

15 

tt 

tt 

if 

110  oJ 

\    2 

GreenfleldCoalCo. 

jreenfield. 

"[L 

60 

8 

ti 

ti 

it 

140  6i 

i   2 

A.  Brandenberger 

Braudenb'rg'r 

Carlo  S. 

140 

80 

it 

ft 

Ii 

120  7 

2 

Haz.  Wilson  &  Co. 

Sevf  Pit. 

U 

80 

10 

ti 

ft 

It 

140  7 

2 

Freeburg  Coal  Co. 

?'reeburg.  • 

tt 

80 

15 

it 

ti 

tt 

120  7 

2 

Bout  &  Simpson. 

3oal  Shaft. 

tt 

80 

20 

tt 

il 

ti 

120  6! 

2 

Donk  &  Tijon. 

White  Oak. 

tt 

160 

20 

tt 

tt 

il 

140  7" 

2 

Kennedy  Coal  Co.  S 

Summit. 

tt 

80 

60 

tt 

it 

ti 

10016.^ 

2 

Wm.  Skellet.          i 

Skellett. 

ti 

160 

120 

tt 

ii 

ti 

150  6;5 

2 

Donk  Bros. 

*Jew  Drift. 

ct 

90 

20 

tt 

Drift 

^ules 

40  7 

2 

Dancer  &  Kethner 

kVildeman. 

ft 

130 

10 

It 

Shaft 

Engine 

80  7 

2 

Heinrich  Bros.       i 

ieinrich's 

It 

100 

25 

il 

ti 

(4 

95  6 

2 

Donk  &  Baker.       ] 

Judley. 

tt 

80 

20 

tt 

il 

it 

100  6 

2 

Gartside  Coal  Co.  1 

^0.3. 

ti 

90 

45 

tf 

tt 

tt 

160  7 

2 

Gehricks  &  Eich-  A 

Vests.              I 

ifascou- 
ahRoad  ' 
lellville. 

15 

4 

,t 

" 

3in 

60  6J 

2 

J.  Brosius.    [ards.  1 

Jrosius.           1 

11 

4 

it 

*' 

Engine 

63  6| 

1 

Bennett  Coal  Co.    I 

iennett.          S 

lascou- 

11 

4 

ti 

*' 

160  7 

1 

Hartmana  &  Co.    { 
John  Kloes.           i 

lartmann,      j 
[loes. 

ah 

lellville  , 
1 

80    15 
20    50  ( 

tt 

Dwner 

3in 

Engine 

80  6J 
120  7 

2 
2 

Sept.  1,  1880 

.    Jai 

<IES  W 

AED,  M.  I. 

In  presenting  the  above  report  I  would  s 

tate  tt 

ere  ha 

ve  been  three 

accidents.     1st. 
6 

George  Fe 

rries,  ii 

1  G 

art 

side  ]V 

[ine,  b 

a.ck  ai 

id  le 

R      1 

bruised  by  fall  of  coal,  cause  accidental.  2d.  Edward  Morgan,  in 
Abby  Mine,  killed  by  fall  of  coal ;  cause,  accidental.  3d.  Thos. 
Trondnaan,  in  Kneeht  Mine,  foot  crushed  (afterwards  amputated), 
cause,  fall  of  coal,  accidental. 

All  mines  are  being  regulated  as  fast  as  possible,  and  complying 
with  the  law,  I  have  made  it  my  duty  to  visit  every  mine,  look 
after  any  disarrangements,  etc.  Regarding  statistics  of  coal  mined 
annually,  found  it  impossible.  Would  recommend  that  the  Inspec- 
tor's whole  time  be  put  iu  on  the  woik  exacted  of  him,  to  assure  the 
life  and  safety  of  men  employed. 

SHIPMENTS. 

From  the  best  sources  available  we  learn  that  shipments  of  coal 
from  the  mines  along  the  route  of  the  Illinois  and  St.  Louis  Rail- 
road, for  the  year  ending  January  1st,  1881,  were  5,142,190  bush. ; 
from  mines  operated  in  this  county  along  the  line  of  the  0.  &  M. 
Railroad,  same  period,  2,836,450 ;  same  for  Cairo  Short  Line, 
5,679,010;  same  LouisvUle  and  Nashville  Railroad,  3,982,310; 
aggregating  17,639,960  bushels.  In  addition  to  these  shipments 
there  are  annually  consumed  within  the  county  by  estimate  6,000,- 
000.  Thus  indicating  an  annual  production  of  near  twenty-four 
million  bushels  of  coal.  Based  upon  the  acreage  worked  out,  there 
have  been  taken  from  the  mines  of  this  county  446,581,914  bushels 
of  coal. 


CHAPTER   V. 


FLORA. 


,N  this  article  it  is  our  purpose  only  to  give  a  list  of 
the  native  trees  and  grasses  found  within  the  limits 
of  the  county.  The  intelligent  farmer  looks  at 
once  to  the  native  vegetation  as  a  sure  indication 
of  the  value  of  new  lands  ;  the  kind  of  timber 
growing  in  a  given  locality  will  decide  the  quali- 
ties of  the  soil  for  agricultural  purposes.  The 
state  of  Illinois  by  the  Botanist  is  usually  consid- 
ered under  three  divisions :  the  heavily  timbered 
regions  of  the  south,  the  flora  of  which  is  remarkable  for  its  variety ; 
the  central  portion,  consisting  mainly  of  prairie,  yet  not  without 
groves,  which  are  usually  adjacent  to  water  courses ;  and  the  north- 
ern section.  The  county  of  St.  Clair  represents  the  characteristics 
of  both  a  timber  and  a  prairie  country.  Few  spectacles  are  so  in- 
spiringly  beautiful  as  a  grand  prairie  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
and  yet  the  luxuriant  vegetation,  which  at  first  view  seems  so 
various,  comprisss  but  few  species  of  plants.  Upon  the  flora  of  this 
county  civilization  has  produced  its  inevitable  eflfects.  As  the  Indian 
and  the  bufialo  have  disappeared  before  the  white  man,  so  have 
some  of  the  native  grasses  been  vanquished  by  the  white  clover  and 
blue  grass. 

GRASSES. 

In  speaking  of  these  we  purposely  exclude  the  grain  plants,  those 
grasses  which  furnish  food  for  man,  and  confine  ourselves  to  those 
valuable  grasses  which  are  adapted  to  the  sustenance  of  the  inferior 
animals. 


AgrastuB  vulgaris,  Timothy  Grass,  or 
Cat's  tail,  naturalized. 


Muhlenbergia  diffusia,  Bed  Top,  or 
Herds  grass. 


42 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Grasses 

Calamagrastis  Canadensis,  Kimble 
Will. 

Blue  joint,  (his  is  a  native  and  grew 
upon  prairies  to  the  height  of  a 
man's  head  on  horseback. 

Dactylis  glomerata.  Orchard  gras-i. 

Poa  Prelensis,  Kentucky  Blue  grass. 

Poa  Compressa,  True  Blue  grass. 

Festiica  Elatior,  Meadow  Fescue. 

Bromus  Leculinus,  Cheat  Chess,  for- 
eign. 

Phragmiles  Communis,  the  E'^ed. 

Arundinaria  Macrosperma,  or  Cane. 

Solium  Perenne,  Perennial  Eay 
Grass. 

Below  we  add  a  list  of 


( Continued). 

Anthoxanthum    Odoralum,    Sweet 

Scented  Vernal  Grass. 
Phalaris  Arundinacea,  Eeed  Canary 

Grass. 
P.  Canadensis,  Canary  Grass. 
Paspalum  Setaceiim. 
Panicura  Sanguinale,  Crah-gra»B. 
Panicum  Glabrum,  Smooth  Panicum. 
Panicum  Capillare,  Witch  Grass 
Panicum  Crus-galli,  Barn-yard  Grass. 
Seiaria  Glauca,  Foxtail. 
Setaria  Viridus,  Buttle  Grass. 
Setaria  Ilalica,  Millet. 
Andropogon  Scoparius,  Broom- Beard 

Grass. 


NATIVE   WOODY   PLANTS. 


Acer  Saccharinum,  Rock  Sugar 
Maple. 

A.  Nigrum,  Black  Maple. 

A.  Dasycarpum,  Soft  Maple,  Silver 
Leaf  Maple. 

A.  Negundo,  Box  Elder,  Ash  Leaf 
Maple. 

Jilsculus  Glabra,  Stinking  Buckeye. 

A.  Sernla'a,  Smooth  Leaf  Alder. 

Araelanchier  Canadensis,  True  Ser- 
vice Berry. 

A  morpha  Fruticosa,  False  Indigo 
Shrub. 

A.  Canescens,  Lead  Plant. 
Anipelopsis    Quinquefolia,   Virginia 

Creeper. 
Asimina  Triloba,  Paw  Paw. 

B.  Nigra,  Eiver  or  Eed  Birch. 
Carpinus    Americana,    Blue    Beech, 

Hornbeam.  , 

Ceanothus  Americana,  Eed  Eoot. 

C.  Ovalis,  Great  Eed  Eoot. 

Cercis  Canadensis,  Judas  Tree,  Eed 

Bud. 
Celastrns  Scandens,  False  Bitter  Sweeti 

Wax  Work. 
Cehie  Occidentalis,  Hackberry. 
Cephalanthus     Occidentalis,    Button 

Bush. 
C.  Virginica,  Choke  Cherry. 
C.   Serotina,  Black   Cherry,  Cabinet 

C;herry. 
C.  Alternifolla,  False  Dogwood. 
C.  Sericea,  Kinnickinick. 
C.  Circinata,  Pigeon  Berry. 
C.  Stolonifera,  Eed  Osier. 
C.  Paniculata. 
C.  Sanguinea. 

Corylus  Americana,  Hazelnut. 
C.  Coccinea,  Hawthorn. 
C.  Tomentosa,         " 
C.  Cms  galli,  " 

C.  Alba,  Shagbark  Hickory. 
C.  Sulcata,  Thick  Shellbark  Hickory. 
C.  Tomentosa,  White  Heart  Hickory. 
C.  Glabra,  Pig-nut  Hickory. 
Dirca  Palustris,  Leatherwood. 
Euonymus    Atropurpureus,   Wahoo, 

Strawberry  Tree. 

E.  Americana,  Wahoo. 
Fraiinus  Americana,  White  Ash. 

F.  Viridis,  Green  Ash. 


F.  Sambucifolia,  Black  Ash. 

F.  Quadrangulata,  Blue  Ash. 

Gleditschia     Triacanthos,     Three- 
Thorned  Acacia,  Honey  Locust. 

Gymnocladus  Canadensis,  Kentucky 
Coffee  Nut. 

Hamamelis  Virginica,  Witch  Hazel. 

Juglans  Cinerea,  Butternut. 

J.  Nigra,  Walnut. 

Juniperus  Virginiana,  Eed  Cedar. 

Lonicera  Grata,  Woodbine. 

Menispermum  Canadense,  Moonseed. 

Morus  Eubra,  Mulberry. 

Ostrya    Virginica,    Hop-Hornbeam, 
Iron- wood. 

Platanus   Occidentalis,    Buttonwood, 
Sycamore. 

Popnlus  Tremuloides,  Quaking  Asp, 
Aspen. 

P.  Monilifera,  Necklace  Poplar,  Cot- 
tonwood. 

P.  Angulata,  Cotton  Tree. 

Prunfis  Americana,  Wild  Plum. 

Pyrus  Coronaria,  Crab  Apple. 

Quercus  Macrocarpa,  Burr  Oak. 

Q.  Obtusiloba,  Post  Oak. 

Q.  Alba,  White  Oak. 

Q.  Pirnus,  Swamp  White  Oak. 

Q.  Discolor,  Swamp  Chestnut  Oak. 

Q.  Imbricaria,  Laurel  Leaf  Oak. 

Q.  Nigra,  Black  Jack  Oak. 

Q.    TInctoria,    Yellow    Bark 
Quercitron  Oak. 

Q.  Coccinea,  Scarlet  Oak. 

Q.  Eabra,  Eed  Oak. 

Q.  Palustris,  Swamp  Spanish 
Pin  Oak. 

E.  "Glabra,  Sumach. 

E.  Eadicans,  Climbing  Poison  Ivy. 

E.  Toxicodendron,  Poison  Ivy. 

Eibes  Cynosbati,  Prickly  Gooseberry. 

E.  Hirtellum,. Smooth  Gooseberry. 

E.   Eotundifollum,    Smooth    Goose- 
berry. 

E.  Lacustre,  Swamp  Gooseberry. 

E.  Floridum,  Black  Currant. 

Eosa  Lucida,  Prairie  Eose. 

E,  Blanda,  Wood  Eose. 

S.  Tristis,  Eose  Willow. 

S.  Humilus,  Cone  Willow. 

S.  Eriocephala,  Silky-head  Willow. 

S.  Nigra,  Black  Willow. 


Oak, 


Oak, 


U.  Americana,  White  Elm. 

U.   Eacemopus,  Cork  Elm,  Hickory 

Elm. 
Viburnum  Prunifolium,  Black  Haw, 

Arrow  Wood. 
V.  Lentago,  Black  Haw. 
Vitis  Aestivalis,  Summer  Grape. 
V.  Conlifolia,  Frost  Grape. 
Zanthoxylum   Americanum,  Prickly 

Ash. 
Lindira  Benzoin,  Spice  Bush. 
Eubus  Stragosus,  Eed  Easpberry. 
"      Occidentalis,  Black  Easpberry. 
"      Villosus,  Blackberry. 
Eobenia  Pseudocacia,  Black  Locust. 


Native  Woody  Plants  [Coniinued). 

S.  Fragilis,    Joint    Willow,    Brittle     Ulmus  Fulva,  Eed  Elm. 
Willow. 

Sambucus  Canadensis,  Elderberry. 

S.  Pubens,  Eed  Fruit  Elderberry. 

Sassafras  Officinale,  Sassafras. 

Shepherdia  Canadensis,  Buffalo  Berry. 

Smilax  Hispida,  Greenbrier. 

Spirase  Opulifolia,  Vinebark  Spiraea. 

Spirase  Salicifolia,  Ilardhack,  Willow 
Spiriea. 

Staphylea  Trifolia,  Eattle-box,  Wood- 
Bladder  Nut. 

Symphoricarpus      Vulgarus,      Coral 
Berry. 

Teooma  Eadicans,  Trumpet  Creeper. 

Tilia  Americana,  Basswood. 

Our  article  will  particularly  treat  of  the  more  valuable  woods, 
utilized  in  the  mechanic  arts,  and  the  grasses,  plants,  vegetables, 
and  flowers  most  beneficial  to  man,  and  particularly  those  which  are 
natives  of  this  county.  The  plants  are  many  and  rare,  some  for 
beauty,  and  some  for  medicine.  The  pink-root,  the  columbo,  the 
ginseng,  the  boneset,  pennyroyal,  and  others  are  used  for  medicine. 
Plants  of  beauty  are  phlox,  the  lily,  the  asclepias,  mints,  golden  rod, 
the  eye-bright  gerardia,  and  hundreds  more,  which  adorn  the  mea- 
dows and  brook-sides;  besides  the  climbing  vines,  the  trumpet 
creeper,  the  bitter  sweet,  the  woodbine,  the  clematis,  and  the  grape, 
which  fill  the  woods  with  gay  festoons,  and  add  grace  to  many  a 
decaying  monarch  of  the  forest,  here  are  found  the  oak  with  at  least 
its  twenty  varieties  ;  the  hickory,  with  as  many  more  species  ;  the 
thirty  kinds  of  elm,  from  the  sort  which  bear  leaves  as  large  as  a 
man's  hand,  to  the  kind  which  bear  a  haf  scarcely  larger  than  a 
man's  thumb-nail ;  the  black  walnut,  so  tall,  and  straight  and  beau- 
tiful, is  nearly  gone  ;  the  hackberry  ;  gum  tree,  black  and  sweet ; 
the  tulip ;  the  giant  cotton-woods,  and  hundreds  more  attest  the  fer- 
tility of  the  soil  and  mildness  of  the.  climate.  The  White  oak  is 
much  used  in  making  furniture  and  agricultural  implements,  as  are 
also  the  Panel  oak,  Burr  oak  and  Pin  oak.  The  Blue  Ash  is  excel- 
lent for  flooring.  The  Honey  Locust  is  a  very  durable  wood,  and 
shrinks  less  than  any  other  in  seasoning. 

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


s-e*^— 


CHAPTER   VI. 


FAUNA. 


PPENDED  will  be  found  the  names  of  the  wild  ani- 
mals which  inhabited  this  country  during  the  early 
settlement  of  the  State.  The  bufl^alo,  deer,  bear, 
wild  cat,  panther  and  wolf  were  among  the  more  im- 
portant animals,  and  furnished  much  sport  for  the 
early  pioneers.  The  feathered  tribe  was  numerously 
represented  in  the  myriads  of  geese,  ducks,  prairie- 
fowl,  wild  turkey  and  quail.  The  student,  in  exami- 
ning carefully  our  list,  will  notice  that  many  animals  mentioned 
may  still  be  found  within  the  boundaries  of  St.  Glair  county.     The 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


43 


natural  history  of  thfe  country  is  quite  interesting,  and  it  is  profit- 
able to  make  a  study  of  the  animals  which  inhabited  it  prior  to 
the  advent  of  man ;  their  habits,  and  the  means  of  their  subsist- 
ence are  worthy  of  investigation.  Some  were  animals  of  prey; 
others  harmless,  and  subsisted  upon  vegetable  matter.  The 
early  animals  of  this  portion  of  the  State  ranged  over  a  wide  field; 
and  those  which  inhabited  the  prairie  and  timbered  regions  differ 
but  very  materially  as  to  species. 

Ruminating  animals. — The  American  Elk  (Cervus  Canadensis), 
together  with  deer  of  two  kinds,  the  more  common,  the  well- 
known  American  deer  (Cervus  Virgin  ianus),  and  the  White-tailed 
Deer  (Ce'rvui  Leucurus).  And  at  a  period  not  very  remote,  the 
American  Buffalo  (Bos  Americanus)  must  have  found  pastures 
near  the  alluvial  and  shaded  banks  of  the  Sangamon  and  plains 
and  prairies  of  this  portion  of  the  State.  The  heads,  horns  and 
bones  of  the  slain  animals  were  still  numerous  in  1820.  The 
Black  Bear  (Ursus  Americanus)  were  quite  numerous  even  in  the 
memory  of  the  older  settlers.  Bears  have  been  seen  in  the  county 
within  the  last  thirty  years.  The  Gray  Wolf  (Canis  Occidenta- 
lis)  and  Prairie  Wolf  (Canis  latrans)  are  not  unfrequently  found, 
as  is  also  the  Gray  Fox  (Vulpes  Virginianus)  which  still  exists 
by  its  superior  cunning.  The  panther  (Felis  concolor)  was  occa- 
sionally met  with  in  the  earlier  times,  and  still  later  and  more 
common,  the  Wild  Cat  (Lynx  rufus).  The  Weasel,  one  or  more 
species ;  the  Mink  (Putorius  Vison) ;  American  Otter  (Lutra  Ca- 
nadensis) ;  the  Skunk  (Mephitis  Mephitica)  ;  the  Badger  (Taxi- 
dea  Americana) ;  the  Kaccoon  (Procyon  Lotor) ;  The  Opossum 
(Didelphys  Virginiana).  The  two  latter  species  of  animals  are 
met  with  in  every  portion  of  the  United  States  and  the  greater 
part  of  North  America.  The  coon  skin  among  the  early  settlers 
was  regarded  as  a  legal  tender.  The  Bear  and  Otter  are  now 
extinct  in  the  county,  and  were  valuable  for  their  furs.  Of  the 
squirrel  family  we  have  the  Fox,  Gray,  Flying,  Ground  and  Prairie 
Squirrel'  (Scirus  Ludovicanus,  Carolinensis,  Volucella,  Striatus  and 
Spermaphilus).  The  Woodchuck  (Arctomys  Monax) ;  the  com- 
mon Musk  Eat  (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 
iu  the  clearings.  Of  the  Hares,  (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  traditions  of  the  past.  The 
Buffalo  and  the  Elk  have  passed  the  borders  of  the  Mississippi 
to  the  westward,  never  more  to  return. 

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  are  quite  plen- 
tiful; Pinnated  Grouse  (Bonasa  Unibellus) ;  Ruffled  Grouse 
(Ortyx  Virginianus) ;  Quail  (Philohela  Minor) ;  Woodcock  (Gal- 
linago  Wilsonii)  ;  English  Snipe  (Macrorhamphus  Griseus)  ;  Red- 
breasted  Snipe  (Gambetta  Melanoleuca) ;  Telltale  Snipe  (Gam- 
betta  Flavipes)  ;  Yellow  Legs.  (Limosa  Fedoa)  ;  Marbled  Godwit 
(Scolofax  Fedoa,  Wilson)  ;  Numenius  Longirastris  (Long-billed 
Curlew) ;    Kuraenius   Hudsonicus    (Short-billed   Curlew) ;  Rallus 


*  In  the  preceding  mention  of  animals,  botli  tlie  scientific  and  common  names  are 
geuerally  given  for  the  benefit  of  the  reader. 


Virginianus  (Virginia  Rail);  Cygnus  Americanus  (American 
Swan) ;  Cygnus  Buccinator  (Trumpeter  Swan) ;  Anser  Hyperbo- 
reus  (Snow  Goose)  ;  Bermicala  Canadensis  (Canada  Goose)  ;  Ber- 
micala  Brenta  (Brant) ;  Anas  Boschas  (Mallard) ;  Anas  Obscura 
(Black  Duck)  ;  Dafila  Acuta  (Pintail  Duck)  ;  Nettion  Carolinen- 
sis (Green-winged  Teel)  ;  Querquedela  discors  (Blue-winged  Teel)  ; 
Spatula  Clypeata  (Shoveler) ;  Mareca  Americana)  (American  Wid- 
geon) ;  Aix  Sponsa  (Summer,  or  Wood-Duck)  ;  Aythaya  Ameri- 
cana (Red-head  Duck) ;  Aythaya  Vallisneria  (Canvas-back  Duck) ; 
Bucephala  Albeola  (Butter  Ball) ;  Lophodytes  Cueculatus 
(Hooded  Merganser) ;  Pelecanus  erythrorynchus  (Rough-billed 
Pelican)  ;  Colymbus  torquatus  (The  Loon) ;  Aegialitis  Vociferus 
(Killdeer  Plover) ;  Bald  Head,  Yellow-legged  and  Upland 
Plover  (Tantalus  Loculata);  (Wild  Ibis)  very  rarely  visit 
this  locality.  Herodus  egretta  (White  Heron) ;  Ardea  He- 
rodias  (Great  Blue  Heron) ;  Botaurus  lentiginosus  (Bittern) ;  Grus 
Canadensis  (Sand  Hill  Crane) ;  Eetopistes  migratoria  (Wild 
Pigeon) ;  Zenaidura  Carolinensis  (Common  Dove)  ;  Corvus  carni- 
vorus  (American  Raven)  ;  Corvus  Americanus  (Common  Crow)  ; 
Cyanurus  cristatus  (Blue  Jay);  Dolichonyx oryzivorus  (Bobolink); 
Agelaius  phcenicanus  (Red-winged  Black  Bird) ;  Sturella  magna 
(Meadow  Lark) ;  Icterus  Baltimore  (Golden  Oriole) ;  Chrysome- 
tris  tristis  (Yellow  Bird)  ;  Junco  hyemalis  (Snow  Bird);  Sgizella 
S)cialis  (Chipping  Sparrow);  Spizella  pusilla  (Field  Sparrow); 
Melospiza  palustris  (Swamp  Sparrow)  ;  Cyanospiza  cyanea  (Indigo 
Bird)  ;  Cardinalis  Virginianus  (Cardinal  Red  Bird) ;  Pipilo  ery- 
throphthalmus  (Cheewink)  ;  Sitta  Carolinensis  (White-bellied  Nut- 
hatch) ;  Mimus  polyglottus  (Mocking  Bird) ;  Mimus  Carolinensis 
(Cat  Bird)  ;  Harphorhynchus  rufus  (Brown  Thrush) ;  Troglodytes 
aedon  (House  Wren)  ;  Hirundo  horreorum  (Barn  Swallow) ;  Co- 
tyle  riparia  (Bank  Swallow)  ;  Progne  purpurea  (Blue  Marthi) ; 
Ampellis  Cedrorum  (Cedar  Bird) ;  Pyrangra  rubra  (Scarlet  Ta- 
nager) ;  Pyrangra  astiva  (Summer  Red  Bird)  ;  Tardus  Migrato- 
rus  (Ri)bin),  came  less  than  forty  years  ago.  Sialia  Sialis  (Blue 
Bird);  Tyrannus  Carolinensis  (King  Bird);  Sayornis  fuscus  (Pe- 
wee);  Ceryle  Alcyon  (Belted  Kingfisher);  Antrostomus  vociferus 
(Whippoorwill) ;  Chardeiles  popetue  (Night  Hawk);  Chaetura 
pelasgia  (Chimney  Swallow) ;  Trochilus  colubris  (Ruby-throated 
Humming  Bird);  Picus  Villosus  (Hairy  Woodpecker);  Picus  pu- 
bescens  (Downy  Woodpecker) ;  Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (Red- 
headed Woodpecker);  Colaptes  auratus  (Golden  Winged  Wood- 
pecker); Conurus  Carolinensis  (Carolina  Parrot) ;  Bubo  Virginia- 
nus (Great  Horned  Owl);  Smyrnium  nebulosura  (Barred  Owl); 
Nyctea  nivea  (Snowy  Owl);  Carthartes  aura  (Turkey  Buzzard); 
Falco  columbarium  (Pigeon  Hawk);  Nauclerus  furcatus  (Swallow- 
tailed  Hawk) ;  Icteria  Mississippiensis  (Mississippi  Kite) ;  Buteo 
borealis  (Red-tailed  Hawk) ;  Haliatus  leucocephalus  (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  encouraged  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  en- 
tirely injurious,  as  it  is  not  insectivorous,  but  feeds  on  the  inner 
bark,  cambium  (and  the  elaborated  sap)  of  many  species  of  trees, 
and  may  be  known  from  other  Woodpeckers  by  its  belly  being 
yellowish,  a  large  black  patch  on   its  breast,  and  the  top  of  its 


44 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


head  a  dark  bright  red.  The  males  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  Wood- 
pecker (Pious  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  colored  with 
yellow,  and  should  not  be  mistaken  for  the  Sap-sucker.  It  is  a 
much  larger  bird.  The  Red-headed  Woodpecker  (Melanerpes 
rythrocephalus)  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,  Whip-poor-will,  Night  Hawk 
or  Goat  Sucker,  Nut-hatcher,  Pewee  or  Pewit.  AH  the  Blackbirds, 
Bobolinks,  Finches  (Fringillidse),  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. 

Of  the  F^^h,  the  most  common  are  the  Cat,  Bass,  and  the  Sun- 
fish.  Jhe  Perch,  Pike  and  Bufialo  are  also  occasionally  met  with. 
The  common  Carp  Chuff  are  numerous  ;  the  Bass  is  a  game-fish, 
and  affords  fine  sport. 

2d.  — BIRDS   OF   DOUBTFUL  UTILITY. 

Which  include  those  which  have  beneficial  qualities,  but  which 
have  also  noxious  or  destructive  qualities  in  the  way  of  dej?troying 
fruits,  and  whose  habits  are  not  fully  determined.  Thus  the  Robin, 
Brown  Thrush,  and  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. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


THE  ABORIGINES. 


I  RIOR  to  the  Indians,  two  distinct  races  are  said 
to  have  inhabited  the  American  continent.  The 
first  race  was  the  most  civilized,  and  the  ruins 
of  extensive  temples,  palaces  and  pyramids  in 
Mexico  and  Central  America  prove  that  they 
dwelt  in  magnificent  and  populous  cities.  The 
second  race  was  the  mound-builders,  the  evi- 
dence of  whose  existence  is  found  in  numerous 
mounds,  traces  of  which  are  discovered  in  a 
tract  of  country  extending  in  a  southwest  direction  from  the 
southern   shore   of  Lake  Ontario   to   South  America;      Some  of 


these  mounds  were  built  within  the  present  limits  of  St.  Clair 
county. 

The  Indians  who  inhabited  this  part  of  the  Mississippi  valley  be- 
longed to  the  Algonquin  branch  of  the  great  Indian  family.    The 
Illinois  formed  a  confederacy  of  five  tribes — the  Tamaroas,  Michi- 
ganies,  Kaskaskias,  Cahokias  and  Peorias.     In  the  year  1675  these 
tribes  lived  chiefly  in  the  country  on  the  Illinois  river.     In  1680 
the  Iroquois  burned   their  principal  town,  and  the  several  tribes 
were  driven  down  the  Illinois  river  to  the  Mississippi.      Seven 
hundred  of  the  women  and  children  of  the  Tamaroas  were  taken 
prisoners,  and  a  large  number  of  these  were  burned  and  slaugh- 
tered.    The  Illinois  Indians  subsequently  removed  further  south. 
Peoria,  Cahokia  and  Kakaskia  became  the  centres  of  the  tribes 
which  bore  those  names.    The  Cahokia  and  Tamaroa   tribes  united 
and  had  their  village  at  Cahokia.     The  Michiganies  chose  a.  loca- 
tion near  Fort  Chartres,  on  the  Mississippi.     The  efforts  of  the 
Jesuits  to  convert  these  tribes  to  Christianity  led  to  the  establish- 
ment of  the  villages  of  Cahokia  and  Kaskaskia.     The  Tamaroas 
at  one  time  had  a  town  at  Turkey  Hill,  but  became  nearly  exter- 
minated in  a  battle  with  the  Shawnees,  near  the  eastern  limits  of 
Randolph  county.     At  the  time  of  the  earliest  French  settlements 
the  Illinois  Indians  numbered  about  twelve  thousand.     In  revenge 
for  the  death  of  Pontiac,  who  was  killed  by  an  Illinois  Indian  at 
Cahokia  in  1769,  the  Illinois  were  almost  exterminated  by  the 
Sacs,  Foxs   and  Pottawatomies.     In  the  year    1800  they  had  be- 
come reduced  to  two  tribes,  the  Kaskaskias  and  Peorias,  and  could 
only  muster  one  hundred  and  fifty  warriors.     Their  chief  was  a 
half-breed  of  consid  'rable  talent,  named  Du  Quoin,  who  wore  a 
medal  presented  to  him  by  Washington,  whom  he  had  visited  at 
Philadelphia.     Soon  after  1800  Du  Quoin  and  his  tribes  emigrated 
to  the  south-west.     In  1850  the  last  remnant  of  the  once  populous 
tribes  which  composed  the  Illinois  Indians  were  in  the  Indian  terri- 
tory, and  numbered  in  all  eighty-four  persons.     After  the  settle- 
ment of  St.  Clair  county  by  the  Americans,  portions  of  the  Kicka- 
poo    and    Pottawatomie   tribes  often    passed   through,   but  after 
1808  nothing  was  heard  of  them. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


PIONEEBS  AND  EARLY  SETTLERS. 


INCIDENTS    AND    ANECDOTES   OF  ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY, 
ILLINOIS. 

I  HE  early  history  of  St.  Clair  county  reaches  back 
to  the  historic  period  of  French  domination  in 
the  Mississippi  valley.  There  is  no  incident  in 
the  settlement  of  America  more  full  of  ro- 
mantic interest  than  the  planting  of  an  infant 
colony  in  the  very  heart  of  an  unexplored 
continent— a  single  speck  of  civilization  amid  a 
vast  and  savage  wilderness.  No  people  but 
the  French  would  have  attempted  it ;  the  zealous  and  hardy  enthu- 
siasm of  the  Jesuit  faith  could  alone  have  furnished  strong  enough 
motive. 

THE   FRENCH   VILLAGE   OP  CAHOKIA 

Was  the  earliest  settlement  in  the  present  county  of  St.  Clair.     It 
was  in  existence  in  1686,  and  possibly  may  have  been  founded  one 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


45 


or  two  years  previous.  This  point  was  selected  as  a  missionary 
station  by  the  French  Jesuits,  who  desired  to  instruct  the  Taraa- 
roas  and  Cahokia  Indians.  Father  Pinet  was  the  first  to  have 
charge  of  the  mission,  which  was  called  "  Notre  Dame  de  Kahokia." 
Indian  traders  came  soon  afterward,  and  the  infant  settlement  was 
thus  placed  on  a  substantial  and  pe  manent  basis.  About  the  year 
1700  the  inhabitants  began  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  adjacent  to 
the  village,  and  more  lasting  buildings  took  the  place  of  the  tem- 
porary structures  which  were  first  used  for  habitation.  Cahokia 
never  became  as  large  as  Kaskaskia.  The  former  carried  on  a 
larger  part  of  the  trade  with  the  northern  Indians,  while  the  latter 
cultivated  the  soil  to  a  greater  extent,  and  secured  an  extensive 
and  profitable  trade  down  the  Mississippi  with  New  Orleans  and 
Mobile.  Like  the  other  French  settlements  in  Illinois,  Cahokia 
continued  to  prosper  till  1763,  when  the  result  of  the  war  which 
had  been  carried  on  between  France  and  England  placed  the 
country  east  of  the  Mississippi  under  English  control. 

In  a  work  published  by  Capt.  Phillip  Pittraan,  an  ofiicer  in  the 
British  army,  entitled  "  The  State  of  the  European  Settlements  on 
the  Mississippi,"  published  in  London  in  1770,  the  following  de- 
scription is  given  of  Cahokia  iu  1776:  ''The  village  of  Saint  Fa- 
mille  de  Kaoquias  (Kahokia)  is  generally  reckoned  fifteen  leagues 
from  Fort  Chartres,  and  six  below  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.  It 
stands  near  the  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  is  marked  from  the 
river  by  an  island  two  leagues  long.  The  village  is  opposite  the 
centre  of  this  island." 

EAELY   EESIDENTS   OF   CAHOKIA. 

Among  the  prominent   citizens  of  Cahokia  in  early  times  was 
Charles  Gratiot,  whose  name  deserves  commemoration  for  his  patri- 
otic  services  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.     He  was  born  at 
Lausanne,   Switzerland,   in   the  year   1747.     He  belonged   to   a 
Huguenot  family.     He  was  educated  in  London  and  thoroughly 
fitted  for  a  commercial  career.     At  eighteen  he  went  to  Canada, 
where  his  attention  was  directed  to  the  north-west  trade  with  the 
Indians,  then  to  active  and  enterprising  young  men  the  most  pro- 
mising channel  to  wealth  and  fame.     With  one  partner  at  Macki-  • 
naw  and  another  at  Montreal,  he  extended  his  operations  with  the 
Indians  over  a  vast  scope  of  country  and  employed  large  sums  of 
money.     In  1774  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  Illinois  country, 
and  established  stores  at  both  Cahokia  and  Kaskaskia.     For  many 
years  his  grand  depot  for  the  Indian  trade  was  at  Cahokia.     At 
the  time  Gen.  Clark  made  his  expedition  to  Illinois  and  captured 
the  British  posts,  he  found  a  ready  supporter  in  Gratiot.     Clark's 
army  was  without  resources,  and  had  it  not  been  for  Gratiot  and 
some  other  wealthy  and  patriotic  men,  the  campaign  must  have 
been  abandoned.     He  exhausted  his  means  in  his  efforts  to  procure 
supplies  for  the  army ;  but  his  talents  and  energies  soon  enableil 
him  to  again  accumulate  wealth.     In  return  for  his  services,  Vir. 
giuia,  after  the  Revolution,  agreed  to  give  him  thirty  thousand 
acres  of  land  on  the  south-east  bank  of  the  Ohio,  including  the  site 
of  the  present  city  of  Louisville ;  but  before  the  grant  was  com- 
pleted, Kentucky  was  organized  into  a  state  and  the  conveyance  to 
Gratiot  was  never  made.     In  1781  he  married  a  Miss  Choteau, 
daughter  of  Pierre  Choteau,   of  St.  Louis,  who  belonged  to  the 
family  which  assisted  in  founding  that  city.     After  his  marriage 
he  made  St.  Louis  his  residence,  and  died  there  in  1817. 

Joseph  Trotier,  a  French  Canadian,  settled  in  Cahokia  about 
the  year  1775,  and  for  a  time  carried  on  a  large  commerce  with 
New  Orleans.  On  one  occasion  while  ascending  the  I'iver  a  large 
Cottonwood  tree  fell  across  his  boat  and  destroyed  it  and  the  cargo. 
The  ascent  of  the  Mississippi  when  the  river  was  at  a  high  stage 


was  difficult  and  dangerous.  The  voyage  from  New  Orleans  to 
Cahokia  frequently  required  four  or  five  months,  and  often  on  the 
voyage  many  died  from  sickness.  Where  the  current  was  most 
rapid  the  boat  could  not  be  propelled  against  the  stream  with  oari. 
A  large  rope  or  corJelle  was  then  used.  One  end  was  fastened  to 
the  boat,  and  ten,  fifteen  or  twenty  men  on  shore  towed  the  boat 
after  them.  When  a  river  or  creek  entering  into  the  Mississippi 
was  reached,  they  swam  over  with  the  cordelle.  In  places  where 
the  current  was  very  strong,  the  upper  end  of  the  cordelle  was 
fastened  to  a  tree  and  the  other  end  put  round  a  windlass,  and 
thereby  the  boat  was  forced  up  the  river  against  the  current.  These 
cordelle  ropes  were  frequently  very  long,  often  measuring  five  or 
six  hundred  yards. 

Dominique  Ducherme,  also  a  French  Canadian,  who  made 
Cahokia  his  home  at  intervals,  possessed  great  influence  among  the 
Indian  tribes.  He  it  was  who  made  the  celebrated  attempt  to  cap- 
ture St  Louis,  then  a  Spanish  post.  His  attack  was  made  on  the 
26th  of  May,  1780;  and  the  year  was  known  long  afterwards  as 
"L'anne  de  coup!"  Ducherme's  enmity  was  excited  against  the 
Spanish  because  a  party  of  Spanish  soldiers  from  the  garrison  at 
St.  Louis  had  captured  and  confiscated  a  boat-load  of  goods  which 
he  was  carrying  up  the  Missouri  river  to  trade  with  the  Indians. 

M.  Saucier,  of  the  French  officers  at  Fort  Chartres  in  1756^  set- 
tled at  Cahokia,  in  1763,  after  the  cession  of  the  country  to  Eng- 
land. His  three  sons,  Jean  B.,  Michael,  and  Francis  Saucier  were 
prominent  characters  in  early  times  in  Illinois,  and  occupied  vari- 
ous civil  and  military  offices.  The  first  died  at  Cahokia,  and  Michael 
and  Francis  Saucier  founded  the  village  of  Portage  des  Sioux  in 
Upper  Louisiana. 

From  1780  to  1800  Cahokia  was  the  residence  of  many  of  the 
north-western  Indian  traders,  among  whom  was  Julien  Dubuque, 
after  whom  the  town  of  Dubuque  in  Iowa  is  named,  and  near  which 
he  was  buried.  In  1788  he  purchased  from  the  Indians  a  tract  of 
land  in  the  present  state  of  Iowa,  extending  eighteen  miles  along  the 
Mississippi  and  running  back  nine  miles  from  the  river,  iu  which 
valuable  lead  mines  were  embraced.  William  Arundel  was  another 
Indian  trader  who  came  to  Cahokia  about  the  year  1783.  He  was 
well  educated,  and  among  the  old  records  of  St.  Clair  and  Randolph 
counties  his  handwriting  frequently  appears.  He  was  an  Irishman 
by  birth.  He  died  at  Kaskaskia  in  1816.  He  and  Thomas  Brady 
were  said  to  have  been  the  only  two  persons,  who  were  not  French, 
who  resided  in  Cahokia  previous  to  the  year  1788.  Brady  was  a 
resident  of  Cahokia  for  many  years,  an  I  was  made  sheriff"  of  St. 
Clair  county  in  1790.  Another  citizen  of  Cahokia,  wa^  Capt.  Mc- 
Carty,  who  commanded  a  company  of  soldiers,  raised  among  tiie 
French,  in  February,  1779,  and  assisted  Col.  Clark  in  his  capture 
of  the  British  ports  on  the  Wabash. 

About  the  year  1800  William  Morrison,  who  then  carried  on,  at 
Kaskaskia,  the  leading  mercantile  business  in  the  west,  established 
a  store  at  Cahokia,  and  placed  in  charge  of  it  William  Atfhison,  a 
singular  and  eccentric  Irishman,  who,  from  the  excessive  high  prices 
he  charged  for  his  goods,  acquired,  in  derision,  the  title  of  "  Chape 
Wollie."  Guy  Morrison,  a  brother  of  William  Morrison,  resided  in 
Cahokia  from  1815  to  1826,  and  while  there  was  employed  in  busi- 
ness with  his  brother. 

Among  the  most  celebrated  of  the  early  residents  of  Cahokia  wa? 
Mrs.  La  Corapt,  who  died  at  Cahokia,  in  the  year  1843,  at  the  age  of 
one  hundred  and  nine.  She  came  to  Cahokia  in  1770.  After  the 
death  of  La  Compt,  her  second  husband,  she  married  Thomas 
Brady,  and  after  his  death  was  again  known  by  her  former  name. 
She  possessed  many  strong  traits  of  character  and  was  blessed  with 
■on  extraordinary  constitution.      She  was  familiar   with  the  Indian 


46 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


language  and  possessed  great  influence  among  the  Pottawatamies, 
Kickapoos,  and  other  tribes.  During  the  early  American  settle- 
ments in  Monroe  and  Randolph  counties,  from  1771  to  1795,  she 
prevented  rnany  Indian  attacks  on  the  white  population.  On  many 
occasions  she  was  awakened  in  the  night  by  her  Indian  friends  who 
would  inform  her  of  a  proposed  Indian  attack  and  warn  her  to 
leave  Cahokia.  She  started  often  to  meet  some  hundreds  of  war- 
riors camped  near  the  Quentine  mound,  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  near 
the  present  French  village,  with  the  purpose  of  persuading  them  to 
dismiss  their  hostile  intentions.  She  knew  that  a  female  approach- 
ing on  foot  would  excite  sympathy  among  the  Indians,  and  then  she 
trusted  to  her  influence  and  her  arguments  to  appease  their  anger 
and  avert  bloodshed.  She  never  failed.  The  inhabitants  of  Caho- 
kia were  often  waiting,  with  arms  in  their  hands,  ready  for  defence, 
when  they  would  see  this  extraordinary  woman  escorting  to  the 
village  a  great  band  of  warriors  changed  in  their  motives  from  war 
to  peace.  The  Indians  were  then  feasted  for  days,  and  would  remain 
in  peace  for  some  time  after  the  reconciliation. 

Another  remarkable  woman  who  lived  at  Cahokia  at  an  early 
period  was  Madame  Beaulieu.  She  was  born  in  the  village  of  St. 
Phillippe,  a  few  miles  above  Fort  Chartres,  in  the  year  1742,  and 
was  educated  at  Quebec,  Canada.  Her  father,  whose  name  was 
Chouvin,  came  to  Fort  Chartres,  as  an  ofiicer  in  the  French  troops, 
and  afterward  settled  at  Cahokia,  where  his  daughter  married. 
This  lady  is  said  to  have  possessed  a  strong,  active  mind  and  a 
superior  education.  She  was  a  pattern  of  morality  and  virtue.  She 
understood  medicine,  and  her  attainments  in  this  science  were  often 
called  into  requisition.  She  was  extremely  devout,  and  an  exempla- 
ry member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

John  De  Moulin,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  settled  in  Cahokia  and 
became  a  conspicuous  and  influential  citizen.  He  was  made  chief 
justice  of  the  court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  Cahokia  District  of  St. 
Clair  county  in  1790.  For  a  long  series  of  years  he  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  also  judge  of  the  probate  court.  He  was  a 
1  arge  trader  in  lands,  and  among  the  early  records  of  land  transfers 
his  name  appears  with  nearly  as  much  frequency  as  that  of  any 
other  person  in  the  county.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  intelligence 
and  education,  understood  legal  principles,  and  had  a  thorough 
understanding  of  the  value  of  the  titles  of  the  lands  in  market  at 
that  day.  He  was  very  popular,  and  was  elected  colonel  of  the 
militia  for  St.  Clair  county.  He  had  a  large  and  portly  figure,  and 
on  parade  days  made  a  fine  appearance.  Under  his  command  the 
militia  of  the  county  was  well  trained  and  efiicient.  He  was  a 
single  man  during  his  residence  in  Illinois,  and  died  without  wife, 
children,  or  relative  of  any  degree  in  this  country. 

Nicholas  Jarrot,  a  native  of  FrancheCompte,  in  France,  emigra- 
ted from  his  native  country  in  1790,  and  reached  Cahokia  in  1794, 
where  he  resided  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  man 
of  intense  activity,  energy  and  industry.  He  came  to  Cahokia 
without  means,  but  obtained  a  small  supply  of  Indian  goods  and 
became  an  Indian  trader.  He  succeeded  in  amassing  a  large  for- 
tune. Every  year  he- dispatched  a  boat-load  of  goods  to  the  upper 
Mississippi,  Prairie  du  Chien,  or  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  where  such 
articles  as  the  natives  needed  were  bartered  ofi"  for  furs  and  peltries. 
In  early  times  the  Indian  trade  was  very  lucrative,  and  two  and 
three  hundred  per  cent,  was  commonly  realized  on  the  goods  sold 
to  the  Indians.  He  also  kept  a  small  retail  store  at  Cahokia.  He 
erected  a  horse-mill  at  Cahokia  which  was  in  operation  before  and 
during  the  war  of  1812,  and  assisted  much  in  providing  the  supplies 
for  the  troops  engaged  in  the  war.  By  purchasing  land  claims  he 
acquired  immense  bodies  of  land,  some  of  which  was  the  choicest  in 
the  country.     He  owned  considerable  land  on  the  river  opposite 


St.  Louis.  For  many  years  he  held  the  positions  of  justice  of  the 
peace  and  judge  of  the  ounty  court.  His  name  often  appsars  on 
the  early  court  records.  He  erected  in  Cahokia  a  brick  house, 
which,  when  built,  was  one  of  the  finest  in  Illinois.  It  is  still  stand- 
ing. His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Birbsau  of  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and 
his  next  a  Miss  Beauvais  of  St.  Genevieve,  Mo.  He  seems  to  have 
had  a  mania  for  mills,  and  wasted  large  sums  of  money  in  building 
and  maintaining  a  water-mill  on  Cahokia  creek.  His  mill  was 
situated  a  few  miles  west  of  East  St.  Louis.  The  exposure,  fatigue 
and  sickness  he  expsriencad  while  at  work  on  this  mill  is  said  to 
have  been  the  cause  of  his  death.  He  was  a  strict  and  zealous  mem- 
bar  of  the  R^man  Catholic  Church.  He  died  in  182^,  and  wa? 
buried  in  the  old  grave-yard  of  Cahokia. 

In  the  year  1793  John  Hays  became  a  citizen  of  Cahokia.  He 
was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1770,  and  when  very  young 
entered  the  Indian  trade  in  the  North-west  as  clerk  to  a  wealthy 
house  in  Canada.  At  one  time,  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Red 
river,  he  and  two  Canadians  were  caught  in  a  severe  snow  storm  on 
the  prairie  and  were  compelled  to  lie  under  the  snow  for  three  days 
and  nights,  being  unable  to  travel,  and  with  only  a  scanty  supply 
of  dried  meat  and  their  blankets.  They  suffered  most  from  want  of 
water.  On  settling  at  Cahokia  he  embarked  in  trade  with  the  In- 
dians on  his  own  account.  He  afterward  turned  his  attention  to 
agriculture.  For  a  long  number  of  years  he  held  the  office  of  post- 
master at  Cahokia,  with  no  profit  to  himself,  but  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  his  neighbors.  Governor  St.  Clair  in  1798  appointed  him 
sheriff"  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  he  continued  to  exercise  the  duties 
of  this  position  till  1818,  when  the  state  government  was  organized. 
For  several  years  subsequent  to  1822  he  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  where  he  acted  as  Indian  agent  for  the  Pottawata- 
mies and  Miami  tribes.  He  returned  to  Cahokia,  where  he  spent 
the  balance  of  his  days,  and  where,  in  old  age,  he  died. 

Another  prominent  citizen  of  Cahokia  was  John  Hay.  He  filled 
several  of  the  county  offices,  and  many  of  the  county  records  are  in 
his  hand.  He  was  born  in  Detroit  in  1769,  and  came  to  Cahokia 
in  1793.  His  father,  John  Hay,  was  a  native  of  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  last  British  Governor  of  Upper  Canada. 
His  mother  was  a  lady  of  French  descent,  a  native  of  Detroit.  His 
father  died  when  Mr.  Hay  was  seventeen  years  old.  After  making 
a  venture  at  the  Indian  trade  in  the  North-west,  he  came  to  Caho- 
kia in  1793,  and  for  a  while  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness. In  1797  he  married  iMiss  Margaret  Pouport,  an  amiable  and 
beautiful  young  Creole  of  Cahokia. '  He  possessed  a  liberal  educa- 
tion, and  he  was  frequently  employed  to  do  writing  by  the  mer- 
chants of  St.  Louis  and  other  places.  Arthur  St.  (Mair,  then  Gov- 
ernor of  the  North-western  territory,  on  the  15th  of  February,  1799, 
commissioned  him  clerk  of  the  court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  clerk  of 
court  of  Common  Pleas,  clerk  of  the  Orphans'  Court,  and  treasurer 
of  the  county  of  St.  Clair.  He  held  these  four  positions  at  the  same 
time,  and  also  during  his  life  occupied  other  offices  of  trust  and 
honor.  He  was  notary  public,  justice  of  the  peace,  judge  of  pro- 
bate, and  recorder.  He  was  also  appointed  by  the  commissioners 
at  Kaskaskia  to  take  depositions  in  support  of  land  claims  in  the 
Kaskaskia  district— a  very  delicate  and  responsible  trust.  He  re- 
tained the  confidence  of  tae  people  to  a  rare  degree,  and  remained 
in  office  through  successive  changes  of  administration  till  his  death. 
When  the  county  seat  was  removed  to  Belleville,  in  1814,  it  was  a 
severe  blow  to  Mr.  Hay  and  his  family.  His  duties  demanded  his 
presence  at  the  county  seat,  and  yet  he  was  reluctant  to  leave  the 
French  society  at  Cahokia,  to  which  he  had  become  devotedly  at- 
tached. For  several  years  he  came  to  Belleville  each  Monday 
morning,  returning  on  Saturday  to  Cahokia,  where  his  family  still 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


47 


continued  to  reside.  At  last  he  sold  his  house  in  Cahokia,  and 
became  a  permanent  resident  of  Belleville,  where  he  died  in  1843. 
He  was  well  fitted  to  fill  the  county  offices  in  the  early  history  of 
the  county,  when  the  population  was  of  a  mixed  character.  He 
was  educated  both  in  the  English  and  French  languages,  and  thus 
was  qualified  to  transact  business  with  both  classes  of  the  people. 
He  acted  as  interpreter  and  assistant  secretary  at  the  treaty  with 
the  Indians  at  Portage  des  Sioux,  Missouri,  in  1815. 

Louison,  Etienne  and  Louis  Pensoneau,  three  brothers,  emigrated 
from  Canada  and  settled  in  Cahokia  in  1798.  The  youngest  was 
then  twenty-two  and  the  oldest  twenty-six.  They  all  married  in 
Cahokia  and  made  excellent  citizens.  Louis  Pensoneau  for  many 
years  carried  on  the  ferry  between  St.  Louis  and  Cahokia  which 
then  crossed  the  river  from  below  the  mouth  of  the  old  Cahokia 
creek.  Etienne  Pensoneau  built  the  first  brick  house  in  Illinoistown, 
now  East  St.  Louis.  From  George  Blair  he  purchased  the  site  of 
Belleville  and  afterward  sold  it  to  Governor  Ninian  Edwards.  He 
subsequently  bought  property  in  St.  Louis,  removed  to  that  place, 
and  died  there  in  1822.  Louison  Personeau  embarked  in  the  In- 
dian trade  on  the  Illinois  river,  principally  among  the  Kickapoo 
Indians.  His  main  depot  was  at  Peoria.  He  was  influential  in 
securing  the  adjustment  of  the  old  Peoria  land  claims.  He  died  in 
183L 

Among  the  physicians  who  made  Cahokia  their  home,  was  Dr. 
Truman  Tuttle,  who  came  to  Kaskaskia  in  the  year  1802,  as  a  sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  army.  After  resigning  his  position  in 
the  army,  he  practiced  medicine  for  a  time  at  Kaskaskia,  and  then 
came  to  Cahokia.  He  was  appointed  judge  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  justice  of  the  peace.  Dr.  Lyle 
resided  at  Cahokia  in  early  times.  He  was  considered  a  good  phy- 
sician. Dr.  William  L.  Eeynolds  emigrated  from  Bracken  county, 
Ky.,  to  Kaskaskia  in  the  year  1809,  and  after  practicing  his  profes- 
sion there  for  some  years,  removed  to  Cahokia.  He  possessed  talents 
of  a  high  order,  was  an  industrious  student,  and  met  with  great 
professional  success.  He  returned  to  Kaskaskia,  and  died  of  con- 
sumption in  the  year  1823. 
« 

PEAIKIE   DU   PONT. 

After  Cahokia  the  next  permanent  settlement  in  the  county  was 
the  village  of  Prairie  du  Pont.  This  village  had  its  start  from  a 
water-mill  which  was  erected  on  Prairie  du  Pont  creek  by  the 
JMist^ion  of  St.  Sulpice,  about  the  year  1754.  This  was  the  first 
water-mill  in  St  Clair  county.  The  village  was  founded  in  1760 
by  residents  of  the  other  French  villages,  and  in  1765  was  said  to 
contain  fourteen  families.  It  was  only  one  mile  south  of  Cahokia, 
and  may  be  considered  to  have  been  a  kind  of  a  suburb  of  that 
village. 

Jean  Francois  Perry  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
who  ever  lived  at  Prairie  du  Pont.  He  was  born  at  Lyons,  France, 
of  a  wealthy  and  aristocratic  family,  received  a  liberal,  classic 
education,  and  studied  and  practiced  law  in  his  native  country. 
The  French  revolution  caused  his  emigration  to  America.  He 
formed  a  partnership  with  another  Frenchman,  M.  Claudius,  to 
carry  on  the  mercantile  business,  and  the  two  started  from  Phila- 
delphia for  the  West.  They  reached  Cahokia  with  a  small  stock  of 
goods,  and  soon  afterward  settled  at  Prairie  du  Pont.  A  few  years 
afterward  Claudius  went  to  Philadelphia  to  purchase  goods,  and 
was  thrown  from  a  horse  and  killed  in  the  streets  of  that  city.  His 
foot  caught  in  the  stirrup,  and  he  was  dragged  and  torn  to  death  on 
the  pavements.  Perry  purchased  the  old  mill  site  on  Prairie  du 
Pont  creek  and  built  a  new  mill,  whieih  he  carried  on  with  profit. 
Near  the  mill  was  his  dwelling.    In  the  year  1794  he  married  the 


bi  autiful  daughter  of  Jean  B.  Saucier,  of  Cahokia.  In  a  few  years 
he  amassed  a  large  fortune ;  he  carried  on  both  the  mill  and  the 
store,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  wealth  was  gained  by  profitable 
land  speculations.  He  possessed  a  sound  knowledge  of  law  and  a 
keen  and  vigorous  mind,  so  that  he  was  well  able  to  enter  into  the 
traffic  in  land  claims,  which  at  that  time  engrossed  the  attention  of 
men  of  means.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  large  bodies  of 
choice  lands.  He  was  a  man  of  plain,  unostentatious  manners,  and 
lived  and  dressed  in  the  true  Republican  style.  He  paid  due  regard 
to  economy,  and  yet  displayed  much  hospitality  in  the  entertain- 
ment of  all  classes  of  people.  He  was  held  in  great  popularity  and 
high  esteem.  For  many  years  he  was  judge  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas ;  he  acted  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  during  almost  the  whole 
period  of  his  life  after  coming  to  Illinois.  He  was  proficient  in 
the  French  and  English  languages ;  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
legislature  of  Indiana  Territory,  which  convened  at  Vincennes ;  he 
employed  great  energy  and  activity  in  his  business  operations.  He 
died  in  the  year  1812. 

Philip  Creamer,  a  noted  gunsmith,  settled  a  short  distance  east  of 
Prairie  du  Pont,  in  the  year  1805.  He  was  born  at  Taneytown, 
Maryland,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  gunsmith  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
He  had  great  genius  as  a  mechanic.  Anything  that  it  was  possible 
to  do  with  metal  he  could  do.  But  he  was  best  in  making  a  gun, 
the  various  parts  of  which  he  perfected  and  put  together  in  a  very 
superior  manner.  His  gun-locks  scarcely  ever  missed  fire.  In 
olden  times  it  was  a  proverb,  "  He  is  as  sure  as  a  Creamer  lock." 
His  services  were  of  great  value  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  time 
was  fully  employed  in  making  and  repairing  guns  for  the  trooi)s 
defending  the  frontiers.  It  is  said  that  some  of  his  friends  induced 
him  to  make  a  pistol  for  John  C.  Calhoun,  at  that  time  secretary 
of  war.  The  workmanship  so  surprised  Calhoun  that  he  wrote 
Creamer  a  letter  requesting  to  know  some  particulars  of  his  liff, 
and  where  he  had  learned  his  trade.  Creamer  was  very  singular 
and  modest,  and  would  not  reply  to  the  letter.  He  said,  "I  am  no 
showman,  to  be  advertised."     He  lived  to  an  old  age. 

The  French  settlements  known  "as  French  village  and  Quentine 
village,  (Canteen,  in  Madison  county,)  were  begun  about  the  year 
1805,  and  for  a  time  enjoyed  considerable  prosperity.  A  Frenchman 
from  Cahokia,  named  Delorm,  settled  at  the  edge  of  the  timber,  east 
of  the  Big  Mound,  near  Quentine  (Canteen)  creek,  in  1804,  and 
soon  after  the  Quentine  village  began  its  existence.  Its  inhabitants 
were  mostly  emigrants  from  Prairie  du  Pont.  The  earliest  settlers 
at  French  village  were  Nicholas  Turgion,  August  Trotier  and  Dennis 
Valentine.     The  latter  built  a  horse-mill. 

MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  EAELY  FRENCH  SETTLERS. 

The  early  French  settlers  were  in  general  ambitious  for  neither 
wealth  nor  knowledge.  They  were  quite  content  to  take  the  world 
as  it  came,  and  endeavored  to  extract  all  the  enjoyment  possible  out 
of  life,  and  to  avoid  its  cares.  All  were  devout  Catholics,  and  they 
were  punctual  in  the  discharge  of  their  religious  duties.  They  were 
eminently  a  social  people.  They  could  not  be  induced  to  settle  on 
separate  farms,  like  the  American  pioneers,  but  they  clustered  to- 
gether in  villages  so  that  they  might  have  the  greatest  opportu- 
nity for  social  intercourse.  Their  physical  wants  were  easily  sup- 
plied, and  the  great  part  of  their  lives  they  gave  to  pleasure.  The 
young  people  delighted  in  the  dance,  and  this  cheerful  and  innocent 
diversion  was  usually  carried  on  under  the  eye  of  the  priest  and  the 
aged  patriarchs  of  the  village,  who  fully  sympathized  with  the  spirit 
of  the  gay  assemblage.  The  excitement  and  animation  of  a  French 
ball-room  were  surprising.  Old  and  young,  rich  and  poor,  met 
together  in  good  feeling,  and  with  hearts  overflowing  with  merri- 


48 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


ment.  It  was  the  usual  custom  to  dance  the  old  year  out  and  the 
new  year  in.  The  numerous  festivals  of  the  Catholic  church 
strongly  tended  to  awaken  and  develop  the  social  and  friendly  in- 
tercourse of  the  people.  On  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath  they  were 
always  found  at  church,  but  the  remainder  of  the  day  was  devoted 
to  social  intercourse  and  diverting  pastimes.  Husbands  and  wives 
were  kind  and  affectionate,  and  the  children  obedient.  Hospitality 
and  generosity  were  marked  characteristics  of  the  people.  Their 
costume  was  peculiar.  Blue  seemed  to  have  been  the  favorite  color, 
and  handkerchiefs  of  that  hue  commonly  adorned  the  heads  of  both 
men  and  women.  No  genuine  Frenchman  in  those  days  ever  wore 
a  hat,  cap,  or  coat.  The  eapot,  made  of  white  blanket,  was  the 
universal  dress  for  the  laboring  class  of  people.  In  summer  the 
men  wore  a  coarse  blue  stuff,  and  in  the  winter  cloth  or  buckskin. 
The  women  wore  deer  skin  moccasins,  and  the  men  a  coarser  and 
stronger  article,  made  of  thicker  leather.  With  that  natural  apti- 
tude for  dress,  which  seems  to  belong  peculiarly  to  the  French,  the 
women  caught  up  the  fashions  of  New  Orleans  and  Paris  with 
great  avidity,  and  adopted  them,  as  far  as  they  were  able.* 

Notwithstanding  their  long  separation  by  an  immense  wilderness 
from  civilized  society,  they  still  retained  all  the  suavity  and  polite- 
ness of  their  race.  And  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  roughest 
hunter  or  boatman  among  them  could  at  any  time  ai)pear  in  a  ball 
room,  or  other  polite  or  gay  assembly,  with  the  carriage  and  beha- 
viour of  a  well-bred  gentleman.  The  French  women  are  remarka- 
ble for  the  sprightliness  of  their  conversation,  and  the  ease  and  ele- 
gance of  their  manners.  And  the  whole  population  lived  lives  of 
alternate  toil,  pleasure,  ihnocent  amusement  and  gayety. 

Their  horses  and  cattle,  for  want  of  proper  care  and  food  for 
many  generations,  had  degenerated  in  size,  but  had  acquired  addi- 
tional vigor  and  toughness ;  so  that  a  French  pony  was  a  proverb 
for  endurance.  These  ponies  were  made  to  draw,  sometimes  one 
alone,  sometimes  two  together,  one  hitched  before  the  other,  to  the 
plow,  or  to  carts  made  entirely  of  wood,  the  bodies  of  which  held 
about  double  the  contents  of  a  common  large  wheel-barrow.  The 
oxen  were  yoked  by  the  horns,  instead  of  the  neck,  and  in  this  mode 
were  made  to  draw  the  plow  and  cart.  Nothing  like  reins  were 
ever  used  in  driving;  the  whip  of  the  drive,  with  a  handle  about 
two  feet  long,  and  a  lash  two  yards  long,  stopped  or  guided  the 
horse  as  effectually  as  the  strongest  reins. 

They  were  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Indians.  The  ease  with 
which  the  French  could  adapt  themselves  to  circumstances,  made 
them  at  home  by  the  camp  fires  of  the  savage.  When  with  the 
Indians  they  adopted  their  modes  of  life,  dressed  like  them,  and 
frequently  took  as  wives  the  dusky  squaws. 

While  not  superstitious,  the  ancient  French  in  Illinois  believed 
that  some  of  the  negroes  of  the  West  India  islands  possessed  super- 
natural power  to  do  any  one  harm,  and  that  they  could  also  look 
into  futurity.  In  Cahokia,  about  the  year  1790,  this  superstition 
got  the  upper  hand  of  reason,  and  several  poor  African  slaves  suf- 
fered for  this  imaginary  offence.  An  African  negro,  called  Moreau, 
was  hiing  for  this  crime  on  a  tree  not  far  south-east  of  the  village. 
It  is  stated  that  he  said,  "  he  poisoned  his  master,  but  his  mistress 
was  too  strong  for  his   necromancy."     Another  slave,  Emanuel, 

*  They  seUom  violated  the  penal  law.  Eeynolda  says :  "  Very  few,  or  none 
of  the  Creoles,  were  ever  indicted  for  the  crimes  the  law-books  style  malum  in 
se.  No  one,  to  my  knowledge,  was  ever  in  the  Penitentiary  for  a  crime.  I 
believe  the  records  of  the  courts  in  Illinois  do  not  exhibit  an  indictment 
against  a  Creole  Frenchman  for  any  crime  higher  than  keeping  his  grocery 
open  on  a  prohibited  day  of  the  week."  Education,  however,  was  neglected. 
The  priests  and  the  old  ladies  at  times  taught  the  children,  but  there  was  no 
regular  system  of  schools. 


was  shot  at  Cahokia  for  the  same  reason.  An  old  woman,  named 
Jeanette,  was  supposed  to  have  power  to  destroy  persons  and  pro- 
perty by  her  incantations.  Many  grown  people,  and  all  the  chil- 
dren, were  terrified  at  her  approach. 

THE   AMERICAN   SETTLEMENTS. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  only  one  settlement  of 
Americans  had  been  made  within  the  present  limits  of  St.  Clair 
county.  This  colony  (at  Turkey  Hill),  numbered  about  twenty.. 
Soon  after  the  year  1800,  the  American  settlements  began  rapidly 
to  increase.  Ridge  prairie  attracted  a  number  of  families  which 
had  previously  settled  in  the  present  county  of  Monroe ;  the  log 
cabin  of  the  frontiersman  made  its  appearance  beyond  Silver  Creek ; 
and  in  a  few  years  every  part  of  the  county  was  brought  under  the 
domain  of  the  adventurous  pioneer. 

TURKEY   HILL. 

The  only  American  settlement  in  the  county  previous  to  the  year 
1800,  was  at  Turkey  Hill.  The  pioneer  in  this  locality  was  William 
Scott.  Turkey  Hill  had  been  an  Indian  camping  ground  for  ages 
past,  and  after  the  arrival  of  the  French  was  conspicuous  as  a 
trading  post.  The  eminence  rises  to  a  considerable  height,  and 
from  the  east  can  be  seen  at  a  distance  of  thirty  or  forty  miles.  The 
French  called  it  cote  de  dinde.  Tradition  says,  that  the  Tamaroas 
Indians  at  one  time  had  a  large  town  on  Turkey  Hill,  and  that  the 
Great  Spirit  sent  an  old  Indian,  a  wise  and  good  man,  with  the 
seeds  of  all  good  vegetables ;  corn,  beans,  potatoes  and  peas,  and 
that  the  old  man  taught  the  Indians  how  to  plant  and  cultivate 
them.  The  old  man  also  gave  them  good  advice,  to  be  peaceful, 
and  never  to  go  to  war.  As  long  as  this  counsel  was  followed,  the 
Tamirois  did  well,  and  were  a  happy  and  prosperous  people;  but 
at  last  they  disregarded  the  sage  instruction,  and  disaster  followed. 

William  Scott,  the  first  settler  at  Turkey  Hill,  was  born  of  Irish 
parentage,  in  Bottetourt  county,  Virginia,  in  the  year  1745.  After 
his  marriage  he  removed  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky.  He  first 
came  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1794,  but  returned  to  Kentucky.  In 
1797  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  and  became  a  perma- 
nent resident.  His  children  came  with  him — six  sons  and  one 
daughter — and  also  his  son-in-law,  Franklin  Jarvis.  His  sons  were 
James,  William,  Samuel,  Joseph,  John,  and  Alexander  Scott,  and 
his  daughter  was  named  Elizabeth :  all  were  born  in  Virginia. 
They  made  the  journey  by  wagon  from  Fort  Massac  to  the  New 
Design  settlement,  where  they  arrived  late  in  the  fall.  About 
Christinas  they  located  at  Turkey  Hill,  and  made  the  first  settle- 
ment north-east  of  Whitesides'  station,  in  the  present  county  of 
Monroe.  Two  of  the  sons,  James  and  Joseph  Scott,  had  come  to 
Illinois  the  year  prior,  and  raised  a  crop  in  the  American  Bottom, 
in  Monroe  county ;  they  then  went  back  to  Kentucky,  and  accom- 
panied the  family  to  Illinois,  as  above  stated.  William  Scott  had 
located  several  claims  in  the  present  counties  of  Monroe  and  St. 
Clair,  one  of  which  covered  Turkey  Hill,  where  he  settled.  Frank- 
lin Jarvis,  Scott's  son-in-law,  settled  a  little  north,  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill. 

At  the  time  the  Scotts  came  to  Turkey  Hill,  the  Indians  were 
numerous  in  the  vicinity.  They  hunted  and  resided  near  him  the 
most  of  the  year,  but  exhibited  only  a  friendly  spirit.  The  Kicka- 
poos  were  the  nearest  neighbors.  His  large  family  of  sons  were 
of  assistance  in  enabling  him  to  sustain  himself  in  a  location  so  far 
in  advance  of  the  white  settlements.  His  children  married  and 
settled  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  family  resided  together  for 
many  years  in  that  part  of  the  county,  in  peace  and  happiness. 
After  the  New  Design  settlement  and  the  colony  in  the  American 


EISTORY  OF  8T.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


49 


Bottom,  the  Turkey  Hill  settlement  became  the  most  conspicuous 
settlement  of  Americans  in  Illinois  in  pioneer  times.  Mr.  Scott 
was  known  far  and  near  as  "  Turkey  Hill  Scott."  He  was  a  man 
of  moral  and  honest  character.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  possessed  a  sound  judg- 
ment, and  much  practical  experience,  and  was  ambitious  of  neither 
wealth  nor  worldly  distinction.  He  served  some  time  as  justice  of 
the  peace.  Toward  the  close  of  his  life  he  turned  his  attention  to 
books  and  study,  and  passed  his  advanced  years  in  the  pleasures  of 
meditation  and  reflection.  He  was  intelligent  and  communicative, 
and  was  fond  of  discoursing  on  philosophical  subjects.  He  died  in 
Shiloh  valley,  in  the  year  1828,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  His  sons 
became  useful  citizens,  and  many  of  his  descendants  still  reside  in 
the  county. 

Joseph  Scott,  one  of  the  sons  of  William  Scott,  began  the  manu- 
facture of  powder  in  the  year  1809,  four  miles  and  a  half  east  of 
Belleville.  For  many  years  he  furnished  the  best  powder  made  in 
the  West.  He  supplied  the  Rangers  during  the  war  of  1812.  The 
nitre  which  he  used  in  its  manufacture  he  procured  in  the  caves 
on  the  Gasconade  river  in  Missouri,  during  the  winter  months,  ex- 
ploring that  country,,  then  filled  with  Indians,  with  only  one  com- 
panion, Joseph  Dixon.  He  also  started  a  distillery,  half  a  mile 
south  of  Shiloh,  which  was  probably  the  first  in  the  county. 

The  next  year  Hosea  Riggs,  Samuel  Shook  and  some  others  were 
added  to  the  Turkey  Hill  settlement.  In  the  year  1800  there  were 
about  twenty  persons,  all  told,  living  at  Turkey  Hill. 

Hosea  Riggs,  then  an  exhorter  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
came  to  Illinois  in  1796,  and  settled  in  the  American  Bottom,  Mon- 
roe county.  He  was  born  in  West  Virginia,  April,  1760,  and  had 
been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  deeply  interested 
in  Methodism,  and  had  charge  of  a  Methodist  class  in  the  American 
Bottom.  In  1803  he  went  to  Kentucky  to  attend  the  Western  Con- 
ference, and  solicit  a  preacher  for  the  Illinois  country.  The  Rev. 
Benjamin  Young  was  sent.  Riggs  moved  to  St.  Clair  county,  as 
above  stated,  and  died  two  miles  east  of  Belleville,  in  October,  1841, 
eighty-one  years  of  age — at  that  time,  the  oldest  man  in  the  county. 

The  Shook  family  was  from  Virginia,  and  settled  south-east  of 
Turkey  Hill,  at  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  from  Scott.  Samuel 
Shook  was  a  good  farmer  and  a  useful  citizen.  He  died  in  the  year 
1827.  Among  the  other  early  settlers  were  George  Stout,  Moses 
and  Jacob  Short,  and  Joseph  Carr. 

Jacob  and  Moses  Short  were  sons  of  John  Short,  who  died  soon 
after  his  arrival  in  this  county.  They  were  Kentuckians.  Jacob 
Short  was  a  man  of  some  prominence  and  influence.  He  was  cap- 
tain of  a  company  of  Rangers  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  also 
elected  to  the  legislature  under  the  territorial  government.  He 
acted  as  one  of  the  seconds  in  the  celebrated  Stuart-Bennett  duel. 
He  removed  to  Morgan  county,  where  he  ended  his  days.  Moses 
Short  for  a  number  of  years  held  the  ofiice  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  served  against  the  Indians  in  his  brother's  company  of  Rangers. 
He  is  said  to  have  built  the  first  hand-mill  in  that  part  of  the 
county. 

The  Carr  family, — Joseph,  Henry,  Conrad,  and  Abner,  settled  in 
the  Turkey  Hill  prairie,  betweep  two  and  three  miles  south-east  of 
Turkey  Hill,  in  the  year  1803.  They  came  from  Virginia,  and 
before  coming  to  this  locality,  had  lived  in  the  New  Design  settle- 
ment in  Monroe  county.  Joseph  Carr  died  near  Turkey  Hill  in  the 
year  1817,  and  his  sons  lived  in  that  neighborhood  several  years 
afterward.  All  the  above  settlements  were  made  prior  to  the  year 
1804. 

David  Phillips  became  a  resident  of  the  county  in  the  year  1803. 
He  was  born  in  Orange  county.  North  Carolina,  in  the  year  1755. 
7 


He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He  moved  with 
his  family  from  North  Carolina  to  Kentucky  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
1800,  and  after  living  within  seven  miles  of  Danville  in  the  latter 
state  till  October,  1803,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  settled  on 
Richland  creek,  a  few  miles  south  of  the  present  city  of  Belleville, 
and  about  two  miles  south-west  of  Turkey  Hill.  He  was  a  natural 
mechanic,  and  possessed  great  natural  genius  for  working  in  wood. 
He  could  m;ike  anything  from  a  fiddle  to  a  wagon. .  He  supplied 
the  neighborhood  with  plows,  sash,  wagons,  tables,  all  parts  of  a 
spinning  wheel,  looms,  barrels,  hogsheads,  milk-piggins,  chairs  and 
other  similar  articles.  His  son,  Isaac  J.  Phillips,  now  residing  in 
Belleville,  has  a  chair  in  his  possession,  which  was  made  in  the 
year  1814,  and  which  for  strength  and  durability  is  much  superior 
to  anything  manufactured  at  the  present  time.  He  died  on  the 
place  he  first  settled,  in  the  year  1826.  He  left  a  numerous  and 
respectable  family,  and  many  of  his  descendants  are  still  residents 
of  the  county.  Isaac  J.  Phillips  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in 
the  year  1800 ;  came  to  St.  Clair  county  with  his  father  in  1803, 
and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  ever  since,  with  the  exception 
of  six  months  in  the  year  1822,  during  which  time  he  was  in  Texas. 
He  settled  one  mile  east  of  Belleville  in  1828,  and  lived  there  till 
1877,  and  then  became  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Belleville. 

In  the  year  1806,  the  settlements  in  that  part  of  the  county  were 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  the  families  of  Elijah  Rittenhouse,  Isaac 
Quick,  and  John  Woods.  The  Rittenhouse  family  settled  on  Tur- 
key Hill  Ridge,  which  up  to  that  time  had  been  occupied  only  by 
Scott.  There  were  four  sons  in  this  family :  Cornelius,  Peter,  Wil- 
liam, and  Elijah  Rittenhouse.  Rittenhouse  entertained  the  idea 
that  his  location  was  the  proper  place  for  the  county-seat  at  the 
time  its  removal  from  Cahokia  was  agitated.  He  laid  ofi"  his  land 
in  town-lots,  but  the  site  of  Belleville  was  selected  instead.  He 
served  as  constable,  and  was  a  good  citizen.  His  grandchildren 
still  reside  in  that  part  of  the  county.  Isaac  Quick  had  a  son, 
Moses  Quick,  who  exhibited  considerable  enterprise.  In  the  year 
1810,  in  company  with  Major  Jacob  Short,  he  built  a  flat-boat 
below  the  present  town  of  New  Athens,  which  was  loaded  with  beef 
cattle,  and  successfully  floated  down  to  New  Orleans.  This  is  said 
to  have  been  the  first  flat-boat  that  ever  navigated  the  Okaw.  John 
Woods  settled  some  distance  south-west  of  Turkey  Hill.  Like 
some  others  among  the  early  pioneers,  he  was  too  liberal  a  patron 
of  ardent  spirits.  John  Jar  vis,  a  brother  of  Franklin  Jarvis,  set- 
tled some  distance  north  of  Turkey  Hill,  and  about  five  miles  east 
of  Belleville.  He  removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  Troy,  in  Indiana 
county,  where  his  descendants  still  live. 

After  the  year  1806,  there  were  no  considerable  additions  for  some 
time  to  the  Turkey  Hill  neighborhood.  The  settlement  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  and  was  generally  composed 
of  good,  honest,  and  industrious  citizens.  The  Scott  family  were 
connected  with  the  Methodist  Church.  The  Shorts  and  Carrs  were 
Baptists.  Baptist  meetings  were  held  one  mcmth  at  the  house  of 
Squire  Moses  Short,  and  the  next  mouth  at  Joseph  Carr's  house. 
The  Rev.  Joseph  Chance  was  one  of  the  earliest  preachers.  The 
first  sermon  that  Isaac  J.  Phillips  ever  heard  preached  was  at  the 
house  of  Moses  Short,  in  the  year  1806.  It  was  the  funeral  sermon 
of  Short's  son. 

WEST  AND  SOUTH-WEST  OF  BELLEVILLE. 

In  the  years  1801  and  1802  settlements  were  made  by  John  Te- 
ter,  Abraham  Eyman,  William  Muller,  Martin  Randleman  and 
Daniel  Stookey.  The  founders  of  this  colony  were  of  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  descent,  and  became  industrious,  moral  and  upright  citizens. 
Stookey  and  Eyman,  in  company  with  some  others,  (one  of  whom 


50 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


was  the  Rev.  David  Badgley),  came  to  Illinois  in  1796  to  explore 
the  country  with  a  view  of  selecting  a  future  location  for  their  fami- 
lies. Traversing  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  city  of 
Belleville,  Stookey  and  Eyman  selected  the  locations  where  after- 
ward they  settled  in  the  prairie  west  and  south-west  of  Belleville. 
Abraham  Eyman  brought  his  family  to  Illinois  the  next  year.  He 
fitst  lived  in  the  American  Bottom,  near  Piggott's  station,  then 
moved  lo  the  New  Design,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1801  set- 
tled four  miles  west  of  Belleville.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and  once 
represented  the  county  in  the  legislature.  He  died  in  the  same 
neighborhood  where  he  settled,  Eyman  was  preceded  a  few  months 
by  John  Teter,  who  had  a  house  already  built  at  the  time  the  former 
arrived.  Teter  once  served  as  County  Commissioner.  William 
Miller,  a  brother-in-law  of  Teter,  selected  a  location  three  miles 
south-west  of  Belleville. 

Daniel  Stookey,  who  had  married  a  sister  to  the  wife  of  Abraham 
Eyman,  came  to  the  county  iu  the  year  1802,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  ovvned  by  Mrs.  George  W.  Stookey,  two  miles  west  of 
Belleville.  He  died  iu  the  year  1835,  on  the  farm  which  he  first 
settled.  He  had  nine  children,  who  grew  to  maturity,  two  of  whom 
were  born  before  coming  to  Illinois.  Only  one,  Elijah  Stookey,  is 
now  living;  his  residence  is  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  one  on  which 
his  father  settled  in  1802. 

John  Primm,  a  native  of  Stafford  county,  Virginia,  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  the  year  1803,  and  about  a  year  afterward  settled  seven 
miles  west  of  Belleville,  and  in  1817  moved  to  a  new  location  three 
miles  south-west  of  the  county  seat.  Here  he  died  in  1836,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven.  For  a  time  he  carried  the  mail  between  Caho- 
kia  and  Edwardsville.  One  of  his  sons,  in  August,  1814,  while 
carrying  the  mail  from  Cahokia  to  Cliuton  Hill,  was  struck  by  light- 
ning in  the  Derush  hollow  near  the  bottom.  He  and  his  horse  were 
both  killed.  His  body  was  burnt  black  by  the  electricity.  Mr. 
Primm  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  present  at 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  in  1781,  and  during  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  received  a  pension.  His  son,  Aram  Primm  is 
now  a  resident  of  Belleville.  He  was  born  in  Hampshire  county, 
Virginia,  iu  1799,  and  was  between  two  and  three  years  old  when 
the  family  moved  to  Illinois.  He  has  been  living  seventy-eight 
years  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  is  now  one  of  the  relics  of  pioneer  days 
in  Illinois. 

The  year  1802  was  marked  by  general  prosperity  to  the  colonists 
in  Illinois.  Accessions  were  made  to  the  population,  and  new  set- 
tlements formed.  The  Goshen  settlement,  in  the  present  county  of 
Madison,  was  increased  in  numbers.  This  year  settlements  were 
made,  north  and  north-east  of  Belleville,  on 

EIDGE   PEAIEIE. 

Among  the  pioneers  here  was  the  Ogle  family.  Captain  Joseph 
Ogle  was  born  in  Virginia  in  the  year  1744.  He  commanded  a 
company  of  Virginia  troops  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  holding 
a  commission  as  captain  from  Patrick  Henry,  then  governor  o^' Vir- 
ginia. He  came  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1785,  and  first  settled  in 
what  is  now  Monroe  county.  In  1802  he  made  one  of  the  pioneer 
locations  on  Ridge  prairie,  settling  that  year  near  the  present  town 
of  O'Fallon.  During  his  early  residence  in  Illinois  he  took  part  in 
several  Indian  fights.  In  May,  1791,  John  Dempsey  was  attacked 
by  the  Indians,  but  escaped.  Capt.  Ogle  and  his  son,  Benjamin 
Ogle,  were  two  of  the  eight  men  who  started  in  pursuit  of  the  Indi- 
ans. The  others  were  Capt.  Nathaniel  Hull,  James  Lemen,  J.  Ryan, 
William  Bryson,  John  Porter  and  Daniel  Roper.  The  Indians  were 
double  the  number  of  the  whites.  A  hot  battle  was  fought  in  the 
timber  at  the  Big  Spring  in  Monroe  county,  not  far  east  of  the  road 


which  ran  from  Waterloo  to  *Whiteside8  station.  A  running  fight 
was  kept  up  till  dark  from  tree  to  tree,  the  Indians  fleeing  and  the 
whites  pursuing.  Five  Indians  were  killed,  but  the  white  men  all 
escaped  unharmed.  Capt  Ogle  lived  on  a  farm  two  miles  west  of 
O'Fallon  where  he  died,  in  1821.  Capt.  Ogle  left  several  children, 
and  there  are  now  many  of  his  descendants  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Benjamin  Ogle,  his  oldest  son,  took  part  in  several  of  the  early 
Indian  contests,  in  one  of  which  he  was  wounded.  He  was  a  ranger 
during  the  war  of  1812.  He  lived  on  a  farm  near  the  present  town 
of  O'Fallon,  and  died  at  a  good  old  age.  Another  son,  Joseph 
Ogle,  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1777,  and  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1785.  He  married  Lucinda  Pulliam,  daughter  of  John 
Pulliam,  in  1804,  and  soon  afterward  improved  a  farm  east  of 
O'Fallon.  He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  died  in  1846. 
Jacob  Ogle,  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  Ogle,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
came  to  Illinois  with  the  family  in  1785.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Teter  and  settled  west  of  O'Fallon.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable 
intelligence  and  popularity,  and  for  a  number  of  years  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  and  the'  Rev.  James  Lemen  built  a  mill 
for  grinding  wheat  and  corn.  This  mill  was  situated  on  Ogle's 
creek,  three  miles  north  of  O'Fallon,  and  was  run  by  water  power. 
Owing  to  the  scant  supply  of  water  the  mill  was  carried  on  only  a 
short  time.  He  had  another  mill  at  an  early  period  on  his  farm, 
which  was  operated  by  horse  power.  Two  of  his  sons  are  still  living 
in  the  neighborhood  of  O'Fallon.  Some  of  the  daughters  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Ogle  married  early  pioneers.  Nancy  married  in  Virginia, 
Larkin  Rutherford,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  husband  in  1785. 
Prudence  was  the  wile  of  Peter  Casterline.  Dnusilla  married  Wil- 
liam Porter,  and  Polly  became  the  wife  of  Gen.  James  Moore.  Je- 
mima married  the  Rev.  Charles  Matheny,  a  former  resident  of  St. 
Clair  county,  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  ministry,  who  subse- 
quently removed  to  Springfield  where  he  occupied  several  responsi- 
ble public  positions. 

Among  the  settlers  in  Ridge  prairie  were  Robert,  Joseph  and 
James  Lemen,  sons  of  the  Rev.  James  Lemen,  one  of  the  early  pio- 
neer preachers  of  Illinois.  James  Lemen,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Berkeley 
county,  Virginia,  in  the  year  1760.  He  served  two.years  during  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  and  then  went  to  the  vicinity  of  Wheeling, 
Virginia,  where  he  married  Catharine  Ogle,  daughter  of  Capt.  Jo- 
seph Ogle.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1786,  his  father-in-law  having 
settled  here  the  previous  year,  He  descended  the  Ohio  river  in  a 
flat  boat.  At  night,  while  the  boat  was  titd  to  the  shore,  the  river 
fell,  and  the  boat,  lodging  on  a  stump,  was  overturned  and  sunk. 
All  his  provisions  and  goods  were  thus  lost.  His  oldest  son,  Robert, 
then  thi-ce  years  of  ago,  floated  out  in  the  stream  on  the  bed  on  which 
he  lay,  but  with  some  exertion  his  life  was  saved.  He  reached  Kas- 
kaskia  on  the  10th  of  July,  1786,  and  shortly  afterward  settled  at 
New  Design,  in  the  present  Monroe  county.  He  was  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  a  number  of  years,  and  also  served  as  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  county  court.  His  religious  labors  are  elsewhere  re- 
ferred to. 

Robert  Lemen,  the  oldest  son,  was  raised  at  New  Design.  In  the 
year  1805  he  married  Hester  Tolin.  He  settled  in  Ridge  prairie 
four  or  five  miles  to  the  north  of  where  the  town  of  O'Fallon  now 
is.  Under  the  administration  of  John  Quincy  Adams  he  acted  as 
Marshal  for  the  state  of  Illinois.  He  also  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  In  early  times  he  acted  as  clerk  of  the  Richland  Baptist 
church,  and  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Bethel  church, 
organized  in  1809,  of  which  he  was  clerk  till  1845.  He  died  in 
1860.     Rev.  Joseph  Lemen  was  born  in  September,  1 785,  and  was 

The   oil!   Wliitesides  st.ition  waa   about   midway  between  the    present 
towns  of  Waterloo  and  Columbia  in  Monroe  county. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


51 


not  a  year  old  when  the  family  reached  Illinois.  He  became  a  min- 
ister of  the  Baptist  church,  and  settled  in  Ridge  prairie  north  of  the 
site  of  O'Fallon.  His  wife  was  Mary  Kinney,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Kinney,  and  brother  of  William  Kinney,  at  one  time 
lieutenant  governor  of  the  state.  It  is  said  that  she  went  to  school 
and  learned  to  read  and  write  aftt  r  she  was  married  She  became 
the  mother  of  a  large  and  respectable  family.  Joseph  Lemeu  was 
active  in  his  ministerial  labors,  trayeled  over  the  country,  and  or- 
ganized many  Baptist  churches.  His  death  occured  in  1861.  Rev. 
James  Lemen.  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  New  Design  settlement  in  1787, 
and  there  acquired  a  good  education  under  the  instruction  of  the 
Rev.  John  Clark,  one  of  the  most  active  and  useful  of  the  pioneer 
preachers  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Lemen  was  said  to  be  the  first  ordained 
preacher  in  Illinois  born  iu  the  territory.  He  married  Mary  PuUiam 
in  1813,  and  settled  in  Ridge  prairie.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Territorial  Legislature  at  Kaskaskia,  and  also  filled  the  same  office 
after  the  organization  of  the  state  government.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  convention  which  framed  the  first  constitution  of  the  state. 
Twice  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate.  He  died  in  February, 
1870. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  one  cause  of  the  removal  of  the  Ogle 
and  Lemen  families  to  Illinois,  was  their  opposition  to  slavery. 
This  was  the  case  also  with  a  number  of  other  prominent  families  of 
the  county,  who  came  at  a  later  date.  At  that  early  day,  half  a 
century  before  any  general  agitation  of  the  question  began,  they 
became  opposed  to  the  system,  liberated  their  slaves,  and  moved  to 
a  place  where  the  institution  was  not  likely  to  be  adopted. 

John  PuUiam,  who  emigrated  to  Illinois  iu  1795,  was  the  head  of 
a  large  family,  many  of  the  descendants  of  whom  still  reside  in  St. 
Clair  county.  He  was  born  in  Botetourt  county,  Va.,  and  removed 
to  Kentucky  immediately  after  the  revolutionary  war.  He 
came  to  the  New  Design  settlement,  and,  in  the  year  1797,  settled 
in  Missouri  at  Florissant  west  of  St.  Louis.  He  returned  to  Illi- 
nois in  1799,  and  after  living  for  a  time  in  the  Horse  Prairie,  in 
the  northern  part  of  Randolph  county,  in  the  year  1802,  he  made 
a  farm  on  the  Prairie  du  Long  creek,  luear  the  mouth  of  Richland 
creek  in  the  present  county  of  Monroe,  lie  sold  this  place,  and  in 
1808  began  the  improvement  of  a  farm  on  the  Kaskaskia  river 
near  the  present  town  of  Fayetteville  in  the  south-eastern  part  of 
the  county.  Here  he  died  in  the  year  1812.  Of  his  nine  children 
— Robert,  Nancy,  Elizabeth,  John,  Lucinda,  James,  Thomas,  Ruth, 
and  Mary — several  lived  and  died  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Nancy  married  William  Lot  Whitesides,  who,  shortly  after  1800, 
settled  three  miles  east  of  Belleville.  John  Pulliam  settled  near 
the  present  city  of  Belleville  at  an  early  day.  Lucinda  became 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Ogle,  son  of  Captain  Joseph  Ogle. 

James  Pulliam,  who  was  eight  or  nine  years  of  age  when  he 
came  with  the  family  to  Illinois,  married  Judith  Whitesides,  and 
settled  two  miles  east  of  where  Belleville  now  is.  He  was  a  man 
of  considerable  information,  and  an  able  Baptist  preacher.  He  was 
liberal  iu  his  support  of  religious  and  educational  institutions.  He 
died  in  1854. 

Thomas  Pulliam  became  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
also  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  present  town 
of  Fayetteville,  where  he  was  living  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1852. 

Mary,  the  youngest  daughter  of  John  Pulliam,  was  about  a  year 
old  when  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Illinois.  Her  mother  dying 
when  she  was  small ;  she  was  raised  by  her  sister  Nancy,  the  wife  of 
William  Lot  Whitesides,  who  lived  east  of  Belleville.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1813,  she  became  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  James  Lemen,  junior ; 
she  died  on  Ridge  prairie  in  February,  1876,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one.     From  childhood  her  life  had  been  spent  in  St.  Clair  county. 


Larken  Rutherford  was  one  of  the  soldiers  under  Col.  Clark,  who 
took  part  in  the  conquest  of  Illinois.  He  was  a  man  of  large,  athletic 
frame,  and  was  bold  and  fearless.  He  returned  to  Illin..is  in  1781 
in  company  with  James  Moore,  Shadrach  Bond,  Robert  Kidd,  and 
James  Garrison.  This  was  the  first  colony  of  American  families 
to  settle  iu  Illinois.  Moore  and  Rutherford  chose  a  situation  near 
Bellefontaine,  a  short  distance  south-west  of  the  present  town  of 
Waterloo  in  Monroe  county.  Bond,  Kidd  and  Garrison  settled  in 
the  Bottom. 

Soon  after  1800,  Rutherford  moved  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  set- 
tled north  of  Belleville.  He  was  an  energetic  and  zealous  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Another  of  the  soldiers  of  Col.  Clark  was  William  Biggs,  who 
subsequently  became  a  prominent  citizen  of  St.  Clair  county.  He 
was  born  in  Maryland  in  the  year  1755,  and  in  Clark's  expedition 
to  Illinois,  in  1778  and  1779,  was  one  of  his  subordinate  officers, 
holding  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  Congress,  in  the  year  1826,  gave 
him  a  grant  of  three  sections  of  land  in  consideration  of  his  services 
during  the  Illinois  campaigns.  He  returned  from  Virginia  to  Illi- 
nois soon  after  the  revolution,  and,  in  company  with  two  brothers, 
settled  at  Bellefontaine  near  the  present  town  of  Waterloo. 

Gov.  St.  Clair,  in  1790,  appointed  him  sheriff  of  St.  Clair 
county.  He  was  kind  and  obliging  in  the  office,  and  became  a 
popular  citizen.  He  was  elected  a  representative  in  the  legislature 
of  the  north- west  cm  territory  for  two  different  terms.  It  is  said 
that  Biggs  and  Sha  Jrach  Bond,  when  doing  military  service  iu  Illi- 
nois, in  1778,  made  up  their  minds  to  returu  to  Illinois,  and  in 
discussing  the  subject  between  themselves,  they  humorously  re- 
marked that  they  might  yet  represent  the  Illinois  country  in  the 
legislature.  They  were  both  members  of  the  first  general  assembly 
of  the  territory,  which  convened  west  of  the  Ohio  after  the  revolution. 

Biggs  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  of  St.  Clair  county.  It  is  said 
that  he  held  one  of  the  sessions  of  the  court  in  a  corn  crib.  In 
1808  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  Indiana  ter- 
ritory, and  was  infiueutialin  obtaining  a  division  of  the  territory. 
From  1812  to  1816  he  represented  St.  Clair  couuty  in  the  general 
assembly  of  the  territory  of  Illinois.  Shortly  after  the  year  loOO 
he  settled  three  miles  and  a-half  north-east  of  Belleville,  on  land 
adjoining  the  Kinney  Place.  Toward  the  close  of  his  life  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  salt  on  Silver  creek  in  Madison 
county  and  died  in  1827. 

George  and  William  Blair  came  to  Illinois  in  1796.  The  former 
first  lived  between  the  old  Whitesides'  station  and  the  town  of  Wa- 
terloo in  the  present  county  of  Monroe,  and  had  a  distillery  there. 
He  was  appointed  sheriff  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  held  that  office 
for  several  years.  In  1802  he  moved  with  his  family  to  the  site  of 
the  present  city  of  Belleville,  where  he  owned  two  hundred  acres  of 
land,  on  which  the  town  of  Belleville  was  located  in  the  year  1814. 
He  is  said  to  have  applied  the  name  of  Belleville  to  the  new 
county-seat.  Further  mention  of  his  name  will  be  found  iu  the 
history  of  Belleville. 

The  "sugar-loaf"  tract  of  land  south  of  Cahokia,  near  the 
Monroe  couuty  line,  was  first  improved  by  George  Lunceford  and 
Samuel  Judy.  Judy  sold  out  to  Lunceford,  shortly  after  the  open- 
ing of  the  present  century,  and  w^ent  to  the  present  couuty  of 
Madis-  .n,  where  he  died.  The  "  sugar-loaf"  was  a  well-known  land- 
mark iu  the  early  settlement  of  the  country.  A  small  mound  rises 
on  the  top  of  the  rocky  bluff.  In  early  times  a  peach  tree  stood  on 
the  summit  of  this  mound,  which  had  the  reputation  of  nev>-r  fail- 
ing to  bear  fruit.  Its  resemblance  to  a  sugar-loaf  gives  the  name 
to  the  place.     It  is  five  or  six  miles  south  of  Cahokia. 


52 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Among  the  distinguished  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county  was  "Wil- 
liam Kinney,  who,  in  the  year  1826,  was  elected  lieutenant-governor 
of  the  state. 

He  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  the  year  1781,  and  in  1793  emi- 
grated, with  his  father,  Joseph  Kinney,  to  the  New  Design  settle- 
ment in  Monroe  county.  He  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  at  nineteen  he  married.  He  was  gay  and 
social  in  his  disposition,  and  was  a  leader  in  the  festivities  and 
amusements  then  common  on  the  frontier.  He  inherited  a  strong 
and  solid  mind  and  a  sound  judgment.  His  memory  was  retentive. 
His  energy  and  activity  boundless,  and  he  received  but  little 
scholastic  education.  It  is  said  that  he  went  to  school  regularly  only 
three  months. 

After  he  was  married  he  was  taught  by  John  Messinger  to  read 
and  write.  The  arithmetic  he  mastered  by  his  own  unaided  efforts. 
For  a  time  he  attended  a  school  at  the  junction  of  the  Collinsville 
road  with  the  Belleville  and  Lebanon  plank-road,  which  was  held  in 
a  log-house  with  a  wooden  chinmey,  without  ceiling  or  windows,  and 
without  a  glass  in  the  house.  The  floor  was  of  puncheons,  and  the 
door  made  of  clap-boards. 

With  this  foundation,  he  became  a  man  of  intelligence,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent,  popular,  and  influential  characters  of 
his  day.  He  possessed  a  fund  of  wit,  excelled  in  satire  and  sarcasm, 
was  always  ready  with  a  pertinent  and  telling  anecdote,  while  his 
sound  judgment  and  accurate  knowledge  of  humau  nature  taught 
him  how  to  use  these  gifts  in  the  most  effective  manner.  At  the  time 
of  his  marriage  he  was  destitute  of  worldly  means,  and  had  little 
disposition  to  accumulate  property.  But  he  soon  adopted  a  more 
sober  and  industrious  course  of  conduct.  In  the  year  1803  he  set- 
tled on  a  beautiful  and  commanding  eminence  a  few  miles  north- 
east of  the  present  city  of  Belleville.  In  the  labor  of  making  a 
farm  he  was  assisted  by  his  wife,  who  was  an  excellent  and  amiable 
lady.  His  surplus  articles  of  produce,  raised  by  his  own  hand  on 
his  farm,  he  sold  in  St  Louis  and  Cakokia. 

Mr.  Vonphul,  a  merchant  of  St.  Louis,  persuaded  Kinney  to 
take  some  few  articles  of  merchandise  home  with  him  and  try  to 
sell  them.  If  he  could  not  sell  them  he  might  return  them.  After 
some  hesitation  Kinney  took  the  goods,  consisting  of  a  few  bolts  of 
domestic  manufactured  cotton-cloth,  which  he  carried  before  him  on 
his  horse  from  St.  Louis  to  his  farm. 

At  that  time  he  could  barely  write,  and  knew  nothing  of  book- 
keeping, but  his  strong  natural  talents  enabled  him  to  invent  a 
system  of  book-keeping  for  himself  With  this  humble  commence- 
ment, he  embarked  in  a  prosperous  business  career,  in  which  he 
acquired  a  large  fortune.  He  traded  in  merchandise  and  lands  and 
in  everything  was  successful.  He  erected  a  comfortable  house, 
which  was  almost  always  crowded  with  his  friends,  and  in  which 
he  exercised  an  unsparing  hospitality. 

In  1809  he  became  connected  with  the  Baptist  Church.  He  was 
authorized  to  preacli .  the  Gospel,  and  became  a  distinguished  and 
influential  Bajitist  minister. 

After  reaching  maturity  he  entered  the  field  of  politics.  He  was 
a  staunch  and  uncompromising  democrat,  and  at  all  times  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  his  party  with  sincere  enthusiasm.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  first  general  assembly  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  State  government,  and  a-sisted  in  putting  the  political 
machinery  of  the  State  in  operation.  He  was  several  times  subse- 
quently chosen  to  represent  St  Clair  county  in  the  State  legislature, 
and  always  acquitted  himself  with  credit  as  an  efficient  business 
member. 

In  1826  ho  was  a  candidate  for  lieutenant-governor  against 
Samuel  H.  Thompson,  a  Luiuister  of  the  Methodist  Church.     Gov. 


Kinney  was  considered  one  of  the  most  efficient  canvassers  of  the 
day.  His  great  knowledge  of  human  nature  enabled  him  to  suc- 
ceed. He  was  elected  by  a  small  majority,  though  the  candidate 
for  governor  on  the  same  ticket,  Thomas  Sloo,  was  defeated.  In 
1830  he  was  a  candidate  for  governor  in  opposition  to  Governor 
John  Reynolds,  the  campaign  being  one  of  the  most  exciting  ever 
known  in  the  State.  Both  were  democrats ;  Kinney  was  supported 
by  the  ultra-Jackson  democrats,  while  Reynolds  was  favored  by  the 
more  conservative  elements  in  the  democratic  party,  and  also  re- 
ceived in  general  the  votes  of  the  whigs,  who  preferred  his  election 
to  that  of  such  an  uncompromising  democrat  as  Kinney.  The 
campaign  wai  commenced  in  the  spring  of  1829,  and  lasted  till  the 
election,  in  1830.  It  resulted  in  the  election  of  Reynolds.  During 
the  Jackson  administration  Gov.  Kinney  possessed  much  influence, 
and  often  visited  Washington.  He  was  regarded  as  the  represen- 
tative in  Illinois  of  the  straight-out  Jackson  party.  Toward  the 
close  of  his  life  he  was  appointed  commissioner  of  internal  im- 
provements, a  position  which  gave  him  much  trouble,  and  was  a 
serious  injury  to  his  fortune.  He  died  on  his  farm,  where  he  had 
lived  for  forty  years  in  the  year  1843.  This  place  subsequently 
became  the  residence  of  Hon.  J.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  the  fine  resi- 
dence erected  by  Morrison  is  known  as  '•  Glen  Addie."  Sometime 
since  Morrison  sold  this  property. 

Joiin  Messinger,  an  early  settler  at  Clinton  Hill,  two  miles  and 
a  half  north  of  Belleville,  kept  the  first  post-office  in  the  county, 
outside  of  Cahokia.  Messinger  was  an  accomplished  surveyor, 
and  surveyed  a  large  portion  of  the  land  in  this  and  adjoining 
counties.  He  was  born  at  West  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  in  the 
year  1771.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  was  taught  the  science 
and  practice  of  agriculture,  and  at  the  same  time  secured  a  good 
education-  He  was  particularly  fond  of  the  study  of  mathematics, 
which  he  pursued  under  the  instructions  of  William  Coit,  who 
resided  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  father's  residence.  He  removed 
to  Vermont  in  1783,  and  became  acquainted"  with  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter  or  house-builder,  and  of  a  millwright.  He  had  a  good 
share  of  energy  and  activity,  and  much  aptitude  for  mechanical 
pursuits.  It  is  said  that  in  maturer  life,  his  whole  delight  and 
pleasure  was  f  'und  in  the  science  of  mathematics  and  the  various 
branches  arising  out  of  that  science.  "His  whole  life  seemed  to 
be  tinctured  with  mathematics,"  and  for  many  years  he  was  be- 
lieved to  be  the  most  profound  mathematician  and  best  land  sur- 
veyor in  Illinois.  He  came  to  Kentucky  in  1799,  and  to  Illinois  in 
]  802,  and  after  remaining  some  time  in  the  American  Bottom,  he 
removed  to  the  New  Design  settlement,  in  the  present  Monroe 
county,  and  in  180-t  purchased  a  mill  and  premises  on  Rock  House 
creek,  oast  of  New  Design.  He  repaired  the  mill,  lived  there  for 
some  years,  and  then  moved  to  Clinton  Hill. 

There  were  not  many  opportunities  for  instruction  in  those  days 
and  Mr.  Messinger,  who  was  an  excellent  English  scholar,  taught 
the  science  of  surveying  to  many  young  men,  and  also  instructed 
many  grown  people,  male  and  female.  He  was  among  the  first 
surveyors  who,  in  the  year  1806,  surveyed  this  section  of  the  state 
into  townships.  During  that  year  he  was  employed  in  surveying 
town  six  south,  range  seven  west,  and  the  adjacent  territory.  He 
did  this  work  as  sub-contractor  under  William  Rector.  He  sur- 
veyid  much  of  the  public  domain  in  St.  Clair  and  Randolph  coun- 
ties. He  wrote  and  published  a  book  called  "A  Manual,  or  Hand- 
Book,  Intended  for  Convenience  in  Practical  Surveying."  This 
work  was  printed  by  William  Orr,  at  St.  Louis,  in  the  year  1821. 
For  some  time  he  was  professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  Seminary  at 
Rock  Spring.  In  1815  he  was  appointed  deputy-surveyor,  under 
the  surveyor-general  of  Ohio,  Edward  Tiffin,  with  authority  to 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


63 


survey  the  military  tract  in  the  forks  of  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois 
rivers;  he  surveyed  much  of  this  tract.  He  was  subsequently 
appointed  to  assist  in  the  survey  of  the  northern  limits  of  this  state; 
he  made  part  of  the  astronomical  and  mathematical  calculations  by 
which  the  line  dividing  Illinois  from  the  state  of  Wisconsin  was 
located.  He,  and  Philip  Creamer,  whose  superior  skill  as  a  me- 
chanic is  referred  to  on  a  previous  page,  made  surveyors'  compasses 
that  were  as  well  calculated  and  as  well  finished  in  workmanship 
as  any  made  in  the  United  States. 

He  did  not  care  to  take  any  active  part  in  political  aifairs,  but 
several  times  was  prevailed  upon  to  represent  St.  Clair  county  in 
the  legislature,  both  of  Indiana  territory  and  the  state  of  Illinois. 
He  was  first  elected  in  1808  to  the  legislature  of  Indiana  territory, 
and  did  much  to  secure  the  division  of  the  territory,  which  took 
place  the  next  year.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which 
met  at  Kaskaskia  in  the  year  1818  and  formed  the  first  constitution 
of  the  state  of  Illinois.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  first  general 
assembly  of  this  state  which  convened  in  1818,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion, was  elected  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  His 
death  occurred  in  the  year  1846.  He  had  no  enemies,  but  a  large 
number  of  friends  mourned  his  departure. 

The  Badgleys,  who  are  among  the  early  settlers  of  St.  Clair 
county,  are  the  descendants  of  Anthony  Badgley,  of  New  Jersey, 
who  settled  in  Virginia,  and  died  about  the  year  1800.  The  Rev. 
David  Badgley,  a  Baptist  preacher,  visited  Illinois  in  1796 ;  he 
preached  in  the  New  Design  settlement,  and  founded  there  the  first 
Baptist  church  in  existence  in  Illinois.  He  also  visited  Missouri. 
On  his  return  from  Missouri  he  preached  a  sermon  from  a  rock  in 
the  Mississippi  river,  the  people  gathering  to  hear  him  from  either 
shore — doubtless  the  first  Baptist  sermon  preached  along  the  Missis- 
sippi. Returning  to  Virginia,  he  gave  such  a  favorable  account  of 
the  country  that  his  sons  and  a  number  of  other  persons  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  to  Illinois.  The  colony  consisted  of  a  large 
number  of  families,  among  which  were  the  Teters,  Carrs,  Millers, 
Strouds  and  Eymans.  They  floated  down  the  Ohio  in  flatboats 
from  Brownsville  to  Shawneetown,  and  thence  made  their  way 
overland  to  Kaskaskia,  which  place  they  reached  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1797.  Nothing  but  an  Indian  trail  at  that  time  led  from 
Shawneetown  to  Kaskaskia.  The  streams,  swollen  with  rains,  they 
were  compelled  to  swim.  Their  goods,  and  the  women  and  the 
children  were  ferried  over  on  temporary  rafts.  No  trace  of  a  white 
man  was  seen  till  they  reached  Kaskaskia.  They  saw  animals 
running  off  at  a  distance,  which  some  thought  to  be  buflTalo,  and 
others  elk. 

David  Badgley  settled  in  the  American  Bottom,  west  of  More- 
dock  lake,  in  the  present  county  of  Monroe,  in  1797  or  1798.  He 
moved  to  a  place  a  few  miles  north  of  Belleville,  (in  section  4  of 
township  1  north,  range  8  west)  in  the  year  1804.  He  improved  a 
farm,  on  which  he  died  on  the  16th  of  December,  1824,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six. 

Anthony  Badgley,  brother  of  David  Badgley,  who  accompanied 
the  latter  from  Virginia  in  1797,  first  settled  in  the  New  Design 
settlement,  in  Monroe  county,  but  in  1804  moved  north  of  Belleville, 
and  began  improving  a  farm  in  section  34  of  township  2  north, 
range  8  west.  He  at  that  date  built  a  log  house  which  is  still  pre- 
served in  memory  of  one  of  the  hardy  pioneers  of  the  county.  He 
died  in  1837  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  He  has  a  son,  Simeon 
Badgley,  still  living  within  a  stone's-throw  of  the  place  where  his 
father  settled,  and  where  he  was  born.  His  youngest  daughter, 
Eliza  Dixon,  is  also  still  living  in  that  locality.  Hiram  Badgley,  one 
of  the  sons  of  Anthony  Badgley,  took  part  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
was  in  Howard's  campaign  up  the  Mississippi,  against  the  Indians. 


Aaron  Badgley,  one  of  the  sons  of  David  Badgley,  settled  on  the 
Horse  Prairie,  west  of  Red  Bud,  in  1797,  and  while  living  there  his 
wife  and  two  childrea  died.  In  1800  he  married  Catharine  Stroud, 
and  settled  on  the  bluff"  south  of  Waterloo,  and  in  1804  moved  north 
of  Belleville,  settling  in  section  4  of  township  1  north,  range  8  west. 
In  181'2  he  became  a  ranger,  and  was  an  orderly  sergeant  through 
Edwards'  campaign.  On  his  return,  he  visited  Virginia  in  com- 
pany with  his  father,  but  coming  back  to  Illinois,  he  rejoined  the 
army  under  Capt.  Stuntz,  and  served  until  peace  was  declared.  In 
1830  he  was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  afterwards  re- 
elected. He  and  his  son,  Adam  Badgley,  hauled  the  first  goods 
from  Belleville  to  Springfield  for  Governor  Edwards.  It  was  in 
the  winter ;  they  were  obliged  to  sleep  out  on  the  prairie,  and  came 
near  perishing  with  cold.  Aarou  Badgley  died  in  the  year  1858  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five.  His  wife  survived  him  several  years,  and 
died  when  ninety-one.  He  has  three  sons  now  living,  Elijah,  Adam 
and  Strander.  Elijah  is  now  seventy-niue  years  of  age,  and  is  now 
among  the  oldest  native-born  citizens  in  Illinois.  Aaron  Badgley's 
four  brothers,  sons  of  Rev.  David  Badgley, — Ichabod,  David,  Job 
and  Abraham  Badgley, — were  all  among  the  early  pioneers  of  the 
Illinois  country. 

Ichabod  Badgley  opened  a  farm  north  of  Belleville,  which  is  now 
owned  by  his  grandchildren.  He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
David  Badgley  was  killed  by  being  thrown  against  a  tree  while 
riding  a  horse  which  had  taken  fright ;  his  son  Absalom  is  still 
living  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Job  Badgley  built  an  ox  mill  near  Unity 
Church;  he  has  two  sons  still  living.  Abraham  Badgley  was 
elected  assessor,  treasurer,  and  county  commissioner  suveral  times ; 
he  has  three  sons  living  at  this  date. 

Among  the  early  settlers  connected  with  the  development  of  the 
manufacturing  interests  of  the  county,  the  Harrison  famiiy  de- 
serves mention.  Thomas  Harrison  was  born  in  the  York  district. 
South  Carolina,  in  the  year  1779.  His  father  moved  to  Ruther- 
ford county.  North  Carolina  ;  then  settled  in  Georgia ;  afterward 
removed  to  Buncombe  county.  North  Carolina,  and  from  that  point, 
Thomas  Harrison  and  some  others  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  July, 
1804.  Mr.  Harrison  and  some  others  settled  the  same  year  three 
or  four  miles  south-west  from  the  present  city  of  Belleville.  Mr. 
Harrison  here  improved  a  farm,  and  in  the  year  1818,  erected  a 
cotton  gin,  one  of  the  first  in  Illinois.  It  was  propelled  by  horse- 
power. At  that  date  considerable  cotton  was  cultivated,  but  the 
price  afterward  became  reduced  so  low,  that  the  cotton  business  and 
the  gin  were  abandoned.  It  is  said  that  James  Gilbreath,  who 
settled  on  Silver  croek,  near  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  road  leading 
from  Belleville  to  Shawneetown,  built  the  first  cotton  gin  ever  seen 
in  the  Illinois  country.  Mr.  Harrison  subsequently  purchased  an 
oxtread-mill  in  Belleville ;  then  built  a  small  steam  mill,  and  then 
a  larger  one  which  was  burnt,  and  with  it  more  than  sixty  thousand 
bushels  of  wheat.  His  enterprise  gave  the  first  impetus  to  the 
growth  of  the  milling  interests  of  Belleville,  now  so  important.  His 
descendants  are  still  largely  connected  with  the  manufacturing  in- 
terests of  the  town. 

A  few  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Silver  creek,  Abraham  Teter,  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Shook,  and  Peter  Mitchell  began  making  improvements 
in  1804.  Peter  Mitchell  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  county 
commissioner,  and  was  a  respected  citizen. 

Another  settlement  on  Silver  creek  was  made  by  the  Bradsby 
family,  about  three  miles  north  from  the  present  town  of  Lebanon, 
at  the  edge  of  the  Looking  Glass  prairie.  William  H.  Bradsby, 
the  oldest  son,  came  from  Kentucky  with  two  other  >  oung  men  in 
the  spring  of  1804,  and  made  an  improvement  and  raised  a  crop  of 
corn.     The  family  followed  them  from  Kentucky  in  the  fall.     At 


54 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


the  time  this  settlement  was  made,  it  was  seven  or  eight  miles  in 
advance  of  the  other  inhabitants.  Mr.  Bradsby  taught  school  for 
severalyears  in  various  parts  of  the  county.  In  the  year  1806,  he 
had  a  school  in  the  American  Bottom,  almost  west  of  the  present 
town  of  Collinsville,  and  the  next  year  he  had  charge  of  another  in 
the  Turkey  Hill  settlement.  His  two  sons,  William  H.,  and" James 
Bradsby,  were  in  the  ranging  service  during  the  war  of  181'2-14, 
and  made  good  soldiers.  William  H.  Bradsby  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky and  qualified  himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  then 
came  back  to  Illinois.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature 
in  1814.  He  was  a  resident  of  Washington  county  at  the  time  it 
was  organized,  and  filled  a  number  of  public  oflices  in  that  county. 
He  lived  at  Covington  for  a  number  of  years.  Among  the  settlers 
on  Silver  creek  in  1807,  was  Thomas  Higgins.  His  name  deserves 
a  place  in  history  for  his  heroic  adventure  with  the  Indians  in  1814, 
at  a  block  house  on  Shoal  creek  about  eight  miles  south  of 
the  present  town  of  Greenville  in  Bond  county,  further  mention  of 
which  is  made  in  the  chapter  on  patriotism.  Higgins  was  related 
to  the  Bradsbys,  and  settled  near  them,  north  of  Lebanon,  on  com- 
ing to  Illinois. 

Abraham  Varner  settled  east  of  Belleville  about  the  year  1804. 
He  established  himself  in  the  blacksmith  business  on  the  main 
traveled  road,  leading  from  Viucenues  to  Cahokia  and  St.  Louis. 
His  place  was  four  miles  east  from  the  present  city  of  Belleville. 

Jabez  and  Curtis  Moore  came  to  St.  Clair  county  previous  to  the 
year  1812,  and  settled  five  miles  east  of  Belleville.  Kisdon  Moore, 
in  his  day,  was  a  conspicuous  and  popular  citizen  of  St.  Clair  county, 
came  to  Illinois  from  Georgia  in  the  year  1812.  Beside  his  own  fa- 
mily he  brought  with  him  his  wife's  mother,  Mrs.  Dent ;  a  nephew, 
W.  D.  Moore,  a  Mr.  Deshields  and  wife,  and  seventeen  colored  per- 
sons. His  object  in  removing  to  Illinois  was  to  get  rid  of  slavery. 
During  the  summer  of  1812,  he  cultivated  a  crop  on  the  farm  of 
William  Sdott  at  Turkey  Hill,  and  the  next  fall  purchased  land  of 
John  Jarvis,  four  miles  east  of  Belleville,  where  he  resided  till  his 
death  in  the  year  1828.  He  took  an  active  part  in  public  afl^airs. 
He  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county  court,  and  was  several  times 
elected  to  the  legislature  both  under  the  territorial  and  the  state 
government-  He  served  as  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives. 
He  warmly  opposed  the  attempt  to  make  Illinois  a  slave  state,  and 
in  the  contest  in  the  legislature  during  1822-3,  over  the  emancipa- 
tion of  the  slaves  held  by  the  French,  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  aid 
the  cause  of  freedom.  His  oldest  son,  William  Moore,  served  as  a 
captain  during  the  war  of  1812.  He  married  Margaret  Alexander, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  east  of  Belleville.  He  was  an  ardent  Whig 
in  politics,  and  a  supporter  of  Adams  and  Clay.  He  commanded  a 
company  of  soldiers  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  both  during  1831  and 
1832,  and  was  also  tendered  the  command  of  a  company  in  the  war 
with  Mexico.  He  served  several  times  as  assessor  and  surveyor, 
and  twice  represented  St  Clair  county  in  the  lower  hou-^e  of  the 
General  Assembly.  He  was  a  Methodist,  and  for  many  years  a 
local  preacher.  At  the  time  of  his  death  in  the  year  1849,  he  was 
president  of  the  joint  board  of  trustees  of  McKendree  college.  Se- 
veral of  the  other  children  of  Eisdon  Moore  resided  for  many  years 
in  the  county.  A  son,  Jonathan  Moore,  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  George  Lunceford,  for  a  time  resided  in  the  "  Sugar  L(jaf " 
farm  at  the  foot  of  the  bluifs,  south  of  Cahokia,  in  1833  purchased 
his  father's  old  farm,  and  in  1850,  removed  to  Lebanon.  He  served 
in  the  Black  Hack  war. 

Another  Risdon  Moore  became  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  county  in 
1817,  and  settled  five  miles  and  a  half  east  of  Belleville.  Heserved 
once  or  twice  in  the  state  senate,  and  was  a  leading  member  of  the 
Hard  Shell  Baptist  church.     One  of  his  sons.  Atlas  Moore,  moved 


near  Risdon  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  for  several 
years  was  a  Missionary  Baptist  preacher.  Another  son,  Daniel  T., 
settled  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  county,  and  represented  St.  Clair 
county  in  the  legislature. 

William  A.  Beaird,  who  for  a  number  of  years  served  as  sheriff 
of  St.  Clair  county,  came  with  his  father  to  this  state  in  the  year 
1801,  and  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  four  miles 
north-east  of  Kaskaskia.  His  family  had  previously  resided  in 
Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  His  father,  John  Beaird,  was  a  brave  and 
energetic  man  of  strong  and  comely  person,  and  was  invariably  se- 
lected as  a  leader  in  the  troubles,  which  the  pioneers  of  East  Tennes- 
see experienced  with  the  Indians.  In  May,  1793,  with  fifty  men 
under  his  command,  he  pursued  the  Indians  across  the  Tennessee  ri- 
ver, and  succeeded  in  killing  several.  He  represented  Knox  county, 
Tennessee,  in  the  state  legislature.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Wayne  county,  Kentucky,  and  from  thereto  Illinois,  where  he  died 
in  1809.  Thefamily  were  relatives  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  One  of  his 
sous,  Joseph  A.  Beaird,  resided  for  a  time  at  Cahokia,  and  with  him 
Reynolds  made  his  home  when  he  embarked  in  the  practice  of  law 
He  represented  Monroe  county  in  the  General  Assembly  for  several 
sessions,  and  died  in  1829.  William  A.  Beaird  naturally  possessed 
a  good  mind,  but  obstinately  refused  to  become  educated  or  to  receive 
any  information  through  the  medium  of  books  or  printing.  He  had, 
however,  by  observation  and  intercourse  with  the  people  acquired 
much  practical  knowledge.  He  never  married.  He  was  kind  and 
benevolent  in  his  disposition,  and  was  always  ready  and  willing  to 
assist  any  one  in  trouble  or  distress.  He  was  appointed  deputy 
sheriff  in  1815,  and  acted  as  such  till  the  organization  of  the  state 
government  in  1818,  and  then  was  elected  sheritfof  St.  Clair  county, 
and  was  afterward  re-elected  five  different  times.  Altogether  he 
acted  as  sheriff  from  1815  to  1830.  He  was  popular  with  the 
people,  and  kind  and  indulgent  in  his  administration  of  the  sheriff's 
office.     He  died  at  Belleville  in  1843 

Among  the  former  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county,  perhaps  none 
have  led  a  more  distinguished  and  useful  life  than  the  Rev.  John 
M.  Peck,  D.D.,  who  moved  to  Rock  Spring,  near  Lebanon,  in  1821, 
and  died  thtre  in  1857.  Few  men  have  compressed  more  active 
labors  in  a  Jife-tinie.  He  was  born  at  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  on 
the  thirty-first  of  October,  1789.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  was 
married,  and  in  1811  moved  to  Greene  county,  New  York,  and  the 
same  year  began  to  preach  in  the  Baptist  churches  of  that  part  of 
the  state.  In  1813  he  was  ordaintd  as  a  regular  minister,  and  in 
1817  was  sent  to  St.  Louis  in  the  interest  of  Baptist  missions.  He 
at  once  began  the  work  of  evangelization,  and  preached  extensively 
through  Missouri  and  Illinois.  In  1821  he  moved  to  Rock  Spring, 
and  a  few  years  afterward  founded  there  a  theological  school  called 
the  Rock  Spring  Seminary.  In  1829  he  issued  the  first  number 
of  the  Pioneer,  the  first  religious  newspaper  ever  published  in  the 
West.  His  frequent  travels  over  the  country  brought  him  into 
such  prominence,  that  he  was  frequently  consulted  by  letter  by  a 
large  number  of  persons  who  proposed  to  emigrate  to  the  West, 
and  wished  definite  knowledge  of  certain  localities.  To  meet  this 
demand  for  information,  he  published  the  "Guide  for  Emigrants." 
In  1834  he  published  the  "  Gazetteer  of  Illinois,"  in  which  was 
contained  a  concise  and  accurate  description  of  each  county,  town, 
settlement,  stream  and  prairie  in  the  state.  An  enlarged  edition 
of  this  work  appeared  in  1837.  He  was  also  the  author  of  several 
other  volumes.  All  this  ti^ie  he  was  busy  with  his  ministerial 
labors ;  assisted  in  founding  educational  institutions ;  formed  Bible 
societies;  organized  Sunday-schools;  established  churches,  and 
made  frequent  visits  to  other  states.  His  health  finally  failed,  and 
he  died  in  March,  la57.     By  nature  he  was  gifted  with  a  strong 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  GLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


55 


and  vigorous  intellect,  and  in  addition  possessed  an  energy  and 
activity  that  shrank  from  no  labor.  He  was  admirably  fitted  for 
western  pioneer  life.  He  was  hardy,  self-denying,  courageous  and 
independent.  For  forms  and  theories  he  had  little  respect.  Few 
men  of  his  day  were  more  influential  in  guiding  the  thoughts  and 
forming  the  institutions  of  the  West.  He  gave  his  whole  power, 
physical  and  intellectual,  to  his  work,  to  which  even  the  social 
affections  seemed  subordinated.  A  story  is  told  of  him  to  the  effect 
that,  after  having  been  absent  some  months  from  his  family,  while 
acting  as  Secretary  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  in 
Philadelphia,  he  reached  home  by  the  stage  in  the  morning,  and, 
unobserved  by  any  of  his  family,  went  into  his  study,  and  finding 
a  great  accumulation  of  letters  and  papers  during  his  absence,  soon 
became  absorbed  in  their  examination.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
some  member  of  the  family,  to  his  great  surprise,  found  him  in  his 
study  peering  over  his  papers. 

Gov.  John  Reynolds  became  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  county  in 
1814,  in  the  beginning  of  which  year  he  opened  a  law-office  at  Ca- 
hokia.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  tFie 
twenty-sixth  of  February,  1788.  His  father,  Eobert  Reynolds, 
and  his  mother,  Margaret  Moore,  were  natives  of  Ireland.  Whtn 
he  was  about  six  months  old,  his  parents  moved  to  East  Tennessee, 
near  Knoxville,  which  town,  however,  was  not  founded  till  tliree 
years  later.  In  the  year  1800  his  father,  with  his  family,  left  Ten- 
nessee with  the  intention  of  settling  in  Missouri,  then  under  the 
government  of  Spain.  Arriving  at  Kaskaskia,  he  was  induced  to 
remain  in  Illinois,  and  settled  two  miles  and  a  half  east  of  Kaskas- 
kia. Eobert  Reynolds  was  elected  representative  from  Randolph 
county  to  the  Indiana  territorial  legislature,  and  also  held  the  office 
of  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  1807  the  family  moved  to  a  location  in  the  Goshen  settlement, 
at  the  foot  of  the  Mississippi  bluff,  three  or  four  miles  southwest  of 
Edwardsville.  In  1809  he  went  to  East  Tennessee,  and  attended 
college  in  Knox  county,  near  the  residence  of  his  uncle,  John  Rey- 
nolds. He  was  back  in  Illinois  by  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  of  1«12,  and  enlisted  as  private  in  a  company  of  rangers. 
He  began  the  practice  of  law  iu  1814,  and  in  1818,  on  the  organi- 
zation of  the  state  government,  was  elected  by  the  legislature  one 
of  the  associate  judges  of  the  supreme  court.  He  held  this  position 
till  1834.  He  was  several  times  afterward  chosen  to  the  state 
legislature,  and  in  1830,  after  an  exciting  canvass,  with  William 
Kinney  as  his  opponent,  was  elected  Governor.  During  his  admin- 
istration occurred  the  Black  Hawk  war.  In  1834  he"  was  elected 
a  member  of  CongKss,  but  was  defeattd  for  that  office  in  1836. 
He  was  again  elected  iu  1838.  In  1837  he  was  engaged  in  the 
construction  of  a  railroad  six  miles  long  from  the  foot  of  the  bluff 
to  the  Mississippi  opposite  St.  Louis.  It  was  built  with  the  purpose 
of  conveying  coal  to  market.  This  was  the  first  railroad  constructed 
iu  the  state. .  In  1839  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Carlin  commis- 
eioner  to  secure  a  loan  for  the  completion  of  the  Illinois  and  Michi- 
gan canal,  and  in  the  summer  of  that  year  visited  Europe.  He 
was  subsequently  twice  chosen  a  member  of  the  legislature,  in  1846 
and  in  1852,  and  when  last  a  member,  was  made  speaker  of  the 
house  of  representatives.  He  was  the  author  of  several  works. 
His  "  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois  "  has  been  widely  read,  and  con- 
tains graphic  and  original  descriptions  of  the  men  who  figured  in 
the  early  history  of  the  state,  and  of  the  incidents  and  customs  of 
pioneer  times.  "  My  Own  Times,"  a  later  work,  is  not  so  well 
known,  but  deserves  careful  reading.  He  died  at  Belleville  on  the 
8th  of  May,  1865.  Further  mention  of  his  name  will  be  found  in 
the  chapter  on. the  Bench  and  Bar. 
Among  the  arrivals  in  1817  was  Samuel  Mitchell,  who  settled 


southeast  of  Belleville,  where  Reutchler  station  now  is.  The  next 
year  his  brother,  Edward  Mitchell,  came  to  the  county.  The  Rev. 
Edward  and  Samuel  Mitchell  were  born  in  Cecil  County,  Maryland, 
the  first  mentioned  in  1760.  They  both  served  through  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  Edward  Mitchell  filling  the  position  of  quarter- 
master. They  moved  to  the  Valley  of  Virginia  at  an  early  date, 
settling  near  Fincastle,  the  county  seat  of  Botetourt  county.  They 
were  among  the  first  converts  to  Methodism  in  that  part  of  the 
state,  and  were  both  men  of  ability  and  great  moral  worth.  Both 
were  ministers  in  the  Methodist  church.  Edward  Mitchell  settled 
at  Turkey  Hill,  about  a  mile  soiith  of  his  brother,  and  lived  there 
till  his  death  in  the  year  1837,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  James 
Mitchell,  one  of  the  sons  of  Edward  Mitchell,  was  one  of  the  early 
postmasters  at  Belleville,  and  continued  several  years  in  the  office. 
Three  of  his  children  are  now  living,  one  of  whom  is  Mrs.  Susan 
Dennis  of  Belleville.  Samuel  Mitchell  moved  to  Galena,  and  lived 
to  an  old  age.  There  are  persons  now  living  in  the  county  who 
heard  him  preach  in  his  eightieth  year.  Soon  after  their  settlement 
in  the  county,  with  the  aid  of  the  few  living  near,  Samuel  and  Ed- 
ward Mitchell  built  a  house  of  worship,  that  was  used  for  many 
years  both  as  a  church  and  school-house.  For  a  long  period  the 
ordinances  of  religion  were  regularly  administered  without  money 
and  without  price.  Three  sons  of  Rev.  Samuel  Mitchell  became 
ministers  of  the  gospel.  Edward  Mitchell  was  accompanied  by  his 
sons-in-law,  John  Henry  Dennis  and  Major  Washington  West,  and 
a  number  of  blacks,  the  whole  constituting  a  colony  of  fifty-seven 
persons.  John  Henry  Dennis  settled  in  1818  on  a  farm  three  miles 
south  (jf  Belleville.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  and 
had  obtained  a  thorough  education  at  Harapden-Sidney  College  in 
Virginia  He  abandoned  his  farm  iu  1824,  and  removed  to  Belle- 
ville. At  the  request  of  Gov.  Ninian  pjdwards.  a  great  patron  of 
learning,  he  engaged  in  teaching,  to  which  he  devoted  his  time 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Many  of  his  pupils  attained  dis- 
tinction at  the  bar,  in  the  professions,  and  in  the  different  walks  of 
life.  The  scho.jl  which  Mr.  Dennis  siarted  jn  Belleville  was  the 
first  in  the  state  in  which  an  opportunity  was  given  for  the  study 
of  Hebrew,  Greek  and  Latin  languages,  and  the  higher  mathema- 
tics. For  a  number  of  years  it  continued  to  draw  students  from 
St.  Louis  and  points  as  far  east  as  the  Wabash  river.  Mr  Dennis 
acted  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  latter  years  served  as  county 
superintendent  of  schools. 

Major  Washington  AVest,  who  in  the  year  1818  settled  on  what 
is  known  as  the  West  prairie,  a  mile  south  of  Belleville,  was  the 
son  of  Benjamin  West,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  a  soldier  for 
seven  years  iu  the  Revolutionary  war.  Major  West  was  born  in 
Maryland.  After  the  Revolution  the  family  moved  to  Botetourt 
county,  Virginia.  On  his  emigration  to  this  state.  Major  West  was 
accompanit'd  by  his  pariiuts,  then  nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  He 
had  acquired  his  military  title  by  service  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
commanded  a  company  of  Virginia  troops  stationed  for  a  time  at 
Norfolk,  Virginia.  He  died  in  the  yfar  1863  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five. 

In  the  year  1819  Tilghnian  H.  West  and  John  H.  Gay  arrived 
from  Botetourt  county,  Virginia.  The  former  settled  four  miles 
east  of  Belleville,  within  half  a  mile  of  his  father-in-law,  the  Rev. 
Edward  Mitchell,  on  the  farm  owned  for  a  number  of  years  by  the 
Hilgards.  Several  of  his  children  are  living.  Gay  remained  in 
Belleville  till  1824,  and  then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  be- 
came an  active  and  prominent  business  man  and  a  wealthy  citizen. 

The  summer  succeeding  the  arrival  of  the  Mitchell  and  other 
families  from  Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  was  a  period  of  universal 
sickness.     To  the  Virginians  the  change  from  the  cold  spring  water 


56 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


and  invigorating  air  of  the  mountains  to  the  suffocating  heat  of  the 
summer  months  and  the  indifferent  water  which  could  be  obtained 
from  shallow  wells  and  stagnant  pools,  was  neither  agreeable  nor 
healthful.  The  air  was  laden  with  malaria  from  the  decay  of  the 
exuberant  growth  of  vegetation,  and  sickness  held  its  dull  and  tire- 
some sway  in  nearly  every  household.  The  best  physicians  from 
the  East  found  themselves  incompetent  to  treat  the  prevalent  dis- 
eases with  success ;  proper  remedies  were  hard  to  be  obtained ; 
nourishing  food  was  secured  only  in  insufficient  quantities — alto- 
gether the  colonists  received  an  unfavorable  impression  of  the 
country,  and  regarded  Illinois  as  exceedingly  unhealthy. 

At  that  date  (1818)  the  settlements  were  so  sparse  that  seldom 
did  neighbors  live  nearer  than  two  miles  to  each  other.  The  prai- 
ries, which  were  of  almost  illimitable  extent,  were  covered  in  sum- 
mer with  grass  and  weeds  that  grew  as  high  as  the  head  of  a  man 
when  on  horseback,  and  over  them,  when  the  frosts  of  fall  had  i'ol- 
lowed  the  bleaching  rains  and  heats  of  summer,  swept  with  the 
speed  of  the  wind,  the  prairie  fire.  Game  was  abundant.  So  nu- 
merous were  the  wolves  and  coyotes,  that  it  required  constant 
watchfulness  by  day,  and  safe  enclosures  at  night,  to  protect  the 
domestic  animals  from  destruction.  Although  there  were  very  few, 
if  any,  buffalo  east  of  the  Mississippi,  bear  and  elk  had  not  disap- 
peared, and  deer,  sometimes  in  herds  of  fifty  and  sixty,  could  be 
seen  in  the  spring  feeding  on  the  luxuriant,  wild,  prairie  grasses. 
Turkeys  were  plentiful,  and  grouse,  or  prairie-hens,  as  they  were 
called,  were  in  such  countless  numbers,  that  in  the  fall  when  they 
would  fly  into  the  corn-fields  in  the  evening  to  feed,  the  sound, 
when  alighting  or  rising,  was  like  distant  thunder.  When  mast 
was  abundant  in  autumn,  wild  pigeons  would  come  in  numberless 
myriads ;  in  their  flight  flocks  could  be  seen  extending  more  than 
five  miles  in  length,  and  passing  for  many  consecutive  hours,  to 
other  feeding  grounds  or  their  nightly  roosts. 

Joseph  McClintock,  a  native  of  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky, 
reached  St.  Clair  county  with  his  family,  then  consisting  of  eight 
children,  on  the  23d  of  November,  1818.  He  settled  four  miles 
south  of  Belleville.  Joseph  McClintock  died  there  in  1846.  Three 
of  the  children  are  now  living,  and  one,  William  McClintock,  re- 
sides in  St.  Clair  county,  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  city  of  Belleville. 
He  was  born  in  Nicholas  county,  Kentucky,  in  December,  1802, 
and  was  nearly  sixteen  when  he  came  to  this  county.  He  moved 
to  Belleville  in  1827,  and  began  the  mercantile  business.  He  after- 
ward served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  1843,  was  appointed 
county  clerk,  to  till  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  suicide  of  James 
M.  Reynolds,  a  nephew  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  He  filled  the  county 
clerk's  office  till  the  close  of  the  year  1849.  He  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  citizens  of  the  county.  One  of  his  brothers,  James  McClin- 
tock, served  as  assessor  and  collector  of  the  county,  and  now  lives 
in  Hancock  county  of  this  state. 

The  south-east  part  of  the  county,  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river, 
was  settled  in  the  year  1810,  by  the  families  of  Hecox,  Stubblefield. 
Perkins,  Beasley,  Nat  Hill  and  James  and  Reuben  Lively.  When 
the  Indian  troubles  began  during  the  war  of  1812,  they  built  a 
block  house  for  protection  against  the  Indians.  William  Pendle- 
ton, Andrew  Free  and  Isaac  Rainey,  were  early  settlers  in  this  part 
of  the  county,  making  their  homes  there  in  the  year  1817.  The 
Lands,  Dials,  and  Cooks  came  about  the  same  time.  Isaac  Rainey, 
a  naiive  of  Tennessee,  laid  off  the  towu  of  Darmstadt,  and  died  in 
that  neighborhood  in  1871.  Jefferfeon  Rainey,  now  a  resident  of 
Belleville,  was  born  in  that  part  of  the  county  in  1820.  He  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate  in  1875. 

Several  families  from  the  eastern  states,  among  which  are  those 
of  Cakb  Barker,  William  Fowler,  Abel  Thompson,  Timothy  Hig- 


gins  and  Deacon  Samuel  Smith,  came  to  the  county  in  1817  and 
1818.  Caleb  Barker  settled  in  what  is  now  West  Belleville,  Wil- 
liam Fowler  settled  on  the  east  branch  of  Richland  creek,  three 
miles  south  of  Belleville.  He  afterwards  engaged  in  the  carpenter- 
ing business,  and  did  the  wood-work  for  the  first  brick  court  house 
at  Belleville.  His  health  failing  he  moved  to  California.  Deacon 
Samuel  Smith  settled  on  Richland  creek,  east  of  Douglas,  and  lived 
and  died  there,  and  left  several  descendants  in  the  county.  Timothy 
Higgins  settled  about  a  mile  south  of  Georgetown.  In  the  year 
1817,  the  English  settlement  in  Prairie  du  Long  was  formed  by  the 
families  of  Bamber,  Wiustanley,  Threlfell,  Coop,  Newsham  and 
othtrs.  The  Woods  came  to  that  part  of  the  county  in  1806,  and 
the  Wildermans  in  the  year  1808.  Samuel  Ogle,  the  father  of 
David  and  Joseph  Ogle,  settled  in  1819  four  miles  north-west  of 
Belleville,  purchasing  an  improvement  first  made  by  George  Blair. 
The  farm  which  he  improved  is  now  on  the  macadamized  road  lead- 
ing from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis.  For  several  years  he  served  as 
county  commissioner. 

In  the  history  of  each  township  will  be  found  more  minute  men- 
tion of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  each  part  of  the  county. 

It  may  be  said  of  all  of  them  that  they  endured  manfully  the 
■privations  of  the  early  settlements  ;  their  bravery  drove  back  the 
savage,  their  energy  utilized  the  bountiful  resources  of  nature,  and 
their  virtues  and  intelligence  became  the  basis  of  our  civil  govern- 
ment. They  were  hospitable  and  generous  to  a  fault,  brave  and 
magnanimous;  and  their  descendants  are  prepared  to  appreciate 
their  sacrifices,  as  well  as  to  enjoy  all  that  has  been  brought  by  a 
higher  type  of  civilization.  The  changes  that  have  taken  place  in 
sixty  years  seem  more  like  a  dream  than  reality ;  cities  have  sprung 
up  in  the  wilderness  and  a  population  of  more  than  sixty  thousand 
occupies  the  territory  over  which  then  six  or  eight  hundred  persons 
were  scattered. 

MANNERS  AND   CUSTOMS   OF   THE   AMERICAN   PIONEERS. 

The  early  American  settlers  of  St.  Clair  county  were  principally 
from  the  Southern  States  of  Virginia,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
Some  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  A  New  England 
emigrant  was  rare.  Their  sense  of  independence  was  one  of  the 
marked  traits  of  their  character.  By  the  necessities  of  their  situa- 
tion they  were  forced  into  singular  and  different  employments. 
They  were  compelled  to  act  as  mechanics,  to  make  their  plows,  har- 
ness and  other  farming  implements,  to  tan  their  leather,  to  hunt 
game,  while  at  the  signal  of  danger  they  unhitched  their  horses 
from  the  plow,  and  were  ready  to  march  to  any  part  of  the  territory 
in  defence  of  their  homes. 

While  the  majority  of  settlers  were  without  means,  poverty 
carried  with  it  no  crushing  sense  of  degradation  like  that  felt  by  the 
very  poor  of  our  day.  They  lived,  it  is  true,  in  a  cabin,  but  it  was 
their  own,  and  had  been  reared  by  their  own  hands.  Their  house, 
too,  while  inconvenient  and  far  from  water-proof,  was  built  in  the 
prevailing  style  of  architecture,  and  would  compare  favorably  with 
the  homes  of  their  neighbors.  They  were  destitute  of  many  of  the 
conveniences  of  life,  and  of  some  things  that  are  now  considered 
necessaries;  but  they  patiently  endured  their  lot  and  hopefully 
looked  forward  to  better.  They  had  plenty  to  wear  as  protection 
against  the  weather,  and  an  abundance  of  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  superior  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 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


57 


the  grand  prairie  or  forest  that  surrounded  them,  not  with  the  air 
of  a  beggar,  but  with  the  elastic  step  of  a  self-respected  freeman. 

The  settler  brought  with  him  the  keen  axe,  which  was  indispen- 
sable, and  the  equally  necessary  rifle  ;  the  first  his  weapon  of  oifence 
against  the  forests  that  skirted  the  water-courses,  and  near  which 
he  made  his  home ;  the  second  that  of  defence  from  the  attacks  of 
his  foe,  the  cunning  child  of  the  forest  and  prairie.  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 
without  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  was  reached ;  then  on  the  ends  of  the  building  were 
placed  poles,  longer  than  the  other  end-logs,  which  projected  some 
eighteen  or  more  inches  over  the  sides,  and  were  called  "  butting- 
pole  sleepers;"  on  the  projecting  ends  of  these  was  placed  the 
"butting-pole,"  which  served  to  give  the  line  to  the  first  row  of 
clap-boards.  These  were,  as  a  matter  of  course,  split,  and  as  the 
gables  of  the  cabin  were  built  up,  were  so  laid  on  as  to  lap  a  third 
of  their  length.  They  were  often  kept  in  place  by  the  weight  of  a 
heavy  pole,  which  was  laid  across  the  roof  parallel  to  the  ridge-pole. 
The  house  was  then  chinked,  and  daubed  with  a  coarse  mortar. 

A  huge  fire-place  was  built  at  one  end  of  the  house,  in  which  fire 
was  kindled  for  cooking  purposes,  for  the  settlers  wiere  generally 
without  stoves,  with  which  to  furnish  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  dwell- 
ing. 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,  be- 
fore the  rattle  of  the  saw-mill  was  heard  within  our  borders. 

The  furniture  comported  admirably  with  the  house  itself,  and 
hence,  if  not  elegant,  was  in  most  perfect  taste.  The  tables  had 
four  legs,  and  were  rudely  made  from  a  puncheon.  Their  seats 
were  stools  having  three  or  four  legs.  The  bedstead  was  in  keeping 
with  the  rest,  and  was  often  so  contrived  as  to  permit  it  to  be  drawn 
up  and  fastened  to  the  wall  during  the  day,  thus  aSbrding  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  furni- 
ture for  the  kitchen  and  house.  Knives  and  forks  they  sometimes 
had,  and  sometimes  had  not.  The  common  table-knife  was  the 
pack-knife  or  butcher-knife.  Horse-collars  were  sometimes  made 
of  the  plaited  husk  of  the  maize  sewed  together.  They  were  easy 
on  the  neck  of  the  horse,  and  if  tug-traces  were  used,  would  last  a 
long  while. 

The  common  dress  of  the  American  pioneer  was  very  similar. 
Home-made  wool  hats  were  usually  worn  The  covering  of  the 
feet  were,  in  winter,  mostly  moccasins  made  of  deer  skin  and  shoe- 
packs  of  tanned  leather.  In  the  summer,  the  greater  portion  of  the 
young  people,  male  and  female,  and  many  of  the  old,  went  bare- 
footed. The  substantial  and  universal  outside  wear  was  the  blue 
linsey  hunting-shirt.  Gov.  Reynolds  says  that  this  was  a  most  ex- 
cellent garment,  and  that  he  never  felt  so  healthy  and  happy  after. 
8 


laying  it  ofi".  Many  pioneers  wore  the  white  blanket  coat  (the 
French  capot)  in  the  winter.  These  were  made  loose  with  a  cap  or 
cape  to  turn  over  the  head  in  extreme  cold  weather.  The  vest  was 
mostly  made  of  striped  liusey.  The  colors  were  made  with  alum, 
copperas  and  madder,  boiled  with  the  bark  of  trees,  in  such  manner 
and  proportions  as  the  old  ladies  prescribed.  The  shirts  worn  by 
the  Americans  were  generally  home-made,  of  flax  and  cotton  ma- 
terial. Some  voyagers  and  hunters  among  the'  Americans  wore 
calico  and  checked  shirts,  but  these  were  not  in  common  use.  The 
pantaloons  of  the  masses  were  generally  deer-skins  and  linsey,  and 
sometimes  a  coarse  blue  cloth  was  used.  In  early  times  factory 
made  goods  did  not  exist.  These  goods,  from  New  England  and 
Kentucky,  reached  Illinois  about  the  year  1818,  and  then  looms, 
and  spinning  ceased.  Every  pioneer  had  a  rifle  and  carried  it  al- 
most wherever  he  went.  On  the  Sabbath  a  stack  of  rifles  might 
be  seen  outside  the  house  of  worship  while  within  the  congregation 
were  attending  service.  Almost  everybody  was  a  hunter,  and  a  deer 
was  as  likely  to  be  seen  on  Sunday  as  on  any  other  day  of  the  week. 
Neat  and  fine  linsey,  manufactured  at  home  and  colored  and  woven 
to  suit  the  fancy,  composed  the  outside  garments  of  the  females. 
A  bonnet  of  calico  or  some  gayly-checked  goods,  was  worn  on  the 
head  in  the  open  air.  Jewelry  was  unusual.  A  gold  ring  was 
an  ornament  not  often  seen.* 

The  style  of  dress  began  to  change  about  the  year  1820.  The 
blue  linsey  hunting-shirt  with  red  or  white  fringe  gave  place  to  the 
cloth  coat.  Boots  and  shoes  supplanted  the  deer  skin  moccasin. 
By  the  year  1830  a  man  dressed  in  the  costume  of  the  territory, 
raccoon-skin  cap,  hunting-shirt,  buckskin  breeches  and  moccasins, 
with  a  belt  around  the  waist  to  which  a  knife  and  tomahawk  were 
appended,  was  rarely  to  be  seen.  The  female  sex  made  still  more 
rapid  progress  in  adopting  modern  costumes. 

The  pioneers  were  exceedingly  friendly  and  sociable.  A  new- 
comer was  heartily  welcomed.  When  a  log  cabin  was  to  be  raised, 
whether  invited  or  not,  they  gathered  together  and  enjoyed  a  back- 
woods frolic  in  putting  it  up.  At  these  house-raisings  much  sport 
and  amusement  were  indulged  in.  The  young  men  and  boys  tried 
their  strength  and  skill  at  jumping,  wrestling,  and  running  foot- 
races. Old  and  young  took  part  in  the  game  of  leap  frog.  Shoot- 
ing at  marks  was  practiced  among  those  most  skilled  in  the  use  of 
the  rifle.     Among  a  group  of  older  men  would  figure  a  Kentuckian 

*  In  these  days  of  furbelows  and  flounces,  when  from  twenty  to  thirty  yards 
are  required  by  one  fair  damsel  for  a  dress,  it  is  refreshing  to  know  that  the 
ladies  of  that  ancient  time  considered  eight  yards  an  extravagant  amount  to 
put  into  one  dress.  The  dress  was  nsually  made  plain,  with  four  widths  in 
the  skirt,  the  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  waist,  and  the  most  fashionable — for  fash- 
ion, like  love,  "  rules  alike  the  court  and  grove" — were  padded  so  as  to  resem- 
ble a  bolster  at  the  upper  part,  and  were  known  as  "  mutton  legs,"  or  ''  sheep- 
shank" sleeves.  The  sleeves  were  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  the  elbow  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  gown.  Around  the  neck,  instead 
of  a  lace  collar  or  elegant  ribbon,  there  was  displayed  a  copperas-colored  neck- 
erchief. In  going  to  church  or  other  public  gathering  in  summer  weather, 
they  sometimes  walked  barefoot  till  near  their  destination,  and  then  put  on 
their  shoes  or  moccasins.  -  They  were  contenteid,  and  even  happy,  without  any 
of  the  elegant  articles  of  apparel  now  used  by  the  ladies  and  considered  neces- 
sary articles  of  dress.  Ruffles,  fine  laces,  silk  hats,  kid  gloves,  rings,  combs, 
and  jewels,  were  nearly  unknown,  nor  did  the  lack  of  them  vex  their  souls. 
Many  of  them  were  grown  before  they  ever  saw  the  interior  of  a  well-supplied 
dr\  -goods  store.  Tliey  were  reared  in  simplicity,  lived  in  simplicity,  and  were 
ha{)py  in  simplicity.  Bbownleb. 


58 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


relating  his  adventures  on  flat-boats,  "  the  old  Broad-Horn,"  to  New 
Orleans.  At  times,  a  bottle,  called  "  Black  Betty, '  filled  with 
Monongahela  whiskey,  made  its  appearance,  and  then  was  told  the 
"  hair-breadth  escapes"  and  thrilling  adventures  of  the  pioneers. 
A  log-rolling,  corn-husking,  or  bee  of  any  kind,  called  the  settlers 
together  for  miles  around.  The  whole  neighborhood  assembled  and 
split  rails,  cleared  land,  plowed  up  whole  fields,  and  the  like. 
Pioneer  amusement  generally  closed  the  day.  With  the  invitation 
to  the  men  commonly  came  one  to  the  women,  to  come  to  a  quilting. 
The  good  woman  of  the  house  where  the  festivities  were  to  take 
place  would  be  busily  engaged  for  a  day  or  more  in  preparation  for 
the  coming  guests  Great  quantities  of  provisions  were  to  be  pre- 
pared, for  dyspepsia  was  unknown  to  the  pioneer,  and  good  appe- 
tites were  the  rule  and  not  the  exception. 

"  The  bread  used  at  these  frolics  was  baked  generally  on  Jonny 
or  Journey  cake-boards,  and  is  the  best  corn-bread  ever  made.  A 
board  is  made  smooth,  about  two  feet  long,  and  eight  inches  wide — 
the  ends  are  generally  rounded.  The  dough  is  spread,  out  on  this 
board,  and  placed  leaning  before  the  fire.  One  side  is  baked,  and 
then  the  dough  is  changed  on  the  board,  so  the  other  side  is  pre- 
sented, in  its  turn,  to  the  fire.  This  is  Jonny-cake,  and  is  good,  if 
the  proper  materials  are  put  in  the  dough,  and  it  is  properly  baked." 
— Reynolds'  Pioneer  History. 

At  all  log-rollings  and  house-raisings  it  was  customary  to  provide 
liquor.  Excesses  were  not  indulged  in,  however.  The  fiddler  was 
never  forgotten.  After  the  day's  work  had  been  accumplished,  out 
doors  and  in,  by  men  and  women,  the  floor  was  cleared  and  the 
merry  dance  began.  The  handsome,  stalwart  young  men,  whose 
fine  forms  were  the  result  of  their  manly  out-door  life,  clad  in  fringed 
buckskin  breeches  and  gaudily  colored  hunting-shirts,  led  forth  the 
bright-eyed,  buxom  damsels,  attired  in  neatly-fitting  linsey-woolsey 
garments,  to  the  dance,  their  cheeks  glowing  with  health  and  eyes 
speaking  of  enjoyment,  and  perhaps  a  tenderer  emotion. 

The  following  description  of  a  "  Shucking"  of  the  olden  time  is 
taken  from  Reynolds'  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois  : 

"  In  pure  pioneer  times  the  crops  of  corn  were  never  husked  on 
the  stalk,  as  is  done  at  this  day  ;  but  were  hauled  home  in  the  husk 
and  thrown  in  a  heap,  generally  by  the  tide  of  the  crib,  so  that  the 
ears,  when  husked,  could  be  thrown  direct  into  the  crib.  The  whole 
neighborhood,  male  and  female,  were  invited  to  the  shucking/,  as  it 
was  called.  The  girls,  and  many  of  the  marrried  ladies,  generally 
engaged  in  this  amusing  work. 

"  In  the  first  place  two  leading  expert  buskers  were  chosen  as 
captains,  and  the  heap  of  corn  divided  as  nearly  equal  as  pos6^ible. 
Rails  were  laid  across  the  pile  so  as  to  designate  the  division ;  and 
then  each  captain  chose,  alternately,  his  corps  of  buskers,  male  and 
female.  The  whole  number  of  working  hands  present  were  selected 
on  one  side  or  the  other,  and  then  each  party  commenced  a  contest 
to  beat  the  other,  which  was  in  many  cases  truly  exciting.  One 
other  rule  was,  that  whenever  a  male  husked  a  red  ear  of  corn,  he 
was  entitled  to  a  kiss  from  the  girls.  This  frequently  excited  much 
fuss  and  scufiiiug,  which  was  intended  by  both  parties  to  end  in  a 
kiss.  It  was  a  universal  practice  that  taffia  or  Monongahela  whiskey- 
was  used  at  these. husking  frolics,  which  they  drank  out  of  a  bottle, 
each  one,  male  and  female,  taking  the  bottle  and  drinking  out  of  it, 
and  then  handing  it  to  his  next  neighbor,  without  using  any  glass 
or  cup  whatever.  This  custom  was  common,  and  not  considered 
rude.  Almost  always  these  corn-shucks  ended  in  a  dance.  To  pre- 
pare for  this  amusement  fiddles  and  fiddlers  were  in  great  demand  ; 
and  it  often  required  much  fast  riding  to  obtain  them.  One  violin 
and  a  performer  were  all  that  was  contemplated  at  these  innocent 
rural  games. 


"  Towards  dark,  and  the  supper  half-over,  then  it  was  that  a  bustle 
and  confusion  commenced.  The  confusion  of  tongues  at  Babel 
would  have  been  ashamed  at  the  corn-huskings.  The  young  ones 
hurrying  ofi"  the  table,  and  the  old  ones  contending  for  time 
and  order.  It  was  the  case,  in  nine  times  out  of  ten,  that  but  one 
dwelling-house  was  on  the  premises,  and  that  used  for  eating  as  well 
as  dancing. 

"But  when  the  fiddler  commenced  tuning  his  instrument  the 
music  always  gained  the  victory  for  the  young  side.  Then  the  dishes, 
victuals,  table  and  all,  disappeared  in  a  few  minutes,  and  the 
room  was  cleared,  the  dogs  driven  out,  and  the  floor  swept  ofi"  ready 
for  action.  The  floors  of  these  houses  were  sometimes  the  natural 
earth,  beat  solid,  sometimes  the  earth,  with  puncheons  in  the  middle 
over  the  potato-hole,  and  at  times  the  whole  floor  was  made  of  pun- 
cheons. 

"  The  music  at  these  country  dances  made  the  young  folks  almost 
frantic,  and  sometimes  much  excitement  was  displayed  to  get  on  the 
floor  first.  Generally  the  fiddler  on  these  occasions  assumed  an  im- 
portant bearing,  and  ordered,  in  true  professional  style,  so  and  so 
to  be  done  ;  as  that  was  the  way  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  was 
raised.  The  decision  ended  the  contest  for  the  floor.  In  those 
days  they  danced  jigs  and  four-handed  reels,  as  they  were  called. 
Sometimes  three-handed  reels  were  also  danced. 

"  In  these  dances  there  was  no  standing  still ;  all  were  moving  at 
a  rapid  pace  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  In  the  jigs  the  by- 
standers cut  one  another  out,  as  it  was  called,  so  that  this  dance 
would  last  for  hours.  Sometimes  the  parties  in  a  jig  tried  to  tire 
one  another  down  in  the  dance,  and  then  it  would  also  last  a  long 
time  before  one  or  the  other  gave  up. 

"  The  cotillion  or  stand-still  dances  were  not  then  known. 

"  The  bottle  went  round  at  these  parties  as  it  did  at  the  shuck- 
ings,  and  male  and  female  took  a  dram  out  of  it  as  it  passed  round. 
No  sitting  was  indulged  in,  and  the  folks  either  stood  or  danced  all 
night,  as  generally  daylight  ended  the  frolic.  The  dress  of  these 
hardy  pioneers  was  generally  in  plain  homespun.  The  hunting- 
shirt  was  much  worn  at  that  time,  which  is  a  convenient  working 
or  dancing  dress.  Sometimes  dressed  deer  skin  pantaloons  were 
used  on  these  occasions,  and  mawkawsins — rarely  shoes — and  at 
times  bare  feet  were  indulged  in. 

"  In  the  morning  all  go  home  on  horseback  or  on  foot.  No  car- 
riages, wagons  or  other  vehicles  were  used  on  these  occasions,  for 
the  best  of  reasons — because  they  had  none." 

Reynolds  states  it  as  his  sincere  conviction  that  the  early  pioneers 
of  Illinois  were  more  moral  and  free  from  crime  than  the  people  of 
a  later  day.  Thefts  were  of  rare  occurrence,  and  forgery,  perjury, 
and  similar  crimes  were  seldom  perpetrated.  A  white  man  was 
hui.g  for  murder  at  Kaskaskia  in  the  year  1802,  and  an  Indian  in 
1804;  no  further  instance  of  capital  punishment  in  Illinois  occurs 
till  1821,  when  Bennett  was  hung  at  Belleville  for  the  murder  of 
Stuart.  In  the  early  history  of  the  county,  the  courts  were  in  session 
four  times  each  year  at  Cahokia,  but  the  grand  juries  frequently 
adjourned  without  finding  a  single  indictment.  While  the  higher 
crimes  were  of  rare  occurrence,  the  lesser  violations  of  law  were 
not  unfrequent.  But  it  is  remarked  that  the  assaults  and  batteries 
and  other  breaches  of  law  most  common,  "did  not  involve  any 
corruption  of  the  heart,  but  were  such  as  at  times  may  occur  in 
any  community." 

The  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  was  indulged  in  then  more  than 
now.  Drinking  was  fashionable  and  polite,  and  liquor  was  con- 
sidered an  element  in  the  conviviality  of  all  circles.  The  French 
seldom  carried  the  use  of  liquor  to  excess.  Intemperance,  on  the 
part  of  the  Americans,  was  greatest  in  the  village  of  Cahokia,  and 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


59 


there,  as  also  at  Kaskaskia,  many  good  citizens  were  injured  by 
the  excessive  use  of  ardent  spirits. 

The  Sabbath,  among  the  American  pioneers,  was  often  employed 
in  hunting,  fishing,  getting  up  stock,  hunting  bees,  breaking  young 
horses,  shooting  at  marks,  and  horse  and  foot-racing.  It  was,  how- 
ever, a  custom  to  cease  from  ordinary  labor,  except  from  necessity, 
on  that  day,  and  when  a  farmer  cut  his  harvest  on  Sunday,  public 
opinion  citndemned  it  more  severely  than  at  present.  There  was 
no  dancing  and  but  little  drinking.  In  many  localities  there  were 
no  religious  meetings.  The  aged  people  generally  remained  at 
home  and  read  the  Bible  and  other  books.  The  French  observed 
Sunday  in  a  different  manner.  After  the  conclusion  of  their  reli- 
gious services,  the  rest  oi  the  day  was  passed  in  amusements,  mer- 
riment and  recreation.  Dancing  was  common  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
frequently  houses  were  raised  and  the  militia  trained.  Public  sales 
of  land  and  other  property  were  held,  in  early  times,  by  the 
French  at  the  church  door  on  Sundays,  after  the  close  of  the  ser- 
vice. The  French  rarely  engaged  in  common  broils  and  disturb- 
ances. They  detested  a  quarrelsome,  fighting  man.  With  the 
Americans  personal  combats  were  frequent.  A  slight  dispute  led 
to  a  fight;  but  the  combatants  often  good-humoredly  made  it  up 
before  parting.  These  combats  scarcely  ever  occurred  unless  the 
parties  had  been  drinking.  No  rules  were  observed.  At  times 
eyes  and  ears  were  much  injured,  and  were  sometimes  destroyed. 

All  species  of  gaming  were  common.  Card-playing  was  sustained 
by  the  best  classes.  A  person  who  could  not,  or  would  not  play 
cards,  was  considered  destitute  of  one  of  the  accomplishments  of 
genteel  society.  The  French  delighted  much  in  this  amusement, 
and  this  assisted  in  giving  card-parties  more  standing  and  popu- 
larity among  the  Americans.  During  the  hot  summer  months,  in 
early  times,  the  French  played  cards  incessantly  in  the  shade  of  the 
galleries  of  their  houses.  They  frequently  played  without  betting, 
but  at  times  wagered  heavily.  The  most  common  game  of  cards  was 
called  "  loo."  The  voyageurs  indulged  in  this  sport  more  than  any 
other  class  of  citizens.  The  ladies  often  amused  themselves  at 
the  game. 

Horse-racing  was  one  of  the  most  popular  amusements  The 
quarter-races  were  the  most  common,  and  at  these  the  most  chica- 
canery  and  juggling  was  practiced.  The  most  celebrated  and 
famous  horse-race  in  Illinois,  in  early  times,  was  ruQ  in  the  upper 
end  of  the  Horse  prairie,  in  Bandolph  county,  in  the  spring  of  the 
year  1803.  The  two  horses  which  made  the  race  were  of  the  same 
sire.  They  ran  three  miles  and  repeat,  for  a  wager  of  five  hundred 
dollars.  The  bye-bets  and  all  must  have  amounted  to  a  thousand 
dollars,  or  more,  which  in  those  days  was  considered  a  very  large 
sum.  In  1806  Robert  Pulliam,  of  Illinois,  and  a  Mr.  Musick,  of 
Missouri,  made  a  bet  of  two  hundred  dollars  on  a  race  between  two 
horses,  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  to  be  ran  on  the  ice  in  the  Mississippi 
river,  a  short  distance  above  St.  Louis.  The  race  came  off,  and  was 
run  -without  injury  to  either  the  horses  or  riders.  Foot-racing, 
jumping  and  wrestling  were  much  practiced  by  the  Americans. 
Bets  of  some  magnitude  were  made  on  foot-races  as  well  as  on 
horse-races.  Governor  Reynolds,  in  his  youth,  was  one  of  the  best 
in  a  foot-rac»,  and  won  many  wagers  in  Randolph  county,  then  his 
residence. 

With  the  Americans  shooting-matches  occurred  frequently. 
These  were  generally  held  on  Saturdays,  and  as  often  as  every 
week,  in  summer.  A  beef  was  usually  the  prize.  A  keg  of  whiskey 
was  generally  carried  to  these  shooting-matches,  on  horseback,  and 
sometimes  a  violin  made  its  appearance,  and  the  crowd  danced  for 
hours.  Aged  matrons  frequently  attended,  with  a  neat,  clean  keg 
of  metheglin,  which  they  dispensed  to  the  thirsty.     This  drink  was 


made  of  honey  and  water,  properly  fermented,  was  pleasant  to  the 
taste,  and  had  no  power  to  intoxicate.  The  old  lady  sometimes 
brought  her  knitting  and  sewing  with  her,  and  would  frequently 
relate  tales  of  the  tories  "  back  in  North  Carolina,"  during  the 
Revolution. 

Agriculture  was  at  first,  of  course,  carried  on  only  to  a  limited 
extent  The  inhabitants  of  the  New  Design  settlement  in  Monroe 
county  were  the  first  to  begin  the  cultivation  of  fall  wheat  to  any 
considerable  extent.  In  cutting  the  wheat,  sickles,  or  reap-hooks, 
were  the  only  implements  used.  There  were- no  cradles.  Reaping 
with  a  sickle  was  a  severe  labor.  Wheat  at  that  day  sold  for  a 
dollar  a  bushel.  A  short  distance  from  the  farms,  on  the  prairies, 
or  in  places  in  the  timber,  good  groves  were  selected  and  mowed,  and 
thi^,  as  well  as  reaping  wheat,  was  hot,  hard  work.  The  Americans 
at  that  day,  generally  stacked  their  hay  and  wheat  out,  but  the 
French  had  barns  which  they  used  for  this  purpose.  The  French 
barns  were  made  of  large  cedar  posts,  put  in  the  ground  some  two 
feet,  and  set  apart  four  or  five  feet — the  space  between  filled  up 
with  puncheons  put  in  grooves  on  the  posts,  and  the  whole  covered 
with  a  thatched  roof.  Threshing  and  cleaning  the  wheat  was  in 
olden  times  a  great  trouble.  The  process  of  winnowing  with  a  sheet 
was  slow  and  hard  work. 

Considerable  quantities  of  corn  were  shipped  from  Illinois  in  flat- 
boats  to  New  Orleans  before  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  It  was 
an  uncertain  market,  and  the  navigation  of  the  river  was  more 
uncertain  still.  Stock,  cattle  and  hogs  were  raised  for  the  New 
Orleans  market.  The  commerce  on  the  river  and  the  Indian  trade 
consumed  the  small  surplus  product  of  the  farms.  Irish  potatoes 
were  raised  in  abundance,  and  the  crops  scarcely  ever  failed.  Only 
small  quantities  of  cheese  and  butter  were  made,  scarcely  enough 
for  home  consumption.  The  French  scarcely  ever  troubled  them- 
selves with  milking  cows,  but  turned  the  calves  out  with  the  other 
cattle,  and  made  little  or  no  butter.  That  portion  of  the  popula- 
tion scarcely  ever  used  a  churn,  a  loom,  or  a  wheel.  The  apple 
orchards  in  proportion  to  the  population  were  numerous.  The 
French  also  cultivated  orchards  of  pears,  but  the  peach-tree  was 
almost  entirely  neglected.  The  greater  portion  of  the  merchants 
made  the  Indian  trade  their  main  object.  The  furs  and  peltries  are 
articles  in  great  demand,  and  were  generally  shipped  to  Mackinaw, 
Philadelphia,  and  New  Orleans.  The  French  horses,  known  as 
"French  ponies,"  were  sold  in  great  numbers  to  the  Indians. 
Guns,  powder,  lead,  and  all  Indian  goods,  blankets,  blue  stroudiog 
and  made-up  calico  shirts,  formed  large  items  in  the  commerce  of 
the  day — as  the  Indians  were  much  more  numerous  than  the 
whites. 

INCIDENTS   OP   INDIAN   WAEFAEE. 

The  early  settlements  of  St.  Clair  county  experienced  little  trou- 
ble from  the  Indian  attacks.  The  French  at  Cahokia  lived  in 
general  on  friendly  terms  with  the  savages.  The  American  settle- 
ments in  the  present  county  of  Monroe  were  much  harassed,  but 
after  Wayne's  treaty  with  the  Indians  in  1795,  (subsequent  to 
which  date  the  American  settlements  in  the  present  county  of  St- 
Clair  were  made),  peace  prevailed  on  the  frontier  up  to  the  war  of 
1812. 

The  territory  occupied  by  the  county  was,  however,  in  early 
times  the  scene  of  several  stirring  incidents  in  the  Indian  warfare. 
In  1793,  a  little  company  of  the  pioneers  in  the  American  Bottom, 
composed  of  Samuel  Judy,  John  Whiteside,  William  L.  Whitetide, 
Uel  Whiteside,  William  Harrington,  John  Dempsey,  and  John 
Porter,  with  William  Whiteside  in  command,  pursued  through  St. 
Clair  county  a  number  of  Indians  who  had  been  committing  depre- 


60 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


dations  in  the  Bottom.  They  passed  on  the  trail  near  the  present 
city  of  Belleville,  and  attacked  the  Indian  camps  on  Shoal  creek. 
The  eight  men  divided  into  two  parties  of  four  each,  and  made  the 
attack  from  two  sides  at  once.  This  made  the  Indians  believe  that ' 
the  whites  were  in  large  force,  and  after  one  of  their  number  was 
killed  and  others  wounded,  the  chief.  Old  Pecan,  begged  for  quar- 
ter. On  discovering  his  foes  to  be  an  insignificant  number,  and  his 
own  party  numerous,  he  called  aloud  to  bis  braves  to  return  and 
retrieve  their  honor.  He  had  surrendered  his  own  gun  to  the 
whites,  but  now  he  seized  the  gun  of  the  captain  and  exerted  all  his 
force  to  arrest  it  from  him.  Captain  Whiteside  was  a  powerful 
man,  and  a  stranger  to  fear;  but  he  compelled  the  Indian  to  retire, 
deeming  it  dishonorable  to  destroy  an  unarmed  man  who  had  pre- 
viously surrendered.  The  whites  were  now  in  a  critical  situation, 
in  the  heart  of  the  Indian  country,  where  hundreds  <.f  warriors 
could  be  raised  in  a  few  hours  time.  They  immediately  started 
and  traveled  day  and  night,  without  eating  or  sleeping,  till 
they  reached  in  safety  Whiteside's  station. 

In  the  year  1795,  a  Frenchman  at  Cahokia,  informed  Capt. 
Whiteside  that  a  band  of  Indians  were  camped  at  the  bluff,  a  short 
distance  south  of  the  macadamized  road  which  now  runs  from 
Belleville  to  St'  Louis,  and  that  they  meditated  some  injury  to  the 
settlements  in  the  Bottom.  Whiteside  organized  a  company,  four- 
teen in  number,  among  which  were  Samuel  Whiteside,  William  L. 
Whiteside,  Samuel  Judy,  Isaac  Enochs,  and  Johnson  J.  Whiteside, 
and  just  before  day  the  Indian  camp  was  surrounded,  and  all  the 
Indians  killed  except  one.  It  is  said  that  although  this  one  escaped, 
the  Indians  killed  him  afterward  for  his  cowardly  running  off.  The 
bones  of  the  Indians  killed  in  this  contest  were  seen  on  the  battle 
ground  for  many  years  afterward.  In  this  battle  Capt.  Whitebide 
was  wounded,  as  he  thought  mortally,  having  received  a  shot  in 
his  side.  As  he  fell  he  exhorted  his  men  to  fight  bravely,  not  to  yield 
an  inch  of  ground,  nor  let  the  Indians  touch  his  body.  Uel  White- 
side, his  son,  who  was  shot  in  the  arm  and  disabled  from  using  the 
rifle,  examined  the  wound,  and  found  that  the  ball  had  glanced 
along  the  ribs  and  lodged  against  the  spine.  He  whipped  out  his 
knife,  gashed  the  skin,  and  extracted  the  ball.  Holding  it  up  he 
remarked,  "  Father,  you  are  not  dead  yet !"  The  old  man  instantly 
jumped  to  his  feet  and  renewed  the  fight,  exclaiming,  "  Boys,  I  can 
still  fight  the  Indians!" 

It  is  said  that  after  the  battle  Captain  Whiteside  and  his  party 
on  their  return  to  Whiteside's  station,  halted  at  Cahokia  to  dress 
the  wounds  of  the  Captain  and  his  son.  A  widow  lady,  by  the 
name  of  Rains,  who  had  two  beautiful  daughters,  resided  in  the 
village,  and  it  was  at  her  house  that  the  party  stopped.  The  ac- 
quaintance thus  accidentally  formed  resulted  in  the  marriage  of 
two  Whiteside  brothers  to  the  two  young  ladies.  The  Whiteside 
family  were  celebrated  in  the  early  history  of  Illinois  as  Indian 
fighters,  and  many  of  their  descendants  still  reside  in  this  state. 

The  massacre  of  the  McMahon  family  in  December,  1795,  is  else- 
where referred  to.  Robert  McMahon  had  settled  that  year  in  the 
"  Yankee  prairie,"  a  few  miles  south-east  of  the  New  Design  settle- 
ment. His  wife  and  four  children  were  killed  before  his  eyes,  and 
he  and  two  small  daughters  taken  prisoners.  The  Indians  hurried 
away  from  the  white  settlements  with  the  utmost  speed,  fearful  of 
pursuit.  The  first  night  they  camped  on  Richland  creek,  about 
half  a  mile  below  Belleville.  The  next  day  they  crossed  Silver 
creek,  above  the  present  town  of  Lebanon,  and  the  second  night 
camped  near  the  sources  of  Sugar  creek.  That  night  McMahon 
slipped  off  the  cords  from  his  arms  and  body,  and  escaped.  He 
subsequently  settled  a  short  distance  north-east  of  Lebanon,  in  this 
county,  and  died  in  Madison  county. 


PIONEER   MILLS. 

The  first  water  mill  erected  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
county  was  erected  on  Prairie  du  Pont  creek,  built  by  the  Mission 
of  St.  Sul[)ice  in  the  year  1754.  The  village  of  Prairie  du  Pont 
was  formed  around  this  mill.  In  1764,  after  the  country  east  of 
the  Mississippi  passed  under  the  English  control,  the  mill  and  plan- 
tation of  the  Mission  of  St.  Sulpice  were  sold  to  M.  Gerardine,  and 
the  members  of  the  mission  returned  to  France.  Jean  Francais 
Perry,  about  the  year  1794,  purchased  this  mill  site,  and  built  a 
new  mill,  which  for  a  number  of  years  he  carried  on  successfully. 

About  the  year  1744,  the  Jesuits  built  a  wind  mill  on  the  prairie, 
two  miles  south-east  of  Cahokia.  About  the  time  the  English  took 
possession  of  the  country  this  mill  was  allowed  to  go  into  decay. 
The  mill  stones  could  have  been  seen  on  the  prairie  where  the  mill 
stood  a  hundred  years  after  it  was  built. 

At  Falling  Spring,  two  miles  south-east  of  Prairie  du  Pont,  a 
mill  was  constructed  about  the  year  1770.  Hollow  logs  conducted 
the  water  to  the  wheel  of  the  mill.  The  mill,  however,  was  only  a 
small  affair,  and  was  soon  abandoned.  This  spring,  which  here 
gushes  out  of  a  perpendicular  rock  of  the  Mississippi  Bluff,  and 
falls  sixty  or  eighty  feet  to  the  bottom  below,  was  called  by  the 
French,  "  L'  Eau  Tomb." 

Early  attempts  were  made  to  establish  mills  on  Cahokia  creek  in 
Madison  county,  but  they  were  not  attended  with  success.  A  man 
named  McCarty,  called  English  McCarty,  built  a  mill  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  north-east  of  Illinoistown,  now  East  St.  Louis. 
He  expended  much  money  and  time,  but  on  account  of  the  banks 
of  the  creek  being  washed  so  easily  away,  the  dam  could  not  be 
made  to  stand.  It  was  a  large  mill,  and  at  times  did  much  business. 
McCarty  obtained  an  improvement  right  of  four  hundred  acres  of 
land,  covering  his  mill  site,  which  to  his  heirs  would  have  been 
ample  compensation  for  his  labor  and  disappointment,  could  they 
have  retained  possession  of  the  property  to  the  present  day. 

A  horse  mill  at  Cahokia,  built  by  Major  Nicholas  Jarrot,  was 
much  used  and  of  great  service  to  the  public.  During  the  war  of 
1812  it  furnished  the  troops  with  meal.  Jarrot  was  fond  of  build- 
ing mills,  and  spent  much  time,  and  lost  much  money,  in  his  efforts 
to  maintain  a  water  mill  on  Cahokia  creek,  some  miles  north-east 
of  Illinoistown. 

In  early  times  the  settlers  went  either  to  Cahokia  to  mill,  or  to 
Judge's  mill  near  Whiteside  station.  This  was  the  case  also  with 
the  frontier  settlements  in  Madison  county.  Some  of  the  pioneers 
who  had  pushed  out  the  farthest  were  compelled  to  journey  fifty 
miles.  To  relieve  absolute  want  resort  was  had  to  the  grater  or 
the  hand  mill,  and  in  a  later  day  the  hand-mill,  propelled  by  horse 
power,  came  into  use.  The  first  water  mill  built  in  the  county, 
outside  of  the  American  Bottom,  was  by  Lawrence  Shook,  on  Mill 
creek,  west  of  Belleville,  in  the  year  1800.  Elijah  Chapman  built 
a  mill  on  Richland  creek,  above  the  bridge,  west  of  the  Centreville 
road,  in  the  year  1810 ;  this  mill  was  used  till  about  1830.  Moses 
Quick,  in  1815,  built  a  water  mill  on  the  creek  south  of  the  St 
Clair  county  Fair  grounds,  and  sold  it  to  Major  Washington  West." 
This  mill  soon  afterward  was  swept  away  by  flood  and  never  re- 
built. In  1820,  Hugh  Alexander  erected  the  first  ox  mill  in  the 
state,  near  the  farm  on  which  the  late  Dr.  Schott  resided,  on  Shiloh, 
and  built  a  distillery  at  the  same  time  and  place.  The  next  ox- 
mill  was  the  one  started  in  Belleville,  by  Wilkinson  &  Ringold,  in 
1822,  who  sold  it  to  Jacob  Whiteside,  of  whom  Thomas  Harrison 
bought  it  in  1826.  Hosea  Riggs  had  a  hand  mill  in  1817,  about 
two  miles  and  a  half  east  of  Belleville,  north  of  the  road  leading 
to  Mascoutah.  and  Matthew  Roach  had  one  at  his  residence,  about 
six  miles  south-west  of  Belleville,  south  of  the  Centerville  road 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


61 


about  the  same  time.    A  man  named 


—  McCann  had  a  hand 
mill  at  an  early  date  a  few  miles  east  of  Turkey  Hill,  which  re- 
ceived a  wide  patronage.  Among  other  mills  may  be  mentioned 
that  of  William  Phillips  on  the  lower  St.  Louis  road ;  and  that  of 
Samuel  Ogle  on  the  St.  Louis  macadamized  road,  six  miles  north- 
west of  Belleville.  Thomas  Harrison  &  Sons  built  the  first  steam 
flouring  mill  in  Belleville  in  the  year  1831.  It  stood  on  the  lot  on 
the  south-east  corner  of  First  South  and  High  streets. 

Of  the  early  contrivances  for  manufacturing  meal  the  most  rude 
and  primitive  was  the  Grater. 

A  plate  of  tin  was  pierced  with  numerous  holes,  and  one  side 
thus  made  very  rough.  The  tin  was  then  bent  to  an  oval  shape 
and  nailed  to  a  board.  By  rubbing  an  ear  of  corn  on  the  grater 
meal  was  made,  though  in  a  very  slow  and  laborious  manner.  An 
improvement  on  this  was  the  hand-mill.  This  consisted  of  two  mill- 
stones, one  above  the  other.  A  hole  was  made  in  the  upper  stone 
in  which  was  placed  a  staff  of  wood,  which  ran  through  a  hole  in  a 
plank  above,  so  that  the  whole  was  free  to  act.  One  or  two  persons 
took  hold  of  this  staff  and  turned  the  upper  stone  with  as  much 
velocity  as  possible.  There  was  no  hopper,  but  through  an  eye  in 
the  upper  stone  the  mill  was  fed  with  corn  in  small  quantities.  To 
make  a  mortar,  wherein  to  beat  corn  into  meal,  the  pioneers  took  a 
large  round  log,  three  or  four  feet  in  length,  and,  by  cutting  or 
burning,  made  a  cavity  in  one  end  capable  of  holding,  perhaps,  a 
peck  of  corn.  The  log  was  then  set  perpendicularly  in  the  ground, 
and  the  cavity  filled  with  corn.  A  weight  attached  to  a  sweep  was 
then  used  to  crush  the  corn.  The  weight  was  forced  down  by  the 
hands  and  was  raised  again  by  the  spring  of  the  sweep-pole. 

In  the  band-mill  the  horse-power  consisted  of  a  large  upright 
shaft,  some  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  height,  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  wooden  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  strips  three  inches  in  width  ;  these  were  twisted 
into  a  round  cord  or  tug,  which  was  long  enough  to  encircle  the 
circumference  of  the  big  wheel.  There  it  was  held  in  place  by  the 
wooden  pins,  then  to  cross  and  to  pass  under  a  shed  to  run  around 
a  drum,  or  what  is  called  a  "  trunnel  head,"  which  was  attached  to 
a  grinding  apparatus.  The  horses  or  oxen  were  hitched  to  the 
arms  by  means  of  raw  hide  tugs.  Then  walking  in  a  circle,  the 
machinery  would  be  set '  in  motion.  To  grind  twelve  bushels  of 
corn  was  considered  a  good  day's  work  on  a  band-mill. 

PUNISHMENT   FOE   CRIME — LYNCH   LAW. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  State  there  was  no  penitentiary,  and 
the  whipping-post  and  pillory  were  made  use  of  in  punishing  crimi- 
nals. From  five  to  forty  lashes  were  inflicted  in  proportion  to  the 
enormity  of  the  offence.  It  is  said  that  two  or  three  walnut  trees, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  public  square  in  Belleville,  were  made  to  save 
the  county  the  expense  of  erecting  a  special  whipping-post,  and 
there  many  a  poor  fellow  answered  for  his  violation  of  the  law.  It 
is  believed,  however,  that  only  one  man  was  ever  punished  by  being 
put  in  the  pillory.  His  name  was  Wm.  D.  Noble,-  and  his  crime 
was  forgery.  He  was  sentenced  both  to  punishment  in  the  pillory 
and  to  pay  a  fine  of  two  thousand  dollars  and  costs  of  prosecution  ; 
one  thousand  dollars  to  go  to  the  person  he  had  attempted  to 
defraud,  and  one  thousand  dollars  to  the  State.  The  judgment  was 
carried  iuto  execution  on  the  thirteenth  of  April,  1822.  Noble  was 
exposed  for  about  one  hour  in  the  pillory,-  which  was  erected  about 
the  centre  of  the  public  square  in  Belleville.     There  it  was  allowed 


to  remain  for  many  years,  though  only  used  for  t>'ing  up  the  teams 
and  horses  of  those  who  came  in  from  the  country. 

John  Reynolds  was  judge  in  the  above  case,  Wm.  A.  Beaird, 
sheriff,  and  John  Hay,  clerk. 

But  the  people  in  those  days  very  frequently  took  the  administra- 
tion of  the  law  into  their  own  hands.  They  held  that  it  was  unne- 
cessary to  trouble  the  courts  of  the  county  with  some  grades  of 
criminals;  and  that  as  Judge  Lynch's  court  was  always  in  session, 
and  that  as  but  very  few  criminals  had  ever  been  known  to  prose- 
cute a  writ  of  error  from  that  court  after  being  tried  before  it,  a 
preference  should  be  given  to  it  over  all  others,  on  economical 
grounds  if  on  no  other.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812, 
the  territory  was  flooded  with  counterfeit  notes,  and,  for  the  purpose 
of  detecting  and  punishing  the  guilty  parties,  a  company  of  regula- 
tors was  made  up  of  many  of  the  best  citizens  in  St.  Clair  county, 
of  which  Dr.  Estes  was  elected  captain.  This  company  was  estab- 
lished in  Belleville  in  1815,  and  during  the  short  term  of  its  exist- 
ence, which  was  but  a  few  months,  by  its  prompt  infliction  of  pun- 
ishment on  all  who  were  found  guilty,  by  them,  of  crime,  it  created 
great  excitement  throughout  the  country.  Criminals  became  ter- 
rified and  fled,  and  good  men  deplored  the  necessity  for  the 
organization  of  any  such  society.  The  Lynch  court  was  usually 
held  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Silver  creek,  and  there,  too,  were 
all  the  punishments  generally  inflicted.  Many,  however,  were 
allowed  the  privilege  of  leaving  the  country,  and  so  avoided  the 
summary  inflictions  that  otherwise  would  have  been  their  almost 
certain  doom. 

FIRST  MACADAMIZED  ROAD. 

During  the  session  of  1846-7  the  legislature  granted  a  charter 
under  which  was  constructed  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville 
to  St  Louis.  Previous  attempts  had  been  made  to  secure  a  charter, 
but  the  only  one  which  the  legislature  would  grant  contained  two 
provisions  which  would  have  prevented  the  successful  conduct  of 
the  enterprise.  One  of  these  provisions  was  that  the  charter  could 
be  repealed  at  any  time,  and  the  other,  that  the  private  property  of 
each  stockholder  should  be  liable  for  all  the  debts  of  the  company. 
In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of  the  house  of 
representatives  from  St.  Clair,  with  the  principal  object  in  view 
of  securing  a  satisfactory  charter  for  the  proposed  road.  The 
charter  was  secured,  and  the  road,  almost  fourteen  miles  in  length, 
was  built.  This  was  the  first  macadamized  road  in  the  State.  The 
improvement  was  one  of  great  value  to  the  county,  and  gave  the 
city  of  Belleville  its  first  advance  toward  prosperity. 

Before  this  road  was  built  it  had  been  at  times  almost  impossible 
to  reach  the  river  on  account  of  the  mud  and  mire.  A  story  was 
accustomed  to  be  told  in  those  days  to  the  effect  that  a  man  on  his 
way  to  St.  Louis  saw,  in  the  American  Bottom,  a  hat  on  top  of  the 
ground.  He  got  off  his  horse  to  pick  up  the  hat,  but  found  a  man's 
head  in  it.  The  man  under  the  hat  said,  "  under  him  was  a  wagon 
and  four  horses  mired  in  the  mud  ;  that  he  was  safe,  but  he  sup- 
posed the  horses  and  wagon  were  in  a  had  fix." 

The  American  Bottom  received  its  name  because  it  was  here 
the  early  American  families  made  their  homes  in  Illinois.  Shad- 
rach  Bond,  Robert  Kidd,  and  James  Garrison  settled  in  the  Bottom 
(in  the  present  county  of  Monroe)  in  the  year  1781,  and  other 
American  families  followed.  In  early  times  the  Bottom  contained 
a  dense  settlement  almost  from  Fort  Chartres  to  Cahokia,  and 
probably  three-fourths  of  the  American  population  in  Illinois  resided 
there.  It  is  the  largest  body  of  fertile  soil  in  the  country,  extend- 
ing from  Alton  almost  to  Chester,  nearly  one  hundred  miles,  and 
averao-ing  five  or  six  miles  in  width.     The  settlements  of  the  early 


62 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


American  families  were  mostly  comprised  in  that  part  of  the  Bot- 
tom now  lying  in  Monroe  county. 

The  Bottom  has  at  various  times  been  overflowed  by  the  waters 
of  the  Mississippi.  There  was  a  great  rise  in  the  river  in  1725,  and 
again  in  1772.  The  latter  year  encroachments  were  made  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  opposite  Fort  Chartres.  The  next  extraordinary 
freshet  was  in  the  year  1785.  The  inhabitants  of  Kaskaskia  and 
Cahokia  were  compelled  to  seek  refuge  in  the  blufls.  Many  of  the 
Cahokia  people  retired  for  relief  to  the  rocky  bluff,  south-east  of  the 
village,  which,  for  that  reason,  was  called  ''  Bon  Succour."  Others 
went  to  St.  Louis.  The  next  very  high  water  was  in  1844.  The 
flood  of  this  year  is  still  remembered  and  referred  to,  not  only  by 
the  residents  of  the  American  Bottom,  but  by  the  people  then  living 
along  the  whole  course  of  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers.  The 
Bottom  was  covered  with  water  many  feet  deep.  Large  steam- 
boats sailed  from  bluff  to  bluff.  The  villages  of  Cahokia,  Prairie 
du  Pont,  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  Kaskaskia  were  almost  destroyed. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


EUROPEAN  IMMIGRATION. 


BY   B.    E.    HOFFMAN. 


LL  our  western  states  contain  a  large  proportion  of 
naturalized  citizens  and  their  descendants.  Illinois 
came  in  for  its  share  at  an  early  period ;  in  fact,  its 
first  colonization  is  the  work  of  Europeans.  At 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county,  in  1790, 
the  white  population  living  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  county  must  have  amounted  to  seven 
or  eight  hundred  souls.  Cahokia  and  environs 
counted  one  hundred  families  as  early  as  1783.  An  election  held 
in  the  county  in  1799  brought  out  185  voters,  and  the  population 
of  1800,  according  to  the  census  was  1255.  The  only  means  to  ascer- 
tain whether  any  foreigners  had  settled  in  the  county  at  that  early 
date,  are  the  county  records  on  naturalization.  The  period  is  so 
remote  that  recollection  does  not  reach  it,  and  tradition  is,  to  say 
the  least,  not  reliable. 

The  records  bear  witness  that  foreigners  were  naturalized  in  St. 
Clair  county  as  early  as  October,  1816.  The  following  persons 
were  then  and  there  admitted  to  American  citizenship,  to  wit : 


Names. 

Abrivbd  in  U.  S. 

Arrived  in  Illinois. 

Time  op  Residence 

John  L.  Schoenbergei 

1789 

1790 

27  J 

ears. 

Jaci]ne.^  Vanier, 

1798 

1811 

18 

(( 

Francois  Amonre, 

1789 

1789 

27 

ft 

Louis  Buisson, 

1790 

1790 

26 

<< 

Loiii<  Petit, 

1792 

1792 

24 

(( 

Louison  Pensoneau, 

1792 

1792 

24 

If 

Antoine  Dechampfl, 

1794 

1794 

22 

n 

Francois  Giiignnn, 

1799 

1799 

17 

tt 

Pierre  Verbois, 

1799 

1799 

17 

it 

■Jacques  Bourdeaux, 

1800 

1810 

16 

« 

L')uis  Pensoneau, 

1801 

1808 

15 

a 

Joseph  Ruelle, 

1801 

1801 

15 

(1 

John  Hay,  Etienne  Pensoneau,  Samuel  Gillham,  Louis  Binette, 
Nicolas  Jarrot,  Michel  Lacroix  and  Patrick  Lee  appeared  as  their 
witnesses  in  court,  and  testified  "  as  to  the  moral  character  and 
length  of  residence  of  said  applicants,"  whereupon  the  court  ordered 
that  they  be  admitted  to  citizenship  respectively.  The  records  do  not 
mention  the  nationality  of  these  applicants,  but  the  orthography  of 
their  names  settles  the  question.  Schoenberger  was  a  German,  the 
others  are  French. 

In  April  term  1817  another  French  immigrant,  Francois  Bouttel- 
lier,  was  naturalized.  From  1816  to  18.38,  a  period  of  twenty-two 
years,  no  applications  to  be  admitted  to  American  citizenship  seem 
to  have  been  made,  with  one  exception.  James  Davis,  an  English- 
man, was  naturalized  in  18-34.  The  few  immigrants  arriving  at 
that  period  of  time  devoted  themselves  to  opening  farms  and  other 
manual  labor.  The  right  of  suffrage  was  granted  to  all  whites 
after  a  residence  of  six  months  in  the  state,  and  the  difference  be- 
tween this  right  and  the  privilege  of  citizenship  was  neither  known 
nor  appreciated.  Early  in  this  century  we  find  Frederick  Germann 

and Markee  (probably   Philip   Merker,    who   died   1810) 

making  a  farm  and  settlement  at  a  gulch  in  the  bluflTs,  in  the  north- 
west of  the  county.  They  were  Germans,  and  their  settlement 
goes  under  the  name  of  "  Dutch  Hollow "  to  this  day.  Besides 
these,  the  records  mention  the  death  of  one  William  Meyer  in 
1809,  and  Daniel  Schultz  in  1812.  Samuel  Holtz  and  Matthias  Schil- 
linger  lived  in  the  county  before  the  year  1820.  Bernard  Steiner, 
together  with  Rudolph  Wildi,  Jacob  Hardy  and  others,  settled  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  county  about  the  year  1815,  on  what  is 
called  "  Dutch  Hill  "  to-day.  Steiner  and  his  people  were  natives 
of  Switzerland.  Steiner  came  to  the  United  States  in  the  very  first 
years  of  the  present  century.  His  early  history  is  quite  interesting.  He 
had,  while  working  at  his  trade  in  Neufchatel,  Switzerland,  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  family  there,  and 
soon  obtained  the  consent  of  the  parents  to  a  marriage,  under  the 
condition,  however,  that  he  would  accompany  the  family  to  America. 
They  were  to  embark  at  Antwerp.  Steiner  had  placed  his  effects 
and  his  money  in  custody  of  his  prospective  father-in-law.  The 
sailing  of  the  vessel  was  delayed,  however,  and  their  stay  at  Ant- 
werp became  tedious.  He  was  prospecting  around  for  useful  occu- 
pation, and  on  coming  home  to  his  quarters  one  night,  he  learned  to 
his  dismay  that  his  friends  had  embarked  and  were  now  at  sea  He 
was  without  money  and  without  friends.  Taking  advantage  of  the 
credit  system,  to  be  mentioned  hereafter,  he  took  passage  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  on  his  arrival  he  was  sold  into  a  three  years'  servi- 
tude to  pay  for  the  expenses  of  his  voyage.  After  the  expiration 
of  this  term  he  engaged  in  peddling,  in  hopes  that  some  day  or 
other  he  would  find  his  lost  love.  He  followed  the  business  for 
years,  successfully,  in  point  of  money,  at  least.  He  was  soon 
enabled  to  engage  in  a  more  extended  business ;  became  an  importer 
of  goods,  made  six  or  seven  trips  to  Europe  in  the  interest  of  his 
business.  He  remained  single,  and  resolved  to  devote  his  means  to 
the  benefit  of  his  sisters,  six  in  number,  and  their  families.  He  had 
bought  about  four  sections  of  land  in  this  county,  located,  as  stated 
above,' where  he  and  his  kinsmen  permanently  settled.  Steiner  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  an  extensive  mercantile  business,  opened  a  branch 
store  at  Kaskaskia,  and  made  preparations  for  the  establishment  of  a 
clock  and  watch  manufactory.  This  latter  project  was  not  carried 
out,  death  preventing  it.  Steiner  lost  his  life  on  his  way  to  Kas- 
kaskia in  1821,  either  by  accident  or  by  the  hand  of  a  highway 
robber.  The  sale  of  his  personal  estate  lasted  many  days,  and 
brought  nearly  twelve  thousand  dollars,  a  very  large  amount  con- 
sidering the  low  prices  of  produce  and  the  scarcity  of  money  at  that 
early  period.      The  writer  has  examined   the  records    of  public 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


63 


sales  held  as  early  as  1722  and  up  to  1830,  but  in  no  instance  has 
he  found  lower  prices  than  those  obtained  at  the  Steiner  sale. 
Cows  were  sold  in  this  county  for  $30  and  $35  a  head  as  early  as 
1790,  while  at  Steiner's  sale  they  did  not  bring  more  than  three  or 
four  dollars  per  head.  The  price  of  all  other  property  was  in  pro- 
portion. The  settlement  on  Dutch  Hill  grew  in  prosperity  from 
year  to  year.  Jacob  Hardy  became  one  of  the  most  successful 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the  county.  His  herds  of  cattle 
were  counted  by  hundreds  of  heads  in  1830. 

The  actual  immigration  of  Germans  into  the  Western  States  com- 
menced about  twenty  years  after  these  sporadic  settlements  had  been 
made,  and  as  the  German  immigration  has  given  to  this  region 
some  of  its  conspicuous  and  characteristic  features,  it  should  have 
more  than  a  passing  notice  in  this  chapter.  Hon.  Gustave  Koerner, 
of  Belleville,  in  his  work.  Das  Deutsche  Element,  (The  German  Ele- 
ment), published  by  A.  E.  Wilde  &  Co.,  Cincinnati,  has  treated 
this  subject  in  a  superior  manner,  and  we  are  indebted  to  his  work 
for  valuable  and  accurate  data. 

The  immigration  of  Germans  to  the  American  colonies  in  the  last 
century  is  usually  underrated,  in  point  of  numbers  as  well  as  in 
point  of  material.  True,  it  may  scarcely  have  reached  a  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  souls,  yet  this  number  must  surely  be  considered 
a  factor  in  a  population  of  less  than  three  millions.  True,  the  over- 
whelming numbers  of  those  German  pioneers  were  drawn  from  the 
poorest  and  most  oppressed  classes,  the  peasantry  and  the  trades. 
But  it  should  also  be  borne  in  mind,  that  these  poor  peasants  and 
oppressed  tradesmen  had  enjoyed  a  proportionally  better  school 
education  than  persons  from  a  similar  station  of  life  in  England  or 
France.  Germany  enjoyed  a  common  school  system  as  early  as  the 
year  1600,  and  although  the  war  of  thirty  years,  1618  to  1648,  had 
almost  laid  waste  the  beautiful  land  and  reduced  a  whole  generation 
of  people  to  barbarism,  the  years  of  peace  had  restored  the  school 
system  during  the  succeeding  century,  the  common  schools  flourished 
again,  and  Sunday-schools  provided  for  a  continual  education  even 
after  the  youths  had  quitted  the  public  schools.  Neither  England 
nor  France  had  made  any  provisions  for  the  education  and  instruc- 
tion of  children  in  their  rural  districts  during  said  century.  It  is 
not  our  province  here  to  state  to  what  measures  the  government  of 
France  resorted  to  populate  the  wilds  of  Canada,  and  later  the 
swamps  of  Louisiana,  nor  to  relate  how,  and  by  whom,  Great 
Britain  undertook  to  colonize  Georgia.  History  has  told  all  that. 
While  this  forclble.and  compulsory  system  prevailed  with  them,  the 
German  emigrants,  most  always  led  by  their  teachers  and  preachers, 
came  of  their  own  accord,  with  the  desire  and  firm  resolution  to 
found  homes  for  themselves  and  their  children  by  honest  and  hard 
labor.  Have  they  done  so  ?  This  question  is  answered.  They  left 
their  homes,  alas,  not  happy  homes  in  many  instances,  poor, 
oppressed  and  bowed  down  with  the  bitter  woe  of  separating  them- 
selves forever  from  their  beloved  friends,  but  determined  and  reso- 
lute. The  emigrants  of  the  earlier  part  of  the  last  century  belonged 
to  certain  religious  protestant  sects,  which  were  not  recognized  by 
the  home  government,  Mennonites,  Re-baptists  and  others.  Later 
and  larger  numbers,  driven  from  home  in  consequence  of  the  terrible 
and  destructive  wars  of  France  against  Germany,  came  from  the 
Rhein  province  known  as  the  "  Palatinate ; "  they  also  were  protes- 
tants,  either  Lutherans  or  Reformed.  Among  them  are  found  a 
large  number  of  school-teachers  and  clergymen,  some  merchants, 
skillful  tradesmen  and  wealthy  agriculturists.  Churches  and 
schools  were  erected  simultaneously  with  the  huts  and  dwelling- 
houses  of  the  immigrants. 

The  German  in  America  has  ever  remained  a  firm  friend  of  the 
public  schools,  and  there  is  probably  nothing,  upon  which  he  can 


look  with  more  pride  and  satisfaction,  than  upon  the  fact,  that 
nearly  all  of  his  prominent  or  leading  countrymen  have  labored  for 
the  improvement  of  our  public  schools,  and  supported  the  system 
with  zealous  hearts  and  liberal  hands. 

New  York  and  Pennsylvania  absorbed  the  larger  share  of 
the  immigration  of  the  18th  century,  which,  however,  remained  in 
constant  communication  with  their  people  in  the  fatherland.  The 
Pennsylvania  Dutchman  is  to  this  day  a  type,  almost  as  often  seen 
or  mentioned  as  the  famous  Yankee  of  New  England. 

The  county  of  St.  Clair  drew  its  first  white  population  from 
European  immigrants  and  Canadians  ;  but  it  should  not  be  forgotten 
that  the  typical  Pennsylvania  Dutchman  also  arrived  soon  after  the 
organization  of  the  county.  The  chapter  on  pioneers  and  early 
settlers  will  mention  names,  and  in  our  biographical  sketches  many 
more  may  be  found. 

The  early  German  immigrant  had  also  acquired  an  enviable  re- 
putation as  to  honesty  and  reliability.  "  He  did  not  think  it  smart 
to  avoid  paying  a  just  debt "  Dr.  F.  Brunk,  of  BuflTalo,  in  speak- 
ing of  those  German  pioneers,  of  the  last  century,  says  :  "  The  Ger- 
mans, who  came  to  the  State  of  New  York  after  the  year  1820,  owe 
to  the  early  German  settlers  from  the  Palatinate  a  debt  of  gratitude, 
on  account  of  the  good  reputation  which  they  had  secured  to  the  Ger- 
man nationality.  Even  as  late  as  1834,  a  German  immigrant  was 
trusted  with  money  or  goods  without  further  inquiry." 

We  will  here  add  a  few  words  in  reference  to  the  hardships  and  pri- 
vations endured  by  these  early  settlers,  first  in  getting  to  this  country, 
and  next  in  making  a  start  in  life.  An  ocean  voyage  in  our  days 
of  steam  and  palatial  vessels,  is  an  enjoyable  tour  of  ten  or  twelve 
days'  duration,  affording  to  the  traveler  all  the  luxuries  of  the  two 
continents ;  and  now  let  us  hear  what  an  emigration  trip  of  1750 
amounted  to.  Gottlieb  Mittelberger,  in  his  Reise  naeh  Pennsylvanien, 
(Voyage  to  Pennsylvania),  has*  given  a  vivid  description  of  one. 
Mittelberger  undertook  a  voyage  to  America  in  said  year  ;  his  pur- 
pose was  to  deliver  an  organ,  built  in  Heilbronn,  Germany,  for  a 
German  church  in  Philadelphia,  to  said  city.  He  embarked  on  a 
river  craft,  down  the  Neckar  and  Rhein,  to  Rotterdam.  This  trip 
alone  was  worse  than  annoying,  as  the  authorities  of  the  countless 
petty  states  would  extort  duty  on  all  baggage,  thus  delaying  the 
river  trip  beyond  endurance,  as  there  were  not  less  than  thirty-six 
such  inspections  and  examinations,  which  the  "  Gentlemen  of  cus- 
tom-houses "  hold  at  their  leisure  or  convenience.  Rotterdam  is 
finally  reached  ;  Mr.  Mittelberger,  together  with  some  400  emigrants 
are  packed,  herring-fashion,  into  the  steerage  of  a  small  ship.  His 
description  of  the  condition  of  affairs  in  this  hell  is  brief  Stench, 
horror,  vomiting,  fever,  flux,  headache,  heat,  sores,  hunger,  thirst, 
fear,  want,  vermin  and  wailing!  The  few  remaining  in  health, 
would  sometimes  break  out  in  maledictions,  cursing  one  another  or 
themselves  and  the  hour  of  their  birth  ;  but  chiefly  they  would  cry 
vengeance  against  the  kidnappers,  who  had  brought  them  there. 
Children  from  one  to  seven  years  of  age  hardly  ever  survive :  he 
says,  "I  have  seen  thirty-two  little  corpses  thrown  into  the  sea" 

The  expenses  of  this  voyage,  fifteen  weeks  from  Rotterdam  to 
Philadelphia,  amounted  to  $80.00  per  adult.  Those  who  had  paid 
this  amount  were  permitted  to  leave  the  ship  at  Philadelphia,  the 
others  had  to  wait  until  they  were  "  bought"  and  liberated  by  their 
purchasers.  It  was  a  kind  of  servitude,  into  which  these  poor  peo- 
ple sold  themselves,  and  it  took  years  to  regain  their  liberty. 
"Every  day,"  says  Mittelberger,  "brought  Dutchmen,  English- 
men and  high  Germans  from  Philadelphia  and  other  towns,  some 
probably  a  hundred  miles  off,  to  the  ships,  having  human  freights 
from  Europe  on  board,  and  select  persons  suitable  for  their  pur- 
poses.    They  bargain  with  them  about  the  length  of  time  of  their 


64 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


serfdom.  Healthy  adults  get  off  with  three  or  four  years.  Youths 
from  ten  to  fifteen  years  must  serve  to  their  twenty-first  year. 
Many  parents  are  forced  to  trade  off  their  own  children,  iu  order  to 
free  themselves  from  the  ship's  owner,  who  had  furnished  transpor- 
tation on  credit.  Families  are  frequently  separated  in  this  manner, 
never  to  be  united  again.  If  any  one  undertakes  to  run  away  from 
his  master  because  of  cruel  or  inhuman  treatment,  he  will  not  get 
far,  for  the  laws  in  reference  to  such  fugitives  are  well  enforced,  and 
high  rewards  are  paid  to  the  one  that  captures  such  fugitives." 

Europeans,  thus  bought  and  sold,  must  work  very  hard,  as  these 
Americans  are  constantly  clearing  new  fields,  and  thus  our  country- 
men soon  learn  that  oaken  stumps  "  in  America  are  just  as  hard  "  as 
in  Germany.  Mittelberger  remained  three  years  in  Philadelphia. 
He  tells  also  of  a  ship  that  had  been  six  months  at  sea  before  reach- 
ing Philadelphia,  and  that  of  340  passengers,  only  32  survived. 

But  to  return  to  our  subject — the  German  immigrations  into  the 
county  of  St.  Clair. 

Quite  a  number  of  German  families  arrived  in  this  county  in  the 
year  1831,  and  settled  on  or  near  Turkey-Hill,  east  of  Belleville. 
They  were  well-to-do  agriculturists  and  tradesmen   from    Hesse- 
Darmstadt.    Among  them  we  mention  John  Knobloch,  Thomas  He- 
berer,  Balthaser  Mueller,  Jacob  Mueller,  George  Meser  and  George 
Merger.      Jacob   Weber  and  son  settled  in  Twelve  Mile  Prairie  ; 
Jacob  Ensinger  and  Jacob  Mohr  further  south,  in  Monroe  county. 
The  Turkey-Hill  settlement  received  reinforcements  in  1832,  when 
John  Wendelin  Knobloch,  (father  of  John  K.)  together  with  his 
family — Balthaser  and  Thomas  Knobloch,  George  Hehret,  Adam 
Bop, Merkel,  George  Fischer,  the  Siebert  and  Funk  fami- 
lies arrived.     Most  of  these  people  devoted  themselves  to  agricul- 
ture, and  nearly  all  of  them  with  marked  success.     They  and  their 
descendants  now  occupy  thousands  of  acres  of  the  most  fertile  land 
on  earth.     Heberer,  who  had  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  course  of 
study  at  the  agricultural  academy  of  Fellerberg  iu  Berne,  Switzer- 
land, was  not  satisfied  with  the  cultivation  of  corn  and  wheat  alone. 
He  planted  a  vineyard  as  early  as  1832,  and  was  highly  elated  with 
his  success  in  raising  a  crop  the  following  year.     John  Knobloch, 
however,  more  practical  than  enthusiastic,  calls  this  earliest  product 
of  Heberer's  vineyard,  the  vilest  and  meanest  stuff  that  ever  went 
under  the  name  of  wine.     Orchards  were  also  planted,  and  the 
Turkey-Hill  settlement  became  soon  a  worthy   rival  of  that  on 
Dutch-Hill.    The  German  settlers  on  Turkey-Hill  started  a  German 
school  in  1832,  probably  the  first  one  in  Illinois.     They  obtained 
the  services  of  a  teacher,  George  Kheinhard,  at  a  very  low  salary, 
four  or  five  dollars  per  month.     Eheinhard  was  a  well  educated 
man,  who  would  also  conduct  divine  services  on  Sundays,  and  ofiici- 
ate  at  weddings,  baptisms  and  funerals. 

Official  documents  of  the  county  mention  a  few  more  German 
names  at  this  period,  viz. — Bornmann,  Busse,  Obermueller  and 
Ackermann. 

The  German,  although  in  most  instances  an  excellent  and  success- 
ful farmer,  is  not  exactly  a  pioneer  or  frontiers  man.  He  prefers  to 
make  his  home  in  districts  where  the  American  pioneer  has  per- 
formed the  arduous  task  of  opening  the  wilderness  to  cultivation. 
The  plow  is  the  German's  "forte,"  not  the  axe  jior  the  lifle. 

The  so-called  immigration  of  1833  brought  a  number  of  highly 
educated  Germans, — Lateiner  (Latin  scholars),  as  popular  wit  and 
humor  named  them,  to  this  county.  A  few  of  these  Lateiner  are 
still  living,  honored  and  respected  by  all.  Their  comrades  of  1833, 
who  have  departed  this  life,  have  left  to  their  descendants  a  proud 
record,  and  their  memory  is  cherished  as  that  of  honorable,  patri- 
otic men. 
,    The  causes  which  led  to  this  immigration  were  more  or  less  of  a 


political  nature.  The  July  .revolution  of  France,  in  1830,  was  still 
reverberating  on  the  east  side  of  the  Rhine,  in  G'  rinany,  where  the 
feudal  system  was  most  severely  felt  by  thinking  men  Their  efforts 
to  break  the  yoke  were  futile.  Disappointed  in  this,  and  disgusted 
with  the  political  misery  of  Germany,  in  many  instances  even  suf- 
fering under  the  petty  political  persecutions  of  despotic  governments, 
and  despairing  of  ever  seeing  their  beloved  fatherland  occupying  a 
proud  position  as  a  nation  among  the  other  nations  of  Europe,  they 
resolved  to  emigrate.  They  abandoned  remunerative  positions  in 
official  and  commercial  life,  and  concluded  to  find  new  fields  for  their 
labor  in  America.  They  chose  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  as  their 
future  home.  Charmed  and  attracted  by  the  glowing  descriptions 
of  life  in  the  west,  as  published  by  Dr.  Duden.  who  had  sojourned 
a  few  years  on  Lake  Creek,  Montg )m!ry,  now  Warren,  county, 
Missouri,  they  hastened  to  the  great  west. 

Horace's  Beatm  illequi  procul  negotii»,  etc.,  was  now  to  be  tried 
in  good  earnest.  The  student,  the  scholar,  the  doctor  of  philosophy, 
the  professor,  the  merchant,  all  wanted  to  become  farmers. 

It  is  not  the  writer's  province  to  state  how  this  dreamed  "  happi- 
ness" came,  nor  how  those  enthusiasts  "practiced  with  their  steers." 
A  few  succeeded,  while  others  returned  to  their  former  occupations 
or  to  public  life. 

Another  leaf  in  these  sketches  makes  mention,  and  honorable 
mention,  of  their  services  as  county,  state,  and  United  States  offi- 
cers. 

Returning  to  the  subject,  a  bripf  sketch  of  the  "Lateiner"  settle- 
ment in  what  is  now  called  Shiloh  valley,  may  find  room  here.  This 
sketch  is  based  upon  an  article  published  in  "Das  Westland," 
North  American  periodical  for  Germans,  edited  by  Capt.  C.  Ney- 
feld  and  Dr  G.  Engelmann,  of  St.  Louis,  printed  at  Heidelberg  in 
1837.  The  author,  Dr.  Engelmann,  in  speaking  of  said  settlement, 
writes : — "  I  was  one  of  the  first  Germans  who  came  to  that  region  ; 
have  known  it  when  but  a  few  homesteads  were  in  the  possession  of 
our  countrymen ;  have  witnessed  the  increase  of  immigration;  and 
observed  the  constant  growth  of  prosperity.  I  have  practiced  there  as 
physician  for  nearly  two  years,  and  am  befriended  with  all,  and,  al- 
though I  left  the  settlement  in  1835,  have,  by  frequent  visits,  re- 
mained in  intimate  connection  with  those  settlers.  Nearly  the  whole 
settlement  is  situated  in  Town  1  North,  R.  7,  and  extends  from  5  to 
9  miles  east  of  Belleville."  The  Dr.  now  branches  off  in  describing 
the  beautiful  landscapes,  the  rolling  prairies,  the  herds  of  fat  cattle, 
etc.,  etc.  Bpeaking  of  the  climate  and  climatic  diseases,  he  says: — 
"  AmTong  eighty  Germans,  inhabiting  the  settlement,  we  had  fifteen 
cases  of  sickness  during  two  years,  two  terminating  iu  death,  one  of 
which  fatal  cases  could  not  be  ascribed  to  climatic  causes." 

His  lengthy  remarks  about  geology,  flora  and  fauna,  as  well  as 
about  the  products  of  agriculture,  are  of  great  interest,  and  give  evi- 
dence of  a  most  diligent  study. 

The  original  settlers,  the  pioneers  of  this  township,  he  says,  ar- 
rived about  the  year  1802 ;  he  names  the  families  Moore,  Scott, 
Watts  and  West.  The  first  German  settler,  H.  Merkel,  arrived  in 
1832.  Th.  and  E.  Hilgard,  F.  Wolff,  J.  Ledergerber,  A.  Dilg,  M. 
Rupelins,  six  bachelors,  the  families  of  F.  Engelmann,  E.  Hareu,  H. 
Koelsch,  H.  Fritz,  the  widow  Abend,  G.  Sandherr  and  J.  Fleisch- 
bein  arrived  early  in  1833.  Later  in  the  year  came  G.  Koerner,  K. 
Schreiber,  E.  Friederich,  W.  Decker,  Wilhelm  Weber,  F.  Liudheimer, 
and  the  writer  (Dr.  Engelmann),  who  together  with  the  sons  of  F. 
Engelmann;  kept  bachelor's  hall  in  a  building  situated  on  the  Engel- 
mann place ;  another  bachelor's  roost  was  on  the  Hilgard  lands,  where 
the  two  Hilgards,  Th.  Krafft,  G.  Heimberger,  Dr.  Gustav  Bunsen, 
Dr.  Berchelmann  and  A.  Conradi  domiciled.  George  Bunsen,  F. 
Koehler,  the  families  Baer  and  Pirsbacher  arrived  iu  1834.     Dr. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


65 


A.  Reuss  and  Dr.  A.  Schott's,  and  the  Kaising  families  also  came 
in  1834. 

Two  years  of  experience  had  now  somewhat  tempered  down  the 
agricultural  ardor  of  many  of  those  enthusiasts,  and  a  reaction  set  in. 
Observing  that  their  neighbors,  the  practical  farmers,  or  peasants, 
living  on  poorer  land,  were  getting  out  of  debt  and  into  prosperity, 
and  that  the  farmers  by  choice  were  not  at  all  successful  in  this 
pursuit,  many  of  those  named  above  resolved  to  abandon  farming. 
Engelmann  who  had  changed  his  farm  into  orchards  and  vineyards, 
established  a  starch  factory  besides,  Busch  a  distillery,  Eupelins 
■went  to  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  others  returned  to  their  former 
occupations.  Th.  Krafft,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Flanagan,  went 
into  very  succe.«sful  commercial  business  in  Belleville.  Dr.  G. 
Koerner,  Jr.,  in  order  to  familiarize  himself  with  the  practice  of  the 
American  bar  and  law,  attended  lectures  at  the  University  at  Lex- 
ington, Kentucky,  and  soon  after  established  himself  as  counselor 
at  law  and  attorney  in  Belleville.  Fleischbein  and  Dilg  erected  a 
brewery,  not  only  supplying  the  thirsty  of  Belleville,  but  even  those 
of  St.  Louis,  with  their  superior  products.  Mrs.  Abend  moved  to 
Belleville,  ia  order  to  have  better  facilities  for  the  instruction  and 
education  of  her  children.  Kaising  opened  a  butcher-shambles. 
Hilgard  and  Wolff  erected  a  steam-distillery,  and  Busch  a  cooper 
shop  in  said  town.  Weber  became  editor  of  the  Anzeiger  des  Wes- 
tens*  Haren  a  merchant,  Th.  Engelmann  a  real  estate  broker,  and 
Dr.  Engelmann  a  practising  physician  in  St.  Louis. 

The  population  of  the  Latin  settlement  had  been  somewhat  re- 
ducjd  by  this  exodus,  bat  others  filled  their  places..  The  township 
has  now — 1837 — a  population  of  400  souls,  of  whom  160  are  Ger- 
mans. Speaking  of  the  size  of  farms,  the  Dr.  says,  tliat  many 
Germans  are  satisfied  with  30  or  40  acres  and  a  few  have  as  many 

*  Weber  remained  in  charge  of  the  Anzeiger  until  18i^0.  In  the  very  be- 
ginning of  hi.s  career  as  editor,  he  had  occasion  to  exhibit  to  his  fellow-citizens 
the  stout  and-niauly  heart  of  a  IK e Join-loving  republican.  A  police  officer 
of  St.  Louis  had  been  mortally  wounded  by  a  free  negro  whom  lie  was  at- 
tempting to  bring  to  jail.  The  negro  was  arrested  and  put  in  jail.  A  mob 
was  organized  that  very  night,  the  jail  entered  and  the  negro  dragged  out,  to 
be  roasted  alive  at  a  slow  fire.  The  torture  lasted  fully  thirty-five  minutes. 
Tills  was  done  in  the  presence  of  thousands,  and  within  the  city  limits. 

Weber's  article,  relating  this  outrage,  commences  witli  the  following  words: 
"  We  have  witnessed  last  night,  a  barbarity,  so  cruel  and  monstrous,  as  the 
most  deba.sed  brain  could  think  of  to  offend  humanity,  and  to  violate  law. 
Citizens  of  St.  Louis !     You  will  never  blot  out  the  stai'n,  with  wliich  the  his- 
tory of  your  city  was  soiled  in  that  night!"     The  authorities  of  the  city  and 
county,  under  whose  very  eyes  tJie  outrage  had  been  committed,  and  who  had 
not  made  an  effort  to  prevent  it,  were  tlien  severely  censured,  but  in  very 
moderate  language.     The  Commercial  Bulletin,  came  out  in  an  article  against 
Weber  and  his  paper,  cautioning  Weber  and  reminding  him  that  he  was  a 
foreigner,  permitted  by  a  magnanimous  people  to  live  in  their  city,  etc.    This 
article  of  the  Bdletin  created  a  very  bitter  feeling,  and  Weber  and  his  friends 
expecting  to  see  a  mob  attack  the  Anzdger  building  in  the  next  night,  had 
armed  themselves  to  defend  the  place  and  "  hold  thefbrt."     Weber  replied  to 
the  Bdletin,  on  the  next  day,  in  order  to  substantiate  what  he  had  said  in  his 
first  article,  and  to  express  his  opinion  as  to  the  "foreigner"  and  the  "mag- 
nanimous people  "    lie  wrote  in  substance,  the  following :  ''  While  we  readily 
acknowledge  and  gratefully  appreciate  the^goodness  and  the  magnanimity  of 
.  the  American  people,  we  must  be  permitted  to  say,  that  we  are  not  depending 
upon  it,  but  upon  ourselves  and  upon  the  fruits  of  our  labor  and  talent,  small 
though  it  be.     We  claim  only  what  the  law  of  the  land  grants  unto  us ;  and 
we  came,  fugitives  for  freedom's  sake,  tj  the  hospitable  shores  of  this  land,  to 
live  under  liberal  laws  and  a  rational  and  happy  constitution  ;  we  came  not  as 
beggars,  to  appeal  to  individual  benevolence  and  magnanimity,  but  as  men. 
well  qualified  to  appreciate  liberty,  ever  ready  to  battle  for  it,  in  common  with 
any  and  all  in  this  land.'' 

This  reply  of  Weber's  put  a  quietus  on  the  BiiUetin ;  the  best  people  of  St. 
Louis  endorsed  him  and  became  his  friends.    Weber  died  in  the  year  1852, 
forty- four  years  of  age,  loved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
9  . 


as  300,  while  their  American  neiglibors  usually  are  in  possession  of 
not  less  than  400  acres.  The  pries  of  farming  land  ranged  in  those, 
days  between  $-5  00  and  $10.00  per  acre  ace jrding  to  improvements, 
houses  and  outhouses  made  and  built,  the  prices  having  advanced, 
over  16  per  cent,  since  1834.  The  Dr.  also  deplores,  that  the  Ger- 
mans even  at  that  early  day  manifested  a  great  desire  to  isolate 
themselves  from  their  American  neighbors,  of  whom  he  mentions,, 
in  most  respectful  language,  the  Whitesides,  Moores,  Middlecofff, 
Scott.^,  and  above  all  Robert  Hughes.  "  The  second  generation  of. 
Germans,"  says  the  Dr  ,  "  will  ba  fully  conversant  with  the.  English 
language  and  the  customs  and  hab  ts  of  this  land,  and  will  appear 
as  Americans  and  act  in  concert  with  them."  Returning  to  the 
causes  which  led  to  the  exodus  mentioned  above,  the  Dr.  makes 
some  remarks  which  will  do  to  be  here  repeated. 

These  new  comers,  raised,  as  they  were,  in  European  cities,  accu.3-, 
tomed  to  enjoy  countless:  little  comforts,  which  life  iu  such  cities 
affords,  were  now  thrown  into  surroundings,  where  nothing  of  the 
kind  was  offered.     Their  wants  were  too  numerous  to  be  supplied. 
They  had  bought  farms,  and  had  pai.l  for  them,  but  the  log  cabin,, 
that  had  sheltered  the  former  occupant,  would  not  answer  now,. 
Houses  had  to  be  built,  or  to  be  itnproved  and  adorned,  cellars  had 
to  be  dug  and  wells  to  be  sunk,  fences  needed  repairing ;  the  little 
garden  patch  of  (he  pioneer  could  not  now  give  satisfaction ;  a  vege-. 
table  garden  was  only  an  appendix  to  ths  fl.>wer  beds.     All  this 
was  thought  to  be  absolutely  indispensable  with  comfort,  they  had : 
to  have  it,  or  be  miserable.     In  their  haste  and  desire  to  have  things 
yield  more  comfort,  much  labor  was  wasted,  and  needful  work  ne- 
glected.    The  fields  that  were  to  supply  bread  were  indifferently, 
tilled,  and  the  raising  of  stock  was  lost  sight  of.     A  few  of  them 
only,  if  any  at  all,  had  formerly  devoted  themselves  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  the  others  of  course  could  not  now  compete  with  their, 
neighboring  American  and  German  practical  farmers.     They  workc  d- 
hard  themselves,  and  hired  labor  besides,  but  could  not  make  farm-  - 
ing  a  success. 

Their  American  neighbors  frequently  expressed  their  wonder,  that 
the  Germans.'who  were  rated  among  the  best  farmers  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, were  such  poor  farmers  in  Illinois. 

The  Doctor  says:  "  The  diligent  American  agriculturist  prospers 
and  accumulates  wealth ;  the  German  peasant,  after  a  few  years  of 
hard  labor,  pays  his  debt-',  buys  the  land  he  had  heretofore  rented,' 
and  gets  along  finely.  These  are  facts ;  and  it  is  also  a  fact,  that  the. 
Germans  from  other  stations  in  life  will  lose  money  in  trying, 
to  be  a  farmer." 

The  Doctor's  remarks  were  made  forty-four  years  ago,  and  bear 
evidence  that  he  was  a  close  observer  and  accurate  chronicler;, 
but  some  of  those  old  "  Lateiuer  "  became  splendid  and  successful, 
farmers. 

This  German  settlement,  however,  has  done  more  for  the  county, 
than  it  is  credited  with,  for  it  became  the  nucleus  of  the  settlements, 
of  the  thousands  who  followed,  and  developed  the  rich  resources  of 
this  county.  It  was  the  pen  of  these  "book  farmers"  that  told  of 
the  advantages  with  which  this  region  is  blessed. 

The  German  immigration  from  now  on  poured  into  the  States  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  We  introduce  here  a  list  of  persons  who 
were  naturalized  in  the  courts  of  St.  Clair  county,  from  1838  to 
1844 : — Gustav  Koerner,  Frederick  Engelmann,  Philip  Eckert,  John 
Scheel,  Gustavus  Heimberger,  Theodore  Hdgard,  Edward  Hilgard, 
Theod.  J.  Krafft,  all  of  whom  were  naturalized  in  1838.  Adolph 
Berchelmann,  Lewis  Engelmann,  George  Brenner,  Conrad  Wester- 
mann,  George  Neuhoff,  Henry  Buff,  George  C.  Bunsen,  Conrad 
Schrag,  George  Bush,  and  August  Conradi  in  1839.  In  18 10  citizens'! 
papers  were  is.ued  to  Ernst  W.  Decker,  George  A.dam  Popp,  Cas-. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


par  J.  Kurtz,  Francis  Kurtz, Philip  Rauch,  Adam  Fritz,  Geo.  Kriech 
baum,  George  Heberer,  Joliu  Maus,  Joseph  Lodergerber,  Balthaser 
AVeber,  natives  of  Germany,  and.  Francis  Perring,  a  Frenchman  ; 
in  18-11  to  Erasmus  T.  Hilgard,  George  Henckler,  Peter  Rap 
pauf,  Herman  Wolf,  Cornelius  Hennig.  and  Frederick  Knoebel.  In 
1842  to  Jacob  Knoebel,  John  Geiger,  Wm.  Zimmermann,  Johann 
Freivogel,  Christian  Probst,  Adam  Probst,  Gottfried  Probst 
J.  N.  Schmalenberg,  Jacob  Wetzsr,  Sebastian  Pfeifer,  Carl 
Knoebel,  Frederick  Aul,  Conrad  Bornmann,  Christian  Metzler, 
Jaeob  Kumm,  J.  L.  Horeth,  H.  C.  T.  Schleth,  George  Eck- 
ert.  Christian  Vierheller,  George  Hehr,  F.  A.  M.  Hassl, 
George  Briesacher,  Jean  Briesacher,  Henry  Lintz,  and  Michael 
Mueller;  in  1843  to  B.  Robker,  Henry  Schraer,  Henry 
Harwarth,  William  Harwarth,  John  Masuiann,  J.  H. 
A^gemann,  W.  Kracht,  BjriiharJ  Diiigwjrth,  Michael  Funk, 
Philip  Hoff,  J.  G.  Eckert,  Henry  Kaysiiig,  Christian  Kaysing, 
Jacob  Kaysing,  Francis  Wezel,  Cliarles  Tittraann,  Charles  Earth 
Franz  Oppmaun,  Peter  Steinheimer,  Michael  Jung^,  Germans, 
Michel  Bage  and  George  Perring,  Frenchmen,  and  James  Gibbons, 
an  Englishman ;  in  1844  to  Conrad  Mueller,  Martin  Funk,  Henry 
Funk,  George  Funk,  Valentin  Metzler,  Hainrich  Eidmann,  George 
Winter,  C.  H.  Kettler,  Michel  KleinschmiJt,  Christoph  ReinUold, 
John  Wiesenborn,  Heinrich  Pfeffir,  John  Krick,  Nicolas  Hdrtel, 
August  Holzappel,  Balthaser  Mueller,  Aloysius  Ewers,  Johannes 
Sjhaefer,  Henry  Knoebel,  Frederick  Germann,  John  Winter,  Jacob 
Laeuffert,  Michel  Bossle,  Franz  Stolz,  Seb.  Joseph  Rsichert,  Karl 
Grossmau,  Frederick  Glaser,  Philip  Baum,  John  Knobloch,  Nico- 
las Werner,  George  Ritter,  John  Weilbacher,  Joseph  Hock,  George 
Kuutz,  Jacob  Huber,  George  Fischer,  Anton  Wichers,  Adam  Haas, 
G.  P.  Fein,  Martin  Weilmuenster,  Albert  W.  Djenewald,  Henry 
Bergkotter,  Henry  Zieren,  Henry  Unnigmann,  Joseph  Biermann, 
Peter  Sauer,  Frederick  Kress,  Joseph  Abend,  Martin  Roos,  Adam 
Hoffman,  Anton  Amrein,  Christian  Ddlsch,  Samuel  Just,  David 
Ameiss,  Henry  Friederich,  J.  G.  Neubarth,  Adam  Schaefer,  Peter 
Horst,  Bernhard  Lake,  J.  G.  Kratsch,  John  Deschner,  Ferdinand 
Friederich,  Lorenz  Reichert,  Philip  Jeckel,  John  Keck,  John  G. 
Heberer,  George  Rauch,  Peter  Schneider,  Michael  Ilild,  Matthias 
Finklang,  J.  Adam  Krick,  John  W.  Sjholl,  Johann  Kehrer,  Louis 
Vierheller,  Henry  Moeser,  J.  Wendel  Eckert,  Christian  Gruener- 
wald,  Peter  Diehl,  Conrad  Beelman,  Martin  Sieber,  G'orge  Mittel- 
stadter,  Joseph  Kopp,  Peter  Kalbfliiisch,  Franz  Urban,  Franz 
Schultheis,  Jacob  W.  Michel,  Ed.  Abend,  Conrad  Liebig,  John  P. 
Trautwein,  Michel  Flick,  Julius  Soheve,  and  Philip  Pfadler,  Ger- 
mans ;  Gregor  Neyser,  Ignatius  Brovo,  Antoine  Wagner,  Lsonard 
Bool,  and  Nicolas  Babo,  Frenchmen;  James  Tracy,  an  English- 
man, and  Frederick  Meyer,  a  Swiss.  In  all  two  hundred  and  six, 
of  whom  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  came  from  Germany,  twelve 
from  France,  two  from  England,  and  one  from  Switzerland.  We 
forbear  to  continue  this  list ;  it  is  getting  too  large,  and  yet  it  does 
not  give  all  the  names,  as  many  immigrants  received  their  certifi- 
cates of  naturalization  from  the  courts  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  The  tide 
set  in  with  the  year  1850.  The  late  lamented  Frederick  Hecker, 
after  the  collapse  of  the  revolutionary  movements  in  South  Ger- 
many, organized  by  him,  led  the  van.  He  arrived  in  Belleville 
iu  1849,  to  meet  G.  Koerner,  whom,  however,  he  had  met  once 
before. 

If  we  said  above,  that  the  pen  of  our  Lateiner  had  called  the 
attention  of  immigrants  to  this  country,  we  are  permitted  to  state 
that  the  sword,  too,  has  aided.  Gustavus  Koerner,  while  yet 
attending  the  lectures  at  the  University  of  Heidelberg,  in  1832, 
had  a  hostile,  meeting  with  Frederick  Hecker,  which  led  to  a  duel 
an  affair  of  frequent  occurrence  then,  as  well  as  now,  among  stu- 


dents of  different  society  or  class.    This  duel  however,  and  its  result, 
inspired  Hecker  with  a  high  esteem  for  his  then  adversary. 

When  the  political  troubles  of  1848  had  exiled  Hecker,  and 
brought  him  to  America,  he  hastened  to  meet  Koerner,  this  time, 
however,  not  with  sword  in  hand,  but  with  the  cordial  grip  of  friend- 
ship and  a  brother's  love. 

It  is  but  a  few  months  ag.o  that  the  writer  stood  at  the  open 
grave  of  Fredjricis  Hscker,  listening,  in  deep  emotion,  to  the  touch- 
ing and  beautiful  words  of  Hon.  G.  Koerner,  spoken  at  the  funeral 
of  his  friend. 

Returning  to  the  subject  of  immigration  of  Germans  into  this 
country,  we  shall  merely  add  a  few  statistics.  The  number  of  cer- 
tificates of  naturalization,  issued  by  the  courts  of  this  county,  in- 
creases from  year  to  year  for  fifteen  years.  Our  civil  war  checked 
the  flow,  and  in  later  years  the  immigration  seems  to  have 
directed  its  courss  elsewhere;  The  greatest  number  of  foreign- 
ers were  naturalized  in  the  years  of  presidential  elections,  voters 
being  then  in  great  demand.  The  whole  number  of  certificates 
of  naturalization  issued  by  the  courts  of  St.  Clair  county  is  seven 
thousand,  four  hundred  and  twelve. 

It  is  stated  above  that  many  of  the  naturalized  citizens  of  this 
county  have  occupied  positions  in  public  and  political  life,  and 
it  is  proper  that  their  names  be  mentioned.  Philip  Engel,  a  resi- 
diut  of  Prairie  du  Pont  iu  1783,  was  for  years  (1793  to  1798)  a 
member  of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  His  nationality,  how- 
ever, cannot  definitely  be  given.  He  came  over  with  the 
French  colonists,  and  may  have  been  from  one  of  the  then  Ger- 
man provinces  of  France.  Johann  Schultz  was  county  commis- 
sioner from  1824  to  1830.  Jacob  Eymann  coroner  from  1828  to 
1832,  and  county  commissioner  from  1838  to  1842.  Theodor 
Engelmann  circuit  clerk  from  1845  to  1852.  John  Schtel 
county  treasurer  from  1847  to  1849,  and  county  clerk  from  1849 
to  1857.  C.W.Schoedo  treasurer  from  1855  to  1857.  George  Bunsen 
county  superintendent  of  schools  from  1855  to  1861.  Charles 
Seitz  county  treasurer  from  1857  to  1859.  C.  L.  Emmerich  county 
commissioner  and  associate  justice  of  the  county  court  from  1857 
to  1877— twenty  years.  William  Krafft  county  commissioner 
from  1857  to  1869.  F.  Mayer  sheriff  from  1858  to  1860. 
Bernhard  Wick  county  clerk  from  1861  to  1869.  Theodor 
Joerg  coroner  from  1862  to  1864,  and  from  1868  to  1870. 
Joseph  Veile  county  commissioner  from  1869  to  1875.  Fred. 
Ropiequet  sheriff  from  1862  to  1864,  county  treasurer  from  1873 
to  1875,  and  again  sheriff  since  1880.  Hermann  G.  Weber 
county  treasurer  from  1863  to  1867,  and  sheriff  from  1874  to 
1880.  Henry  A.  Kircher  circuit  clerk  from  1864  to  1868. 
Fred.  Graner  surveyor  from  1855  to  1857.  Gustav  Hilgard  sur- 
veyor from  1861  to  1863.  Henry  Holbrook  surveyor  from  1863 
to  1865.  Edward  Rutz  surveyor  from  1665  to  1867,  and 
treasurer  from  1867  to  1873.  Gustav  F.  Hilgard  surveyor 
from  1867  to  1877.  G.  M.  Roeder  circuit  clerk  from  1868  to 
1874.  Charles  Becker  sheriff  from  1866  to  1868,  and  circuit 
clerk  from  1872  to  1880.  F.  H.  Piepar  county  judge  from  1868 
to  date.  Sebastian  Fietsam,  county  clerk  from  1869  to  1873. 
C.  L.  Starkel  county  clerk  from  1873  to  date.  F.  C.  Horn  county 
commissioner  from  1874  to  1880.  G.  W.  Sieber  treasurer  from 
1875  to  1878.  Frank  Poignee  county  commissioner  from  1875  to 
date.  Henry  Barthol  county  commissioner  from  1876  to  1879. 
1868.  C.  H.  Fietsam  county  commissioner  from  1880  to  date. 
Louis  Graner  surveyor  from  1880  to  date.  G.  H.  Stolberg,  circuit 
clerk  from  1880  to  date.  Philip  Schildnecht  coroner  from  1873 
to  1875;  and  John  Bader  coroner  from  1878  to  date. 

Among  other  distinguished  citizens  who  have  represented  this 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


67 


county  in  our  Stats  legislature,  we  find  the  following  German 
names: — Abraham  Eymann,  1824  to  1826.  John  Stuntz,  1832  to 
1834,  and  1836  to  1838.  Gustavus  Koerner,  1842  to  1844.  Ed- 
ward Abend  1848  to  1850.  John  Scheel,  1858  to  1860.  Bern- 
hard  Wick,  1864  to  1866.  G.  A.  Koerner,  1870  to  1872.  Joseph 
Veile,  1878  to  date;  and  P.  H.  Postel,  1880  to  date. 

Among  State  officers  we  find  Edward  Rutz,  of  this  county,  who 
is  now  serving  a  third  term  as  State  treasurer. 

Hon.  G.  Koerner  was  for  a  time  a  member  of  the  supreme  court 
of  Illinois.     (See  chapter  on  Bench  and  Bar.) 

The  number  of  Germans  in  this  county  having  held  office  by 
appointment  of  the  federal  government  is  large  ;  and  as  their  official 
life  is  not  a  part  of  the  county  history,  a  recital  of  names  would  be 
out  of  place. 

But  it  is  not  in  the  civil  service  of  this  country  alone  where  the  Ger- 
man name  is  so  frequently  met.  In  the  hour  of  danger,  when  the 
enemy  arrayed  his  forces  on  our  frontier  in  the  war  against  Mexico, 
or  when  the  very  existence  of  the  Republic  was  threacened  by  a 
rebellion,  the  like  of  which  history  does  not  mention,  the  natural- 
ized citizens  rivaled  with  the  native-born  in  hastening  to  the  front. 
Our  chapter  on  Patriotism  mentions  names  and  numbers.  Philip 
Engel,  of  Prairie  du  Pont,  mustered  a  company  as  early  as  1790. 
The  Indian  wars  were  fought  principally,  if  not  exclusively,  by 
native-born  citizens.  In  the  war  against  Mexico,  we  find  the  ma- 
jority of  officers  and  men  in  Gapta;in  Raith's  company,  2d  111.  vol- 
unteers, to  be  Germans ;  and  among  the  dead  and  wounded  of  the 
battle  of  Buena  Vista,  the  names  of  naturalized  citizens  are 
recorded  with  those  of  native  citizens. 

And  speaking  of  the  civil  war,  we  may  state  that  nearly  all  Ger- 
mans able  to  bear  arms,  went  into  voluntary  service,  and  did  their 
duty. 

The  United  States  Census  of  1880  shows  a  population  of  sixty- 
one  thousand  souls  in  this  county,  and  it  may  safely  be  said  that 
three-fourths  of  said  number  are  Germans,  or  of  German  descent, 
proportionately  represented   in  all  vocations   of  life. 


CHAPTER  X. 


CIVIL  HISTORY. 

BY  B.   E.   HOFFMAN. 
ORGANIZATION   OF   THE   COUNTY 

BY   HIS   EXCELLENCY  AKTHUE  ST.  CLAIR,  GOVBKKOK  AND  COM- 
MANDER-IN-CHIEF OF  THE  TERRITORY    OF    THE    UNITED 
STATES,  NORTH-WEST  OF  THE  RIVEK  OHIO. 


|0  all  persons  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come 
Greeting :  Whereas,  by  the  ordinance  of  Con- 
gress of  the  13th  of  July,  1787,  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  territory  of  the  United  States, 
North-west  of  the  River  Ohio,  it  is  directed  that 
for  the  due  execution  of  process,  civil  and 
criminal,  the  governor  shall  make  proper  divi- 
sions of  the  said  territory,  and  proceed  from 
time  to  time  as  circumstances  may  require,  to 
lay  out  the  parts  of  the  same,  where  the  Indian  titles  shall  have 
been  extinguished  into  counties  and  townships,  subject  to  future 
alterations  as  therein  specified.    Now Know  ye,  that,  it  appear- 


ing to  me  to  b3  necessary  for  the  purposes  above  mentioned,  a 
county  should  be  immediately  laid  out,  I  have  ordained  and  or- 
dered, and  by  these  presents  do  ordain  and  order  that  all  and  sin- 
gular the  lands  lying  and  being  within  the  following  boundaries, 
viz. :  "  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  little  Michilliakinack  river, 
running  thence  southerly  in  a  direct  line  to  the  mouth  of  the  little 
river  above  Fort  Massac  upon  the  Ohio  river ;  thence  with  the  said 
river  to  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi ;  thence  up  the  Mississippi 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  so  up  Illinois  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning,  with  all  the  adjacent  islands  of  said  rivers, 
Illinois  and  Mississippi " — shall  bs  a  county,  and  the  same  is  hereby 
erected  into  a  county,  named  and  hereafter  to  be  called  the  County 
of  St.  Clair,  and  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair  shall  have  and  enjoy 
all  and  singular  the  jurisdiction,  rights,  liberties,  privileges  and 
immunities  whatsoever  to  a  county  belonging  and  appertaining, 
and  which  any  other  county  that  may  hereafter  be  erected  and  laid 
out  shall  or  ought  to  enjoy  conformably  to  the  Ordinance  of  Con- 
gress before  mentioned. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the 
seal  of  the  territory  to  be  affixed  this  27th  day  of  April  in  the  14th 
year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1790.  AR:  ST.  CLAIR. 

Countersigned  by  his  Excellency's  command. 

WiNTHROP  Sargent,  Secretary. 

Before  proceeding  with  the  recital  of  subsequent  events  in  the 
civil  history  of  the  county,  it  may  be  permitted  to  cast  a  glance  at 
previous  events. 

The  then  boundaries  of  St.  Clair  county  comprise  two-thirds  of 
the  state  of  Illinois ;  but  when  we  here  speak  of  previous  events, 
we  mean  to  confine  them  to  the  present  limits  of  the  county.  The 
first  settlement  of  CahSs  or  Cahokia  was  made  by  Canadian  mis- 
sionaries, about  the  year  1680,  where  father  Pinet  founded  a  church 
in  1682.  The  Catholic  church  obtained  a  grant  of  land  from  King 
Louis  XIV.  of  France  about  the  year  1722,  which  grant  comprised 
four  French  leagues  square, — located  from  the  mouth  of  the  little 
Cahokia,  one-fourth  of  a  league  north,  and  thence  east  to  make  the 
quantity.  The  church  granted  to  each  bona  fide  settler  a  house- 
lot  in  the  village,  as  well  as  a  barn-lot,  and  besides  an  arpent  of 
land  in  the  common  fields.  The  lands  not  occupied  in  this  man- 
ner are  known  under  the  name  of  Commons,  that  is,  the  inhabitants 
of  a  village  had  a  common  right  to  the  forest,  the  pasturage, 
the  chase  and  the  fisheries  on  these  commons. 

The  settlement  of  Cahokia,  as  well  as  others,  being  separated  by 
thousands  of  miles  of  forests  from  the  more  populous  parts  of  the 
continent  give  the  historian  but  little  material  to  record.  The 
participation  of  these  settlers  in  the  combats  with  their  savage  foes 
is  mentioned  in  another  chapter  of  this  work.  Father  Charlevoix 
visited  Cahokia  in  October,  1721,  and  writes  to  a  lady  friend  in 
France  as  follows :  "  We  lay  last  night  in  a  village  of  Caoquiaa  and 
the  Tamaroas,  two  Illinois  tribes,  which  have  been  united,  and  to- 
gether compose  a  canton.  This  village  is  situated  on  a  very  small 
river,  which  runs  from  the  east,  and  has  no  water  except  in  the 
spring  season,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  walk  half  a  league  before 
we  could  get  to  our  cabins.  I  was  astonished  that  they  had  pitched 
upon  so  inconvenient  a  situation,  especially,  as  they  had  so  many 
better  in  their  choice. 

"  I  passed  the  night  in  the  missionaries'  house,  who  are  two  eccle- 
siastics from  the  Seminary  of  Quebec,  formerly  my  disciples,  but 
they  must  uow  be  my  masters.  M.  Taumur,  the  oldest  of  the  two, 
was  absent,  but  I  found  the  youngest,  M.  Le  Meriier,  such  as  he 
had  been  represented  to  me,  rigid  to  himself,  full  of  charity  to 


68 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


others,  and  displaying  in  his  own  person  an  amiable  pattern  of  vir- 
tue." 

Three  years  before  Charlevoix's  visit  M.  Boisbriant  had  erected 
Fort  Chartres,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia  river.  In  speak- 
ing of  him  Charlevoix  calls  him  Boisbrilliard. 

The  peace  of  Paris,  February  10,  1763,  had  made  an  end  of  the 
French  control  of  the  territory,  •which  was  then  ceded  to  England. 
The  latter  took  possession  in  1764.  General  Gage,  Commander- 
in-chief  of  the  English  troops  in  North  America,  and  governor, 
issued  his  proclamation  on  the  30th  of  December,  1764,  granting, 
by  order  of  his  majesty,  the  king  of  England,  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Illinois  the  liberty  of  the  Catholic  religion ; — allowing  those  that 
wished  to  do  so  to  emigrate — even  to  New  Orleans  or  any  part  of 
Louisiana ;  and  permitting  them  to  sell  their  estates,  provided  it  be 
to  subjects  of  his  majesty ;  commanding  further,  that  those  who 
remained  take  oath  of  fidelity  and  obedience  to  his  majesty  in  pre- 
sence of  Sieur  Stirling,  captain  of  the  Highland  regiment,  the 
bearer  of  said  proclamation.  Captain  Stirling  remained  but  a  short 
time  in  Illinois,  d,nd  was  succeeded  by  Major  Farmer.  The  next 
in  office  was  Col.  Reed,  a  martinet  and  very  unpopular.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Col.  AVilkins,  who  arrived  at  Kaskaskia,  Sept.  5th, 
1768.  As  military  commandant  hs  appointed  seven  judges,  who 
met  and  held  their  first  Court  at  Fort  Chartres,  on  the  6th  of 
December,  1768,  and  from  that  regular  sessions  were  held  every 
month.  This  court  never  become  popular,  as  trial  by  jury  was 
sternly  denied.  When  Col.  Clark  in  1778  took  possession  of  the 
territory,  Rochblave,  a  Frenchman,  was  commandant.  The  suc- 
cessful destruction  of  archives  of  the  court,  mentioned  in  another 
chapter,  has  made  the  civil  history  of  that  period  a  matter  of  im- 
possibility. Circumstances,  hereafter  to  be  mentioned,  however, 
seem  to  indicate,  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  Illinois  country  were 
highly  dissatisfied  with  the  change  of  masters.  A  great  number 
took  advantage  of  the  permission  to  emigrate,  and  crossed  the  river 
to  the  then  Spanish  side. 

Captain  PhiHp  Pitman,  author  of  "  The  Present  State  of  Eu- 
ropean Settlements  on  the  Mississippi,  London,  1770,"  came  to 
Illinois  as  military  engineer  of  the  British  army  about  the  year 
1766.  He  describes  the  country  of  Illinois  as  bounded  by  the 
Mississippi  in  the  west,  by  the  Illinois  in  the  North,  by  the  Ouabash 
and  Miami  in  the  east,  and  the  Ohio  in  the  south.  In  mentioning 
Cahokia  (then  Kaoquias)  he  says :  "  It  is  situated  six  leagues  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.  The  village  is  long  and  straggling, 
being  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  north  to  south  ;  it  contains  forty- 
five  dwelling-houses.  It  was  the  first  settlement  on  the  Mississippi. 
The  laud  was  purchased  of  the  savages  by  a  few  Canadians,  some  of 
whom  intermarried  with  Indians.  The  inhabitants  of  this  place 
depend  more  on  hunting  and  their  Indian  trade  than  on  agriculture  ; 
yet  they  have  plenty  of  poultry,  and  a  good  stock  of  horned  cattle." 
Captain  Pitman  may  do  the  inhabitants  of  Cahokia  an  injustice,  for 
he  contradicts  this  assertion  of  their  indolence  himself  by  stating  in 
his  same  work  the  following  :  "  In  the  late  wars.  New  Orleans  and 
the  lower  parts  of  Louisiana  were  supplied  with  flour,  beef,  wines, 
hams  and  other  provisions  from  these  settlements."  It  may  here  be 
briefly  stated  that  the  register  books  of  Kaskaskias,  turned  over  by 
Francois  Caboneaux  to  AVilliam  St.  Clair,  on  the  12th  day  of  June, 
1790,  contain  1309  sale  bills,  the  first  of  which  date  back  to  1722, 
the  last  to  1790.  The  bulk  of  those  sales  is  made  up  by  agricultural 
products ;  corn,  wheat,  pork,  cattle,  hogs,  and  farming  implements  ; 
chase-accoutrements  and  fishing-tackle  are  mentioned  too,  but  are 
not  of  frequent  occurrence.  These  sales  indicate  the  growing  of  the 
settlements  most  accurately,  and  are  an  interesting  study.  In  1722 
we  find  but  one,  in  1763 — 49  sales.    The  taking  possession  of  by 


the  English  government  marks  a  sudden  falling-off  in  the  year  1768, 
recording  one  sale  only.  The  ten  years  preceding  that  period  recorded 
838,  and  the  ten  years  succeeding  it,  only  102  transactions  of  that 
kind.  These  sales  amount  to  300  francs  in  some  instances,  and 
to  over  16.000  in  others. 

COURTS   AND   LAWS. 

Early  Criminal  Laws  of  the  Territory. 

The  draconic  laws  of  New  England,  punishing  with  death  fourteen 
distinct  crimes,  viz : 

For  worshiping  any  other  God  but  the  Lord  God. 

For  being  a  witch. 

For  blaspheming  the  name  of  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

For  the  crime  of  murder. 

For  slaying  a  person  through  guile  by  poisoning  or  any  other 
devilish  practices. 

For  the  crime  of  unnatural  relations  with  the  brute  creation. 

For  the  crime  which  brought  destruction  to  Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 

For  the  commission  of  adultery  with  a  married  woman  or  a 
maiden  espoused. 

For  the  crime  of  rape. 

For  kidnapping. 

For  the  crime  of  perjury,  resulting  in  the  capital  punishment  of 
a  fellow-being. 

For  treason  or  conspiracy  against  the  commonwealth. 

For  a  child,  16  years  of  age  or  over,  to  smite  or  curse  father  or 
mother. 

These  laws  found  no  application  in  these  western  regions,  although 
their  own  laws  were  rigid  enough,  Capital  crimes  were  treason, 
murder,  arson,  rape  and  horse-stealing  on  second  conviction. 

Burglary  was  punished  by  whipping,  not  more  than  39  lashes;  so 
were  also  obstructing  of  lawful  authority. 

Perjury,  and  Larceny— for  the  latter  also  a  fine  of  four-fold  the 
amount  stolen.  If  the  culprit  was  not  able  to  pay,  the  sheriflT  had 
to  bind  him  to  servitude  under  the  direction  of  the  court,  not  ex- 
ceeding seven  years. 

Forgery,  by  fine  double  the  sum  defrauded,  and  to  sit  in  the  pil- 
lory not  less  than  three  hours. 

Hog  stealing,  by  a  fine  of  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  dollars,  and 
also  not  less  than  25,  nor  more  than  39  stripes. 

Altering  or  defacing  marks  of  caitle  or  horses  by  a  fine  of  five 
dollars.  Second  ofiense  same  fine,  two  hours  pillory,  and  branded 
on  left  hand  with  the  letter  T. 

The  writer  has  not  been  able  to  find  any  complete  judicial  records 
prior  to  the  organization  of  the  county,  and  will  here  introduce 
some  fragments  which  may  be  of  iuterest : 

Proceedings  of  a  court  held  at 


M.  Beadlieu,     ~\ 

vs.  \ 

L.  Le  Compte.    3 


Cahokia,  Thursday,  Feb.  31,  1778. 

Josepu  Bowman,  Esq., 
W.  Langlois, 
Capt.  Touranjeau, 
William  Gratiot, 


Present. 


Baptiste  Bastieu,  negro  of  M.  Saucier,  called  and  examined 
touching  his  poisoning  the  negro  of  Marie  Laurent,  of  St.  Louis  as 
said  negro  had  declared.  ' 

Questioned  whether  he  gave  any  cake  or  any  thing  else  to  ^t  to 
said  negro  ? 

Answers,  that  said  negro  met  him,  and  after  salutations,  said  ne- 
gro says  :  "I  am  told  you  intend  fighting  with  me."     I  asked  for 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


69 


.!■ 


what ;  he  said,  "On  account  of  Martin's  wench."    "Oh,  brother," 
says  I,  "  we  shall  never  quarrel  for  that,  besides  she  is  every  one's. 

.  .  .  After  which  said  negro  said  he  had  a  pain  in  his  breast. 
I  asked  him  if  he  had  overstrained  himself;  he  said  not,  unless  it 
was  by  carrying  thirty  bushels  of  corn  that  day  into  the  garret ;  and 
that  he  neither  ate  or  drank  with  him,  nor  even  gave  him  a  pipe  of 
tobacco." 

Baptiste,  the  negro  of  M.  Robert,  declares  that  he  did  not  see 
Bastieu  give  cake  or  any  other  thing  to  eat  or  drink  to  M.  Laurent's 
negro. 

The  other  negro,  Levellier,  examined  ;  says  he  was  at  no  place 
with  the  negro  of  M.  Laurent,  except  at  his  master's  house,  where 
he  gave  him  a  glass  of  wine  as  he  was  going  off,  and  that  he  did  not 
see  Bastieu  with  him. 

Friday,  8th  of  January,  1779. 

Beaulieu, 

vs. 
Le  Compte. 

Plaintiff  demands  proof  of  what  he  has  advanced  to  M.  Langlois; 
that  he,  M.  Beaulieu,  said  to  his  negro,  "  Take  care,  don't  confess 
anything,  or  you  will  be  hanged."  Defendant  says  he  heard  it  from 
Jean  Eacette,  who  says  he  heard  it  at  the  court-house  the  day  the 
negroes  were  punished,  but  of  whom,  or  from  whom  he  don't  know. 

Louis  Louisgout,  sworn,  says  that  M.  La  Croix  told  him  in  the 
street,  after  the  negro  of  Le  Compte  was  whipped,  that  M.  Beaulieu 
stayed  in  the  court-house  with  him,  and  that  La  Croix  said,  "  I  be- 
lieve Beaulieu  tells  his  negro  not  to  '  confess  or  you  will  be  hanged.' " 

Another  fragment,  without  date,  speaks  of  a  court  of  committees 
at  Cahos,  with  Lieutenant  Perrault  as  president,  and  M.  Graciot, 
(probably  Gratiot),  Girardin  and  Trotier  as  members.  This  session 
may  have  been  held  about  the  year  1780,  as  will  appear  from  the 
following  fragmentary  record  : 

M.  Martin  complains  that  he  has  sold  several  articles  to  M. 
Wells,  a  trader,  and  that  he  received  continental  money  in  payment 
thereof,  but  as  the  money  is  now  cried  down  in  the  village,  he  de- 
mands additional  pay. — The  records  do  not  show  whether  his  de- 
mand was  made  good. 

This  court  of  committees  of  Cahos,  sometimes  called  court  of  com- 
mon pleas  of  Cahokia,  was  superseded  in  1795.  The  last  president 
of  this  court  was  Jean  Baptiste  Barbeau. 


At  a  court  of  Common  Pleas,  holden  at  Cahokia,  within  and  for 
the  county  of  St.  Clair,  on  the  1st  Tuesday  of  October,  in  the  year 
1795. 


Before 
John  Ddmoulin,   ' 
James  Piggott, 
Shadeach  Bond, 
Jean  Baptiste  Saucier, 
Geokge  Atchison, 


Esquires — Justices. 


William  Biggs,  Sheriff. 
Silence  was  commanded  while  the  General  Commission  of  the 
court  of  Common  Pleas  was  read,  to-wit : 

Territory  of  the  United  States,   \ 
North-west  of  the  Ohio.       J 

Arthur  St.  Clair,  governor  of  the  territory  of  the  North-west  of 
the  Ohio  river.  To  William  St.  Clair,  John  Dumoulin,  James  Pig- 
gott, Shadrach  Bond,  Jean  Baptiste  Saucier,  and  George  Atchison, 
of  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  Esquires,  Greeting. 

Know  ye  that  we  have  assigned,  constituted  and  appointed  you, 
and  everyone  of  you  to  be  our  Justices  of  the  Common  Pleas  for 
the  county  of  St.  Clair,  and  have  authorized  and  empowered,  and 


by  these  presents  do  authorize  and  empower  you  and  any  three  of 
you  to  hold  and  keep  our  county  court  of  Common  Pleas,  for  the 
county  of  St.  Clair,  at  such  times  and  places  as  are,  or  shall  be,  by 
law  appointed,  and  therein  to  hold  pleas  of  assizes,  scire  facias  and 
replevins,  and  to  hear  and  determine  all  and  all  manner  of  pleas, 
actions,  suits  and  cases  of  a  civil  nature,  real,  personal  and  mixed, 
instituted  or  to  be  instituted  in  our  said  county  court  of  Common 
Pleas,  before  you  or  others,  late  our  Judges  of  said  court  and  not 
yet  determined,  and  thereupon  to  pr-oceed  to  judgment  and  execu- 
tion, according  to  law,  and  the  constitution  of  this  Territory,  and  to 
make  and  grant  replevins,  writs  of  partition,  writs  of  view,  and  all 
other  writs  and  process  upon  actions  cognizable  therein,  as  the 
case  may  require  according  to  law,  and  to  do  and  perform  all  and 
all  manner  of  things  in  the  premises  which  to  justice  according  to 
law  appertaineth. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  caused  these  our  letters  to  be  made 
patent. 

Witness, 

Aethue  St.  Claie,  Esquire. 

Our  Governor  and  Commander-in-chief,  in  and  over  our  said 
territory,  at  Cahokia,  this  28th  day  of  September,  1795. 

The  first  case  disposed  of  was  a  damage  suit  of  Augustin  Choteau 
versus  Joseph  Ogle  for  $12.00.  Case  was  dismissed  at  the  request 
of  plaintiff,  and  at  his  costs.  Second  case,  James  Henderson  versus 
John  Hoffmann,  $35.00  damages,  resulting  also  in  dismissal.  The 
first  attorneys  mentioned  are  Isaa'c  Darneille  and  John  Rice  Jones. 
Both  appear  in  an  assault  and  battery  and  false  imprisonment  case, 
in  which  Joseph  Marrie  is  plaintiff  and  Judge  Dumoulin  defendant. 
Dumoulin  had  beaten  the  man  for  contempt  of  court.  The  case  was 
dismissed,  and  Marrie  had  to  pay  the  costs  besides. 

February  term,  1796,  has  on  its  docket  a  suit  against  John  Du- 
moulin, one  of  the  Justices,  for  depriving  Jean  Guitarre  of  a  cow  ; 
it  was  decided  in  the  succeeding  April  term  against  Dumoulin,  who 
had  to  pay  $36  damages,  and  $14.70  costs. 

A  grand  jury  empanneled  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair  convened  on 
the  2d  of  July,  1799,  at  Cahokia,  during  the  July  term  of 

THE  COUET  OP  QUAETEE  SESSIONS. 

The  names  of  those  jurors  of  Grand  Inquest  are : 
David  Waddle,  Leonard  Harnish,  Nicolas  Jarrot,  Abram  Eyman, 
Joseph  Carr,  Camil  Starr,  James  Garretson,  Adam  Strait,  D. 
Brown,  John  O'Hara,  Anthony  Badgley,  Solomon  Shook,  Jacob 
Short  and  Jehu  Scott.  They  indict  Denois  Valentin  of  Cahokia 
for  keeping  a  billiard  table,  where  money  or  other  property  is 
played  for.  Fraser,  a  negro,  for  assault  and  battery  on  Therese,  a 
free  woman  of  Cahokia ;  and  Marianna  Arnouse,  charge  not  stated. 
She  was  tried  by  a  jury  of  twelve :  Jean  Meunier,  Clement  Tro- 
tier, Edward  Hebert,  Lorenz  Schoenberger,  Thomas  Brady,  Bap- 
tiste Saucier,  Ba,pt.  Chartrand,  Antoin  Cabassier,  Raphael  Danli- 
reau,  Michel  Chartier,  Joseph  Manegre  and  Michel  Beaulieu.  The 
witnesses  examined  in  her  case  were  Rose  Mallet,  Madam  Jean 
Louis,  Madam  Delongchampts,  Madam  La  Mai  and  Thomas  Char- 
trand. The  jury  found  her  guilty,  and  the  court  sentences  her  to 
pay  a  fine  of  one  dollar  and  ahalf,  and  the  costs  of  the  proceedings. 
From  the  trifling  amount  of  the  fine,  it  may  be  inferred,  that  her 
offence  may  have  been  assault  and  battery.  In  the  July  term,  1799, 
of  this  court  the  grand  jury  indicted  one  Ephraim  Connor  for  being 
a  nuisance  "  for  living  with  Hannah  Guitarre,  wife  of  John  Gui- 
tarre. " 

The  procsedings  of  this  court  of  Common  Pleas  offer  but  few 
items  of  interest.  When  meeting  as  court  of  Quarter  Sessions  its 
functions  were  similar  to  those  of  our  present  circuit  courts. 


70 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


At  the  October  term,  1800,  Robert  Hamilton  appeared  as  prose- 
cuting attorney  for  the  United  States  and  John  Hay  as  recorder. 

At  the  March  term,  1801,  Nicolas  Jarrot  is  sworn  in  as  a  justice 
of  the  General  Quarter  Sessions  and  at  the  April  special  term,  1801 , 
Jean  Francois  Perry  became  a  member  of  said  court.  At  that 
session  the  grand  jury  indicted  Adam  Shond  for  Sabbath-breaking. 

A  special  session  was  held  May  6,  1801,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
measures  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  small-pox  into  the  county. 
This  terrible  disease  was  then  raging  on  the  west  or  Spanish  side  of 
the  Mississippi  river.  The  court  was  presided  over  by  John  Du- 
moulin,  assisted  by  James  Lenien  and  Jean  Francois  Perry.  The 
court  ordered,  that  guards,  taken  from  the  ranks  of  militia  men,  be 
placed  on  the  upper  and  lower  ferries,  so  as  to  keep  off  the  plague 
of  small-pox,  now  raging  on  the  Spanish  side,  that  a  fine  of  six  dol- 
lars for  the  first  offence,  and  of  twelve  dollars  and  imprisonment 
for  a  second  ofience  for  crossing  over  to  the  Spanish  side,  be  imposed, 
that  people  crossing  from  the  Spanish  side  shall  pay  a  fine  of  $24.00 
and  be  imprisoned  until  such  fine  be  paid;  thatone-thirdofall  fines  be 
paid  over  to  the  informer,  one-third  to  the  guards  and  one-third  to  the 
county;  that  all  ferrymen  shall  bring  their  canoes  on  theRigolet,  and 
keep  but  one  canoe  to  cross  such  people  as  wish  to  remain  on  the  Span- 
ish side;  that  all  goods  brought  from  the  Spanish  side  be  confiscated, 
sold,  and  proceeds  distributed  as  above ;  that  all  boats,  canoes  and 
other  property  coming  from  the  upper  part  of  the  Mississippi  be  not 
permitted  to  come  here  without  first  making  quarantine  at  the  upper 
end  of  Island  Cabaret. 

The  author  cannot  tell  if  those  measures  kept  the  calamity  from 
this  county,  but  as  there  is  no  evidence  of  any  of  those  fines  ever 
having  been  imposed,  it  may  be  taken  for  granted  that  those  stal- 
wart militia  men  did  their  duty  and  stopped  all  intercourse  with 
the  afflicted  Spanish  side.  At  the  same  term  of  court  the  first  cer- 
tificate of  holding  an  inquest  was  filed,  by  John  Whitesides,  acting 
coroner,  on  the  body  of  Daniel  Lyons,  who  died,  or  was  found  dead 
in  John  Murdock's  well,  the  jury  pronouncing  it  accidental  death 
caused  by  strangulation. 

Imprisonment  for  debt  in  those  days  was  not  of  an  uncommon 
occurrence,  but  the  enforcing  of  that  law  had  nothing  in-  common 
with  the  severity  of  English  applications  of  said  law.  We  will  here 
introduce  the  first  case  on  record,  June  term,  1801.  "  On  notifica- 
tion of  Jean  Francois  Perrey,  that  Baptiste  Mercier  in  prison  takes 
the  advantage  of  the  law  for  insolvent  debtors,  the  prisoner  was 
called  to  give  his  oath  and  be  examined  by  his  creditors  according 
to  the  said  law.  The  said  Mercier  gives  up  to  to  his  creditors  the 
sowing  of  three  bushels  of  wheat,  and  a  bull  of  two  going  on  three 
years  old.  The  prisoner  made  the  oath  according  to  law,  and  by 
order  of  court  is  discharged. 

An  amusing  schedule  of  property  is  made  by  one  Pierre  Petit, 
who  had  been  jailed  on  the  8th  of  June,  1822.  Pierre  makes  oath 
that  he  owes  to  Catherine  Beauchamp  $2,223.00,  and  to  M.  Mar- 
nieche  $150.00,  total,  2,373.00.  He  schedules  his  assets  as  follows : 
six  gross  brass  curtain  rings,  fifty  cents  in  money,  one  corkscrew, 
six  bottles  of  water  of  Cologne  and  one  bed  ;  the  latter  in  the  city 
of  New  Orleans !  The  schedule  is  made  under  oath  and  properly 
signed  in  beautiful  penmanship.  E.  P.  Wilkinson,  judge  of  probate, 
appointed  Zachariah  Stephenson  assignee  and  Pierre  is  discharged. 

The  last  imprisonment  of  debt  is  quite  a  sad  affair,  and  of  recent 
date.  The  capias  had  been  issued  by  Edward  Abend,  justice  of  the 
peace,  at  the  demand  of  one  Dr.  Meyer  against  F.  Guerdan  of  St, 
Louis,  who  had  no  property  in  this  state.  Guerdan  schedules  his 
property,  all  of  which  is  household  furniture,  exempt  from  execu- 
tion under  the  laws  of  Missouri  as  well  as  of  Illinois.  Dr.  Meyer's 
claim  amounted  to  $25.00 ;  it  was  lost,  and  Guerdan  was  released. 


EA.ELY   ELECTIOXS. 

Although  the  county  was  organized  in  1790,  and  elections  were 
doubtless  held  at  an  earlier  day,  we  introduce  here  as  the  first 
elections,  the  oldest  official  records  of  an  election  held  at  Cahokia 
in  January,  1799.    The  document  reads  as  follows : 

"At  an  election  held  at  Cahokia  in  and  for  the  county  of  St.  Clair 
to  vote  for  a  representative  for  to  be  sent  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  territory.  Offers  as  candidates,  Shadrach  Bond  and  Isaac 
Darneille : 

SHADKACH  BOND. 


1  Joseph  Tonchette. 

2  Eiieiine  Pensoneau. 

3  Jolin  Poupard. 

4  Nio.  Jarrot. 

5  Jean  B.ipt.  Dubuque. 

6  Louis  Pillet. 

7  Louis  Pftit  Lubuxier. 

8  Michel  L'Onval. 

9  T.  Mannegre. 

10  Francois  Grondines. 

11  Paul  Deloge. 

12  St.  Ange  Pillet. 

13  Jean  Arvin. 

14  Francois  Guinelle. 

15  Lorenz  Schoenberger. 

16  Louis  Pensoneau. 

17  John  Buttean. 

18  Francois  Trolier. 

19  Pierre  Martin,  Jr. 

20  Baptiste  Allary. 

21  Micliel  Beaulieu. 

22  William  St.  Clair. 

23  Jean  F.  Perrey. 

24  John  Lyle. 
2o  J.  B.  Saucier. 

26  Jean  Dehay. 

27  Louis  Jarvais,  Jr. 

28  Louis  AUard. 

29  John  Trotier. 

30  Pierre  Lissey. 

31  Baptiste  Chartran. 

32  Francois  Pancrasse. 

33  Jean  Beaulieu. 
31  James  Lemen. 

35  Michel  Boismeue. 

36  Michel  La  Grave. 

37  Auguste  Trotier. 

38  Th.  Demarrais. 

39  Benjamin  Ogle. 

40  Jacques  Mayott. 

41  John  Ogle,  Jr. 

42  Peter  Casterland. 

43  Isidore  La  Croix. 

44  John  Hay. 

45  Jean  Marie  Darion. 

46  Bazile  Beaulieu. 

47  Daniel  McCann. 

48  Samuel  Judy. 

49  Abn.  Stallions. 

50  John  Mordock. 

51  James  Garritson. 

52  Shadrach  Bond,  Si. 

53  Kphraim  Connor. 

54  George  Lunceford. 

55  John  0'Hur.i. 

56  Jacob  Judy. 

67  Louis  Le  Compte. 


1  William  Whiteside. 

2  Elisha  Mather. 

3  Andrew  Becket. 

4  Andy  Kinney. 

5  John  Kinney. 

6  Clement  Trotier. 

7  John  Lepage. 

8  William  Moore. 

9  Louis  Eoulliard, 

10  John  Short. 

11  Charles  Kichie, 

12  Abraham  Iman. 

13  Pierre  Compagnot. 

14  Wm.  Whiie,side,  Jr. 

15  William  Scott,  Sr. 

16  John  Moore. 


53  Raphael  Linglois. 

59  Francois  CoUine. 

60  James  Adam'?. 

61  John  Chennie. 

62  Pierre  Laperche. 

63  John  La  Chance. 

64  Michel  Cliartier. 

65  Archibald  McNabb. 

66  John  Hays. 

67  Jean  Mennier. 
63  Thos.  Borrier. 

69  Henry  Cook. 

70  Michael  Squires. 

71  Pierre  Li  Fleur. 

72  John  Sullivan. 

73  Michel  Jacobs. 

74  Nic.  Fuergon. 

75  Pierre  Reille. 

76  Alex.  Waddle. 

77  Peter  Mitchel. 

78  Enoch  Knox.- 

79  John  Porter. 

80  David  Waddle. 

81  Deliverance  Brown. 

82  Daniel  Sink. 

83  William  Groots. 

84  Josiah  Cummings. 

85  Nathan  C  irpenter. 

86  Robt.  Seybold. 

87  John  Capps. 

8S  Larkin  Latherford. 

89  John  Ogle,  Sr. 

90  Peter  Smith. 

91  Robert  Moore. 

92  John  Cheyhan. 

93  John  Ogle,  Jr.,  son  of  Jacob  Ogle. 

94  George  Hendricks. 

95  Daaiel  Shook. 
93  John  Scott 

97  Jean  Pierre. 

98  Francois  Trotier. 

99  Benjamin  Rodgem. 

100  Alexander  Dennis. 

101  David  Badglev. 

102  James  McKay. 

103  William  Biggs. 

104  George  Wallice. 

105  William  Murray. 

106  Anthony  Badgley. 

107  Francois  Courrier. 

108  Thomas  Brady. 

109  James  McLaughlin,  Sr. 

110  George  Atchison. 

111  John  Dumoulin. 

112  William  Arundel. 

113  George  Blair. 


ISAAC  DARNEILI.B. 


17  Abraham  Teter. 

18  Uel.  Whiteside. 

19  Aug.  Clermont. 

20  Henry  Byron. 

21  Francois  Arnois. 

22  John  Whitesides. 

23  Denis  Vallantin. 

24  Pierre  Martin,  Sr. 

25  Pierre  Gaudin. 

26  Louis  Lebrun. 

27  Baptiste  La  Becasse. 

28  Leon  Lepage. 

29  Paschal  Courrier. 

30  Edward  Hebert. 

31  Francois  Turgeau,  Sr. 

32  Paul  Campeau. 


HISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


33  Hubert  Delorme. 

34  Louis  Gendron. 

35  John  Meudron. 

36  Benjamin  Casterland. 

37  Pierre  La  Jeunesse. 

38  Alexis  Chartran. 

39  William  Scott,  Sr. 

40  Simon  Le  Page. 

41  John  Lambert,  Sr. 

42  Claude  St.  Aubin. 

43  Francois  Chevallier. 

44  Louis  Beille. 

45  Raphael  Danvesion. 

46  Antoine  Girardin. 

47  Francois  La  May. 

48  Louis  Delonchant. 

49  John  Grondines. 

50  Arthur  Everraan. 

51  Jacob  Colard. 

52  Frank  Osborn. 


53  Lewis  Noland. 
51  John  Wilson. 
5o  John  Porter,  Sr. 

56  Williaru  Adams. 

57  Abraham  Clarke. 

58  William  Blair. 

59  Thomas  Talbot. 

60  John  Teter. 
61,  John  Porrier. 

62  Samuel  Wilson. 

63  William  Rporiman. 

64  Jesse  Waddle. 

65  William  Porter. 

66  Thomas  Porter. 

67  Philip  La  Flame. 

68  Thomas  Lacouture. 

69  John  Jarvis. 

70  Franklin  Jarvis. 

71  Hosea  Biggs. 

72  Bapt.  Bergeron. 


I  do  hereby  certify  that  the  above  list  of  voters  for  the  election 
of  a  representative  for  the  county  of  St.  Clair  is  true  and  ju»t. 
Cahokia,  the  5th  day  of  January,  1799. 

George  Blair,  Sheriff  of  St.  Clair  county. 
We  do  certify  that  the  above  is  the  true  original. 


John  Dumoulin,     \   j^^j„gg 
George  Atchison,  j  ^   ' 

William  Arundel, 
John  Hay, 


Clerks. 


The  orthography  of  those.  183  names  contained  in  the  above  list 
may  guide  us  in  determining  the  nationality  of  the  said  voters.  91 
seem  to  have  been  French,  90  American  or  Eoglish,  3  German  and 
1  Irish.  A  further  analyzation  of  the  vote  shows  that  the  nation- 
ality question  was  wholly  ignored,  Bond  receiving  54  American,  58 
French. and  1  German  votes ;  while  D*rneille,  the  defeated  candi- 
date, received  36  American,  33  French,  2  German  and  1  Irish 
votes. 

Another  election  was  held  at  Cahokia  on  the  7  th  of  December, 
1802,  to  elect  three  representatives  to  go  to  Vincennes,  and  there  to 
meet  the  convention,  "  to  be  held  there  on  the  20th  of  December, 
for  the  purpose  of  sending  to  congress  our  grievances."  The 
officers  of  this  election  were  John  Hays,  sheriff;  Dumoulin  and 
Atchison,  judges;  John  Hay  and  L'OBval,  clerks.  The  successful 
'  candidates  were  Shadrack  Bjnd,  Sr.,  Jean  Frangois  Perry  and 
John  Mordock.  Biggs,  Darneille,  Arundel  and  Lemen  were  de- 
feated. 

May  21, 1805,  Shadrack  Bond  and  William  Biggs  were  elected 
representatives  to  the  territorial  legislature.  Bond  becoming  a 
member  of  the  legislative  council  in  1806,  resigned,  when  his  nephew, 
Shadrack  Bond,  Jr.,  was  elected  to  fill  his  vacancy,  and  was  re- 
elected together  with  Biggs  in  1807. 

Oct.  10,  1812,  William  Biggs  was  elected  to  the  legislative  coun- 
cil, and  Jacob  Short  and  Joshua  Oglesby  were  elected  to  the  house 
of  representatives  of  Illinois  territory.  Jacob  Short  resigned  in 
1813,  and  John  Mordock  was  elected  to  fill  said  vacancy,  Nov.  10, 
1813.  All  these  elections  were  held  at  Cahokia.  In  1814,  Belle- 
ville became  the  county  seat,  and 'subsequent  elections  were  held  at 
this  place. 

Poll  list  and  return  of  the  first  election  held  in  St  Clair  county, 
after  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a  state,  Sept.  17, 1818. 

Election  polls  begun  and  held  at  Belleville,  for  and  within  the 
county  of  St.  Clair,  in  the  Illinois  territory,  on  Thursday,  the  17th  of 
September,  1818,  to  elect  the  following  members  to  organize  and 
form  the.  Government  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  by  virtue  of  the  Con- 
stitution passed  in  August,  1818,  and  by  virtue  of  a  writ  of  election 
to  me  directed,,  to  elect  one  Governor,  one  Lieutenant-Governor,  one 


Representative  to  Congress,  one  Senator  to  the  General  Assembly, 
three  Representatives  to  the  Assembly,  one  Sheriff,  and  one  Coroner. 

Thomas  Gillham  and  James  Rose,  sworn  judges  of  the  election, 
and  John  Hay,  clerk. 

Wm.  Scott,  Sr ,  George  Stout,  Sr.,  Thomas  W.  Talbott,  David 
Chance,  James  W.  Whitney,  Wm.  Beer,  Sr.,  John  Hill,  Henry 
Stout,  James  Kimberling,  Moses  Short,  John  Rider,  James  Marney, 
Edward  Ceciil,  Peter  Rittenhouse,  Charles  R.  Matheney,  David 
Lowe,  Noah  Matheney,  Silas  Mozee,  Caleb  Lacy,   James  Glass, 
Joseph  Penn,  Arthur  Morgan,  Jacob  Stout,  Daiiiel  Stookey,  Fran- 
cis Swan,  Wm.  Calbreath,  Laurant   Schanberger,  Joseph  Boneau, 
Auguste  Trottier,  Baptiste  Grondine,  Thomas  Chartrand,  Joseph 
Pepin,  Antoine  La  Coune,   Denis  Delorme,  Reuben   Samuel,  E. 
Lemieux,  Louis  Pepin,  Jos.  Lepage,  Gabriel  Marleau,  Julien  Mer- 
cier,  Pierre  Gueirr,  Joseph  Gonville,  N(3el  Godin,  Pierre  Marleau, 
George  Dixon,  Shelton  Allphin,  Robert  Lemen,  William  Padfield, 
Jr.,  Joseph  Lemen,  John  Tetor,  Baptiste   AUny,  James  Watts, 
Evans  Barnes,  Archer  Ballard,  Meredith  Cooper,  Ezekiel  Jones, 
Ichabod  Allen,  Louis  Lepage,  Frangois  Trottier,  Jacob  Huffman, 
Wm.   Moore,  Stephen   Ballard,  Stephen   Cooper,  Clayton   Tiffin, 
Jacob   Young,  Menan    Mills,  Joseph   Primm,   Benjamin   Watts, 
Pliilip  Smith,  Wm.  McMurray,  Samuel  Scott,  John  Steel,  Alex- 
ander Cavines,  Robert  White,  Wm.  Payton,  Wm.  Scott,  Jr.,  Tap- 
ley  Young,  Peter  Right,  Hugh  Alexander,  Levi  Primm,  Thos.  Ray, 
Israel  Robinson,  Wm.  Adair,  Abel  Tirke,  John  Melemore,  Samuel 
McDonald,  Robert  Moore,  Samuel  Mitchell,  Wm.  Sample,  Elward 
Mitchell,  Joseph  Pepin,  Simon  Bertrand,  Louis  Jervais,  Wm.  M. 
Brewer,  Joseph  Dixon,  David  Spark.-^,  James  Moore,  John  Hancock, 
Thomas  Quick,  John  Chaoman,  Robert  Abernathey,  John  Prentice, 
Joseph   Chance,   Mark   Ward,   Robert    Thomas,  Aaron   Primm, 
Joseph  Ogle,  Jr.,  John   D.  Thomas,  Abraham   Badgley,  Daniel 
Iman,  Henry  Inman,  Abraham  Iman,  Wm.  Short,  Sam.  Redman, 
Wm.  Penn,  Jacob  Iman,  Joshua  Oglesby,  Wm.  T.  Kincade,  Leo 
Tibigin,  Matthew  Cox,  David  Cox,  Geo.  W;  Lott,  Patrick  Hogan, 
Tolly  B.  Wade,  Robert  Gooding,  Bennett  Million.  Seth  Crocker, 
Simon  Stookey,  Wm.  Miller,  Peter  Grant,  Benjamin  Hale,  Wm. 
Hilt,  Philip  A'inyard,  Moses  Stookey,  Samuel  Allen,  James  Babet, 
James  Walker,  James  McCann,  Thomas  Coats,  Wm.  Atcheson, 
Jacob  Can,  James  Black,  Wm.  Johnson,  John  Thompson,  Philip 
Upton,  Thomas  Beer,  Daniel  Beer,  Joseph  Beer,  John  Anderson, 
Robert  Stockton,  Abram  Duff,  Martin  Dial,  John  Lymmes,  Benja- 
min Phillips,  Patrick  Huggin-s,  Elvia  Allen,  Geo.  Mitchell,  Green 
Hill,  Daniel  Bonham,  Joshua  Woods,  Redman  Strickland,  Henry 
Randleman,  Rjbert  L.  Rankin,  Anthony  Badgley,  Robert  McClure, 
Johu  Meekum,  Wm.  G.  Brouen,  Jonathan  Sharp,  Sam.  Bonham, 
John  Primm,  Sr ,  John  Stountz,  Aaron  Badgley,  Abram  Varner, 
Sylvester  Merrill,  John  Russell,  John  Ward,  John  Leech,  Benja- 
min Campbell,  John  Broom,  Stephen  Lacey,  Samuel  Steel,  Paul 
Kingston,  James  Simpson,  John  L    Whiteside,  Wm.  Stout,  Patrick 
Johnson,  Alphonso  C.  Stuart,  David  Knight,  Isaac  Baisey,  Jacques 
Martin,  Dazire  Clouard,  Wm.  O.  Watts,  Wm.  Bonham,  Henry 
Funderburg,  Richard  Right,  John  B.  Robinson,  Solomon  Teter, 
Thomas  Moore,  Rawby  Rolls,  Robert  Huffman,  Jarrard  Buckey, 
Benjamin  Million,  Henry  Null,  James  Brewer,  Tobias  Bright,  Wm. 
Grignion,  Wm.  Hind,  Joseph  Riggs,  John  Arnett,  Benjamin  Wood, 
Wm.  Barton,  Johu  Wilcox,  Wm.  Telford,  Matthew  Pate,  Benj. 
Ogle,   John   Chamless,  Wm.  Rutherford,  Alexander  Scott,  Jacob 
Ogle,  Sr.,  Jacob  Earnest,  Joseph  Trotter,  E.  Daout,  Wra.  Arnoure, 
A.  Brisson,  Samuel  Webster,  Pierre  Godiu,  Abram  Bunker,  Joseph 
Padfield,  Marshal  Hawkins,  Thomas  Skidmore,  Smith  Crane,  B. 
Paradie,  P.  Godin,  Joseph  Nealy,  Samuel  Sharp,  David  Cohen, 
Jeseph  Fry,  Dausey  Wilderman,  Nathan  Fike,  John  Castleberry, 


72 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


M.  Farriere,  Alexander  George,  Robert  Chestney,  JIarshal  Dun- 
can, Wm.  Stallions,  Thomas  Chestney,  AVm.  Hill,  Wni.  Holcomb, 
David  Badgley,  Wyatt  Strickland,  Eli  Ward,  Moses  Land,  Aaron 
Shock,  John  Randleman,  Martin  Baker,  Wm.  Simpson,  George 
Matthews,  Thomas  Cjx,  Thomas  Harrison,  John  Wells,  Lee  G. 
Jennings,  Sam.  C.  Myers,  Nathan  Tatman,  Robert  Middleton,  Joel 
Beaver,  Washington  West,  Wm.  Moore,  James  Estep,  Levi  Tider, 
John"  Cotton,  Daniel  Pierce,  Samuel  Honny,  James  Philips,  Wm. 
Fowler,  Wm.  Small,  Samuel  Crane,  Louis  Boismenu,  James  Hon- 
song,  John  Cotton,  Jr.,  Henry  Nealy,  Hugh  MeClintoek,  John 
Boucher,  John  Kingston,  Zachariah  Hays,  Christopher  Fowkes, 
Silas  Crane,  Louis  W.  Myers,  Samuel  Beedle,  Moses  Quick,  Jas. 
AV.  Davidson,  Daniel  Thompson,  James  Kuight,  John  Reynolds, 
John  Ham,  Joseph  Kerr,  James  Rose,  Daniel  Murray,  Z.  Holcomb, 
Antoine  Poupart,  B.  Lapambere,  B.  Cheionard,  Pascal  Poupart, 
Joseph  Celine,  Paul  Poupart,   Charles    Beinier,   Joseph    Ruelle, 
Joseph    Poupart,   Jr.,   M.   St.   Yve,  Joseph   Grandmaison,   Wm. 
Ratcliff,    Joseph    Chinei,    James     Lemen,     Louis    'Lo    Compte, 
Calvin    Day,    Joseph     Gueret,    Joseph    St.    Jean,    M.    Pincon- 
neau,  Louis  Gregoire,  Joseph  Gravelle,  P.  Gramlin,  P.  Lavaniere, 
Jean  Boisnenieu,  Baptiste  Le  Compte,   Vachel  Hinton,  Baptiste 
Manegle,  Paul  Tremble,  Michel  Berneshe,  Louis  St.  Jean,  Louis 
Labuxiere,  Joseph  Derloge,  George  Blair,  Jean  Beaulieu,  Philip 
Laplamme,  Israel  Strait,  Charles  Beaugenon,  Charles  Biron,  John 
Newcom,  Daniel  Murphy,  Jonas  Shook,  Hosea  Rigg,  Curtis  Moore, 
Baptiste  La  Coune,  Zachariah  Stephenson,  John  Stanley,  Nicholas 
Boneau,  George  W.  Wilky,  Joseph  Langlois,  Louis  Godiu,  John 
Burns,  Auguste  Chartrand,  J.  Lamotte,  Jacqties  Vanier,  Henry 
Taylor,  Atlas  Moore,  Whitfield  ToUenshend,  Daniel  Million,  P. 
Laperche,  Ett  Pinconneau,  Wm;  Griffin,  H.  Davis,  Henry  Hutton, 
Charles  Leathers,  Bird  Estes,  George  Scott,  Ed.  D.  Summers,  John 
Enochs,  Lewis  Hening,  John  Crocker,  Nicholas  Turgeon,  Nathan- 
iel McGomerry,  Baptist  Dubuc,  Edward  Bradley,'  James  Buck, 
Henry  Crowl,  Wm.  Lunceferd,  James  Brown,  Franklin  Jarvis, 
John  Scott,  James  Read,  Aaron   Quick,  Joseph  Scott,  Thomas 
Padfield,  James  Nichols,  Larkin  Norris,  Jonathan  Roskin,  George 
Wilderman,   James  Padfield,   John  Thomas,  Wm.   McGomerry, 
Henry  Walker,  Louis  Pinconneau,  Wm.  Walker,  Major  Heireng, 
Pleasant  Randolph,  Samuel  Piles,  Wm.  Piles,  Henry  Wilderman, 
L.  Pennington,  John  Simmons,  John  Jarvis,  John  Atkemon,  John 
Walker,  Joseph  Cornelius,  Middleton  Crane,  iJames  Wilderman, 
Richard  Dogget,  Francis  Wilderman,  Thomas  Smith,  James  W. 
Bradsby,  James  Foster,  Isaac  Quick,  Charles  B.  Walker,  Wm. 
Rittenhouse,  Wm.  Hendricks,  Ransom  Caudle,  Louis  Petit,  Joseph 
Young,   Clement   Rigg,   Joseph   Wilderman,  Peter  Hill,  Joseph 
Land,  Lewis  Land,  Ephraim  Perkins,  Davis  Whiteside,   Hiram 
Virgin,  Jesse  Perkins,  Enoch  Hale,  Samuel  HuflT,  Michael  Ratcliff, 
John  W.  Johnson,  Anthony  M.  Thomas,  Joseph  Holcomb,  Wm. 
Prian,   Hugh   Cunningham,  Thomas  Primm,  John  Crane,  Wm. 
Rittenhouse,   Francis   Crop,   Stephen   McGhehou,   Wm.  Bledsoe, 
Gaven  Bledsoe,  Pleasant  Goings,  John  McCully,  ^Vm.  Higgins, 
Joseph  Bonham,  Elijah  Rittenhouse,  Wm.  Journey, 'Jacob  Lunce- 
ford,   John   Manna,  John   E.  Horn,  George   Snaggart,  Malcolm 
Johnson,  Seth  Hodges,  Thomas  Stubblefield,  Daniel  E.  Bailess, 
James  Anderson,  James  Taunehill,  Henry  Allen,  Joshua  Perkins, 
James  Jenkins,  Stephen  Whiteside,  Joseph  Cavenah,  Thos.  Welsh, 
A.  Johnson,  N.   Hill,  Julius  Nichols,  Solomon  Miller,  Wm.  L. 
Whiteside,   Wm.   Philips,   Robt.    Harrison,    Thomas    Knighton, 
William  Right,  Thomas  Nichols,  Davis   Whiteside,  Joel  Jackson, 
M.  Bonham,  Jabus  Liquor,  Daniel  Wise,  Wm.  Baker,  N.  Hornet, 
Charles  Hiraes,  John  Lowe,  George  Slayton,  John  C.  Potter,  Wm. 
Padfield,  Sr.,  Henry  I.  Goode,  Solomon  AUen^  A.  Tremble,  John 


J.  Whiteside,  Robert  Duncan,  J.  Manville,  John  Ryan,  Jesse  B. 
Thomas,  John  Rutherford,  AVilliam  Vinyard,  Wm.  Warnduflf", 
Green  W.  Short,  F.  K.  Wise,  Hugh  Smiley,  B.  Cotton,  R.  Pullham, 
Louis  Duvall,  D.  Davis,  Timothy  Bennett,  James  Woods,  Neal 
Kennedy,  Daniel  Philip,  Lemon  Abbe,  Samuel  Tozer,  Wm.  Alex- 
ander, Jacob  Whiteside,  Elijah  Rittenhouse,  Risdon  Moore,  Robert 
K.  McLaughlin,  David  Hill,  Henry  Mace,  Isaac  Hickman,  B. 
Virgin,  John  Allen,  Miner  Allen,  David  Matthews,  Stephen  Brewer, 
Joshua  Clark,  Levi  Day,  Nathan  Morgan,  Jacob  Ellis,  Levi  Ellis, 
Wm.  C.  Purdy,  Joseph  Ogle,  Jacob  Ogle,  Elihu  Reynolds,  David 
Emert,  John  Scott,  Robert  Ranson,  Wm.  Virgin,  Job  Badgley,  A. 
McMurty,  James  Pullham,  Andrew  McCrae,  Jeremiah  Philips, 
Edmon  Kennedy,  John  Lacey,  John  Whiteside,  Alexander  Nash, 
James  Carlin,  Asa  Stroud,  William  Mean,  Henry  Talbot,  Richard 
Chapman,  Wm.  A.  Beand,  James  D.  Thomas,  John  Messinger, 
Wm.  Kinney,  Wm.  Biggs,  Thomas  Gillham,  John  Hays,  John 
Hay,  Stephen  Wilcox,  John  Gibbon,  John  Bud. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  candidates,  and  the  number 
of  votes  each  received  from  the  above  named  voters  : 

For  Governor Shadrach  Bond 436  votes 

r   "     Lieut.  " Pierre  Menard 262  " 

"j    "        "       " Wm.  L.  Keynolds 97  " 

I   '•        "       " Edward  N.  Cullom 124  " 

/    "     Congre.ss Daniel  P.  Cook 396     " 

I-   "  "         John  McLean 107  " 

r    "     State  Senator  ....  Wm.  Kinney 294  " 

*■    "        "  "         ....  Wm.  Biggs 252  " 

f    "    State  Representative  .  James  D.  Thomas  .  '370  " 

I    "        "  ''  .  John  Mefsinger 342  " 

I    "         "  "  .  Eisdon  Moore 240  " 

I    "        "  "  .  Cornelius  Gooding 240  " 

"        "  "  .  Jacob  Ogle 205  " 

1-   "        "  "  .P.Mitchell 75  " 

"    Sheriff Wm.  A.  Beaird 256  " 

Wm.  Bigg?,  Jr 208  " 

"        "        Robert  K.  McLaughlin 89  " 

"     Coroner Job  Badgley 184  " 

"  Tliomas  W.  Talbott 119  ■' 

'  "  H.  Sharp ng  .' 

[    •'  "  S.  Myers 16  " 

This  election  closed  at  three  o'clock  on  Saturday,  the  third  day  of  ■ 
said  election,  whereupon  it  appears  that  Wm.  Kinney  is  duly  elect- 
ed Senator  of  the  Assembly,  John  Messinger  and  James  D.  Thomas 
elected  Representatives,  Risdon  Moore  and  Cornelius  Gooding  be- 
ing equal  on  number  of  votes,  Wm.  A.  Baird  elected  asSheriflf,  and 
Job  Badgley  as  Coroner. 

Thos.  Gillham,     1 
James  Rose,  |  Judges. 

John  Hays,  Sheriflf, 
Attest,  John  Hay,  Clerk. 

Belleville,  September  19th,  1818. 

Elections  lasted  from  two  to  three  days.  Voting  took  place  viva 
mce.  County  or  local  elections  seem  to  have  interested  the  people 
in  those  years  much  more  than  Federal  elections.  To  illustrate 
which,  we  shall  give  here  the  numbers  of  votes  polled  in  1820.  The 
local  election  took  place  in  August,  when  619  voters  appeared  at 
the  polls,  while  the  Presidential  election,  in  November,  brought  out 
but  185  voters. 

Up  to  the  date  of  this  election  the  county  had  had  but  one  place 
of  election,  or  poll-Cahokia,  from  1790  to  1814,  when,  on  the  re- 
moval of  the  county-seat  to  Belleville,  the  poll  was  also  located 
there. 

The  County  Court  established  an  election  precinct  for  the  town- 


HISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


73 


ship  of  Cahokia,  poll  to  be  at  the  house  of  AugustePensoneau— on 
the  14th  of  September,  1821.  For  Chamber  township  and  parts  of 
Ogle  snd  Silvercreek,  townships,  poll  at  the  house  of  William  Tal- 
bott,  at  Lebanon— December  1821.  For  Manville  and  Silvercreek 
June  4, 1822,  poll  at  the  house  of  Joshua  Perkins,  at  New  Athens. 
And  for  Spring  township,  with  poll  at  Columbia,  May  8,  1824. 

The  boundaries  of  these  precincts  were  not  accurately  defined  and 
we  find  that  in  June,  1826,  the  following  order  was  issued  : 
Chamber  township,  and  parts  of  Ogle  and  Silvercreek  townships 

shall  form  precinct  No.  1,  with  poll  at  Lebanon. 
Manville  township  and  the  other  adjacent  people  shall  form  precinct 

No.  2,  poll  at  the  house  of  Reuben  Lively. 
Cahokia  and  Illinois  townships  shall  form  the  3d  precinct,  voting 

place  at  the  house  of  Nic-  Boismenne,  in  Cahokia. 
Belleville  township  to  be  the  4th  precinct,  with  poll  at  the  court- 
house. 
From  this  day  on,  various  changes  have  been  made,  whenever 
the  county  authorities  saw  proper  so  to  do.  We  forbear  to  give  the 
details  of  those  changes,  and  will  merely  state  that  at  present  the 
county  is  divided  into  sixteen  political  townships,  and  that  each  of 
these  townships  forms  an  election  precinct.  Oiir  readers  will  find 
a  more  detailed  account  of  these  townships  or  precincts  in  another 
chapter  of  this  work,  and  we  shall  confine  ourselves  merely  to  a  re- 
cital of  their  names,  their  population  in  1880,  and  the  number  of 
votes  cast  at  the  general  election  of  said  year,  to  wit : 

INHABITANTS.  VOTES  OAST. 

Belleville  precinct 17,109 3,415 

East  St.  Louis, 9,977 1,805 

Athens, 3,823 696 

St.  Clair, 1,639 294 

Centreville 3,520 640 

Mascoiitah 4,944 893 

Cahokia,  1,974 359 

Fayetteville 3,342 607 

Lebanon 3,674 668 

Summerfield 1,676 305 

Caseyville, 1,452 264 

Richland, 3,334 607 

n'Fallorf, 3,042 553 

Prairie  du  Pont, 1,249 227 

Shiloh 792 144 

French  Village, 539 93 


Totals,    62,031 


11,581 


We  have  heretofore  made  the  assertion  that  the  population  of 
the  county  about  the  year  1800,  was  larger  than  the  figures  given 
by  former  authors;  the  non-voting  population  of  Indians  and 
Negroes  are  of  course  not  included. 

1799.  1st  election 185  votes 

1805.  3rd      ,"      182    " 

1812.  5th      "      338    " 

1818.  7th  •    " 556    " 

The  following  is  the  population  of  St.  Clair  county  from  1800 
to  1880: 

1800  1,255 

1810  5,007 

1820 5,248 

1830  7,078 

1840  13,631 

1850 20,180 

1860  37,694 

1870  51,068 

1880  , 61,850 

The  archives  in  the  court  house  at  Belleville  give  no  clue  as  to 
10 


the  authority  upon  which  the  election  of  January  5,  1799,  was 
held. 

The  election  of  1802  was  ordered  by  the  then  Governor  of  the 
Indiana  Territory;  the  original  proclamation  is  on  file  in  the 
court-house,  in  words  and  figures  as  follows  : 

By  William  Henry  Harrison,  Esq.,  Governor  and  Commander- 
in-chief  of  the  Indiana  Territory. 

A  PEOCLAMATION. 

Whereas  by  my  proclamation  of  the  23d  inst.  an  election  for 
representatives  to  a  general  convention  was  directed  to  be  holden  ; 
In  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  good  people  of  thu  Territory, 
expressed  to  me  in  sundry  petitions, — 

And  wuereas  it  is  expedient  that  the  said  convention  should  be 
assembled  as  soon  as  possible, — I  have  thought  proper  to  appoint, 
and  do  by  these  presents  appoint  Monday,  the  20th  of  December 
next  ensuing  for  that  purpose,  and  each  and  every  person  who  shall 
be  duly  returned  as  a  represantative  to  the  said  convention  is  re- 
quired to  give  his  attendance  at  the  Town  of  Vincennes  on  the  said 
20th  of  December. 

Done  at  Vincennes  the  24th  of  November,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  two,  and  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  the  twenty-seventh. 

In  testimony  of  which  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  have 
caused  the  seal  of  the  Territory  to  be  afiixed. 

William  Henry  Harrison. 
By  the  Governor, 

John  Gibson,  Secretary. 

This  document  is  endorsed  as  follows  : 

In  obedience  to  the  within  writ,  an  election  was  held  on  Tuesday 

December  7,  at  the  court-house  in  St.  Clair  county,  when  Shadrach 

Bond,  Jean  Francois  Perrey  and  John  Mordock,  Esquires,  were 

elected  representatives  to  the  convention. 

In  testimony  whereof,  etc.,  etc., 

John  Hays,  SheriS^. 

The  election  of  1805  was  held  in  consequence  of  a  similar  pro- 
clamation which  is  also  on  file  in  original,  worded  as  follows : 

Indiana  Territory    ^  ss.' 

By  William  Henry  Harrison,  Governor,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Whereas  by  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  6th  of  February  last,  the  election  held  on  the  8d  day  of  Janu- 
ary preceding,  for  a  representative  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Territory  from  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  was  declared  null  and  void, 
and  whereas  by  an  act  of  Congress,  passed  at  their  last  session,  the 
county  of  Wayne  is  from  and  after  the  30th  of  June  next  ensuing 
to  be  formed  into  a  separate  Territory.  Now  therefore  to  the  end 
that  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair  may  have  the  proportion  of  repre- 
sentatives in  the  Legislature  to  which  its  population  entitles  it,  and 
that  the  number  of  members  composing  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives after  the  30th  day  of  June  next,  may  be  made  conformable  to 
the  law  creating  the  Indiana  Territory,  I  have  thought  proper  to 
issue  this  my  proclamation,  hereby  making  known  that  an  electioij 
will  be  held  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair  on  Monday,  the  20th  day  of 
May  next,  for  two  persons  to  represent  the  said  county  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  for  two  years,  from  and  after  the  said  3Qth  of 
June  next,  and  I  do  further  make  known  and  declare,  that  from 
and  after  the  said  30th  of  June  next,  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  said  Territory  shall  consist  of  seven  members." 

The  proclamation  is  signed  and  endorsed  as  the  one  above. 

The  first  election  held  in  and  for  the  Territory  ot  Illinois  was  or- 
dered by  the  following  proclamation,  viz. : 


74 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


By  Niniaa  Edwards,  Governor  and  Commander-in-chief  of  the 
Illinois  Territory. 

A  PEOCLAMATIO:^. 

Whereas  by  my  proclamation  of  the  14th  of  March  last,  elec- 
tions were  directed  to  be  held  in  the  several  counties,  in  order  to 
give  the  freeholders  thereof  an  opportunity  of  expressing  their 
wishes  relative  to  the  organization  of  a  General  Assembly  in  the 
Territory. 

And  whereas  it  appears  to  my  satisfaction  that  a  majority  of 
them  were  in  favor  thereof,  I  do  hereby  order  that  elections  be  held 
in  the  several  counties  of  this  Territory,  on  the  8th,  9ih  and  10th 
days  of  October  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  delegate  to 
Congress,  members  of  Council,  and  Representatives  in  the  Assem- 
bly ;  the  election  to  be  held  for  the  county  of  Madison  at  the  house 
of  Thomas  Kirkpatrick ;  for  the  county  of  St.  Clair  at  the  court- 
house, in  the  town  of  Cahokia ;  for  the  county  of  Randolph  at  the 
court-house,  in  the  town  of  Kaskaskia ;  for  the  county^  of  Gallatin 
at  Shawneetown ;  and  for  the  county  of  Johnston  at  the  house  of 
John  Bradshaw 

And  I  do  hereby  assign  to  the  county  of  Madison  one. Represen- 
tative, to  the  county  of  St.  Clair  two,  to  the  county  of  Randolph 
one,  to  the  county  of  Gallatin  two,  and  to  the  county  of  Johnston 
one. 

Done  at  Kaskaskia,  the  14th  day  of  September,  1812,  and  of  the 
independence  of  the  U.  S.  the  37th. 

NiNiAN  Edwards. 
By  order  of  the  Governor, 

Nathaniel  Pope,  Secretary. 

The  governors  of  those  days  used  plain  coarse  paper,  no  printed 
forms  whatever.  The  papers  had  as  water  mark  the  name  of  C. 
Patch,  and  the  year  1799. 

LAND   GRANTS   IN    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

The  bishop  of  Quebec,  in  Canada,  then  New  France,  in  July  1698, 
granted  letters  patent  to  the  Seminary  of  Foreign  Missions,  at 
Quebec,  for  the  establishment  of  a  mission  for  the  Tamarois  and 
Kahokias,  two  Indian  tribes  in  S.  W.  Illinois.  In  pursuance  of  this 
authority  the  mission  of  St.  Sulpice  was  established  among  said 
tribes,  and  a  village  grew  up,  called  the  Holy  Family  of  Caoquias. 
The  missionaries  seem  to  have  enjoyed  and  executed  a  full  control 
of  affairs  subject  to  no  power  other  than  their  superiors  of  ths  Sem 
inary  of  Quebec.  La  Salle,  after  descending  the  Mississippi  river  to 
its  mouth  in  1682,  had  given  to  the  vast  valley  the  name  of  Loui- 
siana in  honor  of  King  Louis  XIV.  of  France.  The  first  ofiBcial 
mentioning  of  the  name,  however,  occurred  thirty  years  later,  when 
on  the  14th  of  September,  1712,  the  king  of  France  granted  to 
Antoiue  Crozat,  letters  patent  to  the  whole  commerce  of  the  country. 
Disappointed  in  his  expectations  of  finding  precious  metals,  Crozat 
surrendered  his  patent  to  the  crown  in  17 1 7.  The  Duke  of  Orleans, 
then  regent  of  France  during  the  minority  of  Louis  XV.  estab- 
lished the  Company  of  the  Indies,  to  whom  was  granted  all  Loui- 
siana, with  power  to  grant  away  the  royal  domain.  The  early 
records  of  this  state  show  numerous  grants  made  by  this  company, 
and  among  them  one  of  particular  interest  for  this  county;  we  give 
its  contents  in  full. 

We,  Pierre  Duguet  de  Boisbriant,  first  lieutenant  of  the  king  in 
the  province  of  Louisiana,  Commandant  in  the  Illinois,  and  Marc 
Antoine  de  la  Loire  des  Ursins,  principal  commissary  of  the  Royal 
company  of  the  Indies. 

On  the  demand  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Caoquias  and  Tamarois, 
to  grant  them  a  tract  of  four  leagues  squares,  in  fee  simple,  with 
the  neighboring  island,  to  be  taken  a  quarter  of  a  league  above  the 


small  river  of  Caokias,  situated  above  the  Indian  village,  and  in 
going  up  following  the  course  of  the  Mississippi  and  in  returning 
towards  the  fort  of  Chartres,  running  in  depth  to  the  north,  east 
and  south  for  quantity.  We,  in  consequence  of  our  powers,  have 
granted  the  said  land  to  the  missionaries  of  Caokias  and  Tamarois 
in  fee  simple,  over  which  they  can,  from  the  present,  work,  clear 
and  plant  the  land,  awaiting  a  formal  concession  which  will  be  sent 
from  France  by  the  directors  general  of  the  Royal  company  of  the 
Indies. 
At  Fort  Chartres,  this  22d  of  June,  1722. 
Signed, 

BoisBEiANT,  Des  Ursins. 

This  grant  was  recognized  by  the  French  government  in  August 
1743,  acting  through  Mons.  Vaudrieul,  then  governor,  and  Jalmon, 
commissary,  of  the  province  of  L)uisiana.  Upon  this  grant  the 
missiouariiis  established  their  church  and  village,  granting  in  their 
turn  portions  of  this  large  tract  of  land  to  settlers.  From  1763  to 
1778  the  territory  was  under  the  control  of  England,  then  it  was 
occupied  by  the  State  of  Virginia,  which,  in  its  turn  ceded  the 
territory  to  the  United  States  by  deed,  March  1st,  1784.  Neither 
England  nor  Virginia  interfered  with  those  French  grants  made  to 
individuals.  An  act  of  Congress  October  20,  1783,  provides  for 
the  confirming  of  all  these  grants,  and  instructs  the  governor  of  the 
Western  Territory  to  proceed  to  the  French  settlements  on  the 
Mississippi  to  examine  the  titles  of  those  settlers.  Thus  originated 
a  class  of  titles,  known  as  Governor's  confirmations.  The  laws  of 
Virginia  granted  so-called  improvement  rights,  of  400  acres  each, 
to  actual  settlers.  The  Cahokia  head  of  family  rights  also  of  400 
acres  each,  were  granted  by  Congress  to  every  head  of  family  hav- 
ing resided  at  Cahokia  in  the  year  1783. 

We  find  in  the  records  of  the  county  a  power  of  attorney  given 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  French  settlements  on  the  Wabash,  to 
Bartholomew  Tardiveau,  then  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court  at 
Cahokia,  to  act  as  their  agent  at  Congress  for  the  purpose  to  de- 
mand and  obtain  for  them  the  confirmation  of  their  ancient  rights 
and  further  grants. 

The  power  of  attorney  is  dated  October  7,  1787,  signed  by  51 
inhabitants  and  the  following  magistrates:  Pierre  Gamelin,  M. 
Perrot,  G.  Gibault,  pr6tre ;  P.  Gruerre,  Paul  Gamelin,  Jean  Tonga, 
Joseph  St.  Marie,  Antoine  Doriette,  J.  E.  Deline,  Michel  Broulut, 
Jean  Hunot  and  J.  M.  P.  Legras,  first  magistrate. 

Antoine  Gamelin, 

Notary  and  Register. 

Tardiveau  must  have  been  successful.  He  remained  at  the  seat 
of  government  several  years,  as  appears  from  the  records  of  that 
period.  Congress,  on  the  3d  of  March,  1791,  made  provision  for 
further  land  grants  to  settlers  at  Vincennes  and  in  the  Illinois 
country. 

Another  land  title  originated  from  the  so-called  militia  rights,  of 
100  acres  each,  for  services  rendered  as  militia  men  prior  to  1790, 
of  which  rights  not  less  than  255  were  claimed  before  the  clerk  of 
the  county  in  November,  1798. 

The  records  of  the  county  show,  that  besides  those  225  militia 
rights,  there  were  claimants  for  43  Virginia  improvement  and  for 
about  160  Cahokia  head  rights,  governor's  confirmations  and  Caho- 
kia court  rights.  Sjme  individuals  were  entitled  to  head  and  militia 
rights  at  the  same  time,  so  that  there  were  no  more  than  about  400 
individual  grantees  within  the  present  limits  of  the  county. 

These  numerous  grants,  hovf  ever,  did  not  benefit  the  many ;  they 
became  the  source  of  wealth  to  a  few,  who  had  the  means  to  buy 
the  claims  and  the  foresight  to  appreciate  their  value. 

Tha  archives  of  the  court-house  at  Bolleville,  contain  a  memoran- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


75 


dum  book,  in  the  handwriting  of  a  most  accurate  clerk — John  Hay, 
which  gives  an  almost  complete  account  of  those  grants,  by  whom 
originally  owned  and  to  whom  subsequently  conveyed.  The  chapter, 
on  "  Pioneers  and  Early  Settlers,"  recites  the  names  of  parties  who 
■were  entitled  to  head  rights,  improvement  rights,  etc.,  each  of  400 
acres  of  first  quality  land,  and  the  chapter  on  "  Patriotism,"  gives 
the  muster  roll  of  our  militia  men,  to  whom  the  militia  rights,  each 
1 00  acres  of  second  quality  land,  were  granted.  Mr.  John  Hay's  little 
memorandum  book,  commenced  November  5th,  and  closed  Novem- 
ber 30,  1798,  gives  the  names  of  the  few  parties,  who  kept  their 
claims,  and  also  the  names  of  those,  who  had  purchased  the  rights 
of  others.  The  lands,  which  had  been  granted  to  about  four  hun- 
dred individuals,  had  passed  in  less  than  seven  years  into  the  hands 
of  89  persons,  whose  names  will  here  appear,  as  also  the  quality  of 
lands  claimed  by  them  and  upon  what  grounds,  on  the  following : 

TABLE. 

Claimants  and  kinds  of  grants  claimed. 


Name. 

t  la 

n   £  Q   O 

C    CCS 

{ 

i 

No.Acrfs. 

590 

400 

1200 

Acres. 
400 
400 

Acres. 

200 

Acres. 
1190 

800 

Georere  Atchison 

900 
400 
700 
100 

'ioo 

2100 

fi^niaDsin  Evram's  heirs 

400 

Daniel  McCann 

700 

Henrv  Cook 

"  '400 
800 
100 
200 

100 

!Kttienne  Pensoneau 

120 

120 

John  Moore ■  

500 

800 

Joseph  Harris 

100 

David  Waddle ,.■ 

100 
100 

300 

Alexander  Waddle 

100 

Peter  Carterline 

333 
40( 

.f^'^'? 

Joseph  Ogle 

400 

William  Whiteside 

'306 
400 
400 
400 

300 

Abram  Reine's  heirs 

400 

Daniel  Tolley 

400 
500 
200 

100 
200 

Jacob  Judy 

206 

200 

Hamnel  Judy 

200 
1826 
200 
400 
400 
772 
400 

900 

John  DumouliD  

IS^Xi 

(Tcorge  Laneeford 

100 

600 

12(j0 

100 

300 

William  St.  Clair 

1000 

Josiah  Bleakly 

1000 

872 

400 

1200 

1100 

1400 

400 

400 

500 

400 

400 

400 

200 

15-20 

400 

200 

800 

200 

200 

inn 

John  Hay 

John  Clevea  Symmes 

800 
800 

400 
200 
200 
400 
400 
100 

Wiiliam  Biggs 

100 
1200 

Henry  O'Hara 

George  Valentine 

Georpe  Hendricks 

400 
400 
300 

206 

Nic.  Smith's  heirs 

lUO 

400 

Jatnes  Cramoiir 

Jean  Francois  Perrv 

1020 

500 

Isaac  West 

400 

Chrit-toph  Smith's  heirs 

200 

4U0 

William  Scott 

400 
200 
200 

Andrew  Kinnev 

100 
900 

Shadrach  Bond,  Jr 

William  Turnbull 

900 
100 
400 
400 
200 

Michael  \J  Onval 

10( 

400 

400 

Tobias  Brchefe 

James  Henderson 

Jean  B.  Chartrand 

200 
8200 

2ioc 

10( 
10( 
20t 

10300 
100 

100 

James  Piggott 

520 

400 

1120 

Levi  Piffsott 

Pierre  Zipp,  heirs..., 
William  Arundel..., 
William  Atchison  ., 
William  Morrison  .. 

John  Lyie , 

Jacob  Groots'  heirs.. 

Joseph  Trotier 

Nic.  Jarrot 

John  Rrice  Jones..., 

W.  Mcintosh 

Enoch  Nox 

Leonard  Carr  

John  Edgar 

John  Sullivan 

Benjamin  Rodgers.. 

Abner  Stallion 

James  Lemen , 

Larken  Eiitherford. 

Thomas  Bradley 

John  Capps 

Anthony  Badgley... 
.Abraham  Eyman ... 
Joseph  Fouchette... 

George  Demint , 

Samuel  Kinney 

Mopes  Short , 

John  Wheldon  , 

John  Dimpsey , 

John  Murdock 

John  Porier 

Danitl  Sink 


Totals . 


400 
400 
100 


400 

160 

1198 

2240 

3100 

270 


28800 


400 
'400 


400 


160 
100 


57909 


400. 


100 


100 
400 
100 
100 
100 


100 
100 
700 


400 
400 
400' 
400 


500 
400 


10500 

"ioo 


200 
"400 


100 
100 


200 
100 
100 
100 
100 
200 


100 
200 
200 


300 
400 


13200   25500 


500 
800 
200 
400 
100 
100 
500 
160 
1298 
5  340 
3800 
270 
400 
39700 
400 
500 
400 
700 
800 
400 
400 
100 
100 
160 
200 
200 
400 
100 
400 
500 
100 
200 


96609 


A  glance  at  this  list  of  names  will  show  to  the  reader  which  nationality  had 
the  means  to  purchase  and  the  foresight  to  appreciate  the  values  alluded  to 
above.  Fully  four-fifths  of  the  original  grantees  were  French.  Of  their 
three  hundred  names  we  find  twelve  on  our  list. 

It  may  also  be  stated  here,  that  ten  out  of  those  eighty-nine  claimant 
signed  their  names  by  a  mark. 

LANDS. 

The  first  sale  of  farm  land  within  the  present  limits  of  St.  Clair 
county,  made  a  matter  of  record,  took  place  on  the  5th  of  February, 
1793.  Previous  transactions  have  reference  to  buying  and  selling  of 
homesteads  and  dwelling-houses  in  the  villages,  and  ihe  prices  paid 
are  regulated  by  the  value  of  those  houses  and  improvements.  As  an 
illustration  of  this  it  may  suffice  to  state  that  Thomas  Brady  and 
Marie  Joseph  L'Archeveque  sold  a  house  and  lot  in  Cahokia,  on 
the  16th  of  March,  1793,  for  825.00,  while  the  house  of  Joseph 
Marie  sold  to  Nic.  Jarrot  on  the  30th  of  March,  brought  $200. 

In  the  first  of  the  above-mentioned  transactions,  Joseph  Lambert 
conveyed  a  400  acre  tract  near  Sugar-loaf  mound,  three  miles  south- 
west of  Cahokia,  to  Philip  Engel  for  $120.  Engel  sold  this  tract, 
to  Nicolas  Jarrot  on  the  12th  of  March,  1795,  for  $200.  Is  is  now 
subdivided  into  7  tracts,  containing  from  8  acres  to  131 J  each,  owned 
by  Aggie  Lunceford,  Anthony  Volk,  Johanna  Miller,  Philip  Ens- 
minger,  Sebastian  Maurer,  Frank  Horiue  and  Jacob  Jung,  and  is 
estimated  to  be  worth  at  least  $22,000. 

The  transactions  in  farm  lands  were  by  no  means  numerous. 
Lands  could  be  had  for  the  asking  of  them,  as  more  fully  appears 
from  the  remarks  herein  made  about  land-grants,  head-rights,  dona- 
tions, improvement-rights  and  militia  rights. 

March  10th,  1796,  Isaac  West  sells  to  William  Arundel  a  tract 
of  400  acres  of  land,  7  miles  south  of  Cahokia  for  $125.00. 

The  first  recorded  sale  of  a  militia  right  100  acre  claim  of  second 
quality  land  took  place  on  the  7th  of  January,  1796,  sold  by  Joseph 
Chennie  of  Cahokia,  to  William  Arundel  for  $17.00.  John  Brady 
sells  his  militi^  right  for  $16.00.  Joseph  La  Plant  for  $15  50,  Au- 
gustin  Clermont  for  $12.00,  from  which  it  would  appear  that  second 
quality  lands,  unimproved,  were  worth  about  15  cents  per  acre  at 
the  close  of  the  last  century. 


'6- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  so-called  head-rights,  or  family  rights,  containing  400  acres 
each,  do  not  show  this  uniformity  in  price. 

The  two  mentioned  above,  and  another  one  sold  by  M.  Lambert 
for  $170  seem  to  have  brought  the  best  prices.  Thomas  Brady  sells 
his  head-right  to  AV.  Arundel  in  1794  for  $45.00,  and  William  St. 
Clair  bought  the  head-rights  from  Joseph  Boisvenne  and  Mary 
Mooney  for  $20  each.  These  are  the  only  original  claims  conveyed 
by  formal  deeds,  and  they  seem  to  have  had  at  the  time  mentioned 
an  average  value  of  20  cents  per  acre. 

The  organization  of  Kandolph  county  in  1795,  of  Madison,  Galla- 
tin, and"  Johnson,  in  1812,  and  of  Monroe  in  1816,  reduced  the 
county  of  St.  Clair  to  its  present  boundaries,  containing  six  hundred 
and  sixty-five  square  miles,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Madison,  on 
the  east  by  Clinton  and  Washington,  on  the  south  by  Eandolph  and 
Monroe,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi  river. 

The  earliest  subdivisions  of  the  county  have  not  been  made  a 
matter  of  record. 

At  the  close  of  the  century  in  1798,  six  townships  are  mentioned, 
viz.  :  Cahokia,  Turkey  Hill,  Clinton  Hill,  TAigle,  Fountain  and 
Goshen. 

In  1816,  however,  by  order  of  the  county  court,  May  16,  the  fol- 
lowing nine  townships  were  established. 

CAHOKIA. 

Beginning  at  the  bluff  on  the  Madison  county  line,  thence  west 
on  the  said  line  to  the  Mississippi,  thence  southwardly  with  said 
river  to  the  boundary  line  of  Monroe  county,  thence  east  to  the  bluff, 
thence  northward  with  the  bluffs  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

OGLE  TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning  on  llie  bluff  on  the  Madison  line,  thence  east  on  said 
line  to  Silver  creek,  thence  down  Silver  creek  to  the  mouth  of  Hays' 
creek,  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  Jacob  Ogle  Esquire,  so  as  to  include 
Ogle  in  said  township,  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  Hendricks,  so  as  to 
include  Hendrick  in  said  township. 

TUEKEY  HILL  TOWNSBIP. 

Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Hazel  creek,  thence  down  Silver  creek 
to  AViliiam  Rittenhouse,  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  Turkey  Hill  near 
William  Scott,  Sr.,  thence  with  the  Meridian  line  to  Jacob  Ogle, 
Esquire. 

CLINTON   HILL   TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning  at  Turkey  Hill,  thence  west  to  the  bluffs,  thence  up  the 
bluffs  to  Ogle  township. 

SPRING  TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning  at  the  Bluff,  thence  with  the  bluff  to  Monroe  line, 
thence  with  said  line  to  the  waters  of  Prairie  du  Long,  thence  down 
Prairie  du  Long  to  the  mouth  of  Richland  creek,  thence  up  the 
Richland  to  the  Base  line,  thence  with  the  Base  Hue  to  the  be- 
ginning. 

SCOTT   TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning  at  W.  Rittenhouse  on  Silver  creek  to  the  mouth  of 
said  creek  and  down  Kaskaskia  river  to  Randolph  line,  thence  with 
said  line  to  Spring  township  line,  thence  with  said  line  to  the  mouth 
of  Richland  creek,  thence  up  Richland  creek  to  the  base  line,  thence 
Avith  the  base  line  to  Turkey  Hill,  thence  with  the  Turkey  Hill 
township  line  to  the  beginning. 

CHAMBER   TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning  at  Madison  line  on  Silver  creek  thence  .with  said  line 
to  Looking-Glass  Prairie,  thence  down  said  Prairie  with  the  road 


leading  from  Fort  Chamber  to  Sugar  creek,  thence  with  said  road 
to  Ead's  old  mill  on  Silver  creek. 

SILVER   CEEEK   TOWNSHIP. 

Bsginning  at  Ead's  old  mill  on  Silver  creek,  thence  down  Silver 
creek  to  the  mouth  and  down  Kaskaskia  river  to  the  county  line  so 
as  to  include  all  the  inhabitants  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river  within 
the  line  of  the  county,  following  said  line  to  the  south-east  corner 
of  Chamber  township  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

SUGAR   CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning  at  the  settlement  on  Sugar  creek  and  all  eastwardly 
below  the  Madison  line. 

After  the  organization  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  another  subdivision 
of  the  county  into  political  townships  was  had  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1820,  with  the  following  result :— Cahokia,  Illinois,  Ogle,  Belleville, 
Spring,  Turkey  Hill,  Scott,  Manville,  Silver  Creek  and  Chamber 
townships. 

At  a  later  period  these  political  townships  became  election  pre- 
cincts. The  reader  will  find  a  full  description  of  these  townships, 
or  election   precincts,   under  the  heading    "Elections,"    in    this 

chapter. 

COUNTY  OFFICERS. 

Administration  of  the  Affairs  of  the  County. 

The  civil  governmentof  the  county  since  its  organization,  April 
14,  1790,  was  entrusted  to  Jean  Baptists  Barbeau,  John  Dumoulin> 
James  Piggott,  Shadrach  Bond,  Philip  Engel,  Jean  Baptiste  Sau- 
cier and  George  Atchison,  Esquires  and  Justices,  and  as  such, 
members  of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  On  the  28th  of  September, 
1795,  Governor  Arthur  St.  Clair  appointed  William  St.  Clair  in 
the  place  of  Jean  Baptiste  Barbeau.  William  St.  Clair  oflnciated 
also  as  probate  judge,  and  Dumoulin  usually  presided  at  the 
sittings  of  those  justices,  until  1802,  when  his  name  ceases  to  ap- 
pear.    Dumoulin  died  in  1805. 

The  county  government  was  conducted  in  this  manner  until 
October,  1813.  During  this  period  of  time,  1795  to  1813,  the 
county  records  mention  also  the  names  of  James  Lemen,  William 
Biggs,  Jean  F.  Perrey,  Nicolas  Jarrot,  William  Whitesides,  Uel. 
Whitesides,  David  Badgely,  James  Bankson,  Samuel  S.  Kennedy, 
John  Finley,  Jacob  A.  Boyes,  George  Caldwell,  John  G.  Loften, 
AVilliam  Scott,  Enoch  Moore,  William  Gillham,  in  connection  with 
conducting  the  county  government.     They  were  all  justices. 

In  October,  1813,  the  first  county  court  was  held.  Its  officers  were: 

Jwiges. — John  Thomas,  Jr.,  William  Biggs,  Caldwell  Cairns. 

Clerk. — John  Hay. 

Sheriff. — John  Hays. 

This  court  continues  in  office  until  the  second  Monday  in  Febru- 
ary, 1810,  when  a  new  county  court  is  organized  with  : 

Judges. — William  Biggs,  Risdon  Moore,  Benjamin  Watts. 

Clerk  and  sheriff  as  before. 

By  act  of  the  territorial  legislature,  January  12,  1818,  this  court 
goes  out  of  existence,  a  court  of  justices  is  re-established  and  re- 
mains in  power  until  the  state  organization  takes  place.  The  offi- 
cers of  this  justice's  court  were  :  John  Hay,  Peter  Mitchel,  Henry 
Walker,  Jacob  Ogle,  Jr.,  Thomas  Cohen,  Abel  Fike  and  Thomas 
Gillham. 

This  brings  us  up  to  the  state  organizat'on,  which  gives  the  county 
a  board  of  commissioners  as  administrative  authority.  The  gov- 
ernor appointed,  June  17,  1819,  the  first  board,  viz  : 

Ut  JSoard.— Cornelius  Gooding,  E.  P.  Wilkinson  and  Clayton 
Tippon. 

2d  Board,  1820  to  1822.— Elected  Jacob  Ogle,  Jr ,  Edmund  P. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Wilkinson  and  Joseph  Trotier.    Wilkinson  resigned  in  1821,  and 
James  Mitchell  was  elected  to  fill  this  vacancy. 

3d  Board,  1822  to  1824.— William  Rutherford,  James  Tanne- 
hill  and  Abel  Fike. 

4<fe  Board,  1824  to  1826.— William  Rutherford,  Abel  Fike,  and 
John  Stuntz. 

Uh  Board,  1826  to  1828.— John  Middlecoff,  John  Stuntz  and 
Peter  Mitchell. 

&th  Board,  1828  to  1830.— John  Middlecoff,  John  Stuntz  and 
Peter  Mitchell. 

lih  Board,  1830  to  1832.— Williame  Moore,  Abel  Fike  and 
Abram  Badgley. 

bih  Board,  1831  to  1834.— Abram  Badgley,  James  Anderson, 
and  John  Murray. 

9<7i  Board,  1834  to  1836. — James  Anderson,  John  Murray  and 
Benjamin  F.  Smith. 

IQth  Board,  1836  to  1838.— Benjamin  F.  Smith,  W.  G.  Goforth 
and  George  Temple. 

In  1838  commissioners  were  elected  to  serve  one,  two  and  three 
years  respectively. 

ll//i  Board,  1838.— E.  G.  Porter,  Samuel  Ogle  and  Jacob  Eyman 
12th  Board,  1839. — Same  members. 

13th  Board,  1840. — G.  S.  Porter,  Jacob  Eyman  and  James  Glass. 
Glass  resigned  in  1841, 

nth  Board,  1841. — Jacob  Eyman,  Richard  Bradsby  and  J.  T. 
Darrel. 

15th  Board,  1842.— Richard  Bradsby,  J.  T.  Darrel  and  D.  T. 
Moore. 

IQth  Board,  1843. — Richard  Bradsby,  D.  T.  Moore  and  Simon 
Stookey. 

nth  Board,  1844. — Same  members. 

18iih  Board,  1845. — Richard  Bradsby,  Simon  Stookey  and  Ansby 
Fike. 

19th  Board,  1846.— Richard  Bradsby,  Ansby  Fike  and  John 
Irwin. 

20//t  Board,  1847. — Ansby  Fike,  John  Irwin  and  Abraham 
Badgley. 

21sf  Board,  1848  — Same  members. 

The  board  of  county  commissioners  was  abolished  by  the  consti- 
tution of  1848,  and  the  administration  of  county  affairs  placed  in 
the  hands  of  a  county  court,  composed  of  a  county  judge  and  two 
associate  justices.     (See  Probate  Judges) 

This  court  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  county  to  January  24, 
1874,  when  the  system  of  county  commissioners  was  re-established 
as  provided  by  the  constitution  of  1870. 

The  commissioners  were  elected  in  November,  1873,  but  owing 
to  an  imperfection  in  the  law,  could'  not  take  charge  of  their  offices 
until  a  special  act  of  the  legislature  had  corrected  said  imper- 
fections. 

1st  County  Board,  under  this  law,  1874. — C.  L.  Emmerich, 
August  Chenot  and  Joseph  Veile. 

2d  Board,  1875. — C.  L.  Emmerich,  August  Chenot  and  F.  C. 
Horn. 

3d  Board,  1876.— C.  L.  Emmerich,  F.  C.  Horn  and  Frank 
Poignee. 

4th  Board,  1877. — F.  C.  Horn,  Frank  Poignee  and  Henry  Barthel. 

5th  Board,  1878. — Same  members. 

6th  Board,  1879.— Same  members. 

7th  Board,  1880.— F.  C.  Horn,  Frank  Poignee  and  Louis  Ploudre. 

8th  Board,  1881,  (present  Board.) — Frank  Poignee,  Louis  Plou- 
dre and  C.  H.  Fietsam. 


OFFICERS   OF   THE  CIRCUIT   COURT. 

Our  chapter  on  Bench  and  Bar  will  treat  this  subject  more 
elaborately.  We  will  here  merely  introduce  the  names  of  the  Hon. 
Judges  who  held  court,  and  also  the  names  of  prosecuting  attorneys, 
and  masters  in  chancery. 

Judges. — Hon.  Jesse  B  Thomas,  1815  to  1817 ;  Dan.  B.  Cook 
and  John  Warnock,  in  1818 ;  John  'Reynolds,  1819  ;  Joseph 
Philips,  chief  justice  Nov  ,  1819,  and  June,  1820 ;  John  Reynolds, 
eleven  terms  in  succession,  from  August  12,  1820  to  August,  1824 ; 
Samuel  McRoberts,  March  term,  1825 ;  Richard  M.  Young,  three 
terms,  August,  1825 — March  and  August,  1826;  Theophilus  W. 
Smith,  five  terms,  from  March,  1827,  to  August,  1828 ;  Thbmas  C. 
Brown,  August  term  1829;  T.  W.  Smith,  ten  terms,  from  Sept., 
1830  to  April,  1834;  Thomas  Ford,  March,  1835;  Sidney  Breese, 
from  1835  to  1842 ;  James  Semple  May  term,  1843 ;  James  Shields, 
August  term,  1843,  and  May  and  October  terms,  1844;  Gustavus 
Koerner,  May  and  Oct.  terms,  1845 ;  W.  H.  Underwood,  from 
April,  1849,  to  August,  1855 ;  Sidney  Breese,  1855  to  1857  ;  W, 
H.  Snyder,  1857  to  1861;  Joseph  Gillespie,  from  October,  1861  to 
October,  1873 ;  W.  H.  Snyder,  present  judge,  since  October,  1873. 

PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS. 

William  Mears,  1815  to  1817  ;  C.  R.  Matheny,  to  1819  ;  Nicolas 
Hansen  and  W.  H.  Brown,pro  tern.,  Nov.  term,  1819  ;  William  Mears, 
in  1820;  S.  D.  Lockwood,  in  1821 ;  A.  W.  Snyder,  1822;  James 
Turney,  attorney-general,  to  1825  ;  Alfred  Cowley,  circuit  attorney 
to  1832  ;  James  Semple,  district  attorney  to  1834 ;  Ninian  Edwards, 
prosecuting  attorney,  pro  tern.  Sept..  1834 ;  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  attor- 
ney-general to  1837 ;  U.  F.  Linden,  attorney-general  to  1838  ;  Jo- 
siah  Y'lsk,  pro.  tern.,  three  successive  terms  in  1838  and  1839;  G. 
W.  Olisey,  in  1839;  Joseph  Gillespie,  pro  tern.,  1839;  W.  H. 
Underwood  to  1844;  W.  H.  Bissell,  1844;  Philip  B.  Foulk, 
from  1852  to  1854  ;  W.  H.  Snyder,  1854  to  1856  W.  C.  Kinney, 
1856  to  1858 ;  A.  W.  Metcalf,  1858  to  1860 ;  John  B.  Hay,  1860 
to  1868;  R.  A.  Halbert,  1868  to  1872;  C.  P.  Knispel,  1872  to 
1876;  G.  W.  Brockhaus,  1876  to  1880;  R.  D.  W.  Holder,  1880 
to  date. 

MASTERS   IN   CHANCERY. 

These  oflBcers  hold  their  positions  by  virtue  of  appointment  by 

the  court. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  held  this  office  in  St.  Clair  county  : 
W.  C.  Kinney,  P.  B.  Foulk,  W.  W.  Roman,  G.  W.  Brackett, 

Nathaniel  Niles,  C.  W.  Thomas,  G.  A.  Koerner,  C.  P.  Knispel  and 

Fred.  Scheel,  the  present  incumbent  since  1879. 

SHERIFFS. 

The  records  mention  the  following  as  sheriffs,  irrespective  of  time 
of  appointment:— William  Biggs  in  1795;  George  Blair  in  1799  ; 
and  John  Hays  in  1802. 

The  latter  remained  in  office  many  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
William  A.  Beaird. 

After  the  organization  of  the  State,  the  following  citizens  held 
this  responsible  position,  viz. : — 


William  A.  Beaird  from  1819  to  1830 

John  D.  Hughes 

1830  to  1834 

John  Claypool 

1834  to  1836 

Charles  Sargent 

1836  to  1838 

S.  B.  Chandler 

1838  to  1846 

Dav  AV.  Hopkins 

1846  to  1850. 

.)ohn  Irwin 

1850  to  1852 

Thomas  Challenor 

1852  to  1854 

78 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


John  Galbraith        from 
George  C.  Hart 
P.  Mayer  " 

Edw.  H.  Flemming  " 
John  Galbraith  " 

Frederick  Ropiequet  " 
Charles  Becker  " 

James  M.  Stookey  " 
James  W.  Hughes  " 
Herman  G.  Weber  " 
Frederick  Ropiequet  " 


1854  to  1856. 
1856  to  1858. 
1858  to  1860. 
1860  to  1862. 
1862  to  1864. 
1864  to  1866. 
1866  to  1868. 
1868  to  1870. 
1870  to  1874. 
1874  to  1880. 
1880  to 


The  sheriffs  of  the  county  were  ex-offioio  collectors  of  revenue. 
The  amounts  of  revenue  collected,  though  insignificant  amounts  in 
the  beginning,  viz.,  8917.78  in  1810,  have  gradually  assumed  huge 
dimensions,  $354,  114.34  in  1880.  The  whole  amount  of  revenue 
collected  by  county  officers  in  the  county  exceeds  twelve  millions 
of  dollars.  Let  it  be  said  here  that  these  vast  sums  have  all  been 
accounted  for.  True,  there  were  a  few  instances,  where  the  col- 
lectors could  not  pay  up  promptly,  but  the  amounts  wanting  were 
comparatively  small,  and  were  in  every  instance  restored  to  the 
county. 

CIECUIT  CLERKS. 

The  first  circuit  court  for  St.  Glair  county  was  held  at  Belle- 
ville on  the  twelfth  day  of  June,  1815.  Its  first  order  was  to  ap- 
point a  clerk,  whose  name  was  John  Hay,  July  12th,  1815,  who 
held  the  office  for  twenty-six  years.  W.  C.  Kinney  was  appointed 
in  1841,  and  resigned  April  1st,  1845. 

Theodor  Engelmann  succeeded  him,  being  appointed  by  the 
court  on  said  day,  was  elected  in  1848,  and  held  the  office  until 
1852. 

W.  S.  Thomas  was  elected. in  1852,  and  remained  in  office  until 
1864.  In  the  election  of  1864  F.  Karsch  had  been  chosen  clerk, 
but  he  died  before  qualifying,  and  Thomas  held  over.  Benjamin 
Boneau  was  elected  in  1861  for  the  balance  of  the  term,  and  re- 
ceived a  commiseion  from  the  the  governor ;  but  Thomas  refused 
to  vacate  the  office.  Boneau  brought  suit,  but  the  court  decided 
in  favor  of  the  incumbent,  who  served  until  1864. 

Henry  A.  Kircher  was  clerk  from  1864  to  1868.  G  M.  Boeder 
from  1868  to  1872.  Charles  Becker  from  1872  to  1880.  G.  H. 
Stolberg,  the  present  incumbent,  succeeded  Becker  December  Ist, 
1880. 

The  circuit  clerk  has  thus  far  been  ex-officio  recorder  of  deeds. 
The  population  of  the  county  had  now  increased  to  over  sixty 
thousand,  when,  under  the  statutes  of  the  State,  the  office  of  recorder 
was  separated  from  that  of  circuit  clerk. 

J.  A.  Willoughby  was  elected  to  this  position,  and  holds  the 
office  for  four  years  from  December  1st,  1880. 

PROBATE   JUDGES. 

The  officers  or  judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  first,  and  the 
court  of  county  commissioners  next,  transacted  the  probate  busi- 
iress  of  the  county  up  to  May  7th,  1821,  when  judges  of  probate 
took  charge  of  that  branch  of  the  public  business. 

Edmund  P.  Wilkinson  occupied  the  position  from  said  date, 
August  4th,  to  May  term,  1823.  He  was  then  succeeded  by  John 
Hay,  who  officiates  as  such  to  August  12th,  1842.  His  records  are 
most  accurately  kept,  carefully  indexed,  and  all  proceedings  signed 
by  himself.  The  last  record  so  signed  was  dated  August  12th, 
1842.  Probate  record  C,  page  89,  contains,  however,  an  entry  of 
proceedings  had  before  him,  the  minutes  of  which  are  not  in  Mr. 
Hay's  handwriting,  nor  do  they  bear  his  signature ;  they  are  dated 


September  3d,  1842.  The  worthy  judge  had  been  called  to  attend 
another  court,  a  higher  one. 

JohQ  D.  Hughes  had  charge  of  the  office  from  the  tenth  of 
December,  1842,  to  December,  1849. 

In  1848  the  new  constitution  created  a  county  court,  with  one 
judge,  having  probate  jurisdiction  and  providing  for  two  associate 
justices,  all  to  hold  office  for  four  years.  Under  this  law  there  were 
elected : — 

1849-1853.— Nathaniel  Niles,  judge ;  Abraham  Badglpy  and  S. 
M.  Thrift,  associates. 

1853.— Nathaniel  Niles,  county  judge ;  C.  W.  Schoeck  and  Ansby 
Fike,  associates. 

1857.— Nathaniel  Niles,  county  judge;  James  M.  Whitacker  and 
John  Thomas,  associates. 

1861.— John  D.  Hughes,  county  judge  ;  William  Krafft  and  C. 
L.  Emmerich,  associates. 

1865.— John  D.  Hughes,  county  judge,  and  William  Krafil  and 
C.  L.  Emmerich,  associates. 

Hon.  John  Hughes  died  in  1868,  when — 

1868— F.  H.  Pieper  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

1869. — F.  H.  Pieper,  county  judge;  and  Joseph  Veile  and  C.  L. 
Emmerich,  associates. 

The  constitution  of  1870  created  a  county  board  of  three  mem- 
bers, to  be  elected  for  three  years,  leaving  the  probate  business  to 
be  transacted  by  the  county  judge,  as  heretofore.  F.  H.  Pieper 
was  re-elected  in  1873,  and  in  1877.  His  present  term  will  expire 
in  1881. 

-COUNTY   CLERKS. 

John  Hay,  whose  name  the  reader  has  met  on  these  pages  before 
as  that  of  a  most  accurate,  diligent  and  faithful  officer,  appears  as 
clerk  of  the  county  in  the  last  decade  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  received  his  commission  as  such  July,  1809. 

The  county  records  of  the  fifty  years  following  its  organization 
are,  so  to  say,  his  work,  and  an  admirable  one,  indeed !  John  Hay 
resigned  the  office  of  clerk  on  the  22d  of  August,  1836.  Of  him 
Governor  Reynolds  says:  "He  worked  while  life  lasted,  and  died 
praising  God." 

Richard  Randle  was  appointed  on  the  same  day,  holding  the 
office  to  August  31st,  1837. 

James  M.  Charles,  elected  in  1837,  resigned  on  the  fifth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1838,  "  for  reasons  too  well  known  to  your  honorable  body 
to  need  further  explanation."  Lewis  Morris  was  appointed  clerk, 
pro  tem. 

J.  M.  Reynolds  was  elected  in  1838  to  fill  the  balance  of  Charles' 
term  of  office,  was  re-elected  in  1839,  and  died  in  his  office,  June, 
1843. 

W.  McClintock  was  apppointed  to  fill  this  vacancy,  and  was 
elected  in  1843  for  a  full  term. 

John  Scheel  succeeded  him,  and  held  the  office  from  1849  to 
1857. 

W.  W.  Roman  was  elected  in  1857,  but  died  before  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term,  in  Septembe^,  1861.  Bernhard  Wick  succeeded 
him,  by  being  appointed  and  by  election  to  two  successive  terms, 
1861  to  1865,  and  1865  to  1869. 

Sebastian  Fietsam  was  clerk  from  1869  to  1873,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  L.  C.  Starkel,  who  was  re-elected  in  1877,  and  is  the 
present  incumbent. 

TREASURERS. 

John  Johnston,  appointed  June  7th,  1819,  served  until  1825;  was 
succeeded  by  W.  A.  Beaird,  from  1825  to  1827  ;  Sylvester  Merrill 
from  1827  to  1829 ;  John  Winstanley  from  1829  to  1831 ;  Thorn- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


79 


ton  Peeples  from  1831  to  1833;  Sylvester  Merrill  from  1833  to 

1835 ;  Timothy  Hinckley,  1835  to  1837 ;  W.  B.  Davis  from  March 

10th,  1837,  to  September,  1837  by  appointment ;  Abraham  Badg- 

ley  from  1837  to  1839 ;  John  Ward  from  1839  to  1843 ;  Solomon 

Miller  from  1843  to  1845 ;  William  Moore  from  1845  to  1847  ; 

John  Scheel   from  1847  to   1849 ;   Jacob   Eyman   from  1849  to 

1853;  J.  W.  PuUiam  from  1853  to  1855;  Charles  W.  Schoeck 

from  1855  to  1857;  Charles  Seitz  from  1857  to  1859;  John  Kit- 

tenhouse  from  1859  to   1863 ;  Herman  G.  Weber  from  1863  to 

1867  ;  Edward  Rutz  from  1867  to  1873;  F.  Ropiequet  from  la73 

to  1875;  G.  W.  Sieber  from  1875  to  March,  1878;  when  he  was 

detected  as  a   defaulter  to  a  large  amount ;  M.  T.  Stookey,  the 

present  incumbent,  became  his  successor,  and  was  re-elected  in  1879. 

The   treasurers  were   ex-officio  county  assessors.     The  amounts 

of  money  placed  in  their  hands  were  not  so  large  as  those  collected 

by  the  sheriffs,  still  they  amounted   to   millions  of  dollars.     In 

this  case  we  have  to  state  a  heavy  defalcation,  that  of  G.  W. 

Sieber,  mentioned  above.     It  amounts  to  over  twenty-six  thousand 

dollars.    Sieber,  who  had  fled,  was  arrested  at  or  near  California, 

in  Missouri,  and  brought  back   to  Belleville.      He   was    put   in 

jail,  bailed  out  by  John  Gross  and  John  Lang,  trusting  friends, 

who,  in  their  turn,  were  also  deceived  by  the  guilty  man,  making 

his  escape  soon  after  being  released  /rom  imprisonment.    He  is  still 

at  large,  and  it  is  said  that  he  now  lives  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 

COEOSTEES. 

The  functions  of  coroners  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  State 
were  performed,  as  circumstances  required  it,  by  the  then  jus- 
tices; their  reports  were  duly  filed  and  recorded,  as  hereintofore 
mentioned.  We  will  here  briefly  state  the  names  of  county 
coroners,  and  their  respective  terms  of  office ; — 

Job  Badgley,  1818  to   1820;   Samuel  Redman,  1820  to  1824; 
John  Pulliam,  1824  to  1828 :  Jacob  Eyman,  1828  to  1832 ;  Sam- 
uel Philips,  1834  to  1836;  Moses  Stookey,  1838  to  1840;  Alex- 
ander Reany,  1840  to  1842;  M.  J.  Gannon,  1844  to  1848;  James 
Scott,  1848   to   1854;  William   Kelley,  1856   to    1860;  Theodor 
Joerg,  1862  to  1864:  David  Miley,  1864  to  1866;  Gustav  Wetz- 
lau  and  Thomas  Scott,  1886  to  1868  (Wetzlau  having  resigned) 
Theodor  Joerg,  1868   to  1870;  William "^  Kelley,  1870  to  1872 
John  N.  Ryan,  1872  to  1874;  Philip  Schildknecht,  1874  to  1876 
Timothy  Caaty,  1876  to  1878;  and  John  Brader,  1878,  re-elected 
in  1880,  present  incumbent. 

SCHOOL   COMMISSIONEES   OR  SUPERINTENDENTS. 

William  Moore,  1832-1833;  Sylvester  Merrils,  1833;  Smyth 
Moore,  1843 ;  George  C.  Hart,  1847.;  David  McFarland,  1849 ; 
Joseph  Hypes,  1853;  George  Bunsen,  1855;  John  H.  Dennis, 
1861;  E.  H.  Palmer,  1863;  August  Whiting,  1865;  James  P. 
Slade,  1867 ;  John  P.  Givillim,  1873 ;  died  in  office.  James  P. 
Slade  appointed  Feb.  2d,  1875,  and  subsequently  elected.  James 
McQuilkin,  present  incumbent  since  1879. 

COUNTY  SURVEYORS. 

John  M.  Messenger,  elected  in  1835,  died  in  office  in  November, 
1838 :  was  succeeded  by  C.  M.  Messenger,  1839  to  1847 ;  William 
Moore,  1847  to  1849  ;  W.  L.  Deneen,  1849  to  1855  ;  Fred.  Graner 
1855  to  1857 ;  Sharon  Tyndale,  1857  ;  resigned  March  31st,  1861 
Gustavus  F.  Hilgard,  1861  to  1863 ;  Henry  Holbrook,  1863  to  1865 
Edward  Rutz,  1865  to  1867;  Gustavus  F.  Hilgard,  1867  to  1877 
Louis  Graner,  present  incumbent  since  1879. 

A  list  of  the  names  of  persons  who  have  represented  St.  Clair 
County  in  the  General  Assembly,  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  the 
yiar  when  elected. 


SENATORS. 


William  Kinney 1818 

James  Lemen 1820 

William  Kinnej 1822 

James  Lemen 1824 

James  Lemen 1826 

Risdon  Moore,  Jr 1823 

Risdon  Moore,  Jr 1830 

Adam  W.  Snyder 18.S2 

Adam  W.  Snyder 1834 

John   Mui-ray 1836 

John  Murray 1838 

Adam  W.  Snyder 1840 

James  A.  James,  (District  Senator.).  1840 


Seth  Cantlin* 1842 

Seth  Cantlin* 1844 

J.  L.  D.  Morrison 1848 

Edward  Omelveny 1852 

J.  L.  D.  Morrisonf ,  .  1854 

William  H.  Underwood 1856 

William  H.  Underwood 1860 

A.  W.  Metcalf 1864 

Willard  C.  Flagg 1868 

W.  H.  UnderwoodJ 1870 

John  Hincheliff. 1872 

Jefferson  Rainey 1874 

John  Thomas? 1878 


EEPRESENTATIVES. 


1818. 
1820. 

1822. 

1824. 

1826. 
1828. 
1830. 
1832. 

1834. 
1836. 
1833. 
1840. 
1842. 
1844. 
1846. 


f  Risdon  Moore, 
I  J.  D.  Thomas. 
(  Risdon  Moore, 
i  Charles  P.  Matheny, 
1  David  Blackwell. 

{Riodon  Moore, 
Jacob  Ogle, 
Joseph  Trolier. 
I  Risdon  Moore, 
\  Abraham  Eyman, 
I  David  Blackwell. 
J  John  Reynolds, 
\  David  Blackwell. 
f  John  Reynolds, 
\  William  G.  Brown. 
(  William  G.  Brown, 
\  Jacob  O^le. 
f  John  Middlecoff, 
\  John  Stuntz. 
(  John  D.  Hughes, 
-j  William  Moore, 
(  Joseph  Green. 
(  Joseph  Green, 
■I  John  Stuntz, 
(  William  Moore. 
(  John  Thomas, 
.j  William  W.  Roman, 
(.  Vital  Jarrot. 
f  Lymanj^rumbuU, 
-j  David  Baldwin, 
(  Daniel  T.Moore.  . 

{G.  Koerner, 
Phillip  Penn, 
Amos  Thompson. 
(  Amos  Thompson, 
■j  Samuel  Anderson, 
(.  J.  L.  D.  Morrison. 
i  John  Reynolds, 
.j  William  H.  Underwood, 
(.  Samuel  Stookey. 


1848. 

1850. 
1852. 
1854. 
1856. 
1858. 
1860. 
1862. 
1864. 
1866. 
1868. 
1870. 

'  1872. 
1874. 
1876. 
1878. 
1880. 


(  Edward  Abend, 
\  Simon  Stookey. 
(.  S.  B.  Chandler, 
f  Herbert  Patterson, 
t  Williatn  PI.  Snyder, 
f  William  H.  Snyder, 
\  John  Reynolds. 
I  Albert  H.  Trapp, 
t  William  C.  Kinney. 
f  Vital  Jarrot, 
t  W.  H.  Roman. 
(  John  Scheel, 
t  Vital  Jarrot. 
f  Vital  Jarrott, 
\  Samnel  Stookey. 
J  Jos.  B.  Underwood, 
\  John  Thoma.s. 
/  Nathaniel  Niles, 
\  John  Thomas. 
(  A.  B  Pope, 
\  Amos  Thompson. 
f  James  R.  Miller, 
\  Alexander  Rose. 
(  J.  R.  Miller, 
(  G.  Koerner. 

{Bern hard  Wick, 
Luke  H.  Hite, 
John  Thomas. 
{William  G.  Kase, 
John  Thomas, 
James  Rankin, 
f  John  W.Wells, 
■j  Alonzo  S.  Wilderman, 
(  James  M.  Wittaker. 
(  Thos.  Jennings, 
-j  Joseph  Veile, 
(.  Henry  Seiter. 
?  Philip  H.  Pi stel, 
-j  John  N.  Perrin, 
y  Joseph  Veile. 


Sometimes  St.  Clair  County  was  a  district  by  itself,  sometimes  it  was  associa 
ted  with  other  counties  to  form  a  district ;  we  have  given  the  names  of  all 
persons  who  have  ever  represented  it. 

For  list  of  Senators  and  Representatives,  we  are  under  obligations  to  Hon. 
George  H.  Harlow,  former  Secretary  of  State. 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

Court-Houses. 
The  first  proceedings  of  the  county  officials  of  the  new  county  of 
St.  Clair  were  held  in  a  private  dwelling-house  at  Cahokia.  The 
grounds  on  which  said  house  was  erected  were  purchased  by  Antoine 
Girardin,  John  Dumoulin  and  Philip  Engel,  then  acting  as  judges 
of  the  common  pleas  court,  from  Francois  Saucier  on  the  8th  day 
of  October,  1793.  "The  deed  of  conveyance  describes  the  property 
as  follows :  "  All  that  certain  messuage  or  dwelling-house,  (now  con- 
verted into  a  prison  and  court-house)  and  lot  of  land  thereto  belong- 
ing, situate  in  the  village  of  Cahokia,  bounded  in  front  by  the  street 
next  to  the  river,  on  the  east  by  a  vacant  lot,  commonly  known  by 
the  name  of  the  "  Parade,"  on  the  south  by  a  lot  now  belonging  to 

*  Elected  to  flit  a  vacancy  occasioned  b.v  resignation  of  Adam  W.  Snyder, 
■f  Elected  to  fill  vacancy  on  death  of  Omelveny. 
X  Elected  on  adoption  of  the  New  Cunstitation. 
g  Present  incumbent. 


80 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


John  Dumoulin,  Esquire,  and  on  the  west  by  a  street  running  be- 
tween the  said  lot  and  the  lot  of  the  widow  Boilieu."  The  purchase 
price  was  one  thousand  dollars.  On  the  12th  of  December,  1794, 
the  above  mentioned  judges  caused  the  following  declaration  to  be 
put  on  record : 

"  Now,  know  ye,  that  the  said  Antoine  Girardin,  John  Dumoulin 
and  Philip  Engel  do  hereby  declare  that  their  names  were  and  are 
and  made  use  of  in  the  said  above  recited  indenture  in  trust  only 
for  the  public  uses  of  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  in  pursuance  of,  and 
according  to,  the. true  intent  and  meaning  of  a  Territorial  Law, 
made  and  passed  at  Cincinnati,  in  the  county  of  Hamilton  on  the 
l3t  day  of  August,  in  the  year  1792,  entitled  ;  An  Act,  directing  the 
building  and  establishing  of  a  court-house,  county  jail,  pillory, 
.  whipping-post  and  stocks  in  every  county."  The  building  here 
mentioned  and  described  is  still  in  existence,  and  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  the  history  of  Cahokia   precinct  for  particulars. 

Cahokia  remained  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  county  for  about  Li4 
years.  An  agitation  to  remove  the  county-seat  to  a  more  central 
part  of  the  county  had  commenced  early  in  1813.  At  the  December 
term,  1813,  the  court  of  common  pleas,  composed  of  John  Thomas, 
Jr.,  William  Biggs  and  Caldwell  Cairns,  ordered  the  clerk  to  notify 
John  Hay,  James  Lemen,  Isaac  Enochs,  William  Scott,  Jr.,  Nathan 
Chambers,  JacobShort  and  Caldwell  Cairns,  commissioners  appoint- 
ed by  the  legislature  to  fix  upon  a  place  for  the  seat  of  justice  of 
this  county,  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Col.  Whiteside,  on  the  25th  of 
January,  1814,  and  to  make  return  at  the  next  February  term,  un- 
der their  hands  and  seals. 

These  commissioners  reported  in  April,  1814,  as  follows  : 
"  In  pursuance  of  a  law  passed  by  the  legislature  of  Illinois  Ter- 
ritory, on  the  10th  of  December,  1813,  at  the  village  of  Kaskaskia, 
for  the  purpose  of  fixing  on  the  place  of  holding  courts  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Madison,  St.  Clair  and  Johnson,  and  by  .«rtue  of  a  written 
order  issued  from  the  court  of  common  pleas,  directed  to  us.  Com- 
missioners for  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  to  meet  on  the  25th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1814,  at  the  dwelling-house  of  Col.  William  Whitesides,  for  the 
purpose  of  fixing  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair, 
we,  the  commissioners,  met,  agreeable  to  order,  all  being  present, 
and  made  no  decision  for  the  want  of  the  law,  and  the  proper  officer 
to  administer  the  oath  required  in  that  case.     We  then  adjourned, 
and  appointed  to  meet  on  Monday,  the  14th  of  February,  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Cahokia,  and  we  met  accordingly,  and  postponed  our  deci- 
sion for  further  consideration  and  view  of  situation  and  plac3.    Then 
appointed  to  meet  at  the  dwelling-house  of  George  Blair,  and  met  ac- 
cordingly, all  being  present.     A  majority  could  not  agree,  then  we 
again  postponed  our  decision,  and  appointed  to  meet  on  Thursday,  the 
10th  of  March,  at  the  said  dwelling-house  of  George  Blair,  and  we,  a 
majority  of  said  commissioners,  have  agreed,  and  fixed  the  county- 
seat  of  St.  Clair  county  on  the  land  of  George  Blair,   and   have 
marked  a  place  for  that  purpose,  about  25  rods  north-east  from  the 
dwelling-house  of  the  said  George  Blair,  in  his  corn-field,  and  we,  a 
majority  of  said  commissioners,  further  report,  that  the  said  George 
Blair  has  proposed  and  agreed  to  give  a  donation  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  said  county  of  St.  Clair,  of  a  public  sqifare  containing  one 
acre  of  land,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  buildings  thereon, 
and  to  relinquish  twenty-five  acres  of  laud,  adjoining  next  around 
the  public  square,  and  he  also  proposes  to  give  every  fifth  lot  of  land 
of  the  twenty-five  acres,  exclusive  of  the  streets,  a  donation  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  the  county. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  seals,  this  10th  day  of  March,  1814. 
Isaac  Enochs,  James  Lemen, 

Jacob  Shokt,  Nathan  Chambees, 

John  Hay. 


This  report  was  accepted  by  the  court,  who,  at  the  same  term, 
ordered  that  a  court-house  and  jail  be  erected  at  the  new  county-seat. 
The  erection  of  the  new  court-house  at  the  site  thus  selected,  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  city  of  Belleville,  until  then  known  under  the 
name  of  Clinton  Hill,  or,  as  other  writers  say,  Compton  Hill.  George 
Blair  came  into  court  at  the  said  April  term,  and  promised  to  have 
conveniences  made  by  next  June  term  to  hold  the  court  at  his  place. 
He  received  six  dollars  for  hauling  benches  and  tables  from  the 
court-house  at  Cahokia. 

SECOND   COURT  HOUSE. 

In  September  term,  1815,  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  an  order 
was  made  for  the  building  of  this  court-house.  The  contract  was 
let  to  Etienne  Pensoneau.  The  court-house,  a  frame  building,  was 
completed  and  received  on  the  10th  of  September,  1817.  The  con- 
tract price  of  $1,525.00  was  but  partly  paid,  and  the  county  re- 
mained in  debt  to  Etienne  Pensoneau  about  81200.  In  June,  1819, 
the  sheriff"  was  ordered  to  sell  so  many  lots  in  Belleville  as  would 
bring  money  enough  to  pay  Mr.  Pensoneau  this  balance  still  due 
and  unpaid.  The  site  of  this  court-house  was  on  the  public  square 
in  Belleville. 

THIKD  COURT-HOUSE. 

In  September,  1827,  the  court  had  to  make  arrangement  for 
building  a  new  court-house,  as  the  Etienne  building  was  al- 
together too  small  for  the  county  business.  This  building  was 
erected  under  the  superintendency  of  William  Fowler,  who  had  a 
final  settlement  in  December,  1831,  from  which  it  appears  that  the 
building  had  been  completed  in  the  month  of  June  in  said  year. 
This  court-house  stood  fronting  the  north  side  of  the  public  square. 

The  cost  of  this  building  cannot  be  accurately  stated.  The  county 
drew  the  necessary  funds  from  Gov.  Edwards.  The  money  used  was 
principally  so-called  "  State  paper,"  worth  at  the  time  from  76  to 
80  cents  per  one  dollar.  Fowler  seems  to  have  drawn  $3,189.85 ; 
the  building  was  of  brick.  It  was  sold,  after  the  erection  of  the 
present  court-house,  on  the  29th  of  March,  1861,  to  AV.  Friedlander, 
for  $106.00. 

FOURTH  COURT-HOUSE. 

The  building  of  the  present  court-house  was  commenced  in  1859, 
and  completed  in  1861.  The  erection  of  this  court-house  was  super- 
intended by  the  members  of  the  county  court.  The  funds  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  work  were  borrowed  and  disbursed  by  members 
of  said  court  direct,  without  first  paying  them  into  the  treasury  and 
drawing  them  out  on  warrants  based  on  vouchers.  The  building 
materials  were  bought  and  labor  was  hired  by  said  members.  The 
court  contracted  various  loans,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  $85,- 
5:0.  Besides  this,  the  court  issued  $18,666.00  in  county  warrants, 
made  payable  to  its  members,  and  used  them  also  to  raise  the 
necessary  funds.  In  1861  there  was  a  further  issue  of  county  orders, 
amounting  to  $11,445.08  in  direct  payment  for  work  on  the  new 
building,  so  that  the  whole  amount  expended  seems  to  have  been 
$115,111.08.  Of  this  amount  the  members  of  the  court  disbursed 
$103,666.00.  On  the  2d  of  January,  1862,  John  Thomas  filed  an 
account  of  his  receipts  and  disbursements  in  the  matter,  from  which 
it  appears  that  he  had  charged  himself  *  ith  $17,613.45,  all  of  which 
is  properly  accounted  for  by  vouchers  on  file.  Nathaniel  Niles  had 
filed  his  accounts  of  the  new  court-house  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1861,  when  they  were  laid  over  for  further  examination.  They 
were  finally  disposed  of,  March  9,  1864,  by  allowing  to  Mr.  Niles 
on  voucher  number  3933  the  sum  of  .$365  69— a  balance  found  to 
be  due  to  him.  The  court-house,  although  completed  in  1861,  seems 
to  have  needed  various  finishing  touches,  and  the  sums  appropriated 
for  that  purpose  in  1832  and  1833  amount  to  $4,334.98. 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


81 


JAILS. 

The  first  court-house,  mentioned  heretofore,  was  also  used  as  a 
jail.  On  the  28th  of  April,  1812,  however,  the  court  of  Common 
Pleas  contracted  with  Francois  Turcott,  Stephen  Peuseneau  and 
Augustine  Penseneau  for  the  building  of  a  new  jail  or  goal.  Con- 
tract and  specifications  are  on  file,  the  latter  being  as  follows : 

A  jail  to  be  built,  logs  to  be  18  and  14  feet  long  and  wide,  a  parti- 
tion in  it  so  as  to  make  a  room  of  seven  feet  on  the  west,  hewed  logs, 
8  inches  thick  for  the  floor,  seven  feet  between  the  floors,  2  rounds 
of  logs  above  the  upper  floor,  to  be  covered  with  clapboards,  cabin 
fashion,  done  well,  the  logs  to  be  12  inches  in  diameter  at  the  small 
end,  if  hewed  to  be  ten  inches  thick,  all  to  be  done  of  good  oak  tim- 
ber ;  the  outer  door  hung  as  the  old  door  and  hinges  will  do ;  the 
roof  to  be  weighted  with  heavy  logs.  Bid  off  by  Francois  Turcott, 
Stephen  Pensineau  and  Augustine  Pensineau,  March  25,  1812,  at 
$200,00. 

This  jail  was  erected  on  the  court  house  grounds  at  Cahokia,  and 
com[)leted  on  the  1st  of  October,  1812. 

The  second  jail  was  erected  in  Belleville ;  it  was  built  by  Henry 
Sharp,  in  February,  1816.  The  contract  price  was  $360.00.  It 
stood  near  the  first  court-house  on  the  public  square. 

The  present  jail  was  erected  in  1848,  on  the  north-west  lot  in  the 
south-east  block  in  Belleville,  sold  to  the  county  by  Antoine  Lob- 
singer  for  $312.00,  April  5,  1848. 

Simon  Eiraer  contracted  for  the  building  on  the  same  day,  and 
had  it  completed  by  the  1st  of  March,  1849.  He  received  $7,977.70 
for  his  work,  which  was  $22.30  less  than  the  contract  called  for. 

POOE-IIOTJSE. 

The  poor-house  grounds,  40  acres  in  section  16,  1 — 8  N.,  were 
bought  of  Henry  C.  Million  March  23d,  1844,  for  $450.00.  Simon 
Stookey  conducted  and  superintended  the  construction  of  this  county 
Asylum.  The  buildings  were  erected  in  1844,  at  a  cost  of  $1149.40. 
The  county  continued  to  add  to  those  buildings  as  urgent  necessity 
demanded.  The  buildings  now  are  estimated  to  be  worth  over  ten 
thousand  dollars ; — and  yet  not  sufficiently  large  enough  for  the  de- 
sired purposes. 

The  number  of  inmates  at  present  is  110. 

The  first  superintendent  of  the  poor-house  was  John  Wright ;  his 
salary  for  himself  and  wife  was  fixed  at  $150.00  per  annum.  The 
expenses  of  the  institution  for  the  first  year  (1844),  the  above  salary 
included,  amounted  to  $47710.  The  expenses  for  1880  amounted 
to  $10,190.19. 

EXPENDITURES   OF    THE   COUNTY. 

The  writer  of  this  chapter  has  taken  great  pains  to  make  a 
succinct  and  complete  statement  of  the  county  expenditures  at  the 
time  of  the  organization  of  the  county,  but  owing  to  omissions  of 
dates  and  other  inaccuracies,  he  has  not  been  able  to  arrive  at  a  re- 
sult, which  could  give  satisfaction.  In  1809,  however,  papers  were 
found  to  be  complete,  and  we  can  here  state  to  the  reader,  the  entire 
cost  of  the  county  government  for  that  year  : 

Compensation  of  sheriff f  32.50 

"  «    clerk 95.00 

Farmers  of  poor  (paupers) 122.42 

Cjmpaniation  of  Judges  of  Oommoti  Pleas 142.67 

"    constables 18.00 

"  "    clerks  of  elections 12.C0 

Fees  paid  to  justices  of  the  peace 23  02 

Benches  and  a  table  for  court-liou.'=e 15.00 

[  Compensation  of  officer.^,  where  judgment  failed  (fees  in 

criminal  cases) 98.93 

Amount  paiJ  for  wolf-scalps 104.00 

?663.54 

To  which  add  disbursing  fee  of  10  per  cent 66.35 

$729.89 
11 


In  order  to  show  the  diffdrence  between  present  and  the  past,  we 
introduce  here  the  county  expenditures  for  the  year  1880. 

Cost  of  assessment  and  tax  books |  4.620.67 

Compensation   of  officers.    ...               .  11298.17 

Paupers,  Co.  farm ...  $10,190.19 

"         supported  at  home          8.016.82 

"        charilable  institutions   .        ...  797  18 

19  004.19 

Prisoners  in  jail 4.913.45 

Workhouse  expenses 2.553.90 

Cour;s   and  juiors 6.726.-58 

Inquests 1.853.00 

Court-house  and   cfKce  supplies 8.748.65          j 

Elections        980.55 

Roads  and  bridges 34.092.22 

General  expense   account 7.010.46 

Fees  in  criminal  cases 669.40 

Tax  refunded,  etc 26.00 

Total  expenditures $102,497.24 

The  population  of  the  county  in  1810  was  5007,  that  of  1880  is 
known  to  be  over  60,000,  while  the  expenditures  have  increased 
141  fold.  Pauperism  in  1809  absorbed  17  per  cent,  of  the  revenue 
and  in  1880  not  quite  18  per  cent,  a  satisfactory  showing. 

Pauperism  is  a  bad  sore  on  the  body  politic,  and  a  growing  evil. 
It  is  remarkable,  however,  that  in  this  county  there  is  no  increase  of 
pauperism,  while  general  statistics  exhibit  a  constant  growth  of  it  iu 
other  communities.  The  writer  has  examined  the  official  records  of 
all  county  expenditures  for  a  period  of  ten  years  preceding  1880, 
and  found,  that  the  county  expended  during  all  those  years  not 
quite  18  per  cent,  of  the  county  revenue  in  support  of  paupers. 

The  amounts  of  course  seem  large,  but  they  are  not  greater  pro- 
portionally than  they  were  80  years  ag). 

We  shall  here  introduce  a  statement  of  the  expenditures  of  St. 
Clair  county  on  account  of  pauperism  for  the  seven  years  succeeding 
the  commercial  coUaps ; : 

in  1874 $18,613.24 

"  1875 17.559..55 

"  1876 18.737.01 

"  1877 18.253.26 

"  1878          17.866.57 

"  1879 19  200.36 

"  1880 19.004.19 

Believing  it  would  be  of  interest  we  subjoin  the  assessment  cf 
1880: 

PEKSONAL   PKOPEETY.  NUMBER.        VALUE. 

Horses  of  all  ages 7,794  205,876 

Cattle  of  all  ages 9  559  95,456 

Mules  and  Asses  "f  all  ages 5,183  166,372 

Sheep  of  all  ages 5,605  5,749 

Hogs  of  all  ages 22,805  28,156 

Steam  Engines,  including  Boilers 216  69,765 

Fire  or  Burglar  Proof  Safrs 144  5,065 

Billiard,  Pigeon-hole,  Bagatelle,  and  other  tables!    .    .  85  1,795 

Carriages  and  Wagons  of  whatsoever  kind 5,987  91,489 

Watchls  and  Clocks 2,547  9,716 

Sewing  and  Knitting  Machines  ...        .               •    •    ■  2,362  15,954 

Piano  Fortes 322  15,317 

Melodeons  and  Organs 1<*7  2,939 

Annuities  and  Royalties 200 

Steamboats,  Sailing  Vessels,  Wharf  Boats,  Barge-s  etc.    .  17  85,000 

Merchandise 233,540 

Material  and  Manufactured  Articles 45,968 

Manufactured  Tools,  Implements  and  Machinery  ....  22,465 

Agricultural  Tools,  Implements  and  Machinery  .           .  90,633 


82 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Gold  and  Silver  Plate  and  Plated  Ware 752 

Diainonda  and  Jewelry 529 

Monies  of  Banks,  Bankers,  Brokers,  etc 53  298 

Credits  of  Banks,  Bankers,  Brokers,  etc 52,635 

Monies  of  other  than  Bankers,  etc 284,521 

Credits  of  other  than  Bankers,  etc 395,295 

Bonds  and  Stocks 61,800 

Shares  of  Capital  Stocks  of  Cos.  not  of  this  State  .   .       .  920 

Property  of  Corporations  not  before  enumerated  ....  600 

Property  of  Saloons  and  Eating  Houses 14,214 

Uonsehold  and  Office  Property 154,081 

Investments  in  Real  Estate  and  Improvements  Thereon.  3,202 

Shares  of  Stock,  Stale  and  National  Bank •  35,205 

All  other  Personal  Properly  ! 94,163 

Grain  on  hand 5P,091 

Total  Assessed  Value  of  Perdonal  Propjrty 2,493,660 

HEAL  ESTATE.  NO.  ACRES.      VALUE. 

Improved  LiinJs 301,512     9,796,123 

Unimproved  Lands 114,954     1,238,587 

TOWN  AND  CITY  LOTi.  NUMBER.       VALUE. 

Improved  Ljts ...  5.675    2,028,041 

Unimproved  Lois .  12,253       726,660 

Total  Assessed  Value  of  Rial  Estate 14,389,411 

Total  Value  of  Railroad  Property 1,236,772 

GranJ  Total.    . $18,174,843 

COUNTY  RECORDS. — BOOK  A. 

Orphans'  (^Probate)  Court. — Pages  1  to  6  of  records,  ■  Book  A, 
embracing  a  recital  of  transactions  of  the  Orphans'  Court  from. 
August  5,  1796  to  April  13,  1798  are  missing.  From  an  old  Index 
found  in  the  present  office  of  the  Co.  Board  of  St.  Clair  Co-,  we  find 
that  these  six  missing  pages  contained  the  following  : 
Page  1.    Au  order,  that  administrators  should  give  security,  and  an 

order,  that  John  Sulevin  should  file  an  inventory. 
Page  2.    Order  that  Jean   Dumoulin   give   up  certain   papers  to 

Judge  of  Probate. 
Page  3.    Antoine  Girardin  appointed   guardian  for  Antoine  and 
Victoire   Girardin ;   Michael  Squires  appointed  guardian 
for  the  children  of  Benjamin  Byram  Perry  J.  Francis  is 
ordered  to  sell  the  property  of  Jean  Antoine  E.  Claudius. 
Page  4.    Jean  Damoulin's  report  of  sale  of  house  is  approved  and 
administrator  of  the  estate  of  Joseph  Boisard  is  cited  to 
render  an  account. 
Page  5.    Jean  Dumoulin  renders  accounts  of  the  estates  of  Frede- 
ric Obirer  and  Antoine  Boyer.     S.    Bond  renders  an  ac- 
count of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Whitesides.     The  sale   of 
two  arpents  of  land  to  N.  Jarrot  is  confirmed. 
Page  6.    John  Mordock  makes  settlement  of  the  estate  of  Michael 
Hufi!". 
From  page  7  the  records  are  complete  and  well-preserved.     We 
give  our  readers  a   copy —verbatim  et  literatim — of  the  proceedings 
of  said  Orphans'  Court,  had  on  Saturday,  14th  April,  1798,  page  7, 
Book  A. 
"  Orphans'  Court  opened  from  adjournment.     Present : 
John  Dumoulin,      ") 
Shadeack  Bond,       V  Esqes.  Justices. 
Geoege  Atchison,    J 

William  St.  Clair,  Esquire,  Judge  of  Probate — on  motion  of  Judge 
of  Probate — Adelaide  Alexander,  an  orphan  girl  at  Matthieu 
Saucier's,  that  a  guardian  be  appointed  for  her,  the  Court  names 
Michael  L'Onval  on  furnishing  security  according  to  law. 


Arthur  McLaughlin  came  into  court  with  his  father  and  mutu- 
ally chose  George  Atchison,  Esq.,  as  guardian.  Arthur's  age  of 
sixteen  and  a  half  years. 

On  motion  of  Joseph  Le  Page's  to  have  the  lands  in  the  common 
field,  the  property  of  the  estate  of  Xavier  Lipanse,  deceased,  ordered 
to  be  sold  at  public  sale  to  the  highest  bidder. 

On  motion  of  Nicholas  Boisminue  to  sell  the  militia  right  of 
Alexis  Courtpis,  deceased,  ordered  that  the  said  militia  right  be 
sold  at  the  next  coui;t. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Dumoulin  ordered  that  the  militia  right  of 
Pierre  Henry,  deceased,  be  sold  at  public  auction,  and  the  militia 
right  of  Louis  Buisson,  deceased,  be  sold  as  above. 

William  Arundel  produced  the  account  of  the  estate  of  the  late 
Bernard  Gagnon,  wherein  there  appears  a  balance  due  said  estate 
of  five  hundred  and  forty-one  livres  in  produce  and  that  the  same 
remain  in  the  said  Arundel's  hands  till  legally  called  for. 

John  Dumoulin. 

Court  adjourned  to  term  in  court. 

The  first  will  recorded  is  the  noncupative  will  of  Michael  Huff, 
who  had  received  a  mortal  wound  on  the  3d  of  March,  1794. 

The  next  will  is  that  of  William  St.  Clair  who  had  filled  various 
offices  in  the  county.     We  give  these  two  instruments  in  full : 

FIEST  WILL  ON  EECOED. 

mil  of  Michael  Huff — noncupative.  Territory  northwest  of 
Ohio,  St.  Clair  County,  the  10th  of  March,  1794.  We  the  subscri- 
bers being  personally  present  in  company  with  Captain  Michael 
Huff,  when  he  received  a  mortal  wound,  and  within  about  three 
or  four  hours  after,  called  us  to  witness  his  last  will  and  testaflaent, 
and  he  appearing  to  us  of  sound  memory  and  in  his  right  mind, 
proceed  as  follows : 

First  let  all  my  debts  be  paid  out  of  my  moveable  estate,  and 
let  my  well  beloved  wife  have  the  half  of  all  my  goods,  real  and 
personal,  and  the  other  half  to  be  equally  divided  between  John 
Moredock  and  Barnaba  Moredock,  her  two  sons,  and  let  Barnaba 
Moredock  have  my  rifle  gun,  and  further  this  testator  sayeth  not. 
This  was  on  the  3d  day  of  March,  1794. 

James  A.  Espy. 
Thomas  Todd. 
Geoege  Robeets. 
James  A.  Espy,  Thomas  Todd   and  George   Roberts   made  oath 
in  court  at  Cahokia  the  first  day  of  April,  1794,  that  the  above  will 
is  the  words  repeated  by  Michael  Huff  before  he  died. 

William  Arundel,  Dy.  Prothy.  Recorded  this  first  day  of  Feb- 
ruary in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and 
Ninety-seven. 

William  St.  Claie, 

Probate  Judge. 

THE  THIED  will  ON  EECOED. 

Will  of  William  St.  Clair. — In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I  Wil- 
liam St.  Clair,  of  St.  Clair  county  and  township  of  Cahokia,  younger 
son  of  Captain  James  St.  Clair,  of  Glara,  in  the  shire  of  Teudal,  in 
the  kingdom  of  North  Briton,  make  this  my  last  Will  and  Testa- 
ment in  manner  and  form  following:  Before  any  estimation  may 
be  made  of  my  estate,  that  my  sister-in  1  iw,  Hellen  McNabb,  shall 
have  all  my  household  furniture  and  linen,  plate,  jewels  and  bed- 
ding, and  that  a  just  inventory  and  amount  may  be  made  of  the 
residue  of  my  personal  estate  consisting  of  cattle  and  debts,  and 
from  thence  be  paid  my  just  debts.  My  lands  I  bequeath  to  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  for  him  and  his  heirs  for  ever,  and  the  remaining  residue 
shall  be  divided  between  Hellen  McNabb  and  her  sister  Elizabeth 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


83 


McXabb,  recommended  to  their  attention  the  boya  if  they  want 
anything,  and  it  is  my  intent  the  last  shall  be  general,  as  I  make 
them  general  legatees  for  that  purpose.  The  best  horse,  Hellen 
will  take  him,  and  the  other  one  to  be  given  to  her  brother,  Alex- 
ander McNabb,  saving  to  myself  to  make  any  bequest  I  may  think 
proper  before  my  death. 

Signed,  sealed,  published  and  declared  to  be  the  last  Will  and 
Testament  of  the  said  William  St.  Clair,  at  Cahokia,  this  12th  day 
of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred 
and  Ninety-nine. 
In  presence  of  us. 

John  Hay.  ^-■:r=:^ 

James  Tate.  William  St.  Clair.  (55^ 

IsiDOE  Lackoix. 

Personally  came  before  me,  the  subscriber,  Jean  F.  Perry,  who 
made  oath  he  verily  believed  the  name  of  Isidor  Lacroix,  one  of 
the  subscribing  witnesses  to  be  the  hand-writing  and  signing  of  the 
said  witnesses  in  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand, 
Aug.  Idth,  1800.     Perry  sworn  to  before  me. 

Shadeack  Bond. 

Judge  of  Probate. 

Personally  came  before  the  subscriber,  John  Hay,  who  made 
oath,  that  he  was  one  of  the  subscribing  witnesses  to  a  will  made  by 
William  St.  Clair,  Esq.,  deceased,  and  that  said  VVm.  St.  Clair  did 
in  his  presence  acknowledge  the  same  to  be  his  last  Will  and  Tes- 
tament and  revoking  all  other  wills  he  might  have  made. 

Sworn  before  me  19th  day  of  August,  1801.  John  Hay. 

Shadeack  Bond. 

Judge  of  Probate. 

After  my  will  being  made,  I  have  bequeathed  to  my  friends  John 
Hay,  of  Cahokia,  two  oxen  and  a  cart  and  two  cows,  ordaining  the 
said  John  Hay  and  James  Tate  to  be  the  executors  of  this  and  my 
former  will,  signed,  sealed,  published  and  declared  at  Cahokia  this 
12th  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven 
Hundred  and  Ninety-nine. 
In  Presence  of  us. 

John  Hay. 

James  Tate.  William  St.  Clair.  seal. 

Isidor  Lacroix. 

Personally  came  before  me,  the  subscriber,  Jean  T.  Perry,  who 
made  oath,  that  he  verily  believed  the  names,  Isidor  Lacroix  one  of 
the  subscribing  witnesses  to  be  his  hand-writing  and  signature  in 
testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  sworn   before  me 

Perry. 

Shadeack  Bond. 

Judge  of  Probate. 
August  19,  1801. 

Recorded  November  29,  1801. 

Shadrack  Bond. 

Judge  of  Probate. 

We  append  a  few  of  the  legal  documents,  believing  they  will  be 
of  interest. 

First  divorces  granted  by  the  established  courts  of  St.  Clair 
county,  Illinois. 

Frangois  Champagne,   '\ 

vs.  y  -  Libel  for  divorce. 

Celeste  Champagne,      ) 
No  defence  made,  and  divorce  granted,  April  term,  1811. 


On  libel  for  divorce. 


Kezia  Lemen, 

vs. 
William  Lemen, 

October  term,  1811. 
Divorce  granted  on  account  of  cruelty.     William  Lemen  to  pay 
to  Kezia  Lemen  ten  dollars  annually  on  the  2d  day  of  December, 
and  said  Kezia  to  have  charge  of  child. 

Richard  Knight,    ") 

vs.  >    Libel  for  divorce. 

Sally  Knight,         ) 
On  account  of  adultery  committed  by  said  Sally  Knight    Divorce 
granted,  November  term,  1817. 

Estates  put  under  administration  after  the  organization  of  the 
county; 

In  1790. 
Antoine  Boyer,        personal  property  valued  at        1,704  livres. 

Antoine  Price,                        "  •'  272  " 

Michel  Girardin,                    "  "  15,901  '' 

Jean  Pierre  Allard,               "  "  4,840  " 

Frederick  Wiser,                   ''  "  723  " 

1791. 

Joseph  Liixuxiere,               "  "  4,493  " 

Joseph  Werly,                        "  "  561  " 

Nicolas  Smith,                      "  "  416  " 

1792. 

Joseph  Peltier,                       "  "  198  " 

Joseph  Le  Page,                    "  ''  2,560  " 

Antoine  Harmand,  called  Sans  Facon,      ''  3,076  " 

Jean  Bapt.  Guion,  "  9,350  " 

Thomas  Brady,  one  of  the  husbands  of  the  celebrated  Le 
Compte,  died  in  1794,  his  personal  property  amounted  to  $911.00. 
James  Piggott  died  in  1801,  leaving  $409  in  personal  property. 
Antoine  Girardin,  1802,  with  $2,003.50.  William  Cairns  in 
1803,  $391.3.5,  and  John  Dumoulin  in  1805,  $7,307.67.  Shad- 
rack  Bond,  Sr.,  died  in  1812,  his  personal  estate  was  worth  $2,879. 

Early  marriages  recorded  after  organization  of  the  county. 

George  Witraore  and  Catharine  Dorr6e,  widow  of  Louis  Dorr6e, 
at  Prairie  du  Rochor,  June,  1790,  by  Barbeau,  Judge  c.  c. 

Jean  Babhite  Chartran  and  Marie  Rocheleau,  widow  of  Michel 
Girardin,  Cahokia,  June  10,  1790,  by  P.  Gibault,  missionary 
priest. 

Louis  Le  Boeuf,  called  La  Flamme,  and  Marie  J.  Pelletier,  July 
12,  1790,  at  Cahokia,  by  P.  Gibault. 

Jerome  Matis  and  Marie  Joubert,  Cahokia,  March  7,  1791,  by 
P.  Gibault. 

Amable  Partanais,  called  Magon,  and  Marie  Therese  Harmand, 
widow  of  Gabriel  Barron,  Cahokia,  April  30,  1791,  by  P.  Gibault. 

Michel  Pilet  and  Marie  Languedoc,  May  2,  1791,  at  Cahokia,  by 
P.  Gibault. 

The  first  licenses  granted  by  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  St. 
Clair  county  are  dated  February  14,  1793,  and  in  order  to  point 
out  to  the  reader  the  commercial  importance  of  the  county  at  that 
remote  period  of  time,  we  shall  here  introduce  a  full  list  of  mer- 
chants licensed  on  that  date  and  during  the  year.  These  licenses 
were  issued  by  John  Edgar,  or  by  Antoine  Girardin,  the  former 
apparently  for  Kaskaskia,  the  latter  for  Cahokia. 

Licenses  granted  by  John  Edgar : — to  William  Arundel,  William 
Morrison,  John  Rice  Jones,  Ebenezer  Eyers,  Marie  Ruy6,  Pierre 
Menard,  and  John  Edgar,  merchants ;  seven  merchant  licenses  for 
Kaskaskia. 

Antoine  Girardin  granted  licenses  to  St.  Paul  Lacroix,  John 
Hay,  Pierre  Antoine  Tabeau,  Pierre  Laperche,  John  Lyle,  Jean 
Dehay,  James  McKay,   Louis  Chabollier,  Zacharie  Flurotebise, 


84 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Louis  Bossie,  Franz  Graeter,  Jean  B.  Chay6, Gagnon,  J.  B. 

Buron,  Jean  Marie  Coursol,  J.  B.  Defend,  Fran9ois  Duquet, 
Antoine  Grandebois,  Louis  Buisson,  Jacques  Roland,  Beaubien  De 
Eivierre,  Pierre  Durebois  and  Josiah  Bleakly ;  twenty-three  mer- 
chant licenses  for  Cahokia.  Besides  these  licenses,  Girardin  granted 
at  the  same  time  retailers'  licenses  to  Joseph  Grondines,  Frangois 
Tuergeon  and  Louis  Robert ;  a  store-keeper's  license  to  Frangois 
Lapanse  and  lately  a  tavern  license  to  Joseph  Mendoza. 

The  price  charged  for  these  licenses  is  not  stated ;  it  was  probably 
aperquisite  of  the  office.  At  any  rate  it  must  have  been  very 
trifling,  for  the  county  collected  in  1810,  only  $95.00  from  this 
source  of  revenue. 

Those  twenty-three  merchants  of  Cahokia  could  certainly  not  be 
confined  to  St.  Glair  county  for  custom ;  their  business  must  have 
been  up  and  down  the  rivers,  to  the  various  and  numerous  tribes  of 
Indians.  The  home  trade  was  transacted  by  those  four  retailers 
and  storekeepers.  Cahokia  contained  in  1783,  about  one  hundred 
families,  and  had  scarcely  increased  this  number  to  more  than  one 
hundred  and  ten  or  fifteen  in  1793. 

William  St.  Clair,  whose  name  has  been  mentioned  heretofore  as 
recorder  and  judge  of  probate,  had  been  authorized  ky  the  governor 
to  take  prcof  as  to  who  was  "  head  of  a  family  "  at  Cahokia  in  1783. 
Jean  Baptiste  Dubuque,  Jean  Baptiste  Tamier  and  Charles  Du- 
charm,  appeared  before  him  at  Cahokia  on  the  30th  of  September, 
1797,  and  made  oath  to  a  list  containing  ninety-nine  nalnes,  which 
names  may  be  found  in  our  chapter  "  Pioneers  and  Early  Settlers." 
These  names  are  French,  with-  a  few  exceptions,  viz. :  Thomas 
Brady,  William  Biggs  and  Joseph  Andrews,  who  seem  to  have  been 
Americans  or  Britons,  and  Philip  Engel,  apparently  a  German. 

The  first  ferry  license  was  granted  by  the  court  to  Captain 
James  Piggott,  in  the  year  1795.  The  Captain  also  received  a 
license  for  a  ferry  and  p  rmission  to  land  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
river  at  St.  Louis,  by  Governor  Tradeau,  of  Louisiana — thus  began 
what  is  now  known  as  Wiggin's  Ferry  Company. 

FIRST  INSTANCE   OF   CAPITAL   PUNISHMENT   IN  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY. 

The  first  murder  case  tried  after  Illinois  had  become  a  state  was 
that  of  Timothy  Bennett,  the  murderer  of  Alphonso  C.  Stewart. 

The  crime,  like  many  similar  ones,  originated  in  a  drunken 
brawl.  On  the  8lh  of  February,  1819,  these  two  men  had  a 
personal  quarrel.  It  seemed  to  be  impossible  to  reconcile  them,  and 
their  friends  determined  to  get  up  a  sham  duel;  hoping  that  the 
ridiculous  issue  of  the  affair  would  bring  them  to  their  senses. 

The  duel  was  arranged,  Jacob  Short  and  Nathan  Fike  acting  as 
second i.  When  the  word  was  given  and  the  rifles  were  discharged,  it 
was  proved  that  the  "sham"  duel  had  been  fought  with  powder  anrf 
lead, — at  any  rate  Alphonso  C  Stewart  fell  to  the  ground,  mortally 
wounded. 

Timothy  Bennett  was  arrested,  and  so  were  the  two  seconds. 

A  special  term  of  the  circuit  court  was  held  on  the  8th  of  March 
1819,  under  a  special  law  of  the  Legislature  to  hold  said  term.  The 
officers  of  the  court,  John  Reynolds,  judge,  John  Hay,  clerk,  W. 
A.  Beard,  sheriff",  were  all  appointed  by  the  governor. 

The  grand  jurors, — Ben  Watts,  foreman,  Jacob  Ogle,  jr.,  Sol. 
Teter,  Wm.  Padfiald,  Robert  Abernathy,  Robert  Lemen,  James 
Marney,  Henry  Uutton,  Frank  Swan,  John  Hendricks,  Daniel 
Everett,  T.  M.  Nicholas,  John  Leach,  W-  T.  Kincade,  Odian  Cas- 
tlebury,  Joshua  Oglesby,  Marshal  Duncan,  Curtis  Moore,  George 
Prickett,  Wm.  Bridge,  Joseph  Penn,  James  Walker  and  Jeremiah 
Hand,  found  true  bills  of  indictment  for  murder  against  Bennett 
and  the  two  seconds,  upon  the  testimony  of  the  following  witnesses : 
Reuben   Anderson,  James  Parks,  James  Kincade,  James  Read, 


Daniel  Million,  Ben  Million,  Peter  Sprinkle  and  Rachel  Tanne- 
hiil. 

AVhen  the  case  was  called  for  trial,  the  sheriff"  reported  that  Ben- 
nett had  broken  jail,  and  was  at  large.  Short  and  Fike  had  their 
trial  in  June  1819,  and  were  both  acquitted. 

Bennett  was  captured  and  jailed  about  the  1st  of  July,  1821.  A 
special  term  of  the  court  was  held  July  26,  1821.  The  grand  jury, 
composed  of — Will  Glasgow,  foreman,  John  Thomas,  James  Cohen, 
Richard  W.  Chandler,  John  Rider,  Archibald  Allen,  W.L.  White- 
sides,  Henry  Stout,  Hosea  Riggs,  W.  Leach,  Thomas  Gillham,  Da- 
vid Sparks,  John  Scott,  Jacob  Whitesides,  Daniel  Birkey,  Daniel 
Phelps,  James  Marney,  Joseph  Wilbanks,  James  Pulliam,  T.  West, 
Daniel  Million,  John  Glass  and  George  Harris,  heard  the  testimo- 
ny of  Reuben  Anderson,  Rachel  Tannehill,  James  Kincade,  Tho- 
mas Hall,  Wm.  Hook,  John  Rutherford  and  Peter  Sprinkle,  and 
found  a  new  indictment,  in  words  and  figures  as  follows : 

THE  BENNETT  INDICTMENT. 

State  of  Illinois,  1 
St.  Clair  Co.        j  ®^" 

At  a  special  term  of  the  circuit  c(»ort,  held  for  the  county  of  St. 
Clair,  in  pursuance  of  the  statute  in  such  cases  made  and  provided, 
on  the  26th  day  of  July,  1821. 

The  Grand  Jurors  of  the  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  residents 
of  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  empannelled,  sworn  and  charged  to  inquire 
for  the  body  of  the  said  county,  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
people  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  upon  their  oath  present,  that  Timothy 
Bennett,  late  of  Clinton  Hill  township  now  called  Belleville  precinct 
in  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair,  laborer,  not  having  the  fear  of  God 
before  his  eyes,  but  being  moved  and  seduced  by  the  instigation  of 
the  Devil,  on  the  8th  day  of  Febiuary,  1819,  with  force  and  arms, 
at  the  said  township,  then  called  Clinton  Hill,  but  called  Belleville 
in  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair,  in  and  upon  Alphonso  C.  Stewart  in 
the  peace  of  God  and  of  the  said  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois  then 
and  there  being,  feloniously,  willfully  and  of  his  malice  aforethought 
did  make  an  assault ;  and  that  the  said  Timothy  Bennett  a  certain 
rifle  gun,  of  the  value  of  ten  dollars,  then  and  there  loaded  and 
charged  with  gunpowder  and  one  leaden  bullet,  which  rifle  gun  he 
the  said  Timothy  Bennett  in  both  his  hands  then  and  there  had, 
and  held  to,  against  and  upon  the  said  Alphonso  C  Stewart,  then 
and  there  feloniously,  wilfully  and  of  his  malice  aforethought  did 
shoot  and  discharge,  and  that  the  said  Timothy  Bennett  with  the 
leaden  bullet  aforesaid  out  of  the  rifle  gun  aforesaid  then  and  there 
by  force  of  the  gunpowder,  shot  and  sent  forth  as  aforesaid  the  afore- 
said Alphonso  C  Stewart  in  and  upon  the  left  breast  of  him  the  said 
Alphonso  C.  Stewart  near  the  left  pap  of  him  the  said  Alphonso  C. 
Stewart  then  and  there  feloniously,  wilfully  and  of  his  malice  afore- 
thought, did  strike  penetrate  and  wound,  giving  to  the  said  Al- 
phonso C.  Stewart,  then  and  there  with  the  leaden  bullet  aforesaid, 
so  as  aforesaid  shot,  discharged  and  sent  forth  out  of  the  rifle  gun 
aforesaid,  by  the  said  Timothy  Bennett  in  and  upon  the  left  breast 
of  him  the-  said  Alphonso  C  Stewart,  near  the  left  pap  of  him  the 
said  Alphonso  C.  Stewart  one  mortal  wound,  of  the  dd'pth  of 'six 
inches,  and  of  the  breadth  of  one  inch,  of  which  said  martal  wound 
the  aforesaid  Alphonso  C.  Stewart  then  and  there  instantly  died. 
And  so  the  jurors  aforesaid,  upon  their  oath  aforesaid,  do  say.  That 
the  said  Timothy  Bennett,  the  said  Alphonso  C.  Stewart  then  and 
there  in  manner  and  form  aforesaid,  feloniously,  wilfully  and  of  his 
malice  aforethought  did  kill  and  murder,  against  the  form  of  the 
statute  in  that  case  made  and  provided  and  against  the  peace  and 
dignity  of  the  same  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois. 
Samuel  D.  Lockwood, 

Attorney  General  of  the  state  of  Illinois. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


85 


Endorsements  on  this  indictment  are  as  follows : 

A  True  Bill — W.  Glasgow,  foreman.  Pleads :  Not  guilty.  Wit- 
nesses'names:  Reuben  Anderson,  James  Kincade,  Rachel  Tanne- 
hill,  Thomas  Hale,  Wm.  Hook,  John  Rutherford,  Peter  Sprinkle. 

Pleads:  Not  guilty. 

We  of  the  Jury  find  the  prisoner  Timothy  Bennett  guilty  in 
manner  and  form  as  within  charged. 

Elijah  Davis,  Foreman. 

Bennett  was  put  upon  his  trial  on  the  27th  of  July,  before  Judge 
Reynolds  and  the  following  Traverse  Jury  : 

Elijah  Davis,  Noah  Matheny,  John  A.  Manzy,  James  Simmons, 
Burrill  Hill,  John  Cotton,  James  C.  Work,  George  Jack,  James 
Wilson,  Joel  R.  Small,  James  Fox  and  Zach.  Stephenson. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  1821,  this  jury  rendered  the  above  verdict 
of  "guilty." 

The  Court  then  preceded  to  pass  the  sentence  in  words  following 
And  it  being  demanded  of  him  if  anything  for  himself  he  had 
or  knew  to  say  why  the  court  should  not  proceed  to  pass  sentence 
upon  him,  he  said  he  had  nothing  more  than  he  had  before  said. 
Therefore  it  was  considered  by  the  court  that  he  be  hanged  by  the 
neck  until  he  be  dead,  and  that  the  sheriflf  of  the  county  do  cause 
execution  of  this  judgment  to  be  done  and  performed  on  him  the 
said  Timothy  Bennett  on  iSIonday,  the  3d  day  of  September  next, 
between  the  hours  of  ten  in  the  forenoon  and  four  in  the  afternoon, 
at  or  near  the  town  of  Belleville. 

It  may  here  be  stated,  that  Samuel  D.  Lockwood,  Attorney 
General  for  the  state  of  Illinois,  came  into  court,  when  it  opened, 
and  took  the  following  oath : 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear,  that  I  will  to  the  best  of  my  judgment 
execute  the  duties  imposed  on  me  by  the  act  for  suppressing  duel- 
ing, so  help  me  God." 

Neither  Bennett  or  his  friends  believed  that  this  awful  sentence 
would  ever  be  executed.  The  latter  made  strenuous  efforts  to  have 
him  pardoned.  Failing  in  this,  they  tried  to  have  the  sentence 
commuted.  But  the  governor  remained  firm  against  all  entreaty. 
On  the  day  appointed  for  his  execution,  Bennett  was  hanged,  at 
where  now  stands  West  Belleville,  near  ihe  site  of  tlie  South-east 
school-house. 

The  execution  was  witnessed  by  a  multitude  of  men,  women  and 
children. 

In  1854 — Sept.  4th — ^Joseph  Orban  was  executed  for  the  mur- 
dering of  another  Frenchman  in  the  American  bottom.  Sheriff 
Thomas  Challenor  employed  an  experienced  European  executioner 
to  do  the  hanging. 

James  Piggot's  remarks  and  observations  to  the  Justices  of  the 
Court  of  General  Quarter  Sessions,  at  their  sitting  at  Cahokia,  in 
the  County  of  St.  Clair,  the  first  Tuesday  of  October,  1791,  by 
James  Piggot,  one  of  the  Justices  of  said  Court. 

Genteel  men:— It  is  now  one  year  and  six  months  since  this 
court  set  under  an  established  constitution.  And  as  yet  we  have 
not  a  prison  in  our  county,  for  want  of  which,  the  transgressors  of 
our  laws  pass  unpunished,  for  a  small  fine  on  a  great  offender  is  no 
punishment  if  he  be  rich,  but  rather  provokes  and  encourages  him 
to  double  crime — whereby  he  makes  his  honest  neighbors  afraid  to 
prosecute  him, — and  if  he  be  very  poor  there  is  nothing  to  be  re- 
covered of  him  but  his  ill  will,  which  is  very  distressing  on  the 
honest  and  well  meaning  inhabitants  of  our  county. 

It  is  now  about  one  year  since  I  understood  that  there  was  a  col- 
lection of  money  or  property  for  building  or  repairing  a  house  for 
a  prison  and  nothing  farther  done  in  that  ytt. 

It  is  a  long  time  since  the  publication  of  an  act  for  laying  off 


our  county  into  townships,  and  appointing  clerks  and  overseers  of 
the  poor  to  each,  and  nothing  done  in  that  yet.  And  should  there 
be  a  longer  omission  of  this  duty,  I  fear  the  consequences  will  be 
evil. 

A  Bond  given  by  James  Moore,  in  January,  1786,  for  the  sum 
of  five  hundred  dollars  (may  be  something  more),  payable  to  the 
heirs  or  successors  of  John  Allison  deceased,— James  Piggot  and 
Joseph  Warley  securities— is  now  lying  in  the  county  clerk's  office, 
and  as  I  have  repeatedly  demanded  the  Bond  to  be  given  up,  as  the 
same  was  lawfully  paid  and  discharged  in  the  year  1788,  which  is 
well  known  to  the  judges  and  justices  of  this  court,  I  therefore  beg 
that  the  court  may  at  this  sitting  condemn  the  said  Bond  as  void 
and  of  no  effect,  and  order  the  same  to  be  so  entered  in  the  county 
docket,  that  the  securities  may  be  no  longer  in  danger  by  an  excuse 
of  the  clerk's  having  overlooked,  or  not  having  time  to  look  for  it, 
which  has  been  the  case  for  more  than  three  years  since  the  Bond 
was  paid. 

I  am,  with  all  submission,  the  court's  obedient  servant, 

James  Piggot. 
presentment. 

General  Court  Quarter  Sessions. 

First  Grand  Jury  Report,  4th  October,  1791. 
County  of  St.  Clair,  |  ^^ 

District  dahokia.  j  "  ' 

We,  the  grand  jury  are  of  opinion  that  the  streets  of  this  village 
should  be  repaired,  and  all  other  roads  leading  into  said  village, 
particularly  the  road  leading  to  the  Mississippi. 

That  the  weights  and  measures  of  this  village  be  examined. 

That  the  millers  be  required  and  ordered  to  render  good  mer- 
chantable flour,  according  to  the  wheat  they  receive  into  their  mills 
and  the  quantity,  and  that  the  millers  be  ordered  to  have  sufiicient 
and  lawful  scales  and  weights. 

That  to  prevent  our  neighbors,  the  Spaniards,  from  having  all 
the  Indian  trade  to  themselves,  that  the  citizens  of  this  county  be 
allowed  to  carry  on  their  trade  as  usual,  in  this  village  with  all  the 
Indians  who  may  come,  in  a  peacsable  manner,  into  this  village  to 
trade  goods,  liquors,  etc. 

That  for  the  support  of  the  laws  and  government  of  our  county, 
the  speediest  means  be  taken  to  have  a  proper  jail  in  th"s  village, 
such  as  the  state  of  this  district  may  afford  in  its  present  situation, 
on  an  immediate  examination. 

That  a  county  road  be  laid  out  from  this  village,  to  the  end  of 
the  district,  to  meet  the  Prairie  du  Rocher  road,  and  that  all  bridges 
be  repaired  in  this  district. 

Signed  by  :  Maih.  Saucier,  Harmand,  dit  Sans  fagon  Pierre  La 
Perche,  Henry  B.  Byron,  Pierre  Guion,  dit  Guitar,  Laurent  Am  - 
lin,  Jean  Lapense,  Charles  Germain,  J.  K.  Simpsony,  Shadrach 
Bond,  George  Hendricks,  Isaac  Wert,  William  Arundel. 

AN  INDENTURE.      "SPINSTER." 

This  indenture  witnesseth  that  Jean  de  Hay  and  Jean  Beaulieu, 
overseers  of  the  poor  in  the  township  of  Cahokia,  in  St.  Clair 
County,  by  virtue  of  a  law  of  this  territory  of  Indiana,  in  such 
cases  made  and  provided,  have  placed,  and  by  these  presents  do 
place,  and  bind  out  a  poor  child,  named  Philis,  aged  six  years,  unto 
Joseph  Buelle,  for  twelve  years  from  this  date,  to  learn  the  arts 
trade,  and  mystery  of  a  spinster,  etc. 

The  conditions  are  couched  in  the  known  terms,  and  it  is  to  be 
presumed  that  Philis  learned  the  arts  and  mysteries  of  a  spinster. 
Her  compensation  for  the  twelve  years  was  one  wearing  apparel, 
suitable  for  the  Lord'.s  day,  and  another  for  working  days. 


86 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


FIRST  DEED  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  ST.  CLAIE,  OLD  LIMITS. 

Know  all  mea  by  these  presents,  that  I,  John  Elgar,  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Kaskaskia,  merchant,  for  and  in  consideration  of  one 
Phaeton  and  Harness,  valued  at  two  hundred  dollars,  to  me  in  hand 
delivered,  have  bargained,  sold,  aliened,  released  and  confirmed,  and 
by  these  presents  do  bargain,  sell,  alien,  release  and  confirm  unto 
John  Murray  St.  Clair,  of  the  County  of  Westmoreland,  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  one  equal  and  undivided  half  of  a  certain  parcel 
of  lands,  lying,  and  being  in  the  County  of  St.  Clair,  in  the  Wes- 
tern Territory  of  the  United  States,  between  the  villages  of  Kas- 
kaskia and  Prairie  du  Eocher,  and  which  were  purchased  by  me  at 
public  sale,  by  order  of  the  Syndic  of  Kaskaskias,  as  the  estate  of 
Richard  Winston,  deceased,  to  him,  the  said  John  Murray  St.  Clair, 
to  have  and  to  hold  and  his  heirs,  executors  or  assigns  forever.  In 
■witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Kaskas- 
kia, the  11th  day  of  June,  1790. 


John  Edgar. 


Signed,  sealed  and  delivered,  in 
presence  of  Wintheop  Sargent, 
A. Sprague. 

June  14, 1790. 

True  from  the  original. 


William  St.  Clair, 

Recorder. 


first  DEED  IN  PRESENT  LIMITS  OF  COUNTY. 

This  indenture  made  the  nineteenth  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-two,  between 
Antoine  Girardin,  of  the  district  of  Kahokia,  in  the  County  of  St. 
Clair,  Territory  of  the  United  States,  north-west  of  the  river  Ohio, 
Esquire  of  the  one  part  and  John  Antoine  Alexis  Claudius  of  the 
same,  merchant,  of  the  other  part.  Witnesseth  that  the  said  An- 
toine Girardin,  for,  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty-four  dollars  and  two  dimes,  of  lawful  money  of  the 
United  States,  to  him  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  John  Antoine  Alexis 
Claudius,  at,  or  before  the  sealing  and  delivery  of  these  presents,  the 
receipt  whereof  he  doth  hereby  acknowledge,  hath  granted,  bar- 
gained, sold,  aliened,  released  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents 
doth  grant,  bargain,  sell,  alien,  release  and  confirm  unto  the  said 
John  Antoine  Alexis  Claudius,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all 
that  messuage  or  dwelling-house  and  tract  or  lot  of  land,  whereon 
the  same  is  built  situate,  lying,  and  being  in  the  village  of  Prairie 
du  Pont,  in  the  said  district  of  Kahokia,  now  in  the  tenure  and 
occupation  of  the  said  John  Antoine  Alexis  Claudius,  the  said  tract 
or  lot  of  land  containing  ten  acres  English  measure,  be  the  same 
more  or  less,  and  bounded  and  described  as  follows,  to  wit:  Begin- 
ning at  a  lot  of  land  belonging  to  Phillip  Engel,  Esquire,  in  the 
said  village  of  Prairie  du  Pont,  where  he  has  a  small  enclosure  for 
pasture  ground  for  his  calves,  at  the  north-westwardly  corner  there- 
of, and  opposite  to  the  house  and  lot,  where  the  said  Phillip  Engel 
now  resides  in,  in  the  said  village,  thence  along  with  the  said  fence 
to  the  eastwardly  corner  thereof,  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the 
river  of  the  Prairie  du  Pont,  thence  with  the  said  river  in  descend- 
ing according  to  the  courses  thereof,  to  a  post  placed  in  the  ground 
on  the  banks  of  said  river,  between  two  trees,  the  one  a  red  oak, 
and  the  other  a  honey-locust,  and  about  ten  feet  from  the  one  and 
the  other,  the  red  oak  marked  with  three  chops  of  an  ax,  thence 
north  49  degrees,  20  minutes,  east  until  it  crosses  the  great  road 
leading  from  the  said  village  of  Prairie  du  Pont,  to  the  village 
Kahokia,  thence  with  the  said  great  road  southwardly  to  the  place 
of  beginning.  Together  with  all  houses,  outhouses,  edifices,  build- 
ings, barns,  stables,  gardens,  orchards,  lands  arable  and  unarable, 


meadows,  leasows,  pastures,  feedings,  woods,  underwoods,  ways, 
waters,  watercourses,  rights,  members,  privileges,  hereditaments  and 
appurtenances  whatsoever  to  the  same,  messuage  or  dwelling  house, 
tract  or  lot  of  land  belonging,  or  in  any  wise  appertaining.  And 
the  reversions  and  remainders,  rents,  issues  and  profits  thereof,  and 
of  every  part  thereof  with  the  appurtenances,  and  all  the  estate 
right,  title,  interest,  property,  profession,  claim  and  demand,  as  well 
at  law,  or  in  equity,  or  otherwise,  howsoever  of  him,  the  said  An- 
toine Girardin,  of  in,  or  to  the  said  messuage  or  dwelling-house, 
and  tract  or  lot  of  land  above  bargained  and  sold,  and  every  part 
and  parcel  thereof  with  their  appurtenances  to  the  said  Johu  An- 
toine Alexis  Claudius,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to  the  only  proper  use 
and  behoof  of  the  said  John  Antoine  Alexis  Claudius,  his  heirs  and 
assigns  forever,  and  to  and  for  no  other  use,  intent  or  purpose  what- 
soever and  the  said  Antoine  Girardin  for  himself,  his  heirs,  exe- 
cutors, and  administrators  and  fjr  every  of  them  doth  covenant, 
promise  and  agree  to,  and  with  the  said  John  Antoine  Alexis  Clau- 
dius, his  heirs  and  assigns,  by  these  presents  in  manner  and  form 
following,  that  is  to  say,  that  he,  the  said  Antoine  Girardin,  and 
his  heirs,  all  and  singular  the  said  messuage  or  dwelling-hcuse,  and 
lot.or  tract  of  land  above  bargained,  and  sold,  and  every  part  there- 
of with  the  appurtenances  to  the  said  John  Antoine  Alexis  Claudius, 
his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  against  all  persons  claiming  or  to  claim 
by,  through,  from  or  under  him  or  them,  or  either  of  them,  shall, 
and  will  warrant  and  forever  defend  by  these  presents. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  said  parties  have  these  presents  set  their 
hands  arid  seals,  the  day  and  year  before  written. 
Sealed  and  delivered  in  the   "\  ^;!!=r^ 

presence  of  witness  Perry,  I  At.  Girardin.    (^^ 

John  Rice  Jones.  ) 

I  do  hereby  acknowledge  to  have  received  of  the  said  J.  A.  A. 
Claudius,  the  full  consideration  above  mentioned  to  be  by  him  paid 
to  me. 

Witness  Perry,  John  Rice  Jones. 
St.  Clair  County,  ss.  At.  Girardin. 

Be  it  remembered,  that  on  the  sixth  day  of  July,  1792,  person- 
ally appeared  before  me,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  County  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  of  the  said  County  of  St.  Clair,  the  within  named 
Antoine  Girardin,  Esquire,  who  acknowledged  the  within  instru- 
ment as  his  act  and  deed. 

In  testimony  whereof,  and  to  the  intent  that  the  same  may  be 
recorded  as  such,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  the  day 
and  year  first  above  written. 

Phillip  Engel. 

first  sheriff's  t)EED. 

Booh  A,  pp.  121   and  122. 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  William  Biggs, 
Esquire,  sheriff"  of  the  couuty  of  St.  Clair  in  the  territory  of  the 
United  States  north-west  of  the  river  Ohio,  sends  greeting  : 

Whereas,  in  and  by  a  certain  writ  of  levari  facias,  issued  out  of 
the  county  court  of  common  pleas  for  the  district  of  Cahokias, 
in  the  said  county,  bearing  date  the  second  day  of  July,  1793, 
and  to  the  said  sheriff"  directed  and  delivered,  he  was  commanded 
that  of  a  certain  piece  or  lot  of  ground  whereon  was  erected  a 
dwelling-house,  barn,  and  horse-mill,  with  other  out-houses,  with 
all  and  singular  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  situate, 
lying  and  being  in  the  village  of  Cahokia  county  aforesaid, 
bounded  as  follows:  On  the  south  by  Walter  street,  on  the  east  by 
vacant  lots,  on  the  north  by  the  rivulet,  on  the  west  by  the  lot 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


87, 


now  or  late  of  Jean  D'Hay  and  Michel  Lagrave,  as  the  same  was 
enclosed  at  that  time,  being  the  lands  and  tenements  of  Charles 
Lefevre,  deceased,  blacksmith,  in  his  the  said  sheriff's  bailiwick, 
he  should  cause  to   be    levied    the    sum   of  eight    hundred   and 
thirty-four  dollars,  eight  dimes  and  seven  cents,  lawful  money  of 
the  United  States,  of  debt,  as  well  as  the  farther  sum  of  two  dol- 
lars, .€ight  dimes  costs,  which  Gabriel  Cerre,  as  guardian  of  the 
minors  Nickols,  lately,  in  the  said  court  of  common  pleas,  before 
the  judges  at  Cahokia,  recovered  against  the  executors  of  the  said 
Charles-  Lefevre,  deceassd,  for  his  debt  and  costs  about  his  suit 
expended,  and  whereof  the  said  executors  were  convict,  as  appeared 
of  record,  and  that  he  should  have  these  monies  before  the  judges 
at  Cahokia  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  October  then  next,  to  render  to 
the  said  Gabriel  Cerre  for  his  debt  and  costs  aforesaid,  as  well  as 
the  said  writ,  as  in  and  by  the  same  writ  will  more  fully  appear: 
And  whereas  the  said  sheriff  had,  in  pursuance  of  the  commands 
of  the  said  writ,  seized  and  taken  in  execution  the  premises  in  the 
game  writ  mentioned,  and  hath,  by  a  public  sale  thereof,  caused  to 
be  levied  the  sum  of  six  hundred  and  fourteen  dollars,  being  the 
highest  price  that  could  be  got  for  the  same,  which  were  adjudged 
to   Frederick  Graeter,  of  Cahokia,  as  being  the    highest  bidder 
therefor.    Now,  know  ye,  that  I,  the  said  sheriff,  for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  the  said  sum  of  six  hundred  and  fourteen  dollars  to 
him  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  Frederick  Graeter,  at  or  before  the 
sealing  and  delivery  of  these  presents,  the  receipt  whereof  is  here- 
by   acknowledged,  hath   granted,  bargained,   sold,   assigned   and 
transferred  and  set  over,  and  by  these  presents  doth  grant,  bar- 
gain, sell,  assign,  transfer,  and  set  over  unto   the  said   Frederick 
Graeter,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  and  singular,  the  said 
lot  of  ground  and  premises  herein  before  mentioned,  and  in  the 
said  writ  particularly  described,  and  every  part  and  parcel  there- 
of, with  their  appurtenances,  and  all  the  estate,  right,  title,  and 
interest  of  him  the  said  sheriff  of,  in  or  near  to  the  same,  or  any 
part  thereof,  with   the   appurtenances.     To  have  and  to  hold  all 
and  singular  the  said  lot  of  ground  and  premises  and  every  part 
thereof  to  the  said  Frederick  Graeter,  his   heirs  and  assigns  to 
the  only  proper,  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  Frederick  Graeter,  his 
heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  said  sheriff  hath  hereunto  set  his  hand 
and  seal,  the  thirteenth  day  of  August,  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  nine:y-three. 

William  Biggs,   /^"^^^^ 

bherirr.  y^^-f^^::^ 

Sjaled  and  delivered 

in  the  presence  of 

AViLLiAM  Arundel, 

John  Rice  Jones. 

I  do  acknowledge  lo  have  received  the  full  consideration  money 
above  mentioned. 

William  Biggs, 
Sheriff 

St.  Clair  County,  ss. 

On  the  third  day  of  April,  1794  personally  canie  before  me  a 
justice  of  the  peace  of  the  said  county,  the  within-named  William 
Briggs,  Esquire,  who  acknowledged  the  within  all  as  his  act  and 
deed. 

In  testimony  whereof,  and  to  the  intent  the  same  may  be  recorded 
as  such,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  day  and  year 
before  written. 

J.  Edgah. 


Frederick  Graeter  sold  this  property  on  the  seventeenth  of  May, 
1791,  to  Jean  Munier,  for  seven  hundred  dollars. 

On  the  twentieth  of  October,  1791,  Jean  Baptist  Calist  (called 
Lachance)  sells  to  Elijah  Harrington  a  house  and  lot  for  and  in 
consideration  of  two  spinning  wheels,  two  bread  troughs,  one  cotton 
gin,  one  bedstead,  and  four  hundred  pounds  of  pork  without  bones. 

One  acre  of  ground,  with  a  dwelling-house,  was  sold  by  Jacob 
Jady  to  Jacqu3  Chsnie,  February  16th,  1792,  for  two  oxen  with 
yoke  and  straps,  two  cows,  one  mare  of  two  years  old,  one  heifer, 
one  bull-calf  of  one  year  old,  twenty  boards  of  seven  feet  long, 
four  doors,  two  pairs  sashes  and  shutiers  for  windows  with  the  irons 
thereunto  blonging,  all  of  which  is  valued  at  two  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars,  lawful  money  of  the  United  States.  This  deed  is 
the  first  one  in  which  the  year  of  independence,  the  16th,  is  men- 
tioned. 

On  the  sixth  of  October,  1792,  Benjamin  Joseph  Byrara,  of 
I'Aigle,  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  sold  to  John 
Edgar  certain  works  lately  erected  for  the  making  of  salt  from  cer- 
tain mineral  salt  springs,  together  with  a  certain  tract  of  land,  being 
about  one-half  of  a  four-hundred  acre  tract  surveyed  to  Byram  by 
order  of  the  governor,  for  $1204.40. 

EGADS. 

The  county  of  St.  Clair  enjoys  now  a  splendid  system  of  public 
roads  and  it  may  be  of  interest  to  hear  of  the  beginning  of  those  most 
needed  and  most  important  improvements.  Although  the  county 
was  organized  in  1790,  no  traces  of  laying  out  public  roads  are  found 
prior  to  17V)6.     The  first  petition  on  file  reads  as  follows : 

To  the  Worshipful  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  holden 
at  Cahokia  in  and  for  the  county  of  St.  Clair  : 

The  humble  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Turkey  Hill,  showeth  : 

That  whereas  the  laws  of  our  Territory  providing  for  opening  of 
roads,  have  put  it  in  the  power  and  made  it  the  duty  of  your  wor- 
shipful body  to  issue  your  order  for  the  surveying  and  opening  pub- 
lic roads  when  and  where  your  worshipful  body  thought  fit  and 
necessary,  if  the  inhabitants  shall  signify  the  same  by  Petition, 

Therefore  we  the  inhabitants  of  Turkey  Hill,  think  it  extremely 
necessary  to  have  a  road  established  from  our  said  district  of  Tur- 
key Hill  to  the  village  of  Prairie  du  Pont,  which  we  pray  you  to 
consider  immediately,  and  grant  by  giving  orders  for  surveying  the 
same  and  we,  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray. 

William  Eadcliffe,  John  Porter,  Lewis  Rail,  Lawrence  Shookey, 
P.  Pinsenau,  Pierre  Beguin,  John  Hays,  John  Domoulin  and  Perry 
There  are  eleven  more  names  on  the  petition,  but  they  have  evi- 
dently been  signed  by  the  getter-up  of  the  petition. 

The  first  bridge  built  in  the  county  has  given  the  name  to  the 
village  of  Prairie  du  Pont. 

SLAVERY  IN  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY. 

Slaves  had  been  brought  to  this  county  not  only  by  emigrants 
from  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  but  also  in  large  numbers  from  the 
West  Indies  by  French  settlers  ;  and  the  "  institution''  continued 
for  many  years,  in  fact  to  a  recent  date.  Some  of  the  older  resi- 
dents of  St.  Clair  county  may  even  have  witnessed  the  selling  or 
"  binding-out"  of  negroes.  The  records  of  the  county  mention  these 
transactions  repeatedly,  but  also  the  manumission  of  slaves.  The 
first  record  in  reference  to  this,  is  dated  February  23,  1793,  and 
reads  as  follows ; 

"  Sachent  Tons,  qu'il  appartiendra  que  Jeanneton.negresse,  side- 
vant  mon  esclave,  est  maintenant  libre  et  maitress  d'elle  meme, 
m'ayant  pay6  le  prix  de  sa  libertes  dont  je  suis  content.  Le  23 
Fevr.  1793."  E.  Tardiveau. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Know  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  Jeanette,  a  negro  woman, 
heretofore  my  slave,  is  now  free  and  mistress  of  herself,  she  having 
paid  to  me  a  price  for  her  freedom,  with  which  I  am  satisfied,  etc. 

In  order  to  contrast  the  free  and  easy  style  in  which  our  French 
humanitarian  writes  out  the  freeing  papers,  with  the  careful  and 
guarded  language  of  the  Anglo-American,  we  let  here  follow  the 
"  deed  "  of  William  Musick,  to  wit : 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  William  Musick,  at  pre- 
sent at  Kaskaskia,  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  in  the  territory  of  the 
United  States,  north-west  of  the  river  Ohio,  have  remised,  released 
and  forever  quitted  claim,  and  by  these  presents  do  of  my  own  free 
will  and  accord  remise,  release  and  forever  (Juit  claim  unto  a  certain 
negro  man  named  George,  and  unto  a  certain  negro  girl  named 
Phebe  ;  all,  and  all  manner  of  interest,  claim  and  demand,  which  I 
now  have  or  hereafter  shall  or  may  pretend  or  claim  to  have  of,  in, 
or  to  the  future  services  of  them,  the  said  George  and  Phebe,  and 
each  and  every  one  of  them.  And  I  do  hereby  liberate  them  and 
each  of  them  from  any  state  of  servitude  or  slavery  in  which  accord- 
ing to  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Kentucky  I  formerly  held  them, 
while  residing  in  that  state.  And  I  do  further  declare  them  free 
and  absolute  masters  of  thtirs  and  each  of  their  persons,  and  of  all 
property  they  may  hereafter  acquire. 

In  witness  whereof  I  haye  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the 
22d  day  of  November,  1794.  /<^^^^^ 

William  Musick.   V^t^w 
Sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  Barthlemoi  Chard  and 
John  R.  Jones. 

Instances  of  colored  men  selling  themselves  to  masters  are  also 
made  matters  of  record,  for  instance:  County  Record,  A.  page  180, 
contains  such  a  sale,  the  consideration  paid  was  two  hundred  dollars, 
John  Marney  being  the  purchaser.     Nov.  28,  1794. 

The  public  sale-bills,  mentioned  hereinbefore,  give  further  evi- 
dence in  the  premises,  and  we  are  sorry  to  say,  that  the  trade  did 
not  confine  itself  to  the  negro  alone,  as  Indians  were  also  bought 
and  sold.  An  Indian  woman  was  sold  at  auction  in  February, 
1794,  by  the  administrator  of  the  estate  of  Michael  Girardiu,  for 
327  francs,  about  $65.00. 

Run-away  slaves  were  advertised,  and  rewards  offered  for  their 
re-capture.    The  following  may  serve  as  a  sample : 

Louisiana  Gazette,  St.  Louis,  July  4,  1811. 

FORTY   DOLLARS   REWARD. 

Ran  away  from  the  subscriber,  living  near  Six  Mile  Prairie, 
Illinois  territory,  on  the  27th  of  June,  a  negro  man,  named  George, 
about  40  years  old,  six  feet  or  upwards  high,  coarse  features,  large 
beard  and  whiskers,  speaks  plain  and  with  assurance,  has  a  large 
vacancy  between  his  front  teeth,  but  not  with  the  loss  of  a  tooth ; 
yellow  complexion,  sorrily  clothed,  having  none  but  those  on  him, 
viz :  a  big  coat  of  plain  dyed  brown,  the  under  part  of  the  sleeves 
of  a  drab  color.  The  public  are  hereby  cautioned  against  dealing 
or  harboring  him  at  their  peril.  The  above  reward  will  be  paid  to 
any  person  who  shall  deliver  the  said  negro  to  me,  near  the  Six 
Mile  Prairie,  Illinois  territory.     June  27,  1811. 

John  Humphries. 

The  slavery  question,  however,  caused  a  violent  agitation  of  the 
people  of  this  state  about  the  years  1822  '23  and  '24.  The  Anti- 
Slavery  men,  headed  by  J.  M.  Peek,  held  a  meeting  in  St.  Clair 
county,  organized  their  forces  in  fourteen  other  counties,  adopted 
a  constitution,  and  established  their  head-quarters  at  Belleville. 
Dan  P.  Cook,  Gov.  Edwards,  and  others  took  sides  with  Peek, 
while  Gov.  Bond,  Judge  Phillips,  A.  P.  Field  and  others  took  sides 


with  the  pro-slavery  party.  Gov.  Rsynolds  says :  The  "Anties  " 
were  victorious  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  Kinney,  Moore  and  myself 
were  beaten  on  the  question.     1824. 

The  history  of  the  state  speaks  of  the  final  disposition  of  the 
slavery  question. 


CHAPTER   XI, 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAB. 


MONG  the  men  who  took  part  in  laying  the  founda- 
tions of  the  great  State  of  Illinois  there  is,  perhaps, 
no  class  which  stands  out  with  greater  prominence 
than  the  early  members  of  her  bench  and  bar.  To 
them  pre-eminently  belongs  the  credit  of  shaping  the 
public  sentiment  of  the  commonwealth.  The  legal 
profession,  then  more  than  now,  brought  its  members 
into  public  life.  Every  lawyer,  according  to  the 
breadth  of  his  mind  and  the  sagacity  of  his  views,  was  either  states- 
man or  politician.  To  him  every  honorable  position  in  the  gift  of 
the  state  opened  its  doors.  In  every  movement  of  the  times  he  was 
the  pioneer  of  thought  and  the  advanced  guard  of  action.  Of  many 
of  these  eminent  men  St.  Clair  county  was  the  home,  and  of  those 
who  practiced  at  her  bar  a  large  proportion  reached  positions  of 
prominence  and  distinction,  and  acquired  reputations  wider  than 
the  boundaries  of  their  state. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  St.  Clair  county  there  were  no 
regular  courts  in  Illinois.  The  administration  of  law  was  very  im- 
perfect, and  consisted  of  a  mixture  of  the  civil  law  as  adopted  by  the 
French,  the  arbitrary  enactments  of  the  British  commandants  at 
Fort  Chartres,  and  such  regulations  as  had  been  instituted  by  the 
Virginia  authorities. 

By  the  ordinance  of  1787,  the  common  law  of  England  was  ex- 
tended over  the  North-west  territory,  of  which  Illinois  was  then  a 
part.  The  French  inhabitants  who  had  professed  themselves 
citizens  of  Virginia  were  allowed  to  enjoy  their  laws  and  customs 
relative  to  the  descent  and  conveyance  of  property.  St.  Clair 
county,  on  its  organization  in  1790,  was  divided  into  the  three  judi- 
cial districts  of  Cahokia,  Prairie  du  Rocher  and  Kaskaskia.  The 
judges  were  John  Edgar,  of  ^Kaskaskia ;  Jean  Baptiste  Barbeau, 
of  Prairie  du  Rocher  ;  and  John  De  Moulin,  of  Cahokia.  Though 
the  judges,  sheriff,  and  clerk,  had  jurisdiction  over  all  three  districts, 
still  each  district  had  its  own  grand  jury,  and  the  citizens  of  one 
district  could  not  be  sued  in  another.  A  writ  dated  at  Cahokia 
would  not  run  at  Kaskaskia. 

The  court  of  Common  Pleas  and  Quarter  Sessions,  held  at 
Cahokia  in  the  year  1790,  had  on  its  docket  sixty-five  cases,  of 
which  sixty-two  were  of  a  civil  nature.  The  civil  cases  covered 
actions  in  debt,  trespass,  covenant,  attachment,  and  ejectment.  In 
seventeen  of  these  cases  Philip  Rocheblave  was  plaintiff.  In  the 
first  suit  tried  by  this  court,  Bridget  O'Hara  was  plaintiff,  and  John 
McGarr  defendant.  Of  the  three  criminal  cases  two  were  for  assault 
and  battery,  and  one  for  larceny.  John  Sullivan  and  Hugh  Crisholm 
were  the  unfortunate  individuals  against  whom  the  proceedings 
were  had  for  assault.  The  charge  of  larceny  against  Jeau  Baptiste 
Menard  could  not  be  sustained. 

John  De  Moulin,  the  earliest  of  the  judges  of  St.  Clair  county, 
was  born  in  Switzerland ;  from  that  country  emigrated  to  Canada, 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


and  came  thence  to  Cahokia.  He  had  a  liberal  education,  and  was 
well-versed  in  the  civil  law.  For  several  years  he  was  also  colonel 
(if  the  St.  Clair  county  militia.  He  had  a  large  and  portly  figure, 
and  took  great  pride  in  his  appearance  on  parade  days,  on  which 
occasions  he  wore,  generally,  a  fine  military  dress.  His  character 
and  conduct  were  those  of  a  gentleman,  and  he  was  not  unfitted  to 
head  the  long  list  of  able  judges  who  have  occupied  the  bench  in 
Ht.  Clair  county. 

EARLY   LAWYERS   AT   CAHOKIA. 

The  first  lawyer  to  practice  before  the  courts  of  St.  Clair  county, 
was  John  Rice  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Wales  in  1759,  received  a 
classical  education,  studied  law  in  England,  and  became  a  resident 
of  Kaskaskia  in  1790.  He  was  the  pioneer  member  of  the  bar  of 
this  state.  His  practice  extended  from  Kaskaskia  to  Vincennes 
and  Louisville.  Previous  to  his  coming  to  Illinois  he  had  practiced 
his  profession  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  1787,  removed  from  that  city 
to  Vincennes.  He  possessed  a  sound  and  active  mind,  was  an  ac- 
complished scholar,  and  especially  fond  of  the  science  of  mathema- 
tics. His  legal  attainments  were  profound,  and  he  would  have  been 
conspicuous  at  any  bar.  As  a  speaker,  his  capacity  for  invective 
under  excitement  was  extraordinary.  His  excellent  knowledge  of 
the  French  language  was  of  great  advantage  in  enabling  him  to 
transact  business  for  the  French  population.  He  never  permitted 
himself  to  be  idle,  nor  engaged  in  light  or  frivolous  amusements. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  passions,  and  had  a  high  degree  of  personal 
courage.  In  the  year  1802,  he  moved  back  to  Vincennes,  and  in 
1810,  became  a  resident  of  Missouri.  He  was  chosen  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  that  state  and  died  in  1824,  while 
holding  that  position. 

The  first  resident  lawyer  of  St.  Clair  county  was  Isaac  Darnielle 
who  opened  an  office  at  Cahokia  in  the  year  1794.      His  early  life 
had  been  spent  in  Maryland.      Nature  had  given  him  a  strong  in- 
tellect, and  in  early  life  his  faculties  had  been  well-disciplined  by 
study.    He  was  an  agreeable  speaker,  his  manners  and  appearance 
were  prepossessing,  and  he  became  conspicuous  and  popular  at  the 
bar,  though  lack  of  attention  to  his  profession  prevented  him  from 
becoming  an  able  lawyer.      The  courts  and  juries  of  that  day  were 
not,  however,  remarkably  well-versed  in  technical  learning,  and 
before  these  tribunals  he  could  figure  with  ease  and  safety.     He 
became  well  acquainted  with  the  land  titles  of  Illinois,  and  bought 
and  sold  large  tracts  of  land.     He  is  said  to  have  been  educated 
for  the  ministry,  and  at  one  tiaae  to  have  occupied  the  pulpit.     He 
had  no  ambition  to  become  wealthy.     He  was  indolent  in  disposi- 
tion.    His  greatest  weakness  was  a  conspicuous  fondness  for  the 
fair  sex.    At  the  court  of  Venus  he  practiced  with  consummate  art 
and  with  more  studious  assiduity  than  was  given  to  the  legal  pro- 
fession.    He  never  married,  and  yet  apparently  was  never  without 
a  wife.     He  was  large  and  portly  in  person,  easy  and  graceful  in 
manners,  and  paid  much  more  attention  to  his  dress  than  was  com- 
mon at  that  day.     He  never  indulged  in  drinking  and  gaming, 
and  with  the  exception  of  his  one  failing,  was  moral  and  correct  in 
his  deportment.     He  had  no  malice  or  bitterness  in  his  composi-  • 
tion.     His  only  aim  seemed  to  be  to  lead  an  easy  and  luxurious 
life.     At  one  time,  while  in  the  zenith  of  his  glory,  he  was  the  beau 
ideal  of  Cahokia ;  but  his  course  of  life  brought  its  inevitable  con- 
sequences.    He  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  profession,  and  when 
an  old  man,  was  left  without  means  of  support  or  sincere  friends. 
Toward  the  close  of  his  life  he  taught  school  in  the  western  part  of 
Kentucky,  where  he  died  in  the  year  1830,  at  the  age  of  sixty. 

The  next  lawyer  to  establish  himself  at  Cahokia  was  William 
Hears.    He  was  born  in  Ireland  in  the  year  1768.    On  coming  to 
12 


this  country,  he  taught  school  some  time  in  Pennsylvania.  While 
in  that  state  he  read  law.  He  then  came  West,  and,  according  to 
Gov.  Reynolds,  reached  Cahokia  as  if  he  had  dropped  down  from 
the  clouds— without  horse,  clothes,  books,  letters,  or  anything  ex- 
cept himself,  a  rather  singular  and  uncouth-looking  Irishman.  In 
early  days  he  was  not  a  scholar,  but  by  application  and  severe  study 
acquired  a  sound  knowledge  of  the  law.  Gov.  Edwards  in  1814 
appointed  him  attorney-general  for  the  territory  of  Illinois.  He 
made  an  able  and  efficient  prosecuting  attorney.  When  the  county 
seat  was  removed  from  Cahokia  to  Belleville,  he  moved  to  the  lat- 
ter place,  where  he  died  in  1826.  He  was  elected  at  one  time  clerk 
of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  made  a  comfortable  living 
from  his  practice,  but  had  no  talent  for  speculation  or  acquiring 
wealth.  In  1809  Samuel  D.  Davidson,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  set- 
tled at  Cahokia.  His  attempts  to  practice  law  did  not  meet  with 
success.  He  was  a  young  man  of  upright  deportment,  but  of  slight 
force  of  character.  A  fine  hand-writing  was  about  the  beginning 
and  end  of  his  talents.  He  taught  school  for  a  time  in  Cahokia, 
entered  the  military  service  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  affer  the 
war  left  Cahokia  for  "parts  unknown." 

Among  the  lawyers  who  attended  the  St.  Clair  county  courts 
about  the  year  1808,  were  Benjamin  H.  Doyle,  James  Haggin,  and 
John  Rector.  Doyle  came  to  Kaskaskia  from  Knox  county,  Ten- 
nessee, in  1805.  He  possessed  a  good  address,  and  by  careful  study 
would  have  made  a  good  lawyer.  Haggin  was  also  a  Kentuckian. 
He  settled  at  Kaskaskia  in  1804,  and  practiced  in  the  courts  of 
Randolph  and  St.  Clair  counties.  He  was  a  young  man  of  consid- 
erable promise.  After  trying  life  on  the  frontier  for  a  few  years, 
he  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  became  very  prominent.  Rec- 
tor settled  at  Kaskaskia  in  1806,  but  only  remained  a  few  years. 

Sessions  of  the  Court  at  Belleville. — The  first  session  of  court  at 
Belleville  was  presided  over  by  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  one  of  the  United 
States  judges  who  held  the  territorial  courts  in  Illinois.  Judge 
Thomas  was  a  man  of  talented  mind,  though  his  inclinations  rather 
fitted  hipi  for  the  active  field  of  politics  than  the  dry  subtleties  of 
the  law.  In  1818  he  was  elected  from  St.  Clair  county  a  member 
of  the  convention  which  framed  the  first  constitution  of  the  state, 
and  was  chosen  the  president  of  that  body.  The  same  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine 
appearance  and  address,  and  whether  in  the  senate,  on  the  bench, 
or  in  any  public  assemblage,  possessed  a  dignified  and  respectful 
bearing.  William  Sprigg  was  the  colleague  of  Judge  Thomas,  and 
with  him  presided  over  the  Illinois  territorial  courts. 

At  the  session  of  the  court  held  at  Belleville  on  the  12th  of  June, 
1815,  Jesse  B.  Thomas  acted  as  judge,  and  William  Mears  as  pro- 
secuting attorney.  In  the  year  1817  the  territory  of  Illinois  was 
divided  into  three  judicial  circuits.  St.  Clair  county  was  included 
in  the  first  circuit,  over  which  Jesse  B.  Thomas  presided.  At  the 
term  of  court  in  1817,  C.  R.  Matheny  attended  to  the  duties  of 
prosecuting  attorney.  At  the  March  term,  1818,  Daniel  Pope 
Cook  acted  as  judge,  and  at  the  July  term  of  the  same  year  John 
Warnock  presided  over  the  court.  John  Reynolds  held  his  first 
term  of  court  at  Belleville  in  February,  1819,  and  likewise  presided 
over  the  following  June  term.  Daniel  P.  Cook  appeared  as  attor- 
ney-general. Joseph  Phillips,  chief  justice,  held  court  in  Novem- 
ber, 1819,  and  June,  1820.  At  the  November  term,  Nicholas 
Hanson  and  W.  H.  Brown  acted  as  prosecuting  attorneys,  and  at 
the  June  term  William  Mears  appeared  in  that  capacity.  For 
eleven  successive  terms,  from  August,  1820,  to  August,  1824,  John 
Reynolds  held  court.  At  the  March  term,  1825,  Samuel  McRob- 
erts  presided  as  judge,  and  at  the  August  term,  1825,  and  the  March 
and  August  terms,  1826,  Richard  M.  Young  occupied  the  bench. 


90 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


In  1827  St.  Clair  county  became  a  part  of  the  second  judicial 
circuit.  Theophilus  W.  Smith  held  court  for  five  terms,  ending  in 
August,  1828.  Thomas  C.  Brown  held  the  August  term,  1829. 
Theophilus  W.  Smith  then  presided  over  ten  successive  terms, 
reaching  up  to  April,  1834.  At  the  March  term,  1835,  Thomas 
Ford  occupied  the  bench  in  the  absence  of  Sidney  Breese.  Sidney 
Breese  presided  over  the  terms  of  court  from  1835  to  1842,  with 
the  exception  that  the  November  terra,  1840,  was  held  by  W.  B. 
Scates,  judge  of  the  third  judicial  district,  in  Judge  Breese's  absence. 

James  Semple  was  judge  at  the  May  terra,  1843.  At  the  Octo- 
ber term,  1843,  and  the  May  and  October  terms,  1844,  James 
Shields  was  on  the  bench.  From  1845  to  1849  the  sessions  of  the 
court  were  held  by  Gustavus  Koerner;  from  1849  to  1855  by  Wm. 
H.  Underwood;  from  1855  to  1857,  by  Sidney  Breese;  from  1857 
to  1861,  by  Williara  H.Snyder;  from  1861  to  1873,  by  Joseph 
Gillespie;  and  since  1873,  by  William  H.  Snyder.  St  Clair  county 
now  forms  part  of  the  twenty-fourth  judicial  circuit.  Judge  Watts 
and  Judge  Wall  of  that  circuit  have  presided  over  occasional  terms 
of  court  at  Belleville. 

Prosecuting  Attorneys. — 1815,  William  Mears;  1817,  C.  E.  Ma- 
theny;  1819,  Daniel  P.  Cook;  1819  (November  term),  Nicholas 
Hanson  and  W.H.  Brown;  1820,  William  Mears;  1821,  Samuel 
D.  Lockwood;  1822,  Adam  W.  Snyder;  1823-25,  James  Turney; 
1825-32,  Alfred  Cowles;  1833-34,  James  Semple;  1834  (Septem- 
ber term),  Ninian  Edwards ;  1835-37,  Jesse  B.  Thomas;  1837-38, 
TJsher  F.  Linder  and  Josiah  Fisk,  who  was  appointed  prosecuting 
attorney  pro  tem.;  1838,  G.  W.  Olney;  1838  (prosecuting  attorney 
pro  tem.,  in  place  of  G.  W.  Olney,  attorney  general),  Joseph  Gil- 
lespie ;  1839,  Wickliffe  Kitchell ;  1839  (prosecuting  attorney  pro 
tem.  in  place  of  Kitchell,  attorney  general),  William  C.  Kinney ; 
1840-44,  William  H.  Underwood ;  1844-48,  William  H.  Bissell ; 
1852-54,  Philip  Foulk;  1854-56,  William  H.  Snyder;  1856-58, 
William  C.  Kinney;  1858-60,  A.  W.  Metcalf;  1860-68,  John  B. 
Hay;  1863-72,  Robert  A.  Halbert;  1872-76,  C.  P.  Knispel;  1876- 
80,  George  W.  Brockhaus;  1880-84,  Eobert  D.  W.  Holder. 

THE  EARLY  STATE  COURTS. 

The  first  judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  were  all  young 
men  and  without  long  practice  at  the  bar.  Reynolds  observes  that 
the  law  was  administered  at  that  day  with  less  form  and  ceremony, 
yet  with  as  much  equity  and  justice  as  at  a  more  modern  date. 

"  The  first  court  I  held,' '  says  Gov.  Reynolds,  "  was  in  the  spring 
of  1819,  in  Covington,  Washington  county,  and  it  was  to  me  a 
strange  and  novel  business.  I  commenced  ray  official  business  among 
my  old  comrades  with  whora  1  had  been  raised — ranged  in  the  war 
with  them,  and  lived  with  them  in  great  intimacy  and  equality,  so 
that  it  was  difficult,  in  my  situation,  to  assume  a  different  relation- 
ship than  I  had  previously  occupied  with  them.  And,  moreover,  I 
utterly  detested  a  kind  of  mock  dignity,  that  sometimes  is  assumed. 
Both  the  sherifi"  and  clerk  of  the  court  of  Washington  county  were 
rangers  in  the  same  company  with  myself,  and  it  seemed  we  were 
still  in  the  United  States  service,  ranging  on  equal  terms  in  pursuit 
of  the  Indians.  And  it  appears  that  the  sheriff.  Bowling  Green, 
entertained  the  same  opinion,  as  he  opened  the  court  in  a  very  fa- 
miliar manner.  While  sitting  astride  a  bench  in  the  court-house, 
he  proclaimed  without  rising,  that  'the  court  is  now  opened,  John  is 
on  the  bench.'     This  was  my  familiar  name  in  the  war. 

"Not  long  after,  in  Union  County,  the  deputy  shc^riff  opened  the 
court,  (myself  presiding),  by  saying :  '  Oh,  yes !'  three  times,  and 
theii  in  a  solemn  manner  proclaimed :  '  The  Honorable  Judge  is  now 
opened.'  He  mistook  the  judge  for  the  court.  This  mistake  crea- 
ted muoh  mefriioent,  when  the  occasion  should  have  been  serious. 


I  knew  that  a  solemn,  serious  dignity  and  decorum  were  necessary 
and  proper  in  the  proceedings  of  courts,  but  in  my  case,  and  the  offi- 
cers generally,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  assume  that  character." 

Gov.  Ford  in  his  history  of  the  state  relates  the  following  of  Rey- 
nolds :  "  This  same  judge  presided  at  a  court  in  which  a  man  named 
Green  was  convicted  of  murder,  and  it  became  his  unpleasant  duty 
to  pronounce  sentence  of  death  upon  the  culprit.  He  called  the 
prisoner  before  him,  and  said  to  him :  'Mr.  Green,  the  jury  in  their 
verdict  say  you  are  guilty  of  murder,  and  the  law  says  you  are  to  be 
hung.  Now,  I  want  you  and  all  your  friends  on  Indian  Creek  to 
know  that  it  is  not  I  who  condemn  you,  but  it  is  the  jury  and  the 
law.  Mr.  Green,  the  law  allows  you  time  for  preparation,  and  so 
the  court  wants  to  know  what  time  you  would  like  to  be  hung.'  To 
this  the  prisoner  replied,  '  May  it  please  the  court,  I  am  ready  at 
any  time;  those  who  kill  the  body  have  no  power  to  kill  the  soul ; 
my  preparation  is  made,  and  I  am  ready  to  suffer  at  any  time  the 
court  may  appoint.'  The  judge  then  said :  '  Mr.  Green,  you  must 
know  that  it  is  a  very  serious  matter  to  be  hung;  it  can't  happen  to 
a  man  more  than  once  in  his  life,  and  you  had  better  take  all  the 
time  you  can  get.  The  court  will  give  you  until  this  day  four  weeks. 
Mr.  Clerk,  look  at  the  almanac,  and  see  whether  this  day  four  weeks 
comes  on  Sunday.'  The  clerk  looked  at  the  almanac,  as  directed, 
and  reported  that 'that  day  four  weeks  came  on  Thursday.'  The 
judge  then  said,  'Mr.  Green,  the  court  gives  you  until  this  day  four 
weeks,  at  which  time  you  are  to  be  hung.' 

The  case  was  prosecuted  by  James  Turney,  the  Attorney  General 
of  the  state,  who  here  interposed,  and  said :  '  May  it  please  the  court, 
on  solemn  occasions  like  the  present,  when  the  life  of  a  human  being 
is  to  be  sentenced  away  for  crime,  by  an  earthly  tribunal,  it  is  usual 
and  proper  for  courts  to  pronounce  a  formal  sentence,  in  which  the 
leading  features  of  the  crime  shall  be  brought  to  the  recollection  of 
the  prisoner,  a  sense  of  his  guilt  impressed  upon  his  conscience, 
and  in  which  the  prisoner  should  be  duly  exhorted  to  repentance,  and 
warned  against  the  judgment  in  the  world  to  come.'  To  this  the 
judge  replied,  'O!  Mr.  Turney,  Mi*.  Green  understands  the  whole 
matter  as  well  as  if  I  had  preached  to  him  a  month.  He  knows  he 
has  got  to  be  hung  this  day  four  weeks.  You  understand  it  in  that 
way,  Mr.  Green, don't  you?'  'Yes,'  said  the  prisoner;  upon  which 
the  judge  remanded  him  to  jail,  and  the  court  then  adjourned." 

It  should  be  said,  however,  that  Reynolds  in  his  work  entitled 
"  My  Own  Times,"  denies  this  story,  and  calls  it  a  "silly  fabrica- 
tion." He  says,  "I  may  not  have  acted  in  that  rigid,  unfeeling 
and  mechanical  manner  that  would  please  heartless  and  superficial 
men,  who  generally  write  and  detail  these  tea-pot  slanders.,  *  * 
I  considered  them  both  (alluding  also  to  Bennett,  sentenced  at 
Belleville)  guilty,  and  the  judgment  of  the  court  was  so  understood, 
that  they  were  both  to  be  executed. 

FORMER   RESIDENT   LAWYERS   AT   BELLEVILLE. 

Two  of  the  early  members  of  the  bar  at  Belleville  were  J.  W. 
Whitney  and  John  Turner,  both  of  whom  became  residents  of  the 
county-seat  about  the  year  1816.  Whitney  bore  the  soubriquet  of 
"  My  Lord  Coke,")  whether  from  his  physical  or  mental  resemblance 
to  the  great  English  lawyer,  is  not  stated)  and  removed  from  Belle- 
ville to  Pike  county.  Turner  became  a  resident  of  Galena,  and  in 
1826  was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  then  in  session  at  Van- 
dalia.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  agreeable  disposition  and  fine  talents, 
but  died  while  yet  a  young  man.  Alphonso  C.  Stuart,  a  lawyer  by 
profession,  settled  in  Belleville  in  1816.  He  was  born  at  Claremont, 
New  Hampshire,  in  1789.  He  received  a  collegiate  education, 
graduating  from  Dartmouth  College  about  the  year  1812.  On 
coming  to  Belleville  he  entered  on  the  practice  of  his  profession,  but 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


-was  killed  by  Timothy  Bennett  in  a  sham  duel  in  February, 
1819. 

David  Blackwell  became  a  member  of  the  Belleville  bar  about  the 
year  1819,  and  was  a  resident  of  the  town  till  his  death.  He  was 
a  lawyer  of  good  mind  and  excellent  abilities.  He  was  active  inhis 
opposition  to  the  proposed  introduction  of  slavery  into  Illinois,  and 
during  the  campaign  of  1824  edited  a  paper  at  Vandalia,  in  which 
he  earnestly  fought  the  movement  to  change  the  state  constitution. 
John  Reynolds,  for  many  years  a  conspicuous  figure  among  the 
Belleville  lawyers,  opened  a  law-office  at  Cahokia  early  in  the  year 
1814.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1778.  When  he  was  six  months  old  his  parents  moved  with  the 
family  to  the  vicinity  of  Knoxville  in  East  Tennessee,  when,  in  the 
year  1800,  they  emigrated  to  Illinois.  Reynolds  was  sent  back  to 
East  Tennessee,  to  be  educated,  and  there  attended  Knox  College. 
In  1807  the  family  moved  to  the  Goshen  settlement,  in  Madison 
county,  and  settled  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  three  or  four  miles  south- 
west of  Edwardsville.  He  relates  that,  as  a  youth,  he  was  active  and 
energetic,  attended  all  the  house-raisings  and  other  gatherings  of 
the  people,  and  never  missed  a  horse-race  nor  a  Fourth  of  July 
frolic.  He  was  fond  of  racing,  and  in  his  book,  "  My  Own  Times," 
he  records  that  in  November,  1811,  he  made  a  wager  to  run  a 
quarter-race  at  Cahokia  for  five  hundred  dollars,  an  amount  equal 
to  several  thousand  at  the  present  day.  The  whole  country  at- 
tended to  see  the  sport.  He  was  assisted  in  making  up  his  stake 
by  Thomas  Carlin,  afterward  governor  of  the  state,  and  won  the 
bet.  Reynolds,  wheu  eighteen  or  twenty,  was  also  passionately 
fond  of  foot-racing,  and  by  incessant  practice  became  a  rapid 
runner.  The  first  foot-race  he  ever  ran  for  a  wager  was  at  Kas- 
kaskia,  in  the  summer  of  1808,  again 3t  John  Scott,  of  Sfee.  Genevieve, 
afterward  representative  in  congress  from  Missouri.  The  last  foot- 
race he  ran  was  in  Tennessee,  for  a  hundred  dollars.  He  began 
the  study  of  law  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  in  1810,  under  the  in- 
struction of  John  McCampbell. 

He  was  induced  to  settle  at  Cahokia  by  the  fact  that  a  relative  of 
his  resided  there,  Joseph  A.  Beaird,  a  wealthy  and  respectable  man. 
He  made  his  house  his  home,  and  rented  a  room  in  the  village  for 
his  office.  He  says  all  his  law-books  could  have  been  easily  packed 
in  a  common  carpet-bag ;  they  were  ranged  on  the  mantel-piece 
over  the  fire-place  in  his  office,  without  filling  it.  He  had  con- 
siderable business,  mostly  arising  from  a  traffic  in  land.  He  made 
his  first  appearance  as  a  practicing  lawyer  before  Judge  Jesse  B. 
Thomas,  at  Belleville,  in  1814.  He  relates  that  diffidence  was  with 
him  a  chronic  disease,  and  that  he  was  never  entirely  able  to  cast 
it  away ;  that  his  first  effort  to  address  the  court  was  exceedingly 
painful,  and  the  more  philosophy  he  exerted  to  discard  this  foolish 
sensibility,  the  worse  the  effort  made  it.  At  first  he  also  did  some 
business  in  the  way  of  surveying  lands ;  but  his  principal  occupa- 
tion was  trading  in  lands,  with  his  partner,  Mr.  Beaird.  His  specu- 
tions  were  so  profitable  that  in  four  years,  he  states,  that  he  bought 
two  stores  of  dry  goods,  amounting  to  ten  thousand  dollars. 

He  makes  the  following  reference  to  his  election  to  the  supreme 
bench  on  the  organization  of  the  state  judiciary :  "  At  the  time  of 
the  session  of  the  first  legislature  I  resided  in  Cahokia,  and  had  not 
the  least  intention  to  visit  the  seat  of  government  at  all.  I  cared 
very  little  who  was  elected  to  any  office, — one  thing  was  certain,  I 
courted  nothing  for  myself.  My  friends  urged  me  to  visit  with  them 
the  General  Assembly  in  session  at  Kaskaskia,  and  I  did  so. 
When  we  reached  the  legislature,  there  was  a  great  excitement  and 
turmoil  in  relation  to  the  election  of  officers  by  the  General  As- 
sembly. I  had  been  in  Kaskaskia  only  a  few  days  when  it  was 
urged  on  me  to  know  if  I  would  accept  of  a  judgeship,  if  elected. 


This  broke  in  on  me  like  a  clap  of  thunder.  I  was  in  truth  per- 
suaded to  become  a  candidate  for  the  office.  I  had  a  great  many 
personal  friends,  both  in  and  out  of  the  legislature,  who  urged  me 
much  to  consent  to  offer.  The  material  for  the  bench  was  not  as 
good  as  it  ought  to  be.  Human  nature  ii  easier  persuaded  to  mount 
upward  than  to  remain  on  the  common  level.  I  was  elected  a  jus- 
tice of  the  supreme  court,  which  entirely  changed  my  life,  as  will 
be  seen  hereafter." 

Reynolds  served  on  the  supreme  bench  till  the  reorganization  of 
the  judiciary  of  the  state  in  1824.  His  previous  knowledge  of  the 
law  had  not  been  comprehensive,  and  many  criticisms  were  made  as 
to  his  ability  to  discharge  the  important  duties  of  the  judicial  office. 
Ford,  in  his  history,  remarking  on  the  reluctance  of  the  judges  of 
that  day  to  decide  questions  of  law,  and  stating  that  they  never 
gave  instructions  to  a  jury  unless  expressly  called  for,  nor  ever 
commented  on  the  evidence,  or  undertook  to  show  what  inferences 
and  presumptions  might  be  drawn  from  it,  makes  the  following 
rather  ill-natured  reference  to  Reynolds :  "  I  knew  one  judge  who 
when  asked  for  instructions,  would  rub  his  head  and  the  side  of  his 
face  with  his  hand,  as  if  perplexed,  and  say  to  the  lawyers,  '  Why, 
gentlemen,  the  jury  understand  this  case ;  they  need  no  instruc- 
tions ;  no  doubt  they  will  do  justice  between  the  parties.' " 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1825  he  resumed  the  practice  of  the 
law.  He  says :  "  I  entered  into  a  tolerably  large  practice  immedi- 
ately ;  but  it  was  not  very  profitable,  and  I  must  be  permitted  to 
say,  that  I  never  knew  a  lawyer  in  the  state  who  ever  became 
wealthy  by  his  practice  alone.  It  is  speculation  and  the  rise  of 
property  in  the  West  that  has  made  so  many  lawyers  and  others 
wealthy.  I  was  lean,  active  and  energetic,  and  could  ride  horse- 
back days  and  nights  together,  without  much  sleep  or  rest.  But  I 
had  been  so  long  on  the  bench,  where  public  speaking  was  not 
practiced,  that  when  I  appeared  at  the  bar  as  a  lawyer,  my  old 
diffidence  also  appeared  with  me,  and  it  was  an  effort  at  first  to 
address  the  court  or  jury.  For  some  time  in  the  courts  I  was  quite 
a  silent  member,  and  knew  well  that  my  silence,  in  many  cases, 
injured  the  interest  of  my  clients;  but  by  repeated  efforts,  I  suc- 
ceeded, to  some  extent.  During  ray  practice  of  law  I  was  familiar 
with  the  people,  got  acquainted  with  almost  everybody,  and  became 
somewhat  popular." 

The  following  sketch  of  Governor  Reynolds'  character  is  from  an 
address  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  Gillespie  before  the  Chicago  Historical 
Society :  "  The  governor's  dislike  to  appear  educated  grew  out  of 
the  contempt  the  early  settlers  had  for  '  book-larnin.'  The  great 
aim  of  his  life  seemed  to  be  in  unison  with  the  multitude.  With 
him,  the  voice  of  the  people  was  the  voice  of  God.  If  he  could  be 
on  the  popular  side,  that  was  enough.  He  never  lost  sight  of  his 
object.  It  was  his  guiding  star.  He  always  catered  to  the  popular 
clamor,  and  indeed  went  beyond  it  in  most  cases.  He  at  one  time 
introduced  a  bill  into  the  legislature  to  constitute  every  man  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  He  consulted  Justin  Batterfield,  who  was  a 
great  wag,  about  it,  and  he  said  it  was  a  capital  measure,  only  he 
did  not  know  where  the  governor  would  get  his  constables.  He 
was  a  very  inaccurate  man,  and  paid  little  attention  to  forms  and 
precedents,  so  that  it  was  a  common  remark  with  him  that  when  he 
filed  a  declaration,  'in  would  come  a  demurrer,  and  out  would  go 
your  humble  servant.' " 

"  David  J.  Baker,  of  Kaskaskia,  who  was  remarkably  accurate 
as  a  special  pleader,  once  filed  a  declaration  in  court,  at  Kaskaskia, 
to  which  Gov.  Reynolds  interposed  a  demurrer.  We  were  all 
amazed  at  the  step  taken  by  the  governor,  and  none  half  so  much 
as  Mr.  Baker.  After  he  had  appeared  to  recover  from  his  aston- 
ishment, he  said  that  he  had  read  law  with  care,  and  had  made 


92 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


special  pleadings  his  principal  study,  but  so  abundantly  cautious 
had  be  been,  that,  even  now,  when  he  liad  the  forms  at  his  tongue's 
end,  he  would  not  venture  to  frame  a  declaration  without  consult- 
ing the  precedents.  He  could  say,  without  boasting,  that  no  de- 
murrer had  been  sustained  to  his  pleadings  for  the  last  twenty 
years,  but  now  comes  forward,  at  this  late  day,  one  who  had  ven- 
tured upon  the  task  of  assailing  the  accuracy  of  his  pleadings.  But 
'  who,'  he  said,  '  is  this  man  ?  It  is  no  other  than  Gov.  Reynolds, 
Tcho,  of  all  men  on  earth,  ought  to  have  the  least  to  say  about  accu- 
racy. We  have  all  known  him  as  a  member  of  the  legislature. 
"W'e  have  known  him  as  judge  of  the  circuit  and  supreme  courts, 
as  member  of  congress  and  as  governor  of  the  state ;  and  God 
Almighty  only  knows  how  long  we  shall  be  afflicted  with  him 
hereafter,  but  in  every  position  that  he  has  held  he  has  been  con- 
spieuous  as  a  bundle  of  injoi-malities.'  Mr.  Baker  gave  him  a  dread- 
ful castigation,  which  the  governor  felt  acutely,  but  never  'let  on.* 
Soon  after  Mr.  Baker  said  to  the  governor  in  the  goodness  of  his 
heart,  '  Well,  governor,  I  am  afraid  I  was  a  little  too  severe  upon 
you  the  other  day.'  '  Why,  Mr.  Baker,'  replied  Reynolds,  '  have 
you  been  saying  anything  about  me  ?  I  was  not  aware  of  it.  I 
guess  your  speech  did  not  amount  to  very  much,  or  I  would  have 
noticed  it.     There  is  no  need  of  apologies,  Mr.  Baker.' 

"  Another  instance  of  how  readily  the  governor  would  extricate 
himself  from  a  dilemma  is  the  following:     The  governor  was  a 
candidate  for  re-election  to  congress  on  the  democratic  side,  and 
was  making,  as  usual  with  men  of  that  party,  a  free  trade  speech  at 
Sparta,  where  they  were  interested  in  the  '  castor-bean '  business. 
An  Englishman,  named  Bradshaw,  who  was  a  Whig,  made  a  bet 
■with- some  of  the  governor's  friends  that  the  governor  did  not  know 
whether  castor-beans  were   protected   or  not,  and  he  asked  the 
governor  whether  castor-beans    were    among  the  '  h'enumerated 
h'articles '  or  not.    The  governor  did  not  seem  to  comprehend  what 
he  meant,  and  made  some  evasive  and  unsatisfactory  reply,  to  which 
Bradshaw  triumphantly  cried   out,  '  I  told  you  'e  did  not  know 
whether  castor-beans  were  h'among  the  h'enumerated  h'articles  h'or 
not.'     The  governor  by  this  time  discovered  what  was  going  on, 
and  said,  '  Stop,  I  am  like  the  boy  who  was  offering  a  horse  for  sale, 
and  some  one  asked  him  if  the  horse  had  the  'splint?'     The  boy 
scratched  his  head  and  said,  '  I  don't  know  exactly  what  the  splint 
is,  but  I  do  know  that  if  it  is  good  for  the  hr  rse,  he  has  got  it,  and  if 
it  is  not  good  for  h'm  he  is  devilish  clear  of  it.'     '  And  that  is  the 
way  with  the  castor-beans ;  if  it  is  good  for  them  to  be  among  the 
enumerated  articles,  they  are  there ;  and,  if  not  they  are  devilish 
clear  of  it.'     The  governor  could  make  the  most  rambling  and  in- 
coherent remarks  imaginable.    On  one  occasion  he  was  prosecuting 
some  Covenanters,  who  were  indicted  at  Kaskaskia  for  a  riot,  com- 
mitted in  Sparta,  in  tearing  down  a  grocery  belonging  to  an  old 
fellow    named   Turk.     Judge   Breese  was   off  the   bench    at  the 
time,  and  defending  the  rioters,  and  he  referred  in  severe  terms 
to  the    fact   that   the   governor   was   prosecuting  his  old  friends 
and    supporters.     This    touched   the  governor    in   a  very   tender 
place.      He  denied  that  his  prosecution  of   these  men  was   any 
evidence   of   his    want  of   friendship    for  them.     '  For,'   said  he, 
'  gentlemen  of  the  jury,  if  I  should  meet  any  of  these  men  in  heaven 
or  in  hell,  I  would  run  to  greet  and  shake  hands  with  them.    'But,' 
said  he,  '  they  were  not  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their  illustrious 
predecessor,  Jesus  Christ,  when  they  were  tearing  down  Old  Turk's 
grocery.     They  say  they  were  afraid  old  Turk  would  raise  a  mob 
and  tear  down  their  churches,  if  they  did  not  destroy  his  grocery. 
Why,  sir,  so  far  from  poor  old  Turk  raising  a  mob,  he  cannot  raise 
anything.     I  am  very  much  afraid  he  cannot  raise  the  ten  dollar 
fee  he  promised  to  pay  me  in  this  case. ' " 


"The  governor  was  the  most  thorough-faced  politician  I  ever 
knew.  He  kept  a  newspaper  for  his  own  use.  It  was  the  Belleville 
AdvoQate,  in  early  days.  He  had  a  'standing '  chairmau  of  all  his 
meetings ;  an  old  gentleman,  named  McLemore,  who  always  decided 
as  the  governor  desired." 

"The  governor  was  never  without  a  'hobby.'  He  was  for  the 
Mexican  war ;  the  acquisition  of  Texas ;  '  Fifty-four  Forty,  or  fight;' 
as  well  as  the  conquest  of  Cuba.  Whenever  one  of  these  hobbies 
was  to  be  set  goiug,  the  governor  would  announce  through  his 
paper,  that  a  meeting  would  take  place  at  such  and  such  a  time,  at 
Belleville,  to  consider  the  measure.  At  the  appointed  time,  the 
governor  would  nominate  McLemore,  as  chairman,  and  would 
make  his  speech,  and  then  call  upon  those  present  to  address  the 
meeting;  and  it  was  considered  a  great  breach  of  political  eti- 
quette not  to  '  chime  in  "  with  his  opening  remarks.  Sometimes, 
however,  the  meeting  would  be  refractory,  and  the  governor  would 
prorogue  them.  I  remember  a  case  in  which  the  old  gentleman 
was  unable  to  control  his  meeting.  He  had  called  one  to  consider 
the  propriety  of  taking  possession  of  Texas.  It  was  during  the 
Texas  revolution.  The  assemblage  was  large,  and  the  governor,  at 
the  outset,  was  in  '  high  feather.'  McLemore  took  the  chair,  and 
the  governor  opened  out  in  grand  style,  and  insisted  that  Texas 
was  ours,  inasmuch  as  Spain  had  gotten  the  best  of  the  bargain, 
when  we  traded  Texas  to  her  for  Florida,  which,  he  said,  she  could 
not  have  held.  He  contended  that  we  needed  it,  and,  therefore, 
had  a  valid  right  to  take  it.  He  wound  up  by  offering  a  resolu- 
tion, setting  forth  that  '  our  title  to  Texas  is  indispiUable.'  " 

"A  few  of  us,  who  wanted  some  fun,  offered  an  amendment  to 
the  effect,  that  'this  meeting  is  eminently  qualified  to  decide  the 
question  of  title  to  Texas;'  which  the  governor  violently  opposed, 
and  denounced  us  as  traitors,  and  as  having  come  there  to  inter- 
fere with  and  break  up  his  meeting.  We  assumed  that  the 
meeting  was  composed  of  the  wisest  and  best  men  in  the  world  • 
that  parliamentary  and  diplomatic  bodies  were  composed  of  igno- 
ramuses, as  compared  with  us ;  that  every  American  citizen,  and 
especially  every  citizen  of  Belleville,  was  endowed  with  wisdom 
'  from  on  high,'  in  reference  to  all  political  measures ;  and  whoever 
denied  that  palpable  truth  was  a  traitor  to  his  country,  and  an 
enemy  to  mankind ;  and  that  the  fiery  vengeance  of  the  present 
and  future  generations  would  be  poured  out  on  their  devoted  heads. 
We  drove  the  governor  ignomiuiously  from  his  own  sacred  ground, 
for  the  '  infallibility  of  the  people '  was  his  '  stock  in  trade,'  gene- 
rally. We  had  nineteen-twentieths  of  the  meeting  with  us,  and 
carried  our  amendment;  but  McLsmore  paid  no  attention  to  the 
proceeding.  The  governor  moved  to  adjourn.  Three  or  four  feeble 
'  ayes '  were  heard.  When  the  '  noes '  were  called  for,  they  made 
the  welkin  ring ;  but  McLemore  said,  '  Weel,  men,  the  meetin's 
adjourned  anyhow.'  Next  morning  the  governor's  paper  came  out 
with  a  flaming  account  of  the  meeting,  and  representing  the  reso- 
lution, offered  by  the  governor,  as  having  passed  unanimously;  and 
saying  nothing  about  the  amendment  and  other  proceedings.  I 
met  the  old  gentleman,  and  said  to  him  that  the  account  of  the 
meeting  did  not  square  very  well  with  the  actual  proceedings.  He 
replied,  '  No ;  you  damned  fellows  beat  me  at  the  meeting,  but  I 
can  beat  you  in  the  papers.'  " 

"  Adam  W.  Snyder  and  Gov.  Reynolds  were  rivals  and  antago- 
nists. It  would  not  be  going  too  far  to  say  that  they  were  in  a  state  of 
chronic  hostility  to  each  other.  Each  .looked  upon  the  other  as 
being  his  '  evil  genius,'  and  neither  would  have  regarded  the  re- 
moval of  the  other  to  some  other  country  as  a  very  great  evil.  A 
man  named  Coonce  once  called  upon  Snyder,  to  take  the  necessary 
steps  to    obtain  some  testimony  with  a  view  to  its  perpetuation. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


93 


Snyder  never  liked  the  drudgery  of  the  profession,  or  the  office- 
business.  He  loved  to  try  a  case  and  address  a  jury,  which  he 
could  do  with  great  ease  to  himself  and  splendid  effect.  He  en- 
deavored to  get  rid  of  the  task  upon  various  pretexts ;  but  Coonce 
was  very  importunate,  and  finally  Snyder  sat  down  to  writing,  and 
asked  Coonce  whose  testimony  he  wished  to  take.  The  latter  said, 
'  That  of  Gov.  Eeynolds.'  Snyder  looked  up  in  amazement,  and 
broke  out  with  an  exclamation,  that  he  never  heard  of  such  folly 
as  to  go  to  the  expense  and  trouble  to  perpetuate  old  Reynolds' 
testimony.  '  Why,'  said  he, '  he  will  never  die.  I  have  been  wait- 
ing for  him  to  kick  the  bucket  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury, and  his  hold  upon  life  seems  now  to  be  stronger  than  it  was 
when  I  first  knew  him ;  he  will  live  forever,  sir.  I  will  not  make 
a  fool  of  myself  by  seeking  to  perpetuate  the  testimony  of  a  man 
who  will  outlive  any  record  in  existence.' " 

Adam  W.  Snyder,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  early  law- 
yers of  St.  Clair  county,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1799. 
His  boyhood  was  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Jesse 
B.  Thomas  had  erected  a  carding  machine  at  Cahokia,  and  finding 
no  one  in  Illinois  who  could  successfully  operate  it,  brought  out 
with  him  from  Ohio  young  Snyder,  then  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  who  had  been  recommended  to  him  as  a  suitable  person  to 
manage  the  machine.  Thomas  saw  that  Snyder  was  a  young  man 
of  fine  natural  talents,  took  a  strong  liking  to  him,  and  induced 
him  to  study  law.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  year  1824. 
He  first  lived  at  Cahokia,  afterward  on  a  farm  on  the  Mississippi, 
opposite  Jefferson  Barracks,  and  in  the  year  1833,  removed  to  Belle- 
ville. He  had  a  strong  liking  for  politics.  He  was  elected  twice  ' 
to  represent  St.  Clair  county  in  the  State  Senate,  and  in  1836  was 
chosen  a  member  of  Congress.  In  1842  he  was  made  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate  fur  governor,  but  died  while  the  campaign  was  in 
progress.  His  election  as  governor  was  assured  had  he  lived.  Ford 
was  substituted  as  a  candidate,  and  was  elected.  His  health  had 
never  been  good  after  returning  from  serving  his  congressional  term 
at  Washington. 

As  a  lawyer,  Snyder  was  remarkable  for  his  power  over  a  jury. 
Between  the  jury  and  him  there  seemed  to  be  a  feeling  of  friendly 
fellowship,  and  the  former  nearly  always  set  it  down  that  he  was 
right,  and  gave  him  a  verdict  accordingly.  His  speeches  were 
always  brief,  pointed,  and  forcible.  He  rarely  spoke  more  than 
half  an  hour,  but  that  time  was  sufficient  for  him  to  gain  a  wonder- 
ful influence  over  the  minds  of  the  jurors.  In  the  defence  of  Gen- 
nette,  who  was  tried  at  Carlyle  for  the  murder  of  O'Harnett,  he 
spoke  one  hour,  but  this  was  the  longest  speech  to  a  jury  he  was 
ever  known  to  make.  This  was  the  last  case  in  which  he  appeared. 
It  may  be  remarked  that  the  speeches  of  Gov.  Ford  to  the  court  or 
a  jury  were  also  noted  for  their  brevity;  their  usual  length  was  not 
more  than  fifteen  minutes. 

Alfred  Cowles,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  settled  at  an  early  date 
at  Belleville,  where  he  resided  till  Alton  began  to  come  into  pro- 
minence as  a  prosperous  town,  when  he  removed  to  the  latter  place. 
He  was  a  lawyer  of  good  education  and  industrious  habits.  His 
natural  talents  were  only  of  an  ordinary  character,  but  by  close  ap- 
plication and  persistent  study,  he  reached  an  honorable  position  in 
the  legal  profession.  He  was  an  excellent  conveyancer,  and  tho- 
roughly understood  pleading,  but  was  not  an  elequent  speaker. 
While  at  Alton,  he  was,  for  a  number  of  years,  a  partner  of  John 
M.  Krum,  now  of  St.  Louis.  He  cared  nothing  for  politics,  and  his 
whole  time  was  given  to  his  profession.  He  subsequently  removed 
to  Oregon. 

George  W.  Ralph,  about  the  year  1835,  was  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  the  l.iw  at  Belleville.     He  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Mew 


York.  He  had  previously  been  in  the  mercantile  business.  He 
practiced  at  Belleville  till  1842,  or  1843.  He  laid  out  Ralph's  ad- 
dition to  Belleville.  He  had  a  great  fondness  for  politics,  to  which 
perhaps  he  was  better  adapted  than  to  the  law. 

In  1840,  among  the  lawyers  residing  at  Belleville  were  Lyman 
Trumbull,  James  Shields,  James  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  Gustavus 
Koerner.  All  these  men  attained  positions  of  honor  and  impor- 
tance. 

Lyman  Trumbull,  who  began  his  career  as  a  lawyer  at  Belle- 
ville, was  born  in  Colchester,  Connecticut,  on  the  twelfth  of  Octo- 
ber, 1813.  Obtaining  a  thorough  education  in  his  native  state,  in 
the  year  1834,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  went  to  Georgia  where 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  meanwhile  studied  law.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Georgia  in  1836,  and  soon  afterward 
came  to  Illinois  and  began  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Belleville. 
He  was  for  some  time  a  partner  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  He  soon  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  large  practice.  He  exhibited  great  industiy 
in  his  profession,  and  when  he  had  a  case,  went  to  the  bottom  of  it. 
In  1840  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature,  and  in  1841 
and  1842,  he  filled  the  office  of  secretary  of  state  under  the  admin- 
istration of  Gov.  Carlin.  He  returned  to  Belleville  in  the  spring 
of  1843,  where  he  resided  till  1848,  when  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  justices  of  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois,  and  for  five  years  oc- 
cupied a  seat  on  the  bench  with  distinguished  ability.  His  subse- 
quent political  history  is  well  known  to  the  people  of  the  state.  In 
1854  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois,  and  in  1855,  1861, 
and  1867  was  chosen  United  States  Senator. 

James  Shields  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Kaskaskia,  but  in 
1837  removed  to  Belleville.  He  was  born  in  the  county  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  in  the  year  1810,  and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen. Finding  his  way  to  Kaskaskia  in  the  year  1832,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  began  the  active  practice  of  the  legal  pro- 
fession. On  coming  to  Belleville  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Gustavus  Koerner.  In  1841  he  was  appointed  state  auditor,  and 
two  years  later  was  chosen  one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court 
of  the  state.  His  home  was  principally  at  Belleville  till  1845, 
when  having  been  appointed  by  President  Polk,  Commissioner  of 
the  Land  office,  he  removed  to  Washington.  On  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Mexican  war  he  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  of  the 
United  States  volunteers.  At  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  he  was 
severely  wounded  by  a  ball  which  passed  through  his  lungs  and 
body.  The  wound  was  extremely  dangerous.  He  was  reported 
dead,  and  he  had  the  benefit  of  many  obituary  notices  in  the  papers 
of  the  day.  In  1849  he  was  elected  United  States  Senator  He 
was  afterward  elected  United  States  Senator  from  Minnesota,  and 
also  from  Missouri.  He  served  in  the  Union  army  in  West  Virginia 
at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  and  afterward  retired  to  a  farm 
in  Missouri,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Ot- 
tumwa,  Iowa,  on  the  first  of  June,  1879. 

James  L  D.  Morrison  was  born  at  Kaskaskia,  on  the  twelfth  of 
April,  1816.  In  the  spring  of  1832,  when  sixteen,  he  was  ap- 
pointed midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy.  While  confined  in 
the  naval  hospital  at  Pensacola  with  an  attack  of  the  rheumatism, 
he  picked  up  the  first  volume  of  Blackstone,  and  becoming  inter- 
ested, sent  to  Mobile  for  the  necessary  books,  and  for  seven  months 
read  Blackstone  and  Kent  assiduously.  In  1836  he  returned  to 
Illinois,  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  Nathaniel  Pope,  at  Kas- 
kaskia, and  in  1837  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  removed  to 
Belleville  about  1840.  He  represented  Monroe  and  St.  Clair  coun- 
ties, in  both  the  lower  and  upper  houses  of  the  legislature.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  Mexican  war  he  raised  a  company  in  St.  Clair 


94 


HIS  TOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


county,  whicli  became  incorporated  with  the  Second  Illinois  regi- 
ment, of  which  he  was  Lieutenant-Colonel.  In  1856  he  was  elected 
to  Congress.  While  at  Belleville  he  engaged  in  speculation  and 
politics,  as  well  as  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  Since  his  removal 
to  St.  Louis,  he  has  not  been  engaged  in  general  practice,  though 
he  has  beeu  interested  in  several  important  land  cases.  As  a  real 
estate  lawyer  he  has  attained  much  distinction. 

Robert  Morrison,  now  chief -justice  of  the  state  of  California,  be- 
gan the  practice  of  the  law  at  Belleville  about  1844  or  1845.  He 
was  regarded  as  a  lawyer  of  much  promise,  and  since  his  removal 
to  California  has  attained  much  distinction  in  his  profession. 

Murray  Morrison,  brother  of  J.  L.  D.  and  Robert  Morrison,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  began  practice  at  Belleville.  He  was  an 
eloquent  speaker  and  an  able  lawyer.  He  went  to  California  soon 
after  the  admission  of  that  state  into  the  Union,  and  died  there. 

George  Trumbull,  brother  of  Lyman  Trumbull,  practiced  law  at 
Nashville  for  several  years,  and  was  an  excellent  lawyer,  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  Chicago,  where  he  is  practicing  with  distinction. 

William  C.  Kinney,  son  of  Geo.  Kinney,  read  law  at  Belleville, 
in  the  office  of  Koerner  and  Shields,  and  began  practice  about  the 
year  1839.  In  1848  he  acted  as  state's  attorney.  He  was  a  good 
speaker  and  a  lawyer  of  respectable  attainments,  but  possessed  con- 
siderable wealth,  and  for  that  reason  cared  little  about  business. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1848,  served 
in  the  legislature,  and  was  very  highly  respected  in  1860. 

Judge  William  H.  Underwood  was  born  in  Schoharie  county, 
New  York,  February,  1818.  He  received  his  scholastic  education 
at  the  Schoharie  Academy  and  the  Hudson  River  Seminary,  and 
studied  law  in  his  native  county.  In  June,  1840,  came  to  Belle- 
ville and  began  the  practice  of  the  legal  profession.  In  1848  he 
was  elected  state's  attorney,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  posi- 
tion in  1843,  and  in  1844  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  legislature. 
He  had  acquired  a  large  and  remunerative  practive  in  1844,  at 
which  date  he  was  elected  circuit  judge.  He  was  on  the  bench 
six  years.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  senate  in  1856, 
1860,  and  1870.  In  1869  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  conven- 
tion which  framed  the  present  constitution  of  the  state,  in  which 
body  he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  men.  He  was  an  able 
lawyer,  not  only  in  one,  but  in  all  branches  of  the  legal  profession. 
Some  of  the  elder  members  of  the  bar  speak  of  him  as  the  most 
industrious  man  they  ever  knew.  His  close  application  made  him 
familiar  with  all  the  learning  of  the  law.  He  published  a  revised 
edition  of  the  Illinois  statutes,  and  also  a  revision  of  the  Illinois 
reports.  To  his  legal  attainments  were  added  a  generous  and  genial 
disposition.  He  died  at  Belleville  on  the  twenty-third  of  Sep- 
tember, 1875! 

Joseph  Underwood,  a  brother  of  William  H.  Underwood,  who 
practiced  at  the  Belleville  bar  for  some  time,  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable talent. 

NON-RESIDENT   LAWYERS. 

The  early  sessions  of  the  courts  at  Belleville  were  usually  at- 
tended by  the  leading  lawyers,  both  of  Illinois  and  Missouri. 
Among  the  Illinois  lawyers  were  Elias  Kent  Kane,  who  died  in 
1835,  while  a  member  of  the  United  States  Senate;  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  a  man  of  brilliant  mind,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six, 
while  in  the  midst  of  an  unusually  successful  career;  Nathaniel 
Pope,  Thomas  Reynolds,  William  H.  Bissell,  Sidney  Breese,  and 
other  distinguished  men.  Among  the  lawyers  from  St.  Louis  and 
Missouri,  who  frequently  made  their  appearance  at  Belleville  were 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  Rufus  Easton,  Edward  Hempstead,  C.  8. 
Hempstead,  Robert  Wash,  David  Barton,  Joshua  Barton,  John 
Scott,  and  J.  W.  Peck. 


Of  William  H.  Bissell,  afterward  governor  of  the  state,  and  a 
frequent  attendant  on  the  sessions  of  the  court  at  Belleville,  the 
following  interesting  sketch  is  given  by  Joseph  Gillespie  in  an 
address  delivered  before  the  Chicago  Historical  Society :  ''  Bissell 
was  born  in  New  York  in  1811,  where  he  studied  the  medical  pro- 
fession, and  removed  to  Monroe  county,  Illinois.  He  had  no  fond- 
ness for  his  profession,  though  he  had  the  reputation  of  being  suc- 
cessful. He  inclined  to  politics,  where  he  displayed  marked  abili- 
ties. He  was  elected  as  a  Democrat,  from  Monroe  county,  to  the 
legislature  of  1840,  and  was  soon  recognized  as  one  of  the  best 
speakers  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  was  characterized 
by  the  elegance  of  his  style  and  diction,  and  a  quaint  sort  of  satire 
which  was  very  cutting  and  effective.  An  ungovernable  passion 
soon  seized  him  to  abandon  his  profes«ion,  and  betake  himself  to 
the  law.  He  attended  the  sessions  of  the  courts  as  diligently  as  any 
of  the  lawyers ;  his  mind  seemed  to  be  engrossed  with  all  that  was 
going  on.  His  friends,  perceiving  the  bent  of  his  inclination,  ad- 
vised him  to  procure  Blackstone's  Commentaries,  and  go  to  work. 
In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  he  was  admitted  to  practice, 
and  was  soon  appointed  prosecuting  attorney,  and  was  in  his  ele- 
ment. He  stood  at  once  in  the  front  rank  as  a  prosecutor.  He 
never  failed  to  convict.  It  shortly  came  to  be  considered  a  hopeless 
task  to  defend  where  he  was  prosecuting.  He  was  equal  to  any 
emergency." 

"  Bissell  prosecuted  for  murder  a  man  named  Raney,  who  lived 
in  Washington  county,  but  was  tried  at  Carlyle,  Clinton  county, 
and  was  defended  by  Judge  Breese,  in  his  own  county,  where  he 
had  boundless  influence.  Raney  was  a  respectable  man,  and  a  lead- 
ing politician  in  the  dominant  party;  there  was  great  room  to 
doubt  his  guilt,  and  the  court  instructed  strongly  in  his  favor.  He 
had  an  interesting  wife  and  family.  Breese  defended  him  with 
great  zeal  and  ability.  He  left  no  stone  unturned ;  but  after  pre- 
senting the  facts  and  law  of  the  case  with  remarkable  clearness  and 
force,  he  ventured  upon  an  appeal  to  the  sympathies  of  the  jury  in 
behalf  of  the  wife  and  little  children  of  his  client.  It  was  a  most 
powerful  effort,  and  the  by-standers  all  believed  that  he  bad  saved 
his  man.  But  not  so ;  by  his  efiorts  to  work  upon  the  sympathies 
of  the  jury,  he  had  opened  a  door  which  let  Bissell  in  to  play  upon 
their  feelings.  This  was  his  forte.  The  scene  was  at  night ;  the 
room  was  dimly  lighted,  and  wore  a  sepulchral  air ;  and  such  word- 
painting  I  shall  never  hear  again  as  Bissell  employed  on  that  occa- 
sion. He  turned  the  picture  over,  and  portrayed  the  murdered 
man  in  his  grave,  his  winding-sheet  around  him,  his  hair  matted 
with  clay,  and  his  shroud  clotted  with  blood,  streams  of  crimson 
gore  trickling  still  from  his  gaping  wounds.  He  drew  the  mother 
and  little  children  to  the  edge  of  the  grave,  where  they  could  take 
a  last  look  at  the  cold  and  clammy  remains  of  their  beloved  husband 
and  father.  He  depicted  their  agony  in  such  heart-rending  terms 
as  to  scarcely  leave  a  dry  eye  in  the  house.  He  turned  the  tide 
of  sympathy,  and  it  became  an  irresistible  torrent  in  behalf  of  the 
bereaved  widow  and  offspring  of  the  dead.  The  effects  of  the 
splendid  efforts  of  Breese  were  all  swept  away." 

"  I  realized  then,  to  its  fullest  extent,  the  power  of  language  in 
the  mouth  of  a  master  over  the  feelings  of  mankind.  The  picture 
drawn  by  Bissell  on  that  occasion  has  stamped  itself  indelibly  on 
my  mind.  I  see  it  in  visions  of  the  night.  I  hear  his  burning 
elpqueuce,  to  this  day,  ringing  in  my  ears.  He  triumphed,  and 
poor  Raney  was  found  guilty.  "If  that  effort  had  been  taken  down, 
and  could  be  read  by  us— of  itself— it  would  have  made  the  name 
of  William  H.  Bissell  immortal." 

Judge  Joseph  Gillespie,  of  Edwardsville,  to  whose  graphic  pen 
we  are  indebted  for  the  above  sketch,  is  now  one  of  the  few  sur- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


95 


vivors  of  that  band  of  active  men  who  were  foremost  in  shaping  the 
political  sentiment  of  the  state  forty  years  ago.    He  was  born  in 
New  York  in  the  year  1809,  and  in  1819  became  a  citizen  of  this 
state.    He  attracted  the  attention  of  Cyrus  Edwards,  a  lawyer  who 
had  practiced  with  distinguished  success  in  Kentucky  and  Missouri, 
but  who  had  abandoned  his  profession  on  account  of  bad  health, 
and  retired  to  a  farm  near  Edwardsville.    Thinking  that  young 
Gillespie  had  an  aptitude  for  the  law  Edwards  invited  him  to 
become  his  student,  and  gave  him  the  gratuitous  use  of  his  books. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  iu  1837  began  traveling  the  cir- 
cuit under  Judge  Sydney  Breese.     He  was  elected  to  the  bench  of 
the  circuit  court  in  1861,  and  served  till  1873.     He  has  been  one 
of  the  leading  and  prominent  lawyers  of  Illinois  for  many  years, 
and  made  a  good  judge. 

PRESENT    MEMBEES   OF   THE   BAE 

Gustavus  Koerner,  now  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  bar  at 
Belleville,  was  born  at  Frankfort,  Germany.  He  studied  law  in 
the  University  of  Jena,  and  was  also  a  student  at  Munich  and 
Heidelberg,  and  from  the  university  at  the  latter  place  received  the 
degree  of  LL.  D.  He  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  the  law  in 
Germany  in  the  year  1832.  In  1833  he  came  to  America.  He 
studied  the  common  law  at  the  law  school  at  Lexington,  Kentucky. 
In  June,  1835,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Illinois,  and  began 
practice  at  Belleville.  In  1845  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Ford  to 
a  seat  on  the  supreme  bench,  to  fill  a  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
resignation  of  James  Shields,  and  shortly  afterward  was  elected  by 
the  legislature  to  the  same  position.  He  served  on  the  bench  till 
the  new  constitution  of  1848  effected  a  change  in  the  judiciary  of 
the  state.  (From  1840  till  the  adoption  of  a  new  constitution,  the 
supreme  court  judges  also  presided  over  the  circuit  courts.)  In 
1852  Mr.  Koerner  was  elected  lieutenant-governor.  In  1862  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  Minister  to  Spain.  His 
decisions  while  on  the  bench  were  marked  by  great  clearness  and 
ability,  and  during  his  active  practice  at  the  bar  has  gained  the 
reputation  of  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  Southern  Illinois. 

Judge  William  H.  Snyder,  the  present  judge  of  the  circuit  court, 
began  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Belleville  in  the  year  1845.  His 
birth  place  was  Prairie  du  Pont,  St.  Clair  county.  His  father, 
Adam  W.  Snyder,  was  in  his  day,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the 
St.  Clair  county  bar.  He  completed  his  scholastic  education  at 
McKendree  College.  Before  reaching  his  majority  he  acted  as 
postmaster  at  Belleville,  under  the  admistration  of  James  K.  Polk. 
He  prepared  himself  for  the  legal  profession  in  the  oflBce  of  Gus- 
tavus Koerner.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  war  as  adjutant  of  the 
Fifth  Illinois  regiment.  He  was  elected  twice  to  the  legislature, 
and  in  1855,  was  appointed  by  Gov-  Matteson,  state's  attorney. 
He  was  elected  judge  of  the  circuit  court  in  1857,  and  at  that  time 
was  on  the  bench  four  years  and  a  half.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  of  1870,  which  framed  the  present  constitution  of  the 
state  of  Illinois.  He  was  elected  judge  of  the  circuit  court  in  1873, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1879.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  genial  manners, 
and  thorough  attainments  as  a  jurist ;  and  has  made  a  popular  and 
efficient  judge. 

Nathaniel  Niles  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  obtained 
his  education  at  the  Albany  Academy,  and  the  College  at  Prince- 
ton, New  Jersey.  He  began  his  legal  studies  at  Albany,  New 
York,  with  Messrs.  R.  W.  &  G.  W.  Peckham,  and  continued  in  New 
York  city,  in  the  office  of  Slidell  &  Livingston.  He  was  licensed 
as  an  attorney  in  1837.  In  1842  he  came  to  Belleville,  opened  an 
office,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  legal  profession.  He 
served  as  county  clerk  twelve  years.    For  a  number  of  years  he 


was  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Belleville  Advocate,  which  in  his 
hands  became  the  recognized  organ  of  the  Eepublicau  party  in 
St.  Clair  county.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  he  was  colonel 
of  the  Fifty-fourth  regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  and  afterwards  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  regiment.  He  was  made  brigadier- 
general  by  brevet.  In  1864  and  1865  he  represented  St.  Clair 
county  in  the  General  Assembly. 

Theodore  J.  Kraft  was  born  in  Rhenish  Bavaria,  Germany,  and 
came  to  America  in  the  year  1832.  He  began  the  practice  of  law 
at  Belleville  in  1850. 

Theodore  E.  Englemann,  who,  is  now  living  near  Mascoutah, 
practiced  law  at  Belleville  from  1852  to  1860,  as  a  partner  of  Gus- 
tavus Koerner.  The  latter  year  he  abandoned  the  profession  and 
went  to  farming.  He  served  as  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  and 
master  in  chancery. 

Jehu  Baker  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky,  and  in  the 
year  1829,  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father,  who  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Lebanon.  For  several  terms  he  was  a  student  at  McKendree 
College.  He  studied  law  at  Belleville,  and  in  1846  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  and  began  practice  as  an  attorney.  In  1864,  and  again 
in  1866,  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  twelfth  (now  the  seven- 
teenth) district  of  Illinois  in  Congress.  He  is  now  Minister  from 
the  United  States  to  Venezuela,  South  America.  He  is  a  good 
lawyer,  and  fine  orator ;  his  mind  is  of  a  very  philosophical  cha- 
racter. 

Edward  Abend  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Lyman  and  George 
Trumbull,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842.  He  was  in  active 
practice  till  1852,  since  which  time  his  attention  has  been  devoted 
to  business  pursuits.  He  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  came  to 
St.  Clair  county  in  the  year  1833,  and  obtained  his  scholastic  edu- 
cation at  McKendree  College. 

John  B.  Hay  prepared  himself  for  the  legal  profession  at  Belle- 
ville, in  the  office  of  Nathaniel  Niles,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  the  year  1852.  From  1860  to  1868  he  served  as  state's  attorney. 
He  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  twelfth  (now  the  seventeenth) 
congressional  district  in  1868,  and  again  in  1870.  He  is  justly 
regarded  as  an  attorney  of  superior  abilities. 

Thomas  Quick  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  obtained  his 
education  in  McKendree  College,  studied  law  in  the  office  of  George 
Trumbull,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  as  an  attorney  in  1846. 
He  practiced  at  Waterloo  till  1855,  and  then  established  himself 
at  Belleville.  He  was  appointed  bank  commissioner  by  Gov. 
Bissell,  and  held  that  position  for  several  years. 

Charles  ,F.  Noettling  was  born  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania, 
He  came  to  St.  Clair  county  in  1856,  and  took  charge  of  the  public 
high  school.  After  pursuing  his  legal  studies  for  a  time  in  the 
office  of  William  H.  and  J.  B.  Underwood,  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  1859.  He  is  regarded  as  an  office-lawyer  of  fine 
abilities. 

Robert  A.  Halbert  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  McKendree  college,  and  at  Illinois  college  at  Jacksonville. 
He  graduated  from  the  latter  institution.  His  preparatory  legal 
studies  were  carried  on  in  the  office  of  William  H.  Underwood,  at 
Belleville,  and  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1866  at  a  session  of 
the  supreme  court  at  Ottawa.  In  1868  he  was  elected  state's 
attorney  for  St.  Clair  and  Bond  counties,  and  is  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  at  the  bar. 

Gustavus  A.  Koerner  is  a  native  of  Belleville.  In  1862  he  ac- 
companied his  father,  who  had  been  appointed  Minister  to  Spain, 
and  after  remaining  in  that  country  six  months,  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  Heidelberg.  He  returned  to  America  in  1864,  and  in 
1865  was  admitted  to  the  bar.    In   1867  he  formed  a  partner- 


96 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


ship  with  his  father,  which  has  since    continued.     He  has  filled 
the  ofiice  of  master  in  chancery,  and  is  a  good  lawyer. 

Alonzo  S.  Wilderman  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  studied 
law  at  Belleville,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1866  ;  since  which 
time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  is  a  lawyer  of  recognized  ability. 

William  Winkelman  was  born  in  Prussia.  He  prepared  himself 
for  the  legal  profession  under  the  instruction  of  Judge  William  H. 
Underwood,  and  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  the  law  in  1862. 

James  M.  Hay  is  a  native  of  Belleville.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained at  the  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan.  He  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  his  brother,  John  B.  Hay ;  became  a  member  of 
the  bar  in  1858 ;  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
the  legal  profession. 

James  M.  Dill,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Belleville  bar  since  1866,  and  has  attained  distinction  as  a 
lawyer.  Before  coming  to  Belleville  he  practiced  in  the  courts 
of  Nevada,  then  a  territory.  . 

Charles  W.  Thomas  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  111.  He  read 
law  at  Belleville,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1866,  and  is  an 
able  and  skillful  lawyer. 

Charles  P.  Knispel  comes  from  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany.  He 
studied  Blackstone  in  the  office  of  Joseph  Sloss  at  Edwardsville, 
and  was  admitted  as  a  lawyer  in  1860.  Soon  afterward  established 
himself  in  practice  at  Belleville,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since. 
He  has  served  as  state's  attorney  and  master  in  chancery. 

Marshall  W.  Weir  was  born  in  Mississippi.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Western  Reserve  Seminary  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  He 
came  to  St.  Clair  county  in  185^.  He  began  the  study  of  the  law 
in  1861,  under  the  instruction  of  Spencer  M.  Kase,  and  since  1863 
has  been  practicing  his  profession  at  Belleville, 

Frederick  E  Scheel  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  secured 
his  education  at  BsUeville  and  in  the  Washington  University,  St. 
Louis.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1866.  He  is  now  acting  as 
master  in  chancery.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  the  editor  of 
the  Stern  des  Western. 

Louis  P.  Kraft  was  born  near  Belleville.  He  spent  two  years 
at  school  in  Germany.  He  studied  law  at  Belleville  in  the  office 
of  his  father,  Theodore  J.  Kraft,  and  became  a  member  of  the  bar 
in  1866. 

James  M.  Hamill  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  White  county, 
Illinois,  in  1871,  and  began  practice  at  Belleville  in  1872. 

R  K.  Feeny  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Illiuois,  studied 
law  with  William  H.  Snyder,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1870. 

Edward  L.  Thomas  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  studied 
law  at  Belleville  with  his  brother,  C.  W.  Thomas,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1S68. 

W.  C.  Kueffiier  was  born  at  Rostock,  Germany,  and  came  to  St. 
Clair  county  in  1861.  He  was  Colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-ninth  Illinois  regiment  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He 
pursued  his  law  studies  in  the  St.  Louis  Law  School  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1871.  The  same  year  he  established  himself  in 
practice  at  Belleville.     He  is  a  good  lawyer. 

H.  R.  Challenor  is  a  native  of  Randolph  county.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  College  of  the  Christian  Brothers,  St.  Louis, 
and  McKendree  College,  Lebanon.  He  was  fitted  for  the  bar  at 
Belleville,  under  the  instruction  of  J.  B.  Underwood,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  1866.     He  is  now  police  magistrate. 

George  W.  Brockhaus  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  He 
secured  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  St.  Clair  county, 
and  in  the  Normal  School  of  Bloomington.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1873,  having  studied  law  with  Benjamin  Mattice  at 


Mascoutah.    He  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  for  St.  Clair 
county  in  1876. 

Frederick  B.  Phillips  was  born  in  New  Madrid  county,  Missouri. 
His  education  was  obtained  at  Arcadia  College  and  the  College  of 
the  Christian  Brothers,  St.  Louis.  He  was  a  student  in  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1877.  The  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Illinois,  and 
has  since  been  practicing  his  profession  at  Belleville. 

John  N.  Perrin  was  born  on  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county.  He 
received  his  legal  education  in  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  both  in 
the  states  of  Illinois  and  Michigan,  in  1876,  and  began  practice  at 
Lebanon.    In  1878  he  established  himself  at  Belleville. 

L.  T.  Boutcher  is  a  native  of  Washington  county.  He  studied 
law  at  Boulder,  Colorado,  and  at  the  Union  College  of  Law  at 
Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1880. 

Don  Turner  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county  He  was  a  student 
in  the  McKendree  College,  and  Washington  University,  St.  Louis. 
He  graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan in  1873,  having  previously  begun  his  legal  studies  in  the  office 
of  G.  and  G.  A.  Koerner. 

William  J.  Underwood  was  born  in  South  Carolina.  He  began 
reading  law  in  1851,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Alabama  in 
1855.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  came  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
and  in  1872  became  a  resident  of  Belleville,  where  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  1876.    He  is  the  present  city  attorney. 

Franklin  A.  McConaughy  was  born  at  Litiz,  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  William  H.  Under- 
wood and  Charles  F.  Noettling,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
March,    1871.     He  is  a  graduate  of  McKendree  College. 

Robert  D.  W.  Holder  is  a  native  of  Jefierson  county,  Illinois. 
After  leaving  McKendree  college  he  read  law  with  Judge  White 
and  F.  A.  Lietzel  of  Carlyle,  and  in  1872  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Michigan,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1874.  He  began  practice  at  Mascoutah  in  1875,  and  in  1877 
opened  an  office  at  Belleville.  In  1880  he  was  elected  State's  At- 
torney. 

J.  A.  Willoughby  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county.  His  legal  studies 
were  pursued  in  the  law  department  of  the  Uiiiversity  of  Michigan. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876.  Since  December,  1880,  he  has 
acted  as  Recorder  of  St.  Clair  county. 

Henry  M.  Needles  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Illinois.  He 
graduated  from  McKendree  college  in  1873.  He  began  his  legal 
studies  in  the  office  of  Underwood  and  Noettling,  at  Belleville,  and 
afterward  attended  the  law  department  of  the  Wisconsin  University. 
He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Wisconsin  in  1876,  and  in  Illiuois 
in  1877.  Since  the  latter  date  he  has  practised  his  profession  at 
Belleville. 

John  Hay  was  born  at  Belleville,  and  educated  in  the  Washing- 
ton University,  St.  Louis.  He  studied  law  at  Belleville  with  his 
father,  John  B.  Hay,  and  became  a  member  of  the  bar  in  1879. 

John  N.  Hugging  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  prosecuted 
his  preliminary  studies  in  the  office  of  Wilderman  &  Hamill,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880. 

Frank  Perrin  was  born  at  Mascoutah.  He  graduated  from 
McKendree  college  in  1878,  and  afterward  fitted  himself  for  the 
legal  profession  in  the  law  department  of  the  same  institution.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881. 

Among  the  prominent  lawyers  resident  in  East  St.  Louis  is  J.  B. 
Bowman.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  and  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  his  native  country.  Coming  to  St.  Clair  county,  he  followed 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  for  a  time  at  Cahokia,  taught  school  in 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


97 


Canteen  village,  and  then  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
His  connection  with  the  most  important  events  that  have  occurred 
in  East  St.  Louis  during  recent  years  is  well  known. 

Spencer  M.  Kase,  now  practising  his  profession  in  East  St.  Louis, 
is  a  native  of  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  received 
his  education  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1855.  He  studied  law  with 
Washington  McCartney,  at  Easton,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1856,  and  began  practice  at  Danville,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  fall 
of  1858,  he  came  to  Belleville,  and  there  established  himself  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1879  he  removed  to  East  St. 
Louis. 

Joseph  B.  Messick  was  born  in  Macoupin  county.  He  was  a 
student  for  two  years'at  Shurtleff  college.  He  studied  law  at  Carlin- 
ville,  Illinois,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1871.  After  practi- 
cing one  year  at  Carlinville,  he  opened  an  office  in  1872,  in  East 
St.  Louis.  In  1875  he  was  made  Judge  of  the  city  court  of  East 
St  Louis.  Judge  Messick  is  a  lawyer  of  ability,  and  an  eloquent 
and  forcible  speaker. 

William  G.  Kase  was  born  in  Northumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  received  an  academic  education  at  Danville,  in  that 
state.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1859,  studied  law  at  Belleville,  with 
his  brother,  Spencer  M.  Kase,  and  in  1862  was  admitted  to  practice 
as  an  attorney.    He  served  one  term  as  city  judge. 

Luke  H.  Hite  is  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Ohio.  His  father  moved 
with  the  family  to  Illiuois  when  he  was  eight  months  old.  His  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  Salem,  Illinois,  and  in 
the  Normal  University  at  Bloomington.  He  studied  law  with 
Judge  William  H.  Snyder  at  Belleville,  and  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  1863.  He  was  engaged  in  practice  for  two  years  at  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  and  in  1865  opened  an  office  in  East  St.  Louis, 
where  he  has  since  followed  his  profession.  He  served  as  City  At- 
torney of  East  St.  Louis  five  years. 

Jesse  M.  Freels  is  a  native  of  Tennessee.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained at  the  University  of  Tennessee  at  Knoxville,  and  at  Amherst 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1871.  He  subsequently  at- 
tended the  law  school  of  the  Iowa  State  University,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Iowa  in  1874.  The  same  year  he  began 
practice  in  East  St.  Louis.  Since  1877  he  has  acted  as  counsel  for 
the  city  of  East  St.  Louis. 

George  F.  O'Melvany  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Normal  University,  Bloomington,  and  prepared 
lor  the  bar  in  the  office  of  his  uncle.  Judge  H.  K.  O'Melvany,  at 
Salem,  Illinois.  He  began  practice  at  Salem  in  1868,  and  in  1870 
came  to'East  St.  Louis,  where  he  has  been  practicing  ever  since, 
with  the  exception  of  five  years  spent  in  California. 

George  W.  Brackett  was  born  at  Cahokia.  He  attended  the  St. 
Louis' University  two  years  and  studied  law  at  Belleville  with  Na- 
thaniel Niles.  He  was  also  a  student  at  the  Cincinnati  Law  School. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858,  and  since  1865  has  had  an 
pffice  in  East  St.  Louis. 

Mortimer  Millard  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  studied  law 
at  Pontiac,  Michigan,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  East  St.  Louis  in 
1864. 

.  James  J.  Rafter  is  a  native  of  Maine,  but  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  state  since  he  was  two  years  of  age.  He  was  a  student  of  the 
law  for  two  years  in  the  office  of  Stuart,  Edwards  &  Brown,  at 
Springfield.  On  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  began  practice  in  East 
St.  Louis. 

Charles  T.  Ware  was  born  at  Ogdensburg,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
New  York.    He  came  to  St.  Clair  county  in  the  fall  of  1865,  and 
taught  school  three  years  at  O'Fallon.      During  his  leisure  time 
13 


while  teaching  he  read  law.  In  1869  he  entered  the  office  of  Judge 
William  H.  Underwood,  and  in  1870  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  lu 
1872  he  received  the  appointment  of  Register  in  Bankruptcy  for 
the  southern  district  of  Illinois,  and  in  1880  was  elected  Judge  of 
the  city  court  of  East  St.  Louis. 

William  H.  Bennett  was  born  in  Sumner  county,  Tenne-ssee,  and 
obtained  his  literary  culture  in  the  Hartsville  Academy  and  the 
Cumberland  University  of  Lebauon,  Tennessee.  Ha  studied  law 
in  the  Cumberland  University,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  at 
Gallatin,  Tennessee,  in  1838.  In  1871  he  removed  from  Gallatin 
to  East  St.  Louis,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice.  He 
has  served  as  city  attorney  of  East  St,  Louis. 

Edward  R.  Davis  was  born  at  Attica  Genesee  county.  New 
York.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  as  an  attorney  in  1860,  at  Co- 
runna,  Michigan,  where  he  had  been  a  law  student  of  Luke  H. 
Parsons.  He  opened  an  office  in  East  St.  Louis  in  1865,  where  he 
has  since  practiced  his  profession,  except  from  1866  to  1869,  during 
which  time  he  was  a  resident  of  Springfield. 

George  W.  Locke  is  a  native  of  Ross  county,  Ohio.  He  received 
his  education  at  the  Asbury  University,  Greencastle,  Indiana.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1879. 

George  D.  Green  is  one  of  the  active  practitioners  at  the  St. 
Clair  county  bar,  and  has  an  office  in  East  St.  Louis. 

Frank  B.  Bowman  was  born  in  Johnson  county,  Missouri.  He 
received  his  collegiate  education  at  the  college  of  the  Christian 
Brothers,  in  St.  Louis,  and  in  Europe.  He  graduated  from  the 
Harvard  Law  School  in  1877,  and  the  next  year  began  practice  in 
East  St.  Louis,  in  connection  with  his  father,  J.  B.  Bowman. 

Alexander  Flannigen  is  a  native  of  Galena,  Illinois,  but  was 
raised  in  Washington  county.  He  received  his  education  at  the 
Illinois  Agricultural  College.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  William 
G.  Kase,  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1876. 
He  is  now  serving  as  city  attorney. 

Benjamin  H.  Canby  was  born  in  Ohio.  At  an  early  age  he  came 
to  Olney,  Illinois  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  R  S.  Canby.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1877,  and  the  same  year  began  practice 
in  East  St.  Louis. 

AVilliam  P.  Launtz  is  a  native  of  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  chiefly  in  St.  Louis  and  East  St.  Louis ;  stu- 
died law  in  the  latter  place,  and  in  1873  was  admitted  to  the  bar,, 
and  began  practice  in  East  St.  Louis. 

J.  F.  Greathouse  was  born  in  Pike  county  of  this  state.  He  read 
Blackstone  and  Kent  at  Louisiana,  Missouri,  under  the  instruction 
of  John  B.  Henderson  and  D.  P.  Dyer.  He  was  admitted  to  the, 
bar  in  1867.  From  1870  to  1881  he  had  an  office  at  Pittsfield,  Illi- 
nois, and  in  1881  located  in  East  St.  Louis. 

James  H.  Mannners  was  born  at  Highland,  Madison  county.  He 
studied  law  with  his  father,-  Joseph  D.  Manners,  who  was  then  prac- 
ticing in  East  St.  Louis,  and  in  1876  became  a  member  of  the  bar. 
Archibald  Lyons,  the  sole  representative  of  the  legal  profession 
at  Marissa,  is  a  native  of  Wayne  county,  Illinois.  He  obtained  an 
academic  education  at  Irvington,  Washington  county,  and  Carbon- 
dale,  Jackson  county.  His  instructor  in  his  preparatory  legal 
studies  was  Isaac  Clements  of  Carbondale.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1878,  and  the  same  year  began  practice  at  Marissa. 

Henry  H.  Horner,  a  native  of  Lebanon,  St.  Clair  county,  Illi- 
nois, read  law  under  the  Hon.  William  H.  Underwood,  deceased, 
late  of  Belleville,  111.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme 
court  of  Illinois,  July  14,  1847,  and  immediately  located  at  Leba- 
non, where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  In  1865,  he  succeeded  Ex- 
Gov.  French,  as  Dean  of  the  Law  Department  of  McKendre© 
College,  situated  at  Lebanon,  which  position  he  now  holds. 


&8 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  'COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


John  Eckert  was  born  in  Waterloo,  Monroe  county,  Illinois. 
He  studied  law  under  H.  H.  Horner,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1877,  and  located  at  Lebanon.  He  is  the  present  city  attorney 
of  Lebanon. 

M.  W.  Schieffer,  nativity  Troy,  Madison  county,  Illinois.  Was 
also  a  student  of  H.  H.  Horner,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  at 
the  bar  in  1879.  Is  located  at  Lebanon,  and  is  also  engaged  in  the 
banking  business  at  that  place. 

M.  M.  Lindly  is  a  native  of  Madison  county,  111.  He  graduated 
from  the  Law  Department  of  McKendree  College,  and  was  ad- 
mitted by  diploma  June  10,  1880. 

Louis  Zerweck,  nativity  Cleveland,  Ohio,  is  also  a  graduate  of 
the  Law  Department  of  McKendree  College,  and  was  admitted  on 
the  same  day,  and  in  the  same  manner  as  above. 

CELEBRATED   TEIALS. 

The  most  celebrated  criminal  trial  that  ever  took  place  in  the 
circuit  court  of  St.  Clair  county,  was  doubtless  that  of  Timothy 
Bennett,  for  the  murder  of  Alphonso  C.  Stuart.  The  circumstances 
which  attended  this  sad  affair  are  related  in  the  history  of  Belle- 
ville. A  sham  duel  was  gotten  up  between  Bennett  and  Stuart.  It 
was  intended  that  the  rifles  should  be  charged  with  powder  only, 
but  at  Bennett's  fire  Stuart  dropped  dead.  Stuart's  rifle  had  not 
been  fired  at  all.  This  event  took  place  in  February,  1819.  Bennett 
escaped  from  jail,  and  was  not  recaptured  for  two  years.  He  was 
tried  at  Belleville  in  1821,  at  a  special  term  of  the  circuit  court, 
presided  over  by  Judge  John  Reynolds.  Daniel  P.  Cook  was  the 
prosecuting  attorney,  and  the  defense  was  conducted  chiefly  by 
Thomas  H.  Benton  of  St.  Louis.  Bennett  was  hung  on  the  third 
of  September,  1821. 

Only  three  executions  have  taken  place  in  St.  Clair  county,  and 
one  of  these  belonged  to  Madison  county,  and  was  tried  in  this 
county  on  a  change  of  venue.  Beside  that  of  Bennett  in  1821,  a 
man  named  Orban  was  executed  in  1854,  and  a  man  named  Guidel 
(from  Madison  county),  in  1863. 

The  most  noted  civil  case  that  was  ever  tried,  was  that  of  St. 
Clair  County  against  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Company.  The  Ferry 
Company,  claiming  that  the  legislature  had  granted  to  it  a  mo- 
nopoly of  the  ferriage  business,  brought  an  action  against  St.  Clair 
county,  to  prevent  the  county  from  operating  a  ferry  to  St.  Louis. 
The  case  brought  forth  an  eminent  array  of  legal  talent,  and  excited 
much  interest.  The  trial  resulted  in  favor  of  St.  Clair  county.  The 
county  was  represented  by  Lyman  Trumbull,  James  Shields,  and 
Joseph  Gillespie.  For  the  ferry  company  there  appeared  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  Edward  Bates,  and  Hamilton  R.  Gamble  of  St.  Louis, 
and  Stephen  T.  Logan. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESS  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY. 


BY   D.   MACKENZIE. 


Western  News — Pioneee— St.  Claie  Gazette — St.  Claie  Meeotjet — Ee- 

PEESEWTATIVE  AHD  GAZETTE — BeLLEVILLB  AdVOOATE — DaILT  ADVO- 
CATE— Belleville  Sun — St.  Claie  County  Faie  Geound  Jouenal — 
Weekly  Times — Daily  Times — Westeen  Peinting  Company — The 
Spieii  op  76 — Ameeioan  Bottom  Gazette — Belleville  Beobachteb 
— Belleville  Zeitunq — Belleville  Volksblatt — Daily  Zeitonq — 


Steen  Des  Westens — St.  Claie  Banner — Belleville  Times — Illi- 
nois Republican — Illinois  Advocate— Son  of  Tempeeanob — Leba- 
non JouENAL — Lebanon  Reveille — Lebanon  Coueiee — Deutscheb 
Demokeat— The  Eagle— St.  Claib  Teibune— Stae  op  Egypt- 
Belleville  Democeat — Belleville  Weekly  Sun — Belleville 
Banhee— Volksblatt— Daily  Dispatch- Feeie  Peesse— News  Let- 
tee— Mascoutah  Banner— Anzeigeb—Minee's  and  Workman's  Ad- 
vocate—Sunday Heeald — East  St.  Louis  Gazette— Daily  Gazette 
—People's  Gazette — East  St.  Louis  Peess— Daily  Peess — St.  Claie 
Tribune- East  St.  Louis  Heeald— National  Stock  Yaed  Eepoeteb 
—Western  Live  Stock  Journai^— Railway  Age— National— The 
Future  Great— Dot  Papee— Illinois  Republicanee— Dee  Teeu- 
BuuD— Refoem— Das  Jouenal— Nicw  Athens  Eea— Mascoutah  En- 
teepeise— Independent— Daily  Independent — Deb  Steen— Daily 
Steen— Belleville  Republican —Maeissa  Monitoe. 


I  HE  inventor  of  printing,  Laurentius  Coster,  was 
^     born  in  Haerlem,  Holland,  about  the  year  1370. 
It  was  while  rambling  through  the  forest,  con- 
tiguous to  his  native  town,  that  he  cut  some 
letters  on  the  bark  of  a  birch  tree.     Drowsy 
from  the  effort,  and  relaxation  of  a  holiday,  he 
wrapped   his  handiwork  in   his   handkerchief 
and  lay  down  to  sleep.    While  men  sleep  the 
world  moves.     Damped  by  the  atmospheric  moisture,  the  paper 
wrapped  about  his  carvings  had  taken  an  impression  from  them, 
and  Coster  awoke  to  discover  an  inverted  image  of  what   he  had 
carved  upon  the  bark.    The  phenomenon  was  suggestive  because  it 
led  to  experiments  that  resulted  in  establishing  a  printing  oflBce, 
the  first  of  its  kind,  in  the  old  Dutch  town  of  Haerlem.     The  date 
of  the  discovery  was  between  the  years  1420  and  1426.     In  this 
office  John  Gutenberg,  whose  proper  name  was  Gansfleisch,  served 
a  faithful  and  appreciative  apprenticeship.     Gutenberg  was  born 
near  the  close  of  the  14th  century  at  Mentz,  Germany.     He  is  re- 
garded by  some  German  writers,  as  being  the  inventor  of  printing, 
but  the  preponderance  of  evidence  is  in  favor  of  Coster.     He,  how- 
ever, was  the  first  to  employ  moveable  types  in  printing,  the  date 
of  which  was  about  the  year  1438.     After  the  death  of  Coster,  he 
absconded,  taking  with  him  a  considerable  portion  of  the  type  and 
apparatus.     He  settled  in  Mentz  where  he  won  the  friendship  and 
partnership  of  John  Faust,  a  wealthy  goldsmith  and  of  sufficient 
means  and  enterprise  to  set  up  the  printing  business  upon  a  secure 
financial  basis.     The  date  of  the  co-partnership  was  in  the  year 
1450.     It  was  dissolved  several  years  later  owing  to  a  misunder- 
standing.    Gutenberg  then  formed  a  partnership  with  a  younger 
brother  who  had  set  up  an  office  in  Strasburg,  but  had  not  been 
successful,  and  becoming  involved  in  law-suits  had  fled  from  that 
city  and  joined  his  brother  at  Mentz.     These  brothers  were  the  first 
to  use  metal  types. 

John  Faust,  after  the  dissolution  of  partnership  with  Gutenberg, 
took  into  partnership  Peter  Schoeffer,  one  of  his  servants,  and  an 
ingenious  workman.  He  privately  cut  matrices  for  the  whole  al- 
phabet, and  when  he  showed  his  master  the  type  cut  from  these 
matrices  Faust  was  so  much  pleased  that  he  gave  Schoeffer  his  only 
daughter  in  marriage.  Schoeffer's  improvement  in  casting  type 
from  matrices  was  made  in  1456.  Gutenberg's  printing  office  ex- 
isted in  Mentz  until  1465.    He  died  February  4th,  1J68. 

These  are  the  great  names  in  the  early  history  of  printing  and 
each  is  worthy  of  special  honor.  In  this  connection  it  is  fitting  that 
mention  should  be  made  of  William  Caxton  who  introduced  print- 
ing into  England,  and  was  the  first  English  printer  of  whom  there 
is  any  knowledge.  He  was  born  in  Kent  in  1422.  In  1471  he 
entered  the  service  of  Margaret,  Duchess  of  Burgundy.     During 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


99 


his  sojourn  in  Bruges  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Colard  Man- 
sion, a  well  known  printer  of  that  city.  He  acquired  the  art  and 
in  1476  returned  to  England  and  set  up  his  wooden  printing  press 
in  Westminster.  The  "Game  and  the  Play  of  the  Chesse,"  was 
one  of  his  earliest  publications.    He  died  about  the  year  1491. 

For  a  long  time  printing  was  dependent  upon  most  clumsy  ap- 
paratus. The  earliest  press  had  a  contrivance  for  running  the  form 
under  the  point  of  pressure  by  means  of  a  screw.  "When  the  pres- 
sure had  been  supplied,  the  screw  was  loosened,  the  form  withdrawn 
and  the  sheet  removed.  The  defects  of  this  very  rude  mechanism 
were  at  length  partially  remedied  and  improved  by  William  Jansen 
Blain  of  Amsterdam.  He  contrived  a  press  in  which  the  carriage 
holding  the  form  was  wound  below  the  point  of  pressure,  which  was 
given  by  moving  a  handle  attached  to  a  screw  hanging  in  a  beam, 
haying  a  spring,  that  caused  the  screw  to  fly  back  as  soon 
as  the  impression  was  given.  The  Blaine  press  was  made  entirely 
of  wood,  and  was  in  general  use  in  Europe  and  America  until  the 
present  century.  The  next  improvement  in  printing  presses  was 
made  by  the  Earl  of  Stanhope,  who  constructed  one  entirely  of  iron 
which  printed  the  whole  surface  of  the  sheet  at  one  impression — the 
size  of  the  sheet  being  regulated  by  size  of  press.  Numerous  im- 
provements were  made  upon  the  Stanhope  press,  which  culminated 
in  the  Columbian,  an  American  invention  patented  in  1816,  which 
in  time  gained  a  large  share  of  approbation.  Other  inventions  fol- 
lowed_  rapidly  and  all  were  more  or  less  improvements  upon  others. 
The  Washington  hand  press  came  into  more  general  use  in  Ameri- 
ca than  any  other.  Cylinder  presses  are  the  great  modern  invention 
in  the  history  of  the  art.  It  was  invented  by  Mr.  Nicholson,  an 
Englishman,  and  was  patented  as  early  as  1790.  His  patents  co- 
vered and  embodied  almost  every  principle  so  successfully  applied 
to  printing  since  that  day.  Cylinder  presses  were  much  improved 
by  Messrs.  Applegath  and  Cowper  in  1818.  In  1814  steam  was 
first  applied  to  cylinder  presses  by  Frederick  Konig,  a  Saxon  ge- 
nius, and  the  subsequent  progress  of  steam  printing  has  been  so  re- 
markable as  to  almost  justify  a  belief  in  its  absolute  perfection. 
Indeed  to  appreciate  the  improvements  which  have  been  made  in 
presses  only,  one  ought  to  be  privileged  to  stand  by  while  the  press- 
man operated  one  of  the  clumsy  machines  of  Gutenberg,  and  then 
step  into  one  of  the  well-appointed  printing  offices  of  our  larger 
cities,  where  he  could  see  the  roll  of  dampened  paper  entering  the 
great  mammoth  press,  a  continuous  sheet,  and  issuing  from  it  as 
newspapers,  printed,  cut,  folded,  and  ready  for  the  carrier  or  ex- 
press.^ 

Type  founding,  or  the  manufacture  of  type,  originated  in  Ger- 
many along  with  printing,  and  dates  as  early  as  1492.  It  was 
then  connected  with  the  business  of  printing,  but  in  time  it  became 
a  separate  and  distinct  manufacture.  The  proceps  of  casting  type 
was  much  the  same,  and  done  by  hand  from  the  1.6th  century  until 
1848,  when  Meller  and  Richard  of  Edinburg,  Scotland,  invented 
and  patented  a  machine  for  casting  types.  In  1860  it  was  much  im- 
proved by  the  patentees,  and  is  now  the  most  advanced  and  approved 
system  of  type  casting  in  both  Europe  and  America.  The  earliest 
type  used  were  in  the  style  now  known  as  "Gothic,"  or  Black- 
letter. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  trace  more  minutely  the  history  of  this 
great  art  from  its  humble  origin  in  Hserlem,  through  all  successive 
stages,  to  the  present,  and  to  classify  its  products.  For  nearly  a 
thousand  years  previous  to  its  introduction,  mankind  had  been  sur- 
rounded by  the  densest  ignorance  the  world  has  ever  known. 
Teutonic  barbarians  had  swept  over  fair  Italy,  had  sacked  her 
capital,  had  despised  her  civilization  as  unworthy  even  the  indul- 
gence of  men  dependent  upon  muscle  and  sword  for  empire  and 


liberty.  Vandalism  had  been  christened,  and  had  mocked  the 
wisdom  of  philosophers  while  destroying  and  defacing  the  master- 
pieces of  Grecian  and  Roman  architecture  and  sculpture.  Attila 
the  "Scourge  of  God,"  at  the  head  of  vast  Tartar  hordes  from 
Asiatic  steppes,had  traversed  the  Roman  empire,  spreading  dismay 
and  disaster,  until  checked  at  the  fierce  battle  of  Chalons.  Omar 
had  burned  the  great  Alexandrian  library,  after  declaring  that  if 
its  volumes  agreed  with  the  Koran,  they  were  needless ;  if  they 
conflicted,  they  were  pernicious.  During  this  period,  feudalism 
had  kept  the  noble  at  war  with  his  sovereign,  had  unsettled  gov- 
ernments, and  made  men  soldiers  with  scarcely  time  for  necessary 
practice  at  arms ;  amusements  were  popular,  only  as  they  contri- 
buted to  martial  prowess,  and  poetry  in  the  main  was  but  a  min- 
strel's doggerel  concerning  the  chivalrous  deeds  of  a  listening 
knight  or  the  wonderful  charms  of  a  favorite  mistress.  From  the 
fall  of  Rome,  there  had  been  but  little  talent  and  time  to  cultivate 
letters.  A  few  ecclesiastics  here  and  there  were  the  custodians  of 
the  learning  saved  from  the  wrecks  of  Grecian  literature  and  Roman 
knowledge.  The  masses  were  ignorant.  They  believed  that  the 
hand  which  commonly  held  the  sword  would  be  disgraced  if  trained 
to  wield  the  pen.  Books  were  for  the  monk's  cell  or  the  anchorite's 
cave,  and  the  objective  points  of  all  study  were  to  escape  purgatory, 
to  cast  a  horoscope,  to  turn  the  baser  metals  into  gold.  Supersti- 
tion, priestcraft  and  thirst  for  material  renown  moulded  public  acts 
and  private  training. 

The  Crusades  broke  the  power  of  feudalism,  dispelled  much  geo- 
graphical ignorance  by  making  neighboring  nations  better  ac- 
quainted, gave  an  impetus  to  commercial  enterprises,  awakened  the 
sluggish  intellect,  enlarged  the  human  mind  and  rendered  it  more 
tolerant,  introduced  the  luxuries  and  refinements  of  the  Greek 
empire,  and  brought  about  Magna  Charta  and  Free  Cities.  With 
the  expanding  and  increasing  commerce,  arts  came  to  the  front, 
trades  flourished  and  practice  began  to  test  precept.  The  middle 
classes,  whose  condition  ever  determines  the  character  of  an  era 
or  nation,  obtained  concessions  and  rights  to  which  they  had  been 
strangers  for  centuries.  The  mental  world  began  to  move.  Famous 
journeys  and  discoveries  were  made.  Roger  Bacon  and  Berthold 
Schwartz  studied  the  chemistry  of  the  Arabs,  and  were  among 
the  first  devotees  at  the  shrine  of  physical  science.  Spain,  Italy, 
the  Netherlands  and  England  sought  new  outlets  for  their  surplus 
products  of  soil,  loom  and  fisheries.  Mental  darkness  can  make 
no  long-continued  stand  against  such  enterprise,  and  enterprise 
will  ever  find  an  exponent  to  herald  its  doings  from  nation  to 
nation,  and  a  medium  to  make  its  conquests  the  property  of 
succeeding  generations.  Europe  was  in  a  commercial  and  intel- 
lectual foment  when  Coster  set  up  his  printing  oflice  in  Haerlem, 
and  inaugurated  an  industry  until  then  unknown.  To  understand 
the  eflect  of  that  industry  upon  humanity,  compare  the  enlighten- 
ment, civilization  and  progress  of  the  present  with  the  semi-barbar- 
ism and  stagnation  of  the  middle  ages.  Printing  is  rolling  back 
ignorance,  vice  and  degradation,  is  unfolding  the  mysteries  of 
nature,  and  is  explaining  the  mandates  of  Him  who  made  man  in 
His  own  image,  and  expects  the  homage  of  the  creature  due  the 
Creator. 

The  Romans,  in  the  time  of  the  Emperors  had  periodical  notices 
of  passing  events,  compiled  and  publicly  posted.  These  Acta 
Diurna  (daily  events)  were  the  newspapers  of  the  day.  Before 
they  were  posted  in  the  public  places,  where  all  who  desired 
could  see  them,  they  passed  under  the  inspection  of  the  Emperor, 
and  later  of  Censors,  Quaestors  or  Magistrates,  whose  duty  it  was 
to  carefully  scrutinize  and  erase  such  imformation  as  they,  or,  the 
Emperor  desired  withheld  from  the  people.  The  first  newspapers  in 


100 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Europe  are  traceable  to  Germany  and  Venice  and  date  back  to  soon 
after  the  discovery  of  printing.  In  1536 'the  first  newspaper  of 
mod'rn  times  was  issued  at  Venice,  but  governmental  bigotry 
compelled  its  circulation  in  manuscript  form.  In  the  latter  half  of 
the  15th  Century  small  news  sheets  named  the  "Rugulationer"  and 
"  New  Zeytung "  appeared  in  different  cities  composing  the  com- 
mercial centers  of  Germany  but  they  were  generally  in  the  form  of 
a  letter.  The  first  newspaper  established  in  Germany  was  the 
Frankfurt  Gazette  which  still  survives,  and  is  credited  with  being 
the  oldest  newspaper  in  the  civilized  world.  It  was  established  in 
1615.  The  first  and  nearest  approach  to  newspapers  in  the  English 
language  were  the  pamplets  called  the  "  English  Mercury,"  "  News 
out  of  Holland,"  and  others,  that  made  their  appearance  in  1622. 
They,  however,  hardly  deserve  the  name  of  newspapers.  In  1663 
the  Public  Intelligencer,  printed  in  London,  made  its  appearance. 
It  was  the  first  English  paper  to  attempt  the  dissemination  of 
news.  It  continued  until  the  appearance  of  the  London  Gazette, 
which  was  first  issued  Nov.  7th,  1665,  at  Oxford.  There  were  no 
papers  printed  oftener  than  once  a  week  until  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Anna,  then  from  the  interest  created  by  the  war  in  progress,  and 
the  brilliant  victories  achieved  by  Marlborough,  there  was  a  de- 
mand for  more  frequent  intelligence.  To  satisfy  this  demand  the 
Daily  Courant  was  issued  every  day  of  the  week,  Sundays  excepted. 
The  Courant  was  the  first  daily  paper  issued. 

The  first  newspaper  issued  in  America  was  the  Public  Occurrences 
at  Boston,  Sept.  25th,  1690,  by  Richard  Pearce,  and  was  immedi- 
ately suppressed  by  the  government.  No  man,  or,  set  of  men  had 
the  presumption  to  undertake  a  similar  enterprise  until  fourteen 
years  afterwards,  when  John  Campbell,  postmaster,  established  the 
Boston  News  Letter .  The  first  issue  was  April  24th,  1704.  It  was 
a  half  sheet,  twelve  inches  by  eight,  with  two  columns  to  the  page. 
The  Boston  Gazette  was  issued  Dec.  21st,  1719,  and  the  American 
Weekly,  at  Philadelphia,  one  day  later— Dec.  22'd,  1719.  In  1721 
James  Franklin  started  the  Boston  Courant,  which  was  edited  for 
six  years  by  his  brother  Benjamin.  From  1704  to  1748  there  were 
but  six  newspapers  published  in  America.  From  1748  to  1783  the 
number  increased  to  forty-nine.  The  oldest  living  newspaper  in 
the  United  States  is  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette.  It  was  founded 
Oct.  7th,  1756,  and  has  been  published  without  intermission  or 
radical  change  of  name  from  that  date  to  the  present.  The  first 
daily  newspaper  in  the  United  States  was  the  American  Daily  Ad- 
vertiser, established  in  Philadelphia  in  1784,  now  called  the  North 
American.  The  next  year  the  New  York  Daily  Advertiser  was 
issued. 

There  are  published  in  the  United  States  and  Territories  nearly 
9000  newspapers  and  magazines,  of  which  800  are  issued  daily;  60, 
tri-weekly;  120  semi-weekly;  nearly  7000 weekly;  40  semi-month- 
ly; 90  semi-annually;  17  once  in  two  months,  and  between  50  and 
60  quarterly.  The  Census  of  1880  will  show  nearly  one  newspaper 
to  every  five  hundred  inhabitants.  At  the  beginning  of  1880  there 
were  of  journalistic  publications  in  the  United  States,  besides 
English,  220  German,  35  French,  25  Spanish,  25  Norwegian,  Dan- 
ish and  Swedish,  10  Bohemian,  10  HoUandish,  5  Welsh,  2  Portu- 
guese, 2  Polish,  1  Hebrew,  1  Cherokee,  1  Choctow  and  one  Chinese. 

Heal  journalism,  by  which  is  meant  the  compiling  of  passing 
events  for  the  purpose  of  making  them  more  generally  known  and 
instructive,  did  not  commence  until  about  1820.  Prior  to  that 
date  the  ambition  of  journalists  was  to  direct  and  crystallize  public 
opinion.  The  columns  of  the  journals  were  much  occupied  with 
discussions  and  dissertations  upon  every  conceivable  subject  in  which 
the  masses  had  no  direct  interest  or  sympathy,  and  news  was  almost 
entirely  ignored.     To  use  a  vulgar  saying,  newspapers  were  then 


edited  with  the  paste  pot  and  scissors,  Now,  the  real  object  of  a 
newspaper  is  to  get  the  latest,  freshest  news,  and  lay  it  before  their 
readers  in  the  shortest  possible  time.  The  innovation  upon  old 
forms  and  introduction  of  new  methods  whereby  the  publishing  of 
news  was  made  the  first  object  of  the  paper,  originated  with  the 
publishers  of  the  New  York  Sun.  It  was  the  first  real  newspaper 
in  the  world.  It  was  specially  devoted  to  news  both  local  and 
general,  and  soon  attained  a  circulation  unprecedented  in  the 
history  of  journalism.  Other  newspapers  were  not  slow  to  observe 
the  signals  of  success  and  followed  in  the  wake  of  the  Sun,  and 
soon  old  fogy  methods  were  lost  in  the  hazy  past.  News  is  the 
dominant  idea  of  the  successful  newspaper  of  the  day. 

Journalism  has  become  a  powerful  educator.  Experience  has 
been  its  only  school  for  special  training,  its  only  text  for  study,  its 
only  test  for  theory.  It  is  scarcely  a  profession,  but  is  advancing 
rapidly  towards  that  dignity.  A  distinct  department  of  literature 
has  been  assigned  to  it.  Leading  universities  have  contemplated 
the  inaugurati(m  of  courses  of  study,  specially  designed  to  fit  men  and 
women  for  the  duties  of  the  newspaper  sanctum.  These  innovations 
are  not  untimely,  since  no  other  class  of  men  are  so  powerful  for 
good  or  ill  as  editors.  More  than  any  other  class  they  form  public 
opinion  while  expressing  it,  for  most  men  but  echo  the  sentiments 
of  favorite  journalists.  Even  statesmen,  ministers  and  learned 
professers  not  unfrequently  get  their  best  thoughts  and  ideas  from 
the  papers  they  read. 

For  dates  and  facts  relating  to  the  early  history  of  the  press  of 
St.  Clair  county  we  are  indebted  to  the  newspaper  fraternity,  who 
have  kindly  aided  us  with  information  necessary  for  this  chapter. 
We  also  desire  to  extend  our  thanks  to  Mr.  E.  H.  Fleming,  one 
of  Belleville's  veteran  printers  and  journaiiits,  James  H.  Hughes, 
T.  Quick,  Esq.,  Prof  Deneen  of  McKendree  College,  and  others, 
for  information  which  has  enabled  us  to  trace  the  history  of  the 
press  from  1827  down  to  the  present  time. 

Prior  to  the  establishment  of  a  newspaper  in  the  region  now 
known  as  St.  Clair  county,  the  people  depended  upon  the  Missouri 
Gazette,  established  in  1808  in  St.  Louis,  now  known  as  the  Mis- 
souri Republican,  for  their  news  from  the  outside  world.  At  this 
distant  day  it  is  nearly  if  not  quite  impossible  to  get  reliable  and 
correct  information  regarding  the  first  newspaper  of  this  county. 
No  files,  or  old  copies  can  be  found  in  the  possession  of  the  older 
inhabitants,  nor  in  the  archives  or  among  the  records  of  the  State 
Historical  Society.  We  have  therefore  to  depend  in  a  large  mea- 
sure upon  the  best  recollections  of  men  and  women  who  lived  in 
the  pioneer  days  of  Illinois.  Many  such  can  be  found,  but  among 
them  are  various  opinions  and  much  confusion,  particularly  as  to 
dates.  We  are  convinced,  however,  that  the  first  newspaper  ever 
published  in  St.  Clair  county  was  called 

THE  WESTERN   NEWS, 

And  was  established  by  Dr.  Joseph  Green  in  Belleville,  and  was  first 
issued  in  the  winter  of  1827-8.  It  was  a  small  sheet,  promising  a 
weekly  issue,  but  appeared  semi-occasionally.  It,  however,  was  a 
newspaper,  and  the  first  ever  printed  within  the  present  confines  of 
St.  Clair  county.    The  next  paper  was  the 

PIONEER, 

Which  was  the  second  newspaper,  and  first  religious  journal  in  the 
county.  The  Prospectui  of  the  Pioneer  was  issued  in  December  of 
1828,  and  the  first  paper  issued  April  25th,  1829,  at  Rock  Spring, 
the  seat  of  Rock  Spring  Academy.  It  was  established  by  Rev. 
Thos.  P.  Green,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  brought  a  hand-press  and 
type  from  Cape  Geradeau,  Mo.     Rev.  Green  was  a  practical  print- 


mSTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


101 


er.  He  was  assisted  by  his  two  sons,  also  printers.  The  Pioneer 
was  a  five-column  single  sheet  newspaper,  edited  by  Rev.  James 
M.  Peck.  In  the  fall  of  1829,  Green  sold  the  office  to  Peck,  and 
on  the  14th  of  June,  1830,  Ashford  Smith  took  charge  of  the  print- 
ing—Peck remaining  editor.  The  business  arrangement  continued 
until  1836,  when  a  partnership  was  formed  between  Peck  and 
Smith,  and  the  office  was  removed  to  Upper  Alton,  and  there  made 
its  appearance  as  the  Western  Pioneer  and  Baptist  Banner.  The 
form  was  a  six-column  folio.  The  Pioneer  was  printed  in  a  frame 
building,  30  by  12,  which  is  still  standing,  and  used  as  an  out-house 
on  the  farm  of  8.  G.  Smith,  a  son-in-law  of  Pecks. 

In  1833,  Robt.  K.  Fleming,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Kashas- 
Ma  Recorder,  was  induced  to  remove  his  printing  office  to  Belle- 
ville, by  the  prominent  and  representative  men  of  St.  Clair  county, 
who  pledged  him  their  support  and  patronage.  In  accordance  with 
their  wishes  he  packed  up  the  type  and  presses,  and  with  his  family 
came  to  Belleville.  As  soon  as  he  could  "  lay  out "  the  office  he 
commenced  the  publication  of  the 

ST.   CLAIE  GAZETTE. 

Its  first  appearance  was  about  December  20th,  1833.  The  paper 
was  continued  by  him  for  a  number  of  years,  under  many  dis- 
advantages. The  publication  was  often  interrupted,  owing  to  finan- 
cial difficulties  and  other  causes  incident  to  the  establishing  of  a 
newspaper  in  the  pioneer  days  of  Illinois.  He  changed  the  name 
of  the  Gazette  to  the 

ST.   CLAIR   MEECUEY. 

The  latter  was  the  forerunner  of  the 

EEPEESENTATIVE   AND   GAZETTE, 

the  first  number  of  which  was  issued  May,  1838.    E.  S.  Cropley  was 
the  editor  and  publisher.    The  Representative  and  Gazette  was  a 
large  size  folio,  and  was  ably   edited  and  liberally  patronized  by 
the  merchants  and  business  men  of  Belleville.     Some  of  the  adver- 
tisements are  unique,  while  others  will  serve  to  recall  the  names  of 
men  who  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  country  and  state  half  a 
century  ago.    Among  the  professional  advertisements  is  that  of 
Colonel  J.  L.  D.  Morrison,  Attorney  and  Counsellor-at-Law,  and 
is  dated,  Kaskaskia,  July  27th,  1838,  when  the  Colonel  informed  the 
public  he  has  permanently  located  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
Then  comes  Koerner  &  Shields,  Attorneys  at  Law,  the  latter  the 
hero  of  three  wars,  and  United  States  Senator  from  three  States. 
On    the   6th  of  September,   1838,   Lyman   Trumbull   and    John 
Reynolds  formed  a  co-partnership  in  the  practice  of  law.  Thomas 
Kinker,  a  cabinet-maker,  informs  the  public  that  he  "  will  attend 
to  all  business  in  his  line  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave."      But 
that   which  will  strike  the  average  reader  as  somewhat   strange 
reading  in  these  latter  days,  in  view  of  the  present  political  con- 
dition of  the  negroes  under  the  late  amendments  to  the  constitu- 
tion, is  the  following  "  Notice,"   "  Was  committed  to  the  jail  in 
Perry  County,  Illinois,  on  the  22nd  day  of  December,  1838,  Two 
Negroes,  supposed  to  be  runaway  slaves,  viz. :  A  man  and  woman, 
&c."    Here  follows  a  full  description  of  their  persons  and  calling 
upon  the  owners  "  to  como  forward,  prove  property,  pay  charges 
and  take  them  away,  or,  they  will  be  dealt  with  as  required  by 
law."    This  notice  was  published  six  times  and  the  printing  fee 
was  three  dollars.     From  a  leading  editorial  published  February 
2d,  1839,  we  subjoin  the    following   excerpt,  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  that,  what  was  true  then  of  political  parties,  is  true  yet. 
Under  the  head  of  "  Thoughts  on  the  present  condition  of  parties 


in  this  State,"  they  quote,  "The  present  condition  of  parties  in 
our  State  opens  a  fair  field  for  philosophic  speculation.  The 
numerical  strength  is  nearly  equal,  their  efficient  means  of  operat- 
ing upon  public  opinion  are  nearly  equal,  and  with  party  scales  so 
nicely  balanced,  it  will  follow  as  certainly  as  the  light  of  day 
succeeds  the  darkness  of  the  night,  that  the  party  which  relies 
alone  on  intrigue  and  political  management  will  be  defeated,  and 
that  one  which  trusts  to  the  immutable  principles  of  justice, 
honesty  and  equal  rights  will  prove  successful."  No  truer  words 
than  the  above  were  ever  penned. 

Nolhwithstanding  the  ability  with  which  the  Representative  was 
conducted,  and  the  evidence  of  its  prosperity  shown  by  the  large 
number  of  advertisements  with  which  its  columns  were  crowded, 
it  failed  about  the  close  of  1839,  and  from  it  rose 

THE  BELLEVILLE  ADVOCATE, 

Which  has  withstood  the  rude  shock  of  time,  and  come  down  to 
us  from  a  former  generation.     It  has  lived  through  all  the  vicissi- 
tudes attending  upon  journalistic  enterprises  and  has  been,  with 
but  few  slight  intermissions,  regularly  issued  from  its  first  number 
to    the  present.     It  is  credited   with    being  the  first  permanent 
newspaper  in  St.  Clair  County.     The  first  number  of  the  Advocate 
was  issued  March   27th,  1840,  James  L.  Boyd  and  John  T.  C. 
Clark  were  the  editors  and- publishers.     It  was  printed  in  a  build- 
ing on  the  corner  of  Main  and  High   Streets,  and  issued  every 
Saturday  morning.     In  form  it  was  a  five  column  folio,  price  $2.00 
per  year.     Twelve  lines  made  a  square.     In  looking  over  No.   8  of 
Vol.    1,  wherein  is   printed  their  terms  to    advertisers,  we  were 
impressed  with  their  good  sense  and  business  judgment  as  is  shown 
in  the  following :   "  Advertisements  of  personal  altercations  will 
invariably  be  charged  $2.00  per  square  for  first  insertion,  and  $1.00 
for  each  continuous  insertion,  payment  to  be  made  invariably  in 
advance."     This,  no  doubt,  had  the  efiect  to  make  disputants  con- 
sult their  pocket  books   before  engaging  in  a  public  altercation,  or 
the  longest  purse   won  the  day.     In  their  Prospectus,  the  editors 
say  to  the  public  that  "  the  Advocate  will  be  conducted  on  pure 
Demoerative  principles,  both  editors  being  Democrats  of  the  Old 
School  of  Jeffersonian  politics,   diflfering  from   the  monopolizing 
Hamiltonian  Autocracy  iu  their  whole  political  creed."     The  paper 
warmly  supported  Martin  Van  Buren  for  President,  and  Lyman 
Trumbull  for  member   of  the  State  Legislature.     Mr.  Clarke  re- 
tired from  the  Advocate  a  few  months  after  the  first  issue  ;  Boyd 
continued  the  publication  until  the  winter  of  1841-2  when  the 
paper  passed  into  the  hands  of  Philip  B.   Fouke,  and  from  him  to 
Robert  K.  Fleming,  the  founder  and   publisher  of  the  old  Gazette 
and   Mercury.     It  is   fitting  that   we  should  here   make  a  brief 
biographical   sketch  of  Robert   K.  Fleming,   one  of  the  pioneer 
printers  of  Belleville.    He  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Penn.,  and 
learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Pittsburg.     He  came  west  while  yet 
young,  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  St.  Louis.     From  there  he  went 
to  Kaskaskia  and  started  a  paper,    and  there  married   a  Miss 
Leland,  a  native  of  Mass.     By  this  marriage  there  were  five  sons 
ani  two  daughters.     In  1833  he  came  to  Belleville  and  engaged  in 
journalism,  and  here  continued  until  his  death  in  1874.     It  may  be 
said  of  him  that  he  had  few  faults,  but  many  virtues.     All  of  his 
sons  became  printers,  and  all  were  more  or  less,  connected  with  the 
newspapers  of  St.   Clair  County.    Edward    H.   Fleming,  son  of 
Robert  K.,  gradually  got  control  of  the  office,  and  it  remained 
under  his  management  until   1849,  when  the  California  gold  fever 
carried  him  to  the  Pacific  Coast.    He  left  the  office  in  charge  of 
his  brother,   William  K.,  who  was  also  a  printer.     The  latter  in 
the  summer  of  1849  commenced  the  publication  of  the 


102 


SIS  TOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


DAILY  BELLEVILLE  ADVOCATE, 

The  first  daily  newspaper  published  in  St.  Clair  County.  During 
William  S.  Fleming's  administration  of  the  Advocate  Jehu  Baker 
■was  editor.  He  is  regarded  by  contemporaries  and  others  as  being 
the  ablest  editor  ever  employed  on  the  Belleville  press.  On  June 
the  29th,  1850,  Fleming  sold  the  Advocate  to  John  W.  Merritt,  a 
newspaper  publisher,  who  afterwards  located  at  Salem,  Illinois, 
and  at  a  later  date  better  known  as  the  editor  of  the  State  RegUt&r 
at  Springfield,  Illinois.  Merritt  reraaiued  in  control  of  the  paper 
until  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1851,  when  he  sold  to 
Judge  Niles.  In  1851 ,  E.  H.  Fleming  returned  to  Belleville  from 
California,  and  started 

THE   BELLEVILLE   SUN. 

Thirty-six  numbers  were  issued  when  it  was  consolidated  with  the 
Advocate,  and  a  partnership  formed  under  the  name  of  Fleming 
and  Niles.  The  latter  was  editor,  and  the  former  foreman,  and 
attended  to  the  mechanical  part  of  the  office.  In  'October,  1852, 
Fleming  and  Niles  purchased  the  Illinois  Independent,  and  consoli- 
dated it  with  the  Advocate.  On  the  19th  of  July,  1854,  Judge 
Niles'  interest  in  the  paper  was  purchased  by  James  S.  Coulter,  and 
he  retired  from  his  editorial  labors  for  a  short  time.  As  a  newspaper 
writer.  Judge  Niles  was  far  above  the  average.  He  was  a  strong, 
forcible  writer,  though  sometimes  voluminous.  Brevity  was  not 
exactly  his  forte,  yet  articles  from  his  pen  showed  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  subject  in  hand.  He  gave  the  Advocate  a  promi- 
nent position  and  high  standing  among  the  journals  of  Illinois.  He 
was  better  fitted,  however,  to  fill  the  editorial  chair  of  some  metro- 
politan journal  than  the  sanctum  of  a  country  newspaper. 

Messrs.  Fleming  and  Coulter,  soon  after  getting  the  control  of 
the  Advocate,  commenced  the  publication  of  the 

DAILY  BELLEVILLE  ADVOCATE. 

The  first  number  was  issued,  September  1st,  1854.  It  was  a  five- 
column  folio,  and  a  very  neat,  spicy  publication.  James  S.  Coul- 
ter, the  editor,  was  a  Protestant  Irishman,  and  was  one  of  those 
irrepressible  characters  so  often  found  among  the  natives  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  He  wielded  a  sharp,  vigorous  pen,  and  was  indis- 
criminate in  the  use  of  it,  and  sometimes  would  puncture  a  friend 
as  well  as  foe. 

November  14th,  1855,  E.  H.  Fleming  retired  from  the  Advocate, 
from  reasons  of  ill  health.  His  interest  in  the  office  was  purchased 
by  J.  S.  Coulter,  who  continued  the  paper  until  June  11th,  1856 
when  Judge  Niles  again  became  proprietor  and  editor.  On  the 
first  of  July  of  the  same  year,  Edward  Schiller  bought  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  office,  and  continued  one  of  the  proprietors  until  Dec. 
3d,  1856,'when  he  retired,  and  Judge  Niles  published  the  paper 
until  May  13th,  1857,  when  the  office  was  sold  to  Collins  Van 
Cleve,  and  T.  C.  Weeden.  In  the  Salutatory  of  the  latter,  they 
assure  the  public  that  the  Advocate  will  be  continued  as  a  Free  Soil 
paper,  which  position  it  took  in  1854.  With  the  issue  of  July  10th, 
1857,  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  an  8  column  folio,  with  the  name  Bel- 
leville Advocate,  in  large  fancy  letters.  The  next  week  the  letters  were 
changed  to  a  smaller  size,  which  was  a  decided  improvement. 
Messrs.  Van  Cleve  and  Weeden  continued  the  publication  until 
February  10th,  1860,  when  they  sold  to  E.  J.  Montague,  formerly 
of  the  Chester  Herald.  Soon  after  taking  charge,  Mr.  Montague 
put  a  new  dress  on  the  paper,  and  it  was  then  an  exceedingly  neat 
publication.  In  September,  1860,  during  the  progress  of  the  County 
Fair,  the  Advocate  office  published  the  first  daily  Fair  Journal.  It 
was  called  the  St.  Clair  County  Fair- Ground  Journal.  On  the 
25th  of  January,  1861,  the  News  Letter,  published  in  Mascoutah, 


was  consolidated  with  the  Advocate,  and  Alex.  G.  Hawes,  its  editor, 
became  the  associate  editor  of  the  Advocate.  The  paper  was  then 
known  as  the  Weekly  Belleville  Advocate  and  News  Letter.  On  the 
8th  of  February,  1861,  the  office  passed  back  into  the  hands  of 
Collins  Van  Cleve.  Hawes  remained  connected  with  the  paper 
until  May  10th,  1861,  when  he  retired.  On  the  1st  of  June,  1861, 
F.  M.  Hawes  became  editor,  and  Aug.  10th  of  the  same  year,  pur- 
chased the  paper.  With  the  issue  of  Oct.  Uth,  1861,  the  word 
"  Weekly  "  was  dropped,  and  the  paper  was  known  as  the  Belleville 
Advocate.  Mr.  Hawes  conducted  the  publication  of  the  Advocate 
until  December  5th,  1862,  when  G.  F.  Kimball  took  charge  of  its 
management,  and  assisted  Mr.  Hawes  in  the  editorial  department. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1863,  Mr  Kimball  purchased  the  en- 
tire office  including  books,  etc.,  for  the  sum  of  $1000.  He  con- 
tinued sole  proprietor  and  editor  until  January  1st,  1867,  when  he 
sold  a  one-tenth  interest  to  F.  M.  Taylor.  Under  the  management 
of  Messrs  Kimball  and  Taylor,  the  business  of  the  office  was  greatly 
increased.  They  embarked  in  the  business  of  printing  "  Outsides" 
for  a  number  of  newspapers  in  Southern  Illinois.  They  also,  in 
addition  to  the  Advocate,  published  at  the  same  time,  the  Nashville 
Journal,  Sparta  Plaindealer,  Mt.  Vernon  News,  CollimviUe  Argus  2mA 
Litchfield  Monitor.  They  also  did  a  large  amount  of  book  printing 
for  St.  Louis  and  other  places.  The  firm  continued  until  1872, 
when  a  disagreement  arose  between  the  partners  as  to  what  position 
the  Advocate  should  take  upon  the  political  questions  of  the  day. 
The  paper  had  been  conducted  as  a  Republican  organ  during  the 
time  of  Mr.  Kimball's  connection  with  it,  but  now  his  political 
opinions  had  undergone  a  slight  change,  and  he  was  inclined  to  the 
liberal  wing  of  the  party,  and  was  in  favor  of  carrying  the  paper 
over  to  its  support.  Taylor  was  a  stalwart  in  his  belief  and  insisted 
on  keeping  the  Advocate  in  the  well  beaten  track  of  the  radical 
wing  of  the  party.  Their  diflTerences  were  irreconcilable,  and  the 
firm  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Taylor  purchased  the  presses,  material 
and  building,  and  Mr.  Kimball  retired  from  the  business.  He 
went  to  Danville,  Illinois,  and  there  took  editorial  charge  of  the 
Newi,  a  daily  and  weekly  paper,  and  from  there  to  Decatur  where 
he  organized  several  newspaper  enterprises. 

In  the  summer  of  1879,  he  returned  to  Belleville,  and,  for  a  few 
months,  was  interested  in  the  publication  of  the  Republican.  On 
the  27th  of  November,  1879,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  the 
Weekly  Times,  and  in  Feb.,  1880,  the  Daily  Times,  and  continued 
both  publications  until  the  following  May  when  they  were  sus- 
pended. 

In  the  summer  of  1880,  he  was  for  a  short  time  editor  of  the 
Advocate.  In  October,  1880,  he  removed  to  Sedalia,  Mo.,  where 
he  is  at  present  editing  and  publishing  the  Daily  News,  a  leading 
Republican  journal  of  Central  Missouri. 

When  Mr.  Taylor  purchased  the  Advocate  office  he  formed  the 

WESTERN    PRINTING    COMPANY 

which  was  organized  and  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state. 
The  principal  stockholders  were : — Mrs.  Kate  L.  Taylor,  wife  of  F.  M. 
Taylor,  Charles  W.  Thomas,  E.  L.  Thomas,  John  Woods  and  F.  M. 
Taylor.  Subsequently  the  shares  of  stock  held  by  the  Thomases 
were  purchased  by  Mrs.  Taylor.  At  a  later  date  she  also  secured 
the  share  held  by  Woods  which  was  assigned  to  J.  B.  Lemen.  F. 
M.  Taylor  was  President,  and  John  Woods,  Secretary,  and  foreman 
of  the  office :  Mrs.  Taylor  afterward  .became  Secretary.  The  com- 
pany continued  the  printing  business  until  May  8th,  1880,  when 
the  office  was  closed,  and  Taylor  retired  from  the  business.  J.  H. 
Thomas  purchased  the  material  and  presses  and  on  the  4th  of  June 
1880,  resumed  the  publication  of  the  Advoeate,mth  G.  F.  Kimball 


HISTORY  OF  SI.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


103 


as  editor.  The  latter  soon  retired  from  the  paper,  since  which  time 
Mr.  Thomas  has  been  both  publisher  and  editor.  The  office  of  the 
Advocate  was  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Post  office  which 
was  built  and  fitted  up  expressly  for  the  paper.  Jan.  1st,  1880,  it 
was  removed  to  the  Zeitung  building  and  the  27th  of  Sept.,  1880, 
was  removed  to  it  present  quarters. 

The  Advocate  in  form,  as  in  proprietorship,  has  gone  through  many 
changes.  It  is  now  a  six-column  quarto,  all  printed  at  home.  Ty- 
pographically it  is  a  neat  paper,  and  well  edited.  It  was  for  years 
the  leading  Democratic  paper  in  southern  Illinois,  and,  in  later 
days,, was  the  recognized  organ  of  the  Eepublican  party  in  this 
Congressional  district,  and  to-day  it  still  retains  its  prestige  of  for- 
mer years. 

The  Advocate  was  for  years  the  best  known  newspaper,  perhaps, 
with  few  exceptions  in  the  state.  It  has  numbered  among  its  edi- 
tors and  contributors  many  of  the  leading  and  distinguished  men 
of  the  state  of  Illinois. 

Sjon  after  the  demise  of  the  Representative  and  Gazette  another 
newspaper  bearing  the  title  of 

THE  SPIRIT  OF  76 

made  its  appearance  as  a  campaign  paper  in  the  interest  of  Har- 
rison and  Tyler,  candidates  on  the  Whig  ticket  for  the  presidency 
and  vice-presidency.  Its  first  issue  was  in  the  latter  part  of  July, 
1840.  The  paper  had  but  a  brief  existence.  After  a  few  issues  it, 
too,  took  up  its  abode  in  the  silent  chamber  of  departed  newspaper 
enterprises.  The  type  and  presses  however  remained,  and  passed 
into  the  possession  of  J.  K.  Cannon,  who  re-commenced  the  publica- 
tion of  a  Whig  paper,  which  advocated  the  claims  of  Harrison, 
and  after  his  election  supported  hid  administration  with  zeal  and 
engi-gy.  He  continued  the  publication  until  his  death ;  then  Chas. 
Sargeant  bought  the  press  and  material  and  published  an  indepen- 
dent paper  of  which  Elam  Eust  was  editor.  Rust  afterwards 
removed  to  Decatur  and  in  1856  established  a  paper  in  that  city, 
and  died  there  in  1857.  Sargeant's  paper  under  the  editorship  of 
Eust  was  particularly  noted,  and  will  be  remembered  among  the 
older  citizens  for  its  publications  of  personal  paragraphs  reflecting 
upon  the  character  of  reputable  citizens  of  Belleville.  In  one 
instance,  it  is  related,  that  such  publication  led  fo  fatal  results.  All 
of  the  foregoing  papers,  including  Sargeant's,  ultimately  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Advocate. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  the  American  Bcttom,  or  that 
portion  of  it  lying  in  what  now  comprises  St.  Clair  county  was 
called  the 

AMERICAN  BOTTOM  GAZETTE. 

There  is  much  confusion  as  to  the  date  of  its  first  issue,  but  from 
the  best  information  obtainable  we  are  convinced  that  it  was  in  the 
winter  of  1841-2.  The  publishers  were  Sumrix  &  Jarrott.  It 
continued  until  1844  when  the  office  was  swept  away  by  the  great 
flood  of  that  year.  The  building  from  which  the  paper  was  issued 
was  situated  near  what  is  now  known  as  Main  and  Market  Streets, 
East  St.  Louis,  close  to  where  the  old  "  Bundy  House  "  stood. 

The  next  venture  in  journalism  was  a  German  publication 
known  as  the 

BELLEVILLE    BEOBACHTEK 

which  was  the  second  German  paper  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  It 
was  started  in  1844  by  Theodore  Engelmann,  who  at  that  time  was 
Deputy  Circuit  Clerk.  During  the  same  year  he  was  elected 
Circuit  Clerk.  Not  having  time  to  attend  to  his  paper,  he  sold  the 
office  to  his  foreman  Bartholomew  Hauck,  who  moved  the  office  to 
Quincy  and  there  established  the   Quincy  Bepbachter,  which,  con- 


tinued until  in  1848.  Engelmann's  term  of  office  as  Circuit  Clerk 
expired  in  that  year.  He  opened  up  a  correspondence  with  Hauck 
and  induced  him  to  remove  his  printing  office  back  to  Belleville, 
which  was  accordingly  done  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  last 
above  mentioned.  The  office  was  arranged,  and  January  11th, 
1849,  the  first  issue  of  the 

BELLEVILLE  ZEITING 

was  made.  Mr.  Engelmann  took  charge  of  the  paper  editorially, 
and  continued  until  1851,  when  he  gave  up  journalism,  and  retired 
to  his  farm  near  Mascoutah,  where  he  at  present  resides.  Hon. 
Gustavus  Koerner  then  became  the  editor,  and  remained  in  charge 
for  two  years.  In  1853  Dr.  Wenzel,  one  of  the  oldest  newspaper 
writers  of  the  West,  succeeded  Koerner.  He  remained  editor 
until  the  23rd  of  February,  1856,  when  he  retired  to  take  charge 
of  the  Belleville  Volkshlat  as  editor  and  proprietor.  On  the  18th  of 
March,  1858,  Mr.  Hauck  sold  the  Zeitung  to  Frederick  Rupp.  On 
the  same  day,  Franz  Grimm,  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Volkshlat,  con.cluded  an  arrangement  with  Eupp  by  which  the  latter 
paper  was  consolidated  with  the  Zeitung.  By  this  arrangement 
Eupp  became  the  Busiuess  Manager  and  Grimm  the  Editor.  He 
continued  as  editor  until  Sept.  25thj  1861,  when  he  laid  down  the 
pen  to  take  up  the  sword.  He  enlisted  in  a  company  which  be- 
came a  part  of  the  43d  Eegt.  Ills.  Vol.  Infantry,  and  fell  fighting 
for  his  country,  April  6th,  1862,  in  the  desperate  battle  of  Shiloh. 
His  valedictory  or  final  leave-taking  from  his  old  friends,  tells  best 
the  story  of  his  patriotism  and  bravery,  and  what  manner  of  man 
he  was.  He  says,  in  substance,  "  Firmly  convinced  that  it  is  now 
time  for  every  man  able  to  bear  arms  to  arise  at  once  in  defence  of 
his  home  and  country,  and  preserve  the  only  Democratic  republic 
on  earth,  he  must  now  take  a  decided  stand,  and  stake  his  life,  if 
necessary,  upon  the  issue  of  this  terrible  crisis.  I  have  resolved  to 
give  up  my  present  quiet  and  peaceful  profession,  and  to  exchange 
the  pen  for  the  sword.  I  assure  my  friends  that  this  resolution  was 
not  hastily  formed,  nor  from  one  reason  only.  Yet  I  say  in  the 
words  of  Hutten,  '  I  have  ventured  it :  the  die  is  cast :  let  it  roll  on 
in  iron.'  Bidding  friends  and  foes  good  bye,  for  how  long  the  eternal 
God  only  knows,  I  hope  to  live  in  their  friendly  memory  until  we 
meet  again,  or,  until  my  hour  shall  strike  on  the  bloody  field  of 
battle." 

After  Grimm,  came  Ludwig  Seybold  as  editor,  who  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  Adelbert  Loehr,  Under  the  editorial  guidance  of 
these  gentlemen,  the  Zeitung  kept  up  its  prestige,  then  renowned 
for  true  and  genuine  love  of  freedom  and  justice  to  all  men.  In 
December,  1863,  Dr.  Charles  Neubert  becoming  the  managing  edi- 
tor. He  at  first  kept  the  paper  in  the  well  beaten  political  track 
marked  out  by  his  predecessors,  but  after  awhile  he  deviated  and 
ran  into  extremes.  Mr.  Eupp,  then  sole  proprietor,  not  agreeing 
with  him,  the  Doctor  was  asked  to  give  up  his  position,  which  he 
did,  after  being  editor  for  nearly  eleven  years.  In  1872  the  Zei- 
tung made  a  slight  departure,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  the  anti- 
Grant  liberal  movement  under  the  leadership  of  Horace  Greeley. 
After  Dr.  Neubert's  withdrawal  from  the  paper,  Henry  E.  Miller 
became  its  editor.  On  the  3d  of  January,  1873,  Mr.  Eupp  died 
and  soon  after  the  press  materials  and  business  was  sold  to  Sebasr 
tian  Fietsam.  June  22d,  1874,  he  sold  a  half  interest  in  the  Zei^ 
tung  to  Mr.  Semmelroth,  who  had  been  proprietor  of  the  Stern  Des 
Westens,  but  had  sold  that  journal  to  Frederick  E.  Scheel.  Mr. 
Miller  was  succeeded  in  the  editorial  chair  by  Bernhard  Hartmann, 
who  remained  until  the  20th  of  June,  1875,  when  Eugene  Seeger 
became  editor.  On  the  19th  of  August,  1876,  was  issued  the  first 
number  of  the 


104 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


DAILY   ZEITUNG, 

which  has  continued  uninterruptedly  to  the  present,  and  has  gained  a 
large  circulation  in  Belleville  and  the  surrounding  country.  On  the 
20th  of  October,  1877,  Messrs.  Fietsam  and  Semmelroth  purchased 
the  office  of  the  Stern  Des  Western,  and  consolidated  it  with  the 
Zeitung.  Mr.  Seeger  gave  up  the  editorial  management  of  the 
paper,  February  5th,  1877,  and  L.  W.  Habercom  took  his  place, 
and  continued  therein  until  Oct.  9th,  1879  when  he  retired,  and 
his  place  was  most  ably  filled  by  Curt  Heinfelden,  who  still  occu- 
pies that  position.  On  the  24th  of  June,  1880,  Mr.  Heinfeldea 
purchased  Mr.  Fietsam's  interest,  and  became  an  equal  partner  with 
Mr.  Semmelroth  in  the  Zeitung.  The  present  editor  is  a  native  of 
Prussia,  and  came  to  America  in  1875.  His  first  journalistic 
work  was  on  the  New  Yorker  Staats  Zeituny,  soon  after  his  arrival 
in  this  country.  In  May,  1876,  he  became  a?sociate  editor  of  the 
Oindnnati  Volksfreund.  In  1877  accepted  a  position  on  the  edi- 
torial stafi'of  the  Ilinois  Staats  Zeitung  in  Chicago.  In  1878  was 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  Ameig&r  des  Western,  St.*  Louis,  Mo.,  and 
from  there  came  to  Belleville,  and  since  that  time  has  been  identfied 
with  the  Zeitung.  He  is  writer  of  great  brilliancy,  and  has  given  his 
paper  an  enviable  reputation  and  position  among  the  German  news- 
papers of  the  state.  Mr.  Semmelroth,  the  business  manager  of  the 
Zeitung  is  a  practical  printer  of  much  experience,  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Journalism  of  St.  Clair  county  since  1856.  He 
has  by  his  energy  and  industry  contributed  much  to  making  his 
paper  an  absolute  necessity  to  the  people  of  St.  Clair  county.  Since 
1856  the  Zeitung  has  advocated  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party.  It  then  took  a  firm  and  positive  stand  against  the  introduc- 
tion of  slavery  into  the  territories,  and  stoatly  maintained  the  doc- 
trines of  popular  sovereignty.  All  through  the  war  it  was  on  the 
side  of  the  Union,  and  did  much  to  cultivate  Union  sentiments 
among  the  people,  particularly  the  German  class.  It  enjoys  the 
largest  circulation  among  the  Germans,  of  any  paper  in  Southern 
Illinois.  It  also  circulates  in  other  state*,  and  a  large  number  of 
copies  are  sent  to  residents  in  different  parts  of  Europe.  The 
Weekly  Zeitung  is  in  form,  a  six  column  quarto,  and  the  Daily  an 
eight  column  folio. 

In  1845  the  Advocate  was  an  established  fact,  and  gave  ample  evi- 
dence of  its  financial  health  fulness.  This  being  the  fact  it  would 
seem  that  there  was  little  demand  or  room  for  another  newspaper. 
Yet  in  the  year  above  mentioned,  Louis  P.  Pensoneau  commenced 
the  publication  of  the 

ST.    CLAIR    BANNER. 

In  1847  he  sold  out  to  D.  W.  Gelwicks  and  Louis  Tramble. 
They  changed  the  name  to  the 

BELLEVILLE   TIMES, 

and  continued  the  publication  until  January  12th,  1849,  when  the 
paper  was  sold  to  Messrs.  Harvey  and  Walker.  Up  to  that  date 
the  Times  had  been  devoted  to  the  advocacy  of  Democratic  prin- 
ciples, but  the  latter  gentlemen  carried  the  paper  over  to  the  Whig 
camp,  and  it  supported  the  administration  of  Gen.  Taylor,  the 
President.  That  there  might  be  no  possibility  of  mistake  on  the 
part  of  the  public  as  to  its  new  position,  the  name  was  also  changed 
from  the  Times  to  the 

ILLINOIS   REPUBLICAN. 

Messrs.  Harvey  and  Walker  continued  editors  and  publishers  until 
October,  1852,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Judge  N.  Niles,  and  was 
absorbed  by  the  Advocate.  The  Republican  was  edited  with  more 
than  average  ability,  and  in  its  day  was  the  most  potential  organ 
of  its  party  in  Southern  Illinois. 


THE   ILLINOIS   ADVOCATE 

Was  established  in  1848,  in  the  town  of  Lebanon,  and  the  first 
number  issued  January  18th  of  that  year.  The  intention  of  its 
projectors  was  to  make  it  the  organ  of  Methodism  in  Illinois.  It 
was  edited  and  published  under  the  direction  of  members  and  trus- 
tees of  McKendree  College.  Eev.  Davis  Goheen  and  Benjamin 
Hypes  were  the  publishing  committee;  E.  Wentworth,  editor, 
and  A.  W.  Cummings,  S.  Mattison,  W.  Goodfellow,  and  S.  M.  E. 
Goheen  Assistant  Editors.  When  first  issued  it  was  a  four  column 
folio.  With  the  commencement  of  the  second  volume  it  was  en- 
larged to  a  six  column,  same  form.  It  was  devoted  to  general  intel- 
ligence, literature,  science,  morality,  religion ;  local,  foreign  and 
miscellaneous -news.  The  paper  was  continued  until  1852,  when 
the  office  was  closed  from  lack  of  patronage.  In  1855  Collins  Van 
Cleve  purchased  the  material  and  made  additions  thereto,  and 
commenced  the  publication  of  a  paper  called  the  Lebanon  Gem, 
which  he  continued  until  1856,  when  he  took  the  subscription 
lists  to  Belleville,  where  he  had  become  interested  in  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Advocate,  and  from  there  sent  the  paper  to  his  old  sub- 
scribers in  Lebanon  until  the  subscriptions  had  expired.  From 
1856  to  1860,  there  was  no  paper  published  in  Lebanon.  On  the 
4th  of  March,  1860,  No.  1,  of  Vol.  1,  of  the 

ILLINOIS  SON   OF  TEMPERANCE 

made  its  appearance.  George  W.  Moore,  an  ardent  and  enthusi- 
astic temperance  worker,  and  James  P.  Snell,  were  the  editors  aud 
publishers.  The  name  of  the  paper  indicated  its  mission,  and  it 
was  designed  as  the  organ  of  the  Southern  Grand  Division  of  the 
Sons  of  Temperance.  Articles  and  editorials  were  contributed  by 
the  leading  writers  favorable  to  the  Temperance  cause  in  Illinois. 
Mr.  Moore  purchased  the  office  at  the  St.  Louis  type-fouudry.  He 
had  no  knowledge  of  the  business,  and  therefore  Snell  was  im- 
ported from  Aurora  to  Lebanon  to  take  charge  of  the  mechanical 
department,  and  was  given  a  half  interest  in  the  profits  of  the 
office.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  he  knew  but  little  more  than 
Moore.  The  result  was  that  in  June  following  he  wa^  retired  from 
the  business,  and  Mr.  Moore  continued  the  publication  of  the  Sun 
until  the  fall  of  1862,  when  the  office  was  closed  and  the  type  and 
press  boxed  and  sold  back  to  the  type-foundry  in  St.  Louis. 
The  paper  was  in  form  a  four-column  folio.  It  attained  a  circula- 
tion of  over  one  thousand  copies. 

THE   LEBANON  JOURNAL 

was  established  in  1867,  by  H.  H.  Simmons,  and  continued  under 
the  same  proprietorship  until  January  18th,  1S73,  when  the  office 
was  sold  to  Dr.  T.  W.  Eckert,  now  of  the  Belleville  Republican. 
He  edited  and  published  the  Journal  until  May  1875,  when  he 
sold  to  J.  S.  Padon.  In  August,  1876,  Dr.  Eckert  re-purchased 
the  paper  and  published  it  until  May,  1877,  when  he  sold  it  to 
Nelson  Abbott.  The  latter  failing  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the 
sale,  the  mortgage  was  foreclosed,  and  the  Journal  reverted  to 
Eckert,  who  continued  to  publish  it  until  November  4th,  1878, 
when  he  sold  to  J.  R.  Connor,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  J.  F.  Ash. 
The  latter  gave  a  mortgage  upon  the  press  and  material,  and  de- 
faulted in  the  deferred  payments,  and  in  consequence  the  office 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Prof.  O.  V.  Jones.  The  name  of  the 
paper  was  changed  from  the  Journal  to 

THE   LEBANON   REVIELLE 

after  it  passed  out  of  Eckert's  control,  and  kept  that  name  until 
February  18th,  1881,  when  the  name  was  changed  back  to  the 
Journal.    Prof.  Jones  associated  with  him  in  the  management 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


105 


C.  W.  Metzger,  a  practical  printer,  late  of  the  Centralia  press. 
XJnder  the  management  of  these  gentlemen  we  have  no  doubt  but 
that  the  Journal  will  be  conducted  in  such  a  manner  as  will  make 
it  a  necessity  to  the  good  people  of  Lebanon  and  vicinity. 

THE   LEBANON    COURIEE 

was  established  in  1876  by  E.  H.  Elliff.  The  press  and  type  were 
removed  from  Trenton  to  Lebanon,  where  the  office  was  set  up, 
and  the  Courier  issued  as  a  campaign  paper.  It  advocated  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  edited  with  CDnsider- 
able  ability.  After  the  campaign  closed,  the  office  was  removed  to 
Eed  Bud,  and  from  there  to  Columbia  in  Monroe  county.  It  was 
there  purchased  by  Peter  Baker,  and  run  as  a  campaign  paper  in 
1880  in  the  interest  of  the  Republican  party. 

BELLEVILLE   VOLKSBLATT 

was  the  name  of  a  German  paper,  established  Feb.  23,  1856,  by 
Dr.  F.  Wenzel.  In  his  salutatory  he  sets  forth  the  object  and 
mission  of  the  paper.  He  says  "  that  the  interests  of  the  farming 
population  would  have  his  first  and  principal  attention.  The  farmer 
is  the  truly  free  man  in  this  Republic.  Free  from  corruption  and 
unacquainted  with  political  wire-pulling  and  bar-room  diplomacy, 
he  preserves  in  the  midst  of  demoralizing  influences  a  free  and 
independent  position.  The  farmers  are  the  healthy  heart  of  the 
nation ;  on  them  rests  the  hope  of  progress.  If  the  farming  popula- 
tion did  not  form  a  barrier  against  the  tide  of  unexampled  corrup- 
tion and  demoralization  of  the  great  American  cities,  one  would 
nearly  despair  of  the  future  of  the  United  States."  In  another 
article  he  protests  against  the  further  extension  of  slavery,  and 
stated  that  the  Germans  as  a  class  were  opposed  to  that  peculiar 
institution.  Dr.  Wenzel  continued  editor  and  publisher  from  Feb. 
23,  1856,  to  Sept.  12, 1857,  when  he  sold  the  paper  to  Franz  Grimm, 
who  in  March,  1858,  consolidated  it  with  the  Zeitung  as  stated  in 
another  page  in  this  chapter.  Dr.  Wenzel  left  Belleville,  and  went 
to  St.  Louis,  and  there,  in  connection  with  Carl  Dsenzer,  established 
the  Westliehe  Post,  a  German  newspaper  of  national  reputation. 
During  the  late  war  he  was  special  correspondent  for  his  paper, 
with  headquarters  at  the  front,  and  died  while  in  that  service. 

DEUTSCHEE     DEMOKRAT. 

No.  1  of  vol.  1,  made  its  appearance  July  1st,  1856.  It  was  a 
radical,  outspoken  Democratic  newspaper,  edited  and  managed  by 
Louis  Didier.  With  the  appearance  of  No  38  of  vol.  1,  A.  Ruoff 
became  the  editor  and  publisher.  This  arrangement  continued  for 
a  few  weeks,  when  Didier  became  editor  the  second  time  and  G.  A. 
Harvey  publisher.     The  paper  was  suspended  soon  after. 

THE  EAGLE. 

The  first  number  of  the  Eagle  was  issued  February  13th,  1854, 
by  Messrs.  Bevirt  &  Shoupe,  two  young  men,  both  practical  printers 
but  having  no  editorial  experience.  It  was  placed'  under  the 
editorial  control  of  "  Gov.  Reynolds,"  who  conducted  it  for  a 
short  time.  When  first  issued  it  was  a  daily,  but  it  was  soon 
changed  to  a  weekly,  and  at  the  same  time  underwent  a  change  in 
the  name.     It  was  called  the 

ST.  CLAIE   TEIBUNE. 

About  the  same  time  John  B.  Hay  and  William  Orr,  the  latter 
a  young  man  of  brilliant  talents,  and  a  fine  newspaper  writer, 
became  the  editors.  This  arrangement  continued  a  short  time- 
The  office  was  sold  to  Edward  R.  Stuart  and  G.  A.  Harvey,  who 
remained  editors  and  publishers  until  September  3d,  1854,  when 
14 


William  E.  Hyde,  now  managing  editor  of  the  Missouri  Espubli- 
can,  bought  Stuart's  interest.  The  firm  of  Hyde  &  Harvey 
continued  until  1856,  when  Mr.  Harvey  became  the  sole  owner 
of  the  office.  He  continued  the  publication  until  July  1st,  1857, 
when  he  sold  to  Van  Cleve  &  Weedin,  owners  and  publishers  of 
the  Advocate.  The  Tribune  was  an  eight-column  folio,  printed  on 
a  Hoe-press,  the  first  power  press  ever  brought  to  Belleville.  The 
same  press  had  formerly  been  used  in  the  office  of  the  Republican 
of  St.  Louis,  and  it  now  does  duty  in  the  office  of  the  Ameiger, 
Mascoutah,  Ills.  The  intention  of  the  publishers  was  to  make  the 
Tribune  office  the  best  and  most  complete  in  southern  Illinois,  and 
for  this  purpose  large  sums  of  money  were  expended ;  but  the  fail- 
ure of  patrons  to  pay  and  the  lack  of  sufficient  means  to  carry  on 
the  business  and  tide  it  over  the  financial  crisis  of  "  '57,"  forced 
the  proprietor  to  offiir  it  for  sale,  and  it  found  its  way  to  the  Advo- 
cate office,  where  many  of  its  predecessors  had  gone  before. 

George  A.  Harvey,  its  editor  and  manager,  had  much  to  do  in 
building  up  the  newspaper  business  of  Belleville.  He  wa?  a  prac- 
tical printer.  He  learned  his  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Hollidays- 
burg  Register.  He  came  west  to  Bjlleville  in  1849,  and  worked 
for  some  time  as  a  compositor  in  the  office  of  the  Republican  in  St. 
Louis.  After  his  connection  with  the  Tribune,  he  was  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Democrat,  which  will  appear  in  its  regular  order,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  afterward  was  engaged  in  literary  work,  and  as 
correspondent  for  the  RepiMican,  St.  Louis.  He  was  regarded  as 
a  good  newspaper  man,  and  a  sound,  practical,  though  not  brilliant 
writer.  He  died  January  9,  1877.  In  the  winter  of  1858-9,  a 
campaign  paper  was  started  by  a  stock  company  composed  of  gen- 
tlemen of  avowed  allegiance  to  the  Buchanan  wing  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.     It  bore  the  name  of 


THE   STAR   OF    EGYPT. 

It  was  edited  and  published  by  Ex-Gov.  John  Reynolds  and  J. 
W.  Hughes.  It  did  good  service  as  a  campaign  paper ;  but  its 
existence  was  as  short  as  its  career  was  brilliant. 

THE   BELLEVILLE  VOLKSBLATT. 

After  Bartholomew  Hauck  sold  the  Zeitung  to  Mr.  Rupp,  his 
son  Louis,  who  was  a  printer,  started  the  Volksblatt  in  the  summer 
of  1860.  It  was  both  a  daily  and  weekly  publication.  It  was  con- 
tinued until  1865,  when  it  was  sold  out  to  Messrs.  Fischer  and 
Schmall  of  Mascoutah,  who  were  then  the  proprietors  of  the  Stern 
des  Westerns.  Schmall  removed  the  consolidated  offices  of  the  lat- 
ter paper  and  Volksblatt  to  Belleville,  where  soon  after  he  sold  to 
Messrs.  Semmelroth  &  Kircher,  both  practical  printers,  who  took 
charge  May  15,  1866,  and  continued  four  weeks.  Then  Kircher 
sold  his  interest  to  Daniel  Hertle,  who  in  turn  sold  to  Semmelroth, 
who  continued  the  paper  until  1872,  when  it  became  the  property 
ofFred.  E.  Scheel. 

THE   BELLEVILLE  DEMOCEAT. 

The  above  named  journal  was  established  in  1857  by  Messrs, 
Boyakin  and  H.  L.  Fleming  as  publishers.  In  1859,  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Messrs  Stuart  and  Shoupe,  who  continued  the  publica- 
tion until  November,  1860,  when  G  A.  Harvey  became  publisher. 
He  conducted  the  paper  with  great  success  until  August, 
1863,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Denlinger  and 
Russell,  its  present  proprietors,  who  have  continued  the  publi- 
cation to  the  present.  The  paper  was  originally  a  seven- 
column  folio.  It  was  changed  to  a  nine-column,  same  form, 
in  January,  1870.  The  Democrat  was  for  a  long  time  the  official 
paper  of  the  city  of  Belleville,  and  in  its  columns  were  published 


106 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


the  proceedings  and  edicts  of  the  City  Board.  The  paper,  in 
politicti,  has  always  been  Democratic  in  tone,  and  has  done  much 
towards  sustaining  and  making  popular  the  principles  of  that 
p  ilitical  organization.  It  has  contiaued  longer  under  one  manage- 
ment than  any  other  newspaper  in  St.  Clair  county.  The  Democrat 
belongs  to  the  conservative  classof  journals,  and  is  entirely  reliable 
and  trustworthy  in  the  dissemination  of  local  or  political  news. 

Iq  the  summer  of  1880,  Mr.  A.  B.  Russel,  editor  of  the  Democrat, 
was  compelled  from  continued  ill-health,  to  suspend  editorial  work 
upon  the  paper.  William  J.  Underwood,  a  newspaper  writer  of 
considerable  ability,  then  took  charge  and  has  continued  as  editor 
up  to  the  present. 

In  1857,  E.  H.  Fleming  started  the 

BELLEVILLE  WEEKLY   SUN. 

Tliirl-y-five  numbers  were  printed,  when  its  light  was  obscured,  and 
it  found  its  way  to  the  Advocate  office,  with  which  paper  it  was 
consolidated. 

THE   BELLEVILLE   BANNER. 

No.  1  of  Vol.  1  was  flung  to  the  journalistic  breeze  Sept.  1st, 
1859.  It  was  edited  and  published  by  H.  L.  Davidson.  In  form, 
it  was  a  six-column  folio.  In  his  salutatory,  the  editor  says,  "  The 
Banner  will  be  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Sunday-schools,  and  labor 
for  the  cause  of  education."  In  giving  the  political  status  of  the 
Banner,  Mr.  Davidson  wished  it  to  be  understood  that  it  was 
decidedly  Democratic,  and  in  the  following  lines  lays  down  the  law 
and  duties  of  Democracy  :  "  Its  mission  is  to  restore  harmony,  con- 
cession and  Eelf-dfenial  in  the  somewhat  distrusted  Democratic 
party — all  for  the  cause,  nothing  for  men.  The  Banner  hails  the 
Dred  Scott  decision  as  establishing  the  great  fundamental  princi- 
ples by  which  the  union  of  the  States  is  to  be  preserved  for  all  time 
to  come,  and  any  political  heresy  of  squatter  sovereignty  militating 
against  that  decision  and  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  will 
be  treated  in  these  columns  as  a  dangerous  and  ruinous  interloper 
introduced  into  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party  for  evil  and 
dettructive  purposes."  The  salutatory  occupies  over  a  column  of 
the  paper,  and  is  a  forcible,  aggressive  and  powerful  arraignment 
of  the  political  parties  of  that  day,  and  a  clear  and  concise  state- 
ment of  the  duties  of  the  Banner  in  the  premises.  The  paper 
continued  for  a  short  time,  when  the  office  was  closed  and  the 
publication  suspended. 

THE   VOLKSBLATT. 

After  the  removal  of  the  offices  of  Volksblatt  and  Stem  Dea 
Westens  to  Belleville  by  Schmall,  the  paper  was  issued  and  known 
as  the 

STEEN    DES   WESTENS. 

It  passed  from  Schmall  into  the  possession  of  Semmelroth  and 
Kircher,  then  Kircher  sold  to  Daniel  Hertel,  who  was  editor. 
Subsequently  Hertel  retired  from  the  paper,  and  Semmelroth  be- 
came the  sole  proprietor.  Henry  Huhn  had  editorial  charge  from 
1868  to  1872,  when  the  paper  was  sold  to  Frederick  E.  Scheel, 
who  continued  both  the  daily  and  weekly  until  Oct.  20th,  1877,  at 
which  time  it  was  sold  to  the  Zeitung,  and  consolidated  with  that 
paper.  Under  Scheel's  administration  the  Stern  Des  Westens  was 
conducted  with  vigor  and  ability.  He  made  it  a  live  newspaper, 
and  the  organ  of  his  party  in  this  Congressional  district..  Mr. 
Scheel  is  a  ready  writer,  and  well  posted  in  the  political  issues  of 
the  day. 

THE   DAILY  DESPATCH 

Was  the  name  of  a  daily  newspaper,  the  first  copy  of  which  ap- 
peared March  7th,  1861.  It  was  edited  and  printed  by  Thomas  H. 
Fleming  and  G.  M.  Williams.    On  the  19th  of  the  same  month  it 


was  transferred  to  G.  A.  Harvey,  publisher  of  the  Democrat.     He 
continued  it  until  Aug.  3d,  of  the  same  year,  when  its  publication 
ceased. 
In  May,  1868,  a  German  paper  named  the 

FEEIE   PEESSE, 

was  organized  and  issued  by  a  joint  stock  company,  composed  of 
the  leading  Democrats  of  Belleville.  Mr.  Mueller  was  editor.  It 
was  a  campaign  paper,  and  was  published  until  the  close  of  the 
canvass,  and  soon  after  the  press  and  material  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Brickey  of  Red  Bud  and  moved  to  that  town,  where  the  pub- 
lication was  resumed,  with  A.  C  Helmich  as  its  editor,  and. 
Peter  Baker  publisher.  The  office  was  soon  after  removed  to 
Belleville,  and  the  paper  was  published  for  one  year,  when  it  sus- 
pended, and  the  office  was  closed. 

The  first  newspaper  venture  in  the  town  of  Mascoutah  was  the 

NEWS   LETTEK. 

It  was  published  by  August  Hamilton,  and  edited  by  Alexander 
G.  Hawes.  No.  1,  of  Vol.  1,  was  issued  Jan.  19th,  1860.  It  was  a 
seven  column  folio,  independent  in  politics,  with  slight  tendencies  to- 
ward the  Republican  party.  It  was  continued  until  January  25th, 
1861,  when  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Advooaie  at  Belleville,  and 
its  editor,  Hawes,  became  the  Associate  Editor  of  the  Advocate 
and  News  Letter. 

THE   MASCOUTAH   BANNER. 

The  Banner  was  issued  in  May,  1872.  It  made  its  appearance 
monthly.  It  was  a  small  folio,  printed  on  a  job  press,  in  the  office 
of  Frederick  Dilg.  It  was  edited  and  set  up  by  W.  D.  Sheley, 
J  N.  Periin,  and  Philip  Leibroek.  In  May,  1873,  Sheley  and  J. 
H.  G.  Brinkerhofi"  purchased  the-  outfit  and  good-will  of  the  con- 
cern, and  purchased  a  press  and  printing  materials  of  J.  D.  Moudy 
of  Richview,  Illinois,  and  converted  the  Banner  into  a  weekly 
paper.  They  enlarged  it  to  a  7-column  Quarto.  In  July  of  the 
same  year,  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  sold  out  his  interest  to  Sheley  and 
Leroy  W.  Tree.  They  continued  the  paper  until  September, 
1873,  when  Tree's  interest  was  purchased  by  Henry  Pabst.  The 
firm  of  Sheley  and  Pabst  continued  until  November,  1874,  when  the 
office  and  fixtures  were  sold  to  Messrs.  Wassein  and  Binz.  Mr. 
Brinkerhofi"  took  charge  as  editor.  In  January,  1875,  he  pur- 
chased the  paper,  and  conducted  it  as  editor  and  proprietor  until 
August  of  the  same  year,  when  the  office  was  closed,  and  soon 
after  was  sold  to  Frederick  Dilg. 

During  the  life  of  the  Banner  it  purported  to  be  an  Independent 
paper,  but  the  editors  and  publishers  being  Democrats,  occasionally 
articles  were  written  and  published  which  had  a  slight  Democratic 
tone,  that  plainly  told  on  which  side  of  the  political  fence  the 
proprietors  might  be  found.  The  paper  was  not  a  financial  success, 
owing,  probably,  to  the  fact,  that  none  of  the  parties  connected 
with  it  were  practical  printers,  or  in  any  wise  acquainted  with  the 
business. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Frederick  Dilg,  a  practical  printer,  opened  a  job 
office  in  Mascoutah,  and  did  all  kinds  of  job  printing  in  both  the 
English  and  German  languages.  By  close  attention  to  his  business 
and  doing  good  work,  he  soon  established  a  reputation  as  a  good- 
printer.  On  the  7th  of  January,  1876,  he  enlarged  his  business, 
and  commenced  the  publication  of  the 

MASCOUTAH    ANZEIGER, 

A  German  newspaper  devoted  to  the  business  interests  of  the  town. 
It  was  then  a  four  column  folio.  On  the  7th  of  April,  1876,  he 
enlarged  it  to  a  five  column,  on  the  1st  of  Dec.  following  to  a  six 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


107 


column,  and  on  the  27th  of  November,  1878,  to  an  eight  column 
folio,  which  form  it  still  retains.  The  office  of  the  Anzeiger  is  ^vell 
supplied  with  presses  arid  type  of  the  latest  designs  and  styles. 
The  paper  is  printed  on  a  Hoe  cylinder  press.  Mr.  Dilg  has  de- 
monstrated his  ability  to  run  a  newspaper  successfully,  and  make 
it  a  welcome  visitor  to  his  patrons. 

THE  MASCOUTAH  UMGEGEND 

was  the  name  of  a  small  sheet  published  during  the  late  war.    It 
had  a  brief  existence. 

THE  MINER  AND  WOEKMAN's   ADVOCATE. 

In  the  spring  of  1863,  John  Hinchcliffe,  lately  deceased,  com- 
menced the  publication  in  Belleville,  of  a  journal,  bearing  the  above 
name  It  was  specially  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  miners,  me- 
chanics, and  producing  classes.  It  rose  rapidly  into  public  favor, 
and  soon  had  a  large  circulation.  During  the  first  year  of  its  ex- 
istence its  circulation  had  become  so  large  that  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  work  off  the  edition  by  other  than  ordinary  methods.  A 
steam  engine  was  fitted  up  in  connection  with  the  press  room,  which 
by  the  way,  was  the  first  steam  power  press  ever  run  in  Southern 
Illinois,  and  upon  it  the  Miners  and  Workman's  Advocate  was 
printed.  The  same  press  was  used  for  a  long  time  to  print  the 
iffues  of  the  Advocate,  Democrat  and  Zeitung.  The  publication  was 
continued  in  Belleville  until  the  latter  part  of  1866.  when  the  office 
was  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and  there  continued  for  one  year  when 
■it  was  abandoned.  Mr.  Hinchcliffe  was  an  able  writer,  and  a  man 
pf  great  energy. 

The  first  newspaper  established  in  the  City  of  East  St.  Louis, 
then  known  as  "Illinois  Town,"  was  the  American  Bottom  Gazette, 
spoken  of  in  the  beginning  of  this  chapter.  There  was  no  paper 
after  its  demise  until  1865.    On  the  27th  of  May  of  that  year 

THE  SUNDAY  HEEALD 

was  established  by  James  L.  Faucett.    It  was  issued  on  Saturday, 
though  named  a  Sunday  paper. 

The  next  venture  was  in  1866.    The  paper  was  named  the 

EAST   ST.   LOUIS   GAZETTE. 

It  was  founded  by  Hon.  John  B.  Biwman,  one  of  East  St.  Louis' 
most  active  and  enterprising  men.  It  was  edited  and  published  by 
John  Macauley  and  Joseph  Crabb.  The  first  issue,  dated  June 
58th,  1866.  Mr.  Crabb  remained  in  the  firm  until  October 
of  the  same  year,  when  Louis  Straub  purchased  .his  interest.  The 
firm  of  Macauley  &  Straub  continued  until  1871.  when  both  re- 
tired, and  the  ownership  of  the  paper  vested  in  a  stock  company, 
the  directors  of  which,  selected  William  O'Neil  as  editor  and  pub- 
lisher. February  1st,  1873,  John  Macauley  resumed  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Ostzette,  and  continued  until  1876,  when  John  Haps 
took  charge,  and  continued  manager  until  August  4th,  1877,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  H.  D.  O'Brien,  the  present  editor  and  pub- 
lisher. 

The  Gazette  started  as  an  eight  column  folio,  which  orm  it  still 
retains.     In  1877  the 

DAII-Y    GAZETTE 

was  issued,  but  not  proving  sufficiently  remunerative,  for  the  labor 
performed,  it  was  abandoned.  Under  the  management  of  Mr. 
O'Brien  the  Gazette  has  become  the  equal  of  any  other  journal 
published  in  St.  Clair  County.  While  Mr.  O'Brien  is  not  a  prac- 
tical printer,  yet  he  knows  all  the  details  of  a  printing  office.  He 
is  possessed  of  much  industry  and  indomitable  energy,  and  has 
achieved  success  where  others  would  have  made  a  flat  failure. 


THE    PEOPLES    GAZETTE. 

The  initial  number  of  the  above  paper  was  issued  July  18,  1871. 
It  was  published  under  the  auspices  of  the  "  People's  Gazette  As- 
sociation," which  was  composed  of  the  following  named  gentlemen, 
who  were  the  principal  stockholders  :  Vital  Jarrott,  J.  B.  Loviug- 
ston,  Henry  Schall,  L.  M.  St.  John,  Marcus  Finch,  John  0.  Butler, 
M.  Millard,  Michael  Darmody,  Maurice  Joyce,  Ernest  Wider, 
John  Macauley,  Patrick  H.  Stack,  and  John  Eddy.  The  Board 
of  Directors,  were  Vital  Jarrott,  Prest.,  Maurice  Joyce,  Vice-Prest., 
Henry  Schall,  Treas.,  and  Maurice  Finch,  Sec.  The  editorinl 
duties  were  performed  by  the  different  stockholders  until  1872, 
when  Mr.  Saltiel  became  editor  and  publisher.  The  name  was 
changed  to  the 

EAST  ST.  LOUIS   PEES3, 

by  W.  B.  Fairchild.  who  succeeded  Mr.  Saltiel.  During  the 
winter  of  1874-5  Mr.  Smith  edited  the  paper.  In  1875  H.  D. 
O'Brien  purchased  the  press  and  type  of  L.  M.  St.  John,  who  had 
become  possessed  of  all  the  stock,  and  continued  as  editor  and  pub- 
lisher until  Feb.  29th,  1877,  when  the  subscription  lists  wore 
transferred  to  the  Gazette.  The  type  and  presses  were  boxed  np 
and  stored  away  in  a  building,  where  they  remained  until  1^78, 
when  the  building,  with  others  was  consumed  by  fire,  entailing  a 
lo.=s  of  nearly  four  thousand  dollars,  upon  Mr.  O'Brien.  On  the 
2lst  of  Sept.,  1874,  was  commenced  the  issue  of  the 

DAILY   PEESS, 

which  after  a  few  months  was  abandoned.  Mr.  O'Brien  then  pub- 
lished a  tri-weekly  paper,  but  it,  too,  was  soon  abandoned— neither 
enterprise  proving  profitable. 

The-next  venture  in  journalism  in  East  St.  Lous  was  made  by 
Willis  E.  Finch  &  Brother.     The  name  of  the  paper  was  the 

ST.  CLAIK  TEIBUNE. 

The  first  issue  was  Feb.  18th,  1875.  It  was  Kepublican  in  politics,, 
and  had  for  its  motto,  "Republican,  Protestant  and  Progressive." 
The  Finch  Bros,  continued  the  publication  until  January,  1878, 
when  they  closed  the  office.  A  few  months  later  the  material  was 
purchased  bv  Messrs.  Harney  &  Tissier,  two  enterprismg  young 
men  of  East  St  Louis.  They  opened  the  office,  and  on  the  9di 
of  March,  1878,  issued  the  first  number  of 

THE  EAST  ST.  LOUIS  HEEALD, 

a  spicy  and  neatly  printed  newspaper,  which  they  still  continue. 
When  the  Herald  started,  it  was  an  eight  column  folio,  which  form  it 
retained  until  March  6,  1880,  when  it  was  changed  to  a  five  column 
quarto  The  Herald  advocates  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  It  is  at  present  the  official  paper  of  the  city  of  East  St. 
Louis. 

THE  NATIONAL  STOCK  YAED  EEFOKTEK 

was  first  issued  in  Nov.  1873,  by  Messrs.  John  Haps  &  Co 
Three  numbers  were  printed  when  it  suspended,  and  recommenced 
in  March  1874.  It  rapidly  increased  in  importance,  and  attained 
a  circulat'ion  of  over  five  thousand  copies.  It  was  in  the  height 
of  its  prosperity,  when  an  absurd  ruling  was  made  by  the  Post-office 
Department,  l^manding  an  exorbitant  rate  of  postage  for  trans- 
mission  through  the  mails,  in  consequence  of  which  it  was  com- 
pelled to  sus;end.  In  the  fall  of  1S80  it  was  revived  but 
L  numbers  were  printed  when  it  again  suspended  owing  to  he 
fact  that  its  place  had  been  supplied  by  a  similar  publication  cal..d 


108 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


THE   WESTERN   LIVE-STOCK    JOURNAL, 

the  first  number  of  which  was  issued  in  July,  1879,  by  H.  D. 
O'Brien,  publisher,  and  Y.  M.  Langdon,  editor.  These  gentlemen 
continued  in  partnership  until  July,  1880,  when  Langdon  purchased 
O'Brien's  interest,  and  was  sole  proprietor  of  the  Journal  until  Jan. 
1st,  1881,  when  he  sold  out  to  S.  J.  E.  Rawling,  the  present  pro- 
prietor and  manager  of  the  paper.  It  was  a  seven-column  folio. 
At  present  it  is  a  five-column,  same  form.  It  has  a  circulation  of 
over  four  thousand  copies,  and  has  been  a  paying  investment  from 
the  start.  The  paper  was  printed  in  the  Gazette  oflice ;  but  at  pre- 
sent it  is  issued  from  Kellogg's  in  St.  Louis.  In  1876,  H  D. 
O'Brien  commenced  the  publication  of  the 

ST.  LOUIS   RAILWAY   WORLD, 

a  journal  specially  devoted  to  the  interests  of  railway  employees. 
One  year  after  its  first  issue  he  sold  out  to  a  similar  publication  in 
St.  Louis. 

THE   NATIONAL 

was  established  in  East  St.  Louis  Aug.  9,  1878,  by  Archibald  A. 
Hamilton.  Its  object  in  the  journalistic  world  was,  as  stated  by 
the  editor,  to  improve  the  social,  moral  and  pecuniary  condition  of 
the  working  class.  It  was  an  advocate  of  financial  reform  and 
Fiat  theories.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  induced  to  start  the  paper  with 
promises  that  a  stock  company  would  be  formed.  The  stock  was 
never  subscribed,  and  the  paper  suspended. 

THE   FUTURE   GREAT 

was  the  name  of  an  amateur  paper  published  by  Messrs.  Sikking  & 
Jackiven.     It  had  quite  a  run  for  a  time. 

DOT  PAPER  « 

was  a  small  sheet  that  was  an  attempted  imitation  of  the  Carl  Pret- 
zel style  of  journalism.     It  had  a  short  existence. 

ILLINOIS   REPUBLIKANER, 

a  German  newspaper,  was  organized  and  established  in  June  of 
1872,  and  the  first  copy  issued  July  1st  of  the  same  year.  It  was 
published  by  a  company  composed  of  Russell  Hinckley,  Sebastian 
Fietsam,  Charles  Stephani,  Edward  Rutz,  Col.  Thomas,  and  other 
representative  and  leading  Republicans  of  St.  Clair  county.  Henry 
Huhn  was  elected  •President  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  also 
made  business  manager  and  editor.  The  paper  was  published  until 
May,  1873,  when  Mr.  Fietsam  bought  up  the  stock,  and  soon  after 
purchased  the  Zeitang,  and  consolidated  the  Bepublikaner  with  it. 
In  January,  1873,  Mr.  Huhn,  the  editor  of  the  last  named  paper, 
severed  his  connection  with  it,  which  had  much  to  do  with  hasten- 
ing its  dissolution. 

DER   TREUBUND 

was  a  German  publication  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  benevolent 
society  whose  organ  it  was.  Its  first  issue  was  Oct.  19,  1873,  by 
Messrs.  Semmelroth  &  Co.,  and  was  edited  by  Dr.  Newbert.  It 
was  a  seven-column  folio  paper. 

In  1878  George  C.  Bunsen  of  West  Belleville  purchased  a  press 
and  printing  material  from  the  St.  Louis  type  foundry,  and  com- 
menced the  publication  of  a  paper  called 

THE   REFORM. 

It  was  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  laboring  classes,  and  advo- 
cated the  claims  of  the  socialists  and  communists.  It  was  printed 
for  four  or  five  months,  when  the  office  was  closed  by  the  type 
fiDundry,  and  the  material  taken,  and  soon  after  sold  to  L.  W. 
Habercom,  who- started 


DAS   JOURNAL, 

a  German  paper  in  Belleville. .  After  twenty  issues  was  made  it 
was  sold  to  the  Zeitung. 

NEW   ATHENS    ERA, 

was  an  amateur  paper  started  in  New  Athens,  in  the  spring  of 
1875,  by  George  Auerswald.  In  November  of  the  same  year,  the 
office  was  moved  to  Miscoutah,  and  from  it  was  issued  the 

MASCOUTAH   ENTERPRISE, 

a  seven-column  folio.  In  June,  1876,  Mr.  Auerswald  removed  the 
office  to  Belleville,  and  commenced  the  publication  of  the 

BELEVILLE   INDEPENDENT. 

On  the   1st  of  January,  1877,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  the 

DAILY  INDEPENDENT. 

Both  publications  were  continued  for  several  months  later,  when 
they  suspended. 

DER   STERN. 

In  1877  some  of  the  influential  German  Democrats  of  Belleville, 
organized  a  stock  company,  known  as  the  "  Belleville  Printing 
Company,"  with  a  capital  stock  of  S6000.  The  Directors  the  first 
year  were  Hon.  Gustavus  A.  Koerner,  President;  Franz  F.  Met- 
schan.  Secretary ;  Henry  A.  Kircher,  Treasurer ;  Alonzo  S.  Wild- 
man  and  Louis  Pitthara.  F.  F.  Metschan  was  elected  Business 
Manager,  and  Frederick  E.  Scheel,  Editor.  The  officers  for  the 
second  year  were  the  same  except  H.  G.  Weber  took  the  place  of 
Henry  A.  Kircher.  The  first  issue  of  the  Slem  was  made  October 
28th,  1877.     On  the  11th  of  January,  1878, 

DER   DAILY  STERN 

was  first  issued.  Both  of  the  papers  have  continued  to  the  present. 
On  the  date  last  named,  Mr.  Scheel  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Huhn, 
the  present  able  editor  of  the  Stem.  Mr.  Huhn  is  a  native  of 
Bavaria.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  consequence  of  the 
Republican  uprising  among  the  German  people  in  1849.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  German  press  of  New  York,  Cincinnati, 
and  other  plates.  He  served  in  the  Union  Army  from  1861  to 
1863.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  local  editor  of  the  WestUehe  Post. 
In  1864  he  re-entered  the  Union  army.  He  established  the 
Washington  Freie  Presse,  in  Washington,  Mo.,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Legislature  of  that  State  in  1866.  In  1868  he  came  to 
Belleville,  where  he  has  spent  much  of  his  time  in  newspaper  work. 
Mr.  Metschan  is  also  a  veteran  printer,  having  been  in  the  business 
since  1852.  He  learned  bis  trade  in  Cincinnati,  and  came  to 
Belleville  in  1860.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war,  first  in  the 
9th  regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  and  then  in  the  12th  Missouri 
regiment,  and  was  in  command  of  Co.  -'K"  as  first  lieutenant  when 
mustered  out  of  service.  He  was  foreman  for  a  number  of  years 
in  the  office  of  the  Belleville  Zeitung. 

The  Stern,  when  organized,  was  fitted  up  with  new  type,  steam 
presses,  and  fully  equipped  to  do  all  kinds  of  printing  in  both  the 
German  and  English  languages.  Under  the  management  of  these 
gentlemen,  the  paper  has  become  the  leading  German  Democratic 
paper  in  Southern  Illinois.  In  the  campaign  of  1880  it  rendered 
conspicuous  and  valuable  service  in  ably  presenting  the  issues  and 
principles  of  the  political  organization  of  which  it  is  the  exponent 
and  defender. 

THE  BELLEVILLE  REPUBLICAN 

is  the  last  candidate  in  Belleville  for  journalistic  favors.  It  was 
founded  Feb.  28, 1879,  by  Dr.  T.  W.  Eckert,  who  had  for  a  number 
of  years  been  connected  with  the  Journal  in  LebaiiOD.    He  coii- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


109 


tinued  the  paper  as  sole  editor  and  proprietor  until  July  4th  of  the 
same  year,  when  he  sold  a  third  interest  to  G  F.  Kimball,  and  a 
third  to  S.  C.  Mace.  ThS  co-partnership  of  these  gentlemen  con- 
tinued until  Nov.  7,  1879,  when  it  was  dissolved,  Eckert  purchasing 
the  interests  of  the  other  partners.  No  change  was  made  in  the 
proprietorship  of  the  Republican  until  Feb.  14,  1881,  when  a  half 
interest  was  sold  to  li.  B.  Knight,  a  veteran  typo,  and  a  man  of 
much  journalistic  experience.  When  the  Republican  was  first 
established,  it  was  a  seven-column  folio,  which  form  it  continued 
until  July  4,  1879,  when  it  was  changed  to  a  six-column  quarto.. 
It  is  an  advocate  of  Republican  principles,  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  potential  organs  of  the  seventeenth  congressional  district. 
In  the  local  news  department,  the  Republican  is  unexcelled  by  any 
other  journal  in  St.  Clair  county. 

THE    MAEISSA    MONITOR 

was  the  first  paper  ever  published  in  the  thriving  town  of 
Marissa.  Its  first  issue  dates  January  1st,  1880.  It  is  a  five 
column  quarto.  Republican  in  politics,  but  is  not  so  radical  as  to  be 
unjust  to  others.  John  W.  Wells  was  the  projector,  and  is  still 
the  proprietor  and  editor.  The  Monitor  is  the  champion  of  the 
common  schools,  and  a  general  diffusion  of  knowledge  among  the 
people.  In  the  words  of  its  editor  it  was  started  to  make  the 
people  happy,  and  its  proprietor  rich.  As  to  the  first  we  have 
no  doubt,  but  that  it  has  succeeded  far  beyond  its  most  sanguine 
expectations,  but  as  to  the  latter  we  have  no  means  of  obtai  ning 
definite  information. 

CONCLUSION. 

The  history  of  the  press  of  St.  Clair  county  has  been  briefly 
traced.  There  have  been  many  newspaper  enterprises  organized 
within  its  boundaries,  and  it  would  be  strange  if  there  had  not  been 
some  failures.  Upon  the  whole,  however,  it  has  witnessed  as  few 
failures  as  any  other  industry  in  the  county.  The  influence  and 
character  of  the  press  have  grown  with  the  material  wealth  and 
intelligence  of  those  they  have  represented.  The  number  of 
newspaper  enterprises  organized  and  supported  in  the  county 
speaks  well  for  the  liberality  of  its  citizens,  and  it  further  shows 
the  power  and  appreciation  of  printers'  ink  and  editors'  pen  when 
used  for  the  intellectual  advancement  of  the  people  and  the 
material  wealth  of  the  county. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


TSE  COMMON  SCHOOLS. 


BY  JAMES   m'qUILKIN,   COUNTY   SUPERINTENDENT. 


)  HE  common  schools  of  this  county  are  at  present 
managed  under  that  beneficent  system  of  free 
instruction  provided  for  in  our  State  Constitu- 
tion which  says,  "  The  general  assembly  shall 
provide  a  thorough  and  efficient  system  of  free 
schools,  whereby  all  the  children  of  this  State 
may  receive  a  good  common  school  educa- 
tion." 

^»  .  The  early  history  of  education  in  the  county 

is  involved  in  considerable  obscurity,  the  official  records  in  the 
County  Superihteiident's  cffice,  furnishing  but  little  information 


concerning  it,  and  that  not  earlier  than  the  year  1837.  Tor  a  few 
facts  concerning  the  pioneer  school  work  of  the  county  we  are 
indebted  to  some  of  the  old  settlers  still  living,  who  gladly  recounted 
the  doings  of  their  schoolboy  days.  It  is  known  that  in  early 
times  the  Jesuits  had  schools  among  the  Indians,  who  lived  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  whilst  they  sought  to  implant  in  the  Red 
Man's  bosom  a  faith  in  a  crucified  Saviour,  they  also  tried  to  train 
his  intellect  to  grasp  something  of  the  white  man's  learning  and 
the  ways  of  civilized  life. 

More  than  a  hundred  years  ago,  the  French  settlers  at  Cahokia 
had  schools,  but  these  were  managed  in  connection  with  their 
church  afiairs.  However,  about  the  year  1836,  three  Sisters  be- 
longing to  a  Catholic  Order  arrived  there  from  France,  and  opened 
a  school,  which  was  sustained  by  subscription.  Afterward  private 
schools  were  kept  for  sliort  periods,  all  sustained  by  subscription ; 
and  among  the  teachers  of  these  were  Robinson,  Dunn  and  Chap- 
man. In  later  years  the  schools  of  Cahokia  have  been  conducted 
independent  of  state  aid,  being  liberally  provided  for  from  a  fund 
derived  from  the  rents  of  Cahokia  Commons. 

The  early  English  settlers,  being  far  separated  from  each  other 
did  not  enjoy  any  school  privileges  until  about  the  year  1810,  when 
school-houses  were  erected  at  Shiloh,  Turkey  Hill,  and  one  or  two 
other  places.  The  school  buildings  of  that  early  day  were  but 
small  as  compared  with  the  comfortable  houses  to  be  found  in  every 
school  district  of  the  county  to-day. 

A  brief  description  of  the  first  school-house  erected  on  Turkey 
Hill  will  not  be  out  of  place  here,  and  the  accompanying  cut  will 
help  to  give  our  readers  an  idea  of  the  temples  of  learning — the 
"  Old  Log"  school-houses" — in  which  the  pioneers  of  this  section 
were  wont  to  woo  the  goddess  of  wisdom.  The  structure  was  a  one 
story  log  house,  with  clapboard  roof  and  puncheon  floor.     It  had 


windows  of  greased  paper  to  admit  the  light,  a  portion  of  a  log 
being  left  out  on  each  side  to  make  room  for  this  substitute  for 
glass.  A  large-fire-place  extended  across  the  entire  rear  end  of  the 
room,  in  which  on  cold  days  a  roaring  fire  of  logs  piled  high  sent 
out  heat  to  warm  the  school-master's  legs,  who  took  good  care  to 
have  his  seat  in  the  warm  corner  of  the  room.     The  fine  desks  of 


modern  days  had  no  place  there ;  hut  slabs  fastened  up  around  the 
sides  of  the  house  by  pegs  driven  into  the  logs  answered  as  writing 
and  ciphering  tables,  while  puncheon  benches  served  for  seats.- 
The  pupils  all  faced  the  wall  when  studying,  but  ranged  themselves 
in  a  semi-circle  in  front  of  the  fire-place  when  called  out  to  recite.-- 


110 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


In  those  primitive  days,  the  varied  apparatus  to  be  found  in 
most  of  our  school-houses  at  the  present  day  had  no  place.  No 
maps  graced  the  walls,  neither  did  a  globe  or  Webster's  Unabridged 
have  a  place  on  the  teacher's  desk,  if  desk  there  chanced  to  be- 
No  disagreeable  chalk  dust  filled  the  room,  for  no  blackboard  was 
used.  The  three  R's — Reading,  'Kiting  and  'Rithmetic — were  the 
principal  studies,  the  writing  being  done  with  goose  quills.  There 
are  only  two  log  school-houses  in  the  county  now,  and  they  have 
been  so  modernized,  that  a  stranger  visiting  them  would  hardly 
discover  the  fact.  The  writer  commenced  his  career  as  a  teacher 
twenty-one  years  ago  in  an  adjoining  county  in  just  such  a  school- 
house  as  the  one  above  described,  the  paper  windows  excepted,  and 
well  does  he  remember  how  the  hogs,  quarreling  beneath  the  floor, 
would  occasionally,  and  unceremoniously  too,  raise  a  portion  of  the 
floor,  and  with  their  squealing,  disturb  the  quiet  of  the  school- room 
and  the  serenity  of  the  teacher. 

The  early  schools  of  the  county  were  subscription  schools ;  the 
teachers  generally  boarding  round  from  house  to  house  among  the 
patrons  of  the  school,  and  receiving  their  salary  in  money  or  pro- 
duce. The  school-houses  being  few  and  far  between,  it  was  no  un- 
common thing  for  the  pupils  to  have  to  trudge  three,  four  or  even 
five  miles,  morning  and  evening,  to  get  a  little  schooling.  The 
teachers  generally  were  poorly  educated,  if  the  stories  told  of  them 
are  to  be  believed,  and  in  many  instances  sadly  needing  to  be  taught 
themselves.  Most  of  them  were  proficient  in  wielding  the  rod,  and 
it  is  related  of  one  by  the  name  of  Daily,  that  he  would  occasionally 
get  drunk  during  school  hours,  and  vary  the  programme  of  exer- 
cises by  whipping  the  whole  school,  beginning  on  his  own  poor 
boys  first,  by  way  of  getting  his  hand  in.  In  his  sober  hours 
"  book-keeping  "  was  his  hobby. 

Among  the  first  teachers  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge,  was 
one  Sinclair  by  name,  who  taught  in  Belleville,  and  also  at  Turkey 
Hill,  about  the  year  ]  815.  It  is  related  of  him  that,  being  locked 
out  of  the  school  by  the  boys,  who  demanded  a  Christmas  treat,  he 
refused  to  treat  and  amused  himself  by  marching  around  the  school- 
house,  every  morning,  for  nearly  a  week  with  an  old  sword  strapped 
to  his  waist  and  an  old  musket  on  his  shoulder,  threatening  dire 
destruction  to  the  boys  within.  The  boys  "  held  the  fort,"  and  in 
the  teacher's  absence,  occasionally  sent  out  one  of  the  number  for 
supplies  of  food.  At  the  end  of  the  week  Sinclair,  having  enjoyed 
the  fun  to  his  satisfaction,  gracefully  yielded,  and  stood  treat  to 
apples  apd  cakes. 

Another  teacher  at  the  same  school  and  on  a  similar  occasion, 
thought  to  get  ahead  of  the  boys  and  gain  an  entrance  to  the  school 
by  mounting  the  roof  and  tearing  off"  the  clap-boards.  The  boys, 
however,  were  too  smart  for  him.  They  smoked  him  down,  and 
got  the  treat  for  their  smartness. 

In  1823,  Elihu  Shepard  of  New  York  settled  in  this  county,  and 
taught  school  at  Turkey  Hill  and  Belleville.  He  was  well  edu- 
cated, and  of  a  kind  and  genial  nature.  He  won  the  esteem  of  his 
pupils,  which  he  retained  through  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  removed 
to  St.  Louis  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  and  investing  his  savings 
in  some  real  estate,  became  a  millionaire  by  its  rapid  rise  in  value. 
He  did  much  for  the  advancement  of  education  during  his  stay  in 
this  county. 

The  venerable  Wm.  McClintock,  of  Belleville,  in  1824,  taught  a 
school  a  few  miles  south  of  Belleville,  but  he  abruptly  terminated 
his  engagement  there  the  day  before  Christmas,  owing  to  the 
boisterous  conduct  of  the  boys,  wlio  demanded  a  treat,  some  want- 
ing a  gallon  of  whisky,  and  others  candy  and  nuts. 

About  the  year  1824,  a  Mr.  Gallop  taught  school  in  Belleville, 
and  afterward  at  several  other  places  near  by.    lie  was  a  married 


man,  and  received  his  tuition  fees  in  whatever  the  people  had  to 
give  him,  taking  chickens,  ducks,  colts  and  calves  for  his  labors  as 
school-master.  Often  he  would  leave  a  monitor  to  look  after  the 
school  while  he  fed  and  curried  the  colts.  As  his  name  indicates 
he  was  too  fast  to  stay  long  in  one  place.  Loud  studying  was  the« 
order  of  his  school-room,  and  in  spelling  matches,  which  were  fre- 
quent, the  pupils  yelled  out  the  words  at  the  top  of  their  voices. 

During  the  winter  of  1810  and  1811,  a  school  was  taught  at  the 
house  of  William  Adams,  about  a  mile  west  of  Shiloh,  by  a  Mr. 
Deihmick,  a  surveyor  by  profession. 

About  the  year  1820,  Mr.  Gallop,  who  taught  iu  various  parts  of 
the  county,  opened  a  school  at  what  was  known  as  the  Kinney 
place.  He  also  officiated  at  Shiloh  for  a  term,  and  in  1824,  at 
Union  church,  near  the  present  town  of  Centreville. 

The  first  school-house  at  Shiloh  was  built  about  the  year  1811. 
It  was  a  log  structure,  similar  in  all  respscts  to  the  one  already  de- 
scribed. Among  the  first  of  its  pupils  was  Mr.  Felix  Scott,  now  a 
resident  of  Belleville,  Illinois. 

In  1808,  John  Bradsby  taught  a  school  on  Turkey  Hill,  a  little 
north  of  what  is  now  the  north  line  of  Richland  Precinct.  No 
school  was  kept  in  that  neighborhood  from  that  time  till  1815, 
when  Mr.  Sinclair,  before  mentioned,  commenced  his  school  in  the 
log  building  referred  to.  About  the  year  1815,  John  Boucher 
taught  a  school  in  an  old  house  on  the  Silver  Creek,  in  the  Fay- 
etteville  precinct.  This  school  was  sustained  by  subscription.  To 
admit  additional  light  to  the  school-room  on  dark  days,  the  roof  was 
so  arranged  that  a  portion  of  it  could  be  raised  as  a  trap  door. 

In  the  New  Athens  precinct,  Mr.  William  Baumann,  one  of  the 
early  German  settlers,  to  provide  his  own  children  with  a  little 
schooling,  opened  a  school  in  his  own  house,  and  imparted  instruc- 
tion to  his  own  and  a  few  of  his  neighbors'  children. 

In  the  same  precinct,  Mr.  Isaac  Hill  taught  a  school  of  about 
thirty  pupils  in  the  year- 1831.  The  school-house  was  located  on 
section  thirty-four,  about  two  miles  south-east  of  New  Athens.  Con- 
trary to  the  usual  custom,  Mr.  Hill  did  not  have  to  board  round, 
but  had  a  comfortable  home  at  the  residence  of  Philip  Lively.  In 
the  same  precinct,  on  Mud  Creek,  a  Mrs.  Martha  Wilson  taught 
school  in  1836,  in  a  log  school-house,  which  was  furnished  with  one 
long  window,  of  five  panes  of  gla?s,  instead  of  greased  paper, 
as  many  of  the  early  log  school-houses  were. 

In  the  Ridge  Prairie  precinct,  as  early  as  1830,  there  was  a  log 
school-house  located  on  the  sixteenth  section,  at  which  Mr.  James 
H.  Lemen  taught.  Afterward  Susan  F.  Connor,  a  Boston  lady, 
who  had  been  induced  to  come  west  by  Rev.  John  M.  Peck,  taught 
at  the  same  place.  She  brought  with  her  quite  a  collection  of 
school  apparatus,  with  which  to  assist  her  in  her  work,  consisting 
of  maps,  charts,  a  tellurian,  numeral  frame,  etc.  All  these  things 
were  novelties  to  the  pupils  and  patrons  of  the  school,  for  no  other 
school  had  any  thing  of  the  kind. 

Schools  were  also  kept  about  1830,  at  the  Old  Bethel  and  Old 
Vernon  Baptist  churches,  located  in  the  same  precinct. 

In  1804,  John  Messenger  taught  surveying,  and  also  kept  a  night 
school  near  Shiloh.  He  afterwards  became  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics at  the  Rock  Spring  Seminary. 

About  1830.  the  only  school  in  Lebanon  was  taught  by  Dr. 
Casad. 

Among  the  active  workers  in  the  cause  of  education,  between 
1830  and  1840,  were  Rev.  Mr.  Brooks,  C.  G.  Y.  Taylor,  and  Henry 
Holbrook. 

Eminent  among  the  early  teachers  of  this  county  was  John  H. 
Dennis,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  who  came  to  Belleville  in  1824.  He 
taught  private  and  public  schools  in  Belleville  and  vicinity  for  more 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


111 


than  thirty  years,  and  held  the  office  of  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools  for  four  years.     lie  was  a  ripe  scholar  and  a  successful 
teacher.    He  died  in  Belleville  in  1869.   George  Bunsen,a  devoted 
disciple  of  Pestalozzi,  who  came  to  this   country  from  Germany  in 
the  early  days  of  free  school  education,  gave  his  energies  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  Free  School  idea,  and  the  development  of  better 
methods  of  teaching.     He  taught  at  Cherry  Grove,  and  afterwards 
opened  a  private  training  school  in  Belleville,  teaching  on  Satur- 
days, in  order  to  give  the  teachers  of  Belleville  and  vicinity  an  op- 
portunity of  observing  and  learning  his  method  of  teaching.     He 
■was  a  favorite  with  old  and  young.    Teaching  was  his  life-work, 
and  anything  that  had  for  its  object  the  elevation  of  the  human  in- 
tellect had  his  hearty  support.     He  held  the  position  of  School  Di- 
rector in  Belleville  for  many  years,  and  most  of  the  time  was  pres- 
ident of  the  Board,  and  ex-officio  superintendent  of  the   county 
schools.    He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Education,  and 
County  School  Commiss^ioner  from  1855  to  1859.     He  died  in  1872. 
The  first  school-house  in  St.  Clair  precinct  was  built  in  1831,  by 
Isaac  Kainey,  A.  P.  Free,  Richard  Beasley,  and  a  few  others. 
Its  first  teacher  was  John  Campbell,  who  was  an  ardent  wielder  of 
the  rod,  but  it  was  the  fi.shing'-rod.     Every  day  at  noon,  during 
pleasant  weather,  he  took  his  whole  school  down  to  the  creek,  near 
by  to  indulge  iu  his  favorite  pastime  of  fishing.     His  compensa- 
tion was  $2.50  per  scholar  for  three  months.     James  Halliday  af- 
terward taught  there,  and  refusing  to  treat  at  Christmas  time,  was 
bound  by  the  boys  and  dragged  down  to  the  creek  for  a  ducking. 
When  about  to  be  pitched  into  the  water,  he  wilted  and  gave  the 
treat. 

The  first  school-house  in  Richland  precinct  was  built  about  the 
year  1830.    There  were  several  private  schools  taught  in  private 
houses  previous  to  that  time.     John  M.  Scott,  at  present  one  of  the 
Supreme  Judges  of  Illinois,  taught  in  the  Shiloh  precinct  in  1 844. 
One  of  the  most  noted  of  the  early  educational  institutions  of  the 
county  was  the   Eock    Spring    Seminary,    established  by   Rev. 
John  M.  Peck,  D.  D.,  in  the  year  1827,  and  located  about  three 
miles  north-east  of  Shiluh.      In   1831,    the    school    was    closed 
and  removed  to  Upper  Alton,  and  from  it  grew  the  well-known 
Shurtleflf  College  of   that    city.      It   commenced    with    twenty- 
five  students,  which   number  in   a  few  weeks  increased  to   one 
hundred.     The  first  principal  of  the  institution  was  Rev.  Joshua 
Bradley,  A.  M.,  and  he  was  assisted  by  Rev.  John  M.  Peck,  D.  D., 
Professor  of  Theology,  and  John  Messenger,  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics, etc.    Among  the  students  were  Hon.  Ninian  W.  Edwards 
of  Springfield,  Ills,  Col.  Jas.  L.  D.  Morrison  of  St.  Louis,  Col. 
John  Thomas,  Wm.  H.  Stewart,  and  the  late  Wm.  S.  Thomas  of 
Belleville.     McKendree  College  at  Lebanon,  the  Howe  Institute 
at  East  St.  Louis,  and  the  Academy  of  the  Immaculate  Conception 
at  Belleville,  have  each  done  much  to  advance  education  in  this 
county,  and  sketches  of  these  institutions  will  appearin  this  work  in 
their  appropriate  places. 

The  Belleville  Kindergarten,  organized  by  an  association  of  la- 
dies, of  which  Mrs.  Matilda  Raab  is  secretary,  has  been  doing  good 
work  for  "the  little  ones,"  since  its  incorporation  in  1874.  It  has 
real  estate  valued  at  $4500,  and  apparatus  worth  $300.  During 
1880,  it  had  two  teachers,  enrolled  115  pupils,  and  maintained 
school  46  weeks. 

The  first  school  districts  ever  organized  in  the  county  were  es- 
tablished by  the  county  commissioners'  court,  at  the  June  terra, 
1825,  as  appears  from  the  record  of  that  date,  which  is  signed  by 
John  Stuntz,  Abel  Fike  and  William  Rutherford,  "  Esquires, 
County  Commissioners."  These  districts  were  Cherry  Grove, 
Union  Grove,  Turkey  Hill,  Sugar  Creek,  Ogle  Creek  and  Mount 


Pleasant.  They  are  still  in  existence,  though  their  boundary  lines 
have  been  somewhat  changed  as  the  townships  in  which  they  are 
located  became  more  thickly  settled.  They  were  laid  out  by  the 
Court  on  "petition  of  several  families  praying  for  school  privileges 
according  to  law."  This  law,  the  first  school  law  of  the  state,  was 
enacted  January  15,  1825,  and  had  the  following  preamble,  which 
shows  the  estimate  placed  on  general  education  by  the  early  law- 
makers of  the  state : 

"  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  believing  that 
the  advancement  of  literature  always  has  been,  and  ever  will  be, 
the  means  of  developing  more  fully  the  rights  of  man,  that  the 
miud  of  every  citizen  in  a  republic  is  the  common  property  of 
society,  and  constitutes  the  basis  of  its  strength  and  happiness;  it 
is  therefore  considered  the  peculiar  duty  of  a  free  government  like 
ours  to  encourage  and  extend  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
the  intellectual  energies  of  the  whole ;  therefore,  a  common  school 
or  schools  shall  be  established  in  each  county  of  this  state." 

The  districts  before  mentioned  were  governed  by  three  trustees 
who  examined  and  employed  the  teachers,  who  received  their  salary 
"  in  cash  or  good  merchantable  produce"  from  the  citizens  of  the  dis- 
trict who  had  given  their  consent  to  support  the  school,  which  was 
"  first  had  and  obtained  in  writing."  No  one  could  be  taxed  to  sup- 
port the  school  without  his  consent.  White  children  alone  were 
permitted  to  attend.  The  teachers  got  but  little  cash  for  their 
salaries,  often  having  to  take  the  produce,  which  they  disposed  of 
as  they  could.  Times  have  changed  since  then.  Now  all  are 
taxed  to  support  the  schools  of  the  people ;  black  and  white 
children  alike  enjoy  the  benefits  of  the  free  schools,  and  the 
teachers  draw  their  pay  monthly  in  hard  cash,  or  greenbacks. 

As  the  county  became  settled  school  districts  multiplied,  and 
school-houses  began  to  dot  the  prairies  like  islands  in  the  sea, 
until  in  1855,  a  new  school  law,  with  its  liberal  provisions  for 
education,  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  schools,  and  the  citizens  of 
the  county,  always  strongly  iu  favor  of  free  education,  took  hold 
in  earnest,  and  many  new  districts  were  organized  and  new  school-  ■ 
houses  erected. 

The  early  school  funds  received  from  the  state  were  in  State 
Bank  paper,  which  had  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  recipients  of  it  at 
a  considerable  discount.  The  sum  of  $120.30  in  this  paper  was 
disposed  of  by  the  trustees  of  Tp.  1  N.,  7  W-,  for  $50  in  1»42.  The 
first  record  of  funds  received  from  the  state  was  made  by  Sylvester 
Merrills,  school  commissioner,  January,  1837,  showing  that  he  re- 
ceived $829.26,  at  Vandalia,  being  the  quota  of  St.  Clair  county 
for  the  years  1831,  1835  and  1836. 

In  1840  the  school  fund  received  from  the  state  was  only 
$1,422.31,  in  1860  $13,330.09,  and  in  1880  it  had  increased  to 
$21,085.88.  The  amount  of  special  district  taxes  collected  in  1860 
for  the  support  of  the  schools  was  $21,244.59,  and  iu  1880  about 
six  times  that  amount— $127,704.98.  In  1860  the  total  amount 
expended  for  all  school  purposes  was  $40,596.80,  and  in  1880  it 
was  $161,298.60.  In  1840  the  number  of  persons  entitled  to  school 
privileges  was  7,292,  in  1860  it  was  11,235,  and  in  1880  21,421, 
showing  the  steady  and  rapid  growth  of  the  population  of  the 
county.  In  1860  the  number  of  districts  was  85  and  the  number 
of  school-houses  81,  which  in  1880  had  increased  to  116  districts, 
with  138  school-houses ;  and  in  the  latter  year  the  estimated  value 
of  the  school-houses  and  grounds  held  by  the  diflTerent  districts 
aggregated  the  large  sum  of  $282,923.00.  There  were  138  teachers 


112 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


employed  in  1860,  and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1880,  the  teachers  of 
the  county  numbered  237,  being  126  males  and  111  females.  Sepa- 
rate schools  for  colored  children  are  maintained  at  Brooklyn,  East 
St.  Louis,  East  Carondelet  and  Ogle  Creek.  There  are  only  two 
colored  teachers  at  present  employed  in  the  free  schools  of  the 
county,  one  at  Brooklyn  and  one  at  East  St.  Louis. 

The  schools  of  Belleville,  East  St.  Louis,  Mascoutah  and  Leba- 
non are  managed  by  boards  of  education,  consisting  of  six  members, 
excepting  Belleville,  which  has  a  board  of  nine  members.  All  of 
the  other  districts  are  controlled  by  boards  of  directors  consisting 
of  three  members.  The  whole  number  of  district  school  offi- 
cers is  363. 

There  are  twenty-one  townships,  seventeen  of  which  are  whole 
ones  and  four  are  fractional.  Their  affairs  are  managed  by  Boards 
of  Trustees,  consisting  of  three  members  and  a  secretary,  who  is  ex- 
officio  treasurer  of  the  township.  The  treasurers  are  elected  for 
two  years.  Those  now  in  office  are  as  follows,  and  their  terms  will 
expire  April,  1882 : 

T.  1  N.  R.  6  W.  Christopher  Lischer, Mascoutah. 

"  "  "  "  7  "  Jacob  S.  Phelps, Shiloh. 

"  "  "  "  8  "  Charles  Lind, Belleville. 

"  "  "  "  9  "  Walter   Eyman, .....Belleville. 

"  "  "  "  10  "  Jacob  Yung, Columbia. 

"  2  "  "  6  «  H.H.Horner, Lebanon. 

"  "  "  "  7  "  Ernst   Tiedemann, O'Fallon. 

"  "  "  "  8  "  Wm.  E.  Begole, Eidge  Prairie. 

"  "  "  "  9  "  Kicholas  Boul, French  Village. 

"  "  "  "  10  "  Louis  Boismenue, East   St.  Louia. 

"  1  S.  "  6  "  Charles   Karch Fayetteville. 

"  "  "  "  7  "  Henry  Hoffmann, Freeburg. 

"  '' 8  "  Henry  Keim, Smithlon. 

"  "  "  "  9  "  JohnF.   Breidecker, Millstadt. 

•'  "  "  "  10  "  Christian  Breidecker, Columbia. 

"  2  "  "  6  "  C.D.Hausmann St.  Libory. 

"  "  "  "  7  "  Joseph  Flach, New  Athens. 

"  "  "  "  8  '■  Louis  G.  Miller Hecker. 

"  "  "  "  9  "  Zaccheus  J.  Voris, Waterloo. 

"  3  "  "  6  "  John  W^  Wells, Marissa. 

"  "  "  7  "  Henry  Knewitz, New  Athens. 

Township  1  N.,  R.  7  W.,  Shiloh,  has  had  but  few  changes  in  its 
treasurers.  Dr.  Anton  Schott,  who  died  in  1870,  held  the  office  of 
treasurer  in  that  township  for  twenty-four  successive  years.  This 
township  also  has  the  largest  township  fund  in  the  county,  amount- 
ing to  $11,073.59,  which  it  realized  from  the  sale  of  the  original 
sixteenth  section.  There  are  at  present  no  school  lands  held  by  the 
townships,  except  a  small  piece  of  about  three  or  four  acres  in  Town- 
ship 1  S.,  R.  7  W.,  Freeburg,  on  which  there  are  a  few  graves. 
The  largest  amount,  disbursed  by  any  treasurer  in  1880,  was 
143,390.50  by  Treasurer  Lind  of  Belleville,  and  the  next  largest, 
$31,121.65,  by  Treasurer  Boismenue  of  East  St.  Louis.  The  first 
chief  school  officer  of  the  county,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained  from 
the  official  records,  was  William  Moore,  who  was  appointed  De- 
cember 3d,  1833,  by  the  county  commissioners  to  the  office  of  com- 
missioner and  agent  for  the  school  fund  of  the  county  of  St  Clair. 
He  held  the  position  one  year,  and  was  succeeded  December  15th, 
1834,  by  Sylvester  Merrills,  who  filled  the  office  till  1843.  Mr. 
Merrills  was  a  man  of  considerable  ability,  and  filled  several  other 
offices  in  the  county.  He  was  of  a  genial  temperament,  and  had  a 
speck  of  fun  in  his  nature,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  entry 
made  by  him  on  a  fly  leaf  of  a  copy  of  the  Illinois  Statutes  of  1840, 
now  in  the  county  superintendent's  office  : 

"  Taken  without  liberty  from  the  county  clerk's  office,  June  16, 
1840,  and  found  the  wisdom  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  herein 
mentioned.  S.  Merrills." 


Smyth  Moore  succeeded  him,  and  filled  the  office  from  1843  to 
1847,  when  George  C.  Hart  came  into  office,  and  in  December 
1849  was  followed  by  David  McFarland,  who  held  the  office 
of  county  commissioner  of  schools  for  four  years.  Joseph 
Hypes  took  charge  of  the  office  in  1853,  George  Buusen  in 
1855,  John  H.  Dennis  in  1850,  and  Elihu  J.  Palmer  in 
1863.  Augustus  Whiting  was  elected  school  commissioner  in 
1865,  for  four  years,  but  resigned  the  position  in  June,  1867,  when 
by  appointment  of  the  county  court  Hon.  James  B.  Slade  assumed 
the  duties  of  the  office.  He  held  the  office  till  December,  1873, 
when  John  B.  Gwillim  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  Upon  the 
death  of  Mr.  Gwillim,  Mr.  Slade  was  again  placed  in  the  county 
superintendent's  office  by  the  county  board,  which  occurred  February 
5,  1875.  Mr.  Slade  continued  in  the  office  till  December  4ih,  1878, 
when  he  tendered  his  resignation  previous  to  assuming  the  duties 
of  state  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  to  which  office  he  had 
been  elected  a  mouth  previous.  The  writer,  James  McQuilkin,  by 
appointment  of  the  county  board,  assumed  the  duties  of  county  su- 
perintendent for  one  year,  and  in  November,  1879,  was  elected  by 
the  people  to  fill  the  unexpired  term,  closing  in  December,  1881. 

The  following  table  shows  the  superintendents  with  their  time  of 
official  service,  and  date  of  first  appointment  or  election  : 

1833  to  1834, William  Moore,  one  year. 

1834  to  1843, Sylve.ster  Merrills,  nine  years. 

1843  to  1847, Smyth  Moore,  three  years. 

1847  to  1849, George  C.  Hart,  two  years. 

1849  to  1853,  David  McFarland,  four  years. 

1853  to  1855 Joseph  Hypes,  two  years. 

1855  to  1859, George  Bunsen,  four  years. 

1859  to  1863 .John  H.Dennis,  four  years. 

1863  to  1865, Elihu  J.  Palmer,  two  years. 

1865  to  June  1867, Augustus  Whiiin5,  one  and  a  half  years. 

June  1867  to  1873 James  P.  Slade,  six  and  a  half  years. 

1873  to  Feb.  1875, John  B.  Gwillim,  two  and  one-sixth  years 

Feb.  1875  to  1878 James  P.  Slade,  two  and  five-sixth  years. 

1878  to James  McQuilkin, 

The  first  superintendents,  or  rather  school  commissioners  as  they 
were  styled,  examined  and  paid  the  teachers;  being  custodians  of  all 
school  funds,  and  keeping  separate  accounts  with  each  township. 
When  the  school  law  of  1855  went  into  force,  their  duties  were  ma- 
terially changed,  and  they  were  required  to  visit  and  inspect  all 
schools  at  least  once  a  year.  From  1873,  to  July  1,  1879,  there 
were  no  official  visitations  of  schools  by  the  superintendent  for  the 
purpose  of  inspection,  the  law  of  1872  having  left  it  optional  with 
county  boards  whether  this  work  should  be  done  or  not.  Durincr 
this  time  the  superintendent's  duties  were  principally  confined  to 
office  work,  one  hundred  days  being  allowed  him  for  that  purpose. 
In  June,  1879,  the  county  board  increased  this  time  to  two  hundred 
and  fifty  days,  and  directed  the  superintendent  to  visit  the  schools 
as  the  law  directs.  During  the  present  scholastic  year  every  one 
of  the  237  schools  in  the  county  has  been  visited  once,  and  some  of 
them  twice,  averaging  about  three  hours  to  each  visit,  and  the  dis- 
tance travelled  by  the  superintendent  was  about  1200  miles. 

The  Superintendent  is  custodian  of  the  county  school  fund,  which 
is  a  permanent  one,  amounting  to  $1,325,  only  the  interest  of  which 
is  used  for  school-purposes.  Another  source  of  revenue  to  the 
school  fund  is  derived  from  the  fines  and  forfeitures  imposed  in  the 
courts  and  by  justices  of  the  peace  for  violations  of  statute  laws. 
The  amount  received  from  this  source  in  1880  was  $3,461.82." 
The  records  of  examinations  of  teachers  present  but  little  of  inter- 
est. The  superintendents  prior  to  1859  have  left  no  records  in  the 
office  of  their  work  in  this  direction.  The  superintendents  since 
that  time  have  kept  records  of  examinations,  and  occasionally  wrote 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


113 


out  a  remark  or  observation  opposite  a  teacher's  name.  The  fol- 
lowing extracts  will  show  how  some  of  the  superintendents  felt 
with  regard  to  those  to  whom  they  issued  certificates :  "  Tolerable. 
I  fear  his  sobriety;"  "Very  good  for  so  young  a  man"  (age  20); 
"  Pretty  good  for  a  youth  "  (age  18). 

From  September  16, 1863,  to  August  20,  1864— war  times— all 
teachers  in  this  county  to  whom  jcertificates  were  granted,  had  to 
take  an  "  oath  of  allegiance."  Andrew  J.  Hendon,  age  twenty-nine, 
and  Miss  Sarah  E.  Collins,  age  twenty-three,  were  the  first  teachers 
to  go  through  this  ceremony,  and  the  last  one  to  do  so  was  Miss 
Cordelia  Critchlow,  age  seventeen.  Of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  male  teachers  now  employed  in  the  county,  only  ten  are  under 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  of  the  one  hundred  and  eleven  females, 
only  six  are  under  eighteen.  During  war  times  many  of  the  teach- 
ers of  the  county  oifered  their  services  to  their  country,  so  that  it 
was  a  difiicult  matter  to  supply  a  sufficient  number  of  efiicient 
teachers  to  carry  on  the  schools.  Since  that  time,  the  organization 
of  the  two  state  normal  schools  and  numerous  private  training 
schools  in  various  parts  of  the  state  have  afforded  to  young  men 
and  women  desiring  to  enter  the  teacher's  profession,  an  opportunity 
of  fitting  themselves  for  the  better  discharge  of  the  arduous 
and  responsible  duties  oi  the  school-room,  and  to-day  the  teach- 
ers of  St.  Clair  as  a  body  are  not  surpassed  by  those  of  any  other 
county ;  three  of  them,  Messrs.  Charles  A.  Singletary,  George  F. 
Kenower,  and  Erail  Dapprich  hold  state  certificates.  In  addition 
to  these  three,  ninety-six  teachers  hold  first  grade  certificates,  and 
one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  hold  certificates  of  the  second  grade. 
An  examination  for  state  certificates,  conducted  by  the  county 
superintendent  by  authority  of  the  state  department,  was  held  at 
Belleville  in  August,  1880. 

The  institute  work  of  the  county  commenced  in  the  year  1859 
under  the  superintendency  of  George  Bunsen.    On  the  4th  of  April 
of  that  year,  in  pursuance  of  a  call  issued  by  the  leading  teachers 
of  the  county,  eighty-three  teachers  assembled  at  Belleville,  and 
organized  the  first  "  St.  Clair  County  Teachers'  Institute,"  declaring 
in  the  first  article  of  their  constitution,  that  their  object  was  "the 
advancement  of  education  and  the  mutual  improvement  of  teachers." 
Mr.  George  Bunsen,  school  commissioner,  was  chosen  president  of 
the  institute,  and  Mr.  E.  Bigelow  of  Lebanon,  secretary.     Of  the 
teachers  who  were  members  of  that  institute,  only  four  are  now 
teaching  in  this  county,  namely,  Henry  Raab,  Clarence  J.  Lemen, 
and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Thwing  of  Belleville,  and  Peter  J.  C.  Marion  of 
Cahokia.     Hon.  James  P.  Slade,  present  state  superintendent,  was 
also  a  member  of  the  institute,  and  took  an  active  part  in  its  pro- 
ceedings.   Institutes  were  also  held  in  April,  1862  and  1863,  du- 
ring the  superintendency  of  John  H.  Dennis;  in  April,  1864,  under 
the  administration  of  Elihu  J  Palmer;  and  in  1868,  1869,  1870, 
1871,  1872,  1»73  and  1876,  during  the  superintendency  of  Hon.  J. 
P.  Blade.     In  the  institute  of  1871  the  largest  number  of  teachers 
was  enrolled,  being  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight      In  July,  1880, 
a  two  weeks'  institute  was  held  by  the  present  superijitendent,  and 
one  hundred  teachers  were  enrolled.    The  exercises  at  all  the  insti- 
tutes held  were  of  special  benefit  to  teachers,  and  designed  to  aid 
them  in  more  efficiently  discharging  their  responsible  duties.    They 
embraced  lectures  on  theory  and  art  of  teaching,  class-exercises  and 
discussions  of  methods  of  teaching,  interspersed  with  music,  essays 
and  original  poems.     In  March,  1879,  the  leading  teachers  of  the 
county,  feeling  the  need  of  a  closer  union  among  themselves,  organ- 
ized the  "St.  Clair  County  Teachers'   Association,"   which  holds 
regular  quarterly  meetings.     Its  membership  is  about  one  hundred, 
and  it  is  steadily  increasing.     Its  first  president  was  John  H.  G. 
Brinkerhoff  of  Lebanon,  and  its  second  George  F.  Kenower  of 

15 


Mascoutah.  The  association  has  an  historical  committee,  who  are 
engaged  in  compiling  a  history  of  the  pioneer  school-work  of  the 
county ;  a  library  committee,  who  are  securing  a  library  for  teach- 
ers, and  a  publication  committee,  whose  business  it  is  to  maintain 
an  educational  column  in  one  or  more  of  the  county  newspapers. 

The  North  St.  Clair  Teachers'  Institute,  composed  of  teachers 
employed  on  the  north  side  of  the  county,  was  organized  at  O'Fal- 
lon  in  December,  1879.     Its  meetings  are  held  monthly. 

The  South  St.  Clair  Teachers'  Institute  was  organized  at  Marissa 
January,  1880,  and  during  the  remaining  months  of  that  school 
year  it  held  regular  monthly  meetings. 

The  Belleville  teachers  for  many  years  have  met  regularly  on 
the  third  Saturday  of  each  school  month  for  their  mutual  improve- 
ment. 

Various  other  local  institutes  and  teachers'  meetings  have  been 
organized  in  the  years  gone  by,  but  after  short  leases  of  life  they 
have  ceased  to  exist,  as  the  leading  spirits  who  conducted  them  left 
for  new  fields  of  labor. 

The  schools  of  the  county  for  a  number  of  years  past  have  par- 
ticipated in  the  comparative  examinations  annually  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association.  The  manuscript  work 
of  1880,  after  being  examined  and  arranged  by  the  County  Super- 
intendent, was  neatly  bound  in  two  volumes  and  exhibited  at  the 
State  Fair  at  Springfield  and  County  Fair  at  Belleville,  and  received 
favorable  mention  at  the  hands  of  Hon.  James  P.  Slade,  State  Su- 
perintendent of  Public  Instruction.  Concerning  the  Comparative 
Examination  work  of  the  county,  under  date  of  March  14, 1881, 
State  Superintendent  James  P.  Slade  writes  as  follows  :  "  I  believe 
the  schools  of  St.  Clair  county  have  been  benefited  by  these  exami- 
nations, and  they  have  done  work  that  compares  favorably  with 
that  done  by  the  schools  of  other  counties.  This  is  the  testimony 
of  the  committee  having  charge  of  these  examinations.  By  refer- 
ence to  the  report  of  the  chairman  of  the  committee.  Prof.  S.  H. 
White,  of  Peoria,  (see  page  272  of  the  Biennial'  Report  of  this 
Department  for  1879-80),  you  will  notice  that  St.  Clair  county  con- 
tributed more  volumes  of  school  work  to  represent  the  schools  of 
Illinois  at  the  Paris  Exposition  than  any  other  county  in  the  State ; 
for,  while  the  committee  took  work  from  only  seven  counties  and 
but  fifty-six  volumes  in  all,  fourteen  of  these  volumes  were  the  work 
of  the  schools  of  St.  Clair  county." 

Almost  every  school-house  in  the  county  has  been  "  christened," 
so  to  speak,  and  is  known  by  its  own  name,  as  well  as  by  its  dis- 
trict number.  The  lamented  Lincoln  has  had  his  name  bestowed 
on  the  West  Belleville  school ;  Washington,  the  Father  of  his 
Country,  the  philosopher  Franklin,  and  George  Bunsen,  who  did  so 
much  to  elevate  the  city  schools,  have  all  been  remembered  by 
Belleville.  The  "  Douglas  "  school  at  East  St.  Louis,  on  famous 
Bloody  Island,  calls  to  mind  the  Little  Giant  among  statesmen, 
Stephen  A.  Douglas.  "  Cherry  Grove,"  "  Union  Grove,"  "  Turkey 
Hill,"  and  "  Ogle  Creek  "  still  retain  the  names  given  them  iu 
1825. 

The  "  Valley"  school,  north-east  of  Summerfield,  appears  to  be 
on  a  little  elevation,  and  the  valley  is  hard  to  find.  The  "  Broad 
Hollow  "  school,  south-east  of  Georgetown,  does  not  seem  to  be  in  a 
hollow  at  all.  "  Point  Lookout,"  on  a  ridge  south-east  of  Freeburg, 
is  high  and  dry  enough.  "  Drum  Hill  "  school,  near  Fayetteville, 
was  so  named  on  account  of  Case,  the  drummer  of  a  rifle  company 
of  early  times,  having  settled  there  and  with  his  drum  occasionally 
made  "  music  in  the  air.  '  The  '  Emerald  Mound  "  school,  north- 
east of  Lebanon,  and  the  "  Sugar  Loaf  ^'  school,  south  east  of  Eas^t 
Carondelet,  were  so  named  after  large  mounds  near  by,  supposed  to 
be  the  work  of  that  mysterious  race,  the  Mound  Builders. 


114 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  various  towns  of  the  county  have  graded  their  schools  into 
two  or  more  grades,  and  almost  all  of  them  have  good,  substantial 
school  buildings. 

Summerfield  employs  four  teachers,  Charles  O.  Hodgdon,  Prin- 
cipal. 

O'Fallon,  four  teachers,  Mrs.  P.  C,  Capen,  Principal. 

Caseyville,  three  teachers,  James  S.  Edwards,  Jr  rincipal. 

Brooklyn,  two  teachers,  Hubbard  M.  Wilson,  Principal. 

French  Village,  two  teachers,  Samuel  E.  Pershall,  Principal. 

Millstadt,  four  teachers,  Geo.  W.  Kraft,  Principal. 

Smithton  (Georgetown),  two  teachers,  Philip  Brandenburger 
Principal. 

Freeburg,  four  teachers,  Wm.  A.  Reis,  Principal. 

New  Athens,  two  teachers,  Chas.  Gramlich,  Principal. 

Marissa,  three  teachers,  Laura  Varner,  Principal. 

Shiloh,  two  teachers,  J.  F.  Quick,  Principal. 

Alma  (Ridge  Prairie),  two  teachers,  Charles  A.  Thompson,  Prin- 
cipal. 

The  following  towns  have  each  only  one  teacher,  Floraville,  Pa- 
derborn,  Fayetteville,  Lenzburg,  Darmstadt,  St.  Libory  and  East 
Carondelet. 

The  school  building  at  Alma,  a  two-story  frame,  was  entirely  de- 
stroyed by  fire  on  the  night  of  February  21, 1881.  The  Douglas 
school,  at  East  St.  Louis,  and  the  Lebanoq  public  school  building 
were  both  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  ago,  and  the  citizens,  with 
a  generous  liberality,  speedily  replaced  them  with  handsome  and 
commodious  structures. 

Mascoutah  has  a  commodious  two-story  brick  school  building, 
contaioing  eight  large  school-rooms  and  a  recitation  room  for  the 
use  of  the  principal's  assistant.  Nine  teachers  are  employed  and 
about  500  pupils  are  enrolled.  Mr.  Charles  Cannady  is  the  prin- 
cipal. 

Lebanon  has  a  three  story  building,  the  two  stories  being  divided 
off  into  eight  school-rooms,  with  convenient  hat  and  cloak  rooms 
attached.  Eight  teachers  are  employed  and  about  450  pupils  are 
enrolled.     Mr.  John  H.  G.  Brinkerhoff  is  ihe  principal. 

East  St.  Louis  is  composed  of  two  school  districts,  the  Douglas 
school  being  in  District  No.  2,  and  the  Upper,  Middle,  Franklin, 
Broadway  and  Eighth  street  schools,  as  also  the  colored  school,  be- 
ing in  District  No.  1.  Thirty  teachers  are  employed,  and  about 
1500  pupils  are  enrolled.  The  Upper,  Middle,  Eighth  street, 
Broadway  and  Colored  schools  are  kept  in  rented  quarters,  but  the 
others  are  the  property  of  the  districts  in  which  they  are  located. 

Belleville  and  West  Belleville  are  both  in  the  same  school  dis- 
trict. There  are  four  school  buildings,  all  owned  by  the  district, 
namely,  the  Lincoln,  containing  Six  rooms ;  the  Bunsen,  containing 
eight  rooms ;  the  Washington,  containing  ten  rooms,  and  the  Frank- 
lin, containing  eighteen  rooms.  Forty  teachers  are  employed,  and  a 
superintendent.  Mr.  Henry  Raab,  who  has  bepn  connected  with  the 
schools  of  the  city  for  about  twenty-five  years,  has  ably  filled  the 
position  of  superintendent  for  the  last  seven  years.  About  2000 
pupils  are  enrolled.  The  course  of  study  runs  through  eight  grades, 
providing  for  eight  years  of  work.  The  study  of  the  German  lan- 
guage runs  through  all  the  grades,  and  is  participated  in  by  a  very 
large  percentage  of  the  pupils.  The  schools  owe  their  excellence 
to  the  untiring  efforts  of  the  late  George  Bunsen,  and  since  his 
death  to  the  able  management  of  the  present  superintendent,  aided 
by  a  corps  of  enthusiastic  tea:chers,  and  sustained  by  a  community 
who  take  a  deep  interest  in  free  schools.  These  schools  took  a 
number  of  premiums  at  the  State  Fair  of  1880  for  educational  work, 
and  among  them  the  second  premium  for  sweepstakes.  The  Bun- 
sen school  building,  completed  in  1879,  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000, 


is  an  ornament  to  the  city.  It  was  opened  for  use  September  8th, 
1879,  and  its  first  principal  was  James  Campbell.  It  is  heated  with 
steam,  and  is  well  arranged  for  school  purposes,  being  well  lighted 
and  ventilated,  and  having  commodious  class  rooms  with  hat  and 
cloak  rooms  attached. 

In  the  year  1821  the  Belleville  Academy  Association  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  Legislature.  The  building,  a  frame  struc- 
ture, was  located  about  where  the  German  Methodist  church  now 
stands.  Its  object  was  to  furnish  young  men  with  a  higher  educa- 
tion. William  Turner  was  among  the  first  instructors.  He  was 
a  cultured  man  and  a  lover  of  the  writings  of  Shakespeare,  which 
he  read  with  all  the  eloquence  and  grace  of  an  actor.  His  previous 
history  he  kept  to  himself,  but  his  love  for  Shakespeare  led  many 
to  suppose  that  he  had  been  formerly  connected  with  the  stage. 

In  1823  there  was  a  log  school  house  located  where  the  English 
M.  E.  Church  now  stands,  in  which  Wm.  Gallop  taught. 

About  1824  or  25,  John  H.  Dennis  had  a  school  in  the  Mitchell 
building  where  the  West  block  now  stands.  Mr.  Dennis'  school 
was  called  the  "  Aristocratic  "  school,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
children  of  wealthy  families  from  St.  Louis  and  other  places  at- 
tended it,  as  Mr.  Dennis  was  a  proficient  teacher  of  the  languages. 

In  later  years  schools  were  kept  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  the 
present  Hinckley  House.  Here  a  Mr  Edwards  and  John  F.  Parks 
taught  with  success.  Schools  were  also  kept  in  the  basement  of  the 
old  Presbyterian  church,  now  the  City  Hall,  in  the  Advocate  build- 
ing, and  several  other  places,  till  at  last  it  was  decided  to  erect  the 
Washington  building,  and  a  few  years  later  the  Franklin,  so  that 
to-day,  the  public  schools  of  Belleville  are  all  maintained  in  pro- 
perty owned  and  controlled  by  the  school  district,  through  its 
Board  of  Education,  Dr.  James  L.  Ferryman,  Dr.  George  Loelkes, 
John  Lorenzen,  A.  C.  Hucke,  John  Weber,  Louis  Bartel,  Henry 
A.  Kircher,  Hermann  G.  Weber,  and  Hermann  Burckhardt. 

The  following  statistics  taken  from  the  County  Superintendent's 
report  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1880,  will  no  doubt  be  read 
with  interest : 

Male  persons  under  21  years  of  age,  15,956. 

Fetaales,  15,639. 

Total,  31,595. 

Males  between  6  and  21,  10,736. 

Females,  10,685. 

Total,  21.421. 

School  districts,  116. 

Graded  schools,  26. 

Ungraded  schools,  no. 

Average  number  of  months  schools  were  in  session,  8.08. 

Total  enrolment  of  pupils,  11,476. 

M:ile  teachers,  134. 

Female,  104. 

School-houses  built  during  the  year,  3. 

Whole  number  of  school-houses,  138. 

Volumes  in  district  libraries,  938. 

I'upils  in  private  schools,  1460. 

Private  schools,  £2. 

Principal  of  township  fund,  J65,803.32. 

Highest  monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teaclier,  $125. 

female    "  $70, 

Lowest  to  any  male  teacher,  $25. 

"         "      female    "  $22. 

Amount  of  district  tax  levy,  |130,258.78. 

Estimated  value  of  school  property,  $282,923.00. 

Total  receipts  from  all  sources,  $229,205.52. 

Total  expenditures,  $161,298.60. 

Salaries  of  teachers,  $100,121.45. 

Paid  for  new  school-houses,  $4,831.98. 

Paid  for  repairs  and  improvements,  $7,209.56. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


115 


Paid  for  school  furniture,  $3,011.07. 

Paid  for  apparatus,  $529.57. 

Paid  for  fuel  and  incidentals,  1(11,761.67. 

The  statistics  of  illiteracy  show  48  persons  betweea  6  and  21 
years  of  age  unable  to  read  and  write,  of  which  29  cases  were  by 
neglect  of  parents.  The  schools  of  St.  Clair  county  have  taken  a 
high  rank  among  the  schools  of  the  state.  Efficient  management 
on  the  part  of  the  various  superintendents,  especially  by  Hon. 
James  P.  Slade,  who  occupied  the  office  longer  than  any  other,  has 
led  to  this,  as  well  as  being  sustained  and  fostered  by  a  population 
stAjngly  imbued  with  the  sentiment  that  the  safety  of  the  country 
lies  in  the  education  of  the  masses.  Before  closing  this  chapter, 
we  desire  to  return  thanks  to  those  who  have  kindly  aided  us  with 
information  of  the  past,  and  to  the  teachers  and  school  officers  of 
the  county  who  have  willingly  assisted  us  in  our  labors  as  super- 
intendent. 


treasures  for  their  establishment.  To  this  action  Hallam  traces 
the  first  glimmering  of  that  light  which  afterwards  dispersed  the 
darkness  of  the  middle  ages.  Wicklyffe,  Huss,  Luther  and  Knox 
were  trained  in  colleges,  and  some  of  them  were  occupied  during  no 
small  portion  of  their  lives  in  the  actual  business  of  instruction. 
The  genius  of  Pascal  was  equally  employed  in  extending  the 
boundaries  of  science,  and  in  defending  the  truths  of  religion.  The 
sublimest  poem  of  the  modern  world  was  written  by  a  Christian 
school-master,  and  drew  its  inspiration  from  the  "  brook  which 
flowed  fast  by  the  oracles  of  God."  John  Wesley — the  founder  of 
Methodism — was  a  scholar  of  Oxford,  and  the  cause  of  learning  in 
his  day  had  no  more  earnest  champion  than  he.  His  followers 
have  emulated  his  example,  and  wherever  they  have  gone  they 
have  labored  alike  for  the  moral  and  intellectual  welfare  of  those 
among  whom  they  have  lived.  They  have  not  waited  for  wealth 
to  erect  stately  edifices  and  provide  the  costly  appliances  which 


McKENDREE  COLLEGE. 

BY  PROF.  SAMUEL  H.  DENEEN,  A.  M.,  PH.D. 

Among  the  influences  which  have  united  to  build  up  the  civili- 
zation which  we  enjoy,  the  most  powerful  are  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel,  and  the  diffusion  of  knowledge.  So  well  is  this  truth 
realized,  that  to  a  large  extent,  those  who  have  labored  and  dared 
and  suffered  most  for  the  advancement  of  mankind  will  be  found 
to  have  been  concerned  at  the  same  time  for  the  promotion  of  both 
these  interests.  Charlemagne,  the  greatest  of  medieval  rulers, 
believed  that  the  church  and  the  school  are  the  firmest  pillars  of  a 
well-ordered  government,  and  devoted  large  suras  from   his  royal 


learning  covets  for  the  use  of  her  votaries,  but  with  such  buildings 
and  apparatus  as  could  be  procured,  they  have  gathered  the  young 
tigether,  and  endeavored  to  impart  to  them  whatever  advantages 
education  can  bestow.  It  was  to  this  policy  that  the  foundation  of 
McKendree  College  was  due. 

The  Illinois  Conference — embracing  the  states  of  Indiana  and 
Illinois— met  in  Mt.  Carmel,  111.,  September,  1827.  At  this  session 
a  resolution  was  introduced  by  the  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright,  D.  D., 
the  object  of  which  was  to  provide  for  the  establishment  of  a  college 
within  the  bounds  of  Illinois.  The  Conference  favored  the  scheme 
proposed,  and  the  citizens  of  Lebanon  called  a  meeting  and  asked 
for  subscriptions  to  secure  the  location  of  the  institution  in  their 


116 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


midst.  Thomas  Casad  states  that  his  father,  Dr.  Anthony  W. 
Casad,  wrote  the  compact  to  which  the  subscribers  appended 
their  names.  The  document,  dated  February  20th,  1828,  is  still 
preserved,  and  begins  thus : — 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  estimating  mental  improvement  of  the 
first  importance  to  a  commonwealth,  as  well  in  a  political  as  a 
moral  and  religious  view,  promise  to  pay  the  several  sums  annexed 
to  our  names  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  an  edifice  in  or  near  the 
town  of  Lebanon,  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  for  a  seminary  of 
learning  to  be  conducted  as  nearly  as  may  be  on  the  plan  of  the 
Augusta  college  of  Kentucky.  *  *  *  The  property  shall  be  deeded 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  the  purposes  of  safe-keeping 
and  the  benefits  of  incorporation."  The  Illinois  Conference  was 
asked  to  take  the  institution  under  its  care,  and  the  Missouri  Con- 
ference was  requested  to  unite  in  its  support.  The  contributors  of 
the  largest  sums  to  the  amount  subscribed  were  Nicholas  Horner, 
Nathan  Horner,  Dr.  A.  W.  Casad,  David  Chamberlin  and  Col.  E. 
B.  Clemson.  Among  the  subscribers  were  Rev.  S.  H.  Thompson, 
Rev.  John  Dew,  Rev.  Samuel  Mitchell,  Charles  McDonald,  James 
Riggin,  Betsy  M.  Riggin,  John  Thomas,  Sr.,  John  Thomas,  Jr., 
Thornton  Peeples,  .Joseph  Hypes,  T.  M.  Nichols,  Daniel  S.  Witter, 
Daniel  Whittenburg,  Rev.  Wm.  Moore,  Gen.  James  Moore,  Dr. 
W-  W.  Roman  and  Thomas  Ray,  the  founder  of  the  town  of  Leba- 
non. There  were  in  all  one  hundred  and  five  names,  and  the 
amount  subscribed  was  $1,385.  The  sum  seems  small;  but  there 
was  little  wealth  in  the  community.  The  state  was  sparsely  popu- 
lated. Lebanon  contained  less  than  two  hundred  inhabitants. 
The  number  of  persons  in  St.  Clair  county  did  not  exceed  5,000, 
and  St.  Clair  was  at  that  time  the  richest  and  the  most  populous 
county  in  the  state.  Between  Lebanon  and  the  Wabash  there  were 
few  villages  of  any  importance.  The  prairies  were  very  much  as 
the  Indians  had  left  them,  and  indeed  many  believed  that  they 
never  could  be  inhabited  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  timber. 
The  French  element  was  still  largely  predominant  in  St.  Louis. 
Chicago  had  no  existence.  Kaskaskia,  formerly  the  capital  of  the 
state,  now  almost  forgotten,  had  only  a  few  years  before  lost  its 
importance  as  the  judicial  power  in  Illinois. 

The  entire  membership  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  the  the  states  of 
Indiana  and  Illinois,  it  is  believed,  did  not  exceed  35,000.  The 
subscribers  were,  at  all  events,  not  discouraged  with  the  sum  ob- 
tained, for  they  met  a  few  days  later,  selected  the  grounds  which 
they  desired,  authorized  their  purchase  and  appointed  a  committee 
to  contract  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  building.  As  this  was  not 
completed  as  soon  as  it  was  needed,  the  use  of  the  Lebanon  school- 
house  was  obtained,  and  there  on  the  24th  of  November,  1828, 
"  Lebanon  Seminary,"  as  it  was  called,  was  opened,  with  Mr.  Ed- 
ward R.  Ames,  as  principal,  and  Miss  Mc'Murphy,  as  assistant. 
What  became  of  the  assistant  is  not  known.  Mr.  Ames  (180G- 
1879),  who  was  educated  at  Ohio  University,  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1S30,  elected  Bishop  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1852,  and 
in  that  office  acquired  a  national  reputation.  While  in  charge  of 
the  Seminary  Mr.  A.  became  a  candidate  for  ministerial  orders 
before  the  quarterly  conference  then  assembled  in  old  Shiloh 
Church.  He  did  not  then  possess  the  portly  proportions  which 
afterward  enabled  him  to  bear  the  burden  of  episcopal  honors  so 
easily.  His  health  seemed  delicate,  and  one  half  of  the  members 
present  were  opposed  to  granting  him  license  to  preach.  While 
the  case  stood  thus,  a  colored  minister  who  belonged  to  the  confer- 
ence was  noticed  riding  along  the  road.  He  was  stopped,  brought 
in,  and  after  learning  the  condition  of  afl^airs,  cast  his  vote  in 
favor  of  the  applicant.  He  used  to  boast  in  after  life  that  his  vote 
had  made  Mr.  Ames  bishop!     Mr.  A   during  his  connection  with 


the  Seminary  confined  his  efibrts  entirely  to  academical  work.  He 
remained  until  the  autumn  of  1830,  when  he  was  appointed  to  a 
charge  as  an  itinerant  Methodist'  minister.  In  the  same  year 
Bishop  McKendree  made  known  his  intentions  of  devoting  480 
acres  of  land  lying  in  Moore's  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county.  111.,  to 
found  an  institution  of  learning  for  the  Illinois  and  Missouri  Con- 
ferences. The  board  of  managers  learning  this  fact,  voted  to 
change  the  name  of  "  Lebanon  Seminary  "  to  "  McKendree  Col- 
lege." It  will  not  be  inappropriate  here  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of 
the  venerable  minister  in  honor  of  whom  the  college  was  named. 

William  McKendree,  fourth  bishop  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  was 
born  in  King  William  county,  Virginia,  July  6,  1757.  His  father 
was  a  respectable  planter,  and  the  son  was  brought  up  to  follow 
the  same  occupation.  Young  McKendree  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  rose  to  the  rank  of  adjutant,  and  was 
present  when  Cornwallis  surrendered  at  Yorktown.  He  was  con- 
verted in  1787,  and  began  a  few  months  later  to  preach.  In  1795 
he  had  charge  of  four  circuits,  and  labored  on  each  of  them  three 
months  during  the  year.  In  1796  he  was  made  presiding  elder, 
and  was  transferred  in  1800  to  the  West.  His  district  embraced 
thirteen  circuits — two  in  Ohio,  six  in  Kentucky,  three  in  Ten- 
nessee and  two  in  Virginia.  Six  conferences  have  since  found 
room  in  this  field  of  his  labor.  His  distinguished  services  soon 
drew  the  attention  of  the  Church  to  him,  and  in  1808  he  was 
elected  bishop.  From  this  year  to  the  close  of  his  life  he  was 
engaged  in  the  work  of  episcopal  oversight,  which  compelled  him 
to  travel  through  the  whole  length  of  the  country,  and  westward 
to  the  very  outposts  of  the  frontier  settlements.  In  these  journeys 
he  often  endured  great  hardships,  which  gradually  undermined  his 
health.  His  death  took  place  at  the  home  of  his  brother.  Dr. 
McKendree,  in  Tennessee,  March  5,  1835.  Bishop  M.  excelled 
both  as  a  preacher  of  the  word,  and  as  a  presiding  and  executive 
oflBcer.  Judge  John  McLean,  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 
said  of  him:  '-He  was  eloquent  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word. 
Few  men  ever  filled  the  pulpit  with  greater  dignity  and  usefulness, 
and  the  beautiful  simplicity  of  his  sermons  was,  perhaps,  unequalled 
in  our  country." 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  Ames,  the  institution  appears  to 
have  been  conducted  for  two  or  three  years  as  a  preparatory 
school.  Rev.  Peter  Akers,  D  D.,  was  elected  president  of  the  Col- 
lege September  27,  1833,  and  soon  after  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office.  Dr.  A.  had  been  educated  at  Transylvania  University, 
Ky  ,  and  was  earnestly  requested  by  Bishop  McKendree  to  accept 
the  care  of  this  new  charge  of  the  Church.  Through  his  influence 
the  college  building,  which  was  still  unfinished  but  had  been  for 
some  years  in  use,  was  now  completed.  Agents  were  appointed ; 
application  was  made  to  the  legislature  to  have  the  college  char- 
tered ;  a  boarding-house,  under  the  control  of  the  trustees,  was 
opened,  and  the  work  of  instruction  was  divided  into  proper  depart- 
ments. It  was  resolved  to  undertake  the  endowment  of  a  Profes- 
sorship, to  be  called  in  honor  of  Bishop  Asbury.  The  act  to 
incorporate  the  college  was  approved  February,  1835.  Among 
the  names  of  those  voting  to  grant  the  charter  is  found  that  of 
Abraham  Lincoln.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  charter 
trustees :  John  Dew,  Samuel  H.  Thompson,  James  Riggin,  Nicholas 
Horner,  George  Lowe,  Robert  Moore,  Theophilus  M.  Nichols, 
Joshua  Barnes,  Samuel  Stites,  David  L.  West,  Nathan  Horner, 
Joseph  Foulks,  Thornton  Peeples,  John  S.  Barger,  Nathaniel  M. 
McCurdy,  Anthony  W.  Casad  and  Benjamin  Hypes.  The  institu- 
tution  was  greatly  in  need  of  fund.s  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the 
professorships  recently  established,  and  Dr.  Akers,  April  22,  1835, 
was  released  from  the  duties  of  the  presidency  in  order  to  solicit 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Ill 


donations  in  behalf  of  the  college.    Rev.  James  C.  Finley,  D.D., 
■was  employed  as  his  substitute  in  the  work  of  instruction.     Later 
in  the  same  year,  Sept.  19,   1835,  Kev.  John  Dew  was  elected 
president.    Prof.  Annis  Merrill,  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity, Conn.,  was  chosen  Feb.  13,  1836,  for  the  Professorship  of 
Ancient  Languages — a  chair  which  was  then  named  the  "  John 
Emory  Professorship."     He  prevailed  upon  the  trustees  to  adopt 
the  course  of  study  pursued  at  the  institution  where  he  had  beeen 
educated,  and  also  secured  the  election  of  his  friend,  James  W. 
Sunderland,  to  the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Phi- 
losophy.    These  two  young   professors,  students  from   the  same 
university,  were  the  real  founders  of  the  literary  character  of  the 
college.      They  were  fresh  from  their  studies,   distinguished  for 
scholarship,  full  of  zeal,  with  an  enthusiastic  love  of  learning,  and 
well  fitted  to  be  pioneers  in  the  cause  of  collegiate  instruction. 
Entering  upon  their  duties,  they  collected  around  them  a  band  of 
young  men  into  whom  they  transfused  their  own  ardor  in  the  pur- 
suit of  knowledge.     They  determined  to  omit  nothing  from  the  list 
of  studies  required  in  the  best  Eastern  colleges. 

They  encountered  serious  obstacles ;  but  difficulties  disappeared 
before  their  irrepressible  energy.  They  were  ready  to  labor,  and 
content  to  wait,  and,  as  is  the  case  with  most  men  animated  by 
such  motives,  they  accomplished  the  object  for  which  they  strove. 
Their  toils  were  indeed  fruitful,  both  as  regards  those  who  were 
immediately  under  their  care,  and  as  preparing  the  way  in  which 
their  successors  were  to  follow.  Their  high  ideal  was  an  inspira- 
tion, and  has  become  an  example.  Rev.  John  Dew  .resigned  the 
presidency  Sept.  18,  1837,  and  Rev.  John  W.  Merrill,  D.D.,  was 
elected  as  his  successor.  Dr.  Merrill  was  a  brother  of  Prof.  Mer- 
rill, and  was  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan  University  and  also  of  Ando- 
ver  Theological  Seminary.  Under  his  direction  the  several  depart- 
ments of  the  college  were  regularly  organized,  and  the  scholarly 
work  of  himself  and  his  colleagues  soon  gave  to  the  institution 
deserved  reputation.  He  has  described  his  labors  in  an  interesting 
letter,  from  which  the  following  extract  is  taken  : 

"  Let  me  here  advert  to  ihe  literary  labors  of  the  College  in  the 
four  years  of  my  connection  with  it.  The  work  was  assigned  to 
the  Professors,  and  the  best  methods  of  study,  recitations  and 
reviews  in  the  older  colleges  were  adopted  ;  a  kind,  but  strict  dis- 
cipline preserved ;  examinations  at  the  end  of  the  terms,  and  the 
years,  were  instituted  ;  and  these  continued  usually  one  week  each. 
Exhibitions,  by  original  productions,  accompanied  the  examinations 
at  the  close  of  the  terms,  and  at  the  anniversaries.  General 
harmony  prevailed.  There  were  few  cases  of  discipline,  and  those 
re^tiiring  dismission  extremely  rare.  Study,  cheerfulness,  and 
good  order  were  characteristics  of  the  College.  At  sunrise  and 
near  sunset,  for  four  years,  I  met  the  students  in  the  Chapel  for 
religious  services.  There  were  often  seasons  of  spiritual  refreshing 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  The  scriptures  were  read,  a  hymn 
was  sung,  and  prayer  offered.  God  was  pleased  to  visit  the  institu- 
tion with  several  revivals  of  religion,  and  many  students,  as  well 
as  others,  shared  in  its  blessings.  Learning  and  religion  mated 
well  together.  It  happened  to  me  not  only  to  do  the  work  assigned 
by  the  Trustees ;  but  where  there  seemed  a  want,  there  I  applied 
my  strength.  It  thus  occurred  that  the  first  class  in  College  read 
most  of  their  College  Greek  with  me.  They  read  under  my  eye 
the  whole  of  the  first  volume  of  the  Majora,  and  the  most  of  the 
second,  excepting  the  tragedies,  though  they  read  the  Medea,  and 
twelve  books  of  Homer's  Iliad.  Few  classes  in  the  older  Colleges 
read  more  Greek  than  this.  As  it  was  found  the  powers  of  our 
College  charter  were  too  narrow,  and  as  it  seemed  desirable  to 
introduce  Professorships  in  Sacred  Literature,  Ecclesiastical  History 


and  Theology,  as  well  as  chairs  in  the  other  professions,  it  was 
suggested  by  me,  that  that  end  should  be  secured  in  the  new  char- 
ter, and  it  was  agreed  by  the  Trustees  to  ask  of  the  Legislature 
power  to  establish  '  professorships  in  all  the  learned  professions,' 
and  this  power  was  generously  and  amply  granted.  When  we  had 
obtained  the  new  charter,  the  senior  class  read,  with  me,  one  exer- 
cise in  the  Gospels  a  week  exegetically.  Our  students  studied  so 
diligently,  and  the  examinations  were  so  satisfactory,  that,  on  the 
graduation  of  this  class,  the  college  had  taken  a  high  literary  rank 
in  the  State,  and  our  number  of  students  were  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty-two  during  the  year.  The  members  of  the  graduating 
class  were  R.  F.  Cunningham,  H.  H.  Horner,  J.  Johnson,  W.  T. 
Lucky,  J.  Pierson,  E.  Robinson  and  W.  Weer.  Their  examina- 
tions had  been  passed  with  credit.  Their  orations  had  been  pre- 
pared, and  in  a  grove  hard  by  the  college  premises,  over  the  road 
nearly  in  front  of  the  college  grounds,  a  stage  had  been  erected, 
and  here  the  exhibitions  of  the  three  lower  classes  had  passed  off 
well.  The  commencement  day  had  arrived,  a  large  crowd  had  assem- 
bled, the  trustees  and  visitors  were  on  the  stage  with  the  Faculty^ 
the  senior  class  one  by  one  had  made  their  addresses,  the  diplomas 
were  distributed,  the  degrees  conferred ;  and  now  the  first  class  in 
McKendree  College  had  been  admitted  to  the  grade  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts ;  and  this,  I  think,  was  the  first  class  admitted  to  that  degree 
in  a  Methodist  college,  north  of  Kentucky  and  west  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. This  was  iu  1811.  It  was  one-sixth  larger  than  the  first  class 
graduated  at  the  Wesleyan  University.  This  was  a  joyous  day  in 
McKendree." 

The  new  charter,  to  which  Dr.  Merrill  refers,  was  approved  Jan. 
26,  1839.  As  the  college  is  still  governed  in  accordance  with  its 
provisions,  it  will  be  proper  to  give  the  names  of  the  trustees  to 
whom  it  was  granted.  They  were  William  Wilson,  Samuel  H. 
Thompson,  Thornton  Peeples,  John  S.  Barger,  Benjamin  Hypes, 
Hiram  K.  Ashley,  Joshua  Barnes,  James  Riggin,  Wathan  Horner, 
Benjamin  T.  Kavanaugh,  Theophilus  M:  Nichols,  Crispin  Cunning- 
ham, John  Hogan,  Jesse  Renfro,  Benjamin  Bond,  and  Alexander 
M.  Jenkins.  Dr.  Merrill  resigned  Aug.  18,  1841,  and  Rev.  James 
C.  Finley,  D.D.,  a  graduate  of  Princtton,  N.  J  ,  was  chosen  in  his 
stead.  Dr.  Finley  served  until  March  10,  1S46,  when  Dr.  Akers 
was  invited  to  take  the  position.  The  college  at  this  time  was 
severely  pressed  financially,  and  Dr.  Akers  did  not  assume  the 
active  duties  of  his  office.  The  institution  was  suspended  from  the 
autumn  of  1845  to  the  autumn  of  1846.  Rev.  Erastus  Wentworth, 
D.D.,  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan  University,  was  elected  President 
April  1, 1846,  with  a  Faculty  selected  entirely  from  eastern  col- 
leges. The  first  measure  of  the  new  Faculty  was  tc  provide  a  course 
of  study  with  the  ancient  languages  omitted.  Those  who  completed 
this  course  were  to  receive  the  degree  of  "Bachelor  of  Science." 
Steps  were  also  taken  to  provide  for  the  erection  of  a  more  commo- 
dious building,  and  through  the  uutidng  efforts  of  the  agent,  Rev. 
Wm.  Goodfellow,  this  object  was  accomplished.  The  '■  Lebanon 
Journal,"  a  newspaper  in  the  interest  of  the  college,  was  established 
in  1849.  It  served  as  an  organ  of  communication  between  the 
friends  of  the  college  and  the  church,  and  was  continued  for  several 
years,  but  never  was  a  financial  success.  Dr.  Wentworth  remained 
in  his  office  four  years,  and  did  much  to  make  the  college  popular 
and  to  attract  students  to  its  halls.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Anson  W.  Curamings,  D.D.,  who  held  the  office  for  two  years. 
Rev.  Peter  Akers,  D.D.,  was  chosen  president  in  1852,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  five  years.  A  new  scheme  for  the  endowment  of 
the  college  by  the  sale  of  scholarships  was  devised  i  i  1854,  and 
agents  were  sent  into  the  field,  and  labored  strenuously  to  accom- 
plish the  object  designed.     During  Dr.  Akers'  term  of  office  the 


118 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


old  college  building  caught  fire,  and  was  consumed.  Dr.  Akers 
appealed  to  the  public  to  replace  the  loss,  and  the  present  college 
chapel  was  soon  after  begun.  Dr.  Akers  resigned  July,  1857,  and 
Dr.  Werter  R.  Davis,  senior  professor,  acted  as  president  until  the 
spring  term  of  1858,  when  Rev.  Nelson  E.  Cobleigh,  D.D.,  by  the 
election  of  the  executive  committee,  was  called  to  the  position. 
His  election  was  confirmed  in  the  following  June  by  the  board  of 
trustees.  Dr.  Cobleigh  (1814-1874)  was  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan 
University,  had  been  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  in  McKen- 
dree  College  for  the  year  1853-4,  and  in  Lawrence  University, 
Wis.,  from  1854  to  the  spring  of  1858. 

Dr.  Cobleigh  signalized  his  entrance  upon  office  by  discarding 
all  plans  of  endowing  the  college  by  means  of  scholarships,  and 
resolved  to  appeal  at  once  to  the  generosity  of  the  public.  He  fixed 
the  sum  he  proposed  to  raise  at  twenty  thousand  dollars,  ($20,000) 
and  prevailed  upon  the  Southern  Illinois  Conference  to  assume  the 
collection  of  one-half  of  this  amount,  while  Lebanon  and  vicinity 
were  to  furnish  the  other  portion.  The  preachers  ^ntered  cheer- 
fully into  the  plan.  Lebanon  and  the  immediate  neighborhood, 
through  the  earnest  efforts  of  Dr.  Cobleigh  and  the  friends  of  the 
college,  contributed  twelve  thousand  dollars  ($12,000).  The  Con- 
ference raised  the  promised  $10,000  in  notes  which  it  agreed  to 
make  good.  This  work  was  completed  in  the  year  1860,  and  is  the 
most  important  financial  scheme  devised  and  carried  into  execution 
in  the  history  of  the  college  It  relieved  the  institution  from  im-' 
mediate  pressure,  and  assured  its  permanence.  Dr.  Cobleigh 
resigned  in  1863,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Robert  Allyn,  D.  D., 
LL.  D,  who  was  the  presiding  officer  of  the  college  for  eleven  years. 
Dr.  Allyn,  like  several  of  his  predecessors,  was  a  graduate  of 
Wesleyan  University.  He  directed  his  efforts  to  the  reduction  of 
the  debt  of  the  college,  and  by  donations  and  special  arrangements 
with  the  creditors,  he  lessened  it  by  the  amount  of  somewhat  more 
than  $20,000.  This  reduction  was  effected  by  the  self-sacrifice  of  the 
professors  of  the  college.  Several  attempts  were  made  during  Dr. 
Allyn's  administration  to  entirely  remove  the  iodebtedness  of  the 
institution,  but  they  were  only  partially  successful,  and  at  his  de-- 
parture  from  the  college,  there  still  remained  upon  it  a  debt  of 
$5,000.  Dr.  Allyn  added  to  the  buildings  of  the  college  a  sub- 
stantial structure  designed  for  gymnastic  purposes,  but  which  has 
since  been  converted  to  the  use  of  the  Commercial  Department. 
■  Through  his  agency,  the  institution  was  opened  to  female  students 
by  vote  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  June  9,  1869.  The  Scientific 
Course  was  enlarged  in  June,  1874,  by  requiring  from  all  candi-' 
dates  for  the  degree  of  "  Bachelor  of  Science "  two  years  of  Latin 
and  German. 

Dr.  Allyn  was  succeeded,  in  1874,  by  Rev.  John  W.  LockCj 
D.  D.,  a  graduate  of  Augusta  College,  Kentucky.  Dr.  Locke  had 
been  for  twelve  years  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Indiana  Asbury 
University,  and  for  a  short  time  President  of  Baker  University, 
Kansas.  He  held  the  oflace  four  years,  during  which  time  depart- 
ments were  instituted  for  students  of  commercial  science  and  of 
music.  The  bequests  of  Mrs.  E.  M.  Riggins  (1875)  and  of  Dr.  N.  M. 
McCurdy  (1876)  increased  the  funds  of  the  college,  and  established 
its  financial  affairs  upon  a  better  basis.  The  successor  of  Dr- 
Locke  was  Rev.  Ross  C  Houghton,  D.D.,  educated  at  Union  Col- 
lege, N.Y.,  and  at  the  time  of  his  election,  June,  1878,  pastor  of 
Union  M.  E.  Churcii,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Dr.  Houghton  retained  his 
pastorship,  and  vi--ited  the  college  at  brief  intervals,  so  as  to  keep 
an  oversight  of  the  management.  As  a  condition  of  remaining,  he 
insisted  that  the  debt  upon  the  college,  amounting  at  that  time  to 
nearly  $7,000,  be  paid,  and  six  citizens  of  Lebanon  gave  their  notes 
for  $  :J,000  for  that  purpose.    The  whole  sum  not  having  been  raised. 


Dr.  Houghton  resigned  the  presidency,  and  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Phil- 
lips, A.M.,  an  alumnus  of  the  college,  was  chosen  to  fill  that  office. 
The  effort  to  remove  the  debt  was  continued  without  interruption, 
and  the  claim  against  the  college,  which  had  been  so  long  a  source 
of  embarrassment,  was  paid  in  full  Dec  31,  1879. 

Financial  History. — The  first  important  movement  with  reference 
to  the  endowment  of  the  college  was  made  April  14,  1836.  Rev. 
B.  T.  Kavanaugh,  D.D.,  agent  of  the  board  of  trustees,  was  author- 
ized to  sell  perpetual  scholarships  for  the  sum  of  $500  each,  and  to 
enter  or  purchase  lands  for  persons  wishing  to  invest  in  real  estate 
in  Illinois,  one  half  of  the  land  thus  entered  or  purchased  to  be 
held  in  the  name  of  the  donor,  and  the  other  for  the  benefit  of  the 
college.  At  that  time  the  national  road  was  in  process  of  construc- 
tion, and  it  was  confidently  expected  that  when  it  was  completed 
through  Illinois,  the  value  of  lands  would  be  enhanced  one  hundred 
per  cent,  within  five  years.  Dr.  Kavanaugh  was  so  active  in  his 
agency  that  the  board  of  trustees,  Jan.  1,  1839,  declared  that  the 
sum  of  $50,000  had  been  subscribed  for  the  endowment  of  the  col- 
lege, and  required  the  agents  to  collect  the  money  or  secure  the  notes 
of  the  subscribers.  But  the  veto  of  the  National  Road  by  Gen. 
Jackson  annulled  the  prospect  of  any  immediate  advancement  in 
the  value  of  Illinois  lands  and  the  financial  disasters  which  occurred 
throughout  the  whole  country  during  the  administration  of  Van 
Buren,  produced  despondency  and  prostration  of  enterprise  in  the 
West.  The  subscribers  found  themselves  unable  to  pay  principal 
or  interest.  Repeated  duns  alienated  their  good  will,  and  embit- 
tered their  feelings.  Of  the  one  hundred  scholarships  sold,  only 
one  was  paid  for  in  cash.  Various  compromises  were  made  with 
the  other  subscribers,  unsatisfactory  to  themselves  and  ruinous  to 
the  college.  Those  who  had  invested  their  money  in  Illinois  lands 
were  also  disappointed  in  their  expectation  of  sudden  riches  and 
disposed  to  complain.  Of  the  $50,000  subscribed,  it  is  believed 
that  scarcely  enough  was  ever  realized  by  the  college  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  the  agent.  A  sad  commentary  upon  the  policy  of  taking 
notes  running  for  a  term  of  years  without  any  security  for  payment 
except  the  signature  of  the  giver. 

The  next  attempt  to  endow  the  college  was  made  in  1854  The 
sale  of  scholarships  for  this  purpose  was  still  common  with  college 
authorities,  and  it  is  not  strange  that  recourse  was  had  to  this 
method  again.  A  committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  James  Leaton, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  Wm.  L.  Deneen  and  Judge  Wm.  H.  Underwood, 
reported  a  plan  to  raise  $100,000.  The  scholarships  were  to  be 
perpetual  and  transferable  only  to  the  college,  and  none  were  to  be 
entitled  to  tuition  on  these  scholarships,  except  members_^  of  families 
of  the  owners.  These  articles  were  unfortunately  so  modified  by  the 
board  of  trustees  as  to  make  the  scholarships  transferable  to  any 
party,  and  to  allow  the  owners  to  sell,  rent,  or  loan  them  to  whom 
they  pleased.  This  change  in  the  original  plan  has  proved  very 
injurious  to  the  college.  Scholarships  for  three  years  were  sold  at 
$30  ;  for  seven  years  at  $50  ;  aud  for  twenty  years  at  $100.  Five 
hundred  and  ninety-six  (596)  of  these  scholarships  were  sold  by 
eight  agents.  Only  about  one  tenth  of  the  aggregate  value  of  the 
scholarships  was  received  in  cash.  Notes  were  given  for  the  rest, 
many  of  which  could  not  be  collected.  The  late  Gov.  French  report- 
ed after  a  careful  examination,  that  the  college  had  paid  one  dollar 
and  two  cents  for  every  dollar  it  had  received  from  the  sale  of  these 
scholarships.  The  failure  of  this  plan,  as  in  the  former  case,  arose 
from  selling  scholarships  to  men  who  did  not  secure  their  notes,  and 
were  unable  to  meet  their  obligations  themselves.  The  cash  col- 
lected, barely  paid  the  salaries  of  the  agents,  and  the  expenses  of 
advertising.  The  college  has  sufl^ered  sorely  from  the  results  of  this 
ill-advised  scheme.     Its  only  beneficial  effect  was  to  bring  somestu- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


119 


dents  to  the  college 'who  but  for  the  possession  of  a  scholarship  would 
probably  never  have  thought  of  seeking  an  education.     Neverthe- 
less the  failure  and  folly  of  these  schemes  are  not  by  any  means  pe- 
culiar to  McKendree  College.     Very  many  of  the  literary  institu- 
tions of  the  U.  S.  founded  by  benevolent  effort  have  had  a  similar 
or  worse  experience.     The  chosen  nation  had  to  journey  for  long 
years  through  the  wilderness,  and  men  and  the  institutions  of  men 
do  not  escape  a  similar  fate.     The  creation  of  a  permanent  fund 
for  the  endowment  of  the  college  is  due  to  the  efforts  of  Dr.  N.  E. 
Cobleigh.    Through  the  exertions  of  himself  and  the  friends  of 
the  college,  the  sum  of  $22,000  was  raised  in  notes,  and  when  notes 
proved   worthless    new   donations  were  sought  to  replace  them 
Most  of  them  were  good.     The  management  of  this  fund  has  been 
in  the  hands  of  careful  men,  such  as  Gov.  French,  Wm.  Nichols, 
H.  H.  Horner,  G.  W.  Seaman,  Luther  Brown,  Henry  Seiter  and 
others.    To  this  permanent  fund  there  was  added  the  sum  of  $2500 
in  1866,  from  the  centenary  collections  of  the  Southern  Illinois 
Conference,  and  land  of  nearly  the  same  value.     In  June,  1872, 
another  plan  was  devised  to  increase  this  fund  by  donations  payable 
in  ten  annual  instalments.     From  this  source  a  small  revenue   is 
derived.    Mrs.  Elizabeth  M.  Riggin  (1805-1875)  willed  to  the  col- 
lege property  valued  at  $23,000,  of  which  a  little  more  than  half 
was  immediately  available.     Dr.  Nathaniel  M.    McCurdy    (.1799- 
1876)  of  Vandalia,  111.,  left  to  the  college,  moneys  and  stocks  of  the 
aggregate  value  of  $25,000,  from  which,  however,  the  institution 
will  not  derive  an  income  for  some  time  to  come-     The  college  has 
therefore  an  endowment  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars   ($75,000) 
of  which  only  about  one  half  is  at  present  yielding  interest.       The 
income  from  this  fund,  and  the  fees  charged  for  tuition,  constitute 
the  means  by  which  the  salaries  of  the  faculty  are  paid.     Of  the 
money  given  to  the  college  for  the  erection   of  buildings,  the  pay- 
ments of  debts,  and  for  endowment,  more  than  $60,000   have  been 
contributed  by  Lebanon  and  vicinity. 

GROUNDS  AND  BUILDINGS. 

The  park  in  which  the  college  buildings  are  located,  consists  of 
seventeen  acres.  The  ground  is  high  and  rolling,  and  the  charm 
of  the  natural  scenery  is  felt  and  acknowledged  by  all  visitors. 
Seen  in  its  full  beauty  during  the  commencement  week  in  June,  it 
presents  a  picture  of  rare  attractiveness.  No  where,  it  should  seem, 
could  be  found  a  fitter  spot,  where  young  and  ardent  minds  might 
be  brought  into  communion  with  "  The  dead  but  sceptered  sover- 
eigns, who  still  rule  our  spirits  from  {heir  urns."  It  is,  indeed,  a 
Mecca  to  those,  who  in  their  early  days  have  trodden  its  walks  and 
reclined  beneath  the  shadow  of  its  noble  forest  trees.  The  build- 
ings of  the  college  are  plain  and  substantial,  and  well  adapted  for 
the  purposes  for  which  they  are  erected  The  main  building  consists 
of  three  stories,  two  of  which  furnish  eight  large  and  commodious 
rooms  for  recitations  and  lectures,  while  the  third  is  devoted  to  the 
halls  of  the  two  literary  societies  of  the  young  gentlemen.  The 
chapel  consists  of  two  stories,  the  upper  of  which  contains  the  au- 
dience room,  which  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  state;  the  lower  is 
divided  into  two  departments,  which  contain  the  library,  the  cabi- 
net and  the  hall  of  the  young  ladies'  literary  society.  The  com- 
mercial hall  contains  but  one  story,  and  is  the  most  elegantly  finished 
on  the  grounds, 

LIBEAEIES, 

The  libraries  of  the  College  contain  between  7000  and  8000 
volumes,  and  many  hundred  pamphlets.  The  books  have  been 
largely  obtained  by  donation,  and  consequently  are  of  a  very  diver- 
sified character.  The  largest  single  donation  came  from  Rev. 
Robert  Emory,  D.  D.,  of  Dickinson  College,  Penn.     The  standard 


works  of  history  and  reference  have  been  purchased.  A  fund  is 
very  much  needed  to  make  the  library  what  it  ought  to  be.  A 
collection  of  so  many  books  cannot  well  be  made  without  contain- 
ing some  rare  volumes.  Among  books  not  often  found  in  American 
libraries  we  may  mention  the  "  Institutes,  Political  and  Military,  of 
Timour,  otherwise  called  Tamerlane's,  in  Persian  and  English. 
Edited  by  Joseph  White,  B.  D.,  Oxford,  1783  ;"  "  The  Flowers  of 
Persian  Literature,  in  Persian  and  English.  Edited  by  S.  Rous- 
seau, 1801 ;"  "  Arabic  Proverbs,  or  the  Manners  and  Customs  of 
the  Modern  Egyptians,  Illustrated  from  their  Proverbial  Sayings 
Current  at  Cairo.  In  Arabic  and  English.  By  John  Lewis  Burck- 
hardt.  London,  1830."  These  books,  with  some  Persian  MSS. 
were  given  to  the  College,  at  the  request  of  Col.  R.  M.  Moore, 
A.  M.,  by  Rev.  Rufus  Spaulding,  missionary  to  Africa,  in  1834, 
The  oldest  book  in  the  library  is  "Julii  Csesaris  Scaligeri,  viri 
clarissimi  Poetices  Libri  Septem,"  printed  in  1661,  A  copy  of 
Edward  Everett's  Works,  presented  by  himself,  and  containing  his 
autograph,  should  not  be  unnoticed, 

LITERAEY    SOCIETIES, 

There  are  three  literary  societies.  Two  of  these  are  for  young 
gentlemen— the  Philosophian,  founded  in  1837,  and  the  Platonian, 
founded  in  1849,  The  exercises  of  these  societies  are  of  the  highest 
utility  in  preparing  young  men  for  professional  life.  Many,  who 
have  since  distinguished  themselves  at  the  bar,  in  the  pulpit,  and 
before  public  assemblies,  have  borne  testimony  to  the  benefits  de- 
rived from  their  youthful  training  here.  The  halls  of  these  socie- 
ties, in  their  size  and  in  the  elegance  of  all  their  appointments,  are 
equalled  by  few  in  the  United  States  They  are  the  pride  of  the 
College,  The  Clionian  Society,  founded  in  1869,  is  designed  to 
furnish  young  ladies  the  same  advantages  as  the  other  societies  offer 
to  young  men, 

CABINET, 

The  cabinet  contains  a  very  large  number  of  specimens,  carefully 
arranged  and  labelled.  The  specimens  were  chiefly  obtained  from 
the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  by  exchanges 
and  donations  nearly  all  parts  of  our  country  are  represented,  as 
well  .as  portions  of  South  America  and  the  Old  World.  President, 
Phillips  procured  from  Dr.  George  Vasey,  M.  S.,  Botanist,  a  bota- 
nical collection  of  about  6000  species,  representing  the  flora  of 
America  with  many  foreign  plants.  He  has  also  purchased  for  the 
College  a  collection  ofmounted  birds,  representing  the  species  found 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Rev.  P,  T.  Wilson,  of  the  class  of  1862,  while 
a  missionary  in  India,  made  a  collection  for  the  College,  embracing 
a  full  assortment  of  marble  images  of  the  numerous  gods  worshipped 
there,  a  few  birds  of  the  richest  plumage,  a  musk  deer,  a  Himalaya 
mountain  goat  and  deer,  a  stuffed  cobra  di  capello  and  other 
specimens  of  minor  interest, 

ALUMNI, 

The  roll  of  Alumni  of  the  College  contains  the  names  of  nearly 
four  hundred  persons,  many  of  whom  are  in  high  offices  of  trust  in 
Church  or  State,  while  others  in  private  stations  are  exerting  an 
influence  not  less  important,  if  less  prominent.  They  may  be  found 
from  Boston  to  Portland,  and  from  St.  Paul  to  Tallahassee  and  Los 
Angeles.  They  are  especially  numerous  in  the  legal  profession,  in 
which  they  are  winning  for  themselves  honor  and  wealth.  An 
equal  number  perhaps  may  be  found  engaged  in  proclaiming  to 
their  fellow  men  the  teachings  of  the  Master.  Others  are  physicians, 
professors,  editors,  congressmen,  judges,  ministers  to  foreign  courts, 
or  missionaries  to  distant  lands.  In  the  war  the  sons  of  McKendree 
nobly  responded  to  the  call  of  their  country  in  her  hour  of  need. 
They  were  to  be  seen  in  all  ranks  from  Major-General  to  the  com- 


120 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


mon   soldier,  and  the  story  of  their  services   forms   an  honorable 
chapter  in  the  history  of  the  College  and  of  the  country. 

Appended  is  a  list  of  the  Presidents  and  Professors,  with  a  state- 
ment of  the  time  of  their  services  in  the  institution  : 

PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  COLLEGE  ASD  PEOFESSORS  OP  MORAL  AND  MENTAL 

SCIENCES. 

ACCESSUS.  EXITOS. 

1833        Rev.  Peter  Akers,  M.A.,  D.  D 1835 

1835  Eev.  John  Dew, 1837 

1838        Re V.  John  W.  Merrill,  M.  A.,  D.  D 1841 

1841        Rev.  James  C.Finley,M.A.,D.D 1845 

1845  Rev.  PeterAkers,  M.  A.,  D.  D 1846 

1846  Rev.  Erastus   Wentworth,  M.  A.,  D.D 1850 

1850  Rev.  Anson  W.  Cummings,  M.A.,  D.D 1852 

1852        Rev.  Peter  Akers,  M.  A.,  D.  D 1857 

1858        Rev.  Nelson  E.  Cobleigh,  M.A.,  D.D 1863 

1863        Rev.   Robert  AUyn,  M.A.,  D.D 1874 

1874        Rev  John  W.  Locke,  M.  A  ,  D.D 1878 

1878  Rev.  Ross  C.  Houghton,  M. A.,  D.D. 1879 

1879  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Phillips,  M.A. 

ANCIENT  LANGUAGES  AND   LITERATURE. 

1836  Annis  Merrill,  M.A 1841 

1841        Rev.J.  C.  Finley,  M.A 1844 

1844  H.  H.  Horner,  M.A 1845 

1845  Rev.  G.  L.  Roberts,  M.A 1846 

1846  Rev.   Spencer  Mattison.  M.A 1852 

1852  Oran  Faville,  M.A.,  LLD 1853 

1853  Rev.  N.  E.  Cobleigh,  M.A.,  D.D 1854 

1854  Rev.  G.  G.  Junes,  M.A 1857 

1857  Samuel  W.  Williams,  M.A 1858 

1858  Albert  A.  Scott,  M  A 1860 

1863        Rev.  James  C.  Finley,  M.A.,M.D 1865 

LATIN    LANGUAGE   AND   LITERATURE,   AND   HISTORY. 

18-58        Samuel  H.  Deneen,  M.A.,  Ph.D. 

GREEK  LANGUAGE  AND  LITERATURE,  AND  GERMAN. 

1863        William  F.  Swahlen,  MA.,  Ph.D. 

MATHEMATICS    AND   NATURAL   PHILOSOPHY. 

1836        James  W.  Sunderland,  M.A.,LL.D 1845 

1845  John  L.  Scripps,  M.A 1846 

1846  Rev.  A.  W.  Cummings,  M.A.,  D.D 1850 

1851  Rev.   R.  Z.  Mason,  A.M.,  LL.D 1854 

18-54        Rev.  E.  C.  Merrick,  M.A 1855 

MATHEMATICS  AND  ASTRONOMY. 

1855  R.  M.  Moore,  M.A „ 1866 

1866        O.  V.  Jones,  M.A 1879 

1879        Joseph  Harris,  M.A. 

NATURAL  SCIENCE. 

1851        Rev.  James  Leighton,  M.A.,  D.D 1852 

1854        Rev.  Werter  R.  Davis,  D.D 1858 

1858        Rev.  Franklin  0.  Blair,  M.A. 1871 

1871        Rev.  Evan  E.  Edwards,  M.A.,  Ph.D 1879 

1879        Lucy  J.  Rider. 

PROFESSOR  OF  LAW. 

1861        Hon.  A.  C.  French,  LL.D 1865 

1865        H.  H.  Horner,  M.A. 


INSTITUTION  OF  THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION. 
ladies'    academy,    BELLEVILLE,    ILL. 

The  History  of  Catholic  Eduaation  in  Belleville  dates  from  the 
year  1846,  when  we  find  an  humble,  self  sacrificing  Catholic  priest, 
Eev.  G.  H.  Ostlangenberg,  gathering  around  him  the  children  of 
the  few  Catholic  families  of  Belleville  in  the  basement  of  their 
little  church,  thus  laying  the  foundation  of  the  present  parochial 
schools  of  St.  Peter's  congregation.  Many  were  the  difficulties  to  be 
surmounted.  Few  children — most  of  them  from  the  locality — scanty 
means,  want  of  competent  teachers.     Early  settlers  feelingly  relate 


how  the  good  priest  had  to  work  in  order  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
the  first  school.  But  also  the  teachers  had  their  difficulties :  among 
the  children  there  had  to  be  almost  as  many  classes  as  there  were 
children;  and,  what  was  still  more  annoying,  among  them  were 
representatives  of  almost  every  nationality: — German,  French, 
English,  Irish,  American,  Bohemian.  Yet  the  zeal  of  Father  Ost- 
langenberg was  undaunted.  Notwithstanding  all  the  difficulties 
he  kept  up  his  school  until  he  left  Belleville,  and  attained  the  end 
sought  after  in  establishing  it.  Most  of  the  pupils  of  his  school 
have  done  well  in  life,  and  remained  faithful  to  the  church. 

His  successor,  the  present  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Alton,  being 
likewise  interested  in  the  education  of  the  children,  thought  it  ex- 
pedient to  procure  membars  of  a  religious  community  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  task-  In  the  year  1857,  he  took  up  a  collec- 
tion for  the  building  of  a  convent  and  school-rooms  for  the  girls  of 
the  congregation.  The  building  was  to  be  107  feet  in  front,  40  feet 
deep,  and  30  feet  high — the  middle  part  of  the  present  "  Institute 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception."  It  cost  $8437.09,  of  which  about 
$800.00  were  contributed  by  liberal  citizens  of  Belleville,  about 
$5000.00  by  St.  Peter's  congregation,  and  the  balance  of  $2600.00 
by  the  Sisters  of  the  Mother  house  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  to  whom 
the  Reverend  Pastor  had  applied  for  teachers  for  his  schools.  In 
September,  1859,  two  Sisters,  with  Sister  Mary  Jerome,  as  Supe- 
rioress arrived  in  Belleville.  The  day  of  their  arrival  was  a  day 
of  great  joy  among  the  parishioners.  But  the  good  Sisters  had  not 
only  to  teach ;  they  had  also  the  arduous  task  of  finishing  the 
structure,  and  furnishing  the  same,  out  of  their  own  scanty  means. 
They  opened  school  in  the  new  building,  in  October,  1859,  with 
seventy-five  girls.  A  male  teacher  had  charge  of  the  boys,  who 
had  their  class-room  in  the  basement  of  the  old  church. 

Soon  afterwards  a  school-room  was  built  for  them  on  the  lot,  on 
which  now  St.  Peter's  church  stands,  from  where  it  was  removed 
1863,  to  the  lot  where  now  the  St.  Elizabeth  Hospital  is  erected. 
The  number  of  scholars  increasing  from  year  to  year,  more  teach- 
ers were  required  and  consequently  more  room.  In  the  year  1863, 
the  sisters  took  charge  also  of  the  smaller  boys,  who  after  the  com- 
pletion of  the  new  church  had  their  class-rooms  in  the  old  church 
building,  which  had  been  divided  into  three  large  and  commodious 
school-rooms.  There  the  boys'  school  was  continued  until  September, 
1879,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  school-rooms  of  the  St.  Agnos  Or- 
phan Asylum.  The  larger  boys  are  in  charge  of  Mr.  Clemens 
Willenbrink,  the  successful  teacher  and  organist  of  St.  Peter's  Con- 
gregation for  the  last  six  years.  As  a  preparatory  class  to  the 
parochial  schools  a  Kindergarten,  numbering  at  an  average  sixty 
children  has  been  in  operation  for  the  last  four  years  under  the 
charge  of  a  sister.  It  is  an  interesting  class,  and  has  proved  very 
beneficial  to  those  in  attendance. 

Since  April  this  year  another  school  has  been  opened  for   the 
English  children— boys  and  girls— exclusively,  in  which  the  English 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


121 


branches  only  are  being  taught.  Thus  the  parochial  schools  of 
St.  Peter's  Congregation  are  divided  into  four  different  classes  for 
boys;  four  for  girls ;  English  school,  and  Kindergarten,  in  which  al- 
'together  nine  Bisters  and  one  male  teacher  are  engaged  in  teaching 
about  650  children.  Besides  all  the  branches  taught  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  country,  Bible  History  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment and  Catechism  alternately  are  being  taught  in  all  classes  for 
half  an  hour  every  day.  The  girls  are  also  instructed  twice  a  week 
in  needle  work.  Singing  classes  are  given  twice  a  week,  half  an 
hour  in  the  afternoon,  in  which  singing  is  taught  systematically, 
so  that  for  the  last  five  years  the  children  of  the  parochial  school 
have  been  able  to  sing  every  first  Sunday  of  the  month  at  High 
mass  and  the  psalms  at  Vespers  in  the  afternoon  in  St.  Peter's  church, 
to  the  great  pleasure  of  the  juvenile  singers,  and  the  edification  of 
the  whole  congregation. 

Examinations  take  place  in  all  schools  twice  a  year — in  the  be- 
ginning of  December,  and  at  the  end  of  April,  afterthe  latter  part  of 
which,  in  the  month  of  May,  a  public  exhibition,  consisting  of  sing- 
ing, declamations,  and  tableaux,  is  given  in  the  grand  hall  of  the 
Sisters'  Convent,  at  which  all  children  of  the  parochial  schools  and 
their  parents  are  present.  It  is  the  gr.  at  gala  day  of  the  children, 
because  they  know  their  fathers  and  mothers  are  among  the  au- 
dience, listening  to  their  songs  and  plays.  Though  the  world  ge- 
nerally ignores  the  labors  of  the  good  sisters,  St.  Peter's  Congre- 
gation offers  them  a  tribute  of  gratitude  bj'  declaring  that  the  day 
of  their  coming  to  Belleville  was  one  of  great  blessing.  Thousands 
of  its  members  thank  them  for  their  education,  secular  as  well  as  re- 
ligious. In  the  records  of  Heaven  alone  will  we  find  all  they  have 
done  for  the  furtherance  of  the  holy  work,  and  there,  too,  in  that 
abode  of  bliss,  is  their  reward  awaiting  them. 

A  day  or  select  school,  divided  into  three  departments,  is  also  in 
charge  of  these  Sisters,  and  open  to  the  children  of  Belleyille  in  ge- 
neral. All  the  branches  required  for  a  finished  education  are  taught 
in  these  classes.  Charges  are :  Primary  department  $6.00,  Inter- 
mediate department  $8.00  and  Senior  department  $10.00  per  session 
of  five  months.  Vocal  music  in  class,  three  times  a  week,  no  extra 
charge.  Private  vocal  lessons  $20.00  per  session.  Instrumental 
music,  lessons  given  daily,  also  $20.00  per  session. 

Many  ladies  of  Belleville  and  vicinity  have  received  their  musi- 
cal education  from  the  Sisters  de  Notre  Dame,  and  it  is  a  source  of 
gratification  to  these  Sisters  to  know  that  many  of  their  former  pu- 
pils now  conduct  church  choirs  and  play  the  organ  during  divine 
service  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

The  boarding-school  for  young  ladies,  known  as  "  Institute  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception,"  offers  every  advantage  of  similar  institu- 
tions. The  Sisters,  feeling  bound  to  respond  to  the  confidence  placed 
in  them  by  parents  and  guardians,  give  their  pupils  a  Christian  and 
thorough  education.  Pupils  of  all  religious  denominations  are  re- 
ceived. The  course  of  study,  pursued  in  this  institution,  embraces 
the  English,  German  and  French  languages,  with  all  useful  and 
ornamental  branches  taught  to  young  ladies. 

Private  examinations  are  held  every  two  months  and  written  re- 
ports sent  to  parents  and  guardians.  Premiums  are  distributed 
to  the  most  deserving,  at  the  commencement,  held  annually  in  the 
Exhibition  Hall,  towards  the  end  of  June. 

The  building  is  very  spacious,  measuring  one  hundred  and  eighty 
feet  front,  and  one  hundred  feet  deep,  thoroughly  ventilated,  heated 
by  furnaces,  lighted  by  gas,  and  furnished  with  all  modern  im- 
provements. 

A  beautiful  chapel,  built  in  the  Byzantine  style,  occupies  a  part 
of  the  western  wing.  Over  the  main  altar  is  a  life-size  figure  of  our 

"  Lady  "  carved  in  wood.     A  silver  lamp,  in  the  shape  of  a  dove, 
16  ..,...., 


gives  forth  its  light,  by  night  and  day,  before  the  sanctuary  of  the 
Holy  of  Holies.  Young  lady  boarders  have  access  to  the  chapel 
for  general  and  private  devotions. 

The  moderate  prices,  together  with  the  healthy  location  and  many 
advantages  of  this  institution  should  b3  an  inducement  to  parents 
and  guardians  to  place  their  children  or  wards  in  care  of  these  excel- 
lent teachers. 

Board  and  tuition  per  annum  only  $150.00 ;  music,  painting, 
etc.,  form  extra  charges. 

Prospectuses  will  be  furnished  with  pleasure,  on  application. 


HOWE  LITERAKY  INSTITUTE. 

EAST   ST.   LOUIS,   ILLINOIS.      BY  EEV.   S.    F.   HOLT. 

This  institution  takes  its  name  from  the  late  Mr.  Lyman  Howe, 
by  whose  liberality  it  was  founded.  Mr.  Howe  was  an  intelligent 
merchant,  who  had  bsen  for  several  years  engaged  in  business  on 
what  is  known  as  Bloody  Island,  just  opposite  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 
Wishing  to  leave  some  memorial  of  himself  that  would,  at  the 
same  time,  be  a  substantial  benefit  to  the  community  then  just  be- 
ginning to  gather  at  that  point,  he  embodied  in  his  will  a  bequest  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  "  for  the  building  of  a  church,  or  school-house, 
or  both,  on  Bloody  Island." 

The  custody  and  expenditure  of  this  bequest  was  especially  com- 
mitted to  the  Hon.  Jno.  B.  Lovingston,  the  executor  of  the  will, 
without  other  instructions  than  those  contained  in  the  single  sen- 
tence above  quoted.  But  Mr.  Lovingston  had  been  a  business  part- 
ner of  Mr.  Howe,  and  was  in  hearty  sympathy  with  his  liberal  ini- 
pulses  and  enlightened  public  spirit,  and  believing  that  the  wishes 
of  the  testator  would  be  best  attained  by  the  establishment  of  an 
educational  institution,  he  decided  to  appropriate  the  fund  to  that 
purpose. 

It  was  desirable  that  such  an  institution  should  have  the  fostering 
care  of  some  organized  body,  interested  in  education,  that  would  be 
perpetual  in  its  own  existence,  and  would  give  the  institute  a  con- 
stant and  permanent  support.  With  this  object  in  view,  Mr.  Lov- 
ingston proffered  the  control  of  the  enterprise  to  the  South  District 
Baptist  Association,  and  this  body,  after  due  consideration,  decided 
to  accept  the  trust. 

In  October,  1871,  an  educational  association  was  formed  for  this 
purpose,  composed  chiefly  of  prominent  citizens  of  St.  Clair  and 
Madison  counties.  An  incorporation  under  the  general  law  of  the 
State  was  effected,  and  a  Board  of  Trustees  chosen. 

Of  this  association  Hon.  J.  B.  Lovingston  was  made  President, 
Hon.  Jas.  P.  Slade,  Secretary,  and  Eev.  J.  M.  Cochran,  who  had 
been  most  active  in  promoting  the  enterprise  thus  far,  was  chosen 
Corresponding  Secretary  and  Financial  Agent.  The  Board  of 
Trustees  then  chosen  has  (continued  substantially  to  the  present 
time.  Including  some  changes  caused  chiefly  by  death,  the  list 
comprises,  in  addition  to  the  officers  above-named,  the  following 
gentlemen,  who  have  also  been  the  principal  supporters  of  the  in- 
stitute :  Jno.  T.  Lemen,  M.  W.  Weir,  G.  W.  Darrow,  David  Ogle, 
L  M  St.  John,  W.  R.  Begole,  Chas.  Gooding,  W.  A.  Darrow, 
Warren  Beedle,  M.  T.  Stookey,  Fred.  Merrill  and    VV.  M.  Ander- 

This  association  decided  to  establish  at  East  St.  Louis  an  educa- 
tional institution,  bearing  the  name,  Howe  Literary  Institute. 

At  the  early  date  of  Mr.  Howe's  death,  he  did  not  anticipate, 
nor  did  any  one  else  then  foresee,  how  completely  Bloody  Island 
would  be  occupied  by  the  numerous  railroads  since  built,  which 
eonverc^e  to  a  common  focus  upon  it,  rendering  it  a  quite  unsuitable 


.122 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


C.   li,    Clarke, 


HOWE  LITERARY  INSTITUTE,  East  St.  Louis,  Lllinois. 


location  for  the  building  he  had  provided  fur.  With  the  concur- 
rence of  the  executors  and  the  heirs  of  the  estate,  a  decree  in  Chan- 
cery was  obtained,  authorizing  a  change  of  location  ;  and  the  pre- 
sent site,  donated  in  part  by  Mr.  Lovingston,  was  fixed  upon.  The 
campus  contains  about  one  acre,  healthily  and  pleasantly  situated 
on  the  highest  ground  in  East  St.  Luiis,  just  outside  the  present 
limits  of  the  city,  and  about  one  and  a  half  miles  directly  east  of 
the  Great  Bridge. 

In  the  summer  of  1873  the  trustees  began  the  erection  of  the 
institute  building.  At  ihat  time  the  whole  country  was  in  the  full 
tide  of  commercial  and  business  prosperity,  and  the  work  of  build- 
ing was  entered  upon  in  the  confidence  which  that  prosperity  in- 
spired, without  apprehension  of,  or  provision  for,  the  disastrous 
changes  which  were  soon  to  follow.  Overtaken  by  the  sudden  finan- 
cial panic  in  the  autumn,  the  trustees  were  obliged  to  suspend 
the  work,  and  the  walls  were  left  standing  unfinished  several 
months.     In  the  spring  of  1874,  as  money  could  not  be  otherwise 


raised,  the  needed  funds  were  burrowed,  the  building  completed, 
and  the  school  opened  in  October,  under  the  supervision  of  Rev. 
S.  F.  Holt,  A.  M.,  who  had  been  elected  President  of  the  institute 
in  the  spring,  and  had  bsen  actively  engaged  during  the  summer  in 
finishing  and  furnishing  the  edifice.  The  cost  of  the  edifice,  exclu- 
sive of  the  bite,  was  about  $20,000. 

During  the  several  years  of  "  hard  times  "  which  followed  the 
opening  of  the  institute,  its  history  was  a  continuous  struggle,  not 
so  much  for  success  as  for  existence.  Returning  commercial  pros- 
perity brought  a  better  patronage  to  the  institute,  and  greatly 
brightened  its  prospects.  It  now  promises  to  become  a  permanent 
and  successful  institution  of  great  benefit  to  the  city  in  which  it  is 
located,  and  to  the  people  of  the  surrounding  country. 

The  annual  attendance  has  varied  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and 
seventy.  It  has  a  carefully-arranged  course  of  study,  upon  the 
completion  of  which  a  diploma  is  given.  The  number  of  graduates 
thus  far  is  fourteen.     Its  first  President  still  continues  at  its  head. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


123 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


PATRIOTISM  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY. 


T  the  time  of  the  earliest  settlements  in  this  connly 
to  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  of  Paris,  Febru- 
ary 10th,  1763,  the  allegiance  of  her  inhabitants 
was  due  to  France.  Catholic  missionaries,  deter- 
mined on  the  regeneration  of  the  Indian  .tribes, 
armed  with  the  gospel  of  peace,  yet  fearful  of 
inability  to  conquer  that  peace,  planted  the 
French  standard  above  thtir  rudely  constructed 
forts.  Their  devotion  was  first  to  the  cause  of  God,  and  second  to 
that  of  France.  By  that  treaty  their  allegiance  was  transferred  to 
the  British  crown  in  terms  as  follows  : 

"  In  order  to  establish  peace  on  solid  and  durable  foundations, 
and  to  remove  forever  all  subjects  of  dispute  with  regard  to  the 
limits  of  the  British  and  French  territories  on  the  continent  of 
America,  it  is  agreed  that  for  the  future  the  confines  between  the 
dominions  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  and  those  of  his  most  excellent 
Christian  Majesty  in  that  part  of  the  world,  shall  be  fixed  irrevo- 
cably by  a  line  drawn  along  the  middle  of  the  river  Mississippi, 
from  its  source  to  the  river  Iberville,  and  from  thence  by  a  line 
drawn  along  the  middle  of  this  river  and  the  lakes  Maurepas  and 
Pontchartrain,  to  the  sea ;  and  for  this  purpose,  the  most  Christian 
king  cedes,  in  full  right,  and  guarantees  to  his  Britannic  Majesty 
the  river  and  port  of  the  Mobile,  and  everything  which  he  pos- 
sesses or  ought  to  possess  on  the  left  side  of  the  river  Mississippi, 
with  the  exception  of  the  town  of  New  Orleans,  and  of  the  island 
on  which  it  is  situated,  which  shall  remain  to  France ;  it  being  well 
understood  that  the  navigation  of  the  river  Mississippi  shall  be  equally 
free,  as  well  to  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain  as  to  those  of  France, 
in  its  whole  breadth  and  length  from  its  source  to  the  sea ;  and, 
expressly,  that  part  which  is  between  the  said  island  of  New  Or- 
leans and  the  right  bank  of  that  river,  as  well  as  the  passage  both 
in  and  out  of  its  mouth.  It  is  further  stipulated  that  the  vessels 
belonging  to  the  subjects  of  either  nations  shall  not  be  stopped, 
visited  or  subjected  to  the  payment  of  any  duty  whatsoever." 

Such  transfer  was  but  in  words.    Those  who  had  gathered  around 
the  missionary  outposts  were  a  law  unto  themselves.     They  cared 
little  whether  England   or   France   maintained   supremacy   over 
them.  France  lost  not  her  hold  upon  their  affections,  nor  did  England 
secure  their  confidence.     English  subjects  who  visited  Kaskaskia 
and  Cahokia  only  served  the  purpose  of  instilling  into  their  minds 
a  dread  of  the  "  Long  Knives,"  as  the  Virginians  were  called,  pro- 
nouncing them  the  most  cruel,  fierce  and  blood-thirsty  savages  that 
ever  raised  a  tomahawk.     Advantage  was  taken  of  this  fact  by 
Clark  when  he  made  his  conquest.     Inasmuch  as  thi^  conquest  was 
practically  terminated  at  Cahokia,  a  brief  review  will  not  be  amiss. 
Clark  never  betrayed  fear  in  the  presence  of  Indians ;  never  bribed 
them  into  compliance  with  his  wishes  by  loading  them  with  pre- 
sents ;  never  made  advances  when  seeking  for  relations  of  peace. 
At  Cahokia,  when  Indian  warriors  had  thrown  away  the  bloody 
wampum  sent  them  by  the  British,  he  coldly  told  them  he  would 
answer  them  the  next  day,  and  cautioned  them  against  shaking 
hands  with   the  .Long  Knives,  as  peace  was   not  yet   concluded, 
saying  it  was  time  enough  to  extend  hands  when  hearts  went  with 
them.     The  next  day  the  Indians  gathered  to  hear  the  answer  of 
Big  Knife,  which  was  made  by  Col.  Clark,  as  follows  : 
"  Men  and  warriors  :  pay  attention  to  my  words.    You  informed 


me  yesterday  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  brought  us  toge'her,  and 
that  you  hoped  that  as  He  was  good,  it  would  be  for  good.  I  have 
also  the  same  hope,  and  expect  that  each  party  will  strictly  adhere 
to  whatever  may  be  agreed  upon,  whether  it  shall  be  peace  or  war, 
and  henceforth  prove  ourselves  worthy  the  attention  of  the  Great 
Spirit.  I  am  a  man  and  a  warrior,  not  a  counsellor.  I  carry  war 
in  my  right-hand,  and  in  my  left  peace.  I  am  sent  by  the 
great  council  of  the  Big  Knife  and  their  friends,  to  take  possession 
of  all  the  towns  possessed  by  the  English  in  this  country,  and  to 
watch  the  motions  of  the  red  people ;  to  bloody  the  paths  of  those 
who  attempt  to  stop  the  course  of  the  river ;  but  to  clear  the  roads 
for  us  to  those  that  desire  to  be  in  peace;  that  the  women  and 
children  may  walk  in  them  without  meeting  anything  to  strike 
their  feet  against.  I  am  ordered  to  call  upon  the  Great  Fire  for 
warriors  enough  to  darken  the  land,  and  that  the  red  people  may 
hear  no  sound  but  of  birds  who  live  on  blood.  I  know  there  is 
a  mist  before  your  eyes;  I  will  dispel  the  clouds  that  you  may 
clearly  see  the  causes  of  the  war  between  the  Big  Knife  and  the 
English ;  then  you  may  judge  for  yourselves  which  party  is  in  the 
right ;  and  if  you  are  warriors,  as  you  profess  yourselves  to  be, 
prove  it  by  adhering  faithfully  to  the  party  which  you  shall  be- 
lieve to  be  entitled  to  your  friendship,  and  not  show  yourselves  to 
be  squaws." 

He  then  proceeded  by  vivid  imagery  to  describe  the  cause  of  the 
war,  and  added:  "The  English  were  driven  from  one  place  to 
another  until  they  got  weak,  and  then  they  hired  you  red  people 
to  fight  for  them.  The  Great  Spirit  got  angry  at  this,  and  caused 
your  old  Father,  the  French  king,  and  other  great  nations,  to  join 
the  Big  Knife,  and  fight  with  them  against  all  their  enemies.  So 
the  English  have  become  like  a  deer  in  the  woods;  and  you  may 
see  that  it  is  the  Great  Spirit  that  has  caused  your  waters  to  be 
troubled,  because  you  have  fought  for  the  people  He  was  mad 
with.  If  your  women  and  children  should  now  cry,  you  must 
blame  yourselves  for  it,  and  not  the  Big  Knife.  You  can  now 
judge  who  is  in  the  right.  I  have  already  told  you  who  I  am ; 
here  is  a  bloody  belty  and  a  white  one ;  take  which  you  please. 
Behave  like  men,  and  don't  let  your  being  surrounded  by  the  Big 
Knife  cause  you  to  take  up  the  one  belt  with  your  hands,  while 
your  hearts  take  up  the  othei'.  If  you  ta'<e  the  bloody  path,  you 
shall  leave  the  town  in  safety,  and  may  go  and  join  your  friends, 
the  English ;  we  will  then  try  who  can  longest  keep  our  clothes 
stained  with  blood.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  you  should  take  the 
path  of  peace,  and  be  received  as  brothers  to  the  Big  Knife,  with 
their  friends  the  French,  should  you  then  listen  to  bad  birds  that 
may  be  flying  through  the  land,  you  will  no  longer  deserve  to  be 
counted  as  men,  but  as  creatures  with  two  tongues,  that  ought  to 
be  destroyed,  without  listening  to  anything  you  might  say.  As 
I  am  convinced  you  never  heard  the  truth  before,  I  do  not  wish 
you  to  answer  before  you  have  taken  time  to  counsel.  We  will, 
therefore,  part  this  evening,  and  when  the  Great  Spirit  shall  bring 
us  together  again,  let  us  speak  and  think  like  men  with  one  heart 
and  tongue." 

The  effect  of  this  address  was  all  that  the  patriotic  Clark  and 
his  followers  could  have  desired.  The  neatness  with  which  he 
coupled  the  French  and  Big  Knives  was  admirable,  and  had  great 
weight  with  the  Indians,  who  held  the  old  missionaries  in  reve- 
rence. From  this  hour  a  patriotism  iu  behalf  of  the  cause  of 
American  Independence  was  awakened  that  has  ever  been  main- 
tained. To  General  George  Rogers  Clark,  more  than  to  any  other 
one  man,  is  the  Mississippi  valley  indebted  for  its  English  speaking 
pioneers,'  many  of  whom  were  of  Clark's  immediate  command. 
To  this 'conquest,  too,  are  the  United  States    indebted_  for  the 


124 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


(xtcnsiou   of  tlieir   frontier  bouisdarics   and  vast  western  possis- 
sions.* 

Tiue,  earlier  than  tliis,  (in  1777)  void  had  reached  Cahokia  of 
the  progress  of  theEevolution.  They  had  learned  of  colonial  resis- 
tance to  English  tjranny,  and  right  willingly  did  they  volunteer  a 
helping  hand  \Ahen  Thomas  Brady  proposed  raising  a  company. 
Sixteen  of  their  number  from  Cahokia  and  Prairie  du  Pont  en- 
listed, and  under  Brady's  leadership,  marched  northward  across 
the  vast  unoccupi&d  prairies  to  St.  Joseph's,  a  British  post  on  the 
southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan.  They  left  their  homes  October 
1st  and  reached  St.  Joseph's  nearly  two  months  later  ;  captured  the 
garrison,  taking  twenty-one  prisoners,  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 
The  enemy  had  but  one  death,  that  of  a  negro  who  had  run  away 
from  bondage  and  had  taken  sides  with  theBritish  and  their  allies,  the 
Indians.  The  victorious  party,  with  their  trophies  of  succes.«, 
started  for  Cahokia,  but  their  expedition  proved  ill-starred.  At 
Calumet,  a  few  miles  south-east  of  Chicago,  they  were  overtaken  by 
their  foes.  In  the  fight  which  ensued,  two  of  theit  number  were 
killed,  two  were  wounded,  and  one  only  made  his  escape  ;  the  rest 
■were  made  prisoners.  Brady  and  Boismenu,  taken  as  prisoners, 
made  their  escape  the  following  year,  and  returned  by  a  circuitous 
route  to  Cahokia,  to  find  General  Clark  in  command. 

Whilst  at  Cahokia  Clark  had  negotiations  to  make  with  various 
tribes;  concessioi  s  he  made  to  none;  treachery  was  promptly  re- 
buked. In  one  instance,  some  Indians  were  prevailed  upon  to 
rebel  against  his  authority-  They  were  promptly  made  prisoneis, 
put  in  irons,  and  alter  they  had  been  sufficiently  impressed  with 
the  futility  of  their  project,  he  ordered  their  irons  to  be  stjuek  etf, 
and  in  his  quiet  way,  iull  of  t  corn,  he  said:  "  Ever}  body  thinks 
you  ought  to  die  for  your  treachery  upon  my  life  amidst  the  sacred 
deliberations  of  a  council.  I  had  determined  to  inflict  death  upon 
you  for  your  base  attempt,  and  }cu  yourselves  must  be  sensible 
that  ycu  have  justly  forfeited  ycur  lives-;  but  on  cersiderirg  the 
meanness  of  watching  a  bear  and  ealching  him  asleep,  I  have 
found  out  that  you  are  not  warriors,  only  old  women,  and  too 
mean  to  be  killed  by  the  Big  Knife.  As  you  ought  to  be  pun- 
ished for  putting  on  breecli-clothes,  like  men,  they  shall  be  taken 
away  from  you ;  plenty  of  provisions  shall  be  given  you  for  your 
journey  home,  as  women  don  t  know  how  to  hunt,  and  during  your 
stay  you  shall  be  treated  in  every  respect  as  fquaws."  The  Indians 
had  not  looked  for  contempt,  but  fe  r  punishment ;  to  lose  a  war- 
rior's footing  was  to  them  the  deepest  possible  disgrace.  They 
tried  every  means  to  restore  themselves  in  the  favor  of  their  captors, 
and  when  Clark  found  them  truly  penitent  and  recon.<tructed,  he 
exhibited  the  same  generosity  towards  them  ever  characteristic 
of  him. 

With  Clark,  at  Cahokia,  were  several  who  had  followed  his 
leadership  from  Virginia,  who  determined  on  making  Illinois  their 
home.  Among  them  were  James  B.  Moore  and  George  Lunceford, 
(many  of  whose  descendants  yet  live  in  St.   Clair,)   Robert  Kidd 

*  We  siiLjoin  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  soleliers  who  serveel  in  tlie  war  of 
the  Kevolulion,  aneJ  enHed  their  days  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  who,  under  an 
act  of  Congress  passed  March  18,  1818,  were  granted  a  pension  : — 

Serge  ml — Thomas  Knighten,  South  Carolina  Continentals  ;  pensioned  March 
4,  1831;  aged  81.  Privates — Martin  Eandieman,  South  Carolina  Continen- 
tals; pensioned  March  4,  1831;  aged  84.  Eleazer  Allen,  Parson's  Conti- 
nentals, received  $96  per  annum,  April  13,  1825.  Joseph  Jones,  Pulaski 
Legion  {!) ;  pensioned  March  3,  1823  ;  died  August  6, 1826.  Conrad  Goodner, 
North  Carolina  Continentals;  pentioned  March  4,  1831;  aged  76.  John 
Prime,  Virginia  Continentals;  pensioned  March  4,  1831;  aged  84.  John 
Odliiiswurth,  Virginia  Continentals;  pensioned  March  4,  1831;  aged  70. 
Uosea  fiitfg,  Pennsylvania  Continentals;  pensioned  March  4,  1831. 


and  Larken  Rutherford.  Among  those  added  to  his  command  at 
Cahokia  were  Maje)r  Bowman,  Brady  Boismenu  and  Paulette 
Maiz°.  Of  these  Paulette  Maize  distinguished  himself,  in  the 
spring  of  1778,  by  raising  a  company  of  volunteers,  largely  from 
Cahokia,  Prairie  du  Pont,  with  some  from  St.  Louis,  making  a 
hurried  march  to  the  scene  of  the  disaster  whereby  twelve  of  their 
neighbors  had  been  made  prisoners  of  war  a  few  months  before,  and 
re-taking  the  fort.  They  returned  brijpging  with  them  the  spoils 
of  war.  The  expedition  was  a  daring  one  ;  its  brilliancy  was  eom> 
mensurate  with  its  daring. 

MILITIA   SERVICE,  1790. 

From   1783  to  1790  the  spirit  of  patriotism  ran   high,  and  the 
following  were  enrolled  within  St.  Clair  County,  in  the  militia  : 


e'laud  ,'^t.  Aubin, 
.lacques  St.  Aubin, 
I'rancois  Amelin, 
Krancois  Arehambarlt, 
William  Arundel, 
.Joseph  Belland, 
Amable  Baitenay, 
1  hil.  C.  Boeuf, 
Louis  Buxiere, 
Andr.  Bequette, 
Louis  Beaulier, 
Antoin  Beleour, 
Alexis  Brissom, 
Francois  Buxiere, 
Pierre  Panerasse, 
Charles  Batteau,  Jr., 
Thad.  Bradley, 
Louis  Bibaud, 
Baril  Beaulieu, 
M.  Boismenue, 
John  Br.ady, 
.Jean  M.  Bissonette, 
James  Bryan, 
Timothy  Belley, 
Francois  Courrier, 
Pierre  Clermont, 
Toussaint  Chartrand, 
Francois  Champlan, 
Antoine  Clievier, 
Louis  Clermond, 
Pierre  Cabassier, 
Francois  Cabassier, 
Louis  La  Coste, 
John  Cook, 
J.  1).  Chartran, 
Pierre  Charticr, 
J.  B.  ("hamplin, 
Joseph  ra))assier, 
Samson  Canadien, 
Joseph  (licnier, 
Cluirles  Cadiin, 
Michel  Chartrand, 
Francois  Demme, 
Uaphaol  Daiiliyon, 
Herbert  Delorme, 
Joseph  llcsnumt, 
Jedin  Kiiiiiisey, 
I'lcrro  t'.cnycr, 
Isaac  ICuox, 
Lninent  Le  Fcvre, 
Piisciil  1,0  I'evre, 
liaiie  L.  Flanniie, 
J.  B.  Fleurant, 
Pierre  Jacq  ue  Flauxbert, 
Francois  ttrondine, 
Henri  M.  Glandan, 
William  Groot, 
James  Garrison, 
Louis  Gendron, 


Pierre  Godln, 
Louis  Grandbois, 
Joseph  Gcnereux, 
William  Goings, 
Louis  Gonville, 
John  Godin, 
Louis  Germain, 
Pierre  Guitune, 
Joseph  Grinier, 
Joseph  Grondine, 
(  harles  Germain, 
Antoin  Girardin, 
August  (Jirardin, 
Louis  Harman, 
Antoin  Harman, 
Edivard  Hebert, 
Leonhard  Harnisb, 
Pierre  la  Jennesse, 
Jacob  Judy,  .Jr., 
Samuel  .ludy, 
William  Jones, 
Levi  Juel, 
Louis  Jervais, 
George  Lunceford, 
Antoin  Labuxiere, 
B.apfiste  Langlois, 
Joseph  Longtemp, 
Louis  Loremana, 
B.  L.  Lande, 
Jlichel  Lorval, 
L.  Pierre  Levy, 
lames  Lemen, 
Gabriel  Langlois, 
Pascal  Letang, 
.'oseph  Lepage. 
Francois  Lapei.se, 
Isidor  Lacroix, 
Francois  Lemen, 
Paul  Louval, 
Jo.-eph  Laplantc, 
Antoin  Lepage, 
John  Lyie, 
Joseph  Lecompte, 
.'acqucs  Lotourneau, 
Jacques  Jlayotte, 
Jacques  La  Jlarche, 
Joseph  Mendoza, 
Gabriel  Jlarlian, 
Pierre  Martin, 
Joseph  ;Marie, 
Jacques  ;\lulot, 
John  Moore, 
John  Mordock, 
iJean  Marie, 
J.  Bapt.  Mellet, 
William  Jlarie, 
Louis  Meriu, 
Joseph  Monogue, 
Baptiste  JIarleau, 


Thomas  Mars, 
.Julien  Merrier, 
Hebert  Merrier, 
Gabriel  Marlieau, 
Julien  Nftol, 
Ftienne  Nicol, 
Benjamin  Ogle, 
Joseph  Ogle,  Sr., 
Joseph  Ogle,  Jr., 
Henry  O'Hara,  Jr., 
Paul  Poisier, 
Joseph  Parisicn, 
Louis  Pensoneau, 
Joseph  Pepin, 
Joseph  Poisier, 
Michel  Pilct, 
Charles  Filet, 
Francois  Panerasse, 
George  Powers, 
Etienne  Pensoneau, 
John  Porter, 
William  Piggott, 
Levi  Piggott, 
Gabriel  Petre, 
Michel  P.oche, 
J.  B.  Eapalais, 
Louis  r.oudlard, 
Benjamin  Eogers, 
Jesse  liayncr, 
Toussant  Kobineau, 
Poljert  Sybolt, 
John  Sullivan, 
Louis  Sequin, 
Ebenezcr  Sovereign, 
('hri-itopher  Smith, 
Ren^  Turcau, 
Fraucois  I'rotier, 
Joseph  Trotier, 
August  Trotier, 
Gabriel  Tellier, 
Clement  Trotier, 
l-^dward  Todd, 
Fierre  Tessicr, 
Joseph  Touchette, 
Amant  Tellier, 
Dennis  La  Vertu, 
Denis  Valentin, 
Francois  Yilleraze, 
Antoin  Vaudre, 
Jean  Vandette, 
Joseph  Voisin, 
David  Waddell, 
Alexander  Waeidell, 
Lnyfon  White, 
John  Werly, 
Thomas  Winn, 
George  Wear, 
Hardy  Wear, 
Francois  Young. 


Roll  of  the  company  of  Militia  of  the  Prairie  Du  Pont,  in  the 
county  of  St.  Clair,  August  1st,  1790: 
Philip  Engel,  Captain. 
Jean  B.  Allary,  Lieutenant. 
Charles  Germain,  Ensign. 

Baptist  Chartrant  and Lalancet,  .Sergeants. 

Touss.  Chartran  and  Pierre  Martin,  Corporals. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


125 


Privates: — Noel  Allary,  Jean  B.  Lalande,  Jacques  le  Tourneau, 
Eaphael  Daubuchon,  Joseph  Lambert,  Pierre  Godiu,  Joseph  De- 
loge,  sr ,  Joseph  Deloge  jr.,  Jacques  Maya',  Pierre  Martin,  jr., 
Francois  L.  A.bbe,  Thomas  Chartran,  Thomas  Winn.  Zaman  Tellier, 
B.  Gabassier,  Jean  Chartier,  Francois  Benoufse,  Joseph  La  Cou- 
ture, Atitoiu  Lacourse,  Pierre  Cabassier,  Charles  Cabassier,  Charles 
Gill,  Andrew  Marlow,  Michael  Metioier,  Riue  Bouvet,  Francois  L. 
May,  Joseph  Boisverre,  Frangois  Cabassier,  Joseph  Cabassier, 
Louis  Bisson,  William  Crow,  Ignace  Grondine,  Gonvile,  Louis 
Groste,  Janois  Lapance,  Marian  Pancrasse,  Andrew  Begnet,  Joseph 

Pettie,  Francois  Gerome,  Laurent  Amelin,  Laurent  Lefevre, 

Lacroix,  Pierre   Guitar,  sr.,  Pierre  Guitar,  jun.,  Michel  Antaya, 
Louis  Verboniear  and  Paul  Desloges. 

During  the  years  when  the  services  of  these  militia  men  were 
called  into  action,  stirring  scenes  of  patriotism  in  defence  of  homes 
were  enacted,  both  within  and  without  the  limits  of  this  county  by 
its  soldiery,  whether  regularly  enrolled  or  not.  Almost  every  man 
was  called  upon  by  motives  of  vengeance  to  abandon  peaceful  pur- 
suits and  raise  patriot  arras  in  defen'ce  of  loved  homes.  The  blood 
of  victims  massacred  called  aloud  for  redress ;  property  stolen, 
particularly  hor.^es,  nerved  to  exhibitions  of  valor.  The  Ogles,  Ben- 
jamin and  Jo.seph,  sen.,  James  Lemen,  John  Porter,  D.  Draper,  in 
company  with  Capt  N.  Hull,  J.  Ryan,  and  William  Bryson,  of  other 
counties,  avenged  the  theft  of  horses  in  1791,  and  the  attack  upon 
John  Dempsey,  who  luckily  fled  before  savage  deviltry,  by  chasing 
a  company  of  twice  their  number  of  Indians,  with  whom  they  kept 
up  a  severe  running  fight  for  several  hours,  killing  five  of  their 
number,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  one  of  their  own  band.  The 
Indians  evidently  over-rated  the  number  of  their  pursuers,  and 
sought  safety  in  flight,  rather  than  trust  to  their  arms  For  a  full 
year  or  more,  the  Indians  were  cowed  by  this  defeat  of  their  plans, 
as  during  that  time  no  one  was  molested  It  was  during  this  time 
that  the  Whitesides  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  since  embraced 
in  Monroe  county,  from  Kentucky,  together  with  other  accessions 
to  the  pioneer  population. 

In  1793,  near  the  present  site  of  Belleville,  was  enacted  a  scene 
which  for  daring  bravery  and  astonishing  results,  is  rarely  equalled. 
A  party  of  Kickapoos,  under  the  leadership  of  Old  Pecan,  had 
stolen  nine  horses  from  citizens  of  the  American  bottom,  which  they 
had  taken  as  far  as  Belleville  on  their  trail  to  Shoal  creek,  when 
they  were  overtaken  by  eight  as  brave  men  as  ever  pursued  a  red- 
skin.    Small  as  was  the  pursuing  party,  they  divided  their  number 
and  attacked  the  Indians  in  their  camp  from  two  sides.    The  signal 
for  attack  was  a  shot  from  the  gun  of  William  Whiteside.     Sur- 
prised at  its  suddenness,  ignorant  of  the  numbers  of  their  pursuers, 
the  Indians  took  to  flight,  leaving  a  son  of  the  chief  upon  the  camp 
ground  dead;    also   their    arms.     The    old  chief  approached. the 
whites  and  begged  for  quarter.    When  he  discovered  but  eight  men 
in  their  party,  namely,  William  Whiteside,  Samuel  Judy,  John 
Whiteside,  Uel  Whiteside,  William  Harrington,  John  Dempsey, 
William  L.  Whiteside,  and  John    Porter,  he  called  aloud  to  his 
numerous  followers  to  return  and  regain  their  lost  ground,  at  the 
same  lime  seizing  his  gun   which  he   had   surrendered    to  Capt. 
Whiteside,  determined  to  wrest  it  from  him ;  but  he  was  not  a  match 
m  strength  for  the  captain,  who  compelled  him  to  retire  with  his 
fleeing  band.     This  little  band  were  now  in  the  heart  of  the  Indian 
country.     Three  of  the  stolen  horses  were  in  their  possession,  a 
humiliated  chief,  unarmed,  was  following  up  his  flying  command, 
eager  to»turn  the  tide  of  success.     They  quickly  turned  towards 
Whiteside's  station,  which  they  reached  without  delay.    The  Kicka- 
poos, chagrined  at  their  discomfiture,  followed  it  up  by  many  pre- 
datory excursions  into  the  settlements  of  the  whites,  and  in  1794,  in 


retaliation  for  the  death  of  the  son  of  the  chief,  killed  Thomas 
Whiteside,  by  shooting  him,  and  a  son  of  William  Whiteside,  by 
tomahawk.  Numerous  other  parties  were  killed  by  them  to  the 
south  of  the  station,  near  the  boundary  line  of  Monroe  and  St 
Clair.  Among  these  the  murder  of  the  wife  and  lour  children  of 
McMahon,  and  capture  of  self  and  daughter,  was  the  most  cruel 
exhibition  of  their  savage  warfare.  McMahon  made  good  his 
escape  the  second  night  after  his  capture,  and  returned  home  to 
find  five  fresh  made  mounds,  side  by  side,  underneath  which  his 
wife  and  children  had  been  by  kind  neighbors  buried.  The  sight 
moved  him  greatly,  but  with  Christian  fortitude  he  exclaimed, 
"they  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  life,  and  they  are  not  divided  in 
death."  The  daughter  who  was  taken  prisoner,  was  ransomed  by 
united  efibrts  of  friends,  and  lived  for  many  years  in  what  is  now 
O'Fallon  precinct. 

Not  long  after  this  tragedy,  the  Whitesides  and  others  made  an 
attack  upon  the  Indians  at  the  foot  of  the  Bluffs,  west  of  Belleville, 
But  one  Indian  escaped  to  tell  the  story  of  their  utter  route.  Two 
of  the  Whitesides  were  wounded  in  this  fight;  but  fought  with  that 
desperation  ever  characteristic  of  them ;  the  father  leading  the 
charge  whilst  the  blood  was  gushing  from  his  wounds,  shouting, 
"  Come  on  boys,  I  can  fight  them  yet." 

In  1788  the  Kickapoo  Indians  attacked  the  settlements  in 
earnest.  Pioneers  were  compelled  to  carry  their  rifles  with  them 
to  their  fields,  and  often  had  to  keep  guard  at  night.  It  was 
in  the  spring  of  this  year  that  William  Biggs  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  John  Vallis  killed  while  on  their  way  from  BelJefonte  to 
Cahokia.  Biggs'  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians  was 
remarkable.  They  proposed  hij  adoption  into  their  tribe  and 
giving  him  the  daughter  of  a  brave  for  a  wife.  He  rejected  all 
offers  and  was  finally  ransomed. 

WAR  OF  1812. 
On  the  28th  of  June,  1809,  Nicholas  Jarrot,  of  Cahokia,  a 
French  patriot,  wedded  to  the  American  cause,  made  oath  that  the 
British  Agents  and  traders  at  Prairie  du  Chien  were  in.-tigating 
the  Indians  to  deeds  of  violence;  furnishing  them  with  arms  and 
ammunition,  and  otherwise  preparing  them  for  warfare  along  the 
borders  of  Western  civilization.  Almost  simultaneously  word 
catae  of  hostile  demonstrations  along  the  Wabash.  Murders  were 
here  and  there  Committed ;  treaties  were  set  at  nought;  the  storm 
of  war  was  brewing.  In  the  month  of  April,  1812,  Gomo,  an 
Indian  chief,  heading  a  deputation  made  up  of  representatives 
from  various  tribes,  met  Gov.  Edwards,  at  Cahokia,  to  negotiate  a 
treaty.  The  Governor  addressed  them  in  a  forcible  speech.  He 
told  them  he  understood  the  hostility  of  the  Indians ;  laid  the 
blame  at  the  fountain  head — with  the  traders  at  British  outposts ; 
warned  them  against  their  councils  ;  claimed  that  Americans  only 
desired  peace;  told  them  plainly  that  the  only  basis  for  a  treaty 
would  be  the  delivery  of  murderers  within  their  ranks  (some 
present  had  participated  in  the  Chicago  massacre)  for  punishment. 
The  Indians  in  turn  professed  sorrow  for  wrongs  done ;  declared 
their  inability  to  deliver  up  the  murderers  ;  laid  the  blame  upon 
one  of  the  tribes  (the  Wiunebagoes)  and  promised  good  behaviour. 
Despite  their  earnest  protestations,  and  expressed  desire  for  peace, 
the  Indians  continued  in  their  depredations.  The  rangers,  for 
that  was  the  name  by  which  the  patriots  were  known,  gathered 
their  families  into  block-houses  for  protection,  whilst  they 
attempted  to  raise  a  little  corn  for  their  subsistence  with  their 
guns  hanging  at  their  sides  whilst  plowing,  ready  to  protect  them- 
selves against  attack.  In  this  county  block-houses  were  occupied 
at  present  site  of  Alma,  one   near   Lebanon,  one  south  from  New 


126 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Athens,  and  one  in  what  is  now  Mascoutah  precinct.  These  were 
a  part  of  the  frontier  line  of  forts  extending  from  a  point  opposite 
the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  to  the  Kas- 
kaskia,  east  of  the  New  design,  in  all  twenty-two  forts.  Spies  were 
instructed  to  pass  daily  between  these  forts,  so  as  to  keep  up  a  con- 
stant line  of  communication  throughout  their  length.  In  all,  four 
companies  were  organized  for  the  defence  of  Illinois,  with  William 
B.  Whiteside,  James  B.  Moore,  Jacob  Short  and  Samuel  White- 
side as  captains.  These  companies  did  most  efficient  service,  nerved 
as  they  were  to  deeds  of  daring,  by  seeing  homes  destroyed,  and 
many  of  their  number  killed  by  blood-thirsty  savages.  Npt  alone 
did  St.  Clair  county  furnish  many  rangers  far  the  defence  of  their 
homes,  but  contributed  soldiers  who  fought  at  New  Orleans  and 
elsewhere.  They  recognized  the  British  as  the  cause  of  all  their 
troubles,  and  their  patriotic  ardor  led  them  to  strike  at  the  root, 
and  thus  remove  the  cause.  Among  those  from  this  county  as  par- 
ticipants in  the  war  of  1812,  were  John  Brigham,  David  McKinney, 
Isaac  Griifen,  Elijah  Hook,  B.  Bennett,  Samuel  ^ard,  William 
Phillips,  Daniel  Phillips,  Jeremiah  Phillips,  John  Stout,  Eobert 
Davis,  James  C.  Davis,  John  Wood,  Moses  Stout,  Samuel  Shook, 
Jacob  Carr,  John  Scott,  Alexander  Scott,  Eobert  W.  Hughes,  Ed-* 
mund  Randle  (who  had  his  chin  shot  off  at  New  Orleans),  William 
Randle,  Thomas  Shelton,  Josiah  Shelton,  David   Everett,  John 

Reynolds,  Thomas   Reynolds,  Reynolds,  Reuben  Lively, 

Nathaniel  Hill,  Moses  Short,  William  McNail,  Ira  Manville,  Jo- 
seph Scott,  Peter  Wright,  William  Moore,  John  Journey,  Maxey 
Nichols,  William  Lemen,  Aaron  Shuuk,  John  Mace,  Abram  Clark, 
David  Hill,  James  Lively,  Benjamin  Allen,  Thomas  Brewer,  James 
Lord,  David  Phillips,  Michael  Phelps,  James  W.  Davidson,  Geo. 
W.  Moore,  Stephen  Whiteside,  John  Rutherford,  Jacob  Short, 
Christopher  Stout,  Jacob  Stout,  William  Wright,  Bennett  Million, 
William  Whiteside,  Nicholas  Jarrot,  Dr.  W.  H  Bradsby,  James 
Bradsby,  Samuel  B.  Davidson,  Joseph  Conway,  Thomas  Higgins, 
and  others.  Of  these  patriots,  who  were  the  advance  guard  upon 
the  borders  of  western  civilization,  only  two  are  believed  to  be 
living  to-day:  Ira  Manville,  old  in  years,  still  strong  in  mind,  ever 
patriotic  in  sentiment,  and  David  Hill. 

In  December,  1814,  whilst  the  command  of  Captain  James  B, 
Moore,  about  fifty  rangers  in  all,  were  engaged  in  guarding  a  drove 
of  cattle  at  a  grove  near  Sugar  Creek,  on  the  trail  leading  from 
Camp  Russell" to  Peoria,  Indians  were  espied  by  some  of  the  men, 
who  singled  out  one  of  their  number,  and  gave  chase.  William 
Hewit,  having  the  fleetest  horse,  was  the  first  to  overtake  the 
Indian,  who  at  once  surrendered  himself  and  gun.  At  this  junc 
ture,  John  Moredock,  who  had  sworn  that  he  would  kill  every 
Indian  that  ever  crossed  his  path,  because  of  the  murder  of  his 
father's  entire  family,  save  himself,  raised  his  gun'  to  fire  Hewit 
loudly  remonstrated.  The  Indian  wrenched  the  gun  he  had  just 
surrendered  out  of  Hewit's  grasp,  and  at  the  very  moment  that 
a  ball  from  Moredock's  unerring  rifle  went  crashing  through  his 
breast,  he  fired  upon  and  killed  Hewit. 

The  parties  prominent  in  this  adventure  were  residents  of  that 
part  of  St.  Clair  county  which  was  subsequently  organized  as 
Monroe.  Captain  Moore  was  a  most  gallant  and  faithful  officer; 
fearless  in  the  discharge  of  all  duties  imposed,  and  of  that  class  of 
true  patriots  honored  of  all  men.  The  death  of  Hewit  was  the  last 
that  can  properly  be  classed  as  among  those  of  the  war  of  1812. 

BLACK   HAWK   WAE 

Before  entering  much  into  detail  of  that  war,  its  causes  and 
results,  we  give  to  our  readers  a  brief  sketch  of  Black-Hawk, 
the  celebrated  warrior,  who  figured  so  conspicuously  in  those  cam- 


paigns. Maeuta  Mahicatah  is  the  Indian  name  for  Black-Hawk. 
He  was  born  in  the  Sauk  village  in  the  year  1767,  and  was  an 
Indian  of  considerable  talent  and  sagacity,  shrewd  and  eloquent  in 
council ;  he,  however,  deported  himself  in  that  demure,  grave,  and 
formal  manner  incident  to  almost  all  .Indians  It  is  said  he  pos- 
sessed a  mind  of  more  than  ordinary  strength,  but  slow  and  plod- 
ding in  its  operations.  In  comparison  he  could  not  be  classed  with 
the  great  Indian  characters,  such  as  Philip,  Brant,  Logan,  Tecum- 
seh,  and  such  illustrious  men.  By  the  portraits  of  him  now  extant, 
the  reader  of  character  will  readily  ob-^erve  in  his  large,  high  fore- 
head and  the  lines  worn  by  care  in  his  face,  massive  jaws  and  com- 
pressed lips,  a  character  indicative  of  more  than  ordinary  ability. 
His  ambition  was  to  distinguish  himself  as  a  great  wariior:  yet  he 
was  merciful  to  the  weak,  the  women  and  children.  The  only  road 
for  an  Indian  to  distinguish  himself  and  bacome  a  great  man,  is  in 
war.  So  soon  as  he  kills  an  enemy  he  may  paint  on  his  blanket  a 
bloody  hand,  which  will  entitle  him  to  a  seat  in  the  councils.  In 
1810  and  1811  Black-Hawk  and  comrades  were  "  nur.'ing  their 
wrath  to  keep  it  warm,"  against  the  whites.  A  party  of  Sacs,  by 
invitation,  went  to  see  the  prophet  at  Tippecanoe.  They  re'urned 
more  angry  against  the  Americans.  A  party  of  Winnebagoes  had 
massacred  some  whites,  which  excited  for  murder  the  Sac  band 
headed  by  Black-Hawk.  A  part  of  his  band  and  some  Winneba- 
goes attacked  Fort  Madison  in  1811,  but  were  repulsed.  Black- 
Hawk  headed  the  Sacs,  in  this  attack. 

In  1812  emissaries  from  the  British  arrived  at  Rock  Island  with 
goods,  and  secured  Black-Hawk  with  five  hundred  warriors  to  go 
with  Col.  Dixon  to  Canada.  When  they  reached  Green  Bay  there 
were  assembled  there  bands  of  the  Ottawas,  P.jttawatomi_'S,  Winne- 
bagoes, and  Kickapoos,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Dixon.  Black- 
Hawk  and  band  participated  in  the  battles  of  River  Raisin,  the 
Lower  Sandusky,  and  other  places,  but  getting  dissatisfied  with  the 
hard  fighting  and  small  amount  of  spoils,  he,  and  twenty  comrades, 
left  for  the  Sauk  village  at  Rock  Island,  where  he  remained  for 
many  years  at  peace,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  battle  on  the 
Quiver  river  settlement  in  Missouri,  in  the  pre-ent  limits  of  St. 
Charles  county,  where  one  white  man  and  an  Indian  were  killed. 

The  principal  cause  of  the  Indian  troubles  in  1831-32,  better 
known  as  the  Black-Hawk  war,  was  the  determination  of  Black- 
Hawk  and  his  band  to  remain  in  their  ancient  village,  located  on 
Rock  river,  nor  far  from  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi.  The 
government  having  some  tira3  previously,  by  various  treaties,  pur- 
chased the  village  and  the  whole  country  from  the  Sac  and  Fox 
tribe  of  Indians,  had  some  of  these  lands  surveyed,  aLd  in  1828 
S')me  of  the  lands  in  and  around  the  ancient  village  were  S')ld  ;  the 
collision  between  the  two  races  for  the  possession  of  the  property 
produced  the  first  disturbance  between  the  Indians  and  the  govern- 
ment. Seeing  that  war  was  inevitable  the  Governor  of  Illinois 
made  a  call  on  the  militia  of  the  state  for  seven  hundred  men  on 
the  26th  of  May,  1831,  and  appointed  Beardstown,  on  the  Illinois 
river,  as  the  placa  of  rendezvous.  The  call  was  responded  to  with 
that  promptness  characteristic  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  state. 
Their  habits  of  life  were  such  that  all  were  familiar  with  the  rifle. 
After  marching  eight  days,  the  mounted  militia  reached  a  point  a 
few  miles  below  the  Sac  village  on  the  Mississippi,  where  they 
joined  the  United  States  forces  under  Gen.  Gaines,  and  emcamped 
in  the  evening.  The  next  morning  the  forces  marched  up  to  the 
Indian  town  prepared  to  give  the  enemy  battle ;  but  in  the  night 
the  Indians  had  escaped  and  crossed  the  Mississippi.  This  ended 
Black  Hawk's  bravado,  and  his  determination  to  die  in  his  ancient 
village.  The  number  of  warriors  under  his  command  was  estimated 
at  from  four  to  six  hundred  men.    Black  Hawk  and  his  band 


EI8T0BY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


127 


landed  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  a  few  miles  below  Rock 
Island,  and  there  camped.  "Gen.  Gaines  sent  a  peremptory  order 
to  him  and  his  warriors  that  if  he  and  his  head  men  did  not  come 
to  Rock  Island  and  make  a  treaty  of  peace,  he  would  march  his 
troops  and  give  him  a  battle  at  once.  *  *  *  *  In  a  few  days  Black 
Hawk  and  the  chiefs  and  head  men  to  the  number  of  twenty-eight, 
appeared  at  Furt  Armstrong,  and  on  the  30th  of  June,  1831,  in  full 
council  with  Gen.  Gaines  and  Governor  John  Reynolds,  signed  a 
treaty  of  peace." 

THE   BLACK-HAWK   WAR    IN    1882. 

During  the  winter  of  '31-32  rumors  were  rife  that  Black-Hawk  - 
and  his  band  were  dissatisfied,  restless,  and  preparing  for  mischief. 
A  chief  of  the  Winnebago  Indians,  who  had  a  village  on  Rock 
river,  some  thirty  miles  above  its  confluence  with  the-  Mississippi, 
joined  Black-Hawk,  who  was  located  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Father  of  Waters.  The  chief  had  great  influence  with  Black- 
Hawk  and  his  band.  He  made  them  believe  that  all  the  tribes  on 
Rock  river  would  join  them,  and  that  together  they  could  bid 
defiance  to  the  whites.  By  this  unwise  counsel,  Black-Hawk  re- 
solved to  recross  the  river,  which  he  did  in  the  winter  of  1832. 
That  move  proved  to  be  their  destruction.  Through  his  influence 
and  zeal,  Black-Hawk  encouraged  many  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  to 
join  him  at  the  head  of  his  determined  warriors.  He  first  assem- 
bled them  at  old  Fort  Madison  on  the  Mississippi ;  subsequently, 
marched  them  up  the  river  to  the  Yellow  Banks,  where  he  pitched 
his  tent  April  6tb,  1832.  This  armed  array  of  savages  soon 
alarmed  the  settlers,  and  a  general  panic  spread  through  the  whole 
frontier,  from  the  Mississippi  to  Lake  Michigan.  Many  settlers 
in  terror  abandoned  their  homes  and  farms,  and  the  Governor 
decided,  on  the  16th  of  April,  to  call  out  a  large  number  of  volun- 
teers to  operate  iu  conjunction  with  Gen.  Atkinson,  who  was  in 
command  of  the  regular  forces  at  Rock  Island.  The  Governor 
ordered  the  troops  to  rendezvous  at  Beardstown  on  the  22d  of 
April.  We  give  Governor  ReynoMs'  circular  which  he  addressed 
to  the  citizen-soldiers  in  the  crisis  then  pending : 

''  To  the  militia  of  the  North  western  section  of  the  State: 

"  Fellow-Citizens  : 

'■  Your  country  requires  your  services.  The  Indians  have 
assumed  a  hostile  attitude,  and  have  invaded  the  state  in  violation 
of  the  treaty  of  last  summer.  The  British  band  of  Sacs  and  other 
hostile  Indians,  headed  by  Black-Hawk,  are  in  possession  of  the 
Rock  river  country,  to  the  great  terrorof  the  frontier  inhabitants. 
I  consider  the  settlers  on  the  frontier  to  be  in  imminent  danger. 
I  am  in  possession  of  the  above  information  from  gentlemen  of  re- 
spectable standing,  and  also  from  Gen.  Atkinson,  whose  character 
s'ands  high  with  all  classes.  In  possession  of  the  above  facts,  I 
have  hesitated  not  as  to  the  course  I  should  pursue.  No  citizen 
ought  to  remain  inactive  wheu  his  country  is  invaded,  and  the 
helpless  part  of  the  community  are  in  danger.  I  have  called  out  a 
large  detachment  of  militia  to  rendezvous  at  Beardstown  on  the 
22d.  Provisions  for  the  men  and  food  for  the  horses  will  be  fur- 
nished in  abundance.  I  hope  my  countrymen  will  realize  my  ex- 
pectations, and  offer  their  services,  as  heretofore,  with  promptitude 
and  cheerfuliress  in  defence  of  their  countrymen. 

"John  Reynolds." 

To  the«stirring  appeal  of  the  governor,  the  patriotic  citizens  of 
the  state  and  St.  Clair  county  nobly  responded  in  both  campaigns 
of  '31-'32.  Many  of  the  best  and  most  prominent  men  of  the 
county  enlisted  to  protect  the  frontier  and  preserve  the  honor  of 


the  state,  and  did  signal  service  in  the  memorable  events  of  the 
Black  Hawk  war. 

Among  the  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county  who  went  out  were : 
Offiuers :  Captain  Solomon  Miller,  Lieutenant  Aaron  Land, 
Lieutenant  Isaac  Griffen,  all  of  what  is  known  as  the  old  battalion, 
commanded  by  Major  N.  Buckmaster,  in  the  service  of  1831.  Col. 
Samuel  C.  Christy  on  Governor  Reynolds'  staff,  as  Quartermaster  ; 
Captain  William  Moore,  so  chosen  after  the  rendezvous  aj;  Beards- 
town, also  member  of  the  legislature  in  18  J6  ;  Major  John  A. 
Wakefield,  engaged  in  spy  service;  Col.  Thomas,  commander  of 
the  third  regiment;  Capt.  Snyder,  Lieutenant  John  Wiu.-itanley, 
of  the  same  regiment.  Lieutenant  Joshua  W.  Hughes,  Capi. 
Gideon  Simpson,  Cd.pt.  Joha  Whiteside,  Vital  Jarrut,  Adjutant- 
General,  with  rank  of  Colonel,  Richard  Roman,  Surgeon  of  the 
old  battalion,  and  doubtless  others  whose  names  are  not  obtainable. 
In  subordinate  capacities  were — John  Baker,  Myram  McMillen, 
Felix  Scott,  John  Peas,  Jonathan  Moore,  Charles  Moore,  James 
Reed,  Edward  Tracewell,  Peter  Dunn,  John  WooJ^,  Benjamin 
Woods,  William  G.  Brown,  Ninian  Edwards,  jr.,  Solomon  Teter, 
John  Phillips,  David  Phillips,  Andrew  Christy,  John  Laramie, 
John  Messinger,  surveyor  for  many  years,  Nathaniel  Smith,  B.  J. 
Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  Robert  Higgins,  John  Dunlap,  Richard 
Bradsby,  Franklin  Scott,  C.  T.  Askins,  J.  B.  Needles,  Gregory 
Benjamin  Scott,  who  was  killed  after  Stillman's  defeat,  whilst 
searching  for  water.  He  was  shot  through  the  heart.  His  head 
was  severed  from  his  body,  and  never  recovered.  James  Anderson, 
W.  G.  Brown,  Nathaniel  Chambers,  William  Philips,  Jacob 
Engold,  Edward  Henry,  a  colored  man  from  East  St.  Louis.  The 
names  of  Capt.  John  Treodley  and  Felix  Scott  might  propsrly  be 
introduced  here  as  they  served  in  the  Winnebago  War,  io  1827,  as 
well  as  had  something  to  do  with  the  Black  Hawk.  Jeremiah 
Black,  Addison  Dingle,  went  as  a  substitute  for  William  McClintock, 
who  provided  him  with  a  horse  and  equipments,  James  McClin- 
tock, Harbert  Patterson  and  others. 

The  force  marched  to  the  mouth  of  Rock  river,  where  Gen. 
Atkinson  received  the  volunteers  into  the  United  States  service 
and  assumed  command.  Black-Hawk  and  his  warriors  were  still 
up  on  the  Rock  river. 

The  army  under  Atkinson  commenced  its  march  up  the  river  on 
the  9th  of  May.  Gov.  Reynolds,  the  gallant  "  Old  Ranger, '  re- 
mained with  the  army,  and  the  President  recognized  him  as  a 
major-general,  and  he  was  paid  accordingly.  His  presence  in  the 
army  did  much  toward  harmonizing  and  conciliating  those  jeal- 
ousies which  generally  exist  between  volunteers  and  regular  troops. 
Major  John  A.  Wakefield  and  Col.  Ewing  acted  as  spies  for  a  time 
.  iu  the  campaign  of  '32,  to  discover  the  locattion  of  the  enemy,  if 
possible.  A  Mr.  Kinney  acted  as  guide  for  them ;  he  understood 
the  Sac  dialect.  On  the  14th  of  May,  1832,  Major  Stillman's  com- 
mand had  a  sort  of  running  battle  with  the  Indians  at  or  near 
what  is  now  known  as  Stillman's  run,  a  small,  sluggish  stream.  In 
the  engagement  eleven  white  men  and  eight  Indians  were  killed. 
Black-Hawk  and  warriors  fought  with  the  spirit  born  of  despera- 
tion. Black-Hawk  says  in  his  book  that  he  tried  at  Stillman's  run 
to  call  back  his  warriors,  as  he  thought  the  whites  were  making  a 
sham  retreat  in  order  to  draw  him  into  an  ambuscade  of  the  whole 
army  under  General  Whiteside.  The  hasty  retreat  and  rout  of 
Stillman  and  his  army  was,  in  a  measure  demoralizing  to  the  entire 
forces.  Undoubtedly  the  cause  of  the  defeat  was  a  lack  of  disci- 
pline. When  Gov.  Reynolds  learned  of  the  disaster  of  Major  Still- 
man,  he  at  once  ordered  out  two  thousand  additional  volunteers. 
With  that  promptitude  characteristic  of  the  old  "War  Governor," 
he  wrote  out  by  candle-light  on  the  evening  of  Stillman's  defeat, 


128 


ins  TOE  7  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


the  order  for  the  additional  troop?,  and  by  daylight  dispatched 
John  Ewing,  Robert  Blackwell,  and  John  A.  \'  akefield  to  distri- 
bute the  order  to  the  various  cjuiiiies.  The  volunteers  again 
promptly  responded ;  however,  the  soldiers  from  this  county  did 
but  little  fighting.  Ou  the  10th  of  July  the  army  disbanded  for 
want  of  provisions.  Gan.  Sc  )tt  arrived  soon  after  with  a  large 
force  at  the  post  of  Chicago,  to  effect  if  possible  a  treaty  with  the 
Indians.  Small  detachments  of  Black-Hawk's  warriors  would  per- 
sistently hang  on  the  outskirts  of  the  main  body  of  the  army,  thieve 
and  plunder,  and  pounce  upon  and  kill  the  lonely  sentinel  or  strag- 
gling soldier.  On  the  15th  of  July  the  soldiers  were  reviewed,  and 
those  incapable  of  duty  were  discharged  and  returned  home.  Po- 
quette,  a  half-breed,  and  a  Winnebago  chief,  the  "  White  Pnwnee," 
were  selected  for  guides  to  the  camp  of  Black-Hawk  and  band. 
Several  battles  and  skirmishes  occurred  with  the  enemy,  the  prin- 
cipal of  which  was  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  where  the 
warriors  fought  with  great  desperation.  Over  one  hundred  and 
fifty  were  killed  in  the  engagement,  and  large  numbers  drowned  in 
attempting  to  swim  the  river.  After  the  battle  the  volunteers  were 
marched  to  Dixon,  where  they  were  discharged. 

Immediately  after  tbeir  discharge,  hostilities  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians  were  re-opened,  and  Gov.  Reynolds  called  for  twenty  days 
volunteers  from  among  the  discharged  men  for  the  protection  of 
the  frontier  settlements.  Many  promptly  responded,  and  a  regiment 
was  organized  with  Jacob  Fry  as  Colonel,  James  D.  Henry,  Lieut. 
Colonel,  and  John  Thomas  as  Major.  A  part  of  the  company  of 
Captain  A.  W.  Snyder  made  a  temporary  stand  at  Kellog's  Grove, 
a  small  tract  of  timber  in  Lasalle  county,  seventeen  miles  north- 
east from  Ottawa.  Near  the  grove,  Scott  and  McDaniel,  soldiers 
from  this  county,  were  killed.  The  facts,  briefly  stated  wore,  Capt. 
Snyder  and  company,  in  all  twenty-five  men,  watched  the  move- 
ments of  the  Indians,  and  came  upon  them  when  within  two  or 
three  miles  of  the  grove  concealed  in  a  ravine.  The  company 
rushed  on  them  with  caution  from  tree  to  tree.  Macorusen  seeing 
one  of  the  Indians  exposed  prepared  to  shoot  him,  but  was  too  late. 
The  Indian  shot  first,  and  he  was  mortally  wounded.  Vengeance 
was  swift  and  the  Indians,  five  in  number,  were  killed.  A  litter 
was  made  whereon  to  carry  the  wounded  men.  Soon  they  com- 
plained of  thirst.  Drs.  Roman,  Jarrot  and  Cornelius,  with  Benja- 
min Scott  and  McDaniel  started  down  a  ravine  in  search  of  water. 
On  their  way  they  were  fired  upon  by  ambushed  Indians,  and  Scott 
and  McDaniel  were  instantly  killed.  The  Indians  were  so  close 
that  their  faces  were  powder  burned.  How  the  three  doctors  made 
their  escape  was  miraculous.  Before  preparations  could  be  con- 
summated for  wreaking  vengeance  upon  the  Indians,  they  had  fled, 
and  ou  the  19th  of  jTine,  1832,  the  twenty  days'  men  were  dis- 
charged.     This  ended  the  campaign  and  the  Black-Hawk  war. 


At  the  battle  of  the  Pad  Axe,  Blf.ck-Hawk  ar.d  Fome  (f  his 
warriors  escaped  the  Americans,  and  went  up  the  Wi.-consin 
riv(r,  but  subsequently  surrendered  himself.  Fort  Armstrong,  on 
Rock  Island,  was  the  [)!ace  appointed  where  a  treaty  would  be  made 
with  thd  Indian-!,  but  before  it  was  effected  that  dreadful  scourge, 
the  cholera  of '32,  visited  not  only  the  regular  army,  depleting  its 
ranks  far  more  rapidly  than  the  balls  of  the  Indians  had  done,  but 
it  al-o  sought  out  its  many  victims  in  the  dusky  bands  of  the  Black- 
Hawk  tribe. 

On  the  15th  September,  1832,  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Win- 
nebago Indians.  They  sold  out  all  their  lands  in  Illinois  and  all 
.«outh  of  the  Wisconsin  river  and  west  of  Green  bay,  and  the  govern- 
ment gave  them  a  large  district  of  country  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  ten  thousand  dollars  a  year  for  seven  years,  besides  providing 
free  schools  for  their  children  for  twenty  years,  oxen,  agricultural 
implements,  etc.,  etc. 

September  21st,  1832,  a  treaty  was  made  with  all  the  Sac  and 
Fox  tribes,  on  which  they  ceded  to  the  United  States  the  tract  of 
country,  on  which  a  few  years  afterwards  the  State  of  Iowa  was 
formed.  In  consideration  of  the  above  cession  of  lands,  the  govern- 
ment gave  them  an  annuity  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  thirty 
years,  forty  kegs  of  tobacco  and  forty  barrels  of  salt,  more  gun- 
smiths, blacksmith  shop,  etc.,  etc.,  six  thousand  bushels  of  corn  for 
immediate  support,  mostly  intended  for  the  Black-Hawk  band. 

The  treaties  above  mentioned  terminated  favorably,  and  the  se- 
curity resulting  therefrom  gave  a  new  and  rapi<l  impetus  to  the 
development  of  the  state,  and  now  enterprising  towns  and  villages, 
and  beautiful  farms,  adorn  the  rich  and  alluvial  prairies  that  before 
were  only  desecrated  by  the  wild  bands  who  inhabited  them. 
Agricultural  pursuits,  commerce  and  manufactures,  churches  and 
schools,  are  lending  their  influence  to  advance  an  intelligent  and 
pro.sperous  people. 

THE    MEXICAN   WAR. 

In  the  war  with  Mexico  in  1846-47,  Illinois  furnished  six  regi- 
ments of  men,  as  follows :  First  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  John 
J.  Hardin;  Second  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  William  H. 
Bissell;  Third  regiment,  commanded  by  Ferris  Forman ;  Fourth 
regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Edward  D.  Baker ;  Fifth  regi- 
ment, commanded  by  Col.  James  Collins ;  Sixth  regiment,  com- 
manded by  Col.  Edward  W.  Newby. 

We  subjoin  a  roster  of  the  men  of  St.  Clair  county.  In  the  war 
with  Mexico  her  brave  sons  did  their  duty  like  gallant  soldiers,  and 
by  their  heroism  shed  additional  lu.ster  on  the  patriotism  of  their 
county  and  state.  The  Col.  of  the  Second  regiment,  William  H. 
Bissell,  after  his  return  from  the  war,  was  elected  governor  of  the 
state,  and  many  of  the  other  men  from  this  county,  who  served  in 
that  war,  have  attained  prominence  and  distinction. 


FIELD  AND  STAFF,    SECOND    (2d)    REGIMENT, 
ILIiTNOIS  VOLUNTEERS  — MEXICAN  WAR. 

Organized  by  Colonel  William  H.  Bissell,  at  Alton, 
Illinois,  in  the  month  of  June,  1846.  Discharged 
June  18th,  1847. 

""  Colonel : 

William  H.  Bissell,  elected  from  Captain  of  Co. ''  G,' 
2d  Begt.,  111.  Vol.,  June  30,  '46. 
Lieutenant  Colonel: 
James  L.  D.  Morrison,  elected  from  Co.   ''  H,"  2d 
Regt.,  111.  Vol.,  July  11,  '46. 
Major  ; 
Xerxes  F.  Trail,  elected  from  Co.  "  I,"  2J  Kegt.,  III. 
Vol.,  July  1,  '46. 

Adjutant : 
Augniitu.sG.  Whiteside,  First  Lieutenant  &  Adjutant 
appointed  from  Co.  "  1,''  July  1,  '46      Wounded  in 
Battle  Feb   23,  '47,  at  Buena  Vista,  Mexico. 


Surgeon  : 
Edward  B.  Price,  appointed  by  the  President  of  the 
United  Slates,  July  7,  '46. 

Ser giant  Major : 
Christinn   H.  Ketler,  appointed  from   1st  Sergeant, 
Co.  "  H,"  2d  Regt.  Was  wounded  in  buttle  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mexico,  Feb.  23,  '47. 

Quarter  Master  Sergeant  : 
Nelson  S.  Moore,  appointed  from  Serg't.  ''  I,''  March 
15,  '47.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds  received 
at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23,  '47. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "  G." 
Organized  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois, 
in  the  month  of  May,  1846.     Mustered  into  serviceof 
the  United  States  at  Alton,  Illinois,  in  the  month  of 
June,  '46.     Discharged  June  16,  '47. 

Captain  : 
Joseph  K.  Lemen,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 


First  Lieutenant : 
Jacob  C.  Hinkley,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Second  Lieutenants  : 

1.  Gilbert  F.  McFarland,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

2.  Andrew  J.  Miller,  elected   from  private   Dec.  17, 
'46.     Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

First  Sergeant  : 
William  Westfield,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 


John  Trincher, 
James  L.  Roman, 
Joseph  Penn, 

William  S   Peck, 
James  L  Garretson 
James  G.  Abbott, 
James  Ga.ston, 


Sergeants  : 
mustered  out  Jnne  18.  '47. 


Corporals  : 
mustered  out  June  18,  '47, 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


129 


Musician : 
James  H.  Beach,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47 

Privates : 
Benson,  William  V.,    mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Brown,  Mathew  W.,  "         "        " 

Bragg,  Solomon,  ''        "        ''        " 

Bragg,  Thomas,  "        ''        "        " 

Blair,  Peter  W., 

Boone,  Daniel,  ''        "        ''        " 

Clark,  John,  "        "         " 

Evans,  John  D.    Absent  sick  at  San  Antonio  at  M. 

O.  ofEeg't. 
Forquer,  Eli,  mustered  out  June,  18,  '47. 

Fishter,  Joseph,  ' 

Friedlander,  William,    "        ''         " 

Green,  Mahlon,  ' 

Gelrricks,  Daniel  W-,     " 

Glenn,  Alexander,  "        "        "         " 

Gallagher,  Arthur  J.,  Hospital  Steward,  M.  O.  June 

16,  '47. 
Gaskill,  Clayton,         mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Goree,  JohnC, 
Holbert,  David  W., 

Hammond,  Willis  M.       "        " 

Hill,  Thomas,  "        "         " 

Hornett,  JohnM.  O,       

Hall,  Robert, 

James,   Langsrorth,  ''        "        "         ' 

Keriz,  Gen.  Lafayeite,      "         "        ''         " 
Kennedy,  John  J.,  "        "         " 

Long,  Thomas, 

Lockhart,  Gideon,  "         "        "         " 

Lee,  George  F.,  "        '■         " 

MoKenzie,  Calvin,  "        "        "        « 

MuLain,  Allen,  wounded  in  battle,  Feb.  23,  '47,  at 
Buena  Vista,  Mexico.     Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Miller,  Bobert  C,       Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Million,  Wm.  K..  '        " 

McNail,  Pieraon  W.,        "        "        "         " 
Murray,  William,  "        "        "        " 

MoKenzie,  Elias,  "        "        "         " 

McKinney,  Marcus  E ,      "        "         "         '• 
Manin,  Hi-nry,  "         "         '•         '' 

Nelson,  John  S.,  "         "         " 

Owing,  Washington,  "        "         "        " 

Parks,  Joseph  M.,  •'        "        "         " 

Reaves,  Samuel,  "        ''         "         " 

Randleman  Joel,  absent  on  detached  service.  Act.  A. 

C.S. 
Stuart,  Charles  H.,     Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Steele,  Andrew  J.,  ''        "        ''        " 

Shael,  James,  "        "        " 

Sterling,  Henry  C,  "        "        "        " 

Thomas,  Samuel  K.,  ''         "         "         " 

Teters,  David  W..  "        "        "         " 

Tunstall,  James  M.,  "         "         "         " 

Wood,  Alfred,  "        "         " 

Wiley,  Joseph,  wounded  in  battle  Buena  Vista,  Feb. 

23,  '47.    Mustered  out  June  18.  '47. 
Walker,  James.       Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Discharged : 
Welton,  Aaron  B.  at  Buena  Vista,  by  order  of  Gen. 
Wool,  by  reason  of  employment  in   Q.  M.  Dpt. 
May  8 
Welton,  Guilford   M.   at  Buena  Vista,  by  reason  of 
joining  Capt.  Meyer's!!; Co.  of  Mo.  Vol.  May  28. 
Deaths  : 
Cheek,  Allen,  died  at  Buena  Vista,  April  2. 
Lewi's,  John,    "    "    Saltillo,  May  3. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  H," 
Second  Regiment,  111.  Vol.,  Mexican  War.  Organized 
at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  county.  111.,  in  the  m(mth  of 
May,  1846.     Mustered  inlo  the  service  of  the  United 
States  at  Alton,  111.,  on  the  16th  dajof  June,  1846. 

Captain  : 
Julius  Raith,  mu-tered  out  June  16,  '47. 

First  Lieutenant  : 
Nathaniel  Niles,  discharged  at  Buena  Vista,  May  31, 
'47,  by  order  of  Gen.  Wool. 

S  eond  Lieutenants : 
1.  Adolphus  Engelman,  wound,   absent  on  furlough 
from  May  23,  '47,  till  expiration  of  term  of  service. 
4.  Louis  Stock,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

First  Sergeant: 
Charles  A.  Fritz,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

17 


Sergeants : 
R  bert  Morrison,  absent  on  furlough   from  May  31, 

'47,  till  expiration  of  term  of  service. 
Corporals: 
Adolphus  Schlotterback,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Charles  Gooding,  "         '  "         " 

Adam  Ermig,  "         "         "         " 

H.  W.  Waldermann,  "        "         "         " 

Musicians : 
Gabriel  W.  Cox,      mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Jacob  Kuebli,  "        "        " 

Privates : 
Alexander,  Tucker,        mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Buker,  John  Ph.,  "         " 

Buker,  Urban,  "         "         "         •' 

Berry,  John,  "        •'         " 

Berdoux,  Charles,  wounded  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23, 

'47.     Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Buyatte,  Lewis,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Bridges,  Charles,  wounded  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23, 

'47.    Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Busch,  Hermann,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Broomfield,  William, 

Burg,  Valentine,  "        "        "        " 

Clark,  John,  "        "         "        " 

Clemeu,  Charles,  "         ''        "         " 

Doer,  Jacob,  "         "        "       ' '' 

Edward,  F.  C. 

Estes,  George,  "         ''         ''         " 

Erhard,  William,  "         "        "         '' 

Ehinger,  Augu.-tus,  "        ''         "         " 

Funk,  Valentine,  wounded  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23, 

'47  ;  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Frank,  Jacob,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Francis,  James,  "         "         "         " 

Feldraeier,  William,  wounded  a^  Buena  Vista,  Feb. 

23,  '47  ;  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Gerhard,  John,  wounded  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23, '47. 

Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Gerstenschlaeger,  Jacob,  mustered  out  June  18, '47. 
Gollinger,  John, 

Hantz,  Joseph,  ' ' 

King,  William,  ' 

Knight,  John,  ' ' 

Kirk,  F.  M., 

Lambert,  Casper,  "        "        "     _  '' 

Ledergerber,  Joseph,  wounded  at  Buena  Vista,   Feb. 

23,  '47  ;  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Maurer,  Nic,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Meyer.  John  G. 

McDonal,  Daniel,  absent  on  furlough  May  31,  '47j 
Bice,  George,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Roberts,  Charles, 
Ronneberg,  Fritz,  wounded  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23, 

'47  ;  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Reeves,  William,  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Scheel,  Maximilus,  absent  on  furlough  May  31,  '47. 
Scheurer,  John  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Schnebelin,  Michael,  ' 

Schloesinger,  Henry,  "         ''        "        " 

Talbert,  James,  wounded  at  Btiena  Vista,   Feb.  23, 

'47  ;  mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Trantwein,  Charles  H.     mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 
Trantwein,  Ph.  John,  " .      "         "        " 

Traenkle,  Conrad,  wounded  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb  23, 

'47.  Mustered  out  June  18,  '47. 

Todd,  Jackson,  " 

Upbmann,  Hermann,  "        "         ''        " 

Voelker.  George,  "        ''        "        " 

Wedkind,  Erich.C. 

Wilver,  David,  "        "         '•        '] 

West,  James,  ''        '' 

Wolf,  John, 
Wissenborn,  John  C.  "         "        " 

Discharged : 
Cominski,  Charles,  Serg't.,  discharged  May  31,  '47, 

by  order  of  Gen.  Wool. 
Baker,  Daniel,  Private,  discharged  May  31,  '47,  by 

order  of  Gen.  Wool. 
Deuker,  John,  Private,  discharged  May  31,  47,   by 

order  of  Gen.  Wool. 
Krus",  William,  Private,  discharged  May  31,  47,  by 

order  of  Gen.  Wool.  ,.n  u 

Kurkman,  Noble,  Private  discharged  May  31,  47,  by 

order  of  Gen.  Wool. 
Newell,  J.  H.  f  on  stirgeon's  certificate  of  dis- 

Quenly,  Abraham,      \  ability  at  Saltillo,  March  2&, 
Wolf,  Philip,  (.  1847. 


Died : 
Leutzinger,  John,  in  H  )3pital  at  S  iltillo,  Mxy  7,  '47 
Kuchfus,  John,  killed   bjtweeu   Saltillo    and   Camp 
Buena  Viata,  April  15,  '47. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF,  SIXTH  REGIMENT,  ILLINOIS 
VOLS.,   MEXICAN   WAR. 

Organized  by  Edward  W.  B.  Newby  at  Alton,  Illinois, 
In  the  month  of  June,  1847.  Discharged  October 
16,  1848. 

Adjutant. 
William  H.  Snyder,  1st  Lieut.  Capt.  Hook's  Company. 

Surgeon, 
Daniel  Turney,  appointed  by  the  president. 

Assistant  Surgeons. 
Thomas  B.  Lester, 
James  D.  Robinson. 

■MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  A,  SIXTH    REGIMENT, 

ILLINOIS   VOLS. 
Mexican  war  recruits  (to  Thomas  Bond's  company  of 
Clinton  county),  Aug.  16,  1847. 
Privates. 
Greenlee,  Elihu,  mustered  out  Oct.  16,  1848. 
Hunt,  Joel,  "  "     "      " 

Myatt,  Albert,  "  "     "      " 

Phillipps,  Joseph,     "  "     "      "       " 

Phillipps,  Francis,     "  "     "      "       " 

Sharp,  William  H.,   "  "     "      "       " 

Woddle,  Sylvester,    "  "     "      "       " 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  E,  SIXTH   REGIMENT, 
ILLINOIS   VOLS. 

Organized  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  in 
.  the  month  of  May,  1847.     Mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  at  Alton,  111.,  on  the  26th 
day  of  May,  1847.     Honorably  discharged  on  the 
14th  day  of  October,  1848,  at  Alton,  111. 
Captain, 

G.  W.  Hook,  mustered  out  Oct.  16,  1848. 
First  Lieutenant, 

William  H.  Snyder,  promoted  adjutant. 
Second  Lieutenants, 

Enoch  Luckey,  mustered  out  Oct.  16,  1848. 

Robert  Peer,  promoted  from  sergeant,  Dec.  28,  1847. 
First  Sergeant, 

William  H.  Bennett,  mustered  out  Oct.  16,  1848. 
Sergeants, 

William  S.  Flemming,  mustered  out  Oct.  16,  1848. 

Thomas  J.  Aliff,  "  "      "     " 

James  A.  Etter,  "  "      "     "       " 

Corporals. 

John  R.  Parker,  mustered  out  October  16,  1848. 

John  A.  J.  Bragg,       "         "         "         "       " 
Musicians. 

Benjamin  T.  Jones,  mustered  out  Oct.  16,  1848. 

Stephen  Cooper,  "  " 

Privates, 

Boyd,  William  R.,  mustered  out  Oct.  16,  1848. 

Bonham,  .lames,  "         ," 

Briggs,  Charles,  "  " 

Brazewell,  George  A.,  "  " 

Badgly,  Abijah,  "  " 

Beattie,  Francis  H.,      "  " 

Beavers,  Charles  W.,    " 

Collard,  John  C.  C,       '• 

Carlisle,  James  W., 

Cookingham,  Uri  J.,     "  " 

Cobienger,  Joseph,        "  " 

Crocker,  George  W.,      "  " 

Due,  John  P.,  "  " 

Deabalt,  John, 

Deitrlch,  Andrew,         "  " 

Dingle,  Jonathan,  "  " 

Drew,  William, 

Fitzgerald,  James,         "  " 

Gibbens,  John,  "  " 

Harlon,  Thomas  F.,       "  " 

Heath,  William  H., 

Hendrick,  Thomas  J.,    " 

Hawkins,  General  L.,    " 

Kable,  Nicholas, 

Koekler,  Henry, 

K-imble,  John,  "  " 


130 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


'68. 


Lacy,  Franklin,      mustered  out  Oct.  16, 

Lunceford,  Isaac,  "  "  "  " 

Lawrence,  George,  "  "  "  " 

Mottzfelt,  John,  '  " 

Majors,  Huling,  "  "  "  " 

Peck,  John  Q.  A.,  "  "  "  " 

Poison,  Richard,  "  "  "  " 

Rung,  Jacob,  "  "  "  " 

Bussel,  Robert  R.,  "  "  "  " 

Shefter,  George  T.,  "  "  "  " 

Stattman,  Franklin,  "  "  "  " 

Smith,  Oziel  G.,  "  "  "  " 

Sterrick,  Charles  T.,  "  "  "  " 

Triplett,  'William,  "  "  "  " 

Talbot,  Jesse,  "  "  "  " 

Whiteside,  Joseph,  "  "  "  " 

WooUey,  William  A.j  "  "  "  " 

West,  Frederick,  "  "  "  " 

Wheeler,  Martin,  "  "  "  " 

Warton,  Samuel,  "  "  "  " 

Webb,  Adams,  "  "  "  " 

Weisenbach,  George,  "  "  "  " 

Died. 


Andrew  J.  Davis,  corp'l,  died  Las  Vegas,  N.  M.,  Apr. 

13,  1848. 
Josiah  Mullen,  corp'l,  died  Las  Vegas,  N.  M.,  Feb.  9, 

1848. 
Thomas  H.  Crabb,  died  at  Alton,  111.,  June  11, 1847. 
William  Turner,  died  at  Cedar  Spring,  Aug.  28,  1847. 
Francis  M.  Earl,  died  at  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  Oct.  15,  '47. 


Jesse  W.  Crocker, 

Charles  B.  Berry,  " 

William  Lively,  " 

Thomas  Gascil.  " 
Theodore  Vandyke, ' 

John  Maxwell,  ' 

William  Bragg,  ' 

Thomas  J.  Allen,  ' 


■  Las  Vegas, 


Discharged. 


Oct.  19,  '47. 
Nov.  7,  '47. 
Dec.  12, '47. 
Dec.  30,  '47. 
Jan.  12, '48. 
Feb.  7,  '48. 
Feb.  9,  '48. 
Feb.  19,  '48. 


Thomas  J.  Ward,  disch'd  Las  Vegas,  serg't,  disability. 
Knowles   VanorsdoU,   disch'd  at   Fort  Leavenworth, 

July  7,  '47,  disability. 
John  W.  Swift,  disch'd  at  Las  Vegas,  N.  M.,  April  26, 

1848,  disability. 
Tilman  Huzley,  disch'd  at  Las  Vegas,  N.  M.,  April  26, 

1848,  disability. 
Frederic  Spannhorst,  disch'd    at  Las  Vegas,  N.  M., 

April  26,  1848,  disability. 
Coe  W.  Case,  disch'd  at  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  May  27, 

1848,  disability. 

Deserted. 

William  Christian,  June  16,  1847,  at  Alton,  111. 
John  W.  Forquer,  June  19,  1847,  at  Alton,  111. 
Robert  Lincoln,  Apr.  13, 1847,  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo. 

Transferred. 
James  Reed,  to  Company  "B,"  June  27,  1847. 


THE   WAB   FOE  THE    UNION. 


The  purpose  of  the  succeeding  article  is  to 
give,  in  as  succinct  form  as  possible,  a  record 
of  the  patriotic  deeds  performed  by  the  sons 
of  St.  Clair  county  for  the  integrity  of  the 
great  American  Republic,  and  in  defence  of 
the  broad  principles  of  justice  and  humanity, 
underlying  the  foundations  of  our  govern- 
ment. As  the  revolutionary  struggle  was 
waged  for  the  birth  of  the  nation  ;  the  war  of 
1^12,  for  the  rights  of  American  seamen;  so 
the  war  for  the  Union  wa?  fought  in  defence 
of  the  nearest  and  dearest  rights  of  humanity, 
rjghts  forever  crystallized  in  those  golden 
word?,  "  All  men  are  created  equal,"  and 
equally  entitled  to  "life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit 
of  happiness."    The  nation  was  convulsed  with 


the  shock  of  civil  war,  and  the  world  paused  to 
witness  the  grandest  contest  of  modern  times. 
In  such  a  conflict,  when  the  life  of  a  great 
nation  was  in  the  balance,  there  could  be  no 
neutral  ground,  and  the  states  that  in  the  in- 
ception of  the  war,  attempted  to  pursue  such 
a  policy,  were  quickly  drawn  into  the  angry 
whirlpool  of  bloody  strife.    At  the  very  outset, 
the  great  state  of  Illinois   leaped   into  the 
martial   arena   like   a  fiery   giant,   and   her 
patriotic    names    soon    became    emblazoned 
high   up  on  the  scroll  of  fame.     When  the 
guns  of  treason,  aimed  at  the  flag  of  liberty, 
on    the    memorable    12th    of    April,    1861, 
belched  forth  their  murderous  missiles,  their 
traitorous  tones  resounded  through  our  state, 
and  echoed   along  the  far-oft"  seaboards.     A 
new  crisis  of  the  nation  was  at  hand,  one  that 
was  to  try  men's  souls  at  the  altar  of  their 
common  country.  Scarcely  had  the  proclama 
tion  of  President  Lincoln,  calling  for  75,000 
volunteers,  been  issued,  when  the  noble  sons 
of  this  county,  abandoning  for  the  time  their 
various  civil  pursuits,  responded  to  the  call, 
and  rallied  around  the  flag  of  their  country. 
Of   the    225,300   soldiers  accredited   to   the 
state   during  the  war,  St.  Clair  county  fur- 
nished   4,396,    besides    large    numbers   that 
crossed  the  liver,  and  entered  Missouri  regi- 
ments. 

Not  only  among  the  native  born,  but  espe- 
cially among  the  German  citizens  of.  the 
county,  did  the  spirit  of  patriotism  beat  high, 
and  the  glorious  names  of  Hecker,  Koerner, 
Ruefther,  Wangelin,  and  thousands  of  otht  rs, 
natives  of  the  great  "Fatherland,"  will  live 
in  memory  as  long  as  the  republic  shall  en- 
dure. 

Unlike  the  foreign  soldiers  of  Cyrus,  or  the 
hireling  hordes  that  followed  Xerxes  into 
Greece,  die  Deuischen  soldoien  of  this  county, 
as  of  all  parts  of  our  common  country, 
marched  to  battle  with  no  mercenary  motives, 
but  fired  with  the  deep  love  of  liberty  and 
their  adopted  country,  so  characteristic  of  the 
German  people.  In  this  connection  it  is  but 
just  to  mention  particularly  the  name  of  Col. 
Gustavus  Koerner,  who  was  honored  by 
President  Lincoln  with  the  commission,  as 
Colonel  of  volunteers,  and  the  appointment 
was  promptly  confirmed  by  the  U.  S.  Senate. 
Col.  Koerner  was  afterward  transferred  to 
the  staff  of  Gen.  Halleck,  and  performed 
patriotic  services  during  the  war. 

The  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county  have  just 
cause  to  feel  proud  that  in  every  war  of  the 
republic,  including  the  Revolution,  the  blood 
of  her  noble  sons  has  been  spilled  in  every 
battle-field,  from  Saratoga  to  Appomattox,  a 
record  of  valorous  deeds,  monuments  more 
lasting  than  marble,  more  enduring  than 
brass. 


We  subjoin  a  brief  history  of  the  regiment, 
and  a  roster  of  soldiers  credited  to  the  county. 


NINTH   INFANTRY. 

(^Three  years'  service.)* 
Within  a  week  from  the  issuing  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln's  proclamation,  in  April,  1861, 
calling  for  75,000  volunteers,  to  serve  three 
months,  to  maintain  and  enforce  the  national 
authority,  St.  Clair  county  sent  six  full  com- 
panies, Madison  county  three,  and  Mont- 
gomery county  one  company  to  Springfield, 
Illinois.  April  25th,  1861,  these  companies 
were  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  for  three  months,  and  numbered  the 
Ninth  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  Volunteers. 
This  regiment,  by  re-organization  and  re-en- 
listment, remained  in  the  service  until  the 
surrender  of  all  the  Confederate  armies.  It 
participated  in  some  of  the  most  memorable 
and  sanguinary  battles  of  the  war.  It  led  in 
advance  of  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea,  and 
thence  north  to  the  Confederate  surrender  in 
North  Carolina  ;  and  it  took  part,  in  all,  in  one 
hundred  and  ten  engagements. 

As  originally  organized,  at  Springfield,  it 
contained  a  great  part  of  the  best  youths  of 
St.  Clair  county.  About  one-half  of  the  regi- 
ment V  as  German-Americans,  and  the  others, 
native  Americans,  with  a  sprinkling  of  other 
nationalities.  The  larger  portion  of  the  men 
having  enlisted  from  St.  Clair  county,  its  his- 
tory finds  a  proper  place  in  this  volume. 

Immediately  after  the  completion  of  the  or- 
ganization the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Cairo, 
Illinois,  to  forestall  the  threatened  occupation 
of  the  place  by  Confederate  forces,  and  re- 
mained there  until  the  end  of  the  first  term  of 
its  enlistment.     It  took  part  in  no  events  of 
importance  during  this  period.     Saving  occa- 
sional scouts  into  Missouri,  nothing  occurred 
to   break    the   monotony   of  camp  life.     No 
uniforms  were  issued  during  this  term,  and  the 
full-dress  of  the  officers  and  men  consisted  of 
such  costumes  as  their  fancy  suggested,  or  the 
patriotism  of  their  home  authorities  had  sup- 
plied.    The  time   was    principally   spent  in 
drilling  and  fitting  the  men  for  active  service. 
The  three  months  term  of  service  expired  July 
25th,  1861,  and  the  regiment  was  mustered 
out  on  that  day  at  Cairo.     At  this  time  an 
attack  on  Cairo,  was  daily  expected,  and  as 
no  troops  could  be  spared  elsewhere  to  take 
the  place  of  those  discharged,  an  appeal  was 
made  to  the  men  mustered  out,  to  remain  and 
reorganize  for  three  years  service.     This  was 
accordingly  done;  while  a  part  returned  home, 
the  greater  number  immediately   re-enlisted. 
It  was  mustered  into  United   States  service 

*  We  are  under  obligations  to  General  \V.  C. 
KuefFner,  of  Belleville,  for  data  furnished  for  the 
compilation  of  the  history  of  this  regiment. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


131 


for  three   years,  by  Capt.  Pritcher,  U.  S.  A., 
July  26th,  1861.* 

A  uniform  was  now  for  the  first  time  fur- 
nished. As  the  regulation  blue  could  not  be 
obtained,  a  gray  suit  was  supplied  by  the  state, 
and  worn  until  after  the  battle  of  Fort  Don- 
elson,  when  it  was  discarded  on  account  of 
its  similarity  to  the  Confederate  uniform. 
During  the  three  months  service,  Gen.  Pren- 
tiss, had  been  in  comraaud,  at  Cairo,  but  soon 
after  the  re-organization  General  Grant  ap- 
peared on  the  scene. 

Sept.  5th,  1861,  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  Paducah,  where  it  remained,  and  with 
several  brigades  under  command  of  Gen.  C. 
F.  Smith,  held  the  position  until  the  opening 
of  the  campaign  in  February,  1862.  Here 
the  time  of  the  regiment  was  spent  in  hard 
drilling  and  reconnoitering  the  surrounding 
country,  which  was  infested  with  hostile  bands 
of  ConCederates.  Companies  B,  H,  and  I,  of 
the  9th,  each  filled  up  by  volunteers  to  one 
hundred  men,  under  command  of  Maj.  J.  J. 
Phillips,  embarked  by  steamer  up  the  Cum- 
berland, and  marched  to  Saratoga,  Ky.,  where 
at  sunrise  they  surprised  and  attacked  a  force 
of  200  rebel  c  ivalry,  killing  and  wounding  a 
number  of  the  enemy,  and  captured  their 
camp,  horses,  a  lot  of  arms,  and  about  twenty 
prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  9th  was  light ;  Cap- 
tain Kiieff'ner,  of  company  B,  slightly,  and 
corporal  Gribling,  of  same  company,  and  pri- 
vate Gatewood,  of  Co  K,  severely  wounded- 
This  was  the  first  fight  in  which  any  part  of 
the  regiment  had  been  engaged. 

In  the  mean  time  Col.  Payne  had  been  ap- 
pointed Brig.  General ;  Lieut.  Colonel  Mersy, 
Colonel ;  Major  Phillips,  Lieut.  Colonel,  and 
Capt.  Kuhn,  Major.  February  4th,  1862,  the 
9th  was  ordered  up  the  Tennessee  river  to 
Fort  Henry ;  on  the  following  day,  landed 
five  miles  below  the  fort,  and  on  the  6th 
marched  up  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
and  participated  in  the  combined  operations 
of  the  fleet  and  the  army,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  Fort  Henry.  February  12th, 
crossed  the  Tennessee  and  joined  the  army  in 
the  march  against  Fort  Donelson.  Colonel 
McArthur's  brigade,  to  which  the  9th  regiment 
belonged,  formed  a  part  of  General  C.  F. 
Smith's  Division.  Was  detached  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  First  Division,  commanded  by 
Brigadier  General  McClernand,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  right  of  our  army  during  Satur- 
day, February  15th,  where  the  most  severe 
fighting  took  place.  This  regiment  had  eight 
companies  engaged  in  this  action,  numbering 

*We  have  not  given  the  roster  of  the  officers  and 
men  who  served  in  the  three  months  term,  as  the 
Adjnlant  General's  Report  does  not  give  their  resi- 
dence, hence  we  are  unable  to  determine  those  from 
St.  Clair  connty. 


about  six  hundred  men;  company  "  H  "  being 
absent  on  provost  duty,  and  company  "  A  " 
detached  to  support  a  battery  on  another  part 
of  the  field.  After  the  unconditional  surren- 
der of  the  fort,  which  General  Grant  had  de 
manded,  the  Ninth,  together  with  the  Second 
Iowa  regiment,  was  awarded  the  honor  of  first 
entering  the  Confederate  Stronghold.  There 
is  no  mention  in  any  ofiicial  report  of  the  part 
Col.  McArthur's  Brigade  took  in  this  action, 
though  it  did  the  fiercest  fighting  on  the  field. 
The  regiment  lost  in  this  engagement,  38 
men  killed  on  the  field,  and  179  wounded.  A 
number  of  those  wounded,  subsequently  died. 
The  following   is   a   list   of  the   killed   and 

wounded : 

Officers. 

Wouniied,  Captains  .Joseph  G,  Rohinson  of  Co.  "I," 
and  Rudolphus  Beckier  of  Co.  "D,"  First  Lieutenants 
Hamilton  Lieber  of  Co.  "  B,"  William  Britt  of  Co. 
"  F,"  and  .John  S.  Tutton  of  Co.  "  G."     Total,  5. 

Enlisted  Men. 

Co.iipany  "  B,"  killed:  corporals  Frank  Zugen- 
bueliler  and  John  Dettweiler.  Privates  killed  :  Mar- 
tin Benkeit,  Jacob  Eiorkuss,  Henry  Gonnermann, 
Henry  Herwig,  Christian  Koch,  Albert  Neumann  and 
Michael  Zech.  Wounde.l :  sergeants  Louis  Grieser 
and  John  Sclimidt,  corporal  John  Schaab,  privates 
Adolph  Aide,  Peter  Bauer,  John  Berger,  Joseph 
Cropp,  Charles  Daehnert,  Albert  Conner,  Michael 
Fath,  Joseph  Gantner,  Paul  Geist,  Julius  Hoffmann, 
John  Krieger,  Charles  Lobe,  Frederick  Menne,  Louis 
Messerschmidt,  Herman  Moser,  Joseph  Oberfell,  Si- 
mon Pohn,  William  Schlott,  Henry  Schneider,  Anton 
Schwarzkopf,  Frederick  Sensel,  Henry  Weber,  Daniel 
Werner,  Christian  Wickermann.  Total,  killed,  9 ; 
wounded,  28. 

Company  "  C,"  killed :  privates,  Lorenz  Bcersig 
and  Heinrich  Hillmann.  Wounded :  corporal  Charles 
King,  privates  Henry  Arndt,  George  Fichter,  John 
Grauss,  Christopher  Klein,  William  Miller,  John  Pietz, 
Adam  Resoh,  John  Riedel,  Adam  Summons,  Henry 
Schmidt,  William  Vagt,  Peter  Weis.  Total,  killed,  2; 
wounded,  13. 

Company  "T>."  Nineteen  enlisted  men  in  this 
company  were  wounded  ;  but  a  list  of  the  same  can- 
not be  obtained. 

Company  "  E,"  killed:  privates  Cassius  C.Atchi- 
son and  James  Dyer.  Wounded :  corporals  John  A. 
Gilmore  and  Frank  M.  Tillotson,  privates  John  Beatty, 
John  A.  J.  Bragg,  Russell  W.  Cool,  David  M.  Dur- 
ham, William  Evens,  Michael  Farley,  John  Fletcher, 
Dennis  C.  Frothingham,  James  B,  Gilmore,  George 
M.  Gilmore,  Simon  Hager,  Joseph  B.  Jones,  William 
P.  Kelley,  John  Kimberlin,  F,  M,  Mooie,  Francis  J, 
Murphy,  George  Snyder,  John  Tell,  William  G,  Trip- 
lett.     Total,  killed,  2  ;  wounded,  21, 

Company  "  F,"  killed:  privates,  David  N.  Ashton 
and  Constant  C,  Rowland.  Wounded:  sergeants 
Thomas  C.  Kidd  and  Andrew  J.  Webster,  corporal 
Andrew  J.  White,  privates  Harlow  Bossett,  George 
W.  Campbell,  Elnathan  Cory,  John  W.  Dye,  William 
M.  Ellis,  Joseph  L.  Garnett,  James  Getty,  James 
Hickes,  Nathan  Lynch,  George  McLaish,  John  Rank, 
Eli  T.  Singleton,  Richard  C.  Scott,  Thomas  L.  Wallace, 
Fraflk  X.  Wagner.  This  is  not  a  complete  list,  the 
records  of  the  company  having  been  destroyed.  Total, 
killed,  2 ;  wounded,  19-  .     t      v 

Company  "G,"  killed:  privates,  Benjamin  Jacob, 
Emsley  Walker,  James  Wilhelm,  Wounded :  privates, 
Columbus  C.  Akin,  N,  G.  Brown,  James  M,  Brown, 
John  Collier,  James  Cureton,  William  B,  Dubois,  Wil- 
liam R.  Gore,  JamQS  M.  Hampton,  William  J,  Hagler, 
James  E,  Mason,  Thomas  J,  Pleasant,  John  A.  btot- 
lan,  Joseph  H.  Wattey,  Jacob  WiUhelm,  John  J. 
White.     Total,  killed,  3 ;  wounded,  16. 

Company   "H,"     Absent  at   Paducah   as  provost 

^"company  "I,"  killed:  privates,  James  M.Johnson, 
Augustus  Kluge,  George  W.  Kinder,  Charles  Lomeyer, 
DeSnis  Lane,  Alonzo  Livingston,  Hugh  McMahon, 
John  K.  McKinney,  Charles  McDermott,  George  W, 


Moore,  Joseph  P,  Stevenson,  David  Williams.  Wound- 
ed :  sergeants  George  Woodbury  and  William  W.  Jar- 
vis,  corporals  Robert  R.  Swain,  John  G,  Irwin,  Ferdi- 
nand A,  Cornmann,  privates  William  Baird,  John 
Baird,  Daniel  G.  Bieyfogle,  James  G.  Ballard,  Zacha- 
riah  Burgess,  Aaron  C.  Bardon,  Josephus  Crews, 
George  W,  Clark,  Charles  E.  Dayton,  Emanuel  Davis, 
John  Elliott,  Henry  Fitzsimmons,  Theodore  Fisher, 
Heaston  Fuller,  John  Graham,  James  Hanratty,  Wm. 
S,  Helms,  David  Johnson,  David  Kyle,  George  Lent, 
George  Lawson,  Samuel  Morehead,  James,  Mitchel, 
Charles  S.  Patton,  Samuel  Read,  John  11,  Vanhooser, 
William  T,  Wilson.     Total,  killed,  12 ,  wounded.  34, 

Company  "K,"  killed:  corporal  Walter  Walsh, 
privates  Reuben  M,  Anderson,  Andrew  J,  Burton, 
Charles  Casebeer,  John  Emery,  Joshua  Hazelwood, 
David  Newcomb,  James  Patterson,  Wounded :  ser- 
geants Andrew  J.  Snider  and  John  Barber,  corporals 
Charles  N,  Brown,  George  Lincoln,  Samuel  W,  Sloan, 
privates  James  Broadie,  Joseph  N,  Condon,  Simon  P. 
Casey,  William  Daily^  Frank  F.  Coggles,  John  Gibson, 
Albert  W,  Kimball,  Aaron  Sipe  John  Malloy,  Alfred 
Mitchell,  .John  Seevers,  William  Thompson  and  Ham- 
ilton C,  Ulen.     Total:  killed,  8;  wounded,  18. 

February  22d,  the  Ninth,  with  a  part  of 
the  victorious  army,  proceeded  up  the  Cumber- 
land to  Clarksville  and  Nashville,  meeting 
with  no  resistance,  and  thence  back  to  Padu- 
cah, preparatory  to  starting  on  the  expedition 
determined  upon  against  Corinth,  in  Missis- 
sippi. Went  by  steamer,  disembarking  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  thirty  miles  from  Corinth, 
on  the  18th  ult  ,  and  went  into  camp  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  near  the  landing.  Ke- 
infiircemeuts  continued  to  arrive  until  the 
army  commanded  by  Gen  Grant  was  about 
40,000  strong.  About  day-break,  Sunday 
morning,  April  6th,  1862,  the  enemy  who  had 
encamped  within  gun-shot  range  of  our  line 
the  evening  before,  attacked  our  camp  with 
great  fury.  So  extended  was  the  ground  oc 
cupied  by  the  enemy,  that  the  information  of 
the  battle,  which  for  several  hours  had  been 
raging,  did  not  reach  the  regiment. until  eight 
o'clock.  The  brigade  was  promptly  formed 
under  command  of  Gen.  McArthur,  and  hur- 
ried to  the  front.  It  advanced  to  the  ex- 
treme left  of  our  line,  and  the  regiment  took 
position  along  the  meanderings  of  a  small 
ravine,  where  it  was  exposed  to  a  terrible  fire 
by  an  enemy  greatly  superior  in  numbers  and 
in  a  short  time  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  Ninth 
were  strewn  on  the  ground,  either  killed  or 
wounded.  Retreating  from  this  position,  the 
remainder  of  the  regiment  reformed  a  short 
distance  from  its  first  position.  "The  fragment 
of  the  Ninth  held  several  other  positions 
during  the  battle,  and  everywhere  fought 
fiercely  and  gallantly. 

The  severity  of  the  struggle  may  be  better 
understood  when  we  state  that  out  of  26  offi- 
cers and  520  enlisted  men  who  went  into 
battle,  20  officers  and  324  men,  besides  11 
men  missing,  were  either  killed  or  wounded. 
The  proud  regiment  which  two  months  before, 
had  marched  out  of  Paducah  a  thousand  men 
strong,  could  not  now  muster  one  hundred 
men  for  parade.     The  following  is  a  list  of  its 


132 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


killed  and  wounded  in  this  battle,  which  is 
now  generally  called  the  Battle  of  Shiloh : 


Officers. 

Killed:  lieutenant  Frederick  E.Vogeler  of  Co.  "B." 
Wounded:  colonel  Augustus  Mersy,  lieut.  colonel 
Jesse  J.  Phillips,  adjutant  Henry  H.  Klock,  ass't 
surgeon  Tmil  Guelich,  captains  Emil  Adam  of  Co. 
"A.,"  'William  C.  Kueflner  of  Co.  "B,"  Eudolph 
BeckierofCo.  "D,"  Alexander  G.  Ha-wes  of  Co.  "E," 
Loren  Webb  of  Co.  "F,"  William  F.  Armstrong  of 
Co.  "H,"  and  Joseph  G.  Eobinson  of  Co.  "I,"  lieu- 
tenants Oscar  Eollman  of  Co.  "C,"  Edward  Krehs  and 
Fred.  E.  Scheel  of  Co.  "D,"  George  W.  Williford  of 
Co.  "F,"  Isaac  Clements  of  Co.  "  G,"  William  H. 
Fur-viance  of  Co.  "  I,"  James  C.  McCleary  and  Gil- 
bert G.  Low  of  Co.  "K."  Total  officers  killed,  1; 
■wounded,  19. 

Enlisted  Men. 

Company  "A."  Killed:  sergeant  Peter  Schoppert, 
corporal  Joseph  Brown,  privatis  George  Andrae, 
lltnry  Glcnk,  Ambrose  Lauber  and  "William  Her- 
mann. 'Wounded:  tergeant  Andrew  Bastian,  cdrpo- 
lals  Anton  Hund,  Anion  Schwerlner,  and  Henry  Bur 
meisler,  privates  Fnderiok  Brinienkamp,  Theodore 
Backly,  Michael  Braiin,  Henry  Brenner,  John  Bauer, 
Jacob  Dnltenhoefler,  Erasmi  s  Fries,  Nicholas  Frank, 
Anton  Gaulocher,  Ferdinand  Haas,  William  Hall, 
Michael  Havlweck,  Henry  Janke,  Frederick  Koch, 
Jiimcs  Loehr,  Chail(s  Miller,  Htnry  Mueller,  August 
Meyer,  Jacob  Nicholas,  Christian  Rose.  Charles  Ei fa- 
ke, George Schaeler,  Adam  Schalier,  Andreas Schuck- 
niann,  Btnidict  Siranhinger,  "William  S(ah),  Nicho- 
las Vonberg,  Jacob  "Wehrle,  Martin  "Weiss  and  George 
"Winter.    Total  killed  6 ;  wounded  34. 

Company  "B."  Killed :  sergeants  Albert  Hei- 
necke,  John  Schmidt,  privatis  Fdward  Dellmar, 
Conrad  Maul,  John  Mesh,  Frank  Schtffler,  Henry 
"Weber.  "Wounded:  sergtani  John  Kallmann,  cor- 
porals Lorenz  Acktrmann,  Paul  Martin,  August 
"Wnrmb,  privates  Jose|.h  Amniann,  Maihias  Arnold, 
Jacob  Bauer,  Morand  Banmann,  George  Betz,  Gustav 
Blank,  Joseph  Cropp,  Albert  Donner,  Frederick  p'ntz, 
Arnold  Gerig,  Charles  Giin,  Coniad  Hellmuth,  Ger- 
hard Jansen,  "Valentin  Kadel,  August  Leopold,  Lonis 
Linne,  Ignaz  Menne,  Sebastian  Pfister,  John  Eaffel, 
Peter  Eeppel,  George  Salz,  Henry  Schmidt,  Jacob 
Spies,  Philip  Spies,  Hermann  Suenmicht,  Jacob 
Sulzer,  Daniel  Weiner,  ChriFtoph  "Wickemann  and 
Ferdinand  "Wisshatk.  Total  killed  7  ;  wounded  33. 
Company  "C.'  Killed:  sergeant  Charles  Hahle, 
corpoial  George  M.  Luther,  privates  "William  Klin- 
genberg,  Joljn  Lampreclit,  George  Lehr,  Michael 
Lehr,  Frederick  Lippert,  Henry  Eichter,  Christian 
Schenck,  "W'illiam  Storch,  August  Wichard.  "Wound- 
ed :  sergeant  John  M.  Salzmann,  corporals  Henry 
Kissel,  Irederick  Staab,  privHtes  Adelbert  Arramus, 
Anton  Becker,  Henry  Behm,  Andrew  Bence,  Philip 
Erbe,  Charles  Fritderi(h,  William  Gaebe,  Jacob  Ha 
berkorn,  John  A.  Helfrich,  Frank  Helfrich,  Jacob 
Herpin,  Christian  Keith,  Clirisiian  Macdel,  Frank 
Moser,  Andrew  Nadler,  Jacob  Eandell,  Anton  Sne- 
bert,  Charles  Sclienk,  Fredereriek  Scheve,  Henry 
Schemph,  Peter  Schneider,  Nicholas  Schouller,  John 
Spohnle.    Total  killed  11  ;  wounded  26. 

Company  "D.''  Killed  :  corporals  Henry  Goessel, 
Christian  Bahn,  Adam  Reitz,  privates  Jacob  Becka, 
Conrad  Goessel,  Adam  Loebig,  Philip  Sauer,  Jacob 
Riess,  Afbert  Schellenberg,  Frederick  Schiiize,  Wil- 
liam Vogelpohl,  Henry  Voss.  Wounded :  John 
Baehr,   Hermann   Bange,    Ibodore  Baqiiet,   Joseph 

Beck, William  Beaverson,  Joseph  Eisenhauer, 

Anton  Garthoefliier,  Frederick  Havermann,  Cemrad 

Heidmann,  Charles  Hiiler, William   Sieser, 

Charles  Miller,  George  Metzker,  Charles  Moeninger, 

Charles  Eoth Roffy,  Oswald  Blocker,  Bernhard 

Vogel,  Henry  Zweiliartli.     Total  killed  12  ;    wound- 
ed 18. 

Company  "E."  Killed:  sergeant  Silas  Bunker, 
privates  John  Anson,  JohnC.  Cady, Frank M.  Moore, 
James  McKenzie,  William  D.  Nevins.  Wounded  : 
sergeant  Louis  C.  Barnmann,  corporals  James  G. 
Carnahan,  Joseph  E.  Cox,  Philip  Anderson,  musi- 
cians Samuel  "Williams  Wagoner,  William  Minor, 
privates  James  M.  Blake,  Mathew  Bromley,  George 
H.  Campbell,  Charles  Dryden,  Michael  Farley,  Da- 
niel Hubbard,  John  W.  Hay,  Joseph  B.  Jones,  James 
Malone,  George  Meyer,  Francis  J.   Murphy,  Jesse 


Mock,  William  Mock,  John  N.  Shoemaker,  Thomas 
Stulkal,  Neal  Vestal.  Total  killed  6;  wounded  22. 
Company  "P."  Killed  :  sergeant  Andrew  J.  Web- 
ster, corporals  Frank  Pathhart,  Joshua  G.  Tecart, 
privates  John  E.  Charliek,  Thomas  Cox,  Toliver 
Foster,  Joel  Foster,  Charles  Hill,  Jacob  Koontz, 
George  McLeish,  Duncan  Me'Culloch,  John  G.  Snouf- 
fer.  Wounded:  sergeants  Joseph  C.Gates,  Eudolph 
W.  Heimberger,  corporal  Andrew  J.  White,  privates 
Marcus  Barnes,  Harlow  Bassett,  John  Chenowilh, 
John  H.  Collins,  James  Duncan,  Michael  N.  Fisher, 
James  Getty,  Andrew  Gmelin,  Henry  Gmelin,  James 
M.  Hickman,  James  Hobbs,  John  H.  Lauchly,  Wil- 
liam T.  Miller,  Joseph  L.  Miller,  John  McCarter,  R. 
J.  Simpkins,  James  Rodgers,  John  Stoulfoulh,  John 
M.  Ticknor,  Napoleon  B.  Winters, George  W.  Warren. 
Total  killed  12;  wounded  24. 

Company  "O."  Killed  :  privates  A Ipheus  Bascom, 
Wiliam  H.  Bascom,  David  Jones,  Thomas  J.  Olney, 
James  Walker.  Wounded :  sergeants  William 
Hamjjton,  Nimrod  G.  Perrine,  John  B  Enssell,  cor- 
poral Edward  B.  Ehodes,  private*  Lewis  E.  Apple- 
gale,  William  Addison,  John  W.  Brown,  William 
L.  Brown,  Nathaniel  G.  Brown,  Henry  Brown,  Wil- 
liam R.  Bradley,  Allen  Edwards,  Simon  P.  Hartsell, 
Eobert  Marshall,  John  McCord,  Charles  W.  Miller, 
Daniel  Ryan,  Bennett  Strottler,  Thomas  Strottler, 
John  J.  Stripling,  Anasimander  B.  Tulton.  John  J. 
Tippy,  Louis  Wise,  Jr.  John  J.  While,  Warren  S. 
White.     Total  killed  5 ;  wounded  25. 

Company  "H  "  Killed  :  sergeant  Francis  D.  Hub- 
bel,  privates  William  R.  Haller,  Daniel  C.  White, 
Thomas  Wright.  Wounded  :  sergeant  Daniel  Pent- 
zer,  Jacob  Miller,  corporals  Alonzn  F.  MeEwen,  Ni- 
cholas Keller,  James  W.  Osborn,  Paul  Roberts,  pri- 
vates John  G-  Arney,  William  Baldermann,  Dennis 
Bahon,  Charles  Brienbier,  William  S.  Cheeny,  Wil- 
liam A.  Cottingham,  James  A.  Clotfelter,  Daniel  J. 
Cariiker,  Ira  G.  Dart,  John  Droesch,  George  H.  Dry, 
Thomas  Fry,  Erapmns  Gaw,  William  H.  IMey,  Wil- 
liam Keep,  John  B.  Livingood,  John  F.  Moore,  1  at- 
rick  Moynaham,  Lafayette  Mason,  James  S.  MiGul- 
lion,  Edward  Nail,  Sidney  B.  Phillips,  George Riilph, 
John  Salzmann,  Francis  M.  Stickel,  Almond  D. 
Simmons,  Joseph  E.  Taulbee,  Moses  H.  Turner, 
Patrick  Whalen.     Total  killed  4 ;  wounded  35. 

Company"!.''  Killed:  privates  Nathan  Abbott, 
John  Bass,  Eward  R.  Keegan,  John  N.  Lawrence, 
Frederick  Swartz.  Wounded:  sergeant  William  W. 
Jarvis,  corporal  George  W.  Stiie,  privates  John 
Baird,  Norman  Barber,  Ifaiah  Berrly,  George  W. 
Clark,  Thomas  C.  Gillham,  William  Helms,  Thomas 
Hauskins,  John  Jaka,  Sidney  B.  Jarvis,  Charles  C. 
Lewis.  Albert  Mills,  George  McKinley,  Charles  A 
Redman,  John  Willson,  Henry  "Wormyer.  Total 
killed  5  ;  wounded  17. 

Company  "K."  Killed  :  privates  William  Foster, 
James  L.  Kriddler,  George  Sloan,  Thomas  Walton. 
Wounded  :  corporal  John  Richmond,  privates  George 
W.  Burton.  Sr.,  George  W.  Burton,  Jr.,  John  Burke, 
Charles  W.  Bowles,  Henderson  Cogdell,  John  L. 
Creed,  John  Cliflord,  William  A.  Carding,  Francis 
Flagles,  John  Horn,  Thomas  J.  Hagler,  Zero  Mav, 
Samuel  L.  Miller,  Robert  E.  Ramsey,  Jonathan 
Stone,  Samuel  W.  Sloan,  Charles  L.  Tom.inson.  To- 
tal killed  4  ;  wounded  18. 


The  advance,  or  siege  of  Corinth  as  it  is  ge- 
nerally termed,  was  marked  by  no  events  of 
great  interest. 

During  the  summer  of  1862,  the  Ninth  re- 
mained in  camp  near  Corinth,  and  at  Rienzi. 
In  September  the  Ninth  was  re-called  from 
Rienzi  to  Corinth,  to  support  the  garrison,  and 
arrived  there  October  2d,  and  rejoining  its  old 
brigade  under  Gen.  Oglesby,  marched  out  on 
the  morning  of  October  3d,  with  its  division, 
under  command  of  Gen.  Daviess  to  meet  the 
advance  of  the   enemy  at  the  old  rebel  in- 
trenchments  about   two   and    one-half  miles 
N.  "W.  of  the  city.    In  the  first  charge  Captain 
Britt,  of  Co.  "  F  "  was  killed,  and  Captains 
E.  M.  and  G  G.  Lowe,  and  Lieutenant  Hughes 
and  Ulen,  and  over  fifty  men  were  captured. 
The  regiment  was  engaged  during  the  whole 
of  the  fighting,  sustaining  a  loss  of  19  men 
killed  and  82  wounded.     We  give  the  names 
of  those  killed  and  wounded  in  this,  the  battle 
of  Corinth  : 


General  C.  F.  Smith,  the  old  division  com- 
mander, an  excellent  oflScer  of  the  regular 
army,  of  advanced  years,  had  been  taken  sick 
before  the  battle  and  died.  General  W.  H. 
Wallace  had  succeeded  him  and  was  mortally 
wounded  ;  and  he  was  succeeded  by  General 
T.  A.  Daviess.  The  command  of  the  brigade 
passed  from  General  McArthur,  who  had  been 
wounded,  to  General  Richard  J.  Oglesby 
Soon  after  the  battle  General  Halleck  ap- 
peared to  take  command  of  the  aimy  in  per- 
son, superseding  General  Grant.  Corinth  still 
remained  the  objective  point  of  the  campaign, 
and  heavy  reinforcements  having  arrived, 
with  the  beginning  of  May  the  long  delayed 
movement    against    that  place    commenced. 


Officers  killed  :  Captain  Wi'liam  Britt  of  Co.  "  F." 
Wounded  :  Major  John  H.  Kuhn,  Adjutant  Henry 
H.  Klock.  CaptainsWilliamC.  Kuefinerof  Co.  "B," 
and  Jos.  G.  Robinson  of  Co.  ''I."  Lieutenants  Oscar 
Rollmann  and  Charles  Scheve  of  Co.  "  C,"  George  W. 
Williford  of  Co.  "F,"  Isaac  Clements  of  Co.  "G." 
Cyrus  H.  Gilmore  and  Alfred  Cowgill  of  Co.  "  H." 
Total  killed  1.  wounded  10. 

Company  "A."  Killed  :  private  Charles  Gilrich. 
Wounded  :  Wm.  Korlkamp.  Total  killed  1,  wound- 
ed 1. 

Company  "  B."  Killed :  Privates,  Joseph  Cropp, 
Jaeob  Sulzer.  Wounded:  Sergeants  John  Eichen- 
berger.  August  Wiirmb.  Corporal  Louis  Fisher, 
Privates,  Paul  Geist,  Edward  Hoffmann,  George 
Jenne,  Nicholas  Meyer.  J(  seph  Noltner,  George  Salz, 
Daniel  Werner,  Anton  Winstioth.  Total  killed  2, 
wounded  11. 

Company'  C."  Killed:  Privates,  John  Tunge- 
mann,  Frederick  Hugenberg.  Wounded:  Henry 
Behm,  Jacob  Herpin,  Christian  Jacob,  Chri.«tian 
Maedel,  John  Miller.  Peter  Schneider,  John  Pietz. 
Total  killed  2,  wounded  7. 

Company  "D.'  Killed  :  Corporal  Louis  Truttmann, 
Private.",  Jacob  Berthold,  Henrv  Borcherding,  John 
Smith,  Christian  Tenting.  Total  killed,  5.  A 
number  were  wounded,  but  their  names  can  not  be 
obtained. 

Company  •'£."  Wounded:  Corporal  Francis  J. 
Murphy.  Privates,  John  Beatty.  William  P.  Kelley, 
John  Lill,  James  Malone,  William  F.  Primley  Jack 
L.  Stevens,  Neal  Vestal,  James  F.  Williams.  'Total 
wounded  9. 

Conipa,ny  "F."  Killed  :  John  O.  Foushee,  Frede. 
rick    Wiggand.      Wounded:   Sergeant   William   C 

i;",Y^-'''J''"''P°'''^^  J^'"^"  F'-l^e.  Private  William 
Miller.    Total  killed  2,  wounded  3. 

Oovipany  "G"  Killed:  Alfred  Bartley,  John  Mc- 
S°  J|}^?!1"'^''1  =    Henry    Brown,    Naihaniel    G. 

Brown,  "William  J.  Heglar,  Robert  Marshall,  James 

A.  Paregien.     Total  killed  2,  wounded  5 
Company  "H."     Killed  :  Samuel  Gie^inger,  John 

B.  Livingood,  Sebastian  Swendemann.  Wound,  d: 
James  Bnuly  Will  am  S  Boone,  Dennis  Bahon, 
Charles  Brienbier,  O.  W.  Boutwell.  William  A.  Cot- 
tingham, Robert  Kinley,  Israel  Haller,  Venice  C. 
Ha  er,  Qiarles  H.  Newcomb,  George  W.  Quails, 
William  Reckhart.  Francis  M.  Stickel,  Ambrose  J. 
Siellou,  Joseph  W.  Warren.  Total  killed  3,  wound- 
eu  15. 

Company ''ir  Wounded  :  Corporal  Thomas  Pete. 
Privates,  Wiliam  Baird,  John  Jaka,  ames  Lang, 
Joseph  E.  Stringer.     Total  wounded  5 

Company  -K."  Killed:  Pri>ale  James  Ulen. 
Wounded:  Corporal  George  Meyers.  Privates,  John 
Burke,  Charles  "W.  Bowles,  Joseph  N.  Condon,  Levi 
Gibb.s,  Peter  Hall,  Henry  Sienger,  Samuel  C.  Ulen, 
Frank  M.  Winstead.     Total  killed  1,  wounded  9 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


]33 


The  regiment  remained  near  Corinth,  till 
the  spring  of  1863.  In  March  of  that  year  it 
was  mounted  on  mules,  and  was  therefore 
employed  as  Mounted  Infantry,  and  during 
the  remainder  of  the  war,  it  was  nearly  always 
in  the  saddle,  scouting,  skirmishing,  recou- 
noitering,  and  raiding,  almost  invariably  suc- 
cessful, scarcely  ever  meeting  with  a  check, 
and  becoming  well  known  and  a  favorite 
throughout  the  army  of  the  Tennessee.  We 
cannot  give  a  detailed  account  of  all  the 
movements  of  the  regiment,  but  have  men- 
tioned the  leading  battles  in  which  it  par- 
ticipated, and  below  we  append  a  list  of  the 
110  engagements: 

The  fiiUowing  is  a  list  of  battles  and  skirmishes  in 
which  the  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry  was  engaged  during 
the  Rebellion : 

1  Saratoja,  Ky.,  October  26,  '61. 

2  Fort  Hi-nrv,  Tenn.,  Feb.  6,  '62. 

3  Fort  Doneison,  Tenn.,  Feb.  15,  '62. 

4  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tenn.,  April  6  and  7,  '62. 

5  Siege  of  Corinih,  Miss.,  April  29  to  May  29,  '62. 

6  Battle  of  Corinth,  Miss ,  Oct.  3  and  4,  '62. 

7  Cherokee,  Ala.,  April  17- '63. 

8  Lundy's  Lane,  Ala  ,  April  17,  '63. 

9  Town  Creek,  Ala.,  April  18,  '63. 

10  Buzzard  Boost,  Ala.,  April  19,  '63. 

11  Goodlow's,  Ala.,  April  21,  '63. 

12  Cherokee,  Ala,  April  22,  '63. 

13  Tupelo,  Miss.,  May  4,  '63. 

14  Fhrtnee,  Ala.,  Mav  28, '6.3. 
15-  Hamburg.  Tenn.,  May  3(',  '63. 

16  Mud  Creek,  Miss.,  June  20,  '63. 

17  Jackson,  Tenn.,  July  13,  '63. 

18  Grenada,  Miss  ,  Aug.  17,  '63. 

19  Henderson  Station,  Tenn.,  Oct.  2,  '63. 

20  S.ilem,  Miss.,  Oct.  8, '63. 

21  Wyatt's,  Miss.,  Oct.  11,  '63. 

22  Byhalia,  Miss.,  Oct.  12.  '03. 

23  Kocky  Run,  Ala.,  Nov.  5,  '63. 

24  Athens,  Ala.,  Nov.  13,  '63. 

2-5  Decatur  Junction,  Ala.,  Nov.  14,  '63. 

26  Mooresville,  Ala.,  Nov-  15,  '63. 

27  Brown's  Ferrv,  Ala.,  Nov.  18.  '63. 

28  Limestone  Creek,  Ala..  Nov.  24,  '63. 

29  Lamb's  Ferry,  Ala.,  Nov.  27,  '63. 

30  Enckersville,  Ala  ,  Nov.  28.  '63. 

31  Shoal  Creek,  Ala.,  Dec.  8,  '63. 

32  Florence,  Ala.,  Dec.  9,  '63 

33  Lawrencebiirg,  Tenn.,  Dec.  28,  '63. 

34  Cvpress  Creek,  Tenn.,  Dec.  29,  '63. 
.S5  Athens,  Ala.,  Jan.  26,  '64. 

36  Brown's  Ferry,  Ala.,  Jan.  26,  '64. 

37  Florence,  Ala.,  Jan    28,  '64. 

38  Pride's  Ferrv,  Ala.,  Jan  28,  '64. 

39  Florence,  Al'a.,  Jan.  29,  '64. 

40  Bainbridge,  Ala.,  Jan.  30,  '64. 

41  Lucas  Ferry,  Ala..  March  8,  '64. 

42  Courtlarid,  Ala.,  March  9,  '64. 

43  Nancy's  Creek,  Ala.,  March  10,  '61. 

44  Moulton,  Ala.,  March  22,  '64. 

45  Somerville,  Ala.,  March  26,  '64 

46  Flint  River,  Ala.,  March  28.  '64. 

47  Moulton,  Ala.,  March  29,  '64. 

48  Flint  River,  Ala,  April  3,  '64. 

49  Courtland  Road,  Ala.,  April  9,  '64. 

50  Siege  of  Decatur,  Ala.,  April  15,  '64. 

51  Flint  River,  Ala.,  April  18,  '64. 

52  Bear  Creek,  Ala.,  April  21,  '64. 

53  Snake  Creek  Gap,  Ga.,  May  9,  '64. 

54  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  12,  '64. 

55  Roam  Cross  Roads,  Ga.,  May  14,  '64. 

56  Ustenoola  River,  Ga.,  May  19,  '64. 

57  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  28,  '64. 

58  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  June  30,  '64. 
69  Nickajack,  Ga.,  July  4,  '64. 

60  Chattahoochee  River,  Gn.,  July  14,   64. 

61  Pumpkin  Vine  Greek,  Ga.,  July  17,  ^l. 

62  Decatur,  Ga.,  July  19,  '64. 

63  Decatur,  Ga.,  Julv,  22,  '64. 

64  Utoy  Creek,  Ga.,"july  27,  '64. 


65  Owl  Rock,  Ga.,  August  2,  '64. 

66  Sandtown,  Ga.,  August  5,  '64. 

67  Near  East  Point,  Ga.,  August  18,  64. 

68  Near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  August  22,  '64. 

69  Lovejov  Station,  Ga.,  Sept.  2,  '64. 

70  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Sept.  3.  '64. 

71  Van  Wert,  Ga.,  Sept.  27,  '64. 

72  Cave  Springs,  Ga.,  Oct.  13,  '64. 

73  Coosaville,  Ga.,  Oct.  17,  '64. 

74  Coosa  River,  Ga.,  Oct.  23,  '64. 

75  CasBville,  Ga.,  Nov.  4,  '64. 

76  Near  Rough  and  Ready,  Ga.,  Nov.  15,  "64. 

77  Social  Circle,  Ga.,  Nov   17,  '64. 

78  Buckhead  iStation,  Ga.,  Nov.  19,  "64. 

79  Park's  Mills,  Ga.,  Nov.  20,  '64. 

80  p:atonlon,  Ga.,  Nov.  20,  '64. 

81  Near  Milledgeville,  Ga.,  Nov.  23,  '64. 

82  Buflalo  Swamp,  Ga.,  Nov.  25,  '64. 

83  Near  Sandersville,  Ga.,  Nov.  25,  '64. 

84  Sandersville,  Ga.,  Nov.  26,  '64. 

85  Near  Louisville,  Ga.,  Nov.  28.  '64. 

86  Fort  Harrison,  Ga.,  Dec.  7,  '64.     » 

87  Montieth,  Ga.,  Dec.  8.  '64. 

88  Near  Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  9,  '64. 

89  No.  3,  Station,  G.  R  R.,  Ga.,  Dec.  21,   64. 

90  Conibahee  River,  S.  C  ,  Jan.  19,  '65. 

91  Turner's  Creek,  S.  C,  Jan.  31,  '65. 

92  Whippy  Swamp,  S.  C,  Feb.  1,  '65. 

93  River  Bridge,  S.  C,  Feb.  2,  '65. 

94  Little  Salkehatchie,  S.  C,  Feb.  6,  '65. 

95  South  Edisto,  S.  C,  Feb.  8,  '65. 

96  North  Edisto,  S.  C,  Feb.  10,  '65. 

97  Cannon's  Bridge,  S.  C,  Feb.  11,  '65. 

98  Congaree  R.  R.  Bridge,  S.  0 ,  Feb.  14,  '65. 

99  Saluda  Factorv,  S.  C,  Feb.  16,  '65. 

100  Broad  River,  S.  C,  Feb.  16,  '65. 

101  New  Cheraw,  S.  C,  Feb   28,  '65. 

102  Society  Hill,  S.  C,  March  2,  '05. 

103  Florence,  S.  0.,  March  4,  '65. 

104  Near  Darlington,  S.  C,  March  4,  '65. 

105  Floral  College.  S.  C,  March  8,  66. 

106  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  March  10,  '65. 

107  Near  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  March  13,  '65. 

108  Black  River,  N.  C,  March  15,  '65. 

109  Near  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  21,  '65. 
IJO  Near  Neuse  River,  N.  C,  April  10,  '65. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  July  9  1865,  at 
Loni-sville,  Ky.,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Butler  July  12, 
1865,  for  final  payment  and  discharge. 

Below  is  a  roster  of  the  officers  and  men  who  served 
in  the  regiment.  Only  those  who  went  from  St.  Clair 
county  is  shown  in  this  list. 

STAFF. 
Co  I  on  el : 
Augustus  Mercy,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  1864. 

Quarter  master  : 
Charles  A.  Spatee,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  1864. 
NON   COMMISSION   STAFF. 
Sergeant-Major  : 
Francis  K.  Wagner,  Sergt.-Major,  Regt.,  as  consoli- 
dated.   Promt.  Capt.  Co.  D.,  Oct.  11,  1864. 

Q.  M-  Sergeant. 
William  J.  Johnson,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Commissary  Sergeant. 
Eben  N.  Burgess,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Hospital  Steward. 
William  Manchester,  discharged  for  disability. 

Principal  Musicians. 
John  Olinger,  mustered  out  Aug  20th,  '64. 
Hermin  Wetter,  transferred  from  Co.  B. 

MUSTER    ROLL   COMPANY    "a" 
Privdes. 
Brain,  Michael,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  March  29,  '64. 
Baker,  Adam,         mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Duttenhofer,  Jacob,       "        "         "_        ^' 
Deitz,  Louis,  "        ''        " 

Fries,  Erasmus,  "        ''        '' 

Krey,  William,  "         "         " 

Kahl,  Frank,  ' 

Renandin,  Peire, 

Rebus,  John,  "         "        "        " 

Scherrer,  Friedrich,  died  April  16,  '64. 
Waller,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 


Itecruits. 
Miller,  Friedrich,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Morgenstern,  William,  absent  without  leave  at  M.  O. 

of  Regt.  as  consolidated. 
Shalter,  Adam,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Vanbnrg,  Nichols,     "  ''         "      '■         " 

Winters,  George,       ''  "        "      "         " 

Zerchus,  Wendel,      "  ''        ''      "         " 

MUSTEK  ROLL,  COMPANY  "  B  " 
Cap'ain. 

William  C.  Kueffner,  resigned  Nov.  1,  '63.  transferred 
to  V.  R.  C,  promoted  Col.  149th  Regt.  Feb  15,  '65, 
prom'd  Brig-Gen.  Mar.  13,  '65,  mus'd  out  Jan.27,'66. 

John  Mailman,  term  exp.  Aug.  20,  '64. 
First  Lieutenants. 

Hamilton  Leiber,  resigned  Mar.  4,  '63. 

Louis  Gricser,  term  exp.  Aug.  20, '64. 
Second  Lieutenants. 

Fred'k  C.  Vogeler,  killed  in  battle  Shiloh,  Apr.  6, '62. 

Louis  Fischer,  term  exp.  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Sergeants. 

John  Mailman,  promoted. 

Julius  Hoffman,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Louit  Griesser,  promoted  let  Lieut. 

Albert  Heinecke,  killed  at  Shiloh,  Apr.  6,  '62. 

John  Schmidt,  "  "  "      "    " 

Cirrporals. 

Louis  Fischer,  promoted  2d  Lieut. 

Frank  Ziigenbuehler, killed  at  Ft. Doneison  Feb.15,'62. 

John  Echenberger,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Lorenz  Ackermann,  died  of  wounds  Apr.  15,  '62. 

Augustus  Wurmb,  died  of  wounds  Dec.  5,  '62. 

Paul  Martin,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Privates. 

Ackerman,  George,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Aide,  Adolph,  died  of  wounds  May  4,  '62. 

Aman,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Arnold,  Matthias,  died  of  wonnds  May  15.  '62. 

Eaumann,  Morand,  discharged  Sept.  23,  '63,  wounds. 

Baushara,  Paul,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Bauer,  Jacob,  "  "       "       "       '• 

Bauer,  Peter,  died  of  wounds.  May  4,  '62. 

Betz,  George. 

Binkert,  Martin,  wounded,  missing  Feb.  15,  '62. 

Crapp,  Joseph,  killed  at  Corinth,  Oct.  4,  '62. 

Diltmar,  Edward,  killed  at  Shiloh  Apr.  6,  62. 

Danner,  Albert. 

Entz,  Frederic. 

Fath,  Michael,  died  of  wounds  May  1,  '62. 

Gantner,  Joseph. 

Gannermann. Henry  .killed  at  Ft.  Doneison  Feb.15,'62. 

Gribbling,  John. 

Jansen,  Gerhard,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Koch,  Christian,  killed  at  Ft.  Doneison  Feb.  15,  '62. 

Krieger,  John,  discharged  July  21,  '62.  wounds. 

Lauth,  Charles,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,_'64. 

Leopold,  Augustus,died  of  woimds  received  at  Shiloh. 

Lobe,  Charles,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  64. 

Maul,  Conrad,  killed  at  Shiloh  Apr.  6,  '64: 

Menne,  Jaynav,  deserted. 

Mesh,  John,  killed  at  Shiloh  Apr.  6,  '64. 

Messerschmidt,  Louis,  died  of  wounds  Mar.  19,  '62. 

Newman,  Albert,  killed  at  Ft,  Doneison  Feb.  15,  '62. 

Nalltner,  Joseph. 

Otto,  Frank,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Ptister,  Sebastian,  died  of  wounds  Apr.  11,  '62. 

Raffel,  John,  discharged  Sept.  30.  '62,  wounds. 

Reppel,  Peter,  discharged  Mar.  13,  '62,  wound.^. 

Rudel,  Fred.  George,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Salz,  George,  ''  <;       <       • 

Schab,  John,  '' 

Schieffer,  Frank,missing  in  action  at  Shiloh  Apr.6,'62. 

Schellinger,  Simon,  deserted. 

Schneider,  Henry. 

Schnlz,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Schmidt,  Henry,  died  Oct.  26,  '62. 

Schwarcoff,  Anton,  mnstered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Sensel,  Frederic,  "  "       "       ''      '' 

Spiess,  Jacob, 

Sulzer,  Jacob,  killed  at  Corinth  Oct.  3,  62. 

Sutter,  Benedict. 

Tanbert,  Zacharias,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,    64. 

Werner,  Daniel, 

Wienstrath,  Anton,         "         _"        ;'      "       ;; 

Wisshack,  Ferdinand,    "         ' 

Zech,  Michael,  killed  at  Ft.  Doneison  Feb.  1-?,  '62. 


134 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Recruits  —Musidana.  • 
Hermin  Wetter,  transf'd  to  non-conimipsioned  staff. 
Hi-nry  Hill,  transferred  to  Company  A. 

Privates, 
Adam,  Christopher,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Alexander,   Wm.    B.,  non  vet ,  Co.    D   consolidated 

July  9,  '65. 
Berger,  Ji.hn,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Blank,  Gustave,      "         "        "      •'       " 
Burkhardt,  David,"         "        "      "      •' 
Bitterwolf,  Joliu,  trans,  from  Co.  D,    mustered  out 

Aug.  20,  '04. 
Grain,  Francis. 

Dachnert,  Charles,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Dettwciler,  John  killed  at  Fort  Poneison  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Darrow,  Josepli,  trans,  to  Co.  B  consolidated,  mus- 
tered out  July  9,  '65. 
Eirkuss,  Christian,  mustered  out  Aug.  20.  '64. 
Eirkuss,  Jacob,  killed  at  Fort  DoneUon  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Fisher,  Philip,  mustered  out  Aug  20,  '64. 
Geist,  Paul. 

Gerig,  Arnold,  deserted. 
Grin,  (  harles,  mustered  out  Arsg.  20,  '64. 
Haas,  Michael,      "  "       •'      "      '• 

Hartman,  Charles,''  "        ''      ''     '' 

Hellmulh,  Conrad,  deserted  May  13,  '62. 
Herwig,  Henry,killed  at  Fort  Donelson  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Hoffman,  Edward,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
,      Hofmiesttr,  John  Peter,"        '•       "      ■'     " 

Hays,  Henry,  non-v«t.,  Co.  D  consolidated,  mustered 

out  July  9,  '65. 
Houerion,    Wm.    B,  non-vet.,    Co.    D   consolidated 

mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Jenne,  George. 

Jones,  Wm., non-vet.,  Co.  Dconsol'd,  M.  O.  July  9,'65. 
Kadel,  Peter,  mu-stered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Kadel,  Valentine 

Kinder,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Kremtr,  Henry,  Sergt.  Co.  D  consolidated,  mustered 

out  May  26,  '65,  order  War  Dept. 
Linderman,  Fred.  Wm.,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Linne,  Louis,  "         "       "      "       " 

Luster,  James,  See  Co.  D  consolidated,  captured  at 

Salem,  Miss ,  Oct.  8,  '63. 
Leckinger,  August. 

Meyer,  Nicholas,  mustered  out  A  ug.  20,  '64. 
Moser,  Herman,         ''  '•       "       ''      " 

McNally,  Iaaac,non-vet ,  M.  O.  May  30,  '65,  telegram 

from  A.  G.  O.  May  6,  '65. 
Mennes,  Wm.S.,non-vet.,  Co.  D consolidated  mustered 

out  July  9,  '65. 
Oberfell,  Joseph,  discharged  June  14,  '62,  wounds. 
O'Hare,  John,  died  March  17,  '64. 
Oemigen,  Fred.  Wm.,  non-vet.,  Co.  D  consolidated, 

m.  o  order  War  Dept.  May  26,  '65. 
Pohn,  Simon,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Bust,  John,  "  "       ''      "      " 

Eaney,  Thomas  R.,non  vet.,  Co.  D  consolidated,  mus- 
tered out  July  9,  '65. 
Eodgers,  Wm.  non-vet.  Co.  D  con.  m,  o.  July  9,  '65,  as 

Corporal. 
Sohlatt,  William  mustered  out  Aug  20,  '64. 
Spiess,  Phillip  died  May  3,  '62,  wounds  Shiloh. 
Suemnicht,  Her.Tian  disuh.  Jime  20,  '62  ;  wounds. 
Smith,  Roily. 

Seller,  J  ohn  non-  vet.,  Co  D  cod.  m.  o.  July  9,  '65. 
Sutter,  Benedict  mus'ered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Sanders,  Isaac  non-vet.  Co.  D  con.  m.  o.  July  9,  '65. 
Smith,  James  J.  non-vet.  Co.  D  con.  ui.  o.  July  9,  '65. 
Spring,  Moses  non-vet.  Co.  D  con.  m.  o.  July  9, '65. 
Smith,  G.  H.  capt.  at  Snake  Cr'k  Gap  Qa.,  May  18,  '65. 
Smith,  TiiomasB.  non-vet.  Co.  Dcon.ni.o.  July  9, '65. 
Thomas,  Joseph  non-vet.  Co.  D  con.  m.  o.  July  9,  '65. 
Thoma",  Joshua  non-vet.  Co.  D  con.  M.  O  Jul^  9,  '65. 
Vantres,  Grierson     "        "         '        "        ''        " 
Weber,  Henry  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Wickerraan,  Christian  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Wright,  Chas.  Co  Dcon.m.o.  May  26, '65,  order  war 

dpt. 
Will,  Michael  Eec.  Co.  D,  con.  m.  o.  July  9,  '65. 
Walker,  Geo.  non-vet.  Co.  D  con.  m.  o.  July  9,  '65. 

William,  Alex.      "        ' 

Walker,  Seiles        "         "        "        "        "        " 

MUSTER   KOLL   COMPANY    "  C.'' 

Oaptam- 

Diedrich  F.  Tedeman,  promoted  Lieut.  Col.  2nd  Ala. 
A.  D..Dec.  26,  '62. 


First  Lieidenants. 
Oscar  EoUman,  transferred  to  V.  R-  C.  Nov.  1,  '63. 
George  Bender,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Second  lAcutenanls. 

Cliarles  Sk^heve,  resigned  Aug.  7,  '63. 
Eugene  Hawke,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

It.ergeants. 
Charles  Hahle,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
John  M.  Salzinan,  transferred  to  Co.  H. 
(ieorge  Bender,  promoted  1st  Lieut. 
Williatu  Langenberg,  mds'tered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Corporais. 
Joseph  Schweitzer,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Charles  Ehrlick. 
Henry  Kiesel. 

Frederick  Staab,  deserted  Aug.  18,  '62. 
George  M.  Luther,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 

Musicians. 
Frank  Banmer,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Edward  Steven,        "        "         "         '' 

Privates. 
Aderhals,  Godfrey  died  Nov.  18,  '61. 
Arndt,  Henry  died  of  wounds,  March  18,  '62. 
Becker,  Anthony,  discharged   .Aug.'15,  '62,  wounds. 
Bence,  Andrew,  discharged   Aug.  2,  '62,  arm  amput. 
Boersig,  Lawrence,  killed  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  15, '62. 
Bruening,  William  died  Oct.  1,  '61. 
Bub,  Michael  mustered  out  Ang.  20,  '64. 
Clements,  Phillip     "         "         "         '' 
Eilt,  Menson  "        '•        "        " 

Erb,  Joseph  died  at  Andersonville  prison,  Sept.  25, 

1864. 
Erbar,  George  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Erba,  Phillip,  wounded  at  Shiloh. 
Erbe,  Conrad  discharged  .Tune  25,  '62;  disability. 
Fichter,  Geo.        "  July  22,  'e2  ;  wounds. 

Fray,  John  A. 

Guebe,  William  discharged  Aug.  15,  '62  ;  wounds. 
Graham,  Louis. 

Hartmann,  John  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Haeser,  William  discharged  June  18,  '64;  disability. 
Helfrich,  Frank        "  Nov.  21,  '64 ;  wounds. 

Haberkorn,  Jacob     "  Aug.  15, '62;        " 

Hartmann,  John  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Haeser,  'William  discharged  June  18, '64  ;  disability. 
Herbig,  William  mustered  out  Aug.  20  '64. 
Herpin,  Jacob  ''        "        " 

Hillmann,  Henry  killed  at  Ft.  Donelson,  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Hugenberg,  William  died  Oct.  12,  '62  ;  wounds. 
Jacob,  Christian,  mustered  out  Aug  12, '64. 
Keith,  Christian. 
Klein,  Christopher. 

Klingenberg,  William  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Lamberlus,  Phillip  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Lamprecht,  John  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Lehr,  George  "        "         "        "         " 

Lehr,  Michael  "        "        "        " 

Lippert,  Frederic     "        "        "        "        " 
Meadel,  Christian. 
Moses,  Frank. 

Muller,  Christian  died  April  10,  '62. 
Muller,  John 

Miller,  William  deserted  Aug.  18,  '62. 
Nadler,  Andreas. 
Pietz,  John. 

Eaehm,  Thomas  died  Jan.  25,  '64. 
Eandall,  Stephen  died  xVug.  6,  '62. 
Randall,  Jacob. 

Ranch,  Thomas  discharged  April  14,  '62;  disability. 
RehfuBs,  Ludwig  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Resch,  Adam  discharged  Oct.  2,  '62;  wounds. 
Richter,  Henry  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Riedell,  John- 

Roehrwiem,  William  mustered  out  Aug.  12,  '64. 
Suebert,  Anthony  "        "        '■        " 

Sepafermeyer,  Frank  "        ''         "         " 

Schenck,  Charles  "        "         "         " 

Schenck,  Christian  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Schemph,  Henry  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Scheve,  Frederic  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Schneider,  Christian  died  May  10,  '62. 
Schneider,  Peter  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Schmidt,  Henry  died  Nov.  2,  '62. 
SohouUer,  Nicholas  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Sponhule,  John. 
Stone,  William  died  Dec.  7,  '61. 
Storch,  William  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 


Striegel,  William  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Tungeman,  John  killed  at  Corinth  Oct.  3,  '62. 

Theobald,  Jacob  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Uehli,  Henry. 

Veidt,  Conrad  died  Feb.  15,  '62. 

Vogt,  William  discharged  Aug.  15 ;  wounds. 

Weber,  Alois  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Wels,  Peter  "         " 

Wii-hard,  Augustus  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 

Helfrich,  John  A.  mustered  out  Aug  20,  '64. 

Hecruita- 
Abney,  Paul  transf.  to  Co  F,  cons.  M.  O.  July  9,  '65. 
Amaiid,  Wm.  trans,  to  Co.  D,  cons.  M.  O.  July  9.  '65. 
Bauer,  George  trans,  to  Co.  D,  con.  M.  O  July  9, '56. 
Gerger,  George  transferred  to  V.  E.  C  Nov.  15,  '65. 
Kassing,  William  trans  to  Co  F,  con.  M.O.  July  9,  '65. 
Keller,  Mathias  trans,  to  Co.  D,  con.  M.  O.  July  9,  '65. 
Scliilli,  Pridolin  transferred  to  Co.  D,  consolidated 

M.  O.  by  order  of  War  Dpt.  May  26,  '65. 
Vetter,  George  died  Andersonville  prison,  July  3,  '64. 

MUSTEK   EOLL   COMPANY   "  D." 
Captains. 
Eudolphus  Becker,  resigned  Dec.  3,  '62. 
Edwards  Krebs,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

First  Lieutenant 
Henry  Weber,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Frederick  E.  Scheel,  resigned  Ap.  24,  '64. 

First  Sergeant. 
Henry  Weber,  promoted  1st  lieut. 

Sergeants. 
Adolphus  Cornelious,  died  Nov.  19,  '61. 
Gottfried  Guckes,  veteran. 
Francis  Bauman. 

Corporals. 
Henry  Goessel,  died  Ap.  18, '62;  wounds. 
Philip  Saur,  died  May  2,  '62 ;  wounds. 
Anton  Wolf,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Louis  Truttman,  died  Oct.  5,  '62  ;  wounds. 
Amos  Smith,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
William  Heuer,     "         "       "        "     " 
Christian  Rahn,  killed  at  Shiloh  Ap.  6,  '62. 
Adam  Eeitz,  died  May  18,  '62;  wounds. 
Musicians. 

Frederick  Brandenberger,  mustered  out  Ang.  20,  '64. 
Peter  Schneider,  "  "       "      ■'      " 

Privates 
Alberter,  Charles,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Auffinger,  Martin,  died  Oct.  1,  '62. 
Bange,  Hermann,  discharged  Aug.  15,  '62 ;  wounds. 
Baquet,  Isadore,  discharged  June  21, '62;  wounds. 
Baeversen,  William. 

Bayer,  John,  discharged  Aug.  27,  '62;  wounds. 
Baumgarden,  Frederick,  discharged  by  orders  from 

War  Department,  May  27,  '65. 
Becker,  Jacob,  killed  at  Shiloh  Ap.  6,  '62. 
Bense,  William,  died  May  11,  '62. 
Berthold,  Jacob,  died  Oot.  30,  '62;  wounds. 
Bergamien,  Balthisar,  died  Mar.  4,  62. 
Bertram,  Henry,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '69. 
Bittenvolf,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Boester,  Frederick,  discharged  Aug.  15,  '62;  wounds. 
Borcherding,  Henry,  died  Nov.  5,  '62. 
Buesemayer,  Henry,  dis.  Ap.  4,  '62;  disability. 
Caspari,  Henry,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Daesch,  George,    ■'  ''        "        '■         " 

Daerr,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Eisenhauser,  Joseph. 

Euler,  Jacob,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Erb,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Fritz,  John,  discharged  Aug.  19,  '62;  wounds. 
Funck,  Francis. 

Fuchs,  Charles,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Gshell,  Conrad,  killed  at  Shiloh  Ap.  6,  '62. 
Hauser,  John,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Heidinan,  John,  discharged  Dec.  6,  '62;  wounds. 
Hohrein,  John,  mustered  out  May  30,  '65. 
Huber,  Charles. 

Hurst,  Henry,  mustered  ont  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Jaeckel  Joseph,      "  "        "  " 

Kahn,  Jloses,  "  "        '■  •• 

Kleber,  Louis,        "  "        "  " 

Koenigsmark,  Joseph. 

Lambe,  Christian,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Lauth,  Frederick,     "  "  


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


135 


Lieser,  William. 

Litsclige,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '65. 
Loebig,  Adam,  killed  at  Shiloh,  Ap.  6,  '62. 
Lauth,  Jacob.' 
Metzker,  George. 
Meyer,  Henry,  died  June  28,  '62. 
Melcher,  Frederick,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Mittelbuescher,  Wm.,      "  "         "  '' 

Moeninger,  Charles,  dis.  Sept.  30,  '62;  arm  ampu- 
tated. 
Mulh,  Peter,  deserted  Sept.  2,  '62. 
Olinger,  John. 

Kielher,  Charles,  mustered  out  May  27,  '65. 
Eieas,  Jacob,  killed  at  Shiloh  Ap.  6,  '62. 
Eaffy,  Charles,  discharged  Oct.  13,  '62;  wounds. 
Sche'llenburg,  Alberl,  miawng  in  action  Ap.  6,  '62. 
Sclieide,  Jolin,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Sclimutz,  Herman. 

Stocker,  Oswald,  discharged  Dec.  6,  '62;  wounds. 
Schueszler,  George,  discharged  July  21,  '62. 
Stallborrea,  Henry. 
Bey  bold,  Samuel,  transferred  to  co.  "1";    mustered 

out  as  sergeant  Nov.  2,  '64. 
Scheel,  Fred.  E.,  promoted  2d  lieut.  co.  "F." 
Tliei-ss,  Matliias,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Vogel,  Bernhard,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Vogelpohl,  William,  died  May  18,  '62. 
Voss,  Henry,  died  Ap.  25,  '62. 
Weiss,  John,  vtt.,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 

Recriiiti. 
Doering,  Charks,  died  Sept.  13,  '62. 
Miller,  Charles  W.,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '64. 
Schlotlier,  Jacob,  mustered  out  July  9,  '65. 
Stalborus,  Henry,  discharged  May  27, '65;  order  of 

War  Dept. 

MDSTER   EOLL   COMPANY   "  E." 
Capiain. 
Alexander  G.  Hawes,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Eoswell  P.  Patterson,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Second  Lieuletiant. 
Lewis  C.  Bornman,  term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

First  Sergeant. 
Lewis  L.  Troy,  vet.,  promoted  adjt. 

Sergeants. 
Lewis  C.  Bornman,  promoted  2d  lieut. 
Henry  K.  Challenor,  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Corporals. 
Silas  Bunker,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Fred'k  Dilg,  vet.,  prora'd  1st  Lieut.,  co,  B.,  as  cons'd. 
Phillip  Anderson,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  18b4. 
William  G.  Triplet,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  9,  1865. 

3Insieians. 
Samuel  Williams,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864. 
George  W.  fiose,  mustered  out,  July  9,  1865. 

Privates. 
Anson,  John,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Atkinson,  Cas.  C,  killed  at  Ft.  iJonalscn,  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Blake,  James  M.,  discharged,  Nov,  3,  '62 ;  wounds, 
Bragg,  John  A,  J,,  mustered  out,  Aug,  20,  1864. 
Bromley,  Matthew,  died.  May  12,  1862;  wounds. 
Burnett,  Robert,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Case,  Henry  H.,  died,  Sept.  15,  1861, 
Campbell,  George  H, 

Cody,  John  C,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Fletcher,  John. 

Fulmar,  John,  vet.,  died,  Feb.  6,  1865. 
Furlong,  Michael,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Guy,  William  M.,  died.  May  12,  1862. 
Givinn,  James,  died,  Nov.  25,  1861. 
Guy,  George  W.,  died.  May  3,  1862. 
Hagar,  Simon, 

Jackson,  Obediah,  died,  Deo.  18,  1861. 
Jackson,  Martin  W.,  vet.,  died,  March  24,  1865, 
Kimberlin,  John,  discharged,  Oct,  13,  1862 ;  wounds, 
Lyons,  John,  vet,,  mustered  out,  July  9,  1865, 
Maddox,  Michael,  mustered  out,  Aug,  20,  1864, 
Malone,  James. 
Meyer,  George. 

McKenzie,  James,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
O'Neill,  Edward,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Pendergrast,  John. 

Stuart,  James,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  9,  1865, 
Stevens,  Jack  L„ 


Taylor,  Ira,  vet,,  mustered  out,  July  9,  1865, 
Tell,  John,  mustered  out,  Aug,  20,  1864. 
Xliornsburg,  Charles,  discharged,  Oct,  4,  '61  ;  disa'ty. 
Ward,  James,  vet,,  mustered  out,  July  9,  18t>5, 

Meeruits. 

Mathews,  William,  died,  March  18,  1862, 

Miller,  l!;.,transf'd  toco,  E,,  cons'd,  des'd,  Nov,13,'64, 

liecd,  Alfred, 

Swyer,  Francis,  transf'd  to  non-com' d  staff,  mustered 
out,  July  9,  1865, 

Woods,  Thomas  W,,  transf'd  to  B,  co.,  cons'd,  mus- 
tered out,  July  9,  1865, 

MUSTER   EOLL   COMPANY   F. 

Captains. 
Loren  Webb,  resigned,  July  10,  1862. 
William  Britt,  killed  at  Corinth,  Oct.  3,  1862. 

Second   Lieutenant. 
W.  C.  Hawley,  prom'd  Major,  1st  Ala,,  A,  D,  Jan,  8,  '04, 

First    Sergi  ant. 
Charles  F.  Saltmarsh,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1804. 

Sergeants 
Fred,  E,  Scheel,  transferred  to  co,  D, 

Corporals. 
Andrew  Webster,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862, 
A,  J.  White, 
James  A.  Fike,  mustered  out,  Aug,  20,  1804, 

Musician. 
Perry  C.  Coffer. 

Privates. 
Ashton,  David  N,,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson,  Feb,  15,  '62. 
Bridges,  William,  discharged,  July  19, 'ti2;  disability. 
Banes,  Margues,  discharged,  Aug,  15, 1862 ;  disability. 
Borrow,  John  S,,  mustered  out,  Aug,  20,  18B2, 
Birgin,  Frederick,  discharged,  April  24,  '62  ;  disa'ty. 
Bence,  Lewis. 

Buschmiller,  Christian,  mustered  out,  Aug,  20,  1864, 
Burnes,  Alex,,  discharged,  April  28,  18b2;  disability, 
Crocker,  Wm,  C,  dicliarged  Dec,  14,  1862,  disability. 
Cox,  Thomas  W.,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  18ti2. 
Dye,  John  W.,  discharged.  May  5,  1BB2 ;  wounds. 
Garrott,  Joseph  H,,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864, 
Glenn,  James,  mustered  out,  August  20,  1864, 
Gmelin,  H,,  died  in  Andersonvillc  prison,  June  2'J,  '64, 
Gmelin,  Andrew,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Hill,  Charles,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Hickman,  James  M.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Hess,  Karl,  died,  Oct.  17,  1861. 
Heimberger,  Rudolph  W.,  mustered  out,  August. 
Josgeon,  John,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864, 
Potthart,  Francis,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862, 
Kowland,  Cons,  C,,  killed  atFt.  Donelson,  Feb,  15,  '62, 
Rank,  John, 

Stoulfourth,  John,  mustered  out,  Aug.  20,  1864, 
Schmiersaul,  Henry,  discharged,  June  11,  '62;  disa'ty. 
Wagner,  F.  H.,  transf'd  to  non-com'd  staff,  sergt.  Major, 
Wiggand,  F,,  killed  at  white  house,  Corinth,  Oct.  3,  62, 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   H. 

Private. 
Jones,  Merlin,  mustered  out,  Aug,  20,  1864. 

NINTH  INFANTRY  REGIMENT 

(as   CONSOLIDATED.) 
Adjutant. 
Lewis  L.  Troy,  mustered  out  July  9,  1865, 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

Sergeant  Majo/r. 

Francis  K,  Wagner,  prom.  Capt,  Co,  D,  Oct,  11,  '64, 

H>spital  Steward. 
Francis  M,  Swyer,  mustered  out  May  22,  1865. 

MUSTER   EOLL,    COMPANY   "  B." 

Captain. 

Frederick  Dilg,  mustered  out  as  1st  Lieut,  July  9,  65, 

Second  Lieutenant. 
James  W,  Crosby,  mustered  out,  as  Serg't ,  July  9,  '65, 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  D." 
Captain. 
Francis  X.  Wagner,  mustered  out  July  9,  1865. 

First  Sergeant. 
Lewis  Troy,  promoted  Adj't. 


Sergeants. 
Henry  Krcmcr,  M.  0,  May  26,  '65,  order  War  Dept. 

Corporals. 
Louis  Valentine,  mustered  out  July  9, '65,  as  private. 
Uiiliara  Morgenslem,  absent  without  leave,  at  M.  O, 
Charles  Wright,  M,  O.  May  26,  '65,  order  War  Dept. 

Jxecruits. 
Adam,  Christopher,  mustered  out  July  9, 1865. 
Bauer,  George  "        "        "        '• 

Becker,  Ferdinand  ''        "        "        " 

Seller,  John  ''        "        "        " 

Will,  Michael  "        "        ••        " 

Non-  Veterans. 
Amand,  William  mustered  out  July  9,  1865. 
Oeraigen,  F.  W.,  M.  O.  order  W,  D,  May  26,  l865. 

Prisoner  of  War. 
Sekinger,  August, 

MUSTER    ROLL,   COMPANY   "  E." 
Vetei'ans. 
Fulmer,  John  died  February  6,  1865. 
Stewart,  James  mustered  out  July  9,  1865. 
Taylor,  Ira  "        "        "        '■ 

Veteran  Recruits. 
Hickman,  Hugh  A.  mustered  out  July  9,  1865. 

Woods,  Thomas  W  

Non-  Veterans. 
Rank,  John    mu.-ttred  out  April  12,  1865 
Reed,  Alfred         "         "      Julv  9,  1865. 
iSwirts,  Frank  N.  "        "        ■''       " 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  F." 

Sergeant. 
William  Moore,  mustered  out  July  9,  1865. 

Corporal. 
John  Fruind,  mustered  oui,  July  9,  1865. 

Veterans. 
Guckes,  Gottfried,  mustered  out  July  9,  1865. 
Hauser,  John  "         "         "         '' 

Lamb,  Chrisiian  "         "         '■        " 

Loulii,  Frt-derick  "        ''        "        " 

Zweibart,  Htnry  "         

Prisoner  of  War. 
Erhe,  Joseph  died  at  Andersonvillc  pr.,  S.'pl.  25, '64. 

TWENTY-SECOND   INFANTRY. 

(Three  yeari  service.) 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Belleville, 
May  11th,  1861,  and  mustered  into  the  United 
States'  service,  at  Caseyville,  Illinois,  by  Capt. 
T.  G.  Pitcher,  U.  S.  A.,  June  25th,  1861. 
Moved  to  Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  the  11th  inst. 
November  7th,  seven  companies  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Belmont— three  being  left  to 
guard  transports-  In  this  engagement  144 
were  killed,  wounded  aud  missing.  Under 
Gen.  Grant,  Jan.  14th,  ls62,  reconnoitered 
through  Missouri.  April  8th,  1862,  moved 
under  Gen.  Paine,  to  Tipton ville,  to  intercept 
retreating  enemy  from  Island  No.  10.  On 
this  expedition  they  captured  4,000  prisoners, 
two  Generals,  aud  a  large  quantity  of  stores, 
ammunition,  arms,  guns,  etc.  May  3d,  5ih 
and  9th,  1862,  skirmished  before  Farmington, 
and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Farmington. 
Was  at  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  pursued  the 
enemy  two  weeks  in  June.  Until  Aug.  26th 
following,  guarded  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad,  when  by  forced  marches  it  fell  back 
to  Nashville,  arriving  Sept.  1 1th,  and  remained 
there  the  balance  of  the  year. 
I      It  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 


136 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Dec.  31st,  1862,  and  Jan.  1st  and  2d,  1863, 
■where  it  lost  199  out  of  342  men,  in  action. 
Lieut.  Col.  Swanwick  was  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner,  and  was  confined  at  Atlanta  and 
Richmond  (Libby),  until  May,  1863. 

The  regiment  was  in  camp  at  Murfreesboro, 
and  different  points  around  that  place,  forag- 
ing and  skirmishing  through  the  winter  and 
spring.  Early  in  June,  marched  southward, 
with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  Partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Sept.  1 9th 
and  20th,  on  the  right  of  the  army  under 
Gen.  Sheridan,  and  lost  135  officers  and  men, 
out  of  an  aggregate  of  less  than  300.  This 
was  a  severe  engagement,  in  proof  of  which, 
the  regiment  lost  96  men  in  less  than  ten 
minutes  in  action  on  the  19th.  Among  others 
the  brave  Maj.  Johnson  was  very  severely 
wounded,  and  Captain  French  mortally. 

It  remained  in  and  around  Chattanooga, 
•  suffering  in  common  with  the  rest  of  the 
army,  from  exposure  and  want  of  provisions, 
being  frequently  on  less  than  half  rations,  and 
almo-t  destitute  of  clothing,  tents,  etc.,  until 
November  26th,  when  with  the  remainder  of 
Gen.  Sheridan's  division,  it  was  engaged  in 
storming  Mission  Ridge,  losing  again  between 
30  and  40,  out  of  a  mere  skeleton  to  which 
they  had  been  previously  reduced.  The  few 
remaining  men,  fit  for  duty,  marched  about 
the  last  of  the  month  to  the  relief  of  Knox- 
ville.  The  greater  part  of  the  severe  winter 
of  1863-4,  was  passed  in  the  mountains  of 
East  Tennessee. 

In  the  month  of  January.  1864,  marched 
to  Dandridge,  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Longstreet's 
army — retreating  at  night  over  terrible 
roads,  to  Strawberry  Plains.  Thence  marched 
through  Knoxville  to  Louden,  Tenn.,  where 
they  built  log  huts,  and  remained  some  weeks  ; 
and  here,  March  6th,  1864,  they  received  the 
first  full  rations  since  leaving  Bridgeport, 
being  fully  six  months.  The  regiment  marched 
from  here  to  Cleaveland,  Tenn.,  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  scanty  remnant  joined^  the 
grand  army  of  Gen.  Sherman,  on  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  Was  engaged  at  Resaca,  two  days, 
having  about  20  men  killed  and  wounded, 
and  in  all  the  other  battles  and  skirmishes, 
with  the  exception  of  Rocky  Face,  (was  eleven 
days  and  nights  under  fire  at  New  Hope 
Church),  until  the  morning  of  the  10th  of 
June,  when  all  but  the  recruits  and  veterans 
were  ordered  to  Springfield,  Illinois  for 
muster-out.  They  were  mustered  out  July 
7th,  1864.  The  veterans  and  recruits,  whose 
term  of  service  had  not  expired,  were  con- 
solidated with  the  Forty-second  regiment  Il- 
linois Infantry  Volunteers. 

Firit-Assistant  Surgeon. 
Fitzer,  John  resigned  Nov.  2,  1861. 


MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "A." 

Privates. 
Robbason,  George  mustered  July  7,  1864. 

Veteran. 
Robinson,  John  S.  trans,  to  Co.  A  42d  111.  infantry. 

Recruit. 
Merk,  Conrad  absent,  sick  at  muster  out. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "B." 

Privates. 
Cook,  Henry  A.  discharged  June  10,  1862,  disability. 
Smith,  Geo.  B.         "  Feb.  20,  1862, 

Hecruit. 
Mullen,  Owen,  mustered  out  July  7,  1864. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "C." 

Miisidan. 
Balzer,  Ehnstein  deserted  Nov.  17,  1861. 

Privates. 
Armstrong,  Geo.  mustered  out  July  7,  1864. 
Arthur,  William  killed  at  Stone  river,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
Arrfls,  Maham  dis.  for  wounds  rec'd  Stone  river,  '63, 
Crawford,  David  S.,  corp.  died  Louisville,  Dec.  24,'63 
Cambron,  Zean  deserted  May  3,  1864. 
Campdon,  John      "         April  24,  1862. 
Christian,  Francis  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Aug.  1,  1863. 
Crouse,  Joseph  discharged  June  10,  '62,  disability. 
Clark,  Henry  "  "    26,  '62, 

Deisfer,  Joseph  trans,  to  58th  Ohio  inf. 
Driskell,  William  deserted  May  11,  1863. 
Hammer,  Jacob  "         Nov.  12,  1861. 

Hogan,  James  mustered  out  April  13,  '65,  pris.  war. 
Hopson,  Wm.  deserted  Oct.  28, 1861. 
Hierly,  Jacob  mustered  out  July  7,  1864. 
Hancock,  Richard         "  "         " 

Igoe,  Thomas  died  of  wounds  Nov.  14,  1861. 
Kamp,  John  dis.  for  wounds  received  at  Stone  river. 
Libbott,  Lorenz  dis.  to  enter  4th  U.  S.  cav. 
Lowry,  David  mustered  out  July  7,  1864. 
Lewis,  William       "         "     Jan.  12,  '65,  pris.  war. 
Mayer,  Thomas  corp.  dis.  Aug.  1,  1862,  disab. 
Mehem,  Peter  deserted  Dec.  19, 1861. 
McKinley,  Stephen  killed  N.  H.  ch.,  Ga.May  28,  '64. 
Palmer,  Champion  J.  M.  0.  July  7,  '64,  woun.  Resaca. 
Parks,  John  mustered  out  July  7,  1864. 
Pope,  Richard  "  "         " 

Secruit. 
Miller,  John  pris.  of  war  since  Sept.  19,  1863. 


Mecruits. 
Hatfield,  Isaac  W.  discharged  Nov.  7,  1861,  disability 
Higgins,  Tolley  "  "     1,     "  " 

Mace,  Sebastian  C.  "  "     3,     "  " 

Simmons,  Horace  died  Nov.  15,  1861,  wounds. 
White,  Abuer  C.  discharged. 


First  Sergeant. 
McCurry,  James  dis.  Jan.  31,  '68,  disability. 

Privates. 
Albright,  Joseph  J.  M.  ().  July  7,  1864,  as  sergeant. 
Gilleland,  Adolphus  killed  Chickamauga  Sept.  19,  '63. 
Mayo,  Gideon  deserted  July  14,  1862. 
Redick,  Jackson  mustered  out  July  7,  1864. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "  F." 

Veterans. 

Bencker,  Francis  trans,  to  Co,  F,  42d  111.  inf.  M.  0.  as 

corp.  Dec.  16,  1865. 
Bossle,  Gustavus  trans,  to  Co.  F,  42d  111. inf.  M,  0.  as 

corp.  Dec.  16,  1865. 
Hensohn,  Phillip  trans,  to  Co.  F,  42d  111.  inf.  desertfed 

June  18,  1865. 
Mengelt,  Matthew  trans,  to  Co.  F,  42d  111.  inf.  absent, 

sick  at  muster  out. 


MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY 

Privates. 


•g: 


Hughes,  John  B.  vet.  left  with  detach,  of  veterans  of 

22d  111.  at  headquarters  4th  A.  C. 
Day,  John  D.  trans.  42  111.  inf.  then  1  U.  S.  V.  Eng. 


MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANV  "K. 
Captain, 
Thomas  Challenor,  resigned  Aug.  31,  '62. 

Second   Lieutenant. 
William  Leishman,  terra  expired  July  7,  '61. 

Sergeants. 
J.Eiddle.kil'd  at  Chickamauga  Sep.l9,'63,a8  l8t,Sergt. 
John  Edwards,  died  Oct.  12,  '63,  wounds. 

Corporals. 
Isaac  Boal,  mustered  out  July  7,  '64,  as  Sergt. 
Elisha  Mayo,  deserted  April  17,  '62. 
John  Holmes,  mustered  out  July  7,  '64,  as  Sergt. 

Musician. 
Frederick  Killiam,  trans,  to  Co.  B  Bentou  Col. 

Wagoner. 
William  Defoe,  killed  at  Stone  river  Dec.  31,  '62. 

Privates. 
Arbo.  John  died  Jan.  9,  '63,  woun's. 
Boal,  Thomas  killed  at  Belmont  Nov.  7,  '61. 
Brehme,  Adolphus  prom.  Sergt.,  disch'il  Nov.  28,  '62, 

to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S.  Cavalry. 
Blackwood,  Lawrence  taken  prisoner  at  Belmont, 
Christianson,  Paul  mustered  out  Julv  7,  '64. 
Cull,  Barney  "  "       '' "  "     " 

Dailey,  Peter  deserted  April  17,  '61. 
Dailey,  Francis  discharged  June  13,  '62.  wounds. 
Eggberry,  Wra.,  Corp'l,  died  Dec.  30,  '61,  wounds- 
Edwards  Edward  mustered  out  July  7,  '64. 
Fagan,  Patrick  killed  at  Belmont  Nov.  7,  '61. 
Ganther,  John  died  at  Birds'  Point  Sept.  21,  '61. 
Groll,  Frederick  trans,  to  V.  E.  C  Sept.  30,  '63. 
Hellen  Christopher  H.  died  at  Birds'  Pt.Sept.lO,'6I. 
Jones,  Daniel  mustered  out  July  7,  '64. 
Keating,  Michael  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Aug.  1,  '63. 
Kinsey,  W.  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  July  28, '62,  M.O.Sep.9,'64 
Kehm,  Christopher  Sergt.  died  Oct.  3,  '63,  wounds. 
Keagan,  James  mustered  out  Sept.  1,  '64. 
Lewis,  Wm.  L.  Corp'l  killed  at  Stone  river  Dec.31,'62. 
Loyd,  Henry  discharged  Dec.  31,  '61,  wounds. 
McGregor,  Archibald  woimded  at  Belmont. 
Mueller,  Henry  musi'd  out  July  7,  '64,  pris.  war. 
McAuley,  John  killed  at  Belmont  Nov.  7,  '61. 
Nugent,  James  died  at  Mound  City  Dec.  4,'61,wounds, 
O'Donnell,  Charles  mustered  out  July  7,'64,  wounded. 
Parrott,  Michael  "  "       "     "    " 

Ros-s,  Pelerdie  I  at  Annapolis.  Ml.,  Dec.  '62, 
Rainor,  Robert  discharged  July  4,  '61. 
Rooney,  Charles  wounded  at  Belruont  Mo. 
Scanlan,  Patrick  killed  at  Belmont  Nov.  7,  '61. 
Smith,  Thomas  mustered  out  July  7, '64. 
Seoenberger,  Egid    "  "       •'    "     " 

Sutton,  Josiah  di -charged  July  4,  '61. 
Timiniski.AntoineSerg  died  at  Chattanooga  Jan.5,'64. 
Weber,  William  died  at  Murfreesboro'  April  18,  '63. 
Wrench,  John  died  at  Farmington  Miss.  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Yule,  James  Corp'l  died  Jan-  13,  '63,  wounds. 

Veterans. 
Schilling,  Frederick  trans,  to  Co.  K  42d  III.  Infantry, 
deserted  Nov.  29,  '65. 

Recruits. 
Jones,  Evan  killed  at  Stone  river  Dec.  31,  '62. 
Mitchell,  Patrick  discharged  June  15,  "62.  disabilitv. 
Pendergrast,  James  discharged  May  22,  '63,  wound's, 
(^uinn,  John  de-ierted  July  12,  '61. 
Smith,  Frederick,  died  at  Cairo,  Jan-  13,  '62,  wounds. 
Sullivan,  James  discharged  July  21,  62,  disability. 
Scally,  Patrick  mustered  out  Aug.  1,  '64. 

TWENTY-FOURTH   INFANTRY. 

{Three  years'  service.) 
This  was  known  as  the  "Hecker  Regi- 
ment." It  was  organized  at  Chicago,  Illinois, 
and  mustered  into  United  States'  service,  July 
8th,  1861,  by  Capt.  T.  G.  Pitcher,  and  soon 
after,  was  ordered  to  Alton,  III,  and  subse- 
quently to  St.  Charles,  Mo. ;  thence  to  Mexico, 
Mo.  July  28th,  1861,  it  left  Mexico,  and 
moved  via  St.  Louis,  to  Ironton,  Mo.,  where  it 
encamped  until  September  ;id.  It  moved  suc- 
cessively on  the  4th  to  Jackson ;  5th,  to  Fort 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


137 


Holt;  13th,  by  rail  to  Cinciunati,  with  orders 
to  report  at  Washington.     Arrested  by  the 
accident  which  befell  the  19th  Illinois  Volun- 
teers, the  regiment  remained  at  Camp  Den- 
nison,  Ohio,  until  Sept.  29th,  when  it  moved 
to  Louisville,  Ky.     'Ihe  following  day  moved 
to  Colesburg,  aLd  guarded  the  railroad  until 
November  30th,  when  it  was  assigned  to  the 
Eighth  Brigade,  Col.  Turchin   commanding. 
Moved  to  Elizabethtown,  December  5th,  and 
remained  there  till  the  22d,  when  it  marched 
to  Bacon's  Creek,  where  it  remained  until  Feb. 
10th,  1862.     With  the  Eighth  Brigade  in  ad- 
vance, the  Division  marched,  February  10th, 
1862,  to  Bowling  Green,  arriving  on  the  14th 
inst.,  and  remained  until  the  24th,  when  it 
moved  to  Nashville.    On  the  18th,  marched  to 
Murfreesbore,  where  it  remained  until  April 
5th,  when  the  Division  marched  via  Shelby- 
ville  and  Fayetteville,  to  Huntsville.     April 
11th,  marched  to   Decatur,  from  which  the 
enemy  fled,  leaving  in  their  hands  C.  R.  and 
G.  E.  small  arms  and  ammunition.     From 
here  the  regiment  proceeded  to   Tuscumbia, 
from  where,  April  22d,  it  crossed  the  Tennes- 
see; repulsed  a  charge  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
losing  some  prisoners,  and  returned  to  Hunts- 
ville the  30th  ult.     Marched  to  Athens,  May 
1st;    to  Fayetteville  the   26th;    crossed  the 
Cumberland  to  a  place  opposite  Chattanooga, 
June  1st;  to  Jasper,  Ten n.,   and  Bellefonte, 
June  7th,  and  on  the  11th  ult.,  returned  to 
Stephenson;    from  thence   to   Jasper,   Tenn. 
At  Rankin's  Ferry,  companies  F,  G,  and  C, 
had  an  engagement  in  which  Capt.  Kovats 
and    Lieut.   Gerhart  and   one  private   were 
wounded,  and  three  missing.     The  regiment 
next  marched  to  the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek, 
and  remained  until  July  11th;  then  to  Tul- 
lahoma,  and  guarded   station  on   the  Nash- 
ville and  Chattanooga  R.  R  ,  until  Sept.  7th, 
when  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  it  went  in  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy,  arriving  at  Louisville,  Sept. 
26th,  1862.    October   8th,  it  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Chaplain  Hills,  near  Perryville^ 
losing  25  killed,  77  wounded,  8  prisoners,  and 
2  missing.    After  this  battle  it  marched  to 
Mitchelville,  Ky.,  on  the  line  of  the  L  and 
N.  R.  R.,  where  it  was  stationed  the  remainder 
of  the  year. 

The  veterans  and  recruits  were  consolidated 
into  one  company,  known  as  Co.  A.  This  com- 
pany was  mustered  out,  July  31st,  1865,  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Butler, 
August  1st,  1865,  for  final  payment  and  dis- 
charge. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

Principal  Musician. 
Theodore  Lanner,  mustered  out  Aug.  6,  1864. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  C." 
Corporafs. 
Christopher  Alheim,  M.  O.  Aug.  6,  '64,  as  private. 
18 


Priiates. 
Bninner,  John         mustered  out  Aug.  6,  1864. 
Bigehle,  Leopoldt  "        •'         "         '' 

Benny,  Gregor  killed  at  Cliickamaiiga,  Sept.  19,  '63. 
Kluger,  William  discharged  May  1,  '63;  disability. 
Molz,  Jos.  transferred  to  V.  R.  U.,  Sept.  80,  1863 
Reinhardt,  Gust,  died  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Mir.  24,  '62. 
Will,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  6,  1864. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY    "  G." 

Recruits. 
Lentz,  William,  transf.  to  V.  R.  C,  Sept.  30,  1863. 
Mailman,  Jacob     "      to  Head  Qr's.,  14  A.  C.  f.  assig. 
Russ,  Frederick,  discharged  May  30,  '63  ;  disability. 
Walter,  Nicolaus  trans,  to  H'd.  Qr's  ,  14  A.  C.  f.  assig. 

MUSTER   ROLL,     COMPANY    "  I." 

Bea-uit. 

Sherifl;  John,  transferretl  to  V.  R.  C,  Nov.  30,  '63. 

TWENTY-SIXTH   INFANTRY   REGIMENT. 

{Three  Years'  Service..) 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  H." 


Samuel  T.  Moore,  vet.  M.O.  July  20,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Privates- 
Linkford,  Chas.  F.  vet.  M.  O.  July  20,  '65,  as  corporal. 

THIRTIETH   INFANTRY   REGIMENT. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 
Colonel. 
Philip  B.  Fouke,  resigned  April  22,  1862. 

Chaplain. 
Williamson  F.  Boyakin;  resigned  Feb.  5,  1863. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFE. 

Hospital  Stewards. 

Geo.  W.  Davis,  mustered  out  July  17,  1865. 

MUSTER   ROLL,    COMPANY   "  E." 

Captain 

Linzey  Steele,  mustered  out  (as  1st  Lieut )  July  18,  '65. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Thomas  Ireland,  mustered  out  (asserg"!.)  July  18,  '65. 

Corporals. 

George  Brevin,  vet.,  killed  at  Kenesaw,  June  27,  '64. 

Jesse  Bauerman,  mustered  out  July  17,  '65  ;   veteran. 

Veterans. 

Ireland,  Thomas  promoted  2d  Lieut. 
Ingalls.  Edgar  W.  mustered  out  July  17, '6  >,  as  serg't. 
Malone,  Daniel  "         "         " 

Steel,  Lindsey  promoted. 

Soper.  Asa,  died  Marietta,  Ga.,  Aug.  8, '64;  wounds. 
Recruits. 

Deppe,  A.  H  ,  mustered  out  July  17,  18">5. 
Hardin,  William  E.  died  Miiietta,  Ga.,  Aug.  20, '64. 
Jernigan,  John  G.,  died  at  Rome,  Ga.,  June  5,  '64. 
Jernigan,  William  B.,  M.  O.  July  17,  '6-5,  as  corporal. 
Lively,  Amos  A.,died  New  Albany,  Ind.,  May  19,  '64. 
Newell,  Thomas  B.  died  Rome,  Ga.,  July  17, '64,  wds. 
Welden,  Smith  B.,  mustered  out  July  17,  '65. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  K  " 
Corporal. 
John  Hotts,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  17,  1865. 

Recruits. 
Labar,  Caspar,  mustered  out  July  17,  1865. 
Simson,  William  A.     " 
Sharpley,  Henry,  killed  at  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864. 

THIRTY-SECOND    INFANTRY. 

Col.  John  Logans  Regiment. 
{  Three  years'  service). 
This  regiment  was  organized  by  Col.  John 
Logan  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  and  mustered 
into  the  United  States'  service,  December  31st, 
1861.  The  term  of  service  was  three  years. 
Of  this  regiment  a  large  portion  of  company 
G,  and  a  few  recruits  of  company  H,  were 


recruited  in  St.  Clair  county  Jonathan 
Moore  was  the  first  Captain  of  company  G. 
The  history  of  this  regiment  adds  new  lustre 
to  the  patriotism  of  St.  Clair  county.  We 
give  in  these  pages  a  few  of  the  most  important 
events  in  the  history  of  the  memorable  Thirty- 
second. 

January  28th,  1862,  the  command  was  or- 
dered to  Cairo.  February  2d,  ordered  to 
Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  and  on  the  8th  of  February, 
proceeded  up  Tennessee  river.  9th,  arrivid 
at  Fort  Henry.  23d,  joined  First  Brigade, 
Col.  I.  C.  Pugh  commanding,  Fourth  Di- 
vision, Gen.  S.  A.  Hurlbut  commanding.  Pro- 
ceeded to  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  on  the  17th 
camped  two  miles  from  the  Landing.  It  bore 
a  distinguished  and  honorable  part  in  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6th  and  7th,  1862, 
losing  forty  killed,  and  two  hundred  wounded. 
Was  engaged  on  the  advance  on  Corinth. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1862,  fought  the 
battle  of  Matamora.  This  regiment  did  good 
service  here ;  seven  killed  and  five  wounded. 
On  the  8th  of  November,  in  a  forced  march 
southward,  from  La  Grange,  surprised  and 
captured  over  one  hundred  rebel  cavalry  at 
Lamar,  and  routed  the  enemy,  after  many 
hard  marches,  part  of  the  time  being  on  short 
rations.  In  March,  1863,  they  moved  to 
Memphis,  and  remained  until  May  11th,  when 
they  moved  to  Young's  Point.  On  the  loth 
found  the  division  ten  miles  below  Vieksburg. 
Thence  to  Grand  Gulf,  where  they  were  de- 
tained a  few  days  as  a  garrison. 

June  12th,  the  post  was  abandoned,  and  the 
regiments  joined  the  division  on  the  lines 
around  Vieksburg ;  engaged  in  the  siege  until 
June  27th,  when  Col.  Logan,  with  his  regiment, 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio,  and 
one  section  of  Artillery,  was  ordered  to  com- 
mand the  post  at  Warrenton,  which  was  the 
extreme  left  of  the  line.  Rejoined  brigade  on 
July  4th,  and  on  the  5th  marched  with  Sher- 
man's Army  toward  Jackson,  a  very  trying 
march.  After  hard  service  and  skirmishing, 
and  the  capture  of  a  battery  of  nine  pieces  of 
artillery,  on  January  3d,  1864,  moved  to 
Vieksburg,  where  it  was  mustered  as  a  veteran 
organization.  Received  furlough,  March  16th, 
and  on  April  28th,  reassembled  at  Camp  But- 
ler, 111.,  and  thence  moved  to  Bird  s  Point, 
Mo.  May  8th,  started  for  Clifton,  Tenn  ,  ar- 
riving there  on  the  15th  of  the  same  month, 
and  on  the  seventeenth  moved  forward  via 
Pulaski,  Tenn  ,  Huntsville  and  Decatur,  Ala., 
Rome  and  Kingston,  Ga.,  joined  General 
Sherman's  army  at  Ackworth,  June  11th,  and 
the  next  day,  June  12th,  1864,  participated 
jn  the  siege  of  Kenesaw  Mountain.  The 
Seventeenth  Corps  occupied  the  left  of  the  line, 
and  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  occupied  the 
exposed  position  on  the  advance.    July  2d, 


,138 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


■was  transferred  to  right  of  line  on  the  4th  and 
5th ;  and  on  the  5th,  when  the  Fourth  division 
assaulted  the  enemy's  works,  the  Thirty- 
second  was  the  first  to  plant  its  colors  on  the 
ramparts.  July  I8th,  the  regiment  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  first  brigade,  and  Col.  Logan 
took  command  of  the  brigade.  While  guard- 
ing supplies  at  Marietta,  a  party  of  fifty  men, 
under  Lieutenant  Alex.  Campbell,  while  fora- 
ging, after  a  spirited  resistance,  were  cap- 
tured, only  nine  escaping.  On  the  3d,  the 
enemy  attacked  the  line  near  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, and  killed  and  captured  twelve  men. 
The  regiment  remained  near  Marietta  until 
the  "  march  to  the  sea  "  began,  when,  on  Nov- 
13th,  it  moved  from  that  place,  and  from 
Atlanta  Nov.  15th,  1861.  In  the  siege  of 
Savannah  Capt.  Lawson  and  four  men  were 
wounded.  The  Regiment  suffered  greatly 
from  lack  of  food.  Remained  in  camp  in 
Savannah,  Ga.,  until  January  5th,  1865,  when 
embarked  at  Thunderbolt  for  Beaufort,  S.  C, 
disembarked  7th,  and  remained  until  Feb. 
1st.  On  Feb.  3d,  the  division  under  command 
of  Gen.  Giles  A.  Smith,  waded  the  Salka- 
hatchie  river,  two  miles  wide,  and  from  two  to 
five  feet  deep,  and  ice  cold  ;  and  after  a  brief 
half  hour's  skirminishing  on  the  opposite 
bank,  compelled  the  enemy  to  evacuate  their 
strong  line  of  defence.  The  regiment  was  at 
this  time  in  the  third  brigade,  Gen.  Belknap 
commanding.  Col.  Logan  was  absent  during 
these  two  campaigns,  on  court-martial  duty  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  Capt.  Ilider,  afterward 
Lieut.  Colonel,  commanded  the  regiment. 

The  Thirty-sepond  took  part  in  the  grand 
Review  at  Washipgton,  May  24th,  1865. 
Thence  to  Parkersburg,  Va. ;  thence  to  Lou- 
isville ;  thence  moved  westward,  via  St.  Louis 
and  Fort  Leavenworth,  to  Fort  Kearney, 
Nebraska,  arriving  August  13th ;  returned 
to  Fort  Leavenworth  Sept.  2d.  Sept.  16th, 
mustered  out  there,  and  ordered  to  Camp  But 
}er,  111 ,  for  final  payment  and  discharge.  It 
traveled  while  in  the  United  States  service 
11,000  miles,  and  its  record  makes  glorious  a 
page  of  the  state, 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  G." 

Ca'ptains. 
Jonathan  Moore,  recigned  June  30,  J.862. 
riiomas  B.  Tinsley,  re.'<igned  A"g-  J4,  1865. 
Benjaiuin  Beevis,  iniist.  out,  as  1st  Lieut.,  Sep.  16,  '65. 

Fir^l  Lieutenant. 
Ilpbert  H.  Stevenson,  resigned  April  8,  1862. 

/Second  Lieutenant. 
Pavid  W.  Jenpings,  resigned  July  14,  1865. 

Sergeants. 
Bicliard  Rapier,  died  at  St.  Louis,  Aug.  23,  '62 ;  vfd'a. 
jared  C.  Milum,  discharged  June  19,  1862. 

Corporal^. 
William  Andrews,  mfiptered  out  Sept.  7,  1864. 
Wijliam  Lynjan,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Thomas  B.  Tinsley,  vet.,  promoted. 
Michael  Connelly,  mustered  June  4,  1861. 
Andrew  C  Smith,  discharged  May  6,  1864. 


James  Webb,  dipch.  June  19, 1864,  as  private. 
Tliomas  Bragg,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  1865. 
Thomas  Boswell,  killed  at  Sliiloh,  April  6,  1862. 

Musicians. 
Henry  Walton,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  1865. 

Wagoner. 
James  Henry,  transferred  (o  V.  R.  C.  Oct.  15,  '63. 
Privates. 

Adams,  Silas  depertcd  April  20,  '62. 

Baxter,  John        "        "       27, '62. 

Brooks,  Plenty  died  May  6,  '62,  Wounds. 

Beois,  Benjamin  Vet.,  promoted  to  1st  Lieut. 

Bishop,  William  mustered  out  Sept.  7,  '64,  term  eJcp. 

Baltoe,  John  discharged  Aug. —  '62,  disability. 

Benton,  Daniel  Vet.,  nnistered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 

Clark,  Alfred         "        "  "        "        '' 

Clark,  Jonathan  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  Oct.  15,  '63. 

Crocker,  George  discharged  June  9,  '62. 

Cooper,  Jesse  discharged  Sept.  —  '62. 

Culliff,  Jacob  transferred  te  V.  R.  C  Oct.  15,  '63. 

Cornwell,  Harrison  dipcharged  Oct.  15,  '62. 

Cornnian,  Reuben  died  at  Camp  Buller,  Nov.  29, '61. 

DAton,  William  mustered  out  Sept.  7,  '64. 

Dapp,  Uavid  deserted  in  action  Oct.  5,  '62. 

Eliue,  George,  Vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 

Fitch,  Sauuiel  discharged  at  Keokuk,  Iowa. 

Kuesler,  Lewis  transferred  to  Co.  "H,"  mustered  out 
Sept.  6,  '65. 

Fenix,  John  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  May  20,  '62. 

Greene,  William  F.  discharged  Sept.  20. '62,  Wounds. 

Gott,  George  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 

Gibson,  William  Vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '6-5. 

Goodwin,  Francis  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  Oct.  15,  "63. 

Holcomb,  Haber  di^chalged  June  9, '62,  wounds. 

Jenuings,  David,  Vet ,  prom.  2nd  Lieut,  from  Serg't. 

Kremer,  Nicholas  died  in  St.  Louis,  April  15,  '62, 
wounds. 

Kniss,  Jo.<eph  N. 

Kirby,  William  discharged  Aug.  18,  '63,  wounds. 

Lakin,  John  transferred  to  Co.,  "  H"  died. 

Lasle.v,  Charles  O.  discharged  May  5,  '62. 

Million,  Robert  Vet.,  mus;ered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 

McMnrtry,  Andrew  deserted  Nov   21,  '62. 

Mason,  John  discharged  June  9,  '62,  di-ability. 

■Matthews,  Francis  Vet.,  died  in  Andersonvilie  pri- 
son :  grave  12  744. 

Noblett,  Charles  Vet.,  mastered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 

Owens,  Alexander  died  at  Camp  Butler, Nov.  20, '61. 

Priest,  John  Vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 

Pilgrim,  William  discharged  June  9,  '62,  disability. 

Henn,  Henry  transferred  to  V.  R.  0.  Oct.  15,  '63. 

Robinson,  William  died  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  July 
23,  '63. 

Sanders,  Harvey  Vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 

Sears,  Jolin        deserted  Feb.  27,  '62. 

Scliraw,  Conrad        "      April  6,  "62. 

Sheppard,  John        "      Sept   6, '62. 

Williams,  John        "      March  21, '62. 

Wallace,  John  C.  Vet.,  killed  by  R.  R.  accident. 
April  22,  '64. 

Welch,  Thomas  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  Oct.  15,  '62. 

Veterans. 
Bragg,  Thomas  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 
Claik,  Henry  O.         "        "        "        " 

Secruita. 
Balteau,  Alfred  M.  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 
Bragon,  John  "         "        ''         " 

Bennett,  Thomas  deserted  June  26,  '65. 
Creed,  George  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '66. 
Fizer,  David  G.  killed  at  Kenesaw  Mt.  June  27,  '64. 
JanifS,  Henry  C.  mustered  out  July  7,  '65. 
Jackson,  John  A.  died  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  15th, 

'62;  wounds. 
Stevens,  John        mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 
Shaw,  William  C.  Jr.,  "        "         "        " 
Shaw,  Wm.  C.  Sr.,  died  in  Georgia,  Dec.  4,  '64. 
finsley,  James  W.  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 

MPSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  H." 

Privates. 
Dosley,  Henry. 

Recruits. 
Cook,  Robert  J.  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  '65. 
Carter,  William  T.  deserted  June  25,  '65. 


THIRTY-THIRD  INFANTRY. 

{Three  years'  service). 
Of  this  regiment  there  were  a  few  members 
of  companies  A,  D,  and  H,  from  St.  Clair 
county.  The  Thirty-second  was  organized  at 
Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  in  September  1861, 
with  Col.  Chas.  E.  Hovey  commanding,  and 
soon  after  became  a  part  of  the  army  operat- 
ing in  Missouri  and  Arkansas.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1863,  the  regiment  became  a 
part  of  Gen.  Davidson's  corps,  and  subse- 
quently participated  in  the  battles  of  Port 
Gibson,  Champion  Hills,  Black  River  Bridge, 
assault  and  siege  of  Vicktburg,  and  siege  of 
Jackson.  In  August  moved  to  JSew  Orleans, 
with  the  Thirteenth  corps,  and  as  a  part  of 
Gen  Ord's  corps,  engaged  in  the  campaigns 
up  the  Bayou  Teche,  afterwards  did  con- 
siderable service  in  Texas.  On  the  1st  Janu- 
ary, 1864,  the  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans, 
and  March  14th,  reached  Bloomington,  111., 
and  received  veteran  furlough.     April  18th, 

1864,  the  regiment  was  re-organized  at  Camp 
Butler,  and  proceeded  to  New  Orleans.  May 
17th,  ordered  to  Brashear  City,  La.  Soon 
after,  the  various  companies  of  the  regiment 
were  assigned  at  different  places  to  perform 
garrison  duty.  Companies  A  and  D,  at  Tiger- 
ville ;  company  H,  at  Boutte ;  Regimental 
Headquarters  were  at  Terre  Bonne.  The  Dis- 
trict waa  called  the  "  District  of  Lafourche," 
under  command  of  Gen.  Cameron.  Septem- 
ber 17th,  1864,  the  non-veterans  were  started 
home  via  New  York  City,  in  charge  of  rebel 
prisoners,  and  were  mustered  out  at  Camp 
Butler  on  the  11th  October,  1864. 

In  the  early  part  of  March,  1865,  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  join  the  Sixteenth  Array 
Corps.  Near  Boutte  Station  the  train  was 
thrown  from  the  track,  and  nine  men  ki  led 
and  seventy  wounded.  This  regiment  was 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Spanish  Fort,  and 
Mobile.     Moved    to  Vicksburg,   April  14th, 

1865,  and  remained  at  that  place  until  mus- 
tered out  of  service,  November  24th,  1865, 
and  ordered  to  Camp  Butler.  Illinois,  for  final 
payment  and  discharge. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  A." 

Privates. 

Griffin,  Isaac  N.,  transferred  from  117th  Illinois  M. 

O,  November  24,  1865. 
Osborne,  Mitchell  M.,  transferred  from  117th  Illinois, 
discharged,  September  25,  1865 ;  disability. 
MUSTER   ROLL,    COMPANY    "  D." 
iJeci'itite. 
Leonard,  Walter,  died  in  Arkansas,  July  12,  1862. 
O'Bryant,  George  J.,  tran^ferred  from  117th  Illinois, 

deserted,  October  8,  1865. 
Woodruff;  James  B.,  discharged,  Deo.  8,  '62 ;  disab'ty. 
MUSTER   ROLL,    COMPANY    "  H." 

Recruits  transferred  from  117th  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  122d  Illinois  Infantry. 

Cooper,  Wm.,  discharged,  Oct.  22,  1865;  wounds. 
Lincoln,  John  T.,  mustered  out,  Nov.  24,  1865. 
Farris,  James  B.  mustered  out,  November  24,  1865, 
Jenkins,  David,  miist'd  out,  Aug.  20,  '65,  as  corporal. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


139 


FORTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 

{Three  years'  service). 

The  history  of  the  Forty-third  is  one  which 
reflects  great  credit  on  the  gallant  men  from 
St.  Clair  county,  who  formed  a  large  part  of 
the  regiment ;  and  its  brilliant  and  patriotic 
achievements,  on  many  an  ensanguined  field, 
attest  the  bravery  and  sterling  qualities  of  the 
citizen  soldiery  of  St.  Clair ;  her  native  born 
and  adopted  sons  were  among  the  first  to  rush 
to  the  front  in  defence  of  the  national  flag ; 
and  at  the  front  they  remained  steadily  and 
persistently  battling  the  enemy  until  victory 
crowned  the  efforts  of  the  national  cause. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  But- 
ler, Illinois,  in  the  month  of  September, 
1861,  by  Colonel  Julius  Raith,  and  on  the  8th 
of  October  following— only  eight  companies 
being  full— was  ordered  to  St.  Louis,  and  at 
Benton  Barracks  the  regiment  was  equi|)ped  ; 
in  November  did  garrison  duty  at  Oiterville, 
Missouri ;  on  the  19th  of  January,  1862,  re- 
turned to  Benton  Barracks,  where,  with  the 
Tyventy-fifth  Indiana,  i_t  formed  a  brigade, 
under  Geu.  Strong,  General  Sherman  com- 
manding the  post.  Here  companies  I  and  K 
joined  the  regiment. 

On  the  6th  of  February  moved  to  Fort 
Henry,  arriving  there  on  the  10th;  18ih, 
moved  to  Fort  Donaldson,  where  it  was  at- 
tached, to  Gen.  Ross'  Brigade.  Gen.  Mc- 
Clernand's  Division,  on  the  4th  of  March 
moved  to  Bell  s  Landing;  thence  to  Savannah, 
Tenn.,  and  on  the  22d  to  Pittsburg  Landing. 

The  Forty-third  bore  an  honorable  and 
heroic  part,  distinguishing  itself  in  the  two 
days'  bloody  battle  of  Shiloh,  losing  in  killtd 
and  wounded,  200.  Its  commander,  the  noble 
and  dairing  Raith  was  mortally  wounded, 
and  died  April  11th  following.  The  follow- 
ing officers  were  killed :  Chajjlain  Walther, 
Capt.  Grimm,  Lieut.  Lindroth,  and  Lieut. 
Sacher.  Capt.  Edvall  was  mortally  wounded 
In  May,  1862,  the  regiment  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  In  June  became  a 
part  of  Ross'  Brigade,  Logan's  Division,  Re- 
serve Corps,  Army  of  the  Tennessee :  Ordered 
to  Bethel,  thence  to  Jackson,  Tenn.,  arriving 
at  the  latter  place  June  17th.  From  this 
time  until  the  early  part  of  December,  much 
of  the  time  of  the  command  was  employed  in 
skirmishing  after  guerillas.  December  18th, 
a  part  of  the  regiment  moved  to  Jackson;  the 
same  day  started  with  an  expedition,  consist- 
ing of  the  Forty-third  and  Sixty-first  Illinois' 
regiments.  Colonel  Engleman  commanding; 
moved  out  on  the  Lexington  road,  four  miles, 
meeting  a  detachment  of  the  11th  Illinois  and 
5th  Ohio  cavalry,  who  had  been  driven  from 
Lexington,  with  a  loss  of  many  prisoners  and 
two  cannon.  Col.  Engleman  stationed  his 
command  near  the  Salem  cemetery.     At  day- 


break following,  cavalry  were  deployed  to  find 
the  position  of  the  enemy.  About  nine  o'clock 
the  enemy  appeared,  about  500  strong,  driving 
in  a  little  squad  of  cavalry;  and  when  within 
seventy-five  yards  of  their  position,  charged 
headlong  upon  them  with  deafening  cheers. 
The  Infantry  had,  however,  withheld  their 
fire,  and  now  poured  in  heavy  volleys,  send- 
ing the  enemy  flying  back,  leaving  from  sixty 
to  eighty  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field. 
The  Forty-third  had  two  men  wounded.  The 
enemy  was  estimated  at  1,800  strong,  with 
five  pieces  of  artillery,  under  the  daring 
General  Forrest,  and  engaged  an  infantry 
force  of  425  men.  In  the  afternoon  was  re- 
inforced, and  pursued  the  enemy  fifteen  miles, 
and  then  returned  to  Jackson,  arriving  there 
December  21st.  Two  days  thereafter,  moved 
with  Col.  Lawler's  expedition,  via  Medon 
Station,  Denmark,  Glover  Creek,  and  Toon's 
Station,  returning  on  the  26tli  to  Bolivar, 
Tennessee-  In  the  spring  of  1863,  two  hun- 
dred men  of  the  regiment  were  mounted,  by 
order  of  Gen.  Braynian,  commanding  post, 
and  did  excellent  service,  capturing  guerillas. 
The  iattci;  part  of  May  moved  to  Memphis,  and 
by  boat  proceeded  down  the  Mississippi  and 
up  the  Yazoo,  disembarked  at  Satartia  on  the 
4th.  Here  met  and  repulsed  the  enemy  under 
Gen.  Adams,  capturing  a  few  prisoners.  On 
the  9th  of  June,  moved  to  Haines'  Bluff. 
About  the  middle  of  July  moved  to  Big  Black 
Hiver,  thence  to  Snyder's  Bluff;  and  on  the 
29th,  embarked  for  Helena.  August  6th,  as- 
signed to  1st  Brigade,  2d  Division,  Arkansas 
expedition.  Gen.  Steele  commanding,  going  to 
Helena,  Clarendon,  and  Duvall's  Bluff.  On 
the  fircit  of  September  moved  from  Duvall's 
Bluff,  and  on  the  6th  Col.  Engleman  was 
assigned,  of  the  Second  Division  ;  on  the  10th 
moved  forward  to  the  Arkansas  river,  and 
laid  pontoon.  Two  regiments  of  infantry, 
several  batteries,  and  a  division  of  cavalry, 
crossed  the  river.  The  infantry  moved  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river  opposite  Little 
Rock ;  the  enemy  evacuated  the  place,  and 
the  l;  th  Illinois  cavalry  occupitd  the  place. 
On  the  11th  the  Forty-third  was  ordered  into 
the  city,  being  the  first  infantry  to  occupy  the 
place.  March  13th,  1864,  the  Forty-third 
became  a  part  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Col.  A. 
Engelman  commanding  Third  Division,  Gen. 
Soloman  in  command.  Major-General  Steele 
in  command  of  the  Red  River  expedition, 
moved  from  Little  Rock,  March  28d,  1864. 
On  the  10th  of  April,  the  Forty-third  engaged 
and  routed  the  enemy  at  Prairie  d'Anne.  The 
enemy  fell  back  upon  their  main  force,  half  a 
mile  distant,  and  opened  on  the  regiment  with 
artillery.  Captain  Vaughn's  Battery  replied 
with  telling  effect.  A  general  advance  was 
ordered,  and  the  enemy  gave  way,  and   the 


Forty-third  was  first  in  the  enemy's  'works. 
An  artillery  fire  was  kept  up  during  the 
night  by  the  retreating  forces ;  the  only  casu- 
alty being  Lieut.  Thomas,  of  Vaughn's  Bat- 
tery, slightly  wounded.  Toward  midnight  the 
enemy's  cavalry  made  an  unsuccessful  charge 
on  Vaughn's  Battery.  April  14th,  after  con- 
siderable skirmishing,  reached  Camden,  and 
on  the  17th  a  large  train  of  180  wagons  was 
captured  by  the  enemy.  The  First  Kansas 
Regiment,  co's  A  and  D,  who  were  escort, 
fought  bravely,  but  were  overpowered  by  su- 
perior numbers.  The  news  of  Gen.  Banks' 
defeat  having  now  reached  them,  Camden  was 
evacuated,  and  the  army  moved  toward  Little 
Rock.  At  Jenkins'  Ferry,  met  the  enemy 
undtr  Kirby  Smith,  and  were  attacked  with 
great  fury.  The  Forty-third  Illinois  and  »■ 
section  of  Vaughn's  Battery  being  rear-guard, 
were  first  attacked.  The  federal  loss  in  this 
battle  was  seven  hundred  men,  but  that  of  the 
enemy  over  two  thousand  men.  The  capture 
of  three  cannon  was  made,  two  of  which  were 
taken  by  the  Second  Kansas.  The  enemy 
was  successfully  repulsed. 

Consolidated. — January  17th,  1865  : — An 
order  of  consolidation  was  issued  by  Major- 
General  J.  J.  Reynolds,  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  Arkansas :  "  The  term  of  ser- 
vice of  the  Forty-third  having  expired,  the 
command  is  hereby  re-organized,  in  accor- 
dance with  the  provision  of  circular  No.  36, 
of  1864,  of  War  Department,  into  a  batta- 
lion of  seven  companies,  each  of  maximum 
strength."     *    *     *     * 

The  command  from  this  time  forward  until 
its  discharge,  was  principally  engaged  in  skir- 
mishing, and  doing  garrison  duty.  The  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out  at  Little  Rock,  Novem- 
ber 30th,  1865,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Butler, 
111.,  December  14th,  1865,  when  final  pay- 
ment was  made. 

STAFF. 

C  olonels. 

Julius  Rath,  died  Ap.  11,  '62,  from  wounds  received 

at  the  battle  of  Sliiloh. 
Adolpli  Engelmann,  term  expired  Dec.  16,  '64. 

Liieutenanl  Colonels. 
Adolph  Deng'er,  transferred  to  field  and  staff,  as  con- 
solidated. 

Majors. 

Charles  Stephani,  resigned  Ap.  1,  '64. 
Hugo  Westerman,  transferred  to  field  and  staff,  as 
consolidated. 

First  Assistant  Surgeon. 
Alexis  K.  Hartmann,  discharged  for  good  of  service, 
Dec.  31,  '64. 

NON-COMMISSIIONED   STAFF. 
Sergeant. 
Adam  Saltier,  promoted  lieut.  co.  "  F." 

Wagon  Master. 
Frederick  Exter,  promoted  lieut.  co.  "  G." 
MUSTER   ROLL    COMPANY    "  A." 
Captain. 
William  Erhard,  resigned  Aug.  31,  '62. 
Henry  Millitzer,  term  expired  '64. 


140 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


First  Lieutenants. 
Peter  Druckenbrodt,  promoted  to  co.  "  F." 

Second  Lieutenants. 
August  Fritz,  promoted  to  co.  "  D." 
Wilhelm  Zcigler,  houornbly  mus.  out  Feb.  17,  '64. 

Sergeants. 
Adam  Graber,  discharged  Dec.  23,  '65 ;  disability. 
George  Krig,  deserted  Feb.  6,  'P2. 
Joseph  Deilz,  discharged  Aug.  14, '62;  disability. 

Corporals 
Claries  Kampmanu,  vet.,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  '65, 

as  sergeani. 
Henry  Eoss,  vet.,  trans,  to  co.  ''A''  asconsi  lidated. 
Ji.nes  Casbner,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 
John  DanmuUer,  died  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Sept.  30,  '63. 
William  Bruder,  discharged  June  20,  '62;  disability. 
Nicholas  Frank,  killed  at  Sbiloh  Ap.  6,  '62. 
Jiewis  Seigman,  mustered  out  Aug.  14,  '64. 
Jacob  Emge,  died  Jan.  27,  '62. 

Musiciaiis. 
Frelerick  Wagner,  died  at  Hill  Prairie,  111.,  Mar. 

9,  '62. 
John  Greenewald,  vet.,  mustered  July  7,  '65. 

Privates. 

Barlay,  Ernst,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Buikhardt,  Henry,  died  atBolivar,  Tenn.,  Jan.  19,  '63. 

Brumer,  Christian,  transferred  to  V.R.C.  Nov.  29,  '63. 

Beiz,  Mike,  discharged  Jv.ne  20,  '62;  disability. 

Becker,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Brande,  Christian,  mn.stered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Ca^sens,  W.  Otto,  died  at  Tipton,  Mo.,  Feb.  16,  '62. 

Eberliardt,  August,  mustered  out  Aug  20,  '64. 

Frank,  Giorge,  "         "  "        " 

Freodtnbtrg,  Frederick,  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mar.  28, 
'62. 

Fluck,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Flaig,  Lambert,     "         "  "         " 

Frick,  Alois,  ''         "  "        " 

Fiuck,  George,     ''         "  ''        " 

Goldenbow,-John,  discharged  Julv  20,  '62 ;  wounds. 

Geis,  Phillip,  "  ""        •'    disability. 

Gehrhardt,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Hoover,  Peter,  deserted  Aug.  18,  '62. 

Henning,  Henry,  discharged  Jan.  8,  '63;   disability. 

Hammann,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Horst,  Henry,  "         ''  "        " 

Herbstreit,  Theodore,  deserted  Aug.  18,  '62. 

Koch,  Henry,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Kaiser,  Peler,  "  "  •'         '' 

Knans,  Frederick    "  "  '■        '' 

Kettler'  Volrath,  vet.,  trans,  to  co.  "F,"  43d  Inft., 
consolidated;  promoted  to  sergt.,  then  2d  lieut. 

Kahse,  Henry,  deserted  Feb.  6,  '02. 

Krannert,  Charles,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Kribs,  Fredeiich,  "         "  ''         " 

Langhouse,  Frilz,  "         "  "        " 

Long,  Lenus,  deserted  Aug.  18,  '62. 

Lannert,  Frederick,  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Miller,  John  Jr.,  discharged  Oct.  6,  '62,  disability. 

Maur,  Henry  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Menges,  Thomas  ■'  "       "       "      " 

Miller,  John  Sr.,  deserted  Aug.  18,  '62. 

Nettler,  Frederick  died  at  Bolivar  Nov.  29,  '62. 

Narjes,  Henry  mustered  out  Aug.  31,  '64. 

OfFermann,  Deidrich  must'd  out  Aug.  26,  '64  as  Sergt. 

Peters,  George  ''  "       •'      ''     "     as  Corp. 

Peter,  William  "  "       "       "     " 

Riichchr,  Frederick  deserted  Feb.  6,  '62. 

Keuling,  Henry  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Ilicliter,  Frederick  died  at  Tipton  Mo.  Feb.  1,  '62. 
iSclirothe,  Henry  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 
Seliger,  Ambio<e  discharged  Oct.  II,  '62,  wounds. 
Seibert,  Franz  discharged  Sept.  10,  '62,  wounds. 
Schuler,  Gottlieb  died  at  Hamburg  Tenn.  May  27,'02. 
.Stein,  Josjph  mustered  out  Aug.  24,  '64. 
Schiilze,  Adam  discharged  Aug.  18,  '62.  wounds. 
Sikaur,  Peter  vet.,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  '65. 
Sutter,  Andreas  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 
Schwizer,  ,Tohn. 

Schmidt,  Valentine  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  ''64. 
Schlott,Jiifo'.i  "  "       "       "      " 

Schmitz,  John  killed  at  Sbiloh. 
Sahn,     John        mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 
Sonnenberg,  Andreas  ''        ''       ''       "       " 
Sehwebel,  George        "         "       "      "       " 
TwenhiEfel,  Hermann  ■'         "       "       " 
Tiires,  Peter  "        "        "       " 


Vornfeld,  Henry  killed  at  Sbiloh. 

VoUmar,  August  died  Aug.  31,  '62. 

Wirsing,  George  discharged  May  15,  '65,  disability. 

Weiee,  Fritz  veteran. 

Weiser,  Franlz  discharged  Oct.  10,  '62,  wounds. 

Worner,  Beinhard  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Wilhelm,  John  "  "        '      "       •' 

Werling,  Joseph  discharged  June27,'62,  wounds. 

M'eiland,  Joseph  discharged  Oct.  10,  '62,  wounds. 

Williams,  Ernst  mustered  out  Aug.  '64. 

Weber,  Jacob  deserted  P^eb.  6,  '62. 

Wangeling,  Gustave  mustered  out  Ang.  26,  '64. 

Zimmermann,  George      "  "      "       "      " 

Zimmerly,  Jacob  discharged  May  26,  '62,  disability. 

VeteraTit. 
Kampmann,  Charles  must'd  out  Nov.  30,  '65,  as  Sergt. 
Weise,  Fritz. 

Recruits.  ' 

Schultz,  Frederick  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  '65. 
Steehl,  Phillip  "  "  JiUy  7,     " 

Seliner,  John  "  "    Nov.  39,     " 

MUSTER   BOLL   COMPANY   B 

Captain. 
Sanrtiel  Sohimminger,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 

First  Lieutenants. 
George  H.  Hoering,  promoted  to  co.  K. 
Henry  Strassinger,  hon'bly  discharged,  Feb.  27,  '64. 
John  Wolz,  term  expired,  Sept.  26,  186-1. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Adam  PfafF,  term  expired,  September  26,  1864. 

First  Sergeant. 
John  Woltz,  promoted. 

Sergeants. 
Louis  Dressier,  discharged,  Sept.  &,  1862;  wounds. 
Louis  Weil,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
Adam  Pfaff,  vet.,  promoted  second  Lieutenant. 
Frederick  Eeichert,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Corporals. 
Adams  Arres,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
Joseph  Kieth,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
H.  Liebig,  Vet.  Segt. ,  murdered  on  way  to  Little  Rock. 
Henry  Shultz,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26, 1864,  as  Sergt. 
Conrad  Lang,  mustered  out,  September  2ti,  1864. 
Frederick  Keil,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 

Musicians. 

Frederick  Rath,  discharged,  Oct.  17,  1862  ;  disa'ty. 

Frederick  Bolte,  vet.,  died  at  Little  Rock,  Sept.  11,  '65. 
Privates. 

Annen,  Peter,  died,  April  12,  1862  i  wounds. 

Appel,  George,  vet,  mustered  out,  Nov.  80,  '65,  Corp'l. 

Brokmeyer,  Frederick,  disch'd,  Oct.  26, 1862  ;  disa'ty. 

Bieger,  Thomas,  vet. 

Bassenhorst.  William,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  18'64. 

Fisher,  Theodore,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Gross,  Val.,  vet.,  transf  d  to  co.  A,  as  consolidated. 

Gruner,  Frederick,  vet.,  mustered  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Houfert,  Henry,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Hoob,  John,  mustered  out,  August  31,  1864. 

Hermann,  Louis,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Hatzenbusle,  Coiirad,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Hotfman,  Peter,  vet.,  mustered  out,  Nov.  30,  '66,  as 
Ist  Sergeant. 

Hartman,  Wendell,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Herbst,  Frederick,  mustered  out,  Sept.  21,  1864. 

Basel,  G.  Washington,  killed  at  Sbiloh,  .\pril  6, 1862. 

Kougor,  August,  discharged,  Aug.  7,  1862 ;  wounds. 
Krutlcr,  John,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1804. 

Kisuss,  Louis,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
Kuhn,  Simon,  mustered  out,  September  20,  1864. 
Lepert,  John,  mustered  out,  September  20,  1864. 
Landgraff,  John,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
Mishon,  George,  died  at  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  Aug.  28,  '62. 
Metzger,  John,  died  at  llaincs'  Bluff,  June  27,  1863. 
Muller,  John,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  7,  1805. 
Mohr,  Frederick,  mustered  out,  Nov.  30,  1805. 
Oestreicher,  John,  died  December  25,  1801. 
Phertner,  Jacob,  discharged,  Sept.  9,  1802 ;  wounds. 
Peters,  William,  mustered  out,  Sept.  20,  1804. 
Rauth,  John,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1804. 
Riede,  Joseph,  died  at  Keokuk,  April  22,  '02  ;  wounds. 
Shalter,  Chris.,  vet.,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  '65,  as  1st 

Sergeant  commanding. 
Schneider,  Frederick,  died  at  Ft.  Henry,  Mar.  7,  '62. 
Sheidt,  Charles,  discharged,  Sept.  9,  '862;  wounds. 


Steinmann,  Henry,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 
Shoifer,  Michael,  discharged,  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  wounds. 
Stock,  Martin,  vet.,  mustered  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Stein,  Henry,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
Sator,  John,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
Seibert,  Henry,  vet.,  mustered  out,  Nov.  80,  1865. 
Schneider,  George,  died,  Jan.  28,  lh62. 
Stetlzcing,  T.  Conrad,  killed  at  Sbiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Volbracht,  Joseph,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 
Weber,  Adam,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 
Weitmann,  John,  died,  April  15,  1862 ;  wounds. 
Weber,  Frederick,  mustered  out,  Sept.  26,  1864. 
Zerban,  Henry,  mustered  out,  September  26,  1864. 

Veterans. 
Bolte,  Friederich,  died  at  Little  Rock,  Sept.  11,  1865. 
Bieger,  Thomas,  mustered  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Sommer,  John,  died  at  Little  Rock,  Dec.  21,  1864. 
Vinot,  Louis,  mustered  out,  November-30,  1865. 

Mecruits. 
Baehr,  George        mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Dersch.John 

Deitrich,  John  "         " 

Eisenhardt,  Gustof  "         "  July  7,  1865. 

Frus,  John  Adam  "        "  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Granel,  John  "        ''        "         " 

Hoffman,  John 
Kopf,  Joseph  " 

Kaiser,  Charles  "        "  July  7,     " 

Krumrey,  Jacob  "        "  Nov.  30  " 

Lovenson,  Nels  ' 

Lortnz,  Joseph  "         "         "         " 

Lang,  William  discharged  Oct.  31,  1863. 
Lehr,  August  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Lulz.  Daniel  "        "   July  7, '65,  as  corp. 

Mann,  Charles  "        "        ''        '' 

Mann,  David  ' 

Peters,  William  "         "  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Stub,  Eeinhardt  "        "         "         " 

Schaubert,  Peter  

Schmidt,  George  "         "        '' 

Wolf,  Jacob  • 

Wolf,  Adam  

Winkler,  Nicholas  ''         "        "         " 

Weilwert,  David,  died  Camp  Ford,  Texa°,  Jan.   15, 
'65,  prLsoner  of  war. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY    "  D." 
Mrst  Lieutenant. 
August  Fritz,  resigned  Nov.  14,  1864. 

MUSTER    ROLL,   COMPANY  "  F." 
Captains. 

Peter  Druckenbrodt,  resigned  Nov.  12,  1862. 
Ern.-t  Wuerfel,  transf.  to  Co.  C,  as  consolidated. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Adam  Sattler,  died  April  28,  1863. 

Privates. 
Fischer,  Andrew,  died  at  St.  Louis,  June  21,  1862. 

Recruits. 
Adam,  Anton. 
Drackenboot,  Wm.  trans,  fr.  Co.  H,  disch.Nov.  12,  '62. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY    "  G." 
Captains. 
Franz  Grimm,  died  April  6,  1862. 
Charles  Hoenny,  Capt.  Co.  D,  as  consolidated. 

Pirst  Lieutenant. 
Charles  Storck,  transf.  to  Co.  D,  as  consolidated. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
John  Lindroth,  died  April  6,  1862. 
Piederick  iSxter,  transf.  to  Co.  D,  as  consolidated. 

First  Sergeant. 
Charles  Storck,  promoted  1st  Lieut. 

Sergeants. 
Theodore Schneider,vel.,a(cidenlally  killed  Sep. 7, '64 
Charh-s  Doll,  n.ust.  cut.  Dec.  16,'t:4  ;    as  piivate. 
Ernst  Scheidig,  died  April  10,  1862  ;  wounds. 
Arnold  Grob,  killed  at  Sbiloh,  April  6,  1862. 

Corporals. 
Charles  Siegrist,  discharged  Feb.  23, 1862 ;  disability. 
Herman  Wiegund,  vet.,  M.  O.  Nov.  30,  '65  ;  as  priv. 
Henry  Kremer,  vet.,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Fredeiick  Behlock,  died  Aiiril  18,  1862;  wounds. 
Henry  Schroeder,  vet.,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865,  as  priv. 
Edward  Schaefer,  discharged  June  28,  1862  ;  wounds. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


141 


Privates. 
Brenura,  John  mustered  out  Deo.  16,  1864. 
BawB,  Adam,  vet.,  died  at  Little  Rock,  Oct.  15,  '65. 
Dober,  Joseph  killed  al  Hhiloli,  April  6.  1862. 
E jkert,  Gottfried  discharged  Sept.  9, '  62 ;    disability 
Fischer  Charles,  vet.,  M.  O.  Nov.  30,  '65 ;  as  corporal. 
Frank,  Herman  deserted  Feb.  6,  1862. 
Frorbel,  Henry  transf.  to  Eegt.  Band,  Nov.  13,  1861. 
Gernhaid,  John  died  at  Jackson,  Ttnn.,  April  16, '62. 
Geiger,  John  mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Graff.OeorgeP.  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Grass,  Henry,  vet.,  died  at  Little  Kock,  Sept.  4,  '64. 
Hess,  Louis  mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Holdener,  Joseph,  vet.,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Hodop,  Erhard  mustered  out  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Hoffman,  George  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 
Heinrioks,  Anton,  mustered  out,  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Hillman,  Martin,  died  May  30,  1862 ;  wounds. 
Kaub,  Dominick,  died  at  St.  Louis,  April  20,  1862. 
Kopphel,  William,  mustered  out  Deo.  16,  1864. 
Knaft,  Siegmund,  wounded,  deserted  Aug.  18,  1862. 
Lielich,  Henry,  killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  1862. 
Lehman,  Leopold  ,  died  at  Helena,  Ark.  Aug.  8,  1863. 
Mayers,  John,  veteran,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Myer,  Andreas,     "  "  "  "  " 

Ffeifer,  Peter,  died  at  Helena,  Ark.,  1863. 
I'ersohbacher,  Fred.  G.,  mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Rhein,  Frederick  "  "  "         " 

Sendeback,  John,  dishon.  discharged  Oct.  30,  1861. 
Seeman,  Jotin,  mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Steible,  Edward,  discharged  June  3,  1863. 
Schmidt,  Charles  A.,  mustered  out  Dee.  16,  1864. 
Strittmater,  Jacob,  veteran,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,1865,  sergt. 
Sohaefer,  John,  discharged  May  15,  1863  ;  disability. 

Veterans. 
Balser,  Theodore,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865,  as  1st  sergt. 
Fischer,  George,         "  "         " 

Holdmyer,  Joseph,     "  "         "       as  corp. 

Joho,  Samuel,  "  "         "  " 

Kretner,  Henry,         "  "         "  " 

Ludescher,  Franz,     "     July  7,  1865. 
Salterbach,  Christian,  died  at  Little  Rock,  May  15,'65 
Schroeder,  Henry,  M.  0.  Nov.  10,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Stutzel,  Henry,  "  "         " 

Recruits. 
Bruner,  George,  died  at  Little  Rock,  Oct.  30,  1864. 
Faeger,  Gottlieb,  mustered  out  July  7,  1865. 
Giefhardt,  Henry,  "  "         " 

Heinrichs,  John,  •'       Nov.  30,  " 

Heinbach,  Carl,  "      July  7,     •' 

Joachrim,  Adam,  "  "         " 

Kranz,  John,  absent  sick  at  muster  out  of  regt. 
Leuchter,  George,  mustered  out  May  29,  1865. 
Rohrbaok,  Fred.,  died  at  Little  Rock,  Sept.  15,  1864. 
Roth,  Valentine,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Schwartz,  Theodore,         "  "  " 

MUSTEK    EOLL,   COMPANY   "h" 

Captain. 
Westerman,  Samuel,  promoted  major. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Westerman,  Louis,  resigned  Feb.  5,  1862. 
Fuess,  Joseph,  trans,  to  co.  E  as  consolidated. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Hax,  George  L.,  trans,  to  field  and  staff  as  consol. 

Sergeant. 
Burghardt,  Henry,  mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1864. 

Corporals. 
Keuen,  Pius,  veteran. 
Luokner,  Bernard,  veteran. 
Young,  William,  discharged  Oct.  8,  1862  ;  disability. 

Musician. 
Drukenbrolt,  William,  discharged  Nov.  11,  1862. 

Privates. 
Baumnhardt,  Jacob,  discharged  Oct.  17,  1862. 
Bush,  Hermann,  vet.,  was  commissioned  sergt. 
Dingeldein,  Jacob,  veteran. 

Golenow,  William,  discharged   Nov.  8,  1862 ;  wounds. 
Hanmann,  George,  mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Hacting,  William,  discharged  Oct.  17,  1862  ;  disability 
Kaeser,  Joseph,  died  at  home  Aug.  16,  1863. 
Kuehn,  Daniel,  veteran,  died  May  15,  1864;  wounds. 
Kochler,  Emil,  veteran. 

Klein,  Phillip,  veteran,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Munsch,  John,  discharged  Nov.  23,  1862. 


Muzzarelli,  Baedo,  mustered  out  Dec.  15, '64,  Ist  sergt. 
Meiser,  Emil.  discharged  Oct.  26,  1862. 
Palmtag,  Louis,  veteran,  died  Sept.  22,  1864. 
Rode,  Henry,  discharged  Nov.  8,  1862 ;  wounds. 
Bind,  Henry,  mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1864. 
Sternmann,  Christian,  vet.,  mustered  out,  Nov.  30,'65 
Steitle,  Frank,  died  (or  discharged)  Oct.  17,  1862. 
Seiring,  Jacob,  died  at  Little  R(jck  July  7,  1863. 
Schubert,  Oswald,  killed  at  Shiloh  April  7,  1862. 
Wolf,  John,  discharged  Nov.  2,  1862. 

Veterans. 
Balsizer,  Rudolph,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1862. 
Groth,  Peter  Clausen,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1862. 
Dingeldein,  Jacob. 
Luckner,  Bernhard. 
Roth,  Henry. 
Seifert,  John. 

Recruits. 
Boyer,  George  F.,  mustered  out,  Nov.  30,  1865, 
Bretthauser,  Oscar,  corp.,  deserted  Sept.  29,  1865. 
Buehele,  Benjamin,  mustered  out  May  30,  1865. 
Engel,  Ferdinand,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Geirs,  Theodore,  died  at  Little  Rock,  July  11,  1864. 
Hilliard,  Ernst  F.,  promoted  1st  Lieut,  co.  K. 
Holler,  Frank,  mustered  out  July  7,  1865. 
Klinkhardt.  Herman  F.,  mustered  out  July  7,  1865. 
Lehr,  George,  mustered  out  July  7,  1865. 
Leibrock,  Louis,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Meyer,  Peter,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Owen,  Thos.,  dishon.  disch.  Jan.  3,'66,date  Nov.30,'65 
Schlesinger,  Henry,  mustered  out  July  7,  1865. 
Stevenson,  Benjamin  L.,  mustered  out  May  27,  1865. 
Voelker,  Theodore  0.,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  '65,  as  corp. 
Weiss,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1 865. 

MUSTER   EOLL,   COMPANY   "  I." 
Captain. 
Charles,  Stephani,  promoted  Major. 

Recruits. 
Burger,  Jacob  F.,  mus.  out  July  7,  1865. 

MUSTER  EOLL,    COMPANY    "K." 
Captain. 
George  H.  Hoering,  Capt.  Co.  "  G,"  as  consolidated. 

Privates. 
Bueton,  Otto,  discharged  Jan.  18,  1862. 
Krim,  John. 
Zimmerman,  Anton,  disch.  Nov.  7,  1862,  disability. 

Veterans. 
DettlofF,August,  M.  0.  Nov.30,'65  ;  as  mu'anCo.  G  con. 
Meyer,  Wentzel,promoted  princi'l  musi'n  43d  Reg.  con. 
Pitfiigshaupt,  John,M.O.Nov.30,'65,as  musi'n  Co. G  con 
Serela,  Lewis,  promoted  1st  Lieut. 
Siloff,  Frederick,  mus.  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Seibert,  August,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Spahn,  Adam,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Wentzel,  Rudolph,  disch.  Feb.  7,  1865  ;  disability. 

Meeruits. 
Friek,  Joseph,  M.  0.  July  7,  1865. 
Grumnewaid,  George,  M.  0.  July  7,  1865. 
Haller,  Louis,  M.  0.  July  7,  1865. 
Kayser,  Fred.,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Pfaff,  Fred.,  M.  0.  July  7,  1865. 
Reinege,  Casper,  M.  0.  July  7,  1865. 
Rowles,  William,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Unassigned  Recruits. 
Branner,  George  J. 
Cooper,  Robert  A. 
Fisher,  John. 

Hanmant,  Nicholas,  died  at  Camp  Butler,  Mar.  21,  64. 
Heminger,  Frederick. 
Kraus,  John. 
Knebler,  Jacob  F., 
MuUer,  Michael. 
Stieger,  Louis. 
Tindale,  James  L. 

FOETY-THIRD  INFANTRY,  (aS  CONSOLIDATTD  ) 

Colonel. 
Adolph  Dengler,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Lieutenant  Colonel. 
Hugo  Westerman,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Majors. 
George  H.  Hoering,  M.  0.  as  Captain,  Nov.  30,  1865. 


Adjviant. 
George  L.  Hax,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 

NON-COM.MISSIONED   STAFF. 

Sergeant  Major. 

Clemens  Neicksch,  M.  0.  July  7,  1865. 

Q.  M.  Sergeant- 
horns  Hoffman,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Hospital  Stewards. 
Charles  Meyenn, disch. Feb.7,'65,to  en'st  as  H. 8., U.S.A. 
Richard  lisoher,  M.  0.  July  7,  1865. 

Prinaipsd  Mutsiaian. 
Wenzel  Meyer,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 

MUSTER   EOLL,   COMPANY   "  C." 

Captain. 
Ernst  Wuerpil,  resigned  Feb.  16,  1865. 

Reirui's. 
Bonroe,  Charles,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Bieschel,  Michael,  M.  0.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Collischong.  George,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Flaig,  Lambert,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Goelz,  Win.  H.,  must'd  out  Nov.  3 »,  1865. 
Graul,  Valentine,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Hays,  Gottlieb,  must'd  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 

MUSTER  BOLL   COMPANY  "  D.'' 
Captain. 
Charles  Hornny,  term  expired  May  9,  1865. 
Frederick  Exter,  nmslered  out. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Charles  Storch,  resigned  June  6,  186.5. 
Clemens  Nicksch,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
H.  Ros.s,  must'd  out,  (as  Ser'gt  Co.  G.)  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Recruits. 
Gadin,  Benj.,  must'd  ont  Nov.  30   1865,  as  Corpl. 
Kiefer,  Joseph,  mn.«t'd  out  July  7,  186-5. 
Knebel,  Henry,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Lange,  Ludwig,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Panger,  Wm.,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Pfiffner,  Franz,  munt'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
'Rmf,  Rupert,  musi'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Kache,  Peter,  mn,  t'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Schneider,  Peter,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
kSisk,  Henry,  must'd  ont,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Stein,  Charles,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 

MUSTEE    EOLL   COMPANY    "  E." 

Captain. 
Joseph  Fuess,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Emil  Kochler,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Bernhard  Lokner,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 

Private. 
Gansmann,  John,  must'd  out,  Oet.  26,  1865. 

Recruits. 
Schmidt,  Conrad,  died  July  26,  1865. 
Sellinger,  George,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Stanfer,  Jacob,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Spaehnle,  John,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Schapp,  Jacob,  must'd  out,  Nov  30,  1865. 
Schopp,  George,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30   1865. 
Thebus,  Wm.,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Zwanegle,  Adam,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 

MUSTER    EOLL    COMAPANY   "G." 

Captain. 
George  H.  Hoering,  promoted  Major. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
C.  Sehaler,  mustered  out  (as  Sergt.)  Nov.  30, 1865. 

Recruits, 
Burkhardt,  Bernhardt,  must'd  out.  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Butscher,  John,  musi'd  out,  Nov.  30,  186-5. 
Magin,  Charles,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Eahler,  John,  must'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 
Vollrath,  Charles,  nuist'd  out,  Nov.  30,  1865. 


142 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "l." 
Captain. 
Frederick  Exter,  Transferred  to  Co.  D. 

First  Lieutenant. 
John  Gruenewald,  resigned  June  26, 1865. 

FORTY-NINTH   INFANTRY. 

{Three  yeari  service). 

This  regiment,  Illinois  volunteers,  was  or- 
ganized at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  by  Col.  Wil- 
liam 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  11th  moved  to  Fort  Donelson.  Engaged 
the  enemy  on  the  13th,  losing  14  killed  and 
37  wounded.  Col.  Morrison,  commanding  the 
Brigade,  was  among  the  wounded.  Remaining 
at  Donelson  until  March  4th,  it  moved  to 
Metal  Landing  and  two  days  later  embarked 
for  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tenn.  Disembarked 
at  Savannah,  and  on  the  21st  completed  the 
march. 

Participated  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April 
6th  and  7th,  1862,  losing  17  killed  and  99 
wounded.  Lieut.  Col.  Pease,  commanding 
regiment,  and  Maj.  Bishop,  were  among  the 
latter.  Was  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  June 
4th,  moved  to  Bethel ;  was  assigned  to  Brig. 
Gen.  John  A.  Logan's  First  Division,  District 
of  Jackson — Maj.  Gen.  John  A.  McClernand 
commanding. 

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,  Col.  W.  W.  Sanford;  First 
Division,  Brig.  Gen.  W.  S.  Smith  ;  Sixteenth 
Army  Corps — Maj.  Gen.  S  A.  Hurlbut  com- 
manding. Joined  Gen.  F.  Steele's  expedition 
to  Little  Rock,  Ark  ,  at  Helena,  Aug  21st, 
and  on  the  28th,  was  assigned  to  Col.  True's 
Brigade,  and  Sept.  2d,  joined  the  main  Army 
at  Brownsville,  Ark.  Nov.  10th,  assisted  in 
the  capture  of  Little  Rock.  On  the  15th, 
moved  by  rail  via  Duvall's  Bluff,  to  Memphis, 
arriving  Nov.  21st,  1863. 

January  15th,  1864,  three-fourths  of  the 
regiment  re-enlisted,  and  were  mustered  as 
veteran  volunteers,  assigned  to  the  Third 
Brigade,  Col  S.  H.  Wolf,  Third  Division, 
Brig.  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  of  the  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps. 

On  the  27th  iust,  marched  to  Vicksburg, 
Miss.,  and  was  with  Maj.  Gen.  Sherman  in 
the  Meridian  campaign,  returning  to  Vicks- 
burg, March  3d.  Was  assigned  to  Red  River 
expedition,  and  on  March  14th,  participated 
in  the  capture  of  Fort  De  Russey,  La. ;  April 
9tb,  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill, 
La.,  and  returned  to  Memphis  June  10th, 
1864. 

June  24th,  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  15th,  1864.  After  the  expiration  of 
the  veteran  furlough  rendezvoused  at  Centra- 
lia.  111.,  and  proceeded  via  Cairo  and  Memphis 
to  Holly  Springs,  and  rejoined  the  command. 
Participated  in  the  Oxford  expedition,  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.  18th,  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  at  Camp  Butler,  111., 
Sept.  15th,  1865,  for  final  payment  and  dis- 
charge. 

Colonels. 
William  E.  Morrison,  resigned  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Lieutenant  Colonel. 
Thomas  G.  Allen,  resigned  Nov.  26,  '61. 

Major. 
John  B.  Ilay,  resigned  Dec.  18,  '61. 

Adjutant. 
William  Martin,  died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Aug.  26, 
'63. 

Quartermaster. 

William  Heinzelman,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 
Commissary  Sergeant. 
Thomas  Sowman,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 

Principal  Musician. 
Jacob  Hear,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "B." 
Privates. 
Atchison,  William,  vet. 
Denoi,  Loui,  died  Jan.  6,  '62. 
PuUin,  James,  discharged  July  22,  '62;  disability. 
Will,  James,  deserted  June  28,  '63. 
Recruits. 

Hughes,  Samuel,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson  Feb.  13, 

'62. 
Hogan,  John  F.,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  C." 
Recruits, 
Heiz,  Xavier,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. ' 
Boettger,  Frederick,  vet. 
Tenzing,  Henry,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 
Wellenbrook,  John,     '■         "  •'       " 

MCSTER   ROI  L   COMPANY   "  E." 
Captain. 
John  O.  Berry,  term  expired  Jan.  9,  '65. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Martin  T.  Lynch,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
James  Mitchell,  term  expired  Jan.  9,  '65. 

First  Sergeant. 
James  MitchtU,  promoted  2d  lieut. 
Sergeants. 

Cornelius  Casey,  transferred  to  Mulligan's  Brig.  Jan. 

24,  '62. 
Edmund  Hermens,  discharged  Nov.  17,  '62 ;  disab. 

Corporals. 

Sebastian  Fahrenback,  mustered  out  Jan.  9,  '65,  as 

sergeant. 
William  Miller,  mustered  out  Jan.  9,  '65. 


Jeremiah  Sullivan,  deserted  .Tan.  15,  '62. 
David  S.  Welch,  died  Feb.  18,  '62  ;  wounds. 

MuJiicians. 
George  Beale,  vet. 
Wm.  Station,  tr.  by  pr.  to  2d  W.  Tenn.  Inf.  Dec.  29, '63. 

Wagoner. 
William  Martin,  promoted  adjutant. 

Privates. 
Aicardy,  Francis,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,-'65. 

Beuvill,  John,        "  "  ' 

Borgeno,  Joseph,  "  "     Mar.  11  " 

Carroll,  James  diopped  from  the  rolls,  Oct.  31,  '64. 
Coursair,  Victor,  deserted  Feb.  1,  '62. 
Decoursey,  Felix,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 
Fitzsimmons,  Robert,  "  '■    Jan.  9,  '&\ 

Geisman,  Jacob,  vet ,         "  "    Sept.  9,  '65. 

Gallagher,  John,  deserted  Feb.  4,  '62. 
Gray,  William,  mustered  out  Jime  29.  '6-5. 
Hatfield,  John,  died  accidental  wounds  Feb   2.  '64. 
Hanson,  Shakelton,  discharged  July  1,  '62;  wounds. 
Hopson,   Michael,   vet.,  wounded   and   captured   at 

Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  Ap.,  '65,  not  heard  from  since. 
Herbert,  John,  vet.,  absent;  sick  since  Ap.  1.,  '65. 
Kellv,  John,  trans,  to  co.  "I"  29(h  III.  Infty.  May 

8, ''62. 
Krieg.  George,  deserted  Oct.  31,  '62. 
Lemon,  John,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 
Moore,  James,  descried  Oct.  31,  '62. 
Meiers,  Daniel,  mustered  out  Jan.  9,  '65. 
McKeoun,  Dennis,  transferred  to  Mulligan's  Brig. 
McKeoun,  Barney,  transferred  to  Mulligan's  Biig. 
Perry,  John,  deserted  Feb.  4,  '62. 
Pensoneau,  Julius,  vet.,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 
Kheinhardt,  John,  vet,  mustered  out  Sept.  9,  '65. 
Sowman,  Thomas,  vet.,  promoted  com.  sergt. 
Selig,  August,  vet.,  mus.  out  Sept.  9,  '65,  as  corporal. 
Trambly.  Amable,  mustered  out  Mar.  II,  '65. 
Van  Valkenburg,  Ab'm.,  trans,  to  Mulligan's  Brig. 
Wren,  Thomas,  discharged  Ap.  8,  '63;  disability. 
Recruits. 

Ba.scus,  George,  surrendered  to  9th  111.  Civ. ;  desert- 
ed July  3,  '63. 

Carr,  Samuel,  died  at  Bethel,  Tenn.,  Oct.  30,  '63. 

Gier,  Peter,  discharged  Jan.  21,  '62 ;  disability. 

Harrison,  Bansom  C.,  musteied  out  July  1,  'w. 

Holmes,  Nathaniel  T.,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

Kalmel,  Alexander,  killed  at  Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  Ap. 
9.  '64. 

Miller,  John,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

Newberry,  James  T.,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

Newberry,  John  N.,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

Rucker,  Peter,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. ;  dis.  Ap.  10,  '65  ; 
disability. 

Robertson,  Charles  W.,  discharged  by  reason  of  for- 
mer discharge  not  allowing  him  to  re  enlist. 

Tate,  George  J.,  died  at  Bethel,  Tenn.,  Dec.  19,  '62. 

Woods,  Peter  E.,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  H." 
Recruits. 
Krimmel,  George,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 
Looke,  Gerhard  John,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY    "  I." 
Recruits. 
Alexander,  John,  mustered  out  July  1,  '65. 

UNASSIGNED    RECRUITS. 
Brehna,  Charles  D.  T. 
Clark,  John  W. 
Ehleud,  Charles, 
Grieshaber,  Henry. 
Hober,  Henry. 
Roser,  George. 
Roedinger,  John. 

FIFTIETH   INFANTRY. 

{Three  years'  service). 

This  regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  was  or- 
ganized at  Quincy,  Illinois,  in  August,  1861, 
by  Col.  Moses  M.  Bane,  and  mustered  into 
United  States  service,  Sept.  12th,  1861,  by 
Capt.  T.  G.  Pitcher,  U.  S.  A. 

October    9th,   moved   to  Hannibal,  Mo. ; 


HISTORY  OF  SI.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


143 


19th,  to  Chillicothe ;  Nov.-  27th,  to  St.  Joseph, 
reporting  to  Col.  R.  F.  Smith,  commanding 
post      December  19th,  to  Palmyra;  24th,  to 
St.  Joseph.     January   21st,  1862,  ordered  to 
Cairo,   Illinois,    thence   to    Smithland,   Ken- 
tucky,  where  the  regiment  reported  to  Col 
Lauman,  Jan.  28th.     February  6th,  marched 
into  Fort  Henry ;  12th  ult.,  forming  a  part  of 
Col.  John  Cook's   Third  Brigad>-,  of  the  Se- 
cond Division,  marched  against  Fort  Donel 
son.     February  13th,  14th  and  15th,  took  au 
active  part  at  Fort  Donelson.     23d,  occ!Ui)ied 
Clarksville,  Tenn.,  and  on  the  28th,  arrived 
at  Nashville.     Remained  on  board  the  boat, 
and  returned  to  Clarksville  March  1st.     On 
the  25th,  was  ordered  to  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Engaged  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6th 
and  7th  ;  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  May,  186-', 
and  June  4th,  under  Maj   Gen.  John  Pope, 
pursued  the  enemy  as   far  as  Boonville,  Mis- 
sissippi.    Returned   to   camp    near   Corinth, 
June  10th.    October  3d,  moved  against  the 
enemy,  who  were  approaching   under  Price, 
Van  Dorn  and  Villipigue.     Engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Corinth  on  the  5th,  and  pursued  the 
ennmy  to  Ruckersville,  Mississippi,  and    re- 
turned to  Corinth  on  the  12th  ult. 

Dec.  18th,  scouted  to  Lexington,  Tenn 
April  15th,  1863,  moved  toward  Tuscumbia 
Ala.  Skirmished  at  Bear  creek,  17th  ;  also, 
at  Cherokee,  and  at  Newsome's  Farm.  24th, 
camped  at  Tuscumbia.  Engaged  the  enemy 
under  Gen.  Forrest,  at  Town  Creek,  on  the 
28th,  and  on  the  following  day  the  regiment 
returned  to  Tuscumbia,  and,  on  the  3d  of 
May  arrived  at  Corinth. 

October  llth.  General  Dodge,  commanding 
left  wing,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  ordered  the 
Brigade,  Col.  Bane  commanding,  to  Lagrange, 
Tenn.  17th,  returned  to  Corinth.  Nov.  6th, 
moved  to  Eastport,  and  crossed  the  Tennessee 
river  at  midnight.  Passed  through  Waterloo, 
Lauderdale,  Lexington,  Pulaski,  and  camped 
at  Lynnville.  By  order  of  Maj.  Gen.  Dodge, 
the  regiineiit  was  mounted,  November  17th. 
January  1st,  1864,  three-fourths  of  the  men 
of  the  regiment  re-enlisted,  and  were  mustered 
January  16th,  and  started  for  Illinoi-i,  for 
veteran  furlough. 

Moved  from  Quiacy,  Feb.  28th,  and  March 
5th,  arrived  at  Lyilnville;  13th,  ordered  to 
Athens,  Alabama;  15th,  to  Decatur  June 
tion ;  22d,  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  to  De- 
catur, and  on  the  27th,  re-crossed  to  Decatur 
Junction  ;  31st,  moved  to  Moorsville. 

April  12th,  moved  to  Athen.s,  Ala.;  30th, 
to  Chattanooga  via  Larkinsville. 

May  5th,  marched  to  Chickamauga  creek ; 
camped  near  Lee  at  Gordon's  Mills,  and  in 
Snake  Creek  Gap.  9th,  moved  to  Resaca, 
and  returned;  14th,  to  Calhoun  Ferry  ;  15th, 
to  Lay's  Ferry,  and  crossed  Oostanaula  river. 


17th,  met  ihe  enemy  at  a  cross-roads,  near  the 
river,  and,  alter  some  fighting,  drove  him  from 
the  field — the  regiment  losing  one  man  killed 
and  seven  wounded.  On  tlic  I9tli,  arrived 
at  Kingston,  and  on  the  22d  at  Rome. 

June  20th,  Col.  Bane  having  resigned.  Brig. 
Gen.  William  Vandever  took  command  of  the 
Brigade.  July  8d,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  from  the  Brigade,  and  one  hundred  of 
First  Alabama  Cavalry,  made  an  expedition 
to  Cedar  Town,  Maj.  Hauna,  of  the  Fiftieth, 
commanding,  and  returned,  and  (in  the  6th,  t  • 
Cave  Springs,  and  returned, — both  times  cap- 
turing prisoners  and  horses. 

In  August,  Col.  Rowett,  of  the  Seventh  Il- 
linois Infantry,  took  command  of  the  Brigade. 
September  27th,  the  Second  Division,  Left 
Wing,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  Brig.  Gen 
John  M  Corse  commanding,  was  transferred 
to  Fourth  Division,  Fifteenth  Arn)y  Corps; 
29th,  the  non-veterans  of  the  regiment  were 
started  home,  for  muster-out. 

At  midnight,  October  4th,  arrived  by  rail 
at  AUatoona,  and  at  daylight  skirmishing 
commenced,  and  by  10  o'clock  the  whole  force 
was  fiercely  engaged  with  Hood's  army.  The 
enemy  was  repulsed.  The  regiment  lost  87 
killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Lieut.  Col. 
Hanna,  and  Assistant-Surgeon  A.  G  Pickttt 
were  wounded. 

October  13th,  Lieut.  Col  Hurllut,  c<  m- 
manding  Brigade,  and  Capt.  Home,  command- 
ing regiment ;  it  moved  out  on  Cave  Spring 
road,  and  met  the  enemy  six  miles  out,  with 
two  pieces  of  Artillery.  It  drove  them  four 
miles,  and  returned  to  Rome. 

November  lOlh,  1864,  moved  toward  At- 
lanta, and  left  on  the  15th;  20th,  crossed  the 
Ocmulgee;  26th,  crossed  the  Oconee,  at  Ball's 
Ferry. 

December  7th,  crossed  the  Ogeechee,  at 
Mt.  Vernon  road,  and  on  the  10th,  met  the 
enemy  at  Little  Ogeechee.  ]  6th,  foraged  to 
Mcintosh,  30  miles  from  Savannah,  and  on 
the  21st  entered  that  place. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  winter  it 
made  numerous  marches,  but  did  not  engage 
the  enemy  until  March  20th  and  21st,  at 
Bentonville,  when  it  lost  2  killed  and  14 
woiiidsl. 

April  10th,  Col.  Hanna  commanding  Bri- 
gade, moved  to  Raleigh.  On  the  14th,  re- 
viewed by  Gen.  Sherman,  as  it  marched 
through  Raleigh.  April  29th,  1865,  moved 
northward,  via  Petersburg,  Manchester  and 
Richmond,  and  camped  at  Alexandria  20th 
May.  May  24th,  parti cijiated  in  the  grand 
Review  at  .Washington,  and  camped  near 
Soldiers'  Home. 

June  3d,  moved,  via  Parkersburg,  Va.,  to 
Louisville,  Ky ,  arriving  on  the  8th.  July 
3d,  in  the  prize  drill  between  Sixty-third  Illi- 


nois,  Seventh    Iowa   Infantry   and    Fiftieth 
Illinois,  the  regiment  won  the  prize  banner. 

July  13th,  mustered  out  of  United  States 
service  by  Capt.  W.  B.  Guthrie,  Eighty-first 
Ohio  Volunteers  and  A.  C.  M.  Arrived  at 
Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  July  14th,  186-5,  for 
final  payment  and  discharge. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY    "A." 

Privates. 

Fisher,  Jacob,  died  at  St.  Louis,  May  27,  '62 ;  wounds. 

FJFTY-FOURTH    INFANTRY    KKGIMENT. 

( Tlirte   Years'  Service  ) 
Colonel. 
Nalliauiel  >'iles,  resigned,  February  7,  1802. 

FIFTY-NINTH   INFANTRY   REGIMENT. 

{Three   Yearn'  Service.) 

Major. 
James  M.  Stookey,  mns;ered  out,  Decembers,  186.5. 

Quartermaster. 
Simon  J.  Stooki'y,  muKtt-rjd  out,  December  8,  186.5. 

M0STEB   BOLL,   COMPANY    "  E." 
Captain. 

.James  M.  f^tookey,  promoted  major. 

Jamis  H.  Knight,  rtsigned  for  good  of  service,  June 

19,  186.5. 
Charks  Wagner,  mus'ercd  out,  Decembtr  8,  1865. 

l^i'st  Lieutenant. 
Josiah  W.  Beaber,  under  arrest. 

Second  Lieiitemrnt. 
Ausby  F.  Whitchurch,  must,  out  (as  srrgt.,)  Dec.  8,  '65. 

First  Sergeant. 

Joseph  B.  Goolner,  Irjns    to  "  Co.  "A.,"  31  Illinois 

Cavalry,  March  18,  1862 

Sergeants. 

GpoTue  Hill,  Died  St.  Clair  Co.,  September,  1862 

William  Eibriiig,  mustered  out,  September  17,  1864. 

Corporals. 
Isiac  N.  Hickman,  transferred  to  Miss  Marine  Bri- 
gade, as  private,  Februiry  11,  1863. 
August  Miller,  veteran,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8,  1865. 
Simeon  C.  PVee,  ser^t.,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C,  Sept.  1,  '63. 
Absalom  P.  Free,  vet ,  wounded,  discharged.  May  18, 

1865  ;  disability. 
George  N.  Fogel,  vet.,  "must'd  out,  Dec.  8,  '65  ;  as  serg't. 

musicians. 

Edward  E.  Ellis,  died  at  Belleville,  111.,  Feb.  16, '62. 

P.  mates. 

Aneckle,  George,  veteran. 

Bruck  William,  veteran,  absent  sick  at  M.  O.  of  regt. 
Green,  John,  v.  teran,  died  June  26,  1864 ;  wounds.  _ 
Henry,  Frederick,  veteran,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8,65. 
Ilaase,  Heniy,  ve  eran,  mu.stered  out,  Dec.  8,  186.5. 
Hinkle,  Albert,  died  at  home,  February  22,  1862. 
Keen,  Andrew,  deserted,  August  20,  1861.        '  " 
Keililer,  Charles,  veteran,  raii-tered  out,  Dec.  8, 1865. 
McGunn,  Edward,  mu-tered  out.  September  17, 1864. 
Miller,  Charles,  veteran,  nuistered  out,  Dec.  8, 1865, 

as  sergesnt ;  wounded. 
Quick,  Henry  S.,  must'd  out,  Dec.  8,  1865 ;  veteran. 
Rutherford,  Robert,  must'd  out.  Dec.  8,  '65;  veteran. 
Rumback,  Charles,  must'd  out,  Dec.  8,   65  ;  veteran. 
Shult,  John,  absent  at  muster  out  of  regiment. 
Smith,  Nichols,  veter'n,  corporal,  desert' d  June  1 6, '65. 
Woods  Jame.1  H.,  veteran,  must'd  out,  Dec.  8, 1865. 
Zeigle,  Martin,  discharged,  Jan.  31,  1863  ;  disability. 

Veterans. 
Allen,  Chejiey,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 
Bostwick,  Williatn. 

Cox,Francis  M.,  kill'd  at  Nashville,  Tain.,  Dac.16,'64. 
(iurlash,  George  W.,  deserted,  June  16,  1865. 
Harder,  Peter,  sir^eant,  killed  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 

December  16,  1864. 
Horton,  John,  absei.t  sick  at  muster  out  o(  regiment. 
Keober,  George,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8,  '65  ;  as  serg't. 
Kelley,  Henry,  kill'd  at  Rough  Siat'n.Ga.,  July  4,  64. 
Killin,  Andrew,  mustered  out,  December 8, 1865. 
Mason,  Napoleon  L.,  mu^tered  out,  December  8, 1865. 


144 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


McCurdy,  Joel  F.,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 
Moyer,  William  H.,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8,  1865, a.s  cor- 
poral ;  wounded. 
Nolen,  Noah,  deiertcd,  June  2t,  1865. 
Oldendorph,  Frederick,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8, 1865. 
Ponell,  Hiram  P.,  mustered  out,  December  8, 1865. 
Skinner,  Francis,  mustered  out,  Decemb.  r  8,  1865, 
Seemour,  (ieorge,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 
Tate,  Aaron,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 
Whitchurch,  Ausby  F.,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8, 1865,  as 

1st  sergeant,  com.  2d  lieut.,  but  not  mustered. 
Woods,  James  A.,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 
Woods,  James  P.,  mustered  out,  December  8, 1865. 
Wilson,  George,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 
Whalen,  Peter,  promoted  principal  musician. 

Young,  Adam,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 

Zimmerman,  Frederick,  must'd  out,  December  8,  '65. 
Reeruits, 

Alexanler,  Eobert,  transf'd  to  V.K.  C,  Jan.  5,  1865. 

Anheiser,  Jacob,  discharged,  Nov.  11, '64;  disaldlity. 

Breaderman,  Hubert,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8,  1865. 

Bowen,  George  W.,  discharged.  May  18,  '05 ;  wounds. 

G)x,  Charles  L.,  veteran. 

(Jox,  Joseph  A.,  vtteran. 

Dingleraan,  Valentine.  .  j 

Dixon,  Thos.  E.,  died  at  Olterville,  Mo.,  Jan.  21. '62. 

Eul,  John,  mustered  out,  December  8,  18K5. 

Kdwards,  John,  died  at  home,  January  20,  1862. 

Ebel,  Henry,  dropped  as  deserter,  March  81,  1865. 

Ferrell,  William,  mustered  out,  September  17,  1864. 

Fishhowen,  John  W.,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8,  1865. 

Friedlaniier,  William  B.,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8,  1865. 

Gross,  Wm,  dieil  at  Jeftersonville,  Ind.,  Jan.  20, 186c. 

Gurlash,  William,  deserted,  June  19,  1865. 

Hill,  John  H,  mustered  out   D^'cember  8,  1865. 

Hines,  Minund  drowned  inTenn.  river  Aug.  19,  '62. 

Hughes,  Joseph,  died  at  Chattanooga,  Nov.  11,  1864. 

Jackson,  Carroll,  discharged.  May  18,  1865 ;  wounds. 

Janse,  Joseph  J.,  deserted,  March  15,  1864. 

Jackson,  Fran  M.,  killed  at  Perrvville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8, 62. 

Jackson,  Obediah,  veteran,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8.  '65. 

Killian,  Charles,  mustir^d  out,  Dicember  8,  1865. 

Keisir,  Ferdinand,  mustered  out,  December  8.  1865. 

Little,  Henry,  mustered  out,  Decenber  8,  1865, 

]iaey    Andrew  B  ,  died  of  wounds.  December  23,   64. 

M>iyir,  Kenjamin,  mu  tered  out,  December  8,  1865. 

Middlecoff,  James  A.,  mnst^'red  out,  December  8, '65. 

Miller,  Elijah  A.,  mustered  out,  Deomber  8,  1865. 

Manning.  Uir.im  D.,  mustered  out,  December  8.   65. 

Martin,  Thos.  J.,  died  at  Oiterville,  Mo.,  Jan.  5  '62. 

Miller,  Jo  epli,  died,  Januarv  5,  1865  ;  wounds. 

Nimericke,  Kobert,  mustered  out,  December  8    1865. 

O'Connel,  Jos.  or  John,  de-ierieil,  March  15,  1864. 

Quick,  Martin  V-  B.,  mustered  out,  Dec.  8, 1865. 

Kobinon,  ('has.  W.,  diseharj^d,  April,  '62;  disability. 

Eumle.v,  Hairiron,  mustered  out,  December  8,  186'\ 

(Sneider,  George,  musiered  out,  December  8,  1865 

Smith,  Kobert,  died  at  Cliatlanooga,  April  15,  1864. 

Shuttles,  Nicliola.s,  died,  June  8,  1864;  wounds. 

West,  Henry,  mustered  our,  December  8,  1865. 

Wa<sam,  Valentine,  must'd  out,  Dec.  8.  '65  ;  as  eorp'l. 

Worlds,  John  L.,  mustered  out,  December  5,  1864. 

Wilson,  George,  deserted,  Mareli  15,  1864. 

MUSTEK  ROLL,   COMPANY   "  I." 

Veterans. 
Adams,  John  B..  trans,  to  V.  R.  C,  January  16,  '65. 
Cleaver-,  Wm.,  Se'g't,  absent  sick  at  muster  out  of  reg't 
l.oek,  John  L.,  died,  January  31,  1865  j  wounds. 
O  Neil,  Jo-eph,  mus'ered  out,  Deo.  8,  '65 ;  a«  serg't. 
Perry,  AUmzn,  HerKe:ini,  de-'Crted,  March  16,  1864. 
Varble.  John,  diseried,  October  9,  1865. 
Walton,  George,  mustered  out,  December  8,  1865. 

SIXTIETH  INFANTRY  REGIMENT. 

(  Three  Fear-i'  Service. ) 

MOSTER  BOLt  COMPANY  "G.' 

J'rivates. 
Adkins,  James  H. 
Knifife,  Joseph  V. 

JirtTER  EOLL  COMPANY  "F." 

Veteran. 
Maewell,  Simpson,  died  Jan.  15,   1865  ;  at  home. 

SIXTY-SECOND  INFANTRY  REGIMENT. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 

MTTSTER  ROLl  COMPANY  "  C." 
Drafted  and  Substitute  Recruits. 
Ri(,msey,  'ames  W.,  transferred  to  Co.  "C"  as  con- 
solidated ;  mustered  out  Feb.  18,  1866. 


SIXTY-THIRD  INFANTRY  REGIMENT. 

{Three  Yen rs'  Service.) 
Major 
Joseph  K.  Lemen  ;  mustered  out  April  9,  1865. 

SEVENTY-THIRD  INFANTRY  REGIMENT. 

(  Three  Years'  Sfrvice.) 

MUSTER    ROLL    COMPANY    "  G." 

Corporals. 
Patrick  Sweeney  ;  mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 

Privates. 
McDonald,  Robert  B. ;  deserted  Sept.  3,  1862. 
McMahon,  Patrick;  died  Nov.  28,  1863;  wounds. 

By  an  examination  of  the  above  register,  it  will  be 
seen  that  St.  Clair  county  had  »  few  representatives 
in  the  60th,  62d,  63d,  and  73d  regiments. 

EIGHTIETH    INPANTKY, 

(  Three  years'  service) 
Was  organized  in  August,  1862,  at  Centralia, 
Illinois,  by  Col.  T.  G.  Allen,  and  mustered 
intothe  United  States  service  on  the  25th  of 
the  same  month,  for  three  years.  Ordered  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  September  4th  following,  and 
became  a  part  of  the  Thirty-third  Brigade 
under  Gen.  Terrell.  Assigned  to  the  Tenth 
Division,  Gen.  Jackson  commanding,  and  in 
Gen.  McCook's  Corps.  On  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber, under  Gen.  Buell,  marched  in  pursuit  of 
Bragg  First  engaged  the  enemy  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Perry  ville,  October  8th,  losing  14  killed, 
and  58  wounded,  including  Lieut.  Von  Kem- 
mel  killed,  Lieut.  Andrews  mortally  wounded, 
and  Lieut.  Col.  Rodgers,  and  Lieut.  Pace  se- 
verely wounded.  Gens.  Terrell  and  Jackson 
were  also  killed.  December  26th  started  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy  under  John  Morgan. 
Jan.  2d,  1863,  discontinued  the  pursuit.  On 
the  10th  of  the  same  month  was  assigned  to 
the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  Gen.  J.  J.  Rey- 
nolds' Division. 

March  20th  the  Brigade  of  1500  men,  and 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  while  on  a  scout,  were 
attacked  by  John  Morgan  and  5000  of  the 
enemy ;  but  they  were  repulsed,  with  heavy 
loss.  About  the  middle  of  April  the  regiment 
was  mounted,  and  soon  after,  while  scouting, 
met  and  repulsed  the  enemy  at  Dug's  Gap, 
and  Sand  Mountain,  at  the  latter  place  cap- 
turing a  battery  of  two  guns  ;  loss,  2  killed, 
and  16  wounded.  At  Blunt's  farm.  May  2d, 
again  defeated  the  enemy,  and  May  3d  was 
surrendered  to  a  vastly  superior  force  under 
Gen.  Forrest,  who,  contrary  to  stipulation, 
stole  its  blankets,  watches,  and  money.  The 
regiment  was  taken  to  Rome,  and  paroled  and 
sent  to  Atlanta.  From  the  latter  place  the 
officers  were  sent  to  Libby  Prison.  The  en- 
listed men  were  forwarded  to  Richmond, 
arriving  May  13th,  thence  to  City  Point,  and 
Annapolis,  and  on  the  19th  moved  to  Camp 
Chase,  Ohio;  June  23d,  was  declared  ex- 
changed, and  moved  to  St.  Louis.  On  the 
29th  started  for  Nashville,  Tennessee,  with 
Lieut.  Herman  Sttinecke  in  command  of  the 
regiment. 


Sept.  8th,  moved  to  Stevenson,  Alabama, 
Capt  Cunningham  in  command.  On  the  23d 
reported  to  Gen.  Howard,  commanding  Elev- 
enth Army  Corps.  Was  assigned  to  Third 
Brigade,  commanded  by  Col.  Hecker,  (the 
same  was  a  part  of  the  Third  Division,  under 
Gen  Schurz).  Nov.  24  and  25,  did  good 
service  in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge.  May 
3d,  1864,  commenced  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
and  formed  a  part  of  the  grand  army  under 
Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  sea.  Participa- 
ted in  the  battles  of  Dalton,  Resaca,  Adairs- 
ville,  Cassville,  Dallas,  Pine  Mountain,  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  Marietta,  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  and  Lovejoy  Station. 
During  the  campaign  the  regiment  captured 
150  prisoners,  and  lost  25  killed,  and  60 
wounded  Marched  October  3d  in  pursuit  of 
Hood,  and  December  15  and  16  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Nashville  ;  this  was  the  last  en- 
gagement of  any  consequence  in  which  the 
regiment  participated.  The  Eightieth  traveled 
over  6,000  miles,  and  engaged  the  enemy  in 
over  twenty  battles.  On  the  10th  of  June, 
1865  was  mustered  out  of  service,  aud  pro- 
ceeded to  Camp  Butler,  111.,  for  final  pay  and 
discharge. 

MUSTER  EOLL  COMPANY  "  C." 

First  Lieutenants. 
Herman  Sleinecke,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 
Frederick  Seitz,  mustered  out  (as  sergeant)  June  10, 
1865. 

Sergeants. 
Fryar  Jciblin,  commissioned  2d  lieut.  but  not  mustered ; 

wounded  ;  mustered  out  June  10,  1865. 
John   W.   Beckmann,  reduced  to   ranks  at  his  own 
request.     Discharged. 

Corporals. 
Joseph  Shurte,  transferrel  to  V.  R.  C.  Sept.  1,  1863. 
Friedrich  Siitz,  mustered  out  Juoe  10,  18j5,  as  sergt. 
Gustave  Wegener,  traasferrel  to  V.  B.  C.  Sept.,  186J. 

3Iusicians. 
Stephen  Metzger,  deserted  June  9,  1863. 
Louis  Steiner,  deserted  June  9,  1863. 

Privates. 

Baner,  John,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  Aug.  31,  1834. 

Benner,  Jacob,  deserted  June  9,  1863. 

Blair,  K.  P.,  desertel  Sept.  8,  1862. 

Crosselt,  Theodore,  deserted  Oct.  3,  1862. 

Drauesky,  Anton,  killed  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  Nov.  23, 
1865. 

Glod,  Nicolaus,  mustered  out  June  10,  1865. 

Graif,  John  H.,  mustered  out  June  10,  1865. 

Haberstrich,  Henry,  tran  ferred  to  V.  K.  C.  Sept.  1, 
1863. 

Helmenbold,  Gustav  A.,  deserted  June  9,  1868. 

Hoff,  Chriit.,  deseitad  June  9,  1863. 

Hotters,'  Charles,  mustered  out  June  10,  1865. 

Jacoby,  Charles,  mustered  out  Jun-  10,  1865. 

Jerter,  Jacob,  dischirged  Aug.  31,  1864;  di-ability. 

Railing,  Joseph,  died  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  Nov.  18, 
1862 ;  wounds. 

Keilbrooh,  Albert,  discharged  Marc'i  8,  1863 ;  disa- 
bility. 

Leuiweyler,  Johann  R.,  musterei  out  June  10,  1865. 

Laternicht,  John,  mustered  out  Jun  ;  10,  1865. 

O'Neal,  John,  muster,  d  out  June  10,  1865. 

Peter,  August,  deserted  June  9,  1863. 

Schuh,  Anton,  mustered  out  June  10,  1865. 

Seitz,  Nicholaus,  mustered  out  June  10,  1865. 

Smidt,  Mathews,  transferred  to  V.  B.  C.  May  1,  1864. 

Tronjo,  John,  mustered  out  June  10,  1865. 

Twellmann,  .John,  deserted  Juu3  9,  1863. 

Weidmann,  Frederieh,  deser  ed  June  9,  1863. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


145 


EIGHTY-SECOND   INFANTRY. 

(Three  years'  service'). 
This  regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  was  or- 
ganized at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  September, 
1862,  by  Col.  Frederic  Hecker,  and  was  mus- 
tered in  October,  23d,  1862. 

Reported  at  Washington  City,  Nov.  3d,  at 
Arlington  Heights,  November  9th,  and  was 
asssigned  to  Sigel's  Division,  Array  of  Poto- 
mac, Gen.  Burnsidea  commanding  Marched 
to  Fairfax  Court  House,  Nov  19th;  to  Staf- 
ford Court  House,  Dec.  11th ;  and  was  at- 
tached to  First  Brigade,  Col.  Schimmelfen- 
nig;  Third  Division,  Gen.  Shurz  ;  Eleventh 
Array  Corps,  Gen.  Stahl.  The  regiraent  par- 
ticipated in  Gen.  Burnside's  second  movement 
against  Fredericksburg,  Jan.  20th,  1863. 

January  25th,  1863,  Gen.  Burnside  was  re- 
lieved by  Gen.  Hooker,  and  the  Eighty-second 
moved  to  Stafford  Court  House,  February  6th. 
April  1st,  Gen.  Howard  took  command  of  the 
Eleventh  Corps ;  crossed  the  Rappahannock 
and  Rapidan,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  May  2d,  1863,  losing  one 
hundred  and  fifty-five  killed,  wounded  and 
missing. 

June  12th,  moved  from  camp  on  the  cam- 
paign which  ended  in  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, July  1st,  2d  and  3d,  1863.  The  regi- 
ment was  in  the  hotest  part  of  this  battle,  and 
fought  vigorously,  sustainiog  a  loss  of  one 
hundred  and  twelve  killed,  wounded  and 
missing. 

Followed  the  enemy  back  to  Virginia,  and 
after  a  nearly  uninterrupted  march  of  two 
months,  encamped  at  Walnut  Branch  church, 
near  Catlett's  station,  August  19th,  1863 
Gen.  Tyndale  took  coramand  of  the  Brigade 
July  13th. 

September  25th,  1863,  marched  to  Manassas 
Junction,  and  thence  by  rail,  for  Department 
of  the  Cumberland,  arriving  at  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  Oct.  1st,  1863.  Col.  Heuker,  at  this  time 
commanded  the  Brigade,  and  Lieut  Col.  Solo- 
man  the  regiment.  'J'he  regiment  was  trans- 
ferred, Oct.  19th,  to  the  Third  Brigadf",  and 
Col.  Hecker  assigned  to  command  of  Brigade. 
Moved  to  Russel's  Gap,  Oct.  19th,  and  occu- 
pied and  defended  it  during  the  fight,  in  which 
Gen.  Hooker  obtained  possession  of  a  line  of 
hills  near  Lookout  Mountain,  Oct.  28th,  1863. 
Mustered  out  June  9th,  1865,  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  arrived  at  Chicago  June  16th, 
1865,  where  it  received  final  payment  and 
discharge. 

STAFF. 
Colonel. 
Frederic  Hecker,  resigned  March  21,  '64. 

■    Adjutant. 
Eugene  F.  Weigel,  promoted  Captain  Co.  F. 

Quartermaster. 
Hermann  Panse,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
19 


Surgeon, 
Charles  E  Boeruer. 

Chaplain. 

Emanuel  Julius  Reichhelm,  resigned  June  13,  '64. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "  F." 
Captain. 
Eugene  F.  Weigel,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Frederick  Thomas,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 

Second  lAeutenant. 
Lorenz  Spoenemann,  died  May  3,  '63. 

Corporals. 
Anton  Schmidt,  discharged  Nov.  22,  '62;  disability. 
John  Dahlen,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65.  as  Serganl. 
Nicolaus  Klein,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 

Musicians. 
John  Friedrich,  must'dout  Junel7,'65;  was  prisoner. 
Frederick  Vogler,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 

Wagoner. 
Joseph  Vogler,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 


Ackerman,  Paul,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Auer,  Frederick,  discharged  Apr.  12, '63;  disability. 
Anerswald,  George,  discharged  Apr.  1,'63;  disability. 
Berger,  Joseph,  trans,  to  V.  E.  C.  Dec  12,  '63. 
Brantigam,  Frederick, disch'd  Apr.  16,  '63;  disability. 
Breindel,  Louis,  trans,  to  V.  B.  C.  Jan.  10,  '64 
Deiherle,  Frederick,_rnust'd  out  June  9,  '65  asCorp'l. 
Eplinger,  Louis,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Ewe,  Henry,  discharged  July  25,  '63 ;  disability. 
Fisher,  Christopher,  discharged  Mav  31,  '65. 
Friedrich.  Ludwig,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Apr.  30,  '64. 
Hoecker,  Belthaser,  killed  at   Chancellorville,  Va  , 

May  2,  '63. 
Hoenig.  John,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Lauer,  Henry,  discharged  March  2,  '63;  disability. 
Molles,  Ambrosius,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Mueller,  John,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Mueller,  Andrew,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Newmann,  Jacob,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  April  13,  '64. 
Rappennecker,  Matthias,  died  Oct.  16,  '62. 
Riegel,  Valentine,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Schrempp,  Joseph,  absent  sick,  at  raust'g  out  of  Regt. 
Wachta,  John,  mustered  out  June  9.  '65  as  Corporal. 
Wack,  Anton,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65  as  Sergeant. 
Wild,  George,  must'd  out  June  9,  '65  prisoner  of  war. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "  G." 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Conrad  Schonler,  died  May  2,  '63 

Frederick  Schlenk,  must'd  out  (as  Sergt.)  June  9,  '65. 

Corporals. 
Wm.  Illig,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65,  as  Sergeant. 
Frederick  Winterick,  deserted  Nov  3,  '62. 


Berg,  John,  deserted  Nov.  3,  '62;  M.  O.  June  9,  '65. 
Broeschel,  Jacob,  absent  sick  at  raust'g  out  of  Regt. 
Beck.  Joseph  A.,  wounded  July  20,  '64. 
Benter.Tobias.killed  at  Chancellorville  Va.,May  J,'63. 
Betz,  Michael,  discharged  Oct  25,  '63;  disability. 
Herman,  John  L.,  absent  sick  at  must'g  out  ot  Regt. 
Hurhke,  Herman,  discharged  July  7,  '64;  disability. 
Krseraer,  David,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Kaffenberger,  Adam,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Kelling,  Krederick,disharged  May  29, '63;  disability. 
Kunze,  Otto,  mustered  out  Julv  15,  '65. 
Kapebaum,  William,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Kuhn,  Benedict,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Koeneman,  Henry,  absent slik  at  raust'g  out  of  Regt. 
Lorenz,  Herman,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Muhlback,  Andrew,  discharged  Deo.  '62 ;  disability. 
Mueller,  Henry  E.,  mustered  out,  June  9,  '65. 
Mueller,  John,  died  at  Atlanta  Ga.,  Oct.  1,  '64. 
Nevi,  Joseph,  trans  to  Invalid  Corps  Oct.  6,  '63. 
Rope,  John  D.,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Reip,  George,  absent  sick  at  mustering  out  of  Regt. 
Trice,  Henry,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Toggenberger,  John,  muslered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Viehauser,  John,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  April  22,  '64. 
Wielbecker,  John,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C  April  22,  '64. 
Wienhardt,  Mihal,  disch'd  Sept.  10,  '62;  disabihty. 
Wipe,  William,  discharged  Oct.  29,  '62;  disability. 
Wuesh,  Charles  A.,  must'd  out  June  '65  as  Corporal. 


MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "  K." 

Corporals. 
Philip  Kuntz,  prisoner  of  war  at  must'g  out  of  Regt. 
Carl  Lillerswab,  must'd  ont  June  9,  '65 ;  pris.  of  war. 

Musician. 
Frank  Conner,  deserted  June  30,  '63. 

Prirates. 
Herres,  Jacob  M„  must'd  out  June  9, '65. 
Uandsch,  Albert,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Knoppel,  Albert,  died  July  11,  '63;  wounds. 
Slolberg,  George,  mustered  out  June  9,  '65. 
Schollkopp,  Louis,  mustered  out  June  9.  '65. 
Sandridge,  William,  deserted  Oct.  25,  '62. 
Senne,  Ernst,  Ir.  to  Co.G.Oct.24,'62;  des'd  Apr.17,'64. 
Wilman,  Henry, must'd  out  June  9,'65;  Sergt. wounded. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

{Three  years'  service.) 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Regi- 
ment Illinois  Volunteers  was  organized  at 
Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  in  September,  1862,  by 
Col.  Risdon  M.  Moore,  and  was  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  Sept.  19,  by  Captain 
Washington.  Nearly  all  of  the  members  of 
Companies  C,  E,  H,  I,  and  K  were  from  St. 
Clair  county.  It  left  Camp  Butler  Nov.  1 1, 
and  arrived  at  Memphis,  Teun.,  on  the  17th, 
where  it  remained  on  duty  until  July  5, 1863, 
and  was  then  sent  to  reinforce  Helena,  Ark., 
and  returned  Dec.  25th,  pursued  Forrest  in 
Western  Tennessee,  losing  three  men  killed  in 
a  skirmish  at  La  Fayette. 

With  the  Third  Brigade,  Third  Division, 
Sixth  Army  Corps,  it  moved  Dec.  29,  1863, 
to  Vicksburg ;  was  engaged  in  the  Meridian 
campaign ;  engaged  in  a  skirmish  Feb.  5, 
1&64,  losing  two  killed  and  five  wounded. 
March  4,  returned  to  Vicksburg,  and  on  the 
10th  embarked  for  Red  River  expedition. 
March  14,  1864,  assisted  ia  the  capture  of 
Fort  De  Russey;  April  9th  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Pleasant  Hill,  and  on  the  Uth  moved 
to  Grand  Ecore.  On  the  14th  was  sent  to  re- 
lief of  gunboats  and  transports  at  Catnpta, 
La.,  and  engaged  at  Cloutierville  and  Cane 
River,  at  Bayou  Rapids,  May  2d ;  at  Gover- 
nor Moore's  plantation  and  Bayou  Roberts, 
May  3d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  7th  and  11th.  Con- 
tinued return  march  to  the  Mississippi  river 
on  the  14th,  skirmishing  daily.  Was  at  the 
battle  of  Yellow  Bayou,  May  18,  and  reached 
the  Missis-sippi  on  the  20th,  and  Vicksburg  on 
the  27th.  Participated  in  driving  Marmaduke 
from  Chicot  Lake  and  Columbia,  Ark.,  and 
arrived  at  Memphis  June  10,  '64. 

June  14,  1864,  marched  to  the  relief  of 
Sturges,  and  on  the  28d  began  the  Tupelo 
campaign.  On  July  14th  was  engaged  at 
Tupelo,  and  at  Old  'Town  Creek  on  the  15th. 
Commenced  the  Oxford  campaign  August  5, 
and  on  the  18th  and  19th  was  engaged  at  Hur- 
ricane, returning  to  Memphis  on  the  30th. 
From  Memphis  the  regiment  went  to  Jeffer- 
son barracks,  arriving  September  19th  ;  was 
engaged  Oct.  1st  at  Franklin;  moved  via  Jef- 
ferson city,  Sedalia,  Lexington,  Independence 


146 


EI8T0RY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


and  Harrisonville,  and  returned  to  St.  Louis, 
Nov.  19. 

Moved  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  took 
position  in  the  works  Dec.  1st,  1864  ;  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Dec.  15  and 
1 6,  and  pursued  Hood,  reaching  Clifton  Jan. 
4th,  1865 ;  went  by  boat  from  Eastport  to 
New  Orleans,  arriving  Jan.  17th ;  embarked 
at  Chalinette,  March  7,  for  Dauphine  Island  ; 
thence  to  Fish  river  with  the  Sixteenth  Corps, 
Major  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  commanding.  En- 
gaged at  Spanish  Fort  from  March  27th  to 
April  2d,  and  at  Blakely  until  the  9th,  taking 
part  in  its  capture. 

April  13th,  marched  to  Montgomery,  and 
thence  to  Camp  Butler,  111 ,  where  the  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out,  August  5th,  1865,  by 
Capt.  James  A.  Hall,  United  States  Army. 

The  regiment,  in  its  three  years'  service, 
was  engaged  in  six  battles  and  thirty-three 
skirmishes,  marched  2,307  miles,  traveled  by 
water  6,191,  and  by  rail  778  miles. 

STAFF. 
Colonel. 
Risden  M.  Moore,  mustered  out,  August  5,  1865, 

Adjutant. 
Samuel  H.  Beneen,  resigned,  November  16,  1864. 
Jas.  F.  Krafft,  must'd  out,  (as  Q.  M.  Sergt)  Aug,  5,  '65, 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 
Sergeant  Major. 
Joseph  T.  Parker,  returned  to  company,  .Tan.  13, 1863. 
Jaines  F.  Krafft,  promoted  Adjutant. 

Quarter- Master  Sergeant, 
Monroe  J.  Miller,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Commissary  Sergeant, 
Edward  J.  Scott,  mustered  out,  August  5,  1865. 

Hospital  Steward. 
Emmet  C.  Hill,  disch'd  July  28,  1864,  to  join  U.  S.  A. 
John  W.  Tuttle,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Principal  Musician. 
Samuel  E.  Tuttle,  mustered  out,  August  5,  1865. 
MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  C." 
Captain. 
George  F.  Lowe. 
William  H.  Whitaker,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 

First    Lieutenant. 
William  Wallis,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865, 

Second  lAeutenant. 
Frank  M.  Bradley,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1805. 

Sergeants. 
Jesse  B.  Newman,  discharged,  Sept.  27,  1863. 
SamuelA.Kisley,  reduced  to  ranks,  Oct.  5,  'Ij2.  disch'd. 
Wesley  W.  Baglee,  mustered  out,  June  22,  1865. 

Corporals. 
Alf.  P.  Buckley,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  Sergt. 
William  A.  Thompson,  disch'd,  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  Sergt. 
Ezk'l  T.  Willoughby,  must'd  out,  Aug.  5,  '65,  as  Sergt. 
Pansa  A.  Thompson,  must'd  out,  Aug.  5,  '65,  as  Priv't. 
John  S.  Banns,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  Sergt. 
Enoch  R.  Blake,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
William  Wilson,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Hanson  Alkin,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Musicians. 
WiJIiam  H.  Ashley,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
John  Thompson,  discharged,  Oct.  22,  1863  ;  disability. 

Privates, 
Anderson,  William  R.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Avos,  Edmund,  mustered  out,  August  5,  1865. 
Burton,  James,  mustered  out,  August  5,  1865. 
Brant,  Jesse  N.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Brown,  William,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Bryan,  John  H.  discharged.  May  4,  1863 ;  disability. 


Beaver,  Wesley,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Bryan,  Samuel  G..,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Carney,  John,  deserted,  March  21,  1865. 
Clark,  Samuel  C,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Colville,  Benjamin  A.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Duncle,  Joseph  B.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Dunn,  James,  discharged,  June  6,  1865. 
Darrow,  James,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Darrow,  Justus  B.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Buncan,  Joseph,  mustered  out,  August  5,  1865. 
Geer,  Alfa  E.,  mustered  out,  August  5,  1865. 
Geers,  John,  mustered  out,  Aug,  5,  1865. 
Goers,  William  F.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Gohen,  Samuel  J.,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Gohen   Lycurgus,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Gohen,  Wilber  F.,  discharged,  Mar.  23,  '65;  disability. 
Gibson,  John,  discharged,  March  23,  1865. 
Humphries,  James,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Humplirey,  Charles  died  Dec.  28,  1863;  wounds. 
Plill,  Albert  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corporal. 
Hill,  Mathias  8.  discharged  Aug.  2,  '63  ;    disability. 
Huston,  Kdward  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Hvnes,  Finley  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Hamill,  James  M.  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1805. 
Long.  Francis  M.  mustered  out  May  22,  18.f>5. 
Moure,  William  T.  died  at  Memphis,  March  11,  '65. 
Moore,  Wilber  F.  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Miller,  John  J.  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1805. 
McDonald,  Joseph  S.  died  at  Memphis,  June  25,  '65. 
McDonald,  Joseph  T.  disch.  March  12,  '63 ;  di^abil. 
Nichols,  G.  P.  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Ogden,  Thomas  died  at  Vicksburg,  July  7,  1864. 
Ogden,  William  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Ogden,  Willis  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
I'adfield,  James  C.  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Pearson,  Benjamin  J   discharged  Mar.  12, '04;  disab. 
Percival,  George  H.  deserted  Nov.  14,  1802. 
ProssPr,  Howell,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865 
Phillips,  William  J.  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Phillips,  Edward  W.  musiered  out  June  6,  1865. 
Powers,  JefFeison  0  mustered  out  May  31,  1865. 
Eankin,  Luther  died  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  J  uly  4,  '05. 
Rt'inacher,  Michael  died  at  Memphis,  June  20,  '03. 
Radcliff;  Seneca  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1805. 
Sewil,  Caleb  J.  musiertd  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Smith,  John  mustered  out  Aug.  5, 180.5. 
Siter,  William  S.  dlsch.  Jan.  5,  1863;  disability. 
Seely,  William  mustered  out  Aug  5,  1805- 
Trainer,  Owen  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1805. 
Topping,  Thomas  transf.  to  V.  E.  C,  July  30,  1864 
Thilman,  Charles  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Thompson,  David  musiered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Topping,  William  died  at  Memphis,  Oct.  2-^  1803. 
Waiker,  William  A.  disch.  Jan.  20,  '03  ;  disability. 
Walker,  John  W.  mustered  out  Aug.  5.  '05,  as  cdrp. 
Welsh,  Nicholas  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1805. 
White,  James  S.  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Recruits. 
Bniley,  James  E.  transferred  to  33  III.  Infly. 
Calhoun,  Orcar  M.  transferred  lo  33  HI.  Inlty. 
Harrison,  William  deserted  Sept.  24,  1804 
O'Bryant,  George  Y.  transferred  lo  33  III.  Infty. 
Ulmer,  Frederick  transferred  to  33  III.  Infly. 
Vogler,  John  transferred  lo  33  111.  Infly. 

MUSTER   ROLL,     COMPANY   "  E." 

Privates. 

Harrill,  William  sergt.,  transf.  to  V.  E.  C.July  26,  '64. 

Recruils. 
Cockel,  Elijah  transferred  to  33  111.  Infty. 
Marlin,  George  transferred  to  33  III.  Infty. 
Kail,  Jacki-on,  transferred  to  33  111.  Infly. 
Shephard,  Htnry  transferred  to  33  Hi.  Infiy. 

MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  H." 
Captain, 
Eobert  H.  Halbert,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

First  lAeutenant. 
James  M.  Hay,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
David  H.  Wilderman,  mustered  out  Ang.  5,  1865. 

First  Sergeant. 
James  F.  Krafft,  promoted  Sergeant  Major. 

Sergeants. 
William  A.  Wilderman,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
George  B.  Keneke,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1805. 


Corporals. 

Valentine  Rapp,  M.  O.  Aug.  6,  1865,  as  private. 
Henry  Guender,  red.  to  ranks  at  his  own  request.  M. 

O.  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Henry  F.  Fislier,  discharged  Jan.  5,  '63  ;    disability. 
Edward  B.  Bamber,  died  Sept.  17,  1863. 
John  Rebhan,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  1805,  as  sergeant. 
Eobert  W.  Thompson.  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  1865. 
George  W.  Ellis,  transf.  to  V.  E.  C.  May  Ist,  1864. 

Miisicians. 
Charles  R.  Oatman,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Joseph  B.  Canman,  transf.  to  Co.  B,  M.  O.  June  7,  '65. 


John  C.  Jennison,  mustered  out  Aug.  6,  1865. 

Privates. 
Atchison,  George  B.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Atchison,  Alexander  C,  mustered  out  Aug.  6,  1865. 
Blanton,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Bailey,  Champion  C,  died  at  Memphis,  Nov.  28,  1862. 
Breiner,  Andrew,  discharged  Jan.  14, 1865  ;  disability. 
Been,  Theodore,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Beasley,  James,  corporal,  died  at  Jackson,  Mississippi, 

July  1st,  1865. 
Bruett,  Charles,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Bross,  Bavid  W..  died  at  Memphis  Nov.  27,  1862. 
Bailey,  Hombs  K.,  mustered  out  July  24,  1867. 
Cox,  William  J.,  dishonorably  discharged  July  31,  '65. 
Crawford,  James  W.,  mustered  out  May  18,  1865. 
Collins,  Gilbert  C,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  '65 ;  as  I  orp'l. 
Bingle,  R.,  drowned  in  Cumberland  river  Nov.  29,  64. 
Buncan,  Thomas,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Bonaldson,  -lohn,  mustered  out  May  20,  1865. 
Bunlap,  John  L.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Ellis,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Fleshher,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Gibson,  Joseph  W.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Gruber,  Isaac  S.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Gibbins,  James,  died  at  Memphis,  July  4,  1863. 
Greever,  George,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Hill,  .lackson,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Hartnagel,  Michael,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Hekel,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Huckel,  Louis,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Kalkbrenner,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Lag,  Joseph  O.,  discharged  July  7,  1865 ;    disability. 
McCann,  Patrick  H.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Minette,  Phillip,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  '65  ;  as  corporal. 
McMurtry,  W.F.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5, '65;  ascorporal. 
Myerscough,  John,  mustered  out  May  31,  1865. 
Mitchell,  Arch'd,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  "65;  ascorporal. 
Potter,  Mat.  Jr.,  must' rd  out  Aug.  5,  '65  ;  as  corporal. 
Phillips,  Thomas,  discharged  March  26,  '63 ;  disability. 
Pruessing,  Valentine,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Phelps,  K.  T.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Potter,  Samuel,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Reester,  Theodore,  must'd  out,  Aug.  5, 1865 ;  as  corp'l. 
Rehg,  John,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Rcesel,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Reinhart,  Joseph,  deserted  about  Nov.  7,  1863. 
Sauer,  Reinhart,  supposed  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 
Stein,  Charles,  killed  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  Bee.  16, '64. 
Smith,  John,  No.  1,  deserted  Nov.  10,  1862. 
Smith,  John  No.  2,  mustered  out  Aug.  5, 1865. 
yhinert,  Henry,  died  at  Memphis  March  29,  1863. 
Vogt,  George,  mustered  out  May  81, 1865. 
Woods,  Alex  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865 ;  as  corporal. 
Weinel,  Frederick,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  '65. 
Williams,  John  H.,  discharged  June  19,  '65 ;  disability. 
Wilderman,  John  L.,  discharged  Jan.  3,  "64;  disability. 
Weinel,  Henry,  died  at  Memphis  in  June  26,  1863. 

MUSTER   ROLL,    COMPANY   "  I." 

Captains. 
Bavid  McFarlin,  died  May  10,  1864. 
John  R.  Thomas,  mustered  out,  Aug.  5,  1865. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Samuel  M.  Stiles,  died  Sept.  15,  1863. 
Edward  C.  Lemon,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Jasper  Missinger,  must'd  out  (as  Sergeant)  Aug.  5,  '65. 

Sergeants. 
Robert  R.  Salter,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Phillip  F.  Davis,  reduced  to  ranks  at  his  own  request 

discharged  March  28,  1863;  wounds. 
Harvey  Umbarger,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


147 


Corporals. 
David  C.  MoFarlin,  discharged  Sept.  4,  1863. 
Samuel  Smiley,  discharged  Jan.  22,  1863  ;  disability. 
George  B.  Soott,  must'd  out  Aug.  5,  '65  ;   as  private. 
William  Richmond,  must'd  out  Aug.  5,  '65 ;  as  private. 
James  D.  Knowlton,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865 ;  as 

Private,  reduced  at  his  own  request. 
Thomas  A.  Whiteside,  must'd  out  Aug.  5,  '65;  as  Serg. 
Samuel  Beedle,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Mummns. 
Albert  McFarlin,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Benjamin  Orcut,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Wagofner. 
George  W.  Smith,  disohirged  July  3,  1863. 
Frivates. 

Alexander,  Cyrus  E.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Arnold,  William,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Altman,  Alexander,  deserted  Nov.  10,  1862. 

Abend,  Frank,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Altman,  John,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Abbott,  William,  discharged  Aug.  18,  1863 ;  disability 

Black,  John,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1863. 

Bowles,  Lafayette  P.,  discharged .) une  5,  1863. 

Bevirt,  H.  P.,  discharged  April  13,  1863 ;  disability. 

Bevirt,  H.  H.,  mus.  out  May  24,  1865. 

Balzily,  William  S.,  died  at  Memphis  Feb.  28,  1833. 

Boynton,  John  E,.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Brooks,  Robert  L.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Bomburg,  Kaspar,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Bridges,  Lafayette,  mus.  out  Aug  5,  1865. 

Doerey,  Wesley  B.,  sergt.,  absent  sick  at  M.O.  of  regt. 

Evans,  Joseph  P.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Evans,  Simon  P.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Falkner,  Felix,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Godfrey,  August,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Higgins,  John,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Hamilton,  William  H.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Hughes,  J.  Simpson,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Harris,  Thomas  J.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  18(35. 

Hawkins,  R.  A.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Harper,  George,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 

Hilt,  George  W.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865 

Hart,  Theodore  F.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 

Isaacs,  W.  Albert,  died  at  Memphis  Aug.  1,  1863. 

Kell,  William  F.,  trans,  to  co.  D. 

Kennedy,  Thomas,  discharged  Sept.  5,  1863,  as  corp. 

Knowlton,  Delos,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Linson,  Frederick,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865- 

Moore,  James  C,  raus.  out  Aug.  5.  1865. 

Million,  William,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Moore,  James,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Miller,  Monroe  J.,  promoted  quartermaster-sergt. 

Mace,  Russell  L.,  mus.  out  June  11,  1865. 

McCommon,  Wade,  died  at  home.  May  30,  1863. 

Melvin,  Andrew  J.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Owen,  E.  .1.,  mustered  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Putnam,  William,  discharged  April  16,  1863  ;  disab. 

Parker,  J.  T.,  discharged  Aug.  3,  1863. 

Powell,  William  H.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1866. 

Phillips,  Daniel  J.  M.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 

Prentice,  George  R.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Rankin,  James  A.,  deserted  Nov.  25,  1864. 

Rutherford,  William  D.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Rettenhous^  G.  D.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 

Rettenhouse,  F.  M.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Smith,  William  D.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 

Shatlin,  Louis,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Snyder,  Jacob,  deserted  March  8,  1863 

Soott,  John  W.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 

Soott,  Edward  J.,  prom,  sergt.  then  com. -sergt, 

Shainer,  E  ,  deserted  April  12,  1863. 

Tuttle,  Samuel  E.,  prom,  principal  musician. 

Tuttle,  John  W.,  prom,  hospital  steward. 

Umbarger,  JohnW.  corp.,  died  Louisville,  Jan.  15,'65. 

Woods,  William  J.,  discharged  Aug.  18,  '63  ;  disab. 

Werris,  Michael,  mus.  out  June  22,  1865. 

Williamson,  William  W.,  mus.  out  Aug,  5,  1865. 

Wilderman,  Jos.  D.,  discharged  March  16,  65  ;  disab. 

Yates,  William,  deserted  Nov.  28,  1864. 
Recruits. 

Badgley,  David  W.,  died  at  Vicksburg,  May  27,  1864. 

Cooper,  William,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 

Lincoln,  John  T.,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 

MUSTER  ROLL,,   COMPANY    ''  K." 

Captains. 
Land,  Nathan,  resigned  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Fike,  John  W.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5, 1865. 


First  Lieutenant. 
Cobine,  James  D.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Curtis,  James  A.,  mus.  out  Dec.  12,  1862. 
Curtis,  Edward  T.,  mus.  out  as  segt.  Aug.  5,  1865. 

First  Sergeant. 
Griffin,  George  W.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  sergt. 


Curtis,  Edward  T.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  1st  sergt. 
Reeves,  Samuel,  discharged  Oct.  16,  1 864 ;  disab. 
Abernathy,  James,  discharged  Mar.  30,  1863  ;  disab. 
McMiohael,  Joseph,  mus.  out  Aug.  5.  1865. 

Corporals. 
Reeves,  James,  discharged  March  19,  1863 ;  disab. 
Mitchell,  George  R.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Blake,  David  A.,  died  Columbus,  Ky.,  Jan.  5, 1863. 
Smalley,  Shephard,  M.O.  Aug.  5,  '65,  as  priv. ;  reduc. 

at  his  own  request. 
Grifiin,  James  M.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Estry,  Charles  W.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  priv. 
Van  Winkle,  John,  mus.  out. 

Musicians. 
Fike,  Don,  mus.  out  July  1,  1865  ;  was  prisoner. 

Privates. 
Anderson,  Moses,  discharged  Jan.  18,  1863 ;  disab. 
Beales,  Oliver,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Mar.  15,  1865. 
Bishop,  George,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Brooks,  John  W.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Bowen,  Joel,  died  at  Memphis,  Sept.  26,  1863. 
Clark,  Edward  A.,  deserted  Oct.  29,  1862. 
Clark,  Henry,  died  at  Memphis,  Sept.  26,  1863. 
Crocker,  Riley,  died  at  Memphis,  Sept.  16,  1863. 
Curtis,  Thomas,  ap.  com.  off.  8th  U.  S.  C.  H.  Art. 
Davis,  Robert  W.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Davis,  William,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Decourcy,  Robert,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 
Dunn,  Leonard,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Dunn,  Samuel,  deserted  Oct.  30,  1862. 
Dupuy,  Jesse  G.,  mus.  out  May  31,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Elbert,  Henry,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Fike,  Henry  C. 

Free,  Leroy,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 
Friel,  Hugh,  discharged  Jan.  5,  1865 ;  disab. 
Gaskell.  Henry,  mus.  out  Aug.  6,  1865. 
Gibbs,  I  alvin,  discharged  March  18,  1863  ;  disab. 
Goodman,  Francis  M.,  M.O.  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  sergt. 
Griffen,  William,-  discharged  Aug.  26,  1863  ;  disab. 
Greene,  Levi,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Hanlon,  John,  died  at  Mound  City.IU.,  July  12, 1864. 
Hardin,  William,  discharged  Aug.   14,  1864 ;  disab. 
Jeeters,  Thomas  E.  H.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Jeeters,  John  J.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Johnson,  Robert,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Knight,  William,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Lamb,  John  Wesley,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 
L.and,  John  H.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Larry,  Daniel,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
McCarthy,  Daniel,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
McClure,  Fletcher,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
McDonald,  Milton,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Miller,  Alexander,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Miller,  Moses,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 
Mosar,  John,  raus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Monroe,  George,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Oden,  Wesley  Z.,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 
Osborne,  Thomas  E.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Osborne,  Hiram  J.,  deserted  Sept.  14,  '64  ;  second  des. 
Pugh,  Thomas,  discharged  March  19,  1863  ;  disab. 
Pugh,  Wm,,  des.  5th  lU.cav;  drop  from  roll  Jne  28,' 65 
Rean,  Jeremy,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Smith,  Frederick,  discharged  Jan.  29,  1863  ;  disab. 
Schenck,  William,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Stickle,  Frederick  W.,  died  of  wounds,  Dec.  21,  1864. 
Watson,  William  E.,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 
Willis,  William  H.,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865,  as  corp. 
Williams,  James,  mus.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Recruits, 
Edwards,  John  R.,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 
Griffin,  Isaac  N.,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 
Osborn,  Mitchell  M.,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 
Bumley,  Harvey  A.,  trans,  to  33d  111.  inf. 

Vhassiffned  Recruits. 
Griffin,  Isaac  H.,  died  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  8,  1864 


ONE   HUNDRED   AND  THIRTIETH  INFANTRY. 

(^  Three  years'  service), 

The  130th  Regiment,  Illinois  volunteers, 
was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  Octo- 
ber, 1862,  by  Col.  Nathaniel  Niles,  and  was 
mustered  in  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month. 

The  regiment  moved  from  Camp  Butler 
Nov.  10th,  and  proceeded  to  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee, where  it  arrived  on  the  18th  inst. 

It  was  mustered  out  of  service  Aug.  15th, 
1865,  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  and  reached 
Camp  Butler,  Oct.  26,  1>^65,  where  it  received 
final  payment  and  discharge. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  "  A." 

Privates. 

Macomery,  Wm.,  transferred   to  Company  "  C,"  7'7th 

111.  inf. 
Thwing,  John  W. 
Wirshing,  Frank,  transferred  to  Co.  "  D,"  77th  111.  inf. 

Recruits. 
McGuire,  J.,  deserted  before  muster  in. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  c" 
First  Sergeant. 
Richard  Roman. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  "  D." 

Recruits. 
Bankson,  Elijah   J.,  fransferred  to   77th   111    inftry, 

Co.  "E." 
Knuve,  Godfrey  '.,  died  at  Memphis  Dec.  10,  1862. 
Phips,  Richard  T. 
Prater,  Benjamin  K.,  transferred  to  Co.  "  E,"   77th 

111.  inf. 
Sampson,  William  F.,  transferred  to  Co.  "E,"   77th 

Illinois  inf. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND    FORTY-SECOND    INFANTY 
REGIMENT. 

MtJSTBB.  ROLL  COMPANY   "  H." 

Captain. 
David  H.  Porter,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Francis  H.  Cobb,  honorably  discharged  Dec.  9,  1864. 

First  Sergeant. 
Richard  Wangeling,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 

Sergeants. 
Joseph  B.  Cramer,  mustend  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Nelson  Johnson,  mustered  out  October  20,  1864,  as 

private  for  re-enlistment. 
John  Roth,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 

Corporals. 
James  F.  Thomas,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864,  as 

sergeant. 
Henry  H.  Brash,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Walter  E.  Krafft,  must  red  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Paschal  C.  Husbrook,  mustered  out  Oct.  20,  1864,  for 
re-enlistment. 

Musicians. 

Kossuth  Niles,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Perry,  Morris,  mustered  out  October  26,  1864. 

Wagoner. 
John  Dimmel,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 

Privates. 
Adams,  Chester,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Affleck,  James  B.,  muttered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Allmon,  Henry  C,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Bryant,  Andrew,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Bobe,  Andrew,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Chambers,  John  J.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Davis,  Henry,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
D'long,  Leonard,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Ely,  Erasmus  C.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Edwards,  William,  muttered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Grimes,  Charles  F.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Hypes,  James  H.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Hinckley,  Duane,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Leitz,  Frederick,  absent,  sick  at  muster  out  of  regt. 


148. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Lively,  Willis,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864, 
Lafferty,  Keuben,  musterid  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Lesley,  Oscar  C,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
McDonald,  John,  jr.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Milam,  Thomas,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Meiser,  Emil,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
McFarland,  Pliny,  mustered  out  Oct.  20,  1864,  for  re- 
enlistment. 
Mitcliell,  James  A.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Nicholas,  .lolin,  mustered  out  Oct.  26, 1864. 
Pointer,  William,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Paine,  John  Calyin,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Prentice,  Charles  H.,  musiered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Phelps,  Jacob  S.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Phillips,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Rittenhouse,  Zaccheus,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Eandolph,  Joseph  0.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26, 1864. 
Terrell,  Isaac  L.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Thomas,  William  H.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Tucker,  George,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Teter,  Moses  S.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Utey,  George  M.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Wright,  George,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
West,  Benjamin  J.,  jr.,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Ward,  Mark,  mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Woods,  Jeremiah,  mustered  out  Oct.  26, 1864. 

ONE  HUNDEED  AND  FORTY-POUETH  INFANTRY 
REGIMENT. 

(Owe  Year  Service.') 

CYRUS    HALL,    COLONEL    COMMANDING. 


ReentUs. 
Brooke,  Francis,  mustered  out,  July  14,  1865.     ■ 
Davenport,  Henry,  transf  d  Dec.  12,  1864,  by  reason 

of  draft. 
Davenport,  Adrian,  transf 'd,  Dec.  12,  1864,  by  reason 

of  draft. 
Goodwin,  Elijah,  died  at  Alton,  111.,  Dec.  24,  1864. 


Private. 
Ricker,  Christian,  died  at  Alton,  III,,  Jan.  21,  1865. 

MUSTER   ROLL  COMPANY   "  F." 

Privates. 
Meyers,  Toneyer,  mustered  out,  July  14,  1865. 
Schmahl,  John  H.,  mustered  out,  July  14,  1865. 

Recruit. 
Humphries,  James,  mustered  out,  July  14,  1865, 


Privates. 
Brown,  John  H.,  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865. 
Coffel,  Andrew  J.,  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865. 
DilHnger,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865. 
Farris,  Robert,  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865. 
Garrott,  Isaac  W.,  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865, 
Killian,  Otto,  mustered  out,  July  12,  1865. 
Mason,  Phillip,  mustered  out,  July  14,  1865. 
Summers,  William,  mustered  out,  July  14,  1865. 
Yarbrough,  James,  mustered  out,  July  14,  1865. 

Of  the  144,  St.  Clair  county  furnished  a  few  men  in 
companies  A,  D.  F.  and  I. 

ONE  HUNDRED   AND   FORTY-FIFTH   INFANTRY 
REGIMENT.      - 

(100  Days  Service.) 

MUSTER    EOLL. 

Private. 
Dew,  Jeremiah,  mustered  out,  Sept.  23,  1864. 
Peterson,  James  N.,  mustered  out,  Sept.  23,  1864. 
Rex,  William,  mustered  out,  Sept.  23,  1864. 
Wood,  Lewis  H.,  mustered  out,  Sept.  23,  1864. 
Webb,  Frank,  mustered  out,  Sept.  23,  1864. 

The  above  men  in  the  145th  regiment,  were  from 
St.  Clair  county. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-NINTH   INFANTRY. 

(Ofte  year's  service). 
This  regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  was  or- 
ganized at  Camp  Butler,  on  February  11th, 
1865,  by  Colonel  William  C.  Kueffner,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 


for  one  year.  Col.  Kueffner,  of  this  regiment, 
entered  the  service  in  April,.  1861,  and  was 
made  Captain  of  company  B,  in  the  Ninth 
Illinois  Infantry.  November  1,  1863,  on  ac- 
count of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Shiloh 
and  Corinth,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Vete- 
ran Reserve  Corps,  where  he  received  a  com- 
mission as  Captain  from,  the  general  govern- 
ment. 

On  the  organization  of  the  149th  Infantry, 
as  above  stated,  Kueffner  was  commissioned 
Colonel,  and  March  13th,  1865,  was  promoted 
Brevet  Brigadier  General.  As  an  officer, 
General  Kueffner  was  brave  and  skillful, 
never  once  shrinking  from  a  post  of  duty.  He 
now  resides  in  Belleville,  Illinois,  where  he 
enjoys  a  lucrative  practice  in  the  legal  profes- 
sion, and  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Three  days  after  the  organization  of  the 
regiment,  Feb.  14th,  it  moved  from  Camp 
Butler  for  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  from 
thence  moved  to  Chattanooga.  It  was  assigned 
by  Major  General  Steadman  to  duty  guard- 
ing railroads.  On  May  1st,  it  was  assigned  to 
Col.  Felix  Prince,  Salm's  Second  Brigade, 
Second  Separate  Division,  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  on  the  2d  moved  to  Dalton, 
Georgia.  On  July  6th  moved  to  Atlanta. 
On  the  26th,  being  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
Fourth  Sub-Division  of  District  of  AUatoona, 
it  was  assigned  to  guard  duty  in  that  Dis- 
trict. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  January 
27th,  1866,  at  Dalton,  Georgia,  and  ordered  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  where  it  received  final 
payment  and  discharge. 

Nearly  all  of  the  men  in  companies  B,  C, 
D,  H,  I  and  K,  of  this  regiment,  enlisted  from 
St.  Clair  county.  Below  is  the  roster  of  those 
credited  to  this  county. 

STAFF. 
Colond. 

Wm.  C.  Kueffner,  prom.  Bri vet-Brig.  Gen.  March  13, 
1865 1  mustered  out  Jan .  27,  1866. 

Lieutenant  Colonel. 
Alexander  G.  Hawcs,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Qiiarta-master. 
John  Berry,  mmst'd  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

NON  COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 
Seryeant-Major. 
John  H.  Lacy,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Qiiarlermaster-Sergeant. 
Eufus  D.  Garmo,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Commissary-Sergeant. 
William  R.  Schember,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Hospital  Steward. 
Byron  Marney,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Principal  Musicians. 
Sebastian  Baunum,  reduced  to  ranks  in  Co.  K. 
Louis  Kleber,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "A." 

Privates. 

Kremar,  Antoine,  muat.  out,  Jan  27,  1866;  as  Corpl. 


MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY    "  B." 
Captains. 
Charles  Seitz,  resigned  Aug.  22,  1865. 
Rudolph  Strenge,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

First  Lieutenard. 
Jacob  Coerver,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Peter  Brucher,  resigned  May  19,  1865. 
Jacob  Geminn,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

First  Sergeant. 
Jacob  Coerver,  promoted. 

Sergeants. 
Charles  Glasser,  must,  out,  Jan.  27, 1866. 
George  Gahs,  must.  out.  Jan  27,  1866. 
Jacob  Pees,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  186t>. 

Ccyrpwdls. 
E.nyraond,  August,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866;  as  Sergt. 
Ferdinand  Dauster,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Jopeph  Hammer,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Philip  Laumbattus,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Louis  Steiger.  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866 ;  as  private.     • 
Joi<eph  Stoeekli. 

William  R.  Sclirember,  prom.  Commis.  Sergt. 
Henry  Weber,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  2866. 

Musicians. 
Daniel  Green,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Peter  Raushkolb,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Wagoner. 
Christian  Reck,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Privates. 
Abegg,  Robert,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Amold,  Carl.  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Ackerman,  Joseph,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Bohn,  Simon,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Bleier,  Jacob,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Behrer,   Cornelius,   killed   bv  railroad   accident,  at 

Resaca,  Ga.,  July  30,  1865. 
Baum,  Martin,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Erhret,  Tobia.s,  mu.st.  tut,  Jan,  27,  1866;  as  Corpl. 
Eming,   Nicolas,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,   1866. 
Frey,  John,  must,  out,  Jan  27,  1866. 
Fullmer,  Daniel,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Fullmer,  William,  must,  out,  Jan  27.  1866. 
Fries,  Conrad,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Guraersheimer,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Gra.«.sman,  Franz,  mu.st.  out,  Jan.  27,  1866,  as  Corpl. 
Goebel,  Gehrliard,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Hopf,  Frank,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Hees,  Wm.,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
HofTman,  Joseph,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Heise,  John,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Ha-senstab,  John,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Hanser,  Jacob,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Janett,  John,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Jeffray,  Peter,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Janson,  August,  must,  out,  Jan  27,  1866. 
Jost,  Adam,  must  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Janson,  William,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Karl,  Felix,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kehert  Matliias,  muat.  out,  Jan  27,  1866. 
Koch,  Carl.  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kuester,  Henry  C,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Klamm,  Chri.stian,  must.'  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kirchner,  George,  must.  out.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kriedner,  Franz,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Liimbattns,  Philip,  Jr.,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Meyer,  Louis,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Ma.«erong,  Joseph,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Mueller,  Louis,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Mueller,  John,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Mutller,  William,  must,  our,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Nischwilz,  Conrad,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866;  as  Corpl. 
Neuber,t).T.  W.,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866;  as  IslSgt. 
Priesacber,  Henry,  must,  out,  Jan.  26, 1866. 
Priesacher.  Cliri.-tian,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Ptiffner,  Alex.,  Co.  M.O.  rolls  say  deser.  Dec.  20,  '65. 
Kay,  William,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Rutschmann,  Jacob,  must.  out.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Reno,  Henry,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Raw,  Adam,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Reinbold,  George,  must,  out,  Jan.  27, 1866. 
Rauschkott,  William,  must,  out,  Jan.  27, 1866. 
Rau,  Michatl,  must  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Sander,  Otto,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866,  as  musician. 
Siegfried,  David,,must.  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


149 


Schlegel,  Joseph,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Silbere,  Joseph,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Saltier,  Edmund,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Schuessler,  Adam,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Schutz,  Mariin,  must  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Schader,  Philip,  must,  out,  Jan.  27, 1866. 
Scroeder,  John,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866 
Schitz,  Nicholaus,  must,  out,  Jan.  27.  1866. 
Strallner,  Frank,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Schneider,  Jolin,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Schweikart,  Husband,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Sarlouis,  Christopher,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Sehmiltling,  Nicholaus,  must  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Suhmidt,  Louis,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Totsch,  Johann,  must  out,  Jan-  27,  1866. 

Totsch,  Mathias,  Siust.  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Ulrich,  Johann,  must  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Vogel,  Carl,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Vetier,  Franz,  must.  out.  Jan  27,  1866. 

Wlndweh,  Henry,  must,  out,  Jan.  27, 1866. 

Winterbauer,  Carl,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Wiskemann,  F.  Julius,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Wagner,  Charles,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Woli;  Peter,  must,  out,  Jan -27,  1866. 

Wehrung,  George,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Winterbauer,  John,  must,  out,  Jan.  27,  lb66'. 

MUSTEE  BOLL,   COMPANY   "  C." 
Giptain. 
John  W.  Kenshaw,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

First  I/ieutenant. 
Oziel  G.  Smith,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
David  Badgley,  resigned  April  11.  1865. 
Chailes  A.  Benson,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

First  Sergeant.. 
George  T.  Turner,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Sergeants. 
Joseph  Pulliam,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Andrew  J.  SisFon,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kdward  E.  McBride,  killed  by  private  Samuel  E.  P. 

Clark,  April  1,  1865. 
Charles  W.  Thornsbery,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66  ;  as  pr. 

Corporals. 
George  H.  Evans,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  1866,  as  private. 
Joseph  Mantille,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Byron  Marney,  promoted  Hospital  Steward. 
Charles  Schillroth,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66  ;  as  private. 
William  W.  Barber,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
J)hn  J.  Pulliam   must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66,   as  sergeant. 
Bvrd  M.  Kobinson,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66,  as  private. 

Musicians. 
August  Heirr,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Henry  Jensen,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Wagoner. 
Francis  M.  Farris,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1886. 

Privates. 
Beal,  Lorenzo  mustered  out  Jan.  27.  1866. 
Briscoe,  Anderson  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866, 
Benson,  Charles  A.  promoted  Serg't.  then  2ii  Lieut. 
Bonham,  Lemuel  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Carr,  Patrick  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Coats,  David  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Clark,  Charles  S.  mustertd  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Clark,  Thomas  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Clark,  S.  E.  P.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Cravat;  C.  S.  mustered  out,  as  Serg't.,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Cloud,  John  A.  deserted  Aug.  9,  1865. 
Deans,  Henry  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Dicker,  Heiu-y  mustered  out  Jan   27,  1863. 
Eiakuss,  Christian  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Eddy,  Kichard  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Fierst,  Joseph  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Farris,  Wilford,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Frill,  Hugh,  absent  sick  at  muster  out  of  regiment. 
Frank,  Charles  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Goodwin,  A.  J.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Geary,  James  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Germain,  John  serg't.,  deserted  Nov.  19,  1865. 
Grotte,  Frederick  mustered  out  Jan.  1866. 
Hill,  William  mustered  out  Jan.  1866. 
Hill,  Peter  C.  mustered  out  Jan.  1866. 
Hughes,  Francis  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Hofmeister,  Jacob,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66,  as  sergeant. 
Hotter,  George  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66^  as  First  Serg  t. 


Hotter,  George  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Ingles,  George  W.  must,  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Isaacs.  Eliiah  mustered  out  Jan  ,  27  1866. 
Keller,  Eobert  M.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kneapkamp,  William  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866 
Kinney,  Samuel  M.  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66,  as  serg't. 
Leftwich,  C.  W.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Lord,  Nephi  deserted  Aug.  3, 1865. 
Luke,  David  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
McCrasfon,  Kobert  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66,  ascorp. 
McCullough,  J.  J.  corporal,  deserted  Oct.  5,  1865. 
McLaughlin,  Pat  mustered  out  J.iu.  27,  1866. 
Merker,  George  W.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Miller,  John  P.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Mantille,  Lorenzo  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Moody,  Larkin  M.  deserted  Aug.  9,  1865. 
McM-irray,  Michael  1st  serg't.,  deserted  Nov.  21,  '65. 
Nicholas,  Joseph  H.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Newhoiise,  William  deserted  Aug.  3,  1865. 
Qninn,  John  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kittinghouse,  Elijah  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kandall,  Thomas  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Kogger,  William  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Rollason,  Edward  mustered  out  Jan.  27, 1866 
Swift,  William  E.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Sissori,  William  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866, 
Stoddard,  William  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Stoddard,  Hugh  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866,  as  corp. 
Studt,  Abraham  died  at  Gamp  Butler,  III.,  Sep.  2, '65. 
Stoltz,  Louis  mustered  out  Jan.  27, 1866,  as  rarp. 
Seward,  George  W.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Schloeman,  Fred,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Smith,  Thomas  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Sanderdick,  Henry  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Turek,  Nicholas  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Wolf,  George  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Wood,  John  T.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Whitaker,  William  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

MUSTEE   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  D." 
Captain. 
Samuel  Schimminger,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Christian  Zimmerman,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Emil  Schcitlin,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

First  Sergeant. 
Henry  Gabelman,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Sergeants. 
Conrad  Hatzenbuler,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Jacob  Pfarlner,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Lewis  Schoenborn,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Corporals. 
John  Hoob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27, 1866,   as  private. 
Fritz  Huck,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Phillip  Eesch,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Christian  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27, 1866. 
Lewis  Klaus,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
John  Turk,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
William  Bachius,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66;^as  private. 
Michael  J.  Flanery,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,1866. 

Musicians. 
George  Benz,  mu.stered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Thomas  Martin,  died  at  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  Ap.  27, '65 

Wagoner. 
Fritz  Dittman,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  1866,  as  private. 

Privates. 
Altraansberger,  Christian  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Altmansberger,  Jacob  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Ackerman,  John  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Arris,  Fritz  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Bahl,  John  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Bucannon,  George  mustered  out  Jan.  27, 1866. 
Beecher,  John  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Braun,  Michael  mustered  out  Jan.  27, 1866. 
Breidenbach,  John  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Breidenbach,  Jacob  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Bennett,  Jackson  mustered  out  Jan .  27, 1866. 
Cunningham,  Henry  L.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  186b. 
Dillman,  John  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Ebert,  GotUeb,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Farnhopf,  John,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Filkel,  John,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Gabel.  Henry,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
(Jarrett,  Houston,  M.  0  Jan.  27,  1866. 


Hofart,  Adam,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Herman,  John,  lU.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Herman,  Michael,  M.  O.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Hanser,  Fritz,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Heirrich,  William,  M.  0.  Jan.  27, 18  i6  ;  as  corporal. 

Johnson,  John  W.,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  180t>. 

Jungerman,  William,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  lbb6. 

Kiem,  Jacob,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Kepper,  Louis,  M.  0.  .an.  27,  1866. 

Kochler,  Conrad,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Kadel,  Peter,  deserted  Sept.  2,  18b5. 

Klein,  Jacob,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Kunne,  Jacob,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Karst,  Nicholas,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  18B6. 

Larst,  or  Leroh,  Fritz,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Leibig,  or  Leby,  Philip,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  18  j6. 

Lannan,  Fritz,  deserted  Dec.  3t>,  1865. 

Lagnet,  Nicholas,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Michelson,  Fritz,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  18b6. 

Meyer,  Fritz,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Miller,  John  J.,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Mathias,  Frank,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Milton,  John  E.,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Nollman,  Fritz,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Oberding,  Frank,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Panter,  Zeriack,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  18bb. 

Pfarr,  George,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Pabst,  Philip,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Roth,  Alois,  corporal,  deserted  Dee.  11,  1865. 

Reppenhager,  F.,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Stecher,  Alois,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Schuth,  Peter,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Schneider,  Peter,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Stohrm,  or  Strum,  Geo.,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Schoenle,  Vincent,  deserted  Dec.  11,  I860. 

Schoelkopf,  Louis,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  18b6. 

Schmidt,  David,  deserted  Dec.  11,  1805. 

Schemborn,  Martin,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1806. 

Stoll,  Adam,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Seibert,  George,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Smith,  James  B.,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866  ;  as  wagoner. 

StoUer,  Jacob,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Schafra,  John,  M.  out  Jan.  27,   1866. 

Stoltz,  John,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Tusant,  Frank,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Teichman,  Herman,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Vergin,  David,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  18b6. 

Vergin,  Robert,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  18b6. 

Velker,  John,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  186d. 

Weber,  Peter,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Wolf,  Pete,  M.  out  Jan.  Z7,  1866. 

Weimer,  Sebastian, 

Westrice,  John. 

Zimmerman,  Peter,  died  at  Cleveland,Tenn.,Mar.  7,'65. 

MUSTEK   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  H." 
Captain. 
George  Bender,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

First  Lieuteannt. 
Samuel  E.  Keymer,  M.  out  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Joseph  Reith,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
First  Sergeant. 
George  Semmelroth,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Sergeants.     *     . 
Joseph  Stein,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866  ;  as  private 
Rudolph  Blatter,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866  ;  as  private. 
Ernst  Berlayor  Barlach,  M.  0.  .lan.  27,  1806. 
Charles  Nebgar,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Corporals. 
August  Wurmb,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Louis  Linne,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866 ;  as  sergeant. 
Ferdinand  Hecker,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866  ;  as  private. 
George  Jung,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866 ;  as  sergeant.  • 
Christian  Merz,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
George  Wind,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1806 ;  as  private. 
John  Holder,  priv.,  died  at  Dalton,  Ga.,  Aug.  28,  '65. 
Adam  Dagne,  M.  0,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Privates. 
Bauer,  Nepomuck,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Bange,  Julius,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1860. 
Bumb,  Jacob,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  18  6. 
Berthold,  Peter,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Borquet,  Jos.,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Brasch,  Fritz,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Bole,  John  L.,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  18b6. 


150 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Berger,  Joseph,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Bernst,  John,  M.O.  Jan.  27,  1866  ;  as  corporal. 

Cramer,  John,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Dumont,  August,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Erb,  George,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1806. 

Frees,  George,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Freitag,  George,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Fischer,  Christian,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866  ;  as  corporal. 

Fischer,  George,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  186(5. 

Gegel,  Lorenz,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  186ti. 
Geiger,  Mathias,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  18H6. 
Geip,  George,  M.  0  Jan.  27,  186li. 

Henblein,  Peter,  M.  0  Jan.  27,  1766. 

Heigele,  Jacob,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  186H. 

HarsDh,  Jacob,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Hellrung,  Franz,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Hirsch,  Stephen,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Jaimet,  Benjamin,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Keller,  Peter,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Kochier,  Philip,  M.  0.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Koeber,  Adam,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Klein,  Peter,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

King,  John  B  ,  mustered  out;  January  27,  1866. 

Loos,  Adam,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Lentz,  George,  mustered  out,  January  27, 1866. 

Langenstein,  William,  mustered  out,  Jan.  27,  1S66. 

Lantz,  .4dam,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866 

Miller,  Philip,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Mueller,  Bernhard,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Muehlhauser,  Karl,  mustered  out,  January  27, 1866. 

Meier,  Christian,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66  ;  as  corp'l. 

Mason,  Jacob  S.,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866.  . 

Neff,  Joseph,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Politsch,  Waigand,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Peter,  Joseph,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Kieper,  William,  mustered  out,  January  27, 1866. 

Kuthgangel,  Gottlieb,  mustered  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 

Stock,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Suhr,  Henry,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Stieper,  Friedrich,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66;  as  corp'l. 

Selle,  Friedrich,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Seitz,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Tillock,  Henry,  mustered  out,  January  27,1866. 

"Weber,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

"Wittenauer,  Primu.s,  mustered  out,  January  27, 1866. 

Wirtz,  Lorenzo,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Zachringer,  Konrad,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Recruit. 

Leonhard,  George,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
MUSTER   ROLL,   COMPANY   "  I." 
Captain. 

John  L.  Peterson,  mustered  out,  January  27, 1866. 
First  Lieutenant. 

Edward  L.  French,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Second  Lieutenant. 

Henry  Gaty,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
First  Sergeant. 

Bufus  De  Garmo,  promoted  Q.  M.  Sergeant. 


Dempsey  W.  Fountain,  mustered  out,  Jan.  27,  1866  ; 

as  sergeant. 
Oliver  P.  Helmen,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66 ;  as  private. 
David  W.  Spangler,  must'd  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Jas.  S.  Bisley,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  1866  ;  as  private. 

Corporals. 
John  W.  Benson,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66  ;  as  serg't. 
Edmond  C.  Snowdon,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66 ;  as  serg't. 
Chas.  B.  Mispley,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66  ;  as  private. 
Joseph  Aberle,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
William  F.  Tony,  mustered  out,  Janii.ary  27,  1866. 
Martin  Anderson,  deserted,  July  24,  1865. 
Chas.  F.  Grimes,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66 ;  as  private. 

Musician. 
James  H.  McMurtry,  mustered  out,  January  27,  '66. 

Wagoner. 
Jesse  Putnam,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

4  Privates. 

Anderson,  William  M.,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
AUbe,  Enoch,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Arthur,  James  J.,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Bliss,  Noah  J.,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Burke,  Seward,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Bush,  Albert,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Bridges,  George  W.,  mustered  out,  January  27,  '66. 


Curtis,  Shelby,  mustered  out,  January  27,  18C6. 
Cowling,  John,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Cox,  Clement  C.,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
De  Garmo,  Charles,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Depriest,  Ellis  B.,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66  ;  as  corp'l. 
Foran,  George,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Fugate,  George  W  ,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Forester,  Michael,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Flinn,  Samuel,  absent  sick  at  M.  O.  of  regiment. 
Fahe,  Thomas,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Grine,  Denis  F.,  must'd  out,  Jan.  27,  '66 ;  as  corp'l. 
Goe,  George,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
George,  Henry,  deserted,  July  24,  1865. 
Harris,  Charles,  mu.stered  out,  January  27, 1866. _ 
Hansman,  Louis,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Hofflicker,  Samuel,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Jeffries,  Matthew,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
McNight,  David  D. 

McDonald,  Elias,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
McDonald,  John,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Magg,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Neimier,  August,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Orten,  James  E.,  died  at  Chattanooga,  Feb.  28,  1865. 
Osborne,  Allan,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Putnam,  William,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Biffep,  Thomas,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Earick,  Washington  D.,  mustered  out,  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Simpson,  George  W.,  mustered  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Slate,  James  K.,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Suter,  Thomas,  deserted,  September  24,  1865. 
Tracy,  Thomas  S.,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 
Ulmer,  Jacob,  died  at  Dalton,  Ga.,  September  7,  '65. 
Weinerth,  Adam,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1865. 
Yarbier,  Elisha,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

MUSTER   ROLI-,   COMPANY   "  E.'' 
Captain, 
George  Peters,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Henry  Kissell,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Charles  Jacobus,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Urst  Sergeant. 
Lenhart  Balz,  mustered  out,  January  27,  1866. 

Sergeants. 
William  Bartman.  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Christian  Peter,  mustered  out  Jan.  27.  '66. 
Adam  Wegandt,  must,  out  .Tan.  27,  '66,  as  private. 
George  Stoerger,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66,  as  private. 

Corporals. 
August  Schultz,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66.  as  sergeant. 
Jacob  Braun,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
John  Held,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Martin  Spater,  must,  out  Jan.  27,  '66,  as  private. 
Carl  Miller,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Jacob  Schubert,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
William  Cayakap,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
William  Plates,  mustered  out  Jan   27,  '66. 

Musician. 
Sebastian  Baumann,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Privates. 
Amend,  John,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Balheimer,  George,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Bender,  Christian,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Behm,  Nicholas,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Bingel,  Leonard,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Baumbauer,  Peter,  mustered  out  Jan.  '27,  '56. 
Benz,  Henry,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Christ,  John,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Eckar,  Louis,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Franks,  Andras,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Frelzinger,  George,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Fiddler,  Henry,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '63. 
Fisher,  Henry,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Gross,  Andrew,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Gallen,  Lewis,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Gukes,  William,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Goldman,  Andrea.',  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Grop,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Holt,  James  A.,  musiered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Kleber,  Louis,  promoted  principal  musician. 
Krusie,  Fred.,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Klein,  Adam,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Keiffer,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Krein,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Keller,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 


Keller,  Conrad,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Lauffer,  Henry,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Lauth,  Henry  J  ,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Laulh,  Henry,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Lauth,  Christian,  musiered  out  Jan  27,  '66. 

Lauth,  Jacob,  2d,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Muller,  Fred.,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Metzker,  Albert,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66 

Muldrow,  Samuel,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Miller,  Adam,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Muskoph,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Prinzen,  Fred.,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Reamer,  George,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Beyxlioser,  William,  mustered  out  Jan.  '27,  '66. 

Bech,  Theobald,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Schwab,  Valentine,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Schiner,  John,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Schraider,  John,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Schibel,  Larenz,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Stulzen,  Adam,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Stell,  George,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66.  _ 

Schubert,  Philip,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 

Threass,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Recruit. 

Lacy,  John  H.,  promoted  sergeant  major. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTIETH  INFANTRY  REGI- 
MENT. 

{One  Year  Service.) 

MtJSTEE    EOLL    COMPANY    "  F." 

Privates. 
McClure,  William  G.,  mustered  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Roseberry,  Tiffany,  mustered  out,  Jan.  27,  1866. 
Roseberry,  William,  mustered  out.  Jan.  27,  1866. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY 
REGIMENT. 

{One  Year  Service.) 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  C." 
Captain. 
Benajah  M.  Coxe,  resigned.  May  19,  1805. 

First  Lieutenant. 
James  M.  Carlton,  mustered  out,  Sept.  18,  1865. 
MUSTER    ROLL    COMPANY     "  D." 
Privates. 
Barnard,  James  H.,  mustered  out,  Sept.  18,  1805. 
Dongherty,  David  M.,  mustered  out,  Sept.  18,  1865. 

ONE   HUNDRED    AND   FIFTY-FIFTH   INFANTRY 
REGIMENT. 

{One  Year  Service.) 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  "  A." 
Privates. 
Goodwin,  Hardy  W.,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Kuenz,  Christian,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1805. 
Maer,  August,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Reus,  George,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Seliger,  Matthias,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Wolf,  Adam,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY    '' K." 

Sergeant. 
Samuel  Fulton,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865,  as  Priv't. 

Corporals. 
Theodore  Opperman,  must'd  out,  Sept.  4,  '65,  as  Sergt. 
William  Green. 

Samuel  B.  Hampton,  absent  sick  at  M.  0.  of  Kegt. 
David  Richard,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865,  as  Priv't. 
William  Tinder,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 

Privates. 
Allen,  John,  mustered  out.  Sept  4,  1866. 
Blake,  Allsey,  deserted,  March  3,  1865. 
Brown,  Isaac,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Clark,  J.ames,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Clark,  Charles,  deserted,  March  3,  1865. 
Donovan,  Richard,  deserted,  March  9,  1865. 
Godfrey,  Benjamin,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Hild,  George,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Hammond,  Martin,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Hanley,  Samuel  D.,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Kline,  Charles,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Krentzer,  John,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4, 1865. 
Long,  Philip,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Maloney,  Michael,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


161 


Perry,  Henry  0.,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Kobinson,  'ihomas,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
Schneider,  Franz,  mustered  out,  Sept.  4,  1865. 
■Watta,  Crei^hton,  must'd  out,  Sept.  4,  '65,  as  IstSergt. 

ALTON  BATTALION. 

MUSTER    EOLL    CAPT.    CURTIs'    INDEPENDENT 
COMPANY. 

Captain. 
John  Curtis,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Christopher  Lischer.  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Daniel  J.  Keeley,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

First  Sergeant. 
John  Gwillim,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

SergearUs. 
Thomas  J.  Free,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Garrett  (J.  Land,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Corporals. 
Lewis  W.  Cain,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Jacob  Pfertner,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Benjamin   M.  Cox,   mustered   out  Oct.    7,   1864,   as 

private. 
Jacob  Schmidt,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Michael  Hack,  mustered  oat  October  7,  1864. 

Musician. 
Thomas  Martin,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Wagoner. 
Conrad  Kleis,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Privates. 
Anderson,  Francis  M.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Bachmann,  Nic,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Earth,  Henry,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Baehr,  Fritz,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Bahl,  John,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Black,  Edmund  A.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Biby,  Caswell  W.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Becker,  John,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Caar,  Aaron,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Cox,  Joseph  A.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Curtis,  David  A.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Clark,  John,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Cook,  Carl,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Duncan,  James,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Doermer,  Fritz,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Danglitz,  William,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Daar,  Mathias,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Donner,   Albert,   mustered    out    Oct.   26,    1864,    as 

corporal. 
Eisemayer,  George  C,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Klkel,  Peter,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Freund,  Peter,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Fike,  Abel  C,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Furd,  Pennington,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Gemins,  Jakel,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Garrett,  Houstin,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Hamers,  Daniel,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Hauck,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Oct.  7.  1864. 
Herrmann,  Michael,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Hutten,  Henry,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Kleis,  George,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Kemler,  John,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Leffler,  Gebhard,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Lerch,  William,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Mager,  William,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Mtchelson,  Fritz,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Meyer,  Fred.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Nickel,  Louis,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Ott,  Henry,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Pickens,  Newton  J.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Koesch,  Philip,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Eagland,  William  C,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Ragland,   Silas   H.,  died  at  Camp   Butler  June  30, 

1864. 
Soheures,  Peter,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Schlotterbick,  Henry,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Schmidt,  Hugo,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864 
Schneider,  Philip,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Sears,  Elmer,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Sauerweiu,  Ernst,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Stiver,  Tobias,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Tetricke,  Riley,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Werling,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Oct.  7, 1864. 
Wigam,  Philip,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 


Wolf,  Peter,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Whiteside,  William  S.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
White,  James  M.,  mustered,  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

ALTON  BATTALION. 

MUSTER   EOLL   CAPTAIN   STOOKEY's   INDE- 
PENDENT  COMPA^Y. 
Captain. 
Simon  J.  Stookey,  mustered  out  0«t.  7,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant. 
William  M.  Lewis,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
James  W.  Isam,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Sergeants. 
James  M.  Carlton,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Franklin  W.  Brown,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Jacob  Killion,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
William  S.  Atkinson,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Corporals. 
Frederick  Haser,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Lewis  Wetheroth,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Jacob  Sutter,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Musicians. 
Harry  J.  Frankley,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Charles  S.  Clark,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Wagoner. 
Luther  R.  Pinkerton,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Privates. 
Applegate,  Lewis  R.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Bresacker,  Lewis,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Bailey,  Samuel  J.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Burke,  Franklin  M.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Benson,  Newton,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Barnes,  Lewis,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Clark,  Riley,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Cox,  Anthony,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Derleth,  Gerhard,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Evans,  William  T.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Farriss,  Robert,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Farriss,  Wilfred,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Fuchs,  Lewis,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Farriss,  Francis  M.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Fagal,  John  E.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Greffen,  William,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Homes,  Enoch,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Harsey,  Philip,  mus'ered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Hughes,  Lewis  W.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Hosier,  George,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Hewett,  George,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Hopfinger,  Frederick,  died  July  8,  1864. 
Kaeger,  Nicholas,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Keller,  Adam,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Keller,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Kirkpatrick,  John,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Linville,  George  W.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Lambaters,  Philip,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Looknet,  Gustavo,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Miningen,  F.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
McCarty,  Steven,  mustered  out  October  7,  1864. 
Miller,  John,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Oga,  Franklin,  mustered  out  Oc.  7,  18t)4. 
Patterson,  Richard  E.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Riderman.  Valentine,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Rabe,  John,  mustered  out  Oct,  7,  1864. 
Roach,  William  W.,  transferred  to  11th  111.  cav.  June 

22,  1814. 
Smirk,  Herman,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Schultz,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Swift,  William  E.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Shubert,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Snider,  Josepli,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Sibenoiar,  Nicholas,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1804. 
Stookey,  William  W.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Wliitmore,  James  C,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Wahelle,  Frederick,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
White,  James  P.,  mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 
Wider,  Nicholas, -mustered  out  Oct.  7,  1864. 

SECOND   CAVALRY   REGIMENT. 

(Three  Years'  Service.) 

MUSTER   ROLL,    COMPANY   "  E." 
Captains. 
Samuel  P.  Tipton,  resigned  Oct.  6,  1863  ;  V,  R.  C. 
August  Whiting,  discharged  at  consol.,  June  24,'65. 


First  Lieutenants. 
Edwin  F.  Babcock,  resigned  Mar.  15,  1862. 
David  H.  Porter,  resigned  Nov.  22,  1862. 
James  J.  Tipton,  discharged  March  1,  1865. 

Second  Liinlinant. 
Marcus  L.  Moore,  resigned  Sept.  29,  1865. 

First  Sergeant. 
August  Whiting,  promoted. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant. 
Robert  T.  Cunningham,  disch.  May  26,'62;  disab. 

Sergeants. 
James  J.  Tipton,  veteran,  prom,  tirst  lieut. 
Robert  Billington,  discharged  Jan.  1,  1862  ;  disab. 

Corporals. 
Michael  Ward,  discharged  Dec.  3,  62,  as  sergt;  disab. 
And.  P.  Power,  disch.  Aug.  11, '64,  as  sergt. ;  term  ex. 
Dan.  G.  Crichlow,  disch.  Aug.  ll,'64,as  priv. ;  term  ex. 
Henry  C.  Long. 
Oliver  D.  Rhoades,  disch.  July  20,  1862 ;  disab. 

Buglers. 
Gotlieb  M-  Wilhelm,  disch.  Aug.  11, '64,  priv.;  t'm  ex. 
Albert  McDonald,  veteran. 


William  Midgley. 


Farrier. 
Blacksmith. 


Joseph  Locker,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864  ;  term  expired. 

Wagoner. 
John  J.  Farmer,  discharged  Oct.  27, 1862  ;  disability. 

Privcdes. 
Andrews,   Henry,  veteran  ;    Mustered  out  Nov.  22, 

1865,  as  1st  sergeant. 
Casard,  Samuels.,  discharged  Aug.  11,  1864,  as  sergt. ; 

term  expired. 
Clarkson,  Frederick,  discharged  Aug.  11,  1864  ;  term 

expired. 
Clucas,  Joseph,  veteran. 
Craven,  Smith,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Culver,  Aaron,  re-enlisted  as  vet.  ;  killed  in  a  skir- 
mish near  Plaquemine,  La.,  Sept.  25,  1864. 
Darrow,  James  L.,  disc.  April  14,  1862  ;  disability. 
Darrow,  John  H.,  died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  March  5, 

1862. 
Davis,  Reese  W.,  discharged  Aug.  11,  1864  ;  term  ex. 
Edwards,  John  D.,  disc.  August  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Elliot,  Robert,  died  at  Cairo,  111.,  Nov.  28,  ]8t<l. 
Ely,  George  W.,  discharged  Jan.  1,  1862;  disability. 
Ewi,  Christian,  discharged  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Fitzgerald,  William  E.,  disc.  Ang.  11,  1864  ;  term  ex. 
Gatterman,  William,  transf.  to  Co.  "  F";  consolidated. 
Hall,  Andrew  J.,  disc.   July  20,   18t2,  as  ccrpoial; 

disability. 
Higgins,   Harrison  J. ;  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864 ;  term  ex. 
Higgins,  John  M.,  re-enlisted  as  vet.  ;  mu&tered  out 

June  24,  1865,  as  corp. 
Kelly,  James  K.,  re-enlisted  as  vet. 
Kelley,  George  M.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864.  as  corporal ; 

term  ex. 
Kirgan,  Simon  S.,  disc.  March  20,  1862;  disability. 
Kelley,  William  H.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Klein,  Joseph,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864  :  term  ex. 
Knowles,   Henry   M.,   disc.  Aug.  11,  18ij4,  as  sergt.; 

term  ex. 
Laundy,  Fletcher. 

Lee,  George,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864 ;  term  ex. 
McDonald,  George,  disc.  Aug.   11,  1864,  as  bugler; 

term  ex. 
Meyer,  Henry,  re-enlisted  as  vet. 
Nichols,  John  W  ,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864 ;   term  ex. 
Ogden,  David,  re-enlisted   as  vet. ;    died    at    Baton 

Rouge  Nov.  6,  1864  ;  wounds. 
Paine,  Americus  '  .,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Parsons,  Thos.  J.  M.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Pointer,  John  J.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Ray,  William  H.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Reed,  Alfred  L.,  disc.  March  20,  1862;  disability. 
Reed,  James  A.,  disc.  May  26,  1862;  disability. 
Rowley,  John,  drowned.  May  15,  1862.       ^ 
Runyan,  Andrew  J.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Scott,  William,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 
Shephard,  Albert. 
Speidel,  Philip  F.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864,  as  wagoner; 

term  expired. 
Sperdel,  David  S.,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864  ;  term  ex. 
Steward,  Edward,  disc.  June  1,  1862;  disability. 


152 


HISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Sutton,  John  L.,  died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  March  16, 
1862. 

Thornton,  Robert,  re-enlisted  as  vet. 

Tapping,  Robert  J.,  re-enlisted  as  -veteran;  quarter- 
master sergt. ;  disc.  Nov.  24,  1864. 

Vedder,  Isaac  S.,  died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Mch  4,  1862. 

Voorhies,  Cornelius  P. 

Weber,  Charles,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864 ;  term  ex. 

Wilson,  Abram,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 

Yates,  Andrew,  disc.  Nov.  15,  1861 ;  disability. 

Young,  William,  disc.  Aug.  11,  1864;  term  ex. 

Recruits. 
Casad,  Chas.  C,  died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Mch  28,  1862. 
Cole,  A.  T.,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 
Fitzpatrick,  Josiah,  disc.  Oct.  20,  1862 ;  disability. 
Frakes,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1866. 
Prakes,  Henry,  mustered  out  Nov.  22.  1865. 
Harp,  George  W.,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 
Kerr,  William  A.,  disc.  Sept.  3,  1864  ;  term  ex. 
McGee,  Stephen,  mustered  out  Nov.  i;2,  1865. 
Radefelt,  John  A.,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 
Scherffer,  Charles,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 
Scherflfer,  Augustus,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 
Toupilet,  John,  disc.  April  6,  1865 ;  term  ex. 
Utley,  Manetho,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 

THIRD     (consolidated)      CAVALRY    REGI- 
MENT. 

(^Three  Years'  Service.) 

MUSTEK  ROLL  COMPANY    '  K." 

First  Sergeant. 
Charles  Henderson,  mustered  out  Oct.  10,  1865. 

Private. 
Barber,  Austin  J.,  mustered  out  Oct.  10,  1865. 

FIFTH  CAVALRY. 

(  Three  years'  service. ) 
The  Fifth  Cavalry  regiment  was  organized 
at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  in  November,  1861, 
and  Hall  Wilson  appointed  colonel.  St.  Clair 
county  had  several  representatives  in  this 
command,  as  the  subjoined  roster  will  show. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1862,  the  regi- 
ment proceeded  to  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  on  the  3d  of  March  moved  to  Pilot 
Knob,  thence  to  Doniphan,  and  on  the  1st  of 
April  following  had  a  skirmish  with  the  ene- 
my, capturing  their  camp,  killing  three  and 
taking  seven  prisoners;  on  the  17th  of  April 
marched  to  Pocahontas ;  June  27th  started  for 
the  Mississippi  river,  arrived  at  Jacksonsport 
on  the  29th,  and  joined  Curtis'  army,  and 
marched  to  Helena  July  13th.  October  22d, 
a  forage  train  was  attacked  by  the  enemy,  and 
Lieut.  Elliott  and  seventy-eight  men  of  the 
Fifth  Cavalry  captured,  after  losing  one 
killed  and  six  wounded. 

On  January  11th,  1863,  the  regiment  made 
an  expedition  to  Duval's  Bluff,  and  in  April 
pursued  Marmaduke,  who  was  retreating  from 
Missouri.  May  29th,  186^^,  embarked  for 
Vicksburg,  and  landed  at  Snyder's  Bluff  on 
the  1st  of  June.  Made  a  reconnoiseance  to 
Mechanicsburg,  drove  the  enemy  ten  miles, 
skirmishing  heavily,  capturing  forty-three  pri- 
soners, losing  one  killed  and  seven  wounded. 
In  July  was  with  Sherman's  army  at  Jackson, 
Miss.;  was  in  the  expeditions  to  Meridian, 
Canton,  and  Granada.  In  August,  at  the  Yel- 
lowbush,  destroyed  forty  engines  and  three 
hundred  and  twenty  cars,  by  burning,  which 


could  not  be  saved,  as  the  bridge  over  the 
Yellowbush  was  destroyed.  On  the  19th 
moved  toward  Memphis;  on  the  21st  encoun- 
tered Blythe's  rebel  cavalry  at  Cold  water,  and 
defeated  them,  the  regiment  losing  one  killed 
and  five  wounded.  Arrived  at  Memphis  on 
the  22d  August,  1863 ;  embarked  for  Vicks- 
burg, and  encamped  at  Black  river  August 
29th,  where  they  remained  until  May  1st,  1864, 
then  moved  to  Vicksburg.  In  October,  with 
General  McPherson's  Seventeenth  corps  at 
Jackson,  took  part  in  a  cavalry  charge  at 
Brownsville,  routing  General  Adams. 

January  1st,  1864,  many  of  the  regiment  re- 
enlisted  as  veterans.  On  February  3d  moved 
with  Sherman's  command  on  the  Meridian 
raid.  March  17th,  the  veterans  were  fur- 
loughed,  returning  to  the  command  May  10th, 
186*4.  On  the  27th,  Colonel  John  McConnell, 
of  Springfield,  arrived,  was  mustered  and  took 
Command  of  the  regiment.  At  this  time  eight 
companies  were  dismounted,  and  did  garrison 
duty.  Companies  A,  B  and  C  were  fully 
mounted  and  equipped  During  the  months 
of  July  and  September,  the  battalion  was  at 
Jackson  and  Port  Gibson,  skirmishing  and 
fighting  frequently.  Subsequently  moved  to 
Natchez,  thence  to  Tonica  Bend,  landed  and 
moved  to  Woodville.  Surprised  and  captured 
a  rebel  camp;  during  the  night  the  enemy 
advanced  with  three  guns  and  six  hundred 
men.  The  Fifth  Cavalry  and  Third  United 
States  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  McConnell, 
charged  the  enemy  the  next  morning,  driving 
him  in  confusion,  and  captured  three  cannon. 
Returned  to  Vicksburg  October  11th.  After 
this  the  regiment  spent  several  mouths  skir- 
mishing. In  January  went  on  an  expedition 
to  southern  Arkansas  and  northern  Louisiana, 
returning  February  13th.  Ou  the  1st  July, 
moved  to  Texas  via  Red  river.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  to  General  Forsythe's  brigade, 
second  division,  Major-General  Curtis  com- 
manding. Arrived  at  Hempstead,  Texas,  Au- 
gust 26th.  Remained  at  this  post  until  Octo- 
ber 6th;  then  ordered  to  Springfield,  111. 
Mustered  out  October  27th,  and  received  final 
payment  and  discharge  October  30th,  1865. 


Buglers. 
Joseph  G.  Miles,  discharged  May  2,  1863. 
Joseph  P.  Brown,  died  at  Helena,  Ark.,  Nov.  4,  '62. 

Blacksmith. 
.rohn  P.  Hildreth,  discharged  June  2,  '65  ;  disability. 

Pr(Vates. 
Alexander  Lockwood,  Serg't,  died  at  Helena,  Ark., 

Nov.  8,  '62. 
Allen,  Martin,  discharged  Mar.  11,  '63 ;  as  sergeant. 
Cable,  Peter,  veteran,  died  at  Vicksburg,  Sept.  8,  '64. 
Conger,  Geo.,  veteran,  must'd  out  Oct.  27,  '65 ;  as  corp. 
Center,  Jacob,  veteran,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  1865. 
Dawson,  Jos.,  veteran,  died  at  Memphis,  June  16,''65. 
Garrett,  James,  died  at  Helena,  Ark.,  ,Tan.  4,  1863. 
Gott  Albert,  veteran,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  1866. 
Jenkins,  William,  veteran  must'd  out  Oct.  27,  1865. 
McGee,  Wm.,  veteran,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  1865. 
Oden,  Wilson,  veteran,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  1865. 
Price,  William,  veteran,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  1865 ; 

as  Blacksmith. 
Simons,  Nelson,  discharged  Nov.  6,  1862 ;  disability. 
Stibbons,  Edward,  mustered  out  Dec.  13,  1864. 
Wellington,  Wm.,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  '65;  as  Serg't. 


NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 
Chief  Bugler. 
Joseph  G.  Miles,  discharged  May  24,  1865. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  "  H  " 

Captain. 
Joseph  A.   Cox,  honorably  discharged  April  10,  1866. 
to  date  March  26,  '63. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Richard  Rainforth,  Promoted  Quartermaster. 

Sergeants. 
Frederick  AUbright,  veteran,  deserted  May  9,  1864. 
David  Miller,  discharged  June  2,  1862 ;  disability. 

Corporals. 
George  Jenkins,  disch'ed  June21,  '62,  Priv. ;  disability. 
Patrick  Fry,  died  at  Camp  Butler,  111.  Dec.  28,  '61. 
William  Pugh,  died  at  Memphis  March  21,  1865. 


SEVENTH  CAVALRY. 

(Three  years'  service.') 
This  regiment  was  organized  in  September, 
1861,  with  William  Pitt  Kellogg  (now  Senator 
from  Louisiana)  as  its  colonel.  St.  CJair 
county  was  represented  by  a  few  soldiers  in 
this  regiment,  in  companies  F  and  M,  and 
some  unassigned  recruits.  The  Seventh  bore 
an  honorable  part  in  the  many  engagements 
in  which  it  participated  in  the  late  civil  war. 
(We  regret  there  is  no  history  of  this  regiment 
preserved  in  the  Adjutant-General's  oflice.) 
Therefore  our  sketch  is  necessarily  brief. 
We  append  a  roster  of  the  soldiers  from  St. 
Clair: 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  F. 

Farrier. 

August  Hoardt,  must'd  out  Oct.  15,  '64,  as  blacksmith. 

MUSTER  ROr,L,  COMPANY  M. 
Recruits. 
Buchele,  Leopold,  mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Dewald,  Jacob,  mu.stered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Hahnn,  Henry,  mustered  out  May  22,  '65. 
Lay,  Joseph,  mu.stered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Panter,  Roman,  mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Panter,  Michael,  mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Richter,  Rudolph,  mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Sohrieber,  William,  mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65  ;is  Sergt; 

Unassigned  Recruits. 
Fuller,  Joshua. 

Hartman,  John,  veteran,  rejected. 
Linden,  Thomas. 
Pickerd,  Joseph. 
Seaman,  Henry  E. 

We  also  add  a  roster  of  the  men  from  this 
county  in  the  8th  and  10th  Cav'y  Regiments. 

EIGHTH   CAVALRY   REGIMENT. 

{Three   Years'  Service.) 
Recruits 
Beebwith,  Arnold,  mustered  out  July  17,  '65. 
Carnahan,  David,  mustered  out  July  17   '65. 

TENTH   CAVALRY   REGIMENT. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  C. 

Recruits. 

Simon,  Jean  Jaquea,  trans,  to  Co.  B,  reorganizing. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  D. 

Privates. 

Laforge,  Alexander,  vet.,  mustered  out  Nov.  22,  '65. 

Unassigned  Recruits. 
Kim,  Frank. 
Klein,  John, 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


153 


TWELFTH  CAVALRY  REGIMENT. 

{Three  Years  Service.) 
This  reglmeat  was  organized  in  February, 
1862,  at  CaicagD,  Arno  Yon  being  its  first 
colonel ;  it  formed  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Department  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  pur- 
suance of  general  orders  issued  March  2d, 
1865,  it  was  consolidated  into  an  eight-com- 
pany organization,  as  the  original  term  of  ser- 
vice had  expired.  Under  the  order  of  con- 
solidation, Hasbrock  Davis  became  colonel. 
St.  Clair  county  had  representatives  in  this 
regiment  in  companies  "  B,"  "  D,"  "  E,"  and 
"F."  The  12th  made  a  good  record  as  a 
brave  and  fighting  regiment. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  B." 

Privates. 
Bremer,  LouU,  killed  at  Wheelinst,  Va.,  July  6,  '62. 
Fluterer,  John,  deserted  May  — ,  '(52. 

Veterans. 
Cohn,  William,  pro.iioted  sergt.,  then  2J  limit. 
Conrad,  Jacob,  deserted  Mar.  7,  '64. 
Harin:)a,  John. 

Lsroy,  John,  discharged  Feb.  21, '65;  disability. 
McCiiUough,  John,  sergt.,  must  out  Miy  29,  '66. 
Pfeiffer,  Julius,  deserted  Mir.  17,  '64. 
Quinstedt,  Julius,  deserted  Mj,r.  17,  '61. 
Storker,  John,  mustered  out  May  29,  '66. 
Susemihl,  Charles. 

Schreiber,  Martin,  deserted  Mar.  17,  '64. 
Z  ick,  Wengel,  transferred. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY    "  D." 
Privates. 
Djoosta,  L.  C.  A.,  deserted  July  4,  '62. 
Stinn,  Charle.s,  deserted  July  4,  '62. 


Beeruils. 
Geaufio,  John,  deserted  Feb.  23,  '61. 
LeTewrj,  Jein  B.,  deserted  Feb.  23,  '61. 
Menien,  Pnilibert,  deserted  Fe').  23,  '61. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY    "  F." 
Corporals. 
Hiram  K.  Stafford,  vet.,  transferred. 
Frederic  Jurse,  mustered  out  May  29,  '66. 

Privateg. 
Criska,  William,  vet. 
Crank,  Charles,  discharged  Nov.  21,  '62. 
Munlz,  Peter,  vet.,  mustered  out  May  29,  '66. 
Moss,  Anthony. 

Morgan,  Jonathan  D.,  vet.,  deserted  Ap.  24,  '64. 
Koach,  David,  vet.,  transferred. 

The  following  men  of  the  14th  enlisted  from  St. 
Clair  county : 

FOURTEENTH   CAVALRY    REGIMENT. 


{Three  Years'  Service). 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  F." 
Pi-ivates. 
Kennedy,  Patrick,  mustered  July  31,  '65. 

MUSTER   BOLL  COMPANY   "  H." 
Privates. 
Burckhardt,  William,  deserted  Mar.  — ,  '63. 
Fargo,  Juhn,  de.«erted  Mar.  — ,  '63. 
Hoppy,  Charles,  deserted  Mar.  — ,  63. 
Kratt,  Pleasan.s,  deserted  Mar.  — ,  '63. 
Lenlz,  Charles,  deserted  Mar.  — ,  '63. 
Lorenz,  8amupl,  deserted  Mar.  — ,  '63. 
Peck,  Daniel,  deserted  Mar.  — ,  '63. 
Prye,  Jacob,  deserted  Mar.  — ,  '63. 

MUSTER   ROLL  COMPANY    "  K." 
Sergeant. 
Francis  Reithert,  musttred  out  July  31,  '63.. 
20 


Saddler. 
Samuel  Barron,  deserted  Mar.  25,  '63. 

Privates., 
Barby,  Edward,  must,  out  July  31,  '6.5,  as  corporal. 
Christy,  G-eorge,  deserted  Mar.  21,  '63. 
"Orbin,  Edward,  deserted  Feb   10,  '63. 
Robinson,  George  P.,  dis.  July  2,  '65,  as  corporal. 
Wyman,  Arthur,  deserted  Mar.  28,  '63. 

MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY   "  L." 
Recraits. 
Brown,  Azeo  K.,  mustered  out  July  31,  '65. 
(iracey,  John  E.,  unassigned  recruit. 

SIXTEENTH   CAVALRY    REGIMENT. 

{Three   Years  Service-) 
Adjutants. 
Charles  Scliutnan,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  1865. 

Quartermasters. 
William  Bohlon,  resigned,  Oct.  19,  1864. 
A.  S.  Tomlinson,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  1865. 

MDSTEE    ROLL    COMPANY    ''D." 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Guatav.  Bork,  mustered  out,  (as  Sergt.),  Aug.  19,  '65. 

MUSTEK  ROLL    COMPANY   "  E." 

Privates. 
Dechondin,  Henry,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  1865. 
Donahue,  Barth.,  must'd  out,  Aug.  ly.  '65;  wounded. 
Koester,  John  U.,  deserted,  Sept.  25,  1863. 
Loehr,  Charles,  deserted,  April  9,  1864. 
Trottmann,  frank,  mustered  put,  Aug.  19,  1865. 

Recruits. 
Naegemann,  Arnold,  abs't  in  arrest  at  M.  0.  of  Eegt. 

MnSTBR   ROLL   COMPANY   "  F." 

Sergecmts. 
Ernst  Vasse,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  1865. 
William  Goode,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  1865. 

Corporals. 
Louis  Brown,  deserted,  Jan.  29,  1863. 
Henry  Rein,  deserted,  May  17,  1863, 
t'red'ii.  Moritz,  must'd  out,  Aug.  19,  '65  ;  as  IstSergt. 
Charles  Brannfels,  discharged,  .1  une  29,  '65  ;  aj  Priv  t. 
Nioolaus  Zopf,  mustered  out.  May  20,  1865. 
Fredorick  Schoen,  died  at  Quinoy,  111.,  July  4,  18  .3. 
Adam  Theabald,  deserted,  May  14,  18b3. 

Farrier. 
Samuel  Dweisle,  deserted,  Jan.  30,  1863. 

Blacksmith. 
James  Keenan,  deserted,  Jan.  20,  1863. 

Wagoners. 
Alex.  Bullinger,  transf  d  to  V.  R.  C,  April  30,  1864. 

Privates. 
Aokerman,  Abraham,  deserted,  April  14,  1803. 
Albrecht,  Daniel,  killed  in  action  at  Tunnell  Hill,  Ga,, 

May  12,  1804. 
Alkerch,  Frank,  deserted,  Jan.  30,  1863. 
Burger,  Rudolph,  died,  Anders' y1  Prison,  Sept.  8,   64. 

Boesch,  Charles,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  18B-J. 

Benker,  John,  iu  cohhnement  at  M.  0,  of  Regt. 

Baumann,  Conrad,  deserted,  April  14,  1863. 

Baner,  John,  mustered  out,  June  13,  18U5. 

Dodge,  William,  deserted,  March  1,  1863. 

Enders,  Casper,  discharged,  Oct.  18,  18a4  ;  disability. 

Eggers,  Charles,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 

Fink,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  July  18,  1865. 

Fabriz,  Charles,  deserted.  May  26,  1863. 

Goode,  Walter,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  186.<  ;_as  Corp*. 

Grunnert,  John,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  18Bo, 

Huelsick,  John  H.,  mustered  but,  Aug.  19,  18t)5, 

Hipp,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  Aug.' 19   1^65, 

Knocke,  Charles,  transferred  to  V,  R.  C,  Oct.  1864. 

King,  James,  deserted,  June,  20,  1863. 

Krameoer,  Christian,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 

Kremer,  Jacob,  died  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  Aug.  17,  l»o4; 

wounds.  in   iQf- 

Kayser,  Gustave,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  i»ti>. 
Kober,  Robert,  must'd  out,  Aug.  19,  18GJ  ;  as  Corpl. 
Klein,  Martin,  deserted,  Jan.  3 J,  18U3. 
Kurts,  John,  deserted,  Jan.  30,  1863. 
Kern,  Daniel,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  18b j. 
Krob,  Nicolaus,  deserted,  May  25,  1863. 
Kiel,  Henry,  deserted.  Nov.  10,  18B4. 


Litzel,  George,  deserted,  May  5,  18G3. 

MeiiScklanke,  .John,  transf 'd  to  V.  R.  C,  June  2,  '6'i. 

Naher,  Charles,  died  at  Anderi'vl.  Prison,  June  19, 

1864,- No.  of  gr.ive2l77. 
Nolte,  William,  deserted,  Feb.  28,  18B3. 
Pulaw,  Henry,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  18t)5. 
Paul,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  18iJ5 ;  as  Corpl. 
Schilling,  August,  deserted,  Oct.  29,  1863. 
Seiferling,  Frederick,  deserted,  April  3J,  1864. 
Schneider,  Frederick,  deserted,  Jan.  30,  18i>-". 
Schmidt,  Geo.,  died  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  Mar.  16,  '63 
Schuller,  Valentine,  deserted,  May  30,  1863. 
Stone,  .lames,  deserted,  -Ian.  29   1863. 
Winter,  Adam,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  1865. 
Winter,  Christian,  was  prisoner,  transf'd  by  G.  C.  M., 

to  9th  Regt.,  Mo.  Car. 

Rea'uits. 
Bormann,  Firohtegott,  deserted,  Dec.  29,  1862. 
Dungstadter,  Ludwig,  deserted. 
Weise,  John,  deserted,  Dec.  30,  1862. 

MUSTER    ROLL    COMPANY   "  G." 
Captain. 
Charles  Held,  dishonorably  dismissed  Feb.  19,  '65. 

Privates. 
Bloser,  Sebastian,  deserted  Ap.  2,  '64. 
Biesenbach,  John,  mustered  out  Aug.  19,  '65. 
Brown,  William,  died  in  Anderson  ville  prison  Sept. 

16, '64;  no.  of  grave,  8962. 
Bechtold,  Fretterick,  claimed  by  12  Mo.  lufty.  .\ug. 

17,  '63. 
DeSsenbroch,  August,  mustered  out  Aug.  19,  '65. 
Gerber,  John,  corp'L,  deserted  June  4,  '63. 
Gerbenger,  Jacob,  sergt.,  deserted  Sept.  12,  '63. 
Guth,  Jacob,  mustered  out     ug.  19,  '65,  as  buglen 
Hagermann,  Frederick,  mustered  out  Aug.  19,  '65. 
Hoffner,  Paul,  bugler  to  V.  E.  C.  Jan.  21, '64. 
Hofifman,  George,  claimed  by  17th  Mo.  Infty. 
Henderson,  Johu,  mustered  put  May  20,  '65. 
Hutmacher,  Jacob,  deserted  Ap.  2,  '64. 
Jun",  Robert,  de.serted  June  7,  '63. 
lUgenst,  Adolph,  died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Dec.  4,  '64. 
Jacob,  Peter,  committed  suicide  on  battle  field  near 

Atlanta,  Ga,.  July  31,  '64. 
Jelke,  George,  mustered  out  Aug.  19,  '65. 
Klilni,  Edward,  deserted  Oct.  12,  '63. 
Klinkel,  John,  died  at  Richmond,  Va.,  Mar.  25,  '64, 

while  prisoner  of  war. 
Kupfer,  John,  desfirted  Mar.  27,  '64. 
Ifraus,  August  Disch,  Jan.  17,  '65,  as  eorp'l;    dis- 
abled. 
Laux,  Frank,  in  confinement  at  rau.^ter  out  of  reg  t. 
Lyssy,  Albert,  prisoner  of  war  at  muster  out  June  16 

to  date  May  30,  6-5; 
li^uller,  Francis;  mustered  out  Aug.  19, '65. 
Mungeuast,  Bernhardt,  must,  out  Aug.  19,  '05,  as 

corporal. 
Mucler,  Frederick,  must,  out  Aug.  19,  'Go,  as  quar;er- 

master-sergeant'. 
Miller,  John,  discharged  Mar.  28,  '64;  disability. 
Meyer,  Charles,  deserted  Ap.  19,  '64 
Printz,  Charles,  mustered  out  J  une  22,  '65, 
Papenhagen,  Frederick,  prisoner  of  war  at  must  out 

July  8,  to  date  May  30,  '6,5. 
Bitter,  John  AVilUatn,  mustered  out  Aug.  19,  6o. 
Reuner,  Ignotz,  mu.itered  out  Aug.  19,  '65. 
Ranch,  John,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19, 186-5;  as  serg  t. 
Ranch,  Philip,  mastered  out.  May  15,  18)5. 
Rogers,  George,  died  in  Anderson  ville  Prison,  June 

29,1864;  No.  of  grave  7228  ,  . 

Schumann,  Charles  F.,  promoted  sergeant  major 
Sunken,  Frederick,  sergeant,  claimed  by  12.ti   Mo. 
Infantry,  August  17,  1»63.  ,  m   ior;;     „. 

Stulbz,  John  M.,  mustered  out,  August  19,  I860 ;  as 

sergeant.  »  in   njc- 

Strabon,  George,  mustered  out,  Augu.st  19,  ISb-j. 
Tomlinson,  Almond  S.,  promoted  regimental  Q.  M. 

VettefDuterick,  deserted,  September  12,  1863. 
Wilson,  Henry,  mustered  out,  August  19,   18bo;  as 

corporal.  „ 

West  John,  mustered  out,  Augu.st  19,  18bo. 
Wei  land,  Jacob,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  O-t;  as  corp  I. 
Warner,  Juliuj-,  promoted  hospital  steward. 
Zeip,  Frank,  mustered  out,  Aug.  19,  bo;  as  saduler. 

MUSTER   ROLL,    COMPASY   "  H.  " 
Corporal. 
.Fosiah  Capos,  deserted,  October  22,  18J3. 


154 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Privates. 
Bergman,  Henry,  died  at  Andersonville  prison,  Aug. 

7,  1864. 
Camp,  Charlep,  died  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  Sept.  2,  1864. 
Heinrich,  John,  trans,  to  V.  E.  C,  Kov.  6,  1863. 
1-eo,  Paul,  corporal,  died  at  Andersonville  prison, 

September  12.  1864  ;  No  of  grave  8524. 
Koth,  Peter,  wounded  ;  died  at  Jonesville,  Va.,  March 

23,  1864,  while  prisoner  of  war. 
Eenling,  Lewis,  transferred  to  V.  E.  C,  Nov.  H,  '63. 

MUSTER  BOLL,   COMPANY   "  I.'' 

JRecruit. 
Hodges,  Elvies,  deserted,  July  12,  1863. 

MtrSTEE   EOLL,   COMPANY    "  L.'' 

Fai-rier. 
Ralph  A.  Martin,  sergeant,  died  in  Anderson  ville 
prison,  June  28,  1864;  No  of  grave  1444. 

Private. 
Sliea,  John,  deserted,  May  10,  1863. 

8PKINGF1ELD  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 

This  battery  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler, 
Illinois,  by  Capt.  T.  F.  Vaughn,  and  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  Aug.  21st,  1862. 

On  the  first  of  November,  1 862,  it  moved 
to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  and,  on  the  8th  ult., 
to  Bolivar,  Ttun.  Moved  to  Jackson  Dec. 
18th,  with  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  M. 
Brayman.  Was  engaged  in  several  expedi- 
tions from  Jackson,  during  the  winter.  June 
6th,  1863,  left  Bolivar  and  was  situated  on 
'the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad  — one 
section  at  Moscow — ,  Lieut.  Thomas  com- 
manding ;  one  at  Germantown,  Lieut.  Stillings 
commanding  ;  and  one  at  Colliersville,  Lieut. 
Colby  commanding.  June  20th,  the  battery  was 
united,  and  assigned  to  Second  Brigade,  First 
Division,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  Col.  James 
M.  True  commanding  Brigade,  and  started 
for  Little  Rock,  Ark  ,  and  participated  in  its 
capture,  Sept.  10th,  1863. 

Lieut.  Colby  commanding  one  section  of 
the  battery,  was  ordered  to  Lewisburg,  where 
it  remained   until   March  16lh,   1864. 

MISTEB   BOLL,   COMPANY    "m." 

Privates. 

Clark,  Charlep,  discharged  by  G.  C.  M.,  Nov.  15,  '04. 

Lavilli,  Maitin,  escaped  prisoner,  discharged,  Deo. 

12,  1864,  as  (orporal ;  disability. 
Pierce.  Jame.'^,  in  confinement  at  Goliimbug,  0-,  for 

defertion. 
Sullivan,  John,  died  in  Andersonville  prison,  Nov. 

1,  1864. 
Spencer,  George  H.,  deserted.  May  24,  1863. 

The  battery  was  then  assigned  to  the  second 
brigade,  first  division,  seventh  army  corps, 
with  General  Steele's  expedition  to  Cam- 
den, Ark.,  participating  in  the  several  skir- 
mishes of  the  campaign,  and  the  battles  of 
Prairie  D'Ann,  and  at  Jenkins'  Ferry,  where 
the  batttry,  being  with  the  rear-guard  at  mid- 
night, repelled  a  cavalry  charge  with  grape 
and  canister. 

May  3,  1864,  returned  to  Little  Rock,  and 
remained  until  ordered  to  Springfield,  111. 
Was  mustered  out  June  30,  1865. 


First  Lieutenant. 
Charles  W.  Thomas,  resigned  Sept  17,  '64. 

Privates. 
Barisse,  Nicola,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Blunt,  Joseph,  deserted  Oct.  22,  '62. 
Case,  Clinton  M.,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Daumler,  Ltonhard,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Duppe,  Jacob,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Fischer,  John,  died  at  Little  Eock,  Arkansas,  April 

17,  '64. 
Gibson,  William,  mustered  out  May  29,  '65. 
Gott,  Charles,  discharged  March  5,  '65 ;  disability. 
Green,  Elijah,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Hapke,  August,  discharged  March  '/2,  '65;  disability. 
Harris,  John. 
Harvey,  Isaac,  drowned  in  Aikansas  river  at  Little 

Eock,  Ark  ,  March  12, '63. 
Klekener,  John,  mustered  out  June  30,  '6-5. 
Neidiger,  Adolph,  musl'd  out  June  30, '66  as  Corp'l. 
Etyhn,  Martin,  desened  Nov.  1, '62. 
Eliodes,  John,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Schrade,  John,  mustered  out  June  30,  '05,  as  Corp'l. 
Sehupbach,  John,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Smith,  Benjamin,  musleicd  out  June  30.  '65. 
Sidebottom,  Henry,  muftered  out  June  30,  '65. 
SpSne,  Dominic,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65  as  Bugler. 
Tschuschte,  Ernst,  mustered  out  June  30,  '65. 
Vernon,  George,  deserted  Oct.  22,  '62. 
Wilson,  John,  deserted  Nov.  1,  '62. 

Recruits. 
Gelwich,  Thomas  E.,  mustered  out  June  30,  '05. 
Heimenschneider,  John,  mustered  out  June  3U,  '65. 

SECOND  ILLINOIS  LIGHT  AETILLEBY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 

MUSTER  ROLL  BATTERY  "  C." 

Corporah. 
John  B.  Stockton,  deserted,  June  12,  1862. 

Privates. 
Maloney,  James,  mustered  out,  Oct.  22,  18C4. 
Orr,  Wm.,  disch'd  for  prom'fn  in  V.  E.  C,  Aug.  3,  '63. 
Smith,  David,  died  at  I'ort  Donelson,  Sept.  23,  ]8t4. 

COMPANY  "  E  " 

Battery  "  E."  Second  Illinois  Light  Aitilleiy,  was 
organized  at  St,  Louis,  Mo.,  in  Aug.  1E61,  by  Capt. 
Adolp.  Schwartz,  and  was  mustered  into  service  Aug. 
20th,  at  St.  Louis  Arsenal. 

Lieut.  Hanger  commanding  one  section  of  the  bat- 
tery moved,  Sept.  6,  to  North  Missouri,  and  had  an 
engagement  with  the  enemy  at  Liberty,  Sept.  17th, 
and  relumed  to  Cairo,  111,,  Dec.  29,  1861.  With 
Lieut.  Gumbart  commanding,  the  battel y  moved  to 
Cairo,  Sept.  14th  ;  to  Fort  HoU  and  Jefferson,  Ken- 
tucky, and  returned  to  Cairo.  Nov.  1st,  Lieut.  Gum,! 
bart's  section  went  on  an  expedition  to  Bloomficld, 
Mo.,  and  Jan.  9,  1802,  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  and 
returned.  Moved  under  Lieut.  Gumbart,  Feb.  1st, 
1862,  to  Fort  Henry,  and,  on  13th,  arrived  before 
Fort  Donalson.  On  the  14th,  held  position  on  the 
right  with  Col.  Oglesby's  Brigade.  Lieut.  Gumbart, 
was  severely  wounded  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  ult., 
and  Lieut.  Nispel  took  command.  The  enemy's  charge 
was  three  times  repulsed.  The  battery  was  engaged 
in  the  battle  of  Sbiloh,  April  6th  and  7th,  taking  six 
different  positions.  Participated  in  the  siege  of  Corinth, 
and,  in  June,  marched  to  Purdy,  Bethel  and  Jackson, 
Tenn.  July  28th,  Lieut.  Deugel's  section  marched 
from  Bolivar,  with  Col.  Lawler's  Brigade,  and  had  an 
engagement  at  Britton's  Lane,  on  Sept.  1st,  in  which 
the  section  was  captured,  together  with  Lieut.  Deugel 
and  ten  men. 

Nov.  3d,  1862,  the  remaining  section.  First  Sergeant 
Martin  Mann  commanding,  was  attached  to  Fourth 
Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  Brigadier-Generiil 
Lauman  commanding,  and  went  on  the  Yocona  expedi- 
tion.    On  24th  December,  marched  to  Moscow,  Tenn., 


arrived  January  12,  1863.     Battery  "E."   was  con- 
solidated with  Battery  "  A." 

MUSTER  ROLL  BATTERY  "  E." 

Second  LieuteiMnt. 
Joseph  Hanger,  died. 

Corporal. 
Charles  St.  Clair. 

Privates. 
Dagne,  Adam,  discharged,  Aug.  26,  1862 ;  disability. 
Engelhover,  John, 

Fischer,  George,  mustered  out,  Sept.  29,  1864. 
Fluch,  John,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Frick,  Peter,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Herpin,  Henry,  mustered  out,  Sept.  29,  1864. 
Heyshon,  Henry,  died  at  Cairo,  111.,  Feb.  2,  1862. 
Holden,  Marony. 

Kloer,  Nicholas,  discharged,  Sept.  13, 1861 ;  disability. 
Kempp,  Frederick,  killed  at  Ft.  Donelson,  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Martin,  Franz,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  15,  18t2. 
Moger,  Charles,  mustered  out,  Sept.  29,  1864. 
Ott,  Valentine,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Pister,  John,  mustered  out,  Sept.  29,  1864. 
Kaffel,  John  or  Jacob,  mus'd  out,  Sept. 29,  '64,  as  Corpl. 
Keeb,  Conrad,  vet,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1805. 
Keimboldt,  George,  discharged.  Mar.  5, 1802  ;  disa'ty. 
Keimboldt,  Math.,  discharged.  Mar.  5,  1862;  disa'ty. 
Renter,  George,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1806. 
Eooney,  Mike,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Bust,  Christian,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1866. 
Seig,  John,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Zink,  Andrew,  vet.,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 

Veterans. 
Nagel,  William,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Purcell,  John,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Sommer,  John,  mustered  out,  July  27,  186f>. 
Schroer,  Mike,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1865. 
Schlueter,  William,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1866. 
'\'^ogt,  Anton,  mustered  out,  July  27,  1805. 

FIEST  AEMY  COEPS. 

ENLISTED  MEN   OP  COMPANY  NO.   1. 

Assigned  to  Compaiiy  "A"  2d  Segt.  U.  S-  Vet.  Vols. 
Beckham,  Joseph  M.,  must'd  out  Jan.  31,'66  as  Corp'l. 
Deer,  John,  musteied  out  Jan.  31,  '60.  . 
Dougherty,  Joseph,  mustend  out  Jan.  31,  '66. 
Fleigge,  Henry,  mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '66 
Hofi'har,  Frederick,  mustered  out  Feb.  4,  '06. 
Kebo,  or  Yebo,  John  C,  must'd  out  Jan.  31,  '66. 
Kreuter,  William   mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '66. 
Koch,  Lewis,  mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '06. 
Leveth,  Charles,  mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '66. 
McCowan,  Charles,  mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '06. 
Parker,  Henry,  or  H.  H.,  must'd  out  Jan.  31,  '66. 
Pister,  John,  mustered  out  Jan.  31.  '06. 
Thies,  Mathia«,  mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '66. 
WeitI,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '06. 
Weise,  Anthon,  mustered  out  Jan.  31,  '60. 

ENLISTED   MEN   OF   COMPANY   NO.    6. 

Spitz,  "Valentine. 
Blenel,  Albert. 
Mandall,  Lawrence. 
Eankin,  George. 
Meyer,  Nicholas. 
Augustine,  John. 
Enpesson,  Herman. 
HafTner,  Lewis. 
Hoffing,  John. 
Seims.  Henry. 
Horling,  Christ. 
Mills,  John  W. 

ENLISTED   MEN   OF   COMPANY   NO.   7. 

Assigned  to  Co  "M,"  5lh  Begt.  U.  S.  VitVols. 
Schoenly,  Jacob. 
Hansen,  William. 
BoRte,  John. 
Miller,  Daniel. 

ENLISTED   MEN   OF   COMPANY   NO.   8. 

Assigned  to  Co  "A,"  6th  Regt.   U.  S.   Vet.   Vob. 
Marsch,  Adam,  mustered  out  March  15,  '66. 
Hunziker,  John,  mastered  out  March  26. '66. 
Sernan,  John,  mustered  out  March  12,  '66. 
Pickering,  Alfred  W.,  mustered  out  Marcli  26,  '66. 
Schafer,  Frederick,  nuistered  out  March  26,  '66. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


155 


CHAPTER    XV. 

ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY. 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHUKCH. 


BY  REV.  L.  HINSSEN. 

CARCELY  had  Columbus  steered  aeross  the 
Atlantic,  and  revealed  the  wes^tern  continent 
to  awakened  Europe,  when  the  desire  of  wealth 
opened  at  once  the  floodgates  of  emigration  to 
the  New  World.  One  expedition  followed  the 
other  in  close  succession,  and — thanks  to  the 
religious  spirit  of  the  times — every  expedition 
''^^^  had  some  Catholic  missionaries  to  advance  the 

cause  of  Christianity  in  all  parts  of  the  new  continent.  There  is 
hardly  a  district  in  New  Mexico,  Florida, Texas,  California,  Louisi- 
ana and  elsewhere,  which  is  not  inscribed  in  the  annals  of  Catholic 
Missions,  as  the  theatre  of  zeal,  and  often  of  the  martyrdom  of  her 
apostles.  Our  own  state  of  Illinois  does  not  make  an  exception. 
The  progress  of  the  ancient  faith  in  Illinois  forms  an  interesting 
and  highly  suggestive  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  state.  Indeed , 
whatever  we  know  of  the  early  history  of  the  state,  of  the  original 
inhabitants,  their  manners  and  customs,  their  strifes  and  war;!,  their 
final  civilization,  or  their  total  disappearance  from  the  stage  of 
American  history,  is  most  intimately  connected  with  the  labors  of 
those  Catholic  missionaries,  who  almost  200  years  ago  first  came 
among  them  to  win  them  from  idolatry,  and  gain  them  to  Christ. 
And  in  this  great  drama  of  the  religious  history  of  our  state,  the 
county  of  St.  Clair  forms,  for  a  long  time,  one  of  the  main  centres 
from  whence  the  first  pioneers  of  religion  and  civilization  com- 
menced their  operations  toward  the  conversion  of  the  Indians,  and 
the  surrounding  country. 

When  the  first  Catholic  missionaries  made  their  appearance  in  the 
state  of  Illinois,  by  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  it  was 
occupied  by  two  kindred  nations,  each  composed  of  several  clans. 
These  were  the  Illinois  and  Miamis — the  former  made  up  of  the 
Cahokias,  Kaskaskias,  Peorias,  Tamarois,  Moingwenas.  They 
all  were  very  powerful  nations.  The  Illinois  lay  on  both  sides  of 
the  Mississippi,  whilst  the  Miamis  lay  around  the  southern  shore  of 
lake  Michigan.  All  were  in  a  state  of  barbarism.  They  recognized 
one  Supreme  Being,  had  a  faint  idea  of  the  fall  of  man,  of  the  Re- 
deemer, of  the  spiritual  world  above  us.  Devil-worship  prevailed. 
In  private  life  polygamy  existed ;  woman  was  a  slave  of  the  hus- 
band. The  country  itself  presented  a  thousand  obstacles  to  the 
missionary.  The  priest  had  to  struggle  with  the  superstition  and 
vice  of  the  Pagan  Indian  everywhere.  The  fickle  savage  was  easily 
led  astray  ;  the  least  cause  would  often  induce  him  to  throw  away  in 
one  moment  what  the  labor  of  months  and  years  of  the  priest  had 
been  able  to  build  up.  Indeed  nothing  but  religion  could  inspire 
men  to  labor  in  such  a  field,  with  so  little  honor  before  the  world, 
and  still  less  prospect  of  earthly  reward.  "  These  brave  soldiers  of 
the  cross,''  says  Bancroft, '"  faced  death,  and  difficulties  in  every 
shape,  but  they  never  receded  one  foot.  As  in  a  brave  army  new 
troops  press  forward  to  fill  the  places  of  the  fallen,  there  was  never 
wanting  heroism  and  enterprise  in  behalf  of  the  Cross  under  French 
dominion." 

Whenever  the  Jesuits  undertook  the  conversion  of  a  nation, 
their  first  care  was  to  establish  themselves  in  one  settlement,  erect- 
ing chapels  and  schools,  and  a  residence  for  themselves.  These 
settlements  by  and  by  became  the  centres  whence  missionary  opera- 
tions radiated  over  the  country.  As  the  Jesuit  Charaplain  made 
Quebec  such  a  missionary  centre  of  the  north,  whence  missionary 


,  operations  radiated  along  the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the 
great  lakes  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  so  had  the  pioneers  of  Catho- 
licity in  our  part  of  the  country  their  centres  in  Kaskaskia,  Caho- 
kia,  Prairie  du  Pont,  and  St.  Louis.  All  these  places  play  a 
prominent  part  in  the  early  history  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the 
West.  From  these  centres  the  missionaries  commenced  their  labors, 
preaching  the  gospel  to  the  Indians  and  the  French  settlers — by 
and  by  penetrating  more  into  the  interior  of  the  state  to  preach  and 
administer  the  consolations  of  religion.  Next  to  the  grace  of  God, 
it  is  to  the  incessant  labors  and  zeal  of  the  Jesuits,  the  priests  of  the 
foreign  missions  of  Quebec,  of  St.  Louis,  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia, 
that  many  Catholic  congregations  in  St.  Clair,  Randolph  and  Mon- 
roe counties,  owe  their  first  establishment,  and  preservation  of  the 
Catholic  faith.  This  is  the  reason,  why,  even  in  a  sketch  like  this 
of  St.  Clair  county,  we  cannot  avoid  speaking  of  each  one  of  them 
at  some  length. 

Besides  these  first  missionary  centres,  the  county  of  St.  Clair 
embraces  the  following  Catholic  congregations:— Cahokia,  Belle- 
ville, French  Village,  Lebanon,  New  Athens,  Freeburg,  Fayetteville, 
Millstadt,  Georgetown,  O'Fallon,  East  St.  Louis  with  two  congre- 
gations, St.  Patrick's  and  St.  Mary's,  Centreville  Station,  Mascoutah, 
Paderborn,  St.  Libory.  Of  each  one  of  them  we  would  like  to 
give  at  least  the  outlines  of  their  history,  but  we  are  sorry  to  say 
that  we  have  not  been  able  to  get  the  necessary  material  for  writing 
up  a  histt)ry  from  the  most  of  them,  for  the  simple  reason,  there  is 
none  We  have  to  limit,  therefore,  our  historical  sketch  to  the  fol- 
lowing Congregations : 

CAHOKIA. 

We  now  have  to  turn  to  the  oldest  Catholic  congregation  in  the 
West,  viz.,  Cahokia.  The  missionaries  there  were  not  of  the  same 
order  as  those  who  were  working  in  Kaskaskia,  Tamaroa  and  Pe- 
oria, who  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Jesus.  Those  men  whose 
lives  we.  have  to  record  here,  belonged  to  another  religious  order, 
which  not  very  long  before  had  been  established  in  Quebec,  Canada, 
by  its  first  bishop,  Laval.  The  saintly  bishop,  before  coming  to 
Canada,  had  received  his  theological  education  at  the  Seminary  of 
the  Foreign  Missions,  at  Paris,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  raised  to  the 
episcopacy  he  determined  to  found  a  similar  seminary  in  Quebec 
for  the  conversion  of  the  Indians.  To  the  members  of  this  seminary 
the  Catholic  church  of  America  is  indebted  for  some  of  her  most 
learned,  pious,  and  zealous  missionaries.  As  early  as  1699  the  first 
fruits  of  this  institution — Fathers  Francis  Montigny  and  Antoinne 
Davion — proceeded  to  the  Mississippi.  Reaching  Bilox  in  July, 
the  same  year,  they  proceeded  to  the  Mission  of  Father  Pinet,  who 
had  died  in  the  Tamaroa  Mission.  It  was  confided  to  their  care. 
The  first  of  their  clergymen  sent  from  the  seminary  to  Cahokia  was 
Father  John  Bergier,  a  man  of  true  merit  and  a  most  austere  life. 
He  arrived  in  the  summer  of  1694  in  the  Illinois  country,  but  very 
soon  after  his  arrival  got  into  difficulties  with  the  medicine  men,  and 
died.  His  successor  was  Father  Dominic  Mary  Varlet,  a  doctor  of 
the  Sorbonne.  He  arrived  probably  in  1712.  For  nearly  six  years 
he  was  a  zealous  and  laborious  missionary  among  the  Illinois.  At 
the  same  time  with  him  a  Father  Philip  Boucher  labored  among 
them.  He  was  stationed  at  the  Fort  St.  Louis,  at  which  he  died  in 
the  year  1719. 

Of  the  other  missions,  till  1721  nothing  is  recorded.  All  we 
know,  is,  that  not  even  then  the  whole  Illinois  nation  was  converted 
yet.  But  in  Cahokia  and  elsewhere  the  Christians  formed  the  61ite 
of  the  nation,  and  were  highly  esteemed  by  the  French  settlers  for 
their  piety  and  purity  of  morals.  Thus  it  came  that  the  French 
settlers  so  frequently  chose  wives  from  the  Indian  villages,  that  we 
must  consider  the  present  French  families  of  Illinois,  to  a  great 


156 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


extent,  as  the  descendants  of  the  Illinois  Indians.  As  to  cuttoms 
and  manners  prevailing  in  the  Christian  Indian  villages  in  Illinois, 
Father  Marest  writes :  "  Early  in  the  morning  we  assemble  the 
catechumens  in  church,  where  they  say  prayers,  receive  instruction, 
and  sing  some  hymns ;  then  the  cateCiiuinens  retire,  and  Mass  is 
said  for  the  Christians,  who  sit,  as  in  all  Indian  churches,  the  two 
sexes  on  different  sides  ;  then  follow  morning  prayers  and  an  in- 
struction, after  which  they  disperse  to  their  several  av(  cations.  The 
missionary's  day  is  taken  up  by  visits  to  the  sick,  comforting,  con- 
soling, instructing  all.  The  afternoon  is  set  apart  for  those  regular 
catechetical  instructions  by  which  the  truths  of  religion  are  repeat- 
ed and  inculcated,  till  they  become  a  part  of  their  thought,  a  tra- 
dition of  the  tribe.  At  sunset  the  chapel  is  filled  again  by  the 
village— assembled  for  evening  prayer  and  a  responsive  chiint. 
They  close  the  day  as  piously  as  it  began.  Sundays  and  holidays 
witness  still  greater  devotion,  and  each  Saturday  the  confessional  is 
thronged  by  frequent  penitents." 

In  the  year  1721 — when  Father  Charlevoix  visited  the  Cahokia 
Mission — it  was  composed  of  two  tribes,  who  formed  one  large 
town.  The  two  priests  there  were  then  Father  Domenic  Thaumure 
de  la  Source — the  other  L.  Mercier.  He  was  pastor  of  Cahokia  in 
the  year  1739.  He  was  a  Sulpitian  Priest.  In  the  year  1740, 
FathirLawrant,  1754,  Forget,  1784  Bernard,  1787,  P.  Devrins, 
1790,  Gibault,  1792,  Ledu,  1793,  Lavadoux,  V.  G.,  1797,  Lusson, 
1799,  Olivier,  1805,  Donatian  Oliver,  1807,  J.  B.  Didier,  1810,  M. 
Jos.  Durand,  1810,  Urbain  Gillet,  1812,  Savine,  1826;  Dom.  Lam- 
bier,  1827,  J.  A.  Lutz,  1828,  Saussoir,  attended  the  Cahokia 
Mission.    About  this  year  it  numbered  160  families,  about  800  souls. 

A  short  time  after  Father  Mercier,  things  changed.  When  Lou- 
isiana was  formed  a  colony,  Illinois  became  subject  to  its  govt-rn- 
ment.  About  this  time  the  Jesuits  established  themselves  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  their  superior  at  New  Orleans  had 
the  superintendence  of  the  Illinois  Mission.  From  this  time  on, 
therefore,  the  missionaries  for  the  Illinois  came  from  New  Orleans, 
by  way  of  the  Mississippi.  Thus  in  1725  we  find  Fathers  deBeau- 
bois  and  Deville  ascending  the  river  to  the  Illinois  Mission.  They 
were  followed  in  1727  by  Fathers  Dumas,  Tartarin,  aud  Doutreleau. 
The  Superior  of  the  Jesuits  of  the  Illinois  Mission  was  Father 
Boularger.  He  had  the  superintendence  of  all  missions  except  Ca- 
hokia, where  the  priests  of  the  Seminary  of  Foreign  Missions  at 
Quebec  continued  as  pastors  of  the  French,  and  converted  Indians. 
In  1757  Choisaul,  Minister  of  France,  surrendered  the  possessions 
of  France  in  North  America  to  England  and  Spain.  The  Jesuits, 
of  whom  he  was  a  bitter  enemy,  were  driven  from  their  colleges, 
the  centre  of  the  missions,  in  New  Orleans,  was  suppressed  in  1762, 
and  all  further  reinforcements  were  cut  off  from  the  Illinois  Mis- 
sion. Part  of  the  Jesuit  property  in  Illinois  had  been  sold  by  the 
French  government,  and- the  means  of  the  missionaries  so  reducid, 
that  they  were  scarcely  able  to  support  themselves. 

Father  Peter  Potier,  the  last  Jesuit  in  the  west,  frequently  visited 
the  Illinois  mission  down  to  his  death,  which  happened  in  1781,  at 
Detroit.  Then  the  few  remaining  Indians  came  under  the  care  of 
otljer  clergymen.  Cahokia  and  .the  other  Indian  and  French  set- 
tlements in  Illinois,  were  for  a  long  time  under  the  administration 
of  the  Bishop  of  Quebec.  The  succession  of  priests  who  attended 
these  missions,  especially  in  Cahokia,  seems  never  to  have  been  in- 
terrupted for  any  considerable  time,  as  the  above  given  list  of  pas- 
tors iu  Cahokia  shows.  Besides  Cahokia,  Prairie  du  Rocher  had  a 
resident  pastor,  who  occasionally  resided  also  iu  Kaskaskia.  From 
the  year  1770  to  1790,  these  places  were  under  administration  of 
Rev.  M.  Gibault,  «ho  was  Vicar'General  of  the  Bishop  of  Quebec 
for  the  Illinois  mission  ;  he  resided  in  Cahokia.     In  the  year  1790, 


Rev,  de  la  Valiniere  occupied  that  position  ;  and  in  the  year  1793, 
Rev.  Levadout,  wh'i  for  some  time  also  resided  at  Cahokia.  After 
the  appointment  of  the  first  American  bishops  at  Baltimore,  the 
Rev.  Gabriel  Richard  and  Rev.  John  Janin  were  the  missionaries 
of  this  region  ;  and  in  1799  the  Very  Rev.  Donatius  Oliver,  as 
Vicar  General  of  Bishop  Carroll,  took  charge,  and  continued  to 
do  so  till  1827.  In  1833  the  Episcopal  See  of  Detroit  was  estab- 
lished, and  embraced  within  its  vast  jurisdiction  the  whole  of  Illi- 
nois. Shortly  afterwards  the  see  of  Vincennes,  Indiana,  was  erected, 
and  this  diocese  embraced  the  north-eastern  part  of  Illinois,  and 
continued  to  do  so  until  the  creation  of  the  see  of  Chicago.  The 
first  Bishop  of  Chicago  was  the  Right  Rev.  William  Quarter,  con- 
secrated March  10th,  1844.  He  died  on  the  10th  of  April,  1848. 
His  successor  was  the  Right  Reverend  James  Oliver  Van  de  Velde. 
He  was  consecrated  February  11th,  1849.  At  his  first  visitation  of 
the  diocese,  July  25th,  1849,  he  visited  Prairie  du  Rocher,  Goho- 
ki»,  Belleville,  Kaskaskia  and  other  places  in  St.  Clair  county. 

The  first  National  Council  at  Baltimore,  May  9th,  1852,  created 
a  new  see  al  Quincy  for  the  southern  portion  of  Illinois  ;  but  on  the 
refusal  of  the  Very  Rev.  Melchers,  the  Vicar  General  of  St. 
Louis,  and  afterwards  Bishop  of  Green  Bay,  to  accept  the  new  see 
of  Quincy,  and  the  appointment  of  Bishop  Van  de  Velde  to  the  see 
of  Natchez,  the  diocese  of  Quincy  remained  under  the  administra- 
tion of  Bishop  Van  de  Velde.  In  the  year  1857  the  see  of  Qnincy, 
Illinois,  was  tranferred  to  Alton,  which  latter  see  embraced  not 
only  the  south-eastern  portion  of  Illinois  which  constituted  the  late 
see  of  Quincy,  but  also  the  counties  of  Adams,  Brown,  Cass,  Menard, 
Sangamon,  Moultrie,  Coles  and  Edwards,  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 
The  first  Bishop  of  the  See  of  Altt.n  was  the  Right  Rev.  Henry 
Damian  Juncker ;  he  was  consecrated  April  26th,  1857,  in  Cincin- 
nati, by  Archbishop  Purcell.  In  the  first  year  after  his  consecra- 
tion he  went  to  Europe,  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  his  diocese,  in 
which  there  were  only  eighteen  priests.  He  succeeded  beyond  all 
expectation-  Bishop  Juncker  died,  after  a  long  and  severe  illness, 
at  his  residence  iu  Alton,  on  the  Feast  of  the  Guardian  Angels, 
October  2d,  1868.  The  proudest  eulogy  on  Bishop  Juncker  and 
his  work  is  the  fact,  that  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  number  of 
priests  was  increased  from  eighteen  to  one  hundred  ;  the  churches 
from  twenty-three  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  ;  the  parochial 
schools  were  fifty-six ;  two  colleges  for  boys,  six  academies  for  girls, 
two  hospitals  and  an  orphan  asylum.  He  made  the  diocese  of  Al- 
ton one  of  the  most  flourishing  dioceses  of  tne  United  States,  be- 
cause he  was  an  apostle  and  father  for  all  and  the  blessing  of  God 
was  with  him.  His  successor  in  the  See  of  Alton  is  the  Right  Rev- 
Peter  Joseph  Baltes. 

Before  the  creation  of  the  Episcopal  See  of  Chicago,  and  after- 
wards, the  priests  from  St.  Louis  would  Ircquenily  cross  the  river 
to  administer  the  consolations  of  religion  to  their  brethren  in  the 
faith  in  Illinois  especially  in  St.  Clair  county.  The  last  priest 
from  Quebec,  residing  in  Cahokia  as  pastor,  was  the  above-named 
Father  Savine,  who  left  Cahokia  about  the  year  1823.  His  succes- 
sor was  the  Rev.  Father  Lambier  and'then  Father  Lutz,  who  re- 
mained but  a  very  short  time.  After  his  departure,  Father  Saus- 
soir, and  very  soon  afterward  Father  Dontreligne  a  member  of  tl  e 
Lazarist  Fathers,  from  the  Barren?  in  Missouri,  took  charge  of  the 
congregation.  His  successor  was  Father  Loisel.  After  his  death 
Father  Dontreligne  returned  to  Cahokia  From  there  he  under- 
took, although  advanced  in  years,  the  creation  of  a  new  church  in 
Ceutreville  Station,  about  six  miles  from  Belleville.  After  having 
completed  the  church,  aud  a  small  residence  for  himself,  he  moved 
from  Cahokia  to  Centreville  Station,  where  he  spent  his  time  in 
prayer  and  meditation  until  1873,  when  he  returned  to  the  House 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


157 


of  tbe  Lazarists  in  Missouri,  where  he  died  the  same  year.  His 
successor  as  pastor  of  Cohokia  was  Father  Landry  from  Canada, 
and  part  of  the  time  Father  Jacque,  who  died  in  the  year  1878 
in  Centreville  Station.  His  successor  as  pastor  of  Cahokia  and 
Centreville  Station  was  the  Kev.  Father  Kemper,  who  still  resides 
as  pastor  in  Centreville  Station. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  priests  of  Cahokia,  who  from  Prairie 
du  Rocher  now  and  then  would  come  to  Cahokia  to  hold  divine 
service,  was  Father  Oliver— he  was  a  native  of  Italy.     For  many 


years  be  labored  with  great  zeal  in  Prairie  du  Rocher,  Kaskaskia 
and  Cahokia  among  the  Creoles  and  English  settlers.  He  acquired 
a  great  reputation  for  his  sanctity  and  holiness.  Long  after  his 
death,  which  took  place  about  1827,  the  author  of  this  sketch 
happened  to  come  to  the  former  scene  of  his  labors  in  the  cause  of 
religion.  Even  then  his  name  was  kept  in  veneration  by  all. 
Some  of  the  oldest  settlers  mentioned  many  extraordinary  things 
about  that  saintly  man,  which,  if  true,  certainly  could  only  happen 
in  the  life  of  a  saint. 


ST.  Peter's  church,  bellzville. 


SECOND  ST.  PETER'S  ROMAN   CATHOLIC  CHURCH 
OF  BELLEVILLE. 

BY  DR.  JUL.  KOHL.* 

The  compilation  of  the  history  of  a  congregation,  like  that  of  St. 
•  Note — The  author  of  this  sketch  has  taken  his  facts  arid  dates  from  a 


Peter's  of  Belleville,  presents  more  difficulties  than  would  appear 
at  first  glance.  Material  is  scant,  has  to  be  collected  from  different 
sources,  the  most  of  it  being  traditional,  and  comprises  a  period  of 
more  than  fifty  years.  The  first  missionary  priests  were  generally 
manufcript  of  atout  200  pages,  entitled  "History  of  St.  Peter's  congregation"^ 
written  by  Eev.  L.  Hinssen,  the  present  Rector. 


158 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


content  to  labor,  and  leave  the  record  of  their  deeds  to  God  alone. 
The  material  of  this  historical  sketch  is  collected  to  a  great  extent 
from  the  narratives  of  the  old  pioneers,  and  may  of  necessity,  now 
and  then,  be  a  little  at  variance  with  real  facts,  as  regards  dates,  etc. 

The  hist  jry  of  the  establishment  and  development  of  St  Peter's 
congregation  to  its  present  large  proportion  differs  but  little  from 
that  of  every  other  congregation  of  the  West.  A  few  settlers  form 
the  nucleus,  so  in  Belleville.  Among  the  first  of  Catholics  we  find 
Mr.  Etienne  Pensoneau.  When,  in  the  year  1814,  the  County  seat 
of  iSt.  Clair  was  removed  from  Cahokiato  Belleville,  Mr.  Pensoneau 
obtained  the  contract  for  the  building  of  the  new  Court  house.  It 
appears  that  Mr.  Pensoneau  owned  the  greater  part  of  the  land  in 
and  around  Belleville,  which  in  the  year  1825  he  sold  to  Governor 
N.  Edwards.  It  is  more  than  probable,  that  now  and  then  divine 
service  was  held  in  his  house  by  priests  from  Cahokia,  at  which 
place  a  flourishing  congregation  had  been  in  existence  for  about 
200  years.  The  congregation  of  Cahokia  consisted  mostly  of 
French,  and  some  few  German  and  English  Catlvolics.  About  the 
year  1830  other  Catholic  families  removed  from  Cahokia  to  Belle- 
ville. Prominent  among  them  were  were  the  names  of  Hay, 
Snyder,  Chandler,  La  Croix.  A  son  of  Mr.  Hay  is  our  worthy 
Ex-Congressman,  Hon.  J.  B.  Hay.  A  son  of  Mr.  Snyder  is  our 
beloved  fellow-citizen,  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Snyder,  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  while  Mrs.  Chandler  and  Mr.  R  La  Croix.  Mrs.  Mary 
Mueller,  formerly  Miss  Demette,  and  others  are  all  enjoying  the 
love  and  esteem  of  the  citizens  of  Belleville.  In  the  houses  of  most 
of  the  above  mentioned  divine  service  was  held  by  priests  from 
Cahokia,  Kaskaskia  and  St.  Louis.  Only  two  German  Catholic 
families  were  living  near  Belleville  at  that  time.  But  in  the  year 
1830  Germans  began  to  settle  in  and  around  Belleville.  We  find 
the  names  of  Hyacinth  Minie,  Anthony  Joffray,  Peter  Mersinger, 
G.  J.  Adam,  Peter  Fegan,  John  Kern.  Two  years  later  L.  Boul, 
L.  Germain,  N.  Robo,  N.  Stauder,  J.  Priegler,  Karlskind,  Pfeiffer, 
Perrin,  Lutz,  Prospor  Pournor,  with  his  two  sons,  Jacob  and 
Leverin.  They  came  from  Alsace  and  Lorrain.  Mr.  N.  Robo  is 
the  only  survivor  of  the  first  comers.  He  is  the  old  member  of  St. 
Peter's  congregation,  and  now  85  years  old.  After  the  year  1832 
immigration  assumed  larger  proportions.  Numerous  Catholic 
arrived.  We  find  the  following  names :  Joseph  Meyer,  N.  Meyer, 
still  one  of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  congregation. 
Probably  no  one  has  done  so  much  for  the  church  as  he. 
Froehlich,  Mueller,  Louis,  Wisrock  (now  in  Texas),  Huber, 
Wagner,  Gundlach,  Steinwasser,  Bosch,  Sholz,  Dahm,  Kissel, 
Stauder,  and  others.  By  this  time  the  number  of  Catholics  was 
enough  to  form  a  congregation,  but  they  had  not  the  means  to  build 
a  church.  Mass  was  said  in  the  different  houses,  sometimes  in  the 
Court-house.  To  comply  with  their  Easter  duties,  they  went  to 
St.  Louis  to  the  Cathedral  Church,  or  to  St.  Thomas  Church,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Centrevillc.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1839,  a 
priest  from  Cahokia  visited  Belleville  with  more  regularity.  For 
some  time  it  was  Father  Loisel,  a  Frenchman.  Afterward  Father 
Dontreligne,  a  member  of  the  Lazarists  of  St  Louis  and  Cape 
Girardeau.     Mention  of  him  will  be  made  elsewhere. 

The  first  German  priest  who  visited  Belleville  was  Father  Meyer. 
He  came  from  Prairie  du  Long.  Basides  Belleville,  Father  Meyer 
vi.-iited  Shiloh  and  O'Fallon.  Near  Shiloh  there  was  a  little  log 
church  called  the  Stauder  church.  Whenever  Mr.  Stauder  was 
advised  of  the  arrival  of  a  priest  he  would  call  the  settlers  together. 
After  mass  Mr.  Stauder  would  also  provide  for  the  bodily  needs  of 
those  that  came  from  a  distance.  The  bell  used  at  that  chapel  is 
hanging  at  present  on  the  north  side  of  St.  Agnes  Orphan  Asylum, 
Belleville.     It  is  the  only  relic  of  those  bygone  days. 


In  the  year  1842  the  Catholics  of  Belleville  received  their  first 
pastor  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Father  Kuenster.  His  name  appears 
on  the  baptismal  record,  first  on  November  20,  1842,  and  last,  on 
September  24, 1845.  Father  Kuenster  labored  hard  to  establish  a 
congregation  and  with  success.  He  held  divine  service  in  the 
houses  of  Messrs.  Joseph  Meyer  and  N.  Meyer,  the  latter  still  an 
active  and  highly  meritorious  member  of  St.  Peter's  congregation. 
But  seeing  the  congregation  steadily  increasing  he  decided  to  build 
a  church.  His  decision  was  hailed  by  all  with  joy.  Two  acres  of 
land  were  bought  of  Mr.  Joseph  Meyer,  for  the  sum  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars.  They  were  situated  on  what  was  then  just  on  the  line 
of  the  city  limits  where  now  St.  Peter's  Church  and  the  Institute  of 
the  Immaculate  Conception  stand.  In  the  spring  of  1843  the 
corner  stone  was  laid  by  the  Right  Reverend  Peter  Richard  Ken- 
rick,  at  present  Archbishop  of  St.  Louis.  The  dimensions  of  the 
proposed  building  were  sixty  feet  by  forty.  Mr.  Nicholas  Meyer 
received  the  contract  for  the  brickwork  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  dollars,  the  lowest  bid.  The  building  progressed  slowly 
for  the  want  of  means.  People  were  poor,  as  may  be  inferred  from 
the  fact  that  only  thirteen  members  of  the  congregation  declared 
themselves  able  to  contribute  money,  the  rest  paid  their  subscrip- 
tion in  labor.  It  took  more  than  a  year  before  they  could  get  the 
church  under  roof,  and  for  a  long  time  afterwards  it  was  neither 
plastered  nor  floored,  so  that  the  faithful  coming  to  mass  on 
Sunday,  had  to  kneel  on  the  bare  ground.  Father  Kuenster  was 
discouraged.  Other  troubles  began  to  surround  him.  Because  he 
had  refused  to  admit  a  bad  Catholic  to  stand  for  godmother  at  the 
baptism  of  an  infant,  a  mob  from  Centerville  waylaid  him  at  a 
place  where  now  West  Belleville  is  built.  They  carried  him  off  to 
Centerville  and  from  there  about  three  miles  farther  to  an  oil  log- 
house,  where  they  kept  him  22  hours  without  water  and  food.  For 
some  time  it  was  not  known  among  the  Catholics  of  Belleville 
where  Father  Kuenster  was,  until  a  messenger  brought  the  news, 
whereupon  several  men  of  Belleville  started  out  to  release  him. 
The  families  of  those  who  took  part  in  that  fiendish  act  against  the 
priest  have  all  disappeared,  their  fate  has  been  poverty  and  dis- 
honor. But  under  such  circumstances  it  became  desirable  for 
Father  Kuenster  to  be  removed  from  Belleville.  His  superior 
therefore  transferred  him  to  Teutopolis,  Effingham  Co.  Ills.,  but 
soon  afterwards  he  went  to  Quiucy,  where  he  died.  Whilst  he  was 
in  Belleville  he  visited  regularly  the  settlements  in  St.  Libory, 
Germantown,  Clinton  County;  Red  Bud,  Randolph  Co.,  and 
Edwardsville,  Madison  Co.,  1845  to  1855.  The  successor  of 
Father  Kuenster  as  pastor  at  Belleville  was  the  Rev.  Father  G. 
H  Ostlangenberg.  He  was  a  native  of  Alsace  Lorrain  He  must 
have  arrived  about  the  middle  of  September,  1845,  for  we  find  his 
name  in  the  Baptismal  Record  of  the  congregational  on  the  28th 
of  September,  1845.  Father  Ostlangenbeig  was  a  man  of  great 
piety,  zeal  for  the  honor  of  God,  and  of  great  kindness  of  heart. 
Add  to  this,  that  he  spoke  French,  German,  and  English  fluently. 

No  wondtr  that  he  laboured  with  great  success  in  the 
numerous  congregations  of  Freich,  German  and  English 
catholics.  His  first  task  was  to  complete  the  new  church,  which 
his  predecessor  had  begun,  and  to  clear  it  from  debt.  This  done, 
his  next  undertaking  was  to  establish  a  catholic  school,  to  protect 
the  children  of  his  congregation  against  a  godless  education. 
In  the  fall  of  1849,  he  took  a  trip  to  Europe,  to  see  his  old  home. 
During  his  absence  the  congregation  built  him  a  residence.  Whilst 
pastor  at  Belleville,  he  attended  regularly  the  Catholic  settlements 
in  Mascoutah,  Prairie  du  Long,  Freeburg  and  Centerville. 
Father  Ostlangenberg,  though  beloved  by  the  congregation  re- 
mained poor.      He  often  had  to  beg  for  the  most  necessary  things 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


159 


even  food,  and  for  the  first  two  years  he  had  not  even  a  bed  to 
sleep  on.  However,  he  persevered,  trusting  to  God  and  better 
times.  The  congregation  increased  rapidly  by  immigration  and 
converts.  Twice  during  his  administration  the  sacrament  of  con- 
firmation was  administered.  The  first  time  by  Bishop  Quarter, 
from  Chicago;  the  other  time  by  his  successor.  Bishop  Van  de 
Velde.  Although  Father  Ostlangenberg  was  a  man  of  great  piety 
and  kindness  of  heart,  nevertheless  he  had  his  enemies.  They  caused 
him  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  grief;  broken  in  heart  he  left  Belle- 
ville. But  whilst  his  enemies  have  disappeared  altogether,  reduced 
to  poverty  and  oblivion,  the  name  of  Father  Ostlangenberg  is  kept 
in  veneration  by  all.  At  present  he  is  stationed  in  Augusta,  Ken- 
tucky. 

The  successor  of  Rev.  Ostlangenberg  was  Rev.  Father  P.  J. 
Baltes,  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Waterloo,  Monroe  county,  Illinois, 
at  present  bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Alton.  The  Right  Rev.  P.  J. 
Baltes  was  born  in  Germany  ;  at  the  age  of  seven  he  came  to  this 
country  with  his  parents,  who  settled  at  Oswego,  New  York.  He 
finished  his  ecclesiastical  studies  at  Montreal,  in  the  Sulpitian  Sem- 
inary, and  was  ordained  priist  in  the  year  1853.  With  a  firm  baud 
he  took  hold  of  everything  to  further  the  progress  of  his  congrega- 
tion. He  took  great  pains  to  conduct  divine  service  in  a  worthy 
nianntr,  and  had  the  church  ornamented  by  nice  fresco-paintings. 
During  the  first  year  of  his  administration  a  large  new  bell  was 
purchased.  On  the  occasion  of  the  blessing,  it  was  carried  through 
the  streets  of  Belleville  in  a  large  procession,  November  26,  1856 ; 
the  Rev.  Father  Siegrist,  of  St.  Louis,  delivered  the  sermon.  In 
the  year  1857,  he  took  up  a  collection  for  the  building  of  a  convent 
for  sisters,  for  the  education  of  the  girls  of  the  congregation.  Else- 
where will  be  found  a  description  of  his  success  in  this  undertaking. 
In  the  year  1863,  every  one  could  see  that  the  church  which  had 
been  built  by  Father  Kueuster  twenty  years  ago,  was  inadequate 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  constantly  increasing  congregation. 
Permission  to  build  a  new  church  was  readily  granted  by  his  grace 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  D.  Juncker,  of  Alton,  Illinois,  and  on  June  the 
2Hth,  1863,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  by  the  same  in  the  presence  of 
the  whole  congregation,  and  numerous  priests  of  the  diocese  of 
Alton  and  St.  Louis.  The  building  of  the  new  church  progressed 
rapidly  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Brady,  from  St.  Louis,  the 
architect.  Catholics  and  protestants  alike  looked  forward  with 
eagernf  ss  to  its  completion,  when  misfortune  overtook  the  work  on 
December  6, 1865.  On  that  day  one  of  the  large  pillars,  which  had 
unfortunately  been  constructed  of  brick  gave  way,  and  the  beautiful 
edifice,  the  pride  of  the  city  of  Belleville,  the  work  of  years,  fell  to- 
gether a  heap  of  ruins.  Consternation  betook  all,  but  not  the  one 
who  had  undertaken  and  conducted  the  whole  work ;  Father  Baltes 
stood  like  a  man.  Trusting  in  God  and  his  good  parishoners,  he 
began  the  work  anew,  and  in  less  than  one  year  the  church  rose  out 
of  it  ruins  better  and  finer  than  before.  About  the  1st  of  October, 
1866,  the  building  was  completed  with  the  exception  of  the  towers. 
In  November,  1866,  priests  and  people  had  the  pleasure  to  see  the 
magnificent  temple  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  in  the  presence 
of  Rt.  Rev-  P.  R  Kenrick,  archbishop  of  St.  Louis ;  Bishop  Luers, 
of  Fort  Wayne,  and  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  D.  Juncker,  of  Alton,  and 
numerous  priests  and  people.  The  cost  of  erection  amounted  to 
$87,000.  Mr.  Nic.  Meyer  made  the  brickwork ;  Mr.  U.  Becker  the 
masonry ;  Mr.  Rufus  Melcher  the  carpenter  work ;  Mr.  Stoppel- 
kamp  the  furniture,  and  Mr.  Gratian  of  Alton,  the  organ,  which 
alone  cost  $4,200.  The  church  is  built  in  Gothic  style,  has  one 
large  and  one  small  -steeple,  the  larger  one  being  213  feet  high. 
The  inside  is  divided  in  three  naves,  and  a  spacious  sanctuary.  The 
dimensions  are  as  follows  :  depth  of  church  1 98  feet,  width  70  feet. 


height  65  feet.  The  high  altar  built  in  Gothic  style  by  Mr.  Stop- 
pelkamp  of  St.  Louis,  was  put  up  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1870, 
and  in  the  month  of  May  the  same  year,  was  consecrated  by  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Bishop  P.  J.  Baltes.  There  are  four  life-size  statues  on  the 
altar,  St.  Jerome,  St.  Ignatius,  St.  Charles  Borromeo  and  St. 
Francis  of  Sales.  They  were  made  by  Mr.  Schneiderhahn  of  St. 
Louis,  and  are  masterpieces  of  art.  Mr.  Schneiderhahn  three  years 
afterwards  built  also  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  the 
statues  thereon  Finer  pieces  of  art  can  hardly  be  found  anywhere. 
The  altar  is  built  like  everything  connected  with  St.  Peter's  church 
in  Gothic  style,  richly  ornamented.  The  statute  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  with  the  infant  fc^aviour  graces  the  centre  niche,  while  ihe 
two  side  niches  are  adorned  with  the  statues  of  the  youthful  saints 
St.  Aloysius  and  Rosa  of  Lima.  Near  the  main  entrance  of  the 
church  on  the  gospel  side,  there  is  the  Baptismal  font  and  a  statue 
of  the  mother  of  Dolors,  also  from  Mr.  Schneiderhahn.  It  is  like 
the  celebrated  "  Pieta  "  of  Achterman.  The  paintings  consist  of 
one  large  fresco  painting,  representing  the  transfiguration  of  Christ 
on  Mount  Tabor,  the  other  of  any  note  is  an  oil  painting  represent- 
ing Saint  Margaret  Alocoque,  with  the  well-known  picture  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus.  in  the  second  year  after  the  dedication  of 
St.  Peter's  Church,  1868,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Juncker  of  Alton 
died;  Father  Baltes  was  appointed  administrator,  and  about  thir- 
teen months  afterwards  bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Alton,  by  his  holi- 
ness Pope  Pius  IX.  His  consecration,  of  which  mention  will  be 
made  hereafter,  took  place  January  23,  1870. 

1870  TO  1881. 
The  successor  of  Father  Baltes  was  Rev.  Father  Louis  Hinssen, 
the  present  rector-  of  the  congregation.  Aside  from  an  enormous 
church  debt,  resulting  from  the  building,  downfall  and  rebuilding 
of  St.  Peter's  church,  etc.,  the  new  rector  found  a  well-regulated  and 
large  congregation.  With  youthful  energy  he  took  hold  of  every- 
thing likely  to  further  the  interests  and  welfare  of  his  flock.  His 
first  care  was  to  reduce  the  church  debt,  by  collections  taken  up 
through  the  congregation,  by  fairs,  and  by  obtaining  money  at  a 
lower  rate  of  interest.  He  succeeded  so  well  in  this,  that  now,  after 
the  lapse  of  eleven  years,  after  having  paid  during  that  time  the 
sum  of  $27,560  for  interest  on  the  old  church  debt,  $56,420  for  new 
buildings  and  other  improvements,  and  more  than  $30,000  for  cur- 
rent expenses,  the  debt  is  reduced  to  nearly  one-half  of  what  it  was. 
At  the  same  time,  numerous  other  improvements  have  been  made 
during  his  administration.  Among  others,  we  mention  the  building 
of  the  two  spires  of  St.  Peter's  church,  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000 ; 
the  life-size  statues  on  the  high  altar ;  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Vir- 
gin, in  gothic  style  and  richly  ornamented,  which  cost  $1675  ;  the 
Catholic  Casino  building,  the  St.  Agnes  Orphan  Asylum,  the  acqui- 
sition of  the  new  St.  Peter's  Catholic  Cemetery  on  Green  Mount, 
and  lastly,  the  fine  St.  Elizabeth  Hospital  for  the  Sisters  of  Charity, 
which  was  completed  May  21, 1881,  and  on  the  following  day,  May 
22,  opened  for  the  reception  of  patients.*   He  was  also  instrumental 

*  1.  All  patients  wishing  to  have  access  to  the  hospital  must  get  a  permit 
from  ihe  rector  of  St.  Peter's  church,  together  with  a  recommendation  of  any 
physician  of  good  standing  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  in  which  the  sickness  is 
stated.  If  it  be  a  case  of  accident  or  any  other  urgent  case,  the  admission  is 
left  optionable  with  the  Sister  Superioress  of  the  hospital. 

2.  The  charges  for  ward  patients  are  from  S4  to  $6  per  week,  including 
board  and  medicines.  Delicacies,  fine  wines,  etc.,  prescribed  by  the  physician, 
form  extra  charges. 

3.  Private  patients,  who  are  able  to  pay  for  medical  services,  either  surgical 
or  otherwise,  have  to  pay  for  them.  They  pay  to  the  hospital  from  ?6  to  18 
per  week.    Delicacies,  fine  wines,  etc  ,  prescribed  by  the  physician,  form  extra 

charges. 

4.  Any  patient  wishing  to  employ  any  other  physician  than  those  connected 


160 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


in  establishing  several  societies  for  the  interests  of  his  church  and 
his  parishioners,  so  the  St.  Peter's  Altar  Society,  the  obj  'ct  of  which 
is  to  provide  means  for  beautifying  the  altars  of  the  church  and 
everything  necessary  for  divine  service ;  the  St.  Cecilian  Society, 
for  good  church  music,  with  about  fifty  members,  Mr.  Clemens  Wel- 
lenbrink,  director;  the  sodalities  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  for  young 
men  and  young  ladies ;  a  Library  and  Reading  society,  with  a  cata- 
logue of  at  least  1100  works;  the  St.  Aloysius  Debating  Club,  for 
the  intellectual  improvement  and  amusement  of  young  men  ;  the 
St.  Aloysius  and  St.  Rosa  Society,  for  first  communicants ;  the 
Catholic  Casino,  for  the  intellectual  improvement  and  recreation  of 
the  men  of  the  congregation,  by  lectures,  speeches,  debates  and  con- 
certs A  building  was  erected  for  the  club  at  a  cost  of  $15,000, 
including  furniture,  etc.  It  contains,  in  the  first  story,  two  store- 
rooms; in  the  rear,  two  reading-rooms  and  a  large  school-room  fir 
a  high  school  for  boys.  The  second  story  contains  one  large  hall 
for  the  accommodation  of  five  hundred  people,  a  stage,  gallery  and 
dress-room.  The  s  ciety  was  organized  December  26th,  1873,  with 
one  hundred  and  forty-two  members;  Dr.  Julius  Kohl,  president; 
Henry  Reiss,  secretary.  This  society  had  the  same  object  in  view 
as  the  Catholic  casinos  in  Germany,  and  no  doubt  would  have 
accomplished  the  same  good ;  but  because  of  the  narrow-minded- 
ness of  some  and  the  self-interest  of  others,  it  met  with  obstacles 
from  directions  least  expected,  and  its  operations  were  suspended  for 
the  time  being  ;  also  the  High  school. 

The  St.  Peter's  Benevolent  Society  was  organized  February  2d, 
1872,  with  Mr.  M.  Reiss  as  first  president,  and  Valentine  Reiterman 
as  secretary.  The  society  has  expended  for  sick  members,  for  the 
widows  and  children  of  deceased  members  since  its  establishment, 
the  sum  of  $12,994,  and  has  at  present  $4000  on  interest.  It  num- 
bers two  hundred  and  eighteen  members.  The  Order  of  Catholic 
Knights  of  America  was  established  in  the  month  of  March,  1880, 
with  Mr.  J.  B.  Tenner  as  president,  and  Henry  Reiss,  secretary'. 
The  object  of  the  society  is  the  same  as  that  of  any  other  life  insur- 
ance company ;  the  society  issues  life  insurance  policies  of  $2000  to 
its  members.  The  centre  around  which  such  Catholic  life  pulsates 
in  Belleville  is  St.  Peter's  church.  To  get  an  idea  of  the  number 
of  persons  it  can  accommodate,  and  at  the  same  time  of  the  number 
of  Catholics  in  and  around  Belleville,  one  must  place  himself  on 
Sunday  morning,  just  before  divine  service  is  over,  in  front  of  the 
church,  to  see  the  crowds  coming  out  of  its  doors,  as  if  the  half  of 
the  city  of  Belleville  had   knelt   before  the  altar   of  St.  Peter's 

with  the  hospital,  can  do  so  by  making  thtir  request  known  to  the  Sinter 
Superioress;  but  in  this  case  they  liave  to  pay  the  charges  of  the  physician 
and  the  medicine  extra,  and  the  Sisters  will  in  no  case  be  responsible  for 
them. 

5.  Patients  wishing  to  leave  the  hospital,  must  give  notice  to  the  Sister 
Superioress,  between  the  hours  of  8  and  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  from 
2  to  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

6.  Loud  talking  or  noise  of  any  kind,  smoking,  spitting  upon  the  floor,  use 
of  liquors,  are  strictly  forbidden.  Persons  wishing  to  donate  anything  for  the 
use  of  the  patients,  must  hand  it  to  the  Sisters,  who  will  properly  apply  tlie 
same. 

7.  Patients  are  requested  to  be  in  their  room  when  the  physicians  or  sur- 
geons are  paying  their  regular  visits ;  the  same  is  required  at  medicine  hours. 

8.  Visitors  to  the  hospital  will  be  admitted  on  Tuesday  and  Friday  of  each 
week,  from  9  to  11  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  and  from  2  to  5  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon. 

9.  All  bills  must  be  paid  for  weekly  in  advance. 

10.  Patients  wishing  to  go  out,  will  give  notice  to  the  Superioress.  They 
should  state  where  they  are  going  to  and  when  they  will  return.  After  six 
o'clock  p.  M.  no  patient  is  allowed  to  be  out. 

11.  All  coraplainls,  if  there  be  any,  must  be  made  known  to  the  Sister 
Suiierioress. 


church.  Divine  service  is  conducted  in  a  becoming  manner,  and 
is  very  imposing  on  the  great  festival  days  of  the  church.  The 
hours  for  divine  service  are,  on  Sundays,  first  mass  at  six  o'clock, 
second  mass  half-past  seven,  high  mass  and  German  sermon  at  ten 
o'clock,  vespers  at  three  o'clock ;  on  week-days,  first  mass  is  at  half- 
past  six,  second  mass  at  half-past  seven  o'clock.  Present  number 
of  Catholic  souls,  4000 ;  present  number  of  Easter  communions, 
2560 ;  number  of  yearly  communions,  16,000 ;  school  children,  700 ; 
number  of  children  prepared  for  first  holy  communion,  since  1870, 
is  1423. 

EXTRAORDINARY    EVENTS    AND    INCIDENTS    IN    THE     HISTORY    OF 

ST.  Peter's  congregation. 

1.  The  first  general  festival  of  any  note  was  the  consecration  of 
the  new  bell  for  St.  Peter's  church,  on  November  26th,  1856.  It 
was  carried  about  in  a  procession  through  the  streets  of  Belleville, 
before  it  was  consecrated  by  Archbishop  Ken  rick,  of  St.  Louis. 
Rev.  Father  Siegrist  delivered  the  oration  of  the  day. 

2.  The  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  St.  Peter's  church  by 
Bishop  Juncker,  of  Alton,  on  June  29th,  1863,  was  another  gala 
day  of  the  congregation. 

3.  So  was  the  day  of  the  dedication  of  St.  Peter's  church,  Novem- 
ber 6th,  1866,  in  the  pre-sence  of  several  bishops,  many  priests  and 
people. 

4.  The  next  event  of  importance  was  the  consecration  of  the 
Pastor  of  St.  Peter's  congregation,  the  Rev.  Father  Baltes,  as  Bishop 
of  Alton,  January  23d,  1870.  Bishop  Luers,  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind., 
assisted  by  Bishop  Toebbe,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  was  the  consecrator. 
The  Very  Rev.,  now  Bishop  Ryan,  of  St.  Louis,  Very  Rev.  Schse- 
fermeier  of  Quincy,  Very  Rev.  Muehlsiepen,  V.  G.  of  St.  Louis, 
Very  Rev.  Coosemanns,  S.  J.  of  St.  Louis,  Very  Rev.  J.  Jaussen, 
V.  G.,  and  about  forty  other  clergymen,  were  in  the  sanctuary.  The 
Very  Rev.  P.  S.  Ryan,  of  St.  Louis,  delivered  the  English  sermon  ; 
Rev.  Schweninger,  of  Cincinnati,  the  German.  The  concourse  of 
people  was  immense.  After  the  consecration,  tlie  new  bishop  gave 
his  first  episcopal  blessing. 

5.  Another  memorable  event  in  the  history  of  St  Peter's  congre- 
gation was  the  celebration  of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the 

.  coronation  of  Pope  Pius  IX.,  June  21st,  1871.     We  copy  from  the 
Missouri  Republican  the  following  description  : 

Coronation  of  Pope  Pius  the  IX.  Grand  Celebration  in  Belleville. 
The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  coronation  of  Pius  IX  was 
celebrated  by  the  Catholics  of  Belleville  and  vicinity  yesterday,  in 
a  manner  which  shows  that  the  spirit  of  that  grand  old  church  is 
still  animated  and  living,  and  its  members  ever  ready  to  do  honor 
to  its  supreme  head;  It  is  historically  true  that  the  present  pope 
is  the  only  one,  through  the  long  line  of  pontifi's  of  the  CathoUc 
hierarchy,  \Nho  has  occupied  uninterruptedly  that  position  for  twen- 
ty-five years ;  and  in  view  of  this  fact,  and  for  the  purpose  of  pay- 
ing a  tribute  of  respect  not  only  to  the  pope  for  his  incorruptible 
life  during  the  many  vicissitudes  in  which  he  has  passed  as  priest 
bishop,  and  pontifi",  but  as  the  supreme  head  of  the  Catholic  church 
throughout  the  world,  the  members  of  that  church,  both  in  Europe 
and  America  are  at  the  present  moment  generally  and  zealously 
celebrating  the  occasion.  The  Catholics  of  Belleville  have  not 
been  remise  in  this  pleasing  duty.  At  an  early  hour  the  booming 
of  cannon  from  Elmers  Hill  was  a  sure  indication  that  something 
of  more  than  ordinary  importance  was  about  to  be  enacted.  The 
programme  of  the  proceedings  of  the  day  which  have  been  publish- 
ed in  the  papers  of  that  city  was  faithfully  carried  out  by  the  com- 
mittee appointed  for  that  purpose.    At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning 


HISTORY  OF  SI.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


161 


solemn  high  mass  was  celebrated  in  the  large  and  exquisitely  fur- 
nished church,  which  was  most  tastefully  decorated,  both  outside 
and  inside,  with  garlands,  wreaths,  pictures,  &c.  Rev.  Father  Tro- 
gan  was  the  celebrant,  assisted  by  Revs.  Berlage,  Kloke,  Levi, 
Janssem,  Pinkers,  and  the  pastor,  Father  Hinssen.  A  full  choir 
was  in  attendance,  and  the  music  was  more  than  ordinarily  fine. 
We  could  not  but  notice  particularly  the  rendition  at  the  offertory 
of  Zambillots  Ecce  pavis  by  the  choir,  which  was  executed  in  fine 
style,  and  in  a  manner  melting  the  hearts  of  the  worshippers  there 


After  mass,  the  procession  was  formed  in  the  following  order  :  A 
company  of  papal  zuaves,  composed  of  small  boys  dressed  in  red 
uniforms  with  turbans,  tassles,  &c.,  then  followed  the  children  of 
the  parochial  schools,  the  day  scholars  and  boarders  of  the  conventi 
the  member  of  the  library  association,  the  young  ladies  sodality, 
St.  Vincent's  orphan  society ;  the  portrait  of  Pope  Pius  IX  came 
next  in  order  carried  by  a  young  lady  representing  the  Catholic 
church,  and  around  her  were  fifteen  children  bearing  emblems, 
representing  their  various  professions  and  avocations.  A  guard  of 
honor  with  the  papal  flag  escorted  them.  Next  came  the  clergy  in 
carriages,  who  were  accompanied  by  mounted  escorts.  The  differ- 
ent religious  societies,  together  with  citizens  on  foot,  horseback  and 
carriages  completed  the  procession,  which  was  certainly  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  imposing  that  ever  paraded  the  streets  of  the  city. 
It  is  almost  impossible  to  estimate  the  number  of  persons  who  par- 
ticipated, as  counting  was  entirely  out  of  the  question ;  but  the 
procession  was  fully  one  and  a  half  miles  in  length  and  occupied  at 
least  one  hour  in  passing  a  given  point.  Two  bands  of  music  dis- 
coursed music,  both  in  the  line  of  march  and  at  Eimers  Hill  during 
the  day,  where  the  picnic  was  held,  and  after  passing  the  greater 
part  of  the  day  in  a  most  agreeable  and  pleasant  manner  the  party 
returned  about  five  o'clock  to  the  city  in  excellent  order.  Orations 
were  delivered  in  the  English  and  German  languages,  and  were 
listened  to  with  marked  attention  by  the  large  concourse  of  people 
there  assembled.  Mr.  J.  A.  Kennedy,  of  Springfield,  Ills.,  former- 
ly of  Waterlooo,  Ills.,  who  delivered  the  English  oration,  acquitted 
himself  admirably,  and  as  a  reward  for  his  excellent  effort  received 
frequent  and  heartfelt  applause.  The  festivities  of  the  day  wound 
up  with  a  large  torchlight  procession  in  the  evening.  The  display 
was  truly  imposing  and  was  witnessecy^y  thousands  of  people.  The  ^ 
Catholics  had  made  extensive  preparations  for  the  celebration  of 
the  day ;  nearly  all  of  them  had  their  residences  and  places  of  busi- 
ness festooned  and  illuminated  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  The  church 
particularly  was  brilliantly  illuminated.  Too  much  praise  cannot 
be  awarded  to  Rev.  Father  Hinssen,  the  pastor  of  Belleville,  for  the 
unremitting  zeal  displayed  by  him  in  getting  up  the  celebration  as 
well  as  for  the  successful  and  orderly  manner  in  which  it  was 
carried  out.  Altogether  it  was  a  day  which  will  be  long  remem- 
bered by  the  citizens,  and  more  especially  the  Catholics  of  Belle- 
ville. 

In  the  year  1877,  June  the  10th,  the  St.  Peter's  Catholic  Ceme- 
tery on  Green  Mount,  containing  eight  and  three-fourth  acres  of 
land,  was  consecrated  by  the  Right  Reverend  P.  J.  Baltes,  who  was 
assisted  by  the  Reverend  L.  Pommer,  Rev.Wirtschoreck,  Rev.  Zum- 
busch,  and  the  Rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church. 

6.  Among  the  sad  events  in  the  history  of  St.  Peter's  congrega- 
tion we  chronicle  the  death  of  Rev  Father  Arnold  Pinkers,  Janu- 
ary 17th,  1872.  He  was  a  Hollander  by  birth,  and  came  to  Belle- 
ville in  the  year  1863.  After  nine  years  of  faithful  labor  for  the 
cause  of  religion  in  the  St.  Peter's  congregation,  he  died  from  heart 
disease  in  the  Sister's  Hospital  in  St.  Louis.  He  was  buried  in 
Belleville,  in  Walnut  Hill  cemetery.  How  highly  esteemed  and 
21 


beloved  the  deceased  priest  was  among  the  members  of  the  congre- 
gation, could  be  seen  on  the  day  of  burial.  His  funeral  cortage 
was  the  largest  ever  seen  in  the  streets  of  Belleville. 

7.  In  the  year  1875,  several  attempts  were  made  by  unknown 
parties  to  burn  St.  Peters'  church.  The  first  fire  was  laid  under  the 
old  church.  It  was  extinguished  before  any  harm  had  been  done. 
The  next  attempt  was  made  in  the  large  tower  of  the  new  church. 
The  stairway,  leading  from  the  first  to  the  second  story  in  the  tower, 
had  been  saturated  with  coal  oil,  and  fired  about  a  quarter  of  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening  of  February  the  24th,  1875,  and  in  less  than 
two  minutes  the  stairway  and  wooden  ceiling  of  the  first  floor  of  the 
tower  was  ablaze.  The  people  were  just  flocking  into  the  church 
for  lenton  devotion,  when  the  cry  of  fire  was  raised,  and  the  bright 
light  of  the  flames  were  seen  through  all  the  windows  of  the  tower. 
It  is  to  this  circumstance  that  the  fire  was  extinguished  before  any 
serious  damage  was  done.  A  few  minutes  later  in  discovering  the 
fire — a  few  less  hands  to  quench  it,  and  the  splendid  church  of  St. 
Peter,  the  pride  and  ornament  of  our  city — would  have  been  a 
heap  of  smouldering  ruins !  Who  the  perpetrators  of  this  dastardly 
outrage  were — remains  a  mystery  to  this  day.  All  we  know  of  them 
is  this,  that  about  three  weeks  before  the  fire,  they  had  the  courage 
to  write  to  the  Pastor  of  St.  Peter's  church,  three  anonymous  letters 
in  which  they  threatened — that  unless  we  would  leave  Belleville — 
he  himself  would  be  murdered,  or  his  church  burned  down;  — so 
far  neither  of  these  threats  has  been  verified. 

8.  On  November  the  third,  1875,  there  arrived  from  Munster, 
Westphalia,  Germany,  four  Franciscan  Siters  of  Charity,  with  Sis- 
ter Jovita,  as  Superioress — victims  of  Bismarks  celebrated  May- 
Laws.  They  were  received  with  open  arms  by  the  people  of  Belle- 
ville. They  took  their  provisory  abode  in  the  old  school-house, 
which  had  been  prepared  for  their  residence.  Ever  since  they  have 
been  working  faithfully  and  zealously  among  the  sick  and  suffering 
of  Belleville,  irrespective  of  religion  or  nationality,  and  it  is  in 
acknowledgment  of  their  many  services  to  suffering  humanity — as 
a  just  tribute  of  thanks,  that  the  members  of  St.  Peter's  congrega- 
tion, and  many  liberal  citizens  of  Belleville,  have  built  for  them  a 
new  house,  "St.  Elizabeth  Hospital."  It  is  a  three-story  brick 
building,  of  sixty  feet  front,  forty  feet  deep,  and  thirty-eight  feet 
high,  containing  twenty  two  rooms  for  patients,  drug-store,  operat- 
ing-room, etc. 

9.  In  the  year  1878,  July  13th,  the  Rev  Father  Diekmann 
Assistant-priest  at  St.  Peter's  church,  died  of  congestive  fever.  He 
was  born  in  Borkum,  Westphalia,  in  the  year  1853 — came  to  this 
country  about  a  year  before  his  death — was  first  pastor  of  Grafton, 
Jersey  county,  Illinois,  and  for  about  four  months  Assistant  in 
Belleville.  He  was  a  man  of  kind  and  amiable  disposition,  and  a 
great  friend  of  children.  He  was  beloved  by  all,  and  will  be  long 
remembered  by  those  who  knew  him. 

10.  September  28th,  1879,  St.  Peter's  congregation  witnessed  an- 
other great  ceremony — the  dedication  of  the  St.  Agnes  Orphan 
Asylum,  by  the  Right  Reverend  P.  J.  Baltes.  This  charitable  in- 
stitution owes  it  origin  to  the  liberality  of  a  young  Catholic  lady, 
Miss  Katie  Agnes  Germain,  who,  before  her  death,  which  took 
place  May  28th,  1879,  willed  to  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Baltes 
eighty  acres  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  home  for  orphans. 
Although  the  relatives  of  the  worthy  donator  have  succeeded  so  far 
in  preventing  the  execution  of  that  will,  yet  the  intention  of  the 
deceased  benefactress  has  been  executed.  The  Orphan  Asylum 
has  been  built,  and  shelters  at  present  26  orphans,  under  the  man- 
agement of  the  Franciscan  Sisters.  It  has  a  front  of  1 10  feet  and  is 
two-story  high.  It  contains  sixteen  rooms  for  the  Orphan  Asylum 
proper,   four  large  school-rooms,  and  one  large  hall  67x32  feet. 


162 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


It  is  an  ornament  of  the  city  and  a  lasting  monument  of  the  piety 
and  liberality  of  Katie  Agnes  Germain. 

Fayettville.—F\vsi  Church  was  built  in  1851.  It  was  a  frame 
building  25x35.  In  the  year  1866  the  congregation  became  too 
large,  and  a  new  church  was  built  of  brick  in  handsome  Gothic 
style ;  size,  50x80.  The  old  church  is  now  used  for  a  school-house. 
The  number  of  families  belonging  to  the  congregation,  Avhich  is 
called  after  St  Pancratius,  are  seventy  ;  present  pastor,  Rev.  Froh- 
bose.  Father  Turk  was  first  resident  pastor,  and  he  built  the  first 
church.  The  number  of  children  attending  the  Catholic  school 
varies  between  50  and  60. 

Lebanon.  St.  Joseph's  congregation  numbers  about  60  families. 
Rev.  Father  Reineke,  of  Breese,  Ills.,  built  the  first  church  in  the 
year  1863.  It  is  a  frame  building  30x52.  A  school-house,  24xc6 
is  near  the  church.  The  late  Rev.  Father  Francis  Trojan  was 
pastor  up  to  his  death  in  April,  1881. 

Maseoutah. — Congregation  of  Holy  Childhood  in  Jesus  was  visited 
as  before  mentioned  by  thfe  priests  from  Belleville.^  Mass  was.cele- 
brated  in  the  houses  of  Messrs.  Philipp  Roehrig,  Mathias  Brentrel, 
Joham  Friederich,  Jacob  Schmidt,  and  Mr.  Mathias  Roehrig. 
Father  Ostlangenberg  induced  the  people  in  the  year  1852  to  buy 
u  piece  of  prairie  land  containing  two  acres,  from  a  negro  named 
Nelson,  for  the  sum  of  $175.  In  the  year  1856  an  affbrt  was  made 
to  build  a  church.  Prominent  among  the  donators  we  find  Jacob 
Schmidt,  Amand  Meyer,  John  VoUmer,  Francis  Perrin,  Joseph 
Meyer,  Vincent  Moeller,  P.  Roehrig,  I.  G.  Meyer,  D.  Schaefier,  M. 
Hatt,  P.  Baumgaetre,  N.  Schofra,  P.  M.  Speiser,  and  later  others. 
In  the  year  1857  the  foundation  was  laid  for  a  brick  church  40x60. 
It  was  completed  the  same  year.  The  first  resident  priest  was  Rev. 
F.  Bloesinger.  His  successor  Rev.  Father  Frohbose.  The  latter 
established  a  Catholic  school,  and  bought  a  lot  for  a  grave-yard 
two  miles,  west  of  Maseoutah.  In  the  year  1859  the  celebrated 
Father  Wemiger  gave  a  mission.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Th. 
Anton  Pieke.  He  came  to  Maseoutah  in  the  year  1875,  and  built 
a  house  for  the  school  sisters.  In  the  year  1879,  November, 
he  commenced  the  building  of  a  new  church.  On  Feb  9th,  1880, 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  P.  J.  Baltes  laid  the  corner-stone.  On  Dec. 
18th,  1880  the  church  was  completed.  It  is  a  fine  building  of 
stone,  built  in  Gothic  style,  64x147,  34  feet  high,  steeple  170  feet 
high.  When  completed  it  will  cost  $30,000.  It  will  be  an  orna- 
ment for  Maseoutah  years  to  come.  Number  of  families,  130; 
number  of  school  children,  119. 

CENTEEVILLE  STATION. 

On  September  6th,  1863,  the  corner-stone  to  the  church  was  laid 
by  Rev.  Ragan.  C.  M.,  in  the  presence  of  Rev.  Dontreligne,  C.  M. 
Rev.  P.  J.  Baltes,  of  Belleville,  many  ecclesiastical  students  and  a 
large  concourse  of  people  from  St.  Louis  and  vicinity.  The  build- 
ing is  a  fine  brick  structure,  Roman  style  of  architecture,  and  the 
dimensions  are  about  30x80  feet.  Rev.  Dontreligne  read  the  first 
mass  in  the  church  on  August  20th  1865.  On  August  5th,  1866, 
the  church  was  dedicated  by  right  Rev.  Bishop  H.  D.  Juncker  of 
Alton,  assisted  by  Rev.  Dontreligne,  the  resident  priest,  and 
Rev.  P.  J.  Baltes.  The  first  bell  was  consecrated  by  Very  Rev. 
P.  J.  Baltef,  Vicar-General,  on  Jan.  1th,  1868. 

The  money  for  the  building  of  the  church  was  mainly  collected 
by  the  saintly  Father  Dontreligne.  He  traveled  over  the  greater  part 
of  the  United  States  on  his  collecting  tour ;  he  went  to  Canada,  Cuba 
and  South  America.  He  also  donated  six  thousand  dollars  of  his 
father's  estate  in  Belgium  for  the  purpose  of  getting  the  church 
out  of  debt.  Father  Dontreligne,  after  working  hard  at  Cahokia, 
Centreville  Station,  nay,  at  nearly  every  point  in  Southern  Illinois, 


for  more  than  forty  years,  in  the  year  1872  retired  to  St.  Vincent, 
St.  Lous,  Mo.,  to  die  among  the  beloved  of  his  order,  the  Lazarists. 

Rev.  Londry  succeeded  him  from  1872  to  1875  as  Rector  of  Ca- 
hokia and  Centreville  Station.  Rev.  J.  J.  Jaqnes  was  the  next 
successor  from  1875  to  1878.  The  present  Rector  is  Rev.  P.  J. 
Kempen.     Number  of  families,  100 ;  of  diflTereut  nationalities. 

Freehurg. — The  congregation  of  St.  Joseph  was  attended  to  by  a 
priest  from  Belleville,  Maseoutah  and  Mud  Creek.  Rev.  Doniinick 
Niederkorn,  L.  I. ,  from  St.  Louis,  read  the  first  mass  at  Freeburg. 
In  the  year  1856  the  first  church  was  built.  It  is  a  brick  building 
40x67  feet.  Rev.  Barthol.  Bartels  was  the  first  resident  priest.  He 
remained  from  1859  to  1861.  He  was  succeeded  by  Revs.  Rosen- 
dahl,  Hofimann,  and  Busch  from  1861  to  1862.  From  1862  to 
1863  Rev.  F.  Bergmeir  was  pastor,  from  1863  to  1865  Father 
Elshoff".  He  paid  off  all  of  the  church  debt,  and  died  of  consump- 
tion, caused  by  cold  contracted  during  a  sick  call.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Trogan  from  1865  to  1868.  From  1868  to  1873 
Father  Oberbrantacher  was  pastor  of  the  congregation.  Father 
Merbach,  of  Fayetteville,  attended  to  the  congregation  from  1873 
to  1874.  On  June  16th,  1874,  the  present  Rector,  Rev.  A.  Wirts- 
choreck  took  charge  of  the  congregation  He  added  to  the  church 
a  fine  steeple  118  feet  high,  in  the  year  1876.  It  contains  three 
bells,  the  only  belfry  with  three  bells  in  St.  Clair  county.  The 
church  contains  a  beautiful  large  pipe  organ.  A  good  two-story 
priest  house  and  a  large  school-house  situated  opposite  the  church. 
The  congregation  numbers  seventy  families,  and  about  as  many 
children  attend  the  parish  school. 

The  church  of  St.  John  the.  Baptist,  Georgetown,  was  built  in 
1867.  Priests  from  Belleville,  Paderborn  and  Freeburg,  attended  to 
the  congregation.  At  present  the  congregation  is  visited  regularly 
by  Rev.  Wirtschoreck,  of  Freeburg.  There  was  a  fine  school  and 
priest  house  built  in  1877.  Number  of  families,  45 ;  number  of 
school  children,  about  60.   - 

St.  Agatha,  New  Athens,  is  a  small  congregation.  The  church, 
however,  is  large  and  of  fine  proportions.  It  was  built  in  the  year 
1870,  by  Rev.  Oberbrantacher  of  Freeburgh.  It  is  of  brick,  with 
a  large  steeple,  standing  on  an  elevated  part  of  the  city ;  the  whole 
forming  ah  imposing  ornament  to  the  city  of  New  Athens.  Father 
Wirtschoreck,  of  Freeburgh,  visits  the  congregation  regularly. 

There  are  large  Catholic  congregations  at  East  St.  Louis,  Mill- 
ritadt,  French  village,  Paderborn,  St.  Libory,  and  O'Fallon,  but 
details  could  not  be  obtained. 


THE    BAPTIST    CHURCHES    OF  ST.  CLAIR    COUNTY. 

BY   JOSEPH   B.    LEMEN. 

"  The  groves  were  God's  first  temples,"  says  Bryant  in  his  Thana- 
topsis ;  and  the  groves  were  where  the  first  act  of  worship  was 
oflfered  by  the  Baptists  in  St.  Clair  county.  In  1787,  James  Le- 
men,  Sr.,  and  a  few  of  his  Baptist  friends  who  were  seeking  homes 
in  the  west,  were  prospecting  for  lands  in  this  region.  They 
camped  for  the  Sabbath  in  a  grove  near  the  present  city  of  Belle- 
ville ;  songs  and  prayers  were  ofiered  and  the  Scriptures  read. 
This  was  probably  the  first  act  of  associated  worship  performed  by 
the  Baptists  in  what  is  now  St.  Clair  county. 

This  event  preceded  by  some  years,  the  organization  of  the  Bap- 
list  cause  in  St  Clair.  At  that  time  a  few  early  settlers  had  lo- 
cated in  Monroe  county,  who  shortly  afterwards  organized  a  church 
called  the  New  Design  Baptist  church ;  and  from  which  eventu- 
ally sprang  the  Richland  Creek  and  the  Canteen  Creek  Baptist 
churches,  located  in  St.  Clair  county;  this  latter  church  is  now 
called  Bethel  church. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


163 


Amoug  the  supporters  of  the  New  Design  church  who  interested 
themselves  in  organizing  a  Baptist  church  in  St.  Clair  county,  was 
James  Lemen,  Sr.,  five  of  whose  sons  became  active  laborers  in  the 
Baptist  cause,  four  of  them  becoming  ministers.  This  old  pioneer 
was  born  in  Berkley  county,  Virginia  November  20, 1760.  Was  a 
soldier  in  the  American  army  at  Yorktown,  when  Cornwallis  sur- 
rendered to  the  American  and  French  allies.  Married  Catherine 
Ogle,  in  Virginia,  1782.  Came  with  his  wife  and  family  to  the 
Illinois  country  in  1786,  and  settled  at  New  Design,  near  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Waterloo,  in  Monroe  county.  Was  waited  upon  in  a 
confidential  capacity  by  Aaron  Burr,  and  offered  large  rewards  for 
his  influence  in  aiding  Burr  to  found  his  south-western  empire,  but 
<lenounced  the  scheme  as  treasonable.  Reared  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  became  consistent,  devoted  members  of  the  Baptist 
church.  Was  the  first  person  baptized  by  immersion  in  Illinois, 
and  became  a  minister  of  the  gospel  He  died  at  his  residence  near 
Waterloo,  January  8,  1822,  aged  61  years. 

The  labors  of  this  pioneer,  with  a  few  other  faithful  members  of 
the  Baptist  faith  in  Monroe  county,  gave  much  encouragement  to 
the  first  Baptists  who  settled  in  St.  Clair  county,  when  they  were 
organizing  their  first  church  here. 

Rev.  John  Clark,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  a  Baptist  minister, 
gave  the  Baptists  of  St.  Clair  county  much  encouragement  in  or- 
ganizing their  first  churches.  He  died  in  St.  Louis  county.  Mo., 
October  11,  1833,  aged  75  years. 

Rev.  Joseph  Chance,  a  pioneer  ]ir.ptist  minister  of  much  zeal, 
also  gave  active  aid  in  organizing  toe  Baptist  cause  in  this  county ; 
he  died  in  1840,  aged  75  years.  Rev.  David  Badgley  and  Rev.  John 
Baugh,  pioneer  Baptist  ministers  here,  were  also  faithful  workers 
with  those  other  devoted  men  at  that  early  day.  They  were  men 
of  large  influence,  and  were  successful  laborers  in  their  Master's 
cause. 

The  anti-slavery  sentiment  was  prominent  with  these  people,  al- 
though they  were  mostly  southern  men,  or  their  immediate  descend- 
ants. This  sentiment  was  probably  intensified  by  the  logical  re- 
sults of  that  grand  achievement  of  the  Baptists  in  1789,  which 
preceded  this  period  but  a  few  years.  The  denomination  had  but 
recently  pressed  Washington  to  insist  upon  the  adoption  «f  an  ar- 
ticle in  the  amendments  to  the  constitution  which  should  declare  for 
religious  liberty,  and  he  had  complied ;  and  it  was  probable  that 
when  the  Baptists  had  succeeded  in  assisting  to  plant  the  sublime 
doctrine  of  religious  liberty  in  the  constitution  by  the  declaration 
that  "  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of 
religion,  or  prohibiting  a  free  exercise  thereof"  It  gave  the 
feelings  of  these  pioneer  Baptists  an  impetus  in  the  direction  of 
freedom  for  the  limbs  as  well  as  liberty  for  the  conscience  of 
men. 

The  popular  sentiment  at  that  day  favored  a  complete  separa- 
tion of  church  and  state,  and  it  was  an  opportune  period,  while  the 
great  republic  was  yet  in  its  infancy,  to  plant  the  grand  truth  of 
religious  liberty  behind  the  strong  towers  of  its  constitution,  and 
that  some  of  these  pioneers  in  common  with  their  brethren  else- 
where demanded  the  recognition  of  this  truth  in  the  constitution 
will  ever  remain  to  their  credit.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  such  an 
event  stirred  the  minds  of  some  of  those  early  Baptist  leaders  with 
a  sentiment  for  universal  freedom. 

In  church  government,  the  first  Baptist  churches  here,  as  well  as 
their  later  ones,  were  in  harmony  with  the  theory  and  practice  of 
the  denomination  in  general.  It  was  founded  on  the  plan  of  a  pure 
democracy,  representing  in  religion  the  exact  application  of  that 
grand  principle  which  in  true  political  science  should,  and  accord- 
ing to  our  theory  of  government,  does  control  the  state.     In  their 


views  on  baptism  and  communion,  these  Baptists  were  a  unit  with 
their  faith  elsewhere. 

RICHLAND   CREEK   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

The  Richland  Creek  Baptist  church  was  the  first  Baptist  church 
constituted  in  St.  Clair  county.  The  record  of  its  first  proceedings 
is  dated  June  14,  1806  Its  first  meeting,  according  to  this  record, 
occurred  at  Wm.  Lot  Whiteside's  residence,  a  few  miles  north-east 
of  the  present  city  of  Belleville.  Rev.  Joseph  Chance  was  modera- 
tor, and  Benjamin  Ogle  clerk.  At  that  time  that  church  was  an 
arm  of  the  Baptist  church  at  New  Design,  in  Monroe  county,  and 
the  style  of  their  minutes  ran—"  Richland  Arm  of  the  church  of 
Christ  at  New  Design."  In  1807,  September  12,  this  church  met 
at  the  house  of  Isaac  Enochs,  and  voted  to  form  itself  into  a  sepa- 
rate organization  under  the  name  of  "  The  Baptist  church  of  Christ 
at  Richland  Creek ;  "  and  this  is  the  style  of  their  minutes  at  their 
next  church  meeting.  In  church  session  at  the  house  of  Jacob  Ogle, 
in  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county,  February  13,  1808,  the  church 
adopted  resolutions  declaring  the  faith  of  the  church  against  the 
belief  and  practice  of  slavery.  In  1809,  these  people  built  a 
meeting-house  on  Richland  Creek,  some  three  miles  north-east  of 
Belleville ;  and  at  that  time  had  a  membership  of  about  forty. 
Among  the  members  were  Benjamin  Ogle,  James  Lemen,  Sr.,  Wm. 
Lot  Whiteside,  William  Kinney,  Isaac  Enochs,  Larken  Ruther- 
ford, Rev.  Joseph  Lemen,  Robert  Lemen,  Polly  K.  Lemen,  Cathe- 
rine Lemen,  Ann  Simpion,  Hetty  Lemen,  Ann  Whiteside,  Sallie 
Whiteside,  Ann  Lemen,  Elizabeth  Badgley,  Mary  Kinney,  and 
others — a  band  of  noble  men  and  women,  whose  pious  lives  and  la- 
bors did  much  in  moulding  the  destinies  of  the  young  state. 

This  church  was  in  session  July  8,  1809,  when  Rev.  James  Le- 
men, Sr.,  who  had  been  licensed  to  preach  July  9,  1808,  arose  and 
denounced  the  practice  of  slavery  as  something  with  which  he  could 
not  fellowship.  To  this  declaration  a  portion  of  the  church  objected) 
and  several  church  conferences  were  subsequently  called  to  com- 
promise the  diflerence  in  opinion,  but  without  results.  Within  th^ 
church  each  wing  of  opinion  sent  delegates  to  the  association  of  the 
several  Baptist  churches,  which  had  then  been  organized  in  South- 
ern Illinois,  but  the  association  refused  admission  to  both  sets  of 
messengers  ;  but  finally,  itself  divided  on  the  issue  here  presented. 
However,  both  schools  of  opinion  in  this  church  met  afterwards  in 
friendly  conference,  and  talked  OV'  r  their  views,  and  agreed  that  an 
amicable  separation  would  be  the  better  course  to  pursue.  In  pur- 
suance of  this  end,  at  a  regular  session  of  this  church,  December  9, 
1809,  it  was  voted  that  as  many  as  wished  to  withdraw  by  reason  of 
this  difference  of  views  on  slavery,  and  organize  another 
church,  should  have  the  privilege  to  do  so  ;  and  five  members  sig- 
nified their  purpose  to  form  a  new  organization.  This  was  the  first 
act  in  the  origin  of  Bethel  church.  After  this  division  in  Richland 
Baptist  church,  it  continued  for  many  years,  and  numbered  among 
its  members  many  men  and  women  of  much  influence,  and  greatly 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them.  Many  of  their  descendants  yet 
survive,  and  are  found  in  Illinois  and  elsewhere.  At  a  later  period 
this  church  became  extinct,  its  members  having  died  or  joined  other 
churches. 

THE   BETHEL  BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

This  church  is  located  two  and  a  half  miles  south-east  of  CoUins- 
ville,  in  St.  Clair  county,  in  a  beautiful  and  fertile  farming  dis- 
trict. It  was  constituted  December  10,  1809.  The  five  members 
who  had  formally  withdrawn  from  Richland  church  on  the  day 
previous,  with  two  others,  composed  this  church,  and  were  consti- 
tuted by  -Elders  James  Lemen,  Jr.  and  John  Baugh,  under  the 
name  of  "The  Baptized  Church  of  Christ,  Friends  to  Humanity." 


164 


niSTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  names  of  the  constituent  members  were  James  Lemen,  Sr., 
Catherine  Lemen,  Robert  Lemen,  Hetty  Lemen,  Joseph  Lemen, 
Polly  K.  Lemen,  and  Benjamin  O^le.  The  declared  faith  of  this 
church  were  the  Old  and  New  Testaments ;  and  for  its  good  will 
toward  men,  its  constitution  declared  it  to  be,  "  The  friends  to  hu- 
manity, denying  union  and  communion  with  all  persons  holding  the 
doctrine  of  perpetual,  involuntary,  hereditary  slavery." 

With  the  organization  of  this  church  began  the  contest  of  slavery 
and  anti-slavery  views  in  Illinois.  The  birth  of  Bethel  church  was 
among  the  first  notes  in  that  contest  which  ended  at  Appomattox, 
more  than  half  a  century  later  ;  and  as  some  of  the  early  members 
of  this  church  were  ofiicers  under  the  territorial  and  state  govern- 
ments of  Illinois,  it  was  undoubtedly  a  potent  factor  in  shaping  the 
destinies  of  the  young  state,  and  in  bringing  it  into  the  brotherhood 
of  the  states  as  a  free  commonwealth. 

This  church,  while  it  exercised  at  an  early  day  a  considerable 
influence  on  the  policies  of  the  state,  was  not  idle  in  propagating  its 
faith  :  at  Belleville,  Troy,  Collinsville,  Pleasant  Ridge,  Oak  Hill, 
and  O'Fallon,  are  Baptist  churches  which  acknowledge  their  ma- 
ternity largely  to  Bethel  church. 

Of  the  constituent  members  of  this  church  we  have  given  a  brief 
sketch  of  Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sr.  From  its  organization  until  his 
death,  this  old  pioneer  minister  often  preached  to  its  congregation. 
His  wife,  Catherine  Lemen,  was  a  devoted,  pious  member  of  the 
Baptist  faith.  They  reared  eight  children.  Catherine  Lemen  lived 
to  a  ripe  old  age,  and  when  death  found  her  she  was  in  the  full 
possession  of  all  her  faculties.  She  died  at  her  residence  in  Monroe 
county.  Their  son,  Joseph,  preached  her  funeral  sermon,  James 
having  preached  their  father's. 

Robert  Lemen  w;as  born  in  Berkley  county,  Virginia,  September 
25,  1783,  and  was  the  son  of  Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sr.  and  Catherine, 
nee  Ogle.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1786.  Married 
Hester  Tolin  in  180-5,  settled  in  St.  Clair  county)  and  reared  a  large  - 
family,  who  were  all  believers,  and  three  of  whom  are  yet  living 
and  are  active  members  of  the  Baptist  (ihurch.  Robert  Lemen  held 
a  magistrate's  commission  for  many  yeai's,  and  at  one  time  was 
marshal  of  the  state,  under  John  Quincy  Adams.  In  every  posi- 
tion he  was  a  faithful,  popular  officer,  and  was  a  man  of  liberal 
reading.  He  united  with  Richland  Baptist  church,  December  9, 
1808,  and  was  clerk  of  that  church  until  he  assisted  in  constituting 
Bethel  church,  in  which  he  was  clerk  until  1845,  and  with  his 
brothers.  Elders  Joseph,  James,  Moses  and  Josiah,  was  an  active 
and  successful  supporter  of  the  cause  of  religion.  He  died  at  his 
residence  in  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county,  August  24,  1860,  aged 
77  years.  Hester  Lemen,  wife  of  Robert  Lemen,  was  a  devoted 
Christian  mother.  In  early  life  she  united  with  the  Baptist  faith, 
and  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  interests  of  religion.  She  died 
at  the  family  residence,  November  2,  1849,  aged  nearly  61  years. 

Rev.  Joseph  Lemen,  son  of  Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sr.  and  Catherine 
Lemen,  was  born  in  Berkley  county,  Virginia,  September  8,  1785. 
Ciame  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  in  1786.  United  with  the  Bap- 
tist church  and  became  a  prominent  minister  of  the  gospel.  He 
married  Mary  Kinney,  settled  in  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county, 
and  reared  a  large  family,  who  embraced  the  Baptist  faith  and 
united  with  that  church  ;  five  sons  and  one  daughter  are  yet  living. 
He  was  an  active  laborer  in  the  cause  of  his  Master,  his  field  of  la- 
bors extending  from  Iowa  to  Kentucky,  and  for  a  period  of  more 
than  half  a  century  caHed  men  to  seek  repentance  and  salvation. 
In  the  course  of  his  labors,  he  assisted  to  organize  many  churches. 
He  was  a  devoted  student  of  the  Bible,  and  was  always  happy  to 
call  men  to  follow  it  as  their  guide.  For  many  years,  and  from  its 
organization  down  to  1851,  he,  with  his  brother  James,  supplied 


Bethel  church  with  ministerial  labor,  (except  fi)r  a  period  when 
Rev.  Moses  Lemen  was  pastor  of  the  church)  and  his  labors  were 
blest,  as  the  church  increased  greatly  in  strength  through  their  la- 
bors. He  died  at  his  residence  in  Ridge  Prairie,  June  29,  1861, 
aged  nearly  76  years.  Mary  K.  Lemen,  wife  of  Rev.  Joseph  Le- 
men, joined  the  Baptist  church  in  early  life.  She  was  a  devoted 
mother  and  earnest  Christian.  She  died  at  Mount  Vernon,  while 
visiting  a  daughter  there,  June  1,  1863,  aged  71  years.  She  was 
interred  in  the  family  cemetery,  by  the  side  of  her  husband,  near 
the  old  homestead,  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Ogle  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  came  to  the 
Illinois  country  in  1785,  united  with  the  Baptist  church,  and  be- 
came a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  accomplished  much  good  in  those 
early  days  by  his  gospel  labors.  He  died  at  a  ripe  old  age,  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him. 

These  were  the  men  and  women  who  founded  Bethel  church,  and 
gave  it  their  labors,  and  prayers,  and  tears.  They  have  long  since 
passed  away ;  but  the  church  which  they  founded  has  gathered 
many  a  hundred  to  its  fold,  and  has  witnessed  their  grand  declara- 
tion for  the  common  brotherhood  of  humanity  take  its  place  in  the 
grand  edifice  of  our  national  constitution. 

Rev.  James  Lemen,  who  assisted  to  constitute  this  church,  and 
who,  with  his  brother  Joseph's  assistance,  for  forty  years  furnished 
its  pastoral  supply,  was  a  son  of  Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sr.  and  Cath- 
erine Lemen,  and  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  October  8, 
1787.  In  early  life  he  united  with  the  Baptist  church  and  became 
a  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  his  father. 
Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sr.  He  was  a  man  of  liberal  reading,  and  he 
served  for  several  terms,  some  sixteen  years,  in  the  house  and  sen- 
ate of  the  Illinois  legislature,  and  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
which  made  the  first  constitution  of  the  state,  under  which  it  was 
admitted  as  a  state  into  the  union.  He  preached  in  Illinois,  Mis- 
souri and  Kentucky,  and  assisted  to  organize  many  churches,  but 
his  labors  were  largely  given  to  the  church  of  his  youth,  old  Beth- 
el, which  church  he  joined  at  the  same  session  at  which  it  was  con- 
stituted. He  married  Mary  Pulliam,  December  8, 1813,  located  in 
Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county,  and  reared  a  large  family,  who  all 
united  with  the  Baptist  church.  Three  sons  and  a  daughter  are  yet 
living.  He  died  at  his  residence  in  Ridge  Prairie,  February  8, 
1870,  aged  82  years.  He  was  the  second  child  born  of  American 
parents  in  Illinois,  Enoch  Moore  being  the  first.  Mary  Lemen, 
wife  of  Rev.  James  Lemen,  was  an  earnest  Christian  and  a  devoted 
wife  and  mother.  She  united  with  Bethel  church  after  her  marriage, 
and  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  cause  of  religion.  She  died  at 
her  residence,  February  23,  1876,  aged  81  years. 

In  1810,  March  3,  this  church  in  session  passed  a  rule  to  be  called 
Canteen  Creek  church,  and  for  some  years  after  was  known  as  "The 
Baptist  Church  of  Christ,  Friends  to  Humanity,  at  Canteen  Creek  " 
This  style  was  generally  used  until  July  2,  1825,  when  the  mem- 
bers had  completed  a  meeting-house,  and  at  that  time  had 
met  in  the  house  in  church  session  for  the  first  time.  The  records 
ofthat  meeting  call  this  meeting-house  "Bethel,"  and  from  that 
date  they  seemed  to  be  gradually  by  public  usage,  assuming  the 
name  of  Bethel  church,  or  Bethel  Baptist  church. 

Their  meeting-house  had  a  capacity  of  about  250,  and  was  located 
a  few  rods  south  and  a  little  east  of  the  present  church  building. 

From  1809  to  1825,  the  church  sessions  and  worship  were  held 
here  and  there  at  the  members'  houses  ;  and  it  was  no  unusual  affair 
for  one  of  these  old  farmers  to  feed  fifty  hoi-ses  and  a  hundred  peo- 
ple on  such  occasions.  Sometimes  half  a  beef  and  other  provisions 
in  proportion  would  be  consumed  in  one  day.  In  looking  over  the 
venerable  records  ofthischurch,  it  seems  there  was  much  progress 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


165 


in  numbers  and  strength  during  this  period.  Here  and  there  was 
an  old  camp  follower,  who  worried  the  good  people  with  his  native 
and  uncultured  rhymes  and  dreadful  music,  tried  the  patience  of 
the  real  preachers  by  following  their  sermons  with  wild,  windy  and 
unprofitable  harangues,  and  consumed  their  chickens  and  beef  with 
the  avidity  of  a  Koman  emperor  or  a  hyena,  but  these  harmless 
old  fellows  were  tolerated  in  Christian  charity. 

General  progress  continued  to  attend  the  church  after  they  built 
their  meeting-house  in  1825 ;  and  preceding  this,  and  some  years 
later,  a  large  number  of  earnest  and  active  workers  had  united 
with  the  church,  and  a  larger  house  had  become  a  necessity, —  and 
they  proceeded  to  build  their  new  house — the  present  church 
building  in  1838  and  '40 — at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  It  is  sixty  by  forty 
feet,  and  was  built  in  accordance  with  the  specifications  of  a  commits 
tee  on  plan  for  a  house,  appointed  in  church  session  April  7,  1838. 
The  committee  were :  Joshua  Begole,  iVlerlin  Jones  and  Samuel 
Seybold.  Making  their  new  house  was  to  call  forth  the  best  energies 
of  their  members;  but  a  noble  band  of  workers,  consisting  of  Joshua 
Begole,  Merlin  Jones,  Robert  Lemen,  John  Cook,  Uev.  James  Le- 
men,  Samuel  Beedle,  Rev.  Joseph  Lemen,  James  H.  Lemen,  Samuel 
Simpson,  William  Hart,  Peter  Bowler,  Warren  Beedle,  Samuel 
Baird,  Isaac  W.  Lemen,  David  La  rence,  James  Hogan,  Sylvester 
Lemen,  and  others,  carried  the  enterprise  forward  to  success  ;  and 
the  new  house  was  dedicated  the  first  Saturday  in  September,  1840, 
the  Rev.  John  M.  Peck  preaching  the  dedicatory  serm(  n.  On  this 
occasion  a  vast  concourse  of  people  attended,  and  a  series  of  meet- 
ings continued  for  ten  days,  resulting  in  the  conversion  of  fifty 
persons,  many  of  whom  united  with  Bethel  Church. 

In  1851,  Feb.  1,  Rev.  John  M.  Peck  was  chosen  Pastor  of  Bethel 
church.  From  its  organization  to  this  date.  Revs.  Joseph  and 
James  Lemen  had  furnished  the  pastoral  services,  except  for  a  pe- 
riod in  1846  and  1847,  when  Rev.  Moses  Lemen,  their  brother, 
was  pastor.  During  this  period  of  about  forty  years,  while  the 
Lemen  brothers,  Joseph  and  James,  labored  in  the  church,  other 
ministers  from  every  section  of  the  country  often  preached  and  la- 
bored at  Bethel,  in  revival  meetings  and  at  other  times,  and  ren- 
dered great  aid  and  encouragement  to  the  church  ;  but  the  labors 
of  these  two  pioneer  ministers  were  rewarded  with  a  degree  of  suc- 
cess in  advancing  the  interest  and  strength  of  the  church,  which 
brought  with  it  a  consciousness  of  duty  well  discharged. 

Rev-  Moses  Lemen  filled  the  pastorate  of  Bethel  church  for  a 
period  in  1846-7,  to  the  satisfaction  and  progress  of  the  congrega- 
tion. He  was  a  well-read  man,  and  possessed  much  power  as  a 
speaker.  He  was  a  devoted  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  gave  his 
time  largely  to  the  Master's  service.  He  died  in  Montgomery  co  , 
Illinois,  March  5,  1859,  aged  62  years. 

John  M.  Peck,  D.  D.,  was  Pastor  of  Bethel  Church  in  1851,  and 
the  church  prospered  under  his  care.  Dr.  Peck  moved  from  the 
east  and  located  at  Rock  Spring,  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  at  an 
early  day.  He  was  a  man  of  universal  reading,  and  as  a  minister 
of  the  gospel  of  the  Baptist  faith  was  devoted,  and  commanded  a 
wide  influence.  He  was  the  founder  of  Shurtlefi"  College,  which 
sprang  from  Rock  Spring  Seminary,  Dr.  Peck's  school.  He  died 
at  his  home  at  Rock  Spring  in  1858,  before  he  had  attained  a  very 
great  age.  The  scene  at  his  death-bed  was  very  impressive. 
Several  of  his  ministerial  and  other  associates  had  visited  him,  and 
but  a  short  time  before  his  death  he  reached  his  hand  to  Reverend 
James  Lemen,  and  shaking  his  hand, '  earnestly  exclaimed  :  "  The 
Saviour  reigns ! "  It  was  a  beautiful  and  fit  ending  of  a  life, 
whose  labors  had  left  their  mark  upon  the  literature  and  piety  of 
his  age,  and  which  had  made  the  name  of  John  M.  Peck  a  house- 
hold word  throughout  the  country.    Rev.  James  Lemen  preached 


the  funeral  discourses  commemorative  of  Dr.  Peck's  life  and  labors 
at  Alton,  Bethel,  Belleville,  and  one  or  two  other  points. 

Since  Dr.  Peck's  pastorate.  Rev.  D.  M.  Howell,  J.  H.  Heigh,  E. 
J.  Palmer,  H.  S.  Deppe,  J.  M.  Cochran,  W.  S.  Post,  L.  C.  Carr,  W. 
Wright,  and  W.  R.  Andereck,  who  is  pastor  for  half  his  time,  have 
constituted  the  succession  of  pastors  of  Bethel  Church  ;  and  during 
that  period  the  church,  at  times,  enjoyed  great  seasons  of  revivals 
and  large  additions  to  its  membership,  and  at  other  times  expe- 
rienced depression  and  discouragement.  At  this  time,  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  W.  R.  Andereck,  who  with  his  family  now 
resides  in  the  parsonage,  the  condition  of  the  church  is  satisfactory. 
Mr.  Andereck  possesses  good  natural  powers  as  a  speaker,  and  a 
liberal  culture,  and  is  much  esteemed  by  his  congregation  and  the 
community. 

With  perhaps  one  or  two  exceptions,  those  early  members,  who  bore 
the  heat  and  burden  of  the  work  in  making  Bethel  what  it  once  was 
and  now  is,  to  a  certain  extent,  have  passed  away.  They  were  noble 
men  and  women,  whose  memories  it  were  well  to  embalm  in  gratitude. 
Among  the  last  of  these  who  died  in  Bethel  community  was  Joshua 
Begole.  He  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day,  and  during  a  long 
life  contributed  largely  of  his  time  and  means  to  build  up  Bethel 
church  and  the  cause  of  religion  generally  in  this  section  of  Illinois. 
Joshua  Begole  was  a  man  of  liberal  reading,  and  served  the  people 
in  St.  Clair  county  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years;  married 
Mary  Terry,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county,  where  ihey  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  competence — reared  a  large  family  of  children, 
who  were  all  believers,  and  seven  of  whom  united  with  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  are  earnest  and  liberal  supporters  of  the  cause.  He 
was  a  liberal,  earnest  Christian,  and  was  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  united  with  Bethel  Church  Aug.  4,  1827,  and  for  nearly 
half  a  century  he  stood  by  this  old  church  with  his  means  and  his  toils 
and  his  prayers.  He  died  at  his  residence,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of 
Bethel,  March  2,  1874,  aged  82  years.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Mary  Be- 
gole, who  resides  at  the  old  homestead,  near  Bethel,  united  with 
Bethel  Church  Oct.  6,  1827.  More  than  half  a  century  separates 
her  now  from  that  day,  but  through  these  long  years  she  has  con- 
tributed with  a  liberal  hand  and  sincere  purpose  to  the  interests  of 
that  church,  while  she  has  been  a  generous  supporter  of  the  cause  of 
religion  generally ;  and  none,  more  justly  than  she,  is  esteemed  for 
their  piety  and  benevolence. 

Bethel  Church  has  sent  out  many  ministers  of  the  gospel  of  the 
Baptist  faith.  Revs.  Joseph  Lemen,  James  Lemen,  Sr  ,  Benjamin 
Ogle,  Joel  Terry,  and  several  other  members  of  the  gospel  minis- 
try, have  been  ordained,  and  have  gone  out  from  this  church  to 
preach  the  Word  of  God.  The  deacons  of  the  church  since  its  or- 
ganization were,  Stephen  Terry,  Gideon  Scanland,  Samuel  Mc- 
Clain,  John  Hart,  Elisha  Freeman,  William  Hart,  George  C. 
Hart,  Samuel  Baird,  Benjamin  Scott,  Warren  Beedle,  James  B. 
Lyons,  Augustus  Beedle,  Samuel  Simpson ;  and  the  present  deacons 
are,  Levi  Piggott  and  F.  B.  Lemen.  The  clerks  were,  Robert  Le- 
men, Sidney  Hart,  assistant  clerk  at  one  time ;  James  H.  Lemen, 
G.  W.  Bowler,  S.  Whitlock  ;  and  the  present  clerk,  L.  W.  Beedle. 
The  treasurers  were  John  Cook,  Joshua  Begole,  Warren  Beedle, 
James  H.  Lemen,  present  treasurer ;  and  Gideon  S.  Lemen.  From 
time  to  time,  the  church  has  renewed  its  board  of  trustees  by  elec- 
tion. 

Bethel  Church  is,  and  always  has  been,  missionary  in  spirit.  It 
has  given  thousands  since  its  organization  for  religious  and  eleemo- 
synary purposes  ;  and  it  has  not  been  wanting  in  patriotism.  By 
its  record  of  July  3  1847,  we  find  an  act  relieving  its  members  who 
were  in  the  Mexican  war  from  church  expenses  for  soine  time,  and 
when  some  of  its  members  and  friends  were  in  the  late  war,  the 


166 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


church,  or  its  members,  held  festivals  ftr  the  purpose  of  sending 
extra  comforts  to  their  friends  at  the  front ;  and  on  one  occasion, 
with  Mr.  William  Begole  as  president  of  the  evening,  four  hun- 
dred dollars  were  collected  and  donated  for  that  purpose. 

Ordinarily,  without  it  is  when  the  pastoral  supply  is  partial,  the 
church  holds  meetings  every  Sabbath.  Their  church  meetings 
occur  monthly,  the  first  Saturday,  and  their  communion  seasons  are 
observed  quarterly. 

Bethel  Church  is  now  the  oldest  Baptist  Church  in  Illinois.  The 
church  property  consists  of  a  church  house,  and  a  few  acres  of 
land,  on  which  there  are  a  comfortable  house  for  the  pastor  and  a 
cemetery.  The  property  is  worth  S4,000.  The  church  house 
is  in  good  repair,  and  has  a  capacity  for  six  hundred  comfortable 
sittings.  The  church  is  well  supported  and  cared  for  by  the  de- 
scendants of  its  early  members,  who  reside  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
church,  and  who  generally  belong  to  it,  together  with  other  per- 
sons who  have  settled  in  that  locality  and  united  with  the  church. 
The  financial  strength  of  the  membership  generally  is  considerable, 
and  in  addition  to  meeting  the  obligations  of 'maintaining  the 
church,  they  contribute  of  their  means  to  a  liberal  extent  in  other 
religious  missions.  The  strength  of  the  church  at  this  time,  Feb. 
1881,  consists  of  109  members.  Usually  a  Sunday-school  is  con- 
ducted at  the  church,  at  hours  when  worship  is  not  in  progress,  and 
the  interests  of  the  children  are  thus  looked  after.  At  this  time  the 
Sunday-school  is  under  the  control  of  F.  B.  Lemen.  In  their  music, 
congregational  singing  has  always  been  the  custom  at  Bethel  Church, 
but  for  some  time  this  has  been  reinforced  by  the  organ. 

We  have  given  the  scene  where  the  early  members  of  Bethel 
Church  labored ;  it  is  proper  to  name  the  spot  where  they  rest. 
The  church  have  a  cemetery  near  the  northern  limits  of  their  land, 
neatly  enclosed  and  taken  care  of;  many  of  the  early  laborers  of 
the  church  are  interred  elsewhere,  but  a  large  number  of  them  rest 
here ;  and  if  the  Christian's  hope  be  not  a  myth,  and  his  Bible  an 
idle  legend — and  they  certainly  are  not — they  have  joined  that 
throng  whose  faith  made  the  toils  of  this  life,  with  death  and  the 
grave,  but  steps  in  their  progress  to  a  happier  sphere  and  blessed 
immortality.  They  have  gone  to  that  reward  which  God  has 
promised  the  faithful. 

OLD   SILVER   CREEK   BAPTIST  CHUIJCH. 

The  old  Silver  Creek  Baptist  Church,  of  Lower  Silver  Creek, 
(now  extinct),  was  organized  March  21,  1811.  The  constituent 
members  were  Abraham  Teter,  Mary  Teter,  Peter  Mitchel,  Hannah 
Mitchel,  Kebecca  Griflin,  Mary  Eadcliff  and  Barbara  Shook.  Peter 
Mitchel  was  the  first  clerk.  The  ministers  who  served  as  pastors 
at  different  times  were  Eevs.  Mr.  Ross,  Gaskili,  Joseph  Lemen, 
James  Lemen,  Moses  Lemen,  Harris,  Howell,  Stilwell,  Arnott, 
Keele, .Brown  and  Huggins.  This  congregation  built  a  house 
of  worship  in  1856,  and  at  that  time  the  membership  was  159.  By 
the  last  record  in  1864,  there  were  62  members;  some  had  united 
with  the  Baptist  church  at  Freeburg,  some  went  to  Fayetteville, 
some  to  Mascoutah  and  elsewhere,  and  through  those  causes  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church  became  extinct.  But  its  influence  had  ac- 
complished much  good ;  and  indirectly  that  influence  yet  lives  and 
is  exerted  elsewhere  through  its  old  members  or  their  descendants, 
who  are  members  of  the  Baptist  faith  elsewhere. 

THE   FREEBURG   BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Freeburg,  late  in 
the  year  1856.  The  4th  of  January,  1857,  he  organized  a  church 
there,  called  the  Freeburg  Baptist  Church.  The  constituent  members 
were  Solomon  Teter,  Jacob  Wilderman,  Joseph  Hill,  Elizabeth  Hill, 


Theresa  Wilderman,  Sarah  Thrift,  Polly  Griffin,  Patience  Lemen 
and  Elizabeth  Hill.  Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe  preached  for  the  church 
for  six  years.  Rev.  John  Peters  for  two  years,  when  Rev.  H.  S. 
Deppe  was  chosen  pastor  again,  and  preached  five  years.  Rtv. 
John  Peters  followed  for  one  year,  when  Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe  was 
again  chosen  pastor,  and  after  six  months  resigned.  Rev.  Mr. 
Jackson  preached  for  a  short  period  in  1875  to  this  church.  Rev. 
H.  S.  Deppe  was  again  chosen  as  pastor,  and  served  the  church  for 
two  years.  In  1879,  Rev.  Mr.  Wright  preached  some  eight  months. 
In  May,  1880,  the  church  again  elected  Rev.  H.  8.  Deppe  pas- 
tor, since  which  time  he  has  been  preaching  there.  Solomon  Teter 
has  served  the  church  as  deacon  ever  since  it  was  constituted.  Joseph 
Hill,  now  deceased,  was  also  deacon.  After  Mr.  Hill  died,  Lewis 
Holcomb  was  chosen  as  deacon,  and  served  until  his  death.  John 
T.  Lemen  was  church  clerk  from  its  organization  until  1869,  when 
G.  C.  Paterson  was  chosen,  and  served  until  1871.  Robert  Lemen 
was  clerk  until  1873 ;  F.  Holcomb  until  1874.  A.  Anthony  was 
acting  clerk  a  few  months.  Lewis  Holcomb  was  then  chosen,  and 
served  until  his  death  in  1880,  after  which  W.  A.  Wilderman  was 
chosen  clerk,  and  is  now  serving. 

The  meeting-house  has  a  capacity  of  some  300  sittings.  It  is 
worth,  with  its  two  lots,  $2,000.  The  church  increased  in  numbers 
till  1869  when  its  membership  was  160 ;  but  removals  and  death 
have  reduced  the  number,  while  a  few  have  been  excluded.  The 
present  membership  is  76.  The  county  is  peopled  largely  by  Ger- 
man-Americans, who  generally  adhere  to  their  own  churches,  which 
in  some  sections  make  it  difficult  for  the  English  Baptist  churches 
to  increase  in  numbers.  The  church  maintains  a  Sunday-school  of 
40  scholars. 

Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe,  of  Freeburg,  who  was  the  chief  mover  in  call- 
ing this  church  into  organization,  has  been  one  among  the  leading 
Baptist  ministers  of  Southern  Illinois  for  many  years.  He  is  of 
German  nativity,  and  is  a  liberal  German  scholar,  and  a  good 
English  scholar,  being  a  man  of  vast  reading  in  everything  pertain- 
ing to  sacred  literature.  He  is  an  eloquent  and  forcible  speaker,  a 
devoted  minister  of  Christ  and  a  successful  evangelist.  He  has  or- 
ganized many  churches,  and  his  preaching  has  added  hundreds  to 
the  Baptist  faith  in  Illinois. 

This  church  contains  a  number  of  active,  faithful  workers  in  the 
Baptist  cause.  Prominent  among  them  is  Solomon  Teter,  a  man 
eminent  for  his  piety  and  devotion  to  religious  interests,  and  com- 
manding the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  churches  and  the  com- 
munity throughout  the  county.  On  the  list  of  its  members  who 
have  passed  away,  are  also  the  names  of  some  who  toiled  for  the 
church,  and  whose  Christian  lives  exercised  a  wide  influence  with 
the  people  of  the  community.  John  T.  Lemen,  who  for  a  long 
period  was  a  member  of  this  church,  was  a  faithful  Christian,  whose 
large  means  and  influence  did  much  for  the  Baptist  cause  and  for 
the  general  interests  of  religion  and  learning  in  St.  Clair  county. 
He  was  universally  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  in  his  death 
the  Baptist  churches  and  the  community  throughout  the  county 
lost  a  strong  man.  Lewis  Holcomb,  clerk  and  deacon  of  this  chui  ch 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  another  good  and  faithful  worker  in 
the  interests  of  this  church,  and  highly  esteemed  by  his  brethren 
and  the  community  generally. 

THE   O' FALLON    BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

The  Baptist  Church  at  O'Fallon,  was  organized  January  20, 
1867,  by  Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe,  Rev.  J.  W.  Swift  and  Rev.  D.  D. 
Roach  ;  messengers  from  the  sister  churches  of  Bethel,  Belleville, 
Collinsville,  Oak  Hill  and  Lebanon  attending.  The  constituent 
members  were :  Rev.  D.  D.  Roach,  A  J.  Roach,  C.  Roach,  Geo.  W. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


167 


Darrow,  Drusilla  Darrow,  L.  Simmons,  Jane  Smiley,  E.  Enda,  W. 
S.  Scott,  Mary  E.  Scott,  Mieah  A.  Scott,  Mary  Scott,  John  J.  Scott, 
SallLe  B.  Scott  and  Edwin  Swift. 

At  the  first  meeting  after  organization  the  following  trustees  vwre 
elected  :  Geo.  W.  Darrow,  W.  S.  Scott,  J.  G.  Scott,  and  at  the  same 
meeting  the  latter  was  chosen  church  clerk.  The  first  deacons  were 
J.  W.  Shook,  "W.  S.  Scott  and  J.  G.  Scott. 

The  church  edifice  cost  $4,050.50,  and  the  house  was  dedicated  and 
the  church  recognized  June  23,  1867.  Dr.  D.  Eead  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon  ;  and  in  the  evening  Kev.  H.  S.  Deppe  preached 
a  sermon,  after  which  the  brethren  constituting  the  O  Fallon 'Bap- 
tist Church,  were  recognized  as  a  Baptist  Church  of  the  regular 
fitith  and  order.  Eev.  J.  W.  Swift  was  chosen  as  the  first  pastor, 
and  served  about  two  years.  Rev.  T.  W.  Green  followed  Rev. 
Swift  as  pastor  for  a  few  months,  when  he  resigned  and  the  church 
elected  Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe,  who  served  half  his  time  for  a  period. 
Rev.  Mr.  Cole  followed  as  pastor,  and  succeeding  him  Rev  Mr. 
Evans  served.  Rev.  Mr.  Wright  followed  Mr.  Evans,  and  Rev. 
AV.  R.  Andereck  of  Bethel,  followed  Mr.  Wright,  and  is  now  pastor 
for  half  time. 

The  clerks  of  the  church  were  J.  G.  Scott,  8.  H.  Wiggins,  J.  D. 
Hodge,  8.  B.  Daniels,  and  Evan  Davis,  in  the  order  mentioned. 
Geo.  W.  Darrow  is  deacon. 

There  is  yet  some  $600  indebtedness  ou  the  church  house.  The 
house  will  seat  400  persons.  The  present  membership  is 
25.  The  present  condition  of  the  church  is  that  of  peace  and 
brotherly  good  feeling.  Value  of  the  church  property  about  $3500. 
The  Marissa  Baptist  church,  of  Marissa, ,  St.  Clair  county,  was 
organized  March  9,  1875,  at  the  close  of  a  protracted  meeting  held 
by  Rev.  J.  C.  Wilson.  The  constituent  members  of  this  church 
were,  M.  W.  Borders,  James  W.  Stewart,  Mary  Stewart,  John  W. 
Wells,  J.  S.  Short,  John  W.  Hesker,  Louisa  Hesker,  H.  J.  Stein, 
heimer,  Josephine  R.  Steinheimer,  Robert  C  Wyllie,  James  W. 
Green,  Wm.  Stewart,  Geo.  W.  Rector,  Chas.  Gates,  Samuel  IT- 
Morris,  John  Bredenhoeft,  Jesse  Campbell,  Robt.  J.  Vaughn,  E. 
Alice  Coulter  and  Mattie  E.  Burns. 

Arrangements  were  immediately  made  for  building  a  house  of 
worship,  and  John  W.  Hesker,  James  W.  Green  and  John  W. 
Wells  were  elected  trustees.  A  church  was  built  costing  $8500, 
having  a  seating  capacity  of  about  300. 

The  Deacons  of  the  church,  chosen  soon  after  its  organization,  are 
James  W.  Stewart,  J.  8.  Short,  and  John  W.  Wells.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Wilson  continued  to  serve  as  pastor  of  the  church  until  the  fall  of 
1875,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  spring  of  1876,  by  Rev.  J.  M.Ben- 
nett, who  was  pastor  until  the  fall  of  1878.  Mr.  Bennett  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  W.  A.  Jarral,  who  supplied  the  church  half  his 
time,  preaching  also  for  the  Baptist  church  at  Pinckneyville.  Mr. 
Jarral  moved  to  Texas  in  the  summer  of  1880,  having  received  a 
call  from  the  Baptist  church  -of  Weatherford  in  that  state.  In  Sept. 
1880,  Rev.  Jacob  Cole  undertook  the  pastoral  care  of  ihe  church, 
dividing  his  time  between  this  church  and  the  Baptist  church  at 
Oak  Hill,  in  this  county. 

At  the  organization  of  this  church  the  Baptist  strength  here  was 
reinforced  by  the  addition  of  a  large  number  of  persons  who  had 
never  before  belonged  to  that  faith.  With  the  exception  of  James 
W.  Stewart,  J.  S.  Short,  H.  J.  Steinheimer,  Josephine  Steinheimer^ 
and  George  Rector,  the  constituent  members  of  the  church  consisted 
of  such  persons.  During  the  few  years  in  which  the  church  has 
been  in  existence,  nearly  all  the  active  members  of  the  former  Bap- 
tist church  at  New  Athens,  have  been  received  on  their  statement 
of  former  membership.  The  entire  membership  of  the  church  since 
its  organization  has  been  one  hundred  and  twelve.     The  present 


membership,  Feb.  1,  1881,  is  seventy-two.  The  church  is  entirely 
out  of  debt,  a  greater  part  of  the  cost  of  the  building  having  been 
donated  by  the  members  themselves. 

The  condition  of  the  church  is  peaceful,  and  the  promise  for  it  to 
continue  to  grow  in  influence  and  strength  is  hopeful.  After  the 
organization  of  this  church,  a  considerable  number  of  Baptist 
people,  who  belonged  to  a  church  at  New  Athens,  united  with  this 
congregation,  and  the  organization  at  New  Athens  was  dissolved. 

The  Baptist  church  of  Oak  Hill,  located  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of 
O'Fallon  in  St.  Clair  county,  in  a  beautiful  and  fertile  farming  district, 
was  organized  February  10,  1851,  by  elder  R.  Keele,  aided  by  dea- 
cons Martin  and  Butler  Badgely.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
constituent  members  :  Madison  Ely,  Rosella  Ely,  Wm.  D.  Ross, 
Emaline  Ross,  Sarah  Ross,  G.  W.  Darrow.  The  first  ofiicers.  Rev. 
R.  Keele,  pastor,  G.  W.  Darrow,  cleiki  The  meetings  of  this  body 
were  held  in  the  Oak  Hill  school-house  until  November  12,  1854, 
when  the  present  church-house,  costing  $1260,  was  completed  and 
formally  opened  for  worship  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  assisted  by 
elder  Keele.  The  church  increased  in  members  until  at  the  close 
of  the  year  1857,  the  number  of  members  was  sixty-nine,  (69)  and 
at  that  time  great  interest  was  manifested  in  the  welfare  of  the  good 
Gauge.  The  future  seemed  bright,  the  church  was  in  perfect  harmony 
and  worked  together  in  fellowship  and  love.  Rev.  Wm.  Storrs  was 
unanimoudy  chosen  pastor.  Such  a  feeling  dwelt  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people  that  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  in  his  remarks  during  the 
exercise  of  inducting  Rev.  Storrs  into  the  pastoral  office ;  and  in 
view  of  his  declining  years,  adopted  the  language  of  Simeon,  "  Lord, 
now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  my  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation,"  and  "  a  more  interesting  meeting  was  never  held  in 
this  settlement,"  as  affirmed  by  elder  Peck.  But  this  state  of  things 
was  not  destined  to  exist  long.  In  the  year  1858,  from  imaginary 
or  real  causes,  or  perhaps  both,  quite  a  number  of  members  refused 
to  fellowship,  or  recognize  the  authority  of  the  church,  and  were 
necessarily  excluded.  This  caused  a  great  many  unchristian  words 
and  acts,  and  from  this  time  the  progress  of  the  church  was  slow 
until  1861,  when  D.  Mason  Howell  was  chosen  pastor.  He  began 
his  work  under  very  inauspicious  circumstances.  But  he  was  a 
man  whose  soul  was  filled  with  love  to  God  and  man  ;  a  man  whose 
unceasing  prayers,  and  labor,  and  love  God  was  pleased  to  bless  by 
the  restoration  of  those  gone  astray ;  and  by  the  addition 
of  fifty-eight,  by  experience  and  baptism.  Perhaps  no  pastor 
ever  commanded  a  more  unanimous  love  and  respect,  than 
Rev.  Howell  did  of  the  Oak  Hill  people.  But  in  the  midst  of  his 
successful  work  God  saw  fit  in  his  wisdom  to  call  him  to  his  re- 
ward. 

From  the  time  of  Rev.  Howell's  death  until  1867,  nothing  oc- 
curred to  disturb  the  harmony  of  the  church  ;  and  during  the  year 
1866,  quite  a  number  of  the  young  people  were  converted  under  the 
preaching  of  elders  French  and  Swift.  January  25,  1867,  a 
number  of  the  most  active  members  withdrew  by  letter  to  join  the 
O'Fallon  church,  which  was  organized  at  that  time.  During  the 
time  intervening  1867,  and  the  present  time  the  history  of  the 
church  is  much  the  same  as  that  of  other  churches ;  we  have  had  a 
number  of  gracious  revivals,  and  many  precious  souls  have  added 
their  testimony  as  to  God's  goodness.  Also  many  who  were  former- 
ly the  pillars  of  the  church  have  been  called  to  lay  down  their  ar- 
mor, and  enter  into  that  rest  prepared  by  God  for  his  people.  Ser- 
vices are  held  regularly  every  Sabbath-day  ;  if  no  pastor  is  present 
it  is  a  prayer  and  conference  meeting.  Also  the  weekly  Friday- 
night  prayer-meeting  has  been  regularly  observed  for  many  years. 
The  present  membership  numbers  ninety. 

Present  value  of  church  property  about  $1000.     The  church  has 


168 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


sustained  a  Sunday-school  weekly  throughout  the  whole  year  with 
varyiug  interest  for  many  years.  The  church  buildiug  will  acconi- 
m  idate  about  300  people. 


DATK   OP   SEEVIOE 
BEGINNING. 


NAMES  OF  PASTORS, 


DEACONS. 


1851, 

E.  Keele. 

Wm.  D.  Ross,  or- 

G.   W.  Darrow  to 

until 

r  Wm.  D.  Ross.  \ 
\  Madison   Ely.  / 

dained  Feb.  12, '54. 

Oct.  1854 

June  1854, 

r  Jno.     Rader.  \ 
iLevi   Elliott.  J 

H  M.  Peck    until 

until 

Jan.  12,  1856, then 

Dec.  12,  1857,  then 

Wm.  Storrs. 

ord'd  Oct.  15,  '54. 

J.  M.  Peck, 

uniil 

until 

April  1859,  then 

J.  W.  Thwing. 

Wm.  Simons,  from 

November  1857, 

until 

Red  Bud,  May  10, 

then 

1860.  then 

Jno.  Shepherd. 

1851. 

P.  C.  Culver 

until 

until 

1861,  then 

until 
1865,  then 

D.  M.  Howell. 

March  1860. 

H.  S.  Deppe. 

f  W.  A.  Darrow.  \ 
■  Joab  Elliott.     / 

Horace  Simons 

until 

until 

1866,  then 

N.  Kinney. 

ordained   May  14, 

July  13,  1861. 

until 

1877. 

1867,  then 

Wm.  Ross. 

S.  W.  Peach 

until 

until 

1868, then 

J.  M.  Cochran. 

January  1862. 

until 

1870,  then 

Ross  and  Deppe. 

Wm.  S.  Scott,  from 

W.  A.  Darrow 

until 

O'Fallon. 

until 

1872,  [hen 
until 

J.  Cole. 

February  18C3. 

1874,  then 

H.  S.  Deppe. 

Wm.  Peach    from 

Wm.  Peach,    from 

until 

New    Hope,   Nov. 

New    Hope,    Nov. 

1877, then 

J.  M.  Billingsly. 

1857. 

'.b1,  until  Nov.  '65. 

until 

J.  G.Scott,  Feb. '67. 

1878,  then 

H.  S.  Deppe. 

until 

Wm.  Peach 

18S0,  then 
until 
1881. 

J.  Cole 

until  1880. 

H.  E.  Patterson. 

This  church  is  situated  in  a  beautiful  portion  of  the  county,  sur- 
rounded by  well-to-do  faimcrs  ar.d  others,  who  are  liberal  sup- 
porters of  the  Baptist  cause.  Many  historical  associations  cluster 
around  the  vicinity,  where  it  is  located,  as  being  the  place  where 
the  illustrious  Dr.  Peck  resided  for  a  good  portion  of  his  life  ;  and 
by  reason  of  this  an  influence  for  good  in  the  Baptist  cause  radiated, 
which  was  felt  throughout  Illinois  and  the  West.  The  ch»rch  has 
accomplifched  a  mission  of  great  good,  and  the  element  of  strength 
it  yet  possesses  may  well  be  considered  as  an  auspicious  augury  for 
yet  greater  progress  in  the  Master's  cause. 

THE   EICHLAND   BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  Richland  Baptist  Church,  situated  one  and  a  half  miles  south- 
east of  Smithton,  was  constituted  by  Rev.  Henry  Ross  and  Nathan 
Arnott,  at  the  house  of  George  W.  Carr,  April  23,  1842.  The  con- 
stituent members  were  William  Sanders,  Marinda  Smith,  Sarah  Hol- 
roid,  Sarah  Tiner  and  Hannah  Arnott.  The  first  church  meeting  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Abner  Carr,  May  7,  1842.  Rev.  N.  Arnott 
was  clerk,  pro  tem.,  at  this  meeting,  and  was  chosen  pastor  of  this 
church  July  9,  1842.  Nathaniel  Smith  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
church  at  the  same  meeting,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  his 
resignation,  Jan.  14,  1854. 

John  Woods,  Jr.,  was  ordained  deacon  of  the  church  October  8, 
1842.  On  the  12th  of  November,  1842,  Runion  Zuick,  Conrad  G. 
Carr  and  Nathaniel  Smith  were  appointed  a  building  committee  to 
superintend  the  building  of  the  Richland  church-house ;  and  June 
10,  1843,  William  Rettinghouse,  John  Woods  and  John  Retting- 
house  were  appointed  Trustees.  In  encouragement  of  this  enter- 
prise, Nathaniel  Smith  deeded  a  tract  of  land  containing  three 
acres  to  the  church  Trustees  for  the  use  of  the  church. 

Rev.  Nathan  Arnott  was  elected  a  second  time  as  pastor  July  8, 
1843,  and  again  July  13, 1844.  On  August  10,  1844,  John  Woods 
was  released  from  the  office  of  deacon.  On  March  8, 1845,  the  first 
mooting  occurred  in  the  new  meeting-house  ;  previously  to  this  the 


meetings  were  held  at  private  houses.  June  14,  1845,  John  Woods 
asked  to  be  released  from  the  office  of  trustee,  and  Jefferson  Wild- 
erman  was  appointed  in  his  place.  Rev.  Nathan  Arnott  was  cho- 
sen pastor  for  the  fourth  time,  July  12,  1845.  On  April  11,  1846, 
George  W.  Carr  was  ordained  deacon  of  the  church.  Rev.  D.  L. 
Phillips  was  chosen  pastor  of  the  church  August  8, 1 846,  and  served 
until  February  9,  1850,  when  he  resigned.  Joel  Robertson  was 
considered  one  of  the  deacons  in  1847,  June  12,  as  he  was  deacon 
of  the  church  to  which  he  formerly  belonged. 

Rev.  Nathan  Arnott  served  as  pastor  from  February  9,  1850  to 
April  12,  1851,  when  Rev.  Samuel  Roach  followed  with  a  term  of 
pastoral  service,  who  was  followed  by  Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe,  who  was 
chosen  pastor  July  11, 1852.  Rev.  D.  M.  Howell  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  August  13,  1853;  and  Rev.  Nathan  Arnott  was  again 
chosen  December  10,  1853.  G  W.  Carr  was  chosen  church  clerk 
January  14.  1854,  and  John  W.  Wright,  April  8,  1854,  followed 
by  Harmon  Holcomb,  September  9,  1854. 

Rev.  G.  F.  Stilwell  was  chosen  as  pastor  December  9, 1854  ;  and 
Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe  was  elected  a  second  time  to  the  pastorate  May 
10,  1856.  After  April  11,  1857,  until  August  12,  1871,  the  church 
held  no  meetings.  At  the  latter  date  Timothy  O.  Holcomb  and 
Nathan  S.  Robertson  were  appointed  church  Trustees,  Rev.  J.  M. 
Cochran  acting  as  Moderator,  and  A.  O.  Miller  as  clerk.  January 
6,  1874,  the  members  of  Richland  and  High  Prairie  churches  met, 
and  by  agreement,  were  united  as  one  church,  to  be  known  as  the 
"  Old  Richland  Church."  Rev.  M.  J.  Badgley  acted  as  Moderator 
at  this  meeting.  John  McCulley,  who  was  deacon  of  the  High 
Prairie  church,  after  the  churches  united,  continued  as  a  deacon  in 
this  church  until  his  death,  January  15, 1875.  A.  O.  Miller  served 
as  clerk  until  March  14,  1874,  when  he  resigned.  Rev.  Thomas 
Deck  was  chosen  as  pastor  January  14, 1874  ;  and  on  March  14, 
1874,  N.  S.  Robertson  was  appointed  clerk.  Rev.  Daniel  Shipraan 
was  called  to  the  pastorate  March  4,  1876 ;  and  B.  C.  Retting' 
house  and  N.  S.  Robertson  were  chosen  deacons  of  the  church  Au. 
gust  27,  1876-  In  1877,  May  12,  Rev.  Daniel  Shipman  was  elected 
pastor  for  the  second  time,  and  resigned  the  charge  September  8, 
1877.  Rev.  Tolbert  Smirls  was  chosen  October  13,  1877,  and 
served  until  October  11,  1879.  In  1879,  October  11,  Rev.  Daniel 
Shipman  was  again  chosen  to  the  pastorate,  and  is  now  serving  the 
church. 

The  Superintendents  of  the  Sabbath-school,  at  Richland,  were 
Nathaniel  Smith,  Ellas  Miller,  John  Rettinghouse  and  George 
Woods.  For  the  past  year  or  more  there  has  been  no  Sabbath- 
school.  The  church  house  is  a  brick  building  30x40  feet,  which  is 
now  much  damaged  by  yielding  of  the  foundation,  and  is  of  but 
little  value. 

The  present  numerical  strength  of  the  church  is  fifty-seven  mem- 
bers. 

THE   LEBANON   BAPTIST   CHURCH, 

In  and  preceding  1856,  the  Baptists  of  Lebanon  realized  the  ne- 
cessity of  establishing  a  church  there,  and  at  a  little  later 
period  they  built  a  good  house  of  worship  in  that  city.  The 
membership  is  not  numerous,  and  at  times  they  are  without  pastoral 
services,  while  at  other  times  meetings  are  held  regularly,  and  the 
church  and  Sabbath-school  interests  prosper.  Preston  Peach  is 
church  clerk  at  this  time.  The  church  house  is  a  good  building,  of 
capacity  of  some  three  hundred  or  more  sittings. 

Among  the  ministers  who  labored  in  building  up  this  church  was 
Rev.  J.  H.  High,  the  celebrated  blind  preacher,  who,  at  a  period 
from  1856  to  some  years  later,  labored  with  the  Baptist  churches  in 
this  section  of  Illinois.     He  was  a  man  of  profound  reading,  ac- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


169 


quired  chiefly  by  others  reading  for  him,  naturally  eloquent,  and  a 
speaker  of  remarkable  force  and  pathos. 

THE   NEW   SILVER   CREEK    BAPTIST   CHURCH, 

Was  organized  at  Grifiin's  School  House,  on  Silver  creek,  St. 
Clair  county,  March  5,  1872,  and  comprised  nineteen  members. 
Previous  to  that  time,  G.  W.  Darrow,  of  Oak  Hill  community, 
near  O'Fallon,  an  able  and  devoted  worker  in  the  Baptist  church 
and  Sunday-school  interests  of  St.  Clair  county,  organized  a  Sunday- 
school  at  that  place ;  and  some  time  later,  he  and  Rev.  H.  S.  Deppe 
conducted  a  meeting  there  which  resulted  in  quite  a  number  of  con- 
versions, and  the  organization  of  the  church  followed.  Rev.  H.  S. 
Deppe  served  as  pastor  at  one  time.  Rev.  W.  A.  Manville  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Roach  also  served  it  as  pastors.  The  church  prospered 
for  awhile,  but  has  now  declined,  until  but  four  members  remain  in 
the  neighborhood. 

THE  NEW   HOPE   BAPTIST   CHURCH, 

Located  nine  miles  south-west  of  Belleville,  in  St.  Clair  county, 
was  constituted  at  a  private  dwelling  in  thecommunity,  in  1854,  by 
Rev.  R.  C.  Keele,  who  was  assisted  by  other  ministers.  Rev.  R.  C. 
Keele  was  its  first  pastor,  and  several  other  ministers  served  it  in 
that  relation  afterwards-  The  church  prospered  for  some  time,  and 
the  membership  built  a  house  of  worship. 

Among  the  membership  were  Judge  James  Primm  and  family, 
the  Ballard  family,  William  Peach  and  wife,  and  others,  who  were 
good  workers  in  the  cause* of  religion.  Judge  Primm  now  lives  near 
Pinckneyville,  Perry  county ;  William  Peach  and  family  removed 
and  located  near  O'Fallon  ;  and  by  reason  of  removals,  and  other 
causes,  the  church  has  now  declined. 

Rev.  R  C.  Keele,  who  assisted  to  constitute  this  church,  and 
who  for  some  time  was  its  pastor,  is  an  able  minister  and  a  success- 
ful evangelist :  he  has,  by  his  missionary  work  and  able  gospel  ser- 
mons, largely  aided  the  Baptist  cause  in  this  county  and  throughout 
this  section  of  Illinois.  He  now  resides  at  Salem,  Marion  county, 
Illinois. 

THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  OF  BELLEVILLE. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Belleville,  111.,  was  organized  Sept. 
17th,  1831,  by  Rev.  James  Pulliam  and  others.  He  preached  for 
them  till  1834. 

From  that  time  Elders  Davis,  James  Lemen,  Joseph  Lemen,  and 
Arnett  preached  for  the  church  until  1840. 

We  have  been  unable  to  learn  from  the  church  records,  the  date 
of  the  organization  of  the  Sunday-school  connected  with  this 
church. 

The  first  reference  to  the  Sabbath-school  is  found  in  the  minutes 
Dec.  1839 ;  and  the  fact  is  stated  that  a  Superintendent  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  church  at  that  time.  Note  this  fact.  It  is  the  true 
position  for  the  church  to  take  in  regard  to  the  Sunday-school. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  was  elected  Pastor  at  this  time,  and  served  the 
church  two  years.  He  was  a  great  and  good  man.  This  county 
was  his  home  and  the  scene  of  his  labors  many  years  before  he  went 
on  high. 

The  following  minute  was  made  April  20th,  1844:  "Be  it  or- 
dered that  Elder  James  Pulliam  be  appointed  to  attend  to  the  poor 
members  of  the  church." 

This  resolution  embodies  a  scriptural  principle  which  is  essential 
to  a  Gospel  church  and  very  salutary  when  carried  out  in  the  spirit 
of  Christ. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  "ordered  that  Elder  W.  F.  Boyakin, 
John  G.  Short,  John  W.  Pulliam  and  John  D.  Hughes  be  appoint- 
22 


ed  a  committee  to  circulate  a  subscription  paper  to  see  what  amount 
of  funds  can  be  raised  towards  building  a  Baptist  meeting-house  in 
the  town  of  Belleville." 

These  brethren,  with  Elder  James  Pulliam  and  Thomas  James, 
were  appointed  "a  Building  Committee,  May  18th,  1844,  with  full 
power  and  authority  to  contract  for  building  a  meeting-house  in  the 
town  of  Belleville,  of  such  dimensions  as  they  might  in  their  judg- 
ment deem  best  for  the  benefit  of  the  church."  Sept.  21st,  1844, 
Bro.  David  Phillips  made  application  for  license  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel, which  was  granted  Oct.  19th,  of  the  same  year. 

Rev.  VV.  F.  Boyakin  was  the  next  pastor.  He  continued  in  office 
till  June,  1847. 

Then  Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  was  elected  pastor  the  second  time,  and 
served  them  till  Feb.  1849. 

Sept.  20th,  1845,  the  Building  Committee  made  their  final  report, 
which  was  received  and  the  committee  discharged.  This  was  the 
first  meeting  held  in  the  new  house  of  worship.  According  to  the 
minutes,  the  dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  Elder  James  Lemen 
on  the  same  day. 

It  was  characteristic  of  our  brethren  in  that  time  to  dedicate 
their  houses  of  worship  with  but  little  ceremony  and  ostentation. 

Sept.  27th,  1845,  the  new  meeting-house  was  tendered  to  the 
Baptist  Sunday-school,  Bible  class,  singing  societies,  and  to  preach- 
ers of  all  orthodox  denominations. 

Jan.  16th,  1847,  each  member  was  required  to  attend  every  church 
meeting.  This  rule  is  wise  and  salutary.  If  I  had  been  present  I 
would  have  moved  the  following  amendment,  "every  meeting  of  the 
church."  The  pastor  of  the  church  was  required,  on  Feb.  20th, 
1847,  to  visit  each  member  once  every  three  months  and  report  to 
the  church  the  state  and  condition  of  every  member. 

This  is  another  judicious  rule  when  carefully  observed.  Rev.  J. 
M.  Peck,  pastor,  August  19th,  1848,  "  named  to  the  church  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  call  the  roll  of  the  members,  and  thereupon  pro- 
ceeded and  noted  the  delinquents."  Why  wouldn't  this  be  a  good 
rule  for  pastors  now  ? 

"It  was  ordered,  June  16th,  1849,  that  a  collection  be  taken  up 
the  first  Sunday  of  each  month  for  missionary  purposes,  to  be  divid- 
ed between  the  Missionary  Union  and  the  Domestic  Missions." 

Rev.  Jason  Corwiu  was  pastor  1849  and  1850.  Rev.  H.  E.  Hem- 
sted  served  the  church  a  little  over  a  year.  His  period  of  service 
closed  Sept.  26th,  1852.  Oct.  16th,  1852,  T.  A.  Morton  was  elected 
pastor.  Elder  James  Pulliam  asked  permission  of  the  church  to 
build  a  steeple  and  to  furnish  a  bell  at  his  own  expense,  April  16th, 

1853. 

"  The  Lord  loveth  a  cheerful  giver.'' 

It  is  much  more  praiseworthy  to  volunteer  generous  services  than 
to  wait  to  be  urged  and  persuaded  to  do  them. 

But  it  is  never  right  for  oue  noble  heart  to  give  all  for  a  worthy 
object,  when  there  are  others  in  the  same  church  who  give  nothing. 

Giving  to  the  cause  of  Christ  is  a  privilege  and  duty,  and  when 
performed  in  the  right  spirit  is  as  much  an  act  of  worship  as  pray- 
ing.    The  citizens  of  Belleville  put  a  clock  in  the  steeple  May  19th, 

1854. 

The  church  adopted  the  following  resolution,  March  24th,  1855, 
viz. :  "to  put  a  baptistery  in  the  church  and  to  build  a  parsonage." 
The  baptistery  was  built,  but  the  pastor,  Bro.   Morton,  bought  a 

house  for  himself. 

On  July  21st,  1855,  this  important  principle  was  expressed:  "That 
no  person  can  discharge  his  duties  to  God  and  his  brethren  while 
out  of  church  relationship."  This  scriptural  sentiment  sharply  re- 
proves those  who  though  once  members  of  the  church,  subsequently 
have  neglected  or  refused  to  sustain  this  relation,  while  they  still 


170 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


claim  to  be  Christians.  It  also  condemns  all  Christians  who  have 
never  united  with  the  church.  The  church  would  not  receive  a 
letter  that  had  been  granted  more  than  three  months  without  satis- 
factory explanation. 

Again  they  refused  to  grant  letters  unless  the  application  was 
manifestly  clear  and  proper.  The  following  resolution  was  passed 
Sept.  23d,  1855 ;  "  That  any  member  of  our  church  who  does  not 
contribute,  shall  be  dealt  with  for  covetousness."  In  this  connec- 
tion the  church  recommended  a  weekly  offering  according  to  the 
Apostle's  direction.  In  March,  1856,  the  church  made  an  appoint- 
ment according  to  the  tax  lists,  which  showed  that  they  would  have 
to  pay  $1.40  on  the  $100.00.  There  were  176  members  then,  and 
the  taxable  property  owned  by  the  church  was  $71,632, 

Bro.  James  H.  Ripley  was  elected  deacon  Feb.  28th,  1857. 
Elders  James  and  D.  M.  Howell  each  preached  to  the  church  for^a 
short  time.  Elder  E.  Dodson  was  elected  pastor  June  20th,  1857. 
The  church  decided  Jan.  16th,  1858,  to  hold  a  covenant  meeting  at 
three  p.  m.,  ou  Sabbath  after  the  regular  church  meeting, 

Bro.  Chas.  Gooding  was  elected  deacon  Aug.  21st,  1858.  Dec, 
16th,  1860,  James  H.  Ripley,  Chas.  Gooding  and  William  Pulliam 
were  ordained  deacons.  Elder  H.  S.  Deppe  served  the  church 
for  several  years.  Rev.  W.  Iv-  Jerman  was  pastor  in  1860.  The 
church  for  many  years  took  up  a  collection  every  Sunday  morning 
for  church  purposes.  This  custom  was  discontinued  Jan.  21st, 
1860.  It  was  restored  however  May  17th,  1862,  with  the  modify- 
ing clause,  that  the  money  was  to  be  used  for  incidental  purposes 
alone. 

The  discipline  of  the  church  in  this  period  was  Scriptural.  The 
minutes  generally  begin  j  "Church  in  peace,"  e:^cept,  <fec.,  and 
close,  "  Dismissed  in  fellowship."  No  church  can  be  pure  and  ef- 
ficient without  prompt  and  judicious  discipline. 

Sept.  13th,  1863,  Thomas  S.  Mire  was  licensed  to  preach.  The 
church  voted  Feb.  20th,  1864,  that  a,bsence  six  months  without  a 
satisfactory  excu.se,  warrants  exclusion.  This  rule  if  kjndly  enforced 
would  lop  off  many  useless  branches  and  cause  others  to  live  and 
bear  fruit. 

License  to  preach  was  granted  to  Wm.  Glover  June, 1864.  May 
20th,  1871,  Brethren  Frederick  Merrells  and  M.  T.  Stookey  were 
elected  deacons. 

The  coupon  system  of  raising  money  for  church  expenses  was 
adopted  March  16th,  1872.  March  21st,  1872,  the  purchase  of  a 
parsonage  was  again  agitated  by  the  church,  but  was  not  accom- 
plished. 

The  envelope  system  was  adopted  for  meeting  church  expenses 
Dec.  20th,  1873. 

John  Longhouser  was  licensed  to  preach  Jan.  17tl),  1880.  I 
have  mentioned  the  names  of  the  pastors  in  the  chronological  order 
found  in  the  minutes,  except  Peters,  W.  Green,  Cyrus  Thomaa,  W. 
S.  Post  and  John  Powell,  for  the  reason  that  these  belong  to  the 
immediate  past,  and  to  do  justice  to  them  and  the  church  under 
their  ministrations  would  extend  this  fragmentary  history  beyond 
the  prescribed  limits. 

It  will  be  fifty  years  next  September  since  this  church  was  organ- 
i?ed.  She  has  had  twenty  pastors,  serving  on  an  average  two  years 
and  a  half.  Short  pastorates  are  unfortunate  for  the  church  and 
pastor  generally.  They  show  that  there  is  something  wrong  in  the 
church,  or  pastor,  perhaps  in  both  in  many  instances. 

STATISTICS. 

During  the  entire  history  of  the  church  so  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  determine,  two  hundred  and  twelve  have  joined  by  letter, 
four  hundred  have  been  baptized,  ninety-four  have  been  excluded, 


and  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight  have  been  dismissed  by  letter. 
The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  173.  The  house  of  wor- 
ship was  finished  and  occupied  the  first  time  Sept.  20th,  1845,  had 
become  dilapidated  and  unfit  for  use.  And  as  the  church  had  an 
opportunity  of  selling  it  at  a  fair  price,  they  did  so  last  July. 

The  old  Baptist  house  of  worship  has  been  remodeled  and  con- 
verted into  an  agricultural  warehouse  by  McCormic  &  Co.  A 
more  desirable  lot  was  purchased  last  fall  for  the  new  building. 
The  walls  are  up  and  ready  for  the  roof  The  new  Baptist  meet- 
ing-house is  larger,  more  modern  in  style  and  better  adapted  in 
every  respect  to  the  purpose  designed,  than  the  old  edifice.  When 
finished,  the  new  church  will  be  one  of  the  neatest,  most  comfort- 
able and  tasty  in  the  city  of  Belleville. 

Rev.  John  Powell,  who  furnished  the  above  data  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Belleville,  and  who  was  pastor  of  that  church 
for  some  time,  is  a  devoted  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  commands 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  every  community  where  he  ever  labor- 
ed. He  is  a  man  of  liberal  culture  on  all  themes,  and  thoroughly 
versed  in  sacred  literature ;  and  as  a  speaker  to  expound  the  Gos- 
pel and  urge  its  precepts  of  doctrine,  discipline  and  grace  upon  the 
minds  of  men,  he  stands  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  Baptist  ministers 
of  the  State. 

THE  UNITY  UNITED  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

In  the  early  dawn  of  the  present  century  the  Baptist  people  es- 
tablished a  settlement  a  few  miles  north-east  of  Belleville,  and 
there  has  been  an  organized  congregation  in  that  vicinity,  who  at 
stated  times  has  worshipped  under  the  forms  of  the  Baptist  faith 
without  any  very  great  intermission  for  nearly  eighty  years.  In 
the  homes  of  the  early  settlers  near  Richland  Creek  was  organized 
the  first  Baptist  church  in  St.  Clair  County  ;  and  the  good  influ- 
ences which  this  event  called  into  action  are  yet  felt  and  exhibited 
in  that  community ;  for  nearly  three  generations  there,  with  but 
few  years  excepted,  the  groves  along  Richland  Creek  and  vicinity 
have  heard  and  echoed  on  each  recurring  Sabbath  the  prayer  and 
praise  and  song  of  Baptist  worship. 

At  an  early  day  the  noble  pioneer  families  of  the  Badgleys, 
Whitesides,  Shooks,  and  some  others  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
present  Unity  Baptist  Church.  They  consisted  of  a  noble  band  of 
men  and  women,  whose  religion  and  whose  noble  energy  and  tire- 
less industry -were  most  potent  factors  in  iuflnence  for  good  in  the 
county  and  state.  Those  early  Christians  have  long  since  passed 
away.  It  has  been  half  a  century  since  some  of  them  entered 
that  rest  which  God  has  promised  his  faithful  children  ;  while  at 
later  times  they  have  all  one  by  one  passed  that  vail  which  shuts 
out  the  infinite  from  mortal  vision,  and  for  many  a  year  been' 
praising  their  Redeemer  in  the  land  of  light  and  song.  But  the 
noble  influence  of  these  faithful  men  and  women,  who  laid  the  first 
foundations  of  civilized  government  in  this  then  western  wilderness, 
and  sanctified  it  with  the  benign  light  of  religion,  yet  lives  and 
sheds  its  hallowed  fragrance  on  the  hearts  and  minds  of  those  who 
are  striving  to  emulate  their  noble  example. 

The  descendants  of  those  early  families,  many  of  whom  reside  in 
the  vicinity  of  Unity  Church,  with  other  members  of  the  Baptist 
faith  who  had  located  in  that  community,  were  the  immediate 
founders  of  the  Unity  United  Baptist  Church,  and  they  largely 
composed  its  constituent  membership.  This  church  was  constituted 
September  8,  1850,  by  Revs.  R.  C.  Keele  and  J.  V.  Rhoads.  The 
members  built  a  very  good  church  house  about  four  and  a 
Jialf  miles  north-east  of  Belleville,  where  they  held  worship  with  a 
reasonable  degree  of  regularity  on  the  Sabbath  days,  and  where 
sessions  of  the  church  met  at  stated  intervals  for  the  transaction  of 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


171 


business.  The  interests  of  the  church  prospered :  but  a  great 
calamity  in  the  burning  of  their  church  house  befell  thera  a  few 
years  ago.  Such  a  loss  would  have  discouraged  some  churches  of 
less  piety  and  devotion  in  the  Master's  cause,  but  it  had  no  such 
eifect  on  the  worthy,  active  membership  of  Unity  Church.  They 
surveyed  the  disaster,  and  scarcely  were  the  ruins  cold  until  they 
declared  for  building  another  church :  which  noble  resolution  they 
made  good  without  delay.  It  required  a  large  outlay  to  build 
a  new  house,  but  the  members  did  their  duty  well,  and  their  friends 
gave  some  assistance,  and  in  due  time  they  completed  their  new 
house  of  worship.  It  is  very  neatly  constructed,  will  accommodate  \ 
from  250  to  300  people,  and  stands  near  or  about  on  the  site  of  the 
first  house.  On  the  south  of  the  house  is  a  beautiful  grove,  and  the 
surrounding  country  consists  of  fertile  farming  lands  with  here  and 
there  a  forest  grove.  The  neighborhood  is  settled  by  well-to-do 
farmers  and  others,  who  give  the  church  a  generous  support,  and 
who  largely  attend  its  meetings. 

The  pastoral  succession  of  this  church  were  Revs.  R.  C  Keele, 
John  Brown,  J  V.  Rhoads,  T.  N.  Marsh,  S  B.  Gulp,  and  Wm.  H. 
M'Cann — a  band  of  able,  devoted  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  whose 
nam33  and  labors  stand  high  on  the  lists  of  merit  among  the 
Baptist  workers  of  Illinois.  The  church  prospered  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  each  and  all  of  these  :  there  were,  of  course,  times 
of  depression,  as  in  all  other  churches,  when  the  interest  would  de- 
cline, but  the  general  tendency  of  the  church  under  their  several 
administrations  was  in  the  direction  of  strength  and  progress.  At 
times  glorious  revivals  of  religion  would  visit  the  church,  and 
scores  of  anxious  sinners  would  press  forward  for  prayers,  and 
many  would  experience  a  change  of  heart  and  unite  with  the 
church. 

On  the  rolls  of  the  church  were  the  names  of  some  noble  workers 
in  God's  vineyard,  whom  the  Master  has  taken  unto  himself:  while 
among  its  members  who  yet  battle  for  the  church  militant,  are 
many  good  laborers  in  the  Master's  cause.  Prominent  among  these 
is  Warren  Beedle,  sen.,  one  of  the  noble  band  who  helped  to  main- 
tain and  make  Bethel  Church,  but  is  now  a  member  in  Unity 
Church,  having  transferred  his  membership  by  letter  from  Bethel 
Church  to  the  latter  church,  from  motives  implying  no  want  of 
fellowship  with  his  Bethel  brethren.  He  is  a  man  of  large  reading, 
liberal,  wealthy,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him.  He 
is  eloquent  and  able  in  prayer  and  exhortation,  and  is  an  able 
worker  in  the  Baptist  cause  and  religious  missions  generally.  He 
and  his  excellent  Christian  wife,  Mary  Beedle,  live  at  their  resi- 
dence on  their  farm  some  five  and  a  half  miles  north  and  a  little 
east  of  Belleville.  Their  sons  and  daughters— 'all  married — are 
'  influential  active  Christians.  As  a  family — parents  and  children 
—they  have  done  much  to  sustain  the  Baptist  cause.  W.  L. 
Beedle,  a  son,  is  clerk  of  Bethel  Baptist  Church ;  and  Samuel 
Beedle,  another  son,  is  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential  mem- 
bers of  that  church. 

After  the  church  organized,  it  elected  its  trustees,  deacons,  clerk 
and  treasurer,  and  from  time  to  time  as  occasion  required  or 
vacancies  occurred,  it  filled  those  offices  again.  It  has  held 
Sabbath  worship  with  the  usual  regularity  of  our  other  Baptist 
churches,  which  at  times  are  without  pastoral  services,  and  its 
business  sessions  occur  at  stated  intervals  on  Saturdays.  The  pre- 
sent numerical  strength  consists  of  fifty  members.  S.  P.  Badgley 
is  its  present  clerk.  Congregational  singing  is  the  prevailing  mode 
in  the  music  of  the  church.  Death  and  removals,  as  in  all  the 
other  churches,  have  at  times  reduced  the  membership  in  this 
church,  but  by  other  additions  its  strength  is  renewed  and  increased. 
This  church  has  accomplished  a  mission  of  great  good,  and  the  pro- 


mises are  auspicious  that  it  will  yet  do  much  more  in  the  good 
Master's  cause. 

THE  SOUTH  DISTRICT  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION. 

The  South  District  Baptist  Association  at  this  time  coraprisas  the 
Bethel,  Belleville,  O'Fallon,  East,  St.  Louis,  Oak  Hill,  Freeburg, 
Lebanon,  Richland,  Collinsville,  Pleasant  Ridge  and  Troy  Baptist 
Churches.  The  latter  three  are  in  Madison  County.  The  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  in  1820  and  meets  annually,  on  the  Thurs- 
day before  the  first  Sabbath  in  September,  around  from  time  to 
time  at  the  different  churches  in  the  district ;  and  its  meetings  held 
continually  until  the  following  Sunday.  It  is  composed  of  the 
ministers  and  pastors  of  the  several  churches  in  the  district,  to- 
gether with  such  members  as  the  several  churches  may  respectively 
appoint  as  delegates  or  messengers.  The  objects  are  the  discus- 
sion of  and  associated  eflTorts  in  the  general  interests  of  religion 
and  educational  missions. 

Its  sixtieth  anniversary  was  held  at  Bethel  Church  last  year — 
1880,  September  5,  6,  7,  8.  The  officers  were  Rev.  John  Powell, 
Belleville,  Moderator ;  Rev.  W.  R.  Andereck,  Collinsville,  Clerk  ; 
and  Deacon  Charles  Gooding,  Belleville,  Treasurer.  The  officers 
are  chosen  annually.  The  next  meeting  of  the  Association  will  be 
held  at  Troy  Baptist  Church,  on  Thursday  before  the  first  Sabbath 
in  September,  1881.  The  introductory  sermon  will  be  preached  by 
Rev.  J.  Cole,  of  Champaign. 

The  Baptist  churches  in  the  Southern  part  of  the  county  gene- 
rally belong  to  associations  in  connection  with  Baptist  churches, 
beyond  the  Southern  limits  of  the  county. 

The  following  gentlemen— ^leading  members  of  the  Baptist  faith 
— have  rendered  much  assistance  in  collecting  and  preparing  the 
data  in  the  foregoing  sketch  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  St.  Clair 
County,  and  their  intelligent  services  are  thankfully  acknowledged  : 
Hon  John  Wells,  Marissa ;  Rev.  H  S.  Deppe  and  Solomon  Teter, 
Freeburg ;  Oscar  Lemen,  Collinsville ;  H.  E.  Patterson,  Lebanon  ; 
N.  S.  Robertson,  Smithton;  G.  W.  Darrow  and  E.  Davis, 
O'Fallon ;  Rev.  R.  C.  Keele,  Salem ;  W.  L.  Beedle,  Caseyville ; 
Rev.  John  Powell,  Charles  Gooding,  S.  P.  Badgley,  and  E. 
Alexander,  Belleville. 

It  should  be  observed  that  the  foregoing  sketch  of  the  Baptist 
chui'ches  of  St.  Clair  County,  brings  their  history  down  to  a  period 
in  February  and  March,  1881  ;  and  founded  as  it  is  upon  the  data 
derived  from  their  several  records,  it  is  hoped  it  may  be  found  to 
be  a  faithful  reflex  of  the  origin,  development  and  progress  of  the 
Baptist  cause  in  this  county.  It  covers  a  period  of  ninety-four 
years,  including  the  first  act  of  associated  worship  by  Baptist 
campers  in  the  groves  of  St.  Clair  County,  down  to  the  present 
time ;  and  in  brief  outline  indicates  what  the  Baptist  people  here 
have  done  for  their  churches  and  faith. 

As  all  organizations  are  but  the  combined,  efibrt  of  individuals  ; 
and  as  the  leaders  among  these  always  impress  their  characteristics 
upon  the  organization  they  direct,  a  few  representative  laborers  in 
the  Baptist  cause  from  each  church  have  been  traced  briefly  in 
their  personal  attributes  and  qualifications  with  the  view  to  illus- 
trate the  characteristics  of  the  men  who  have,  so  far  as  mere  human 
agency  may  be  concerned  in  the  progress  of  the  church,  directed 
and  advanced  the  Baptist  cause  here.  There  were  and  are 
hundreds  of  other  noble  leaders  in  the  Baptist  cause  here,  who  with 
equal  propriety  might  merit  personal  sketches,  but  it  would  have 
been  incompatible  with  the  necessary  limits  of  this  history :  enough 
of  these  have  been  portrayed  in  their  personal  attributes  to  illus- 
trate the  characteristics  of  the  worthy  people  who  have  plajited 
and  upheld  the  Baptist  cause  in  St.  Clair  County. 


172 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Though  reversing  the  order  of  history,  perhaps  it  would  not  he 
inappropriate  to  conclude  this  sketch  by  relating  the  incidents  at- 
tending the  first  baptism  by  immersion  in  Illinois.  In  point  of 
absolute  time  and  fact.  Rev.  James  Lemen,  sen.,  was  the  first 
person  so  baptized  in  the  State  :  though  immediately  following  on 
the  same  occasion,  at  the  same  stream  and  by  the  same  minister — 
Rev.  Josiah  Dodge — his  wife,  Catherine  Lemen,  with  John 
Gibbons  and  Isaac  Enochs  were  also  baptized.  Rev.  Josiah  Dodge 
was  a  resident  of  Nelson  County,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  Baptist 
minister  of  liberal  learning  and  great  powers  as  a  speaker,  who  at 
that  time,  1794,  was  preaching  for  a  few  weeks  among  the  people 
at  New  Design,  Monroe  County.  James  Lemen,  sen.,  had  baen  a 
Baptist  in  principle  for  quite  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1787  had 
made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  but  was  not  baptized  until  this 
occasion.  In  later  years  he  became  one  of  the  founders  of  Bethel 
Church  in  this  county,  and  he  aad  his  wife  were  two  of  the  consti- 
tuent members  in  that  church.  The  baptismal  scene  occurred  at 
Fountain  Creek,  Monroe  County,  February,  1794.  The  neigh- 
bors, far  and  near,  collected  on  this  occasion.  The  ice  had  to 
be  cut  and  removed.  When  this  was  done,  Rev  Mr.  Dodge  and 
James  Lemen  entered  the  water,  and  amid  the  profoundest  feeling 
of  the  spectators,  the  minister,  in  the  words  of  the  beautiful  sen- 
tence in  the  rite  which  invokes  the  Triune  God  as  a  witness,  bap- 
tized by  immersion,  the  first  subject  in  Illinois. 


THE  AFRICAN  BAPTIST  CHURCHES  IN  ST.  CLAIR 
COUNTY. 

In  proportion  to  the  colored  population  in  St.  Clair  County, 
the  colored  Baptists  are  strong.  These  people  have  churches  at 
Brooklin,  Belleville,  East  Carondelet,  L3banon,  and  Mount  Zion 
(sometimes  called  Mount  Olive) ;  and  at  East  St.  Louis,  and 
several  other  points  they  have  Baptist  congregations  and  casual 
meetings,  which  the  colored  Baptist  ministers  attend. 

The  Mount  Zion  (sometimes  called  Mount  Olive)  Colored 
Baptist  Church  is  located  three  miles  north  of  O'Fallon,  and  con- 
sists of  some  fifteen  members.  They  own  a  small  lot  of  land  where 
the  church  house  stands.  The  house  will  accommodate  some 
seventy-five  persons,  and  with  the  lot  of  land,  is  worth  about  $200. 
This  church  was  organized  some  fifty  years  ago.  The  venerable 
John  Livingston,  a  colored  Baptist  preacher,  who  died  some  years 
ago  at  the  great  age  of  over  100  years,  gave  much  of  his  labor  to 
this  church  in  former  years;  and  he,  with  Rev.  Henry  Smith, 
organized  it.  He  also  labored  with  much  success  at  other  points 
in  the  interests  of  the  salvation  of  his  race.  Lately  some  of  the 
white  friends  labored  with  that  church  in  expounding  the  Gospel 
and  in  building  up  their  Sunday-school.  The  Rev.  Allison,  a 
colored  Baptist  minister,  and  others  have  also  labored  at  that 
church. 

The  Brooklin  Colored  Baptist  Church,  oiganized  many  years 
ago,  now  have  there  a  house  of  worship  ;  their  membership  is  strong 
and  a  large  congregation  attend  their  meetings.  The  Rev. 
Allison  labored  at  that  church  for  some  time,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Livingston  labored  there  at  an  early  day.  The  church  is  prosper- 
ing, and  has  accomplished  much  good.  The  Belleville  Colored 
Baptist  Church  secured  a  church  house  some  years  ago,  where 
they  hold  their  meetings.  The  membership  is  not  numerous,  but 
the  church  is  prospering  and  efieoting  much  good  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wellard. 

The  Lebanon  Colored  Baptist  Church  corstituted  some  years 
ago,  have  built  a  church  house  which  accommodates  their  congrega- 
tion. The  church  consists  of  some  75  members,  and  has  done  and 
is  doing  much  good  work  among  its  people.     Rev.  Mr.  Smith  is 


now  pastor.  The  Colored  Baptist  Church  at  East  Carondelet  have 
built  a  house  of  worship.  The  membership  is  strong,  and  the 
church  is  advancing  and  achieving  much  good. 

At  all  these  churches  the  cause  of  Sabbath-schools  is  encouraged; 
and  each  church  generally  maintains  its  school.  The  colored 
Baptists  of  the  county  are  taking  much  interest  in  the  cause  of 
their  churches,  and  are  laboring  to  improve  their  condition  in  all 
respects.  They  take  an  active,  intelligent  interest  in  educating 
their  children,  and  a  large  measure  of  success  attends  their  efibrts. 


THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

BY  EEV.    J.    D.  GILLHAM. 

The  history  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  this  county  dates  back  to 
about  1795.  A  class  was  organized  near  that  time  a  short  distance 
from  what  has  been  known  for  many  years  as  Shiloh,  and  this  be- 
came the  Shiloh  Church. 

The  records  of  the  early  history  of  the  church  in  all  parts  of  the 
county  it  seems  have  not  been  preserved,  and  hence  it  will  be  out 
of  the  question  to  give  exact  dates  in  most  instances.  I  am  indebted 
to  Rev.  E  M.  WestofEdwardsville,  III.,  Mas.ter  Mitchell,  of  Belle- 
ville, and  others  for  important  data. 

The  probabilities  are  that  this  class  that  became  the  Shiloh  Church 
was  the  first  Methodist  class  organized  in  the  State 

And  the  old  log  church  built  there  in  1806  has  been  thought  by 
some  to  have  been  the  first  Methodist  Church  built  in  the  State, 
though  it  is  claimed  by  others  that  there  was  one  built  in  1805  in 
Madison  County. 

*  I  gather  the  following  from  an  article  published  April  29, 1871, 
in  the  Christian  Advocate,  which  contains  a  description  of  the  old 
Shiloh  Church.  The  correspondent  writes  as  follows  :  "  The  Shiloh 
Church  of  to-day  is  the  third  one  that  has  stood  on  the  Shiloh  camp- 
ground. The  first  was  a  log-house,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  Protestant  church  of  the  Illinois  territory,  and  was  probably 
built  about  1810."  (From  the  best  information  I  can  get  I  am 
inclined  to  think  it  was  1805.)  "  Among  its  first  members  were 
Revs.  John  and  Robert  Thomas,  local  preachers,  and  several  Scott 
families,  whose  descendants  still  live  close  around  the  homes  of  their 
pioneer  fathers. 

The  second  church  was  of  brick,  and  was  built  in  the  year  1819. 
Mr.  John  J.  Thomas,  a  druggist  of  Belleville,  111.,  is  a  son  of  James 
D.  Thomas,  and  a  grandson  of  Rev.  John  Thomas,  who  found  the 
original  subscription  paper  among  his  grandfather's  papers,  and 
presented  it  to  the  church  on  the  night  of  our  supper.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  true  copy  of  it,  and  the  sum  that  each  one  subscribed : 

"  Whereas,  The  public  worship  of  Almighty  God  is  essential  to 
the  happiness  and  tranquility  of  society,  both  civil  and  religious,  as 

*  In  the  year  1805,  there  was  a  Methodist  Church  built  in  the  Goshen  set- 
tlement, Madison  County,  on  Thomas  Good's  land,  two-and-a-half  miles  south 
of  Edwardsville  called  "  Bethel,"  which  was  the  first  protestant  church  built 
in  Illinois  territory. 

Tlie  second  session  of  the  Illinois  Conference  was  held  there  in  October,  1817. 
Bishop  Roberts  presided.  * 

There  has  been  from  the  building  of  that  church  to  the  present  time  a  Meth- 
odist society  in  that  settlement,  and  a  neat  brick  church  now  stands  within  one- 
and-a-half  miles  of  the  place  where  the  old  church  stood,  the  name  being 
changed  to  ''  Centre  Grove.'' 

It  is,  however,  a  matter  of  some  dispute  as  to  which  was  the  first  church 
edifice  that  was  erected,  at  Shiloh,  or  at  Goshen.  Gov.  Reynolds  in  his 
Pioneer  History  of  IllinoiM,  and  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright  in  his  book,  and  also 
many  of  the  old  pioneers  of  St.  Clair  county  claim  that  the  church  built  at 
Shiloh  was  the  first  M.  E.  Church  erected  in  Illinois.  We  append  this  note 
hoping  it  will  be  the  the  means  of  eliciting  investigation,  and  establishing  the 
fact  as  to  which  was  the  first  church. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


173 


well  as  individuals,  and  the  best  security  for  the  organization  of 
good  government  among  mankind,     And, 

"  Whereas,  the  building  at  Shiloh  is  insufficient  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  being  only  intended  as  temporary.  In  order,  therefore, 
for  the  continuance  of  public  worship  at  said  place,  and  for  the 
erection  of  a  suitable  building  for  that  purpose,  we,  the  undersigned, 
promise  to  pay  to  the  trustees  of  said  meetiug-house,  or  to  their 
successors,  or  to  their  orders,  the  several  sums  annexed  to  our  re- 
spective names  in  the  following  manner,  (that  is  to  say)  one-half  of 
the  amount  on  the  first  day  of  March  next  ensuing,  and  the  re- 
mainder at  or  so  soon  as  the  building  may  be  completed. 

September  27,  1817. 

Subscriber's  Names  : — Sam.  Mitchell,  $30;  Kisdon  Moore  $20; 
Benj.  Watts,  $20  ;  Robert  Thomas,  $20  ;  Joseph  Scott,  $20  ;  Jacob 
Ogle,  $15  ;  William  Scott,  Sr.,  $30  ;  Paul  Kingston,  $20  ;  Peter 
Wright,  $10 ;  Daniel  Wise,  $10 ;  Joseph  Ogle,  $20  ;  James  Wrath, 
$10 ;  James  McCan,  $10  ;  Peter  Drew,  $12  ;  David  Everett,  $20  ; 
William  Biggs,  $10;  Albert  Hewitt,  $4  ;  Thomas  Piper,  $2 ;  A. 
Bankson,  $10 ;  C.  R.  Matheny,  (the  father  of  the  extensive  Matheny 
family  of  Sangamon  county)  $10 ;  John  Thomas,  $20 ;  James  D. 
Thomas,  $10 ;  John  Simmons,  $5  ;  Solomon  Teter,  $5  ;  Samuel 
Scott,  $24 ;  William  Moon,  $5  ;  Daniel  Bayley,  $5 ;  Abel  Fike,  $5  ; 
John  Jarvis,  $10;  George  Davidson,  $1;  William  Owens,  $5; 
Josias  Wright,  $5  ;  Jesse  Bell,  $3  ;  Josias  Randle,  $10  ;  William 
Meons,  $20 ;  R.  R.  McLaughlin  $5  ;  E-  R.  Kane,  $2 ;  J.  W.  Whit- 
ney, $2  ;  John  Reynolds,  $5  ;  A.  C.  Stewart,  $2  ;  William  A.  Beares, 
$5  ;  Joshua  Barnes,  $8  ;  Joseph  Dicks,  $10  ;  James  Walker,  $5  ; 
Henry  Allen,  $10  ;  John  O.  Prentice,  $3  ;  Hugh  Alexander,  $10  ; 
John  Craim,  $3  ;  Meredith  Cooper,  $3  ;  Anthony  Thomas,  $5  ; 
William  A.  Calbroath,  $10  ;  David  Alexander,  $5  ;  William  Alex- 
ander, $5 ;  Nathan  Winters,  $10. 

All  of  these  old  pioneer  fathers  have  passed  away.  The  mortal 
remains  of  many  of  them  rest  in  Shiloh  Cemetery.  The  house  they 
built  has  long  since  passed  away,  and  another  one  has  been  built  in 
its  place  j  ears  ago,  and  it  is  now  considered  an  old  house  nearly 
ready  to  be  laid  aside  for  a  new  one  to  take  its  place. 

Shiloh  is  a  sacred  place  to  thousands  of  souls.  Many  who  are  in 
heaven  doubtless  look  back  with  joy  to  old  Shiloh,  where  they  were 
born  the  second  time.  And  many  who  are  now  living,  and  are 
scattered  throughout  the  great  West,  many  of  whom  have  grown 
old  and  gray  in  the  service  of  the  Lord,  can  look  back  to  old 
Sliiloh  where  they  were  first  forgiven.  And  throughout  the  West 
is  frequently  heard,  in  love-feasts  and  class-meetings,  "  I  was  con- 
verted in  such  a  year,  and  month,  and  on  such  a  day,  at  old  Shiloh 
camp-ground." 

Since  the  above  was  written  another  handsome  building  of  brick 
has  been  built  35x57  feet,  with  basement  story,  at  a  cost  of  $6700, 
and  was  dedicated  November  28, 1875,  by  Bishop  Thomas  Bowman. 

Peter  Cartwright  says  in  his  autobiography  :  ''  The  real  pioneer 
and  leader  of  Episcopal  Methodism  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  was 
Captain  Joseph  Ogle,  who  came  to  III.,  in  1785,  and  was  converted 
under  the  preaching  of  Joseph  Smith,  (Baptist)  of  Kentucky,  who 
visited  and  preached  in  June,  1787." 

The  first  Methodist  preacher  was  Joseph  Lilliard,  who  visited  this 
state  in  1763,  and  formed  a  class  in  St.  Clair  Co.,  and  appointed 
Captain  Ogle  leader. 

The  next  Methodist  preacher  was  John  Clarke,  who  was  origi- 
nally a  circuit  rider  in  South  Carolina,  from  1791  to  1796,  when  he 
withdrew  on  account  of  slavery.  He  was  the  first  man  who 
preached  the  gospel  west  of  the  Mississippi,  in  1798.  The  Rev. 
Hosea  Riggs  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  who  settled  in  111., 


and  he  revived  and  reorganized  the  class  at  Captain  Ogle's,  formed 
by  Lilliard,  which  had  dropped  its  regular  meetings.  Hosea  Riggs 
settled  in  Turkey  Hill  neighborhood  in  1796.  It  was  he  who,  in 
1803,  left  his  blind  wife  and  went  to  Mount  Gerizim,  in  Kentucky, 
when  the  North-west  Conference  was  in  session,  and  laid  before  that 
body  the  necessities  of  Illinois,  and  induced  the  Conference  to  ap- 
point Rev.  Benjamin  Young  the  first  Protestant  missionary  to  Illi- 
nois. He  preached  in  what  are  now  Randolph,  Monroe,  St.  Clair 
and  Madison  Counties.  It  is  thought  by  some  that  it  was  he  who 
organized  the  Shiloh  Society. 

Hosea  Riggs  lived  in  this  county  many  years,  preaching  and  in 
every  way  he  could,  doing  good. 

He  died  at  his  residence  two  miles  east  of  Belleville,  Oct.  29, 
1841,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

In  1804,  Dr.  Joseph  Oglesby  was  appointed  to  the  Illinois  Cir- 
cuit, which  included  St.  Clair  County.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a 
fine  preacher,  and  to  have  done  much  good. 

In  1805,  Charles  R.  Matheny  followed  Dr.  Oglesby  on  the  Illi- 
nois Circuit.  He  married  a  Miss  Ogle  of  St.  Clair  County.  Was 
an  efficient  and  influential  Methodist  preacher.  He  did  not  con- 
tinue a  traveling  preacher  long,  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Sangamon  County,  where  he  filled  several  civil  offices. 

In  1807,  Bishop  William  McKendree  held  a  camp-meeting  at 
Shiloh.  It  is  said  there  were  a  great  many  conversions  at  this 
meeting  and  much  excitement.  Several  persons  had  what  was  then 
called  the  Jerks.  How  much  this  singular,  muscular  movement 
was  due  to  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  I  am  not  able  to  say. 
This  year,  Jesse  Walker  was  on  the  Illinois  Circuit.  One  party 
said  to  me  that  he  had  seen  him  take  off"  his  coat  and  preach  until 
it  seemed  to  him  he  could  smell  brimstone. 

From  Reynolds'  history  we  quote  the  following: — "  He  was  the 
undaunted,  and  a  kind  of  Martin  Luther  patriarch  of  the  church 
of  the  AVest,  and  bore  triumphantly  the  standard  of  the  cross 
throughout  the  wilderness  country,  as  well  to  the  red  men  as  the 
white."     He  resided  a  number  of  years  in  the  vicinity  of  Shiloh. 

For  want  of  both  time  and  space  we  are  compelled  to  pass  over 
many  names  and  incidents  connected  with  the  early  history  of  the 
church  in  this  county  that  would  doubtle:?s  be  of  interest  to 
many. 

I  believe  the  flrst  session  of  the  Illinois  Conference  was  held  at 
Shiloh,  but  of  this  I  cannot  speak  with  certainty. 

But  the  fifth  session  of  the  Illinois  Conference  was  held  here 
Sept.  13,  1829,  Bishop  Roberts  presiding.  There  was  a  campmeet- 
ing  held  in  connection  with  this  conference.  It  is  said  there  were 
a  hundred  camps  and  tents  and  about  180  conversions.  It  was  a 
wonderful  time. 

Samuel  H.  Thompson  was  Field  Marshal,  and  called  it  "  a  grand 
jubilee,"  "  a  pouring  out  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the  people."  The 
father  of  Rev.  E.  M.  West  of  Edwardsville,  and  Benjamin  H. 
West  of  Belleville,  had  a  tent,  or  rather  a  house  on  the  ground, 
built  of  logs  and  partitioned  iiito  rooms.  Day  and  night  for  over 
a  week  the  meeting  lasted.  It  is  related  that  at  the  close  of  this 
meeting,  the  Bishop  and  preachers  formed  in  line  and  marched 
around  the  encampment,  then  coming  to  a  halt,  the  people  all 
formed  in  line,  and  marched  by  the  Bishop  and  ministers,  all  shak- 
ing hands,  and  singing  that  grand  old  hymn, 

''  Hear  the  royal  proclamation, 
The  glad  tidings  of  Salvation, 
Publishing  to  every  creature, 
To  the  ruined  sons  of  nature, 
Jesus  reigns,  etc.,  etc." 

The  effect  upon  all  the  people,  it  is  said,  was  electrifying. 


174 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Two  brothers,  Edward  and  Samuel  Mitchell,  were  marked  men 
at  this  meeting.  They  had,  with  a  large  family  connection,  in- 
cluding the  West  family,  emigrated  from  Virginia  two  years  before, 
emancipated  their  slaves  and  preferred  the  hardships  of  a  new 
frontier  country  to  an  easy  life  with  slavery  influences  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  character  and  education  of  their  children.  Three  of 
the  sons  of  Samuel  became  noted  ministers,  and  several  of  the 
grandsons  of  Edward,  amongst  whom  was  Rev.  William  W.  Mit- 
chell, for  many  years  a  much  beloved  and  highly  honored  member 
of  the  Southern  Illinois  Conference.  He  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  B. 
J.  West  and  Mrs.  8.  J.  Krafft,  of  Belleville. 

Other  camp-meetings  have  been  held,  and  many  gracious  seasons 
of  revival  have  been  enjoyed  at  old  Shiloh  since  this  early  date  that 
we  have  not  space  to  mention.  In  1853,  a  camp-meeting  of  great 
power  was  held  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  Charles  M. 
Holliday,  of  precious  memory,  and  who  but  recently  passed  to  his 
reward.  As  a  result  of  this  meeting,  one  hundred  and  eight  were 
added  to  the  Shiloh  Circuit,  and  many  others  were  converted  who 
went  elsewhere.  But  by  removal  a,nd  death  the  Shiloh  Church  has 
been  greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  and  the  membership  at  the 
present  time  is  very  weak.  But  may  we  not  hope  that  the  day 
may  yet  come  when  this  time-honored  place,  the  scene  of  so  many 
signal  victories  for  the  Lord,  this  starting  point  of  Methodism  in 
this  great  State,  shall  be  visited  with  the  mighty  power  of  God, 
and  the  shout  of  victory  shall  go  up  to  heaven  in  the  conversion  of 
many  souls  ?    Rev.  P.  C.  Bascom  is  the  present  Pastor. 

THE   CH0RCH   AT   O'fALLON 

Is  connected  with  the  Shiloh  Circuit,  and  was  formed  out  of  what 
was  first  calkd  the  Redmond  class,  from  the  man  at  whose  house  it 
was  held.  Afterward  it  was  held  at  a  Mr.  Ogle's,  then  in  the 
Vernon  school-house,  and  called  the  Vernon  class. 

Henry  Mace,  Redmond's,  Ogle's,  Oglesby's  and  Teter's  families 
made  up  the  larger  part  of  the  class. 

This  was  at  an  early  date.  When  the  town  of  O'Fallon  was 
started,  the  class  was  moved  to  the  school-house,  and  the  name 
changed  to  the  O'Fallon  class.  Their  present  neat  church  was 
built  in  1864  at  a  cost  of  $7500.  Their  membership  at  present 
numbers  about  sixty. 

M.    E.   CHURCH   AT    LEBANON. 

The  first  society  was  organized  probably  about  1825.  By  whom, 
and  with  how  many  members,  I  am  not  able  to  say.  Lebanon  Cir- 
cuit is  first  mentioned  in  the  General  Minutes  of  1829.  Previous 
to  that  it  seems  to  have  been  a  part  of  what  was  known  as  the  Kas- 
kaskia  Circuit. 

Their  first  place  of  meeting  was  an  old  log  school-house  that 
stood  north  of  the  public  square,  on  the  site  of  the  present  German 
M.  E  Church. 

Next  for  some  years,  a  frame  school-house  on  north-west  quarter 
of  square.  Then  from  1828  or  '29,  the  chapel  of  the  Lebanon 
Seminary,  and  that  of  McKendree  College  till  1852,  when  the 
first  brick  church  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  present  Presbyterian 
church.  It  was  40  by  60,  with  basement  fitted  up  for  a  Ladies' 
Seminary,  at  a  cost  of  about  $7500.  This  building  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1860,  and  was  a  total  loss,  as  there  was  no  insurance  on 
it.  The  principal  contributors  to  this  building  were,  Benj.  Hypes, 
Jos.  Hypes,  Dr.  Riggin,  N.  Horner,  Dr.  Goheen,  Dr.  Chamberliu, 
and  others. 

The  College  chapel  was  used  for  several  years  as  a  place  of  wor- 
ship, after  the  above  building  was  burned.  In  1867  the  present 
beautiful  church  edifice,  47  by  81,  with  basement,  was  erected. 


This  was  completed  and  furnished  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of  $17,000. 
But  a  heavy  debt  of  between  three  and  four  thousand  dollars  was 
incurred,  which  has  been  hanging  over  them  for  years,  but  under 
the  efficient  labors  of  their  present  Pastor,  Rev.  T.  H.  Herdman, 
the  entire  amount  has  been  provided  for,  and  nearly  all  of  it  actu- 
ally paid. 

This  church  also  has  a  fine  large  two-story  brick  parsonage, 
having  ample  grounds,  built  in  1873,  at  a  cost  of  $3600.  Their 
present  membership  is  about  two  hundred.  They  have  a  prosperous 
Sunday-school,  numbering  about  two  hundred  and  fifty,  superin- 
tended by  J.  M.  Chamberlin. 

In  the  years  gone  by,  the  church  at  Lebanon  has  enjoyed  many 
gracious  seasons  of  revival ;  the  more  notable  of  which  were  those 
under  the  labors  of  Revs.  J.  S.  Barger  and  J.  H.  Benson,  in  1838. 
In  this  meeting  one  hundred  and  six  conversions  are  reported. 
There  was  also  a  very  extensive  work  of  grace  in  1868,  under  the 
labors  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer.  Also,  under  Dr.  R.  Allyn,  in  1864 
and  1865,  there  was  a  good  revival.  Also,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  G.  W.  Hughey  there  were  a  gOod  many  conversions. 

The  following  ministers  have  served  the  Church  at  Lebanon  as 
Presiding  Elders : 

Peter  Cartwright,  Jno.  8.  Barger,  Simon  Peter,  Charles  Hal'iday, 
John  Dew,  G.  W.  Bobbins,  Jas.  B.  Corrington,  John  Van  Cleve, 
Jos.  Earp,  T.  A.  Eaton,  W.  H.  Corrington,  Geo.  W.  Hughey,  A. 
B-  Morrison,  J.  W.  Locke. 

And  the  following  have  served  the  Church  as  Pastors : 

John  Dew,  Asahel  Phelps,  S.  M.  Otwell,  W.  L.  Deneen,  W  D. 
R.  Trotter,  Smith  L  Robinson,  N.  S.  Bastian,  Samuel  H.  Thomp- 
son, John  Van  Cleve,  W.  W.  Mitchell,  J.  H.  Benson,  G.  G.  Worth- 
ington,  Norman  Allyn,  W.  C-  Cumminge,  J.  S.  Barger,  W-  S. 
McMurray,  L.  D.  Bragg,  Jas.  Edmonson,  E.  Gentry,  Jas.  Hadley, 
C.  M.  Holliday,  N.  E.  Cobleigh,  J.  A.  Scarritt,  T.  F.  Houts,  Jos. 
Earp,  T.  A.  Eaton,  Robt-  Allyn,  T.  O.  Spencer,  J.  A.  Robinson, 
John  Frazer,  G.  W.  Hughey,  J.  M.  Green,  J.  W.  Phillips,  T.  H. 
Herdman. 

BELLEVILLE   M.    B.   CHURCH. 

The  first  organization  of  the  church  in  Belleville  was  probably 
about  1825  or  '26.  The  first  class  was  composed  of  the  following 
members : — Richard  Randle  and  wife,  James  and  Annie  Mitchell, 
James  Harrison  and  wife,  Susan  Dennis,  and  Caroline  E.  Black- 
well,  (now  Mitchell).  Richard  Randle  was  the  leader,  and  they 
met  in  what  was  called  the  Dennis  school-house. 

Some  years  previous  to  this,  however,  there  was  a  class  organized 
about  one  mile  north-west,  which  met  at  Bro.  Stanley's.  In  what 
year  the  class  was  organized,  and  by  whom,  and  how  long  it  con- 
tinued, I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain. 

The  first  church  building  was  erected  about  1831  or  '32.  The 
enterprise  received  its  initial  impulse  in  the  following  way  : 

The  Quarterly  meeting  was  being  held  in  a  hall.  A  Bro.  McAl- 
ister  from  Missouri,  came  over  and  preached,  and  the  congregation 
was  so  large  that  they  adjourned  to  the  woods,  and  during  the 
services  on  Sunday  a  very  heavy  rain  storm  came  up,  and  the  entire 
congregation  got  a  thorough  wetting.  The  next  day  sister  Caroline 
E.  Blackwell,  (now  Mitchell),  who  came  here  in  1819,  and  who  has 
always  been  very  active  in  church  work,  wrote  to  her  brother, 
Daniel  Sprigg,  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  stating  to  him  the  great  need 
of  a  church  building  here,  and  implored  him  to  solicit  money  from 
the  Methodists  there,  to  help  build  a  church.  In  response  to  this, 
the  Hagerstown  society  sent  $10.00,  a  lady  in  Baltimore  $20.00, 
a  Presbyterian  minister  in  Hagerstown  $5.00,  and  her  brother 
$13.00. 

Samuel  Wiggins,  of  the  "  Wiggins  Ferry  Company,"  gave  Mrs 


HISTOBY  OF  SI.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


175 


Blackwell  $50.00.  The  remainder  was  contributed  by  the  people 
of  the  county,  among  whom  were,  David  Blackwell  $40.00,  Till- 
man West  $40.00,  Edward  and  Samuel  Mitchell  $50.00  each,  and 
many  others  whose  names  we  have  not  been  able  to  obtain,  gave  as 
liberally  as  their  circumstances  would  allow.  About  1826  the  little 
btruggliiig  society  here  enjoyed  a  very  gracious  revival  under  the 
labors  of  Wm.  Blackwell,  a  local  preacher,  and  nearly  forty  joined 
the  church. 

The  oldest  records  of  the  church  at  Belleville  that  we  have  been 
able  to  find  go  back  to  1836.  And  I  give  the  minutes  of  the  First 
Quarterly  Conference,  as  take  n  from  the  old  Record  book,  held 
that  year. 

"  First  Quarterly  meeting  for  the  year  in  the  Belleville  station, 
held  at  the  Methodist  Church,  31st  December,  A.  D.  1836. 

Joseph  Edmundson,  S.  P.,  Pres. 
Thomas  Harrison,  L.  E.,  Richard  Randle,  L.  D.,  Wm.  M.  Parker, 
Exr  ,  Wm.  Burgess,  Exr.,  Edward  Cessell,  C.  L.  T.  W.  Alexander, 

C.  L. 

Ques.  1st— Are  there  any  complaints?     Ans.  None. 
"      2d — Are  there  any  appeals  ?  "      None. 

The  President  nominated  the  following  persons,  who  were  ap- 
pointed Stewards,  to  wit:  Richard  Randle  Recording  Steward, 
James  Harrison,  John  C.  Handcock,  Edward  Cessell,  Thomas  Har- 
rison.   Conference  adjourned. 

Joseph  Edmundson,  Pr. 
R.  Randle,  Sec.  P.  T. 

The  Stewards  report  fifty-five  dollars  and  sixty  cents  quarterage, 
which  was  paid  to  Rev.  J.  Edmundson." 

In  1837,  at  the  first  Quarterly  Conference  for  the  year,  we  find 
the  names  of  the  following  persons  present:  John  Dew,  P.  E.,  L. 

D.  Bragg,  S.  P.,  Thomas  Harrison,  L.  E.  and  Steward,  J.  W.  York, 
Supt.  S.  S  ,  Alexander  Reaney,  L.  P.,  W.  W.  Parker,  Exr.,  C.  L  , 
and  St.,  F.  W.  Alexander,  C.  L.,  Joel  Buchanan,  St.,  Edward  Ces- 
sell, C.  L.,  and  St.,  R.  Randle,  L.  D ,  C.  L.,  and  Rec.  St. 

The  most  of  these  honored  and  faithful  men  of  God  have  passed 
away  to  their  reward,  and  others  have  taken  their  places,  and  have 
gone,  and  still  others  have  come  forward,  and  the  work  of  the 
Church  has  gone  steadily  on. 

In  1849  the  building  now  occupied  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$8,000  or  $9,000,  and  in  1875  it  was  remodelled,  and  greatly  im- 
proved, at  a  cost  of  over  $11,000,  under  the  pastoral  labors  of 
Rev.  G.  W.  Hughey.  It  is  now  one  of  the  best  churches  in  south- 
ern Illinois,  and  is  valued  at  $17,500,  with  parsonage  property 
worth  $2,500. 

The  membership  is  over  two  hundred.  The  Sunday-school  num- 
bers from  225  to  275,  and  is  under  the  superintendency  of  W.  C. 
Buchanan.  The  history  of  the  S.  School  in  Belleville  goes  back  a 
good  many  years.  The  first  S.  School  was,  it  is  said,  organized  in 
1832.  This  was  probably  a  union  school.  But  as  early  as  1838, 
and  probably  some  years  before  this,  there  was  a  Methodist  Sun- 
day-school. James  Harrison  was  Superintendent.  And  from  that 
day  to  the  present  the  Sunday-school  has  been  kept  up,  and  doubt- 
less many  through  its  influence  have  been  brought  to  Christ. 

I  give  a  partial  list  of  those  who  have  served  the  church  as  Pas- 
tors and  Presiding  Elders  here.  I  have  not  been  able  to  g  t  a  full 
list. 

Pastors. — John  Dew,  S.  H.  Thompson,  John  Miller,  John  Hogan, 
J.  W.  York,  Joseph  Edmundson,  L.  D.  Bragg,  W-  L.  Deneen,  N.  P. 
Cunningham  C.  Hobart,  W.  W.  Mitchell,  R.  Ridgway,  Christopher 
J.  Houts,  Samuel  Elliott,  Wm.  J.  Rutledge,  John  Borland,  John 
Van  Cleyp,  James  Kuapp,  Isaiah  W.  Thomas,  N.  Howley,  J.  W. 


Caldwell,  J.  A.  Scarritt,  J.  P.  Davis,  A.  B.  Nesbit,  J.  A.  Robinson, 
W.  H.  Corrington,  J.  B.  Corriugton,  G.  W.  Hughey,  F.  W.  Van 
Treeve,  J.  D.  Gillham. 

Presiding  Elders. — John  Dew,  Charles  Holliday,  G.  W.  Bobbins, 
C.  D.  James,  J.  B.  Corrington,  John  Van  Cleve,  W.  W.  Mitchell,  J. 
Earp,  T.  A.  Eaton,  W.  H.  Corrington,  G.  W.  Hughey,  A.  B.  Mor- 
rison, John  W.  Locke. 

I  give  below  a  list  of  the  official  members  at  the  present  time 
J.  D.  Gillham,  Pastor,  B.J.  West,   W.C.Buchanan,  B.  H.  Wtst, 
Theoph.  Harrison,  James  F.  Krofft.  Louis  P.  Krofft,  Wra.  Heingle- 
man,  John  Heingleman,    Hugh  Harrison,   T.  J.  Ward,  Richard 
Stanley. 

SUMMEEFIELD   M.    E.    CHURCH. 

Summerfield  M.  E.  Church  is  a  continuation  of  the  old  "  Union 
Grove  Church."  The  Union  Grove  Church  stood  a  short  distance, 
perhaps  one  or  two  miles,  south  of  Summerfield.  Here  was  the 
old  "  Union  Grove  Camp  Ground."  This  society  was  at  an  early 
date  called  "Padfield."  In  this  settlement  the  family  of  Rev. 
Samuel  H.  Thompson  lived  on  his  farm ;  also  Rev.  John  Dew,  Rev. 
Thornton  Peeples,  and  Dr.  Cosad.  Revs.  James  and  Thomas  John- 
son, now  members  of  the  South*  rn  Illinois  Conference,  were,  I  think, 
born  and  raised  in  this  vicinity,  and  both  licensed  to  preach  here. 
The  society  at  PadSeld  was  probably  organized  as  early  as  1810  or 
'11.  Peter  Cartwright,  in  his  Autobiography,  says:  "Although 
the  Illinois  Conference  at  the  General  Conference  had  been  stricken 
off  from  Missouri  Conference,  yet  the  annual  meeting  this  fall  of 
both  of  these  conferences  was  to  be  held  at  Padfield,  Looking- 
glass  Prairie,  Oct.  23,  1824." 

Rev.  Peter  Akens,  D.  D.,  preached  at  the  funeral  of  the  widow 
of  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Thompson  at  Union  Grove,  in  1855.  His  text 
was,  "  I  am  a  pilgrim  and  sojourner  as  all  my  fathers  were." 

Tbe  first  church  was  built  in  Summerfield  somewhere  from  1S55 
to  '60.  The  lots  were  donated  by  Bishop  Cavenaugh  and  his  bro- 
ther. Rev.  T.  B.,  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  who  were  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  town  of  Summerfield. 

The  present  church  is  a  comfortable  brick,  and  was  erected  some 
six  or  eight  years  ago.  They  have  a  membership  of  42.  It  is  now 
in  Trenton  circuit,  and  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Eaton  is  pastor. 

EAST   ST.    LOUIS   CHUECH. 

We  have  an  organization  here,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  get 
any  facts  as  to  the  time  when,  or  by  whom  organized.'  Owing  to  the 
peculiar  surroundings  of  the  church  in  this  place,  it  has  always 
been  a  struggle  for  it  to  live.  I  find  by  reference  to  the  minutes  of 
the  Southern  Illinois  Conference  of  1855,  that  the  lUinoistown  Mis- 
sion is  mentioned,  which  I  presume  was  what  is  now  called  East  St. 
Louis,  and  A.  F.  Rogers  was  pastor.  Whether  this  was  the  first 
year  of  the  existence  of  the  society  or  not,  I  am  not  able  to  say.  In 
1856  it  is  returned  in  the  minutes  to  be  supplied,  and  reports  a 
membership  of  eight,  with  one  church,  valued  at  $800. 

The  next  mention  is  made  in  the  minutes  of  the  Conference  of 
1866,  J.  T.  Hough,  pastor,  and  a  membership  of  44. 

Every  year  since,  they  have  had  a  regularly  appointed  pastor, 
and  report  a  membership  of  about  80.  The  present  pastor  is  T.  J. 
Davis.  Some  years  ago  they  built  a  new  brick  church,  which  is 
valued  at  $9,000,  and  a  parsonage,  at  $2,0u0.  There  is  an 
indebtedness  on  the  church  of  several  thousand  dollars,  with  but 
little  prospect  that  it  will  be  liquidated  in  the  near  future. 

FREEBUEG  AND  NEW  ATHENS  M.  E.  CHUECH. 

These  towns  are  located  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line  R.  R.,  in  the 
south-east  part  of  the  county.     The  work  is  called  Freeburg  cir- 


176 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


cuit.  Rev.  J.  H.  McGriff  is  the  present  pastor.  In  each  place 
there  is  a  comfortable  church. 

When  these  societies  were  organized,  I  have  not  been  able  to  as- 
certain. 

The  church  at  Freeburg  was  built  in  1867.  That  at  New  Athens 
in  1869.    The  two  have  a  membership  of  78. 

There  are  some  other  small  societies  in  the  county  of  which  I  can 
give  no  facts.     One  at  Mascoutah,  one  at  Dutch  Hollow,  &c. 

We  have  a  total  membership  in  the  county  of  about  850.  There 
are  seven  pastors,  with  an  average  salary  of  $734.  This  is  exclusive 
of  the  German  M.  E.  Church. 

GERMAN   M.    E.    CHURCH. 

Of  the  history  of  this  branch  of  the  Church  in  the  county  I  can 
give  but  few  facts.  There  are  five  churches  in  the  county,  one  at 
Belleville,  one  at  Lebanon,  one  at  Summerfield,  one  at  Mascoutah, 
and  one  at  Dutch  Hill. 

The  one  at  Belleville  was  organized  in  1850,  in  an  old  school-house, 
with  a  membership  of  25.  Their  first  church  was'  bought  of  the 
{American)  M.  E.  Church,  in  the  same  year  of  their  organization. 
They  organized  at  the  same  time  a  Sunday-school. 

Their  second  house,  the  one  they  occupy  at  present,  was  pur- 
chased of  the  Lutherans  in  1864  for  $8,000,  including  a  parsonage 
and  school-house.  They  have  improved  the  property  very  much 
since,  and  its  present  value  is  about  $12,000,  free  from  debt.  Their 
present  membership  is  about  173.  They  have  a  good  Sunday-school, 
which  numbers  about  200.  They  raise  for  preacher's  salary,  and 
benevolences  annually  $1,300. 

The  Summerfield  Church  was  first  organized  in  1859,  with  65 
members.  The  church  building  was  erected  in  1864.  They  orga- 
nized the  first  Sunday-school  in  1864.  This  church  has  always  been 
self-sustaining,  never  having  received  one  cent  of  missionary  money, 
and  has  paid  from  $500  to  $700  a  year  salary.  A'  parsonage  was 
bought  in  1859,  which  is  still  occupied  by  the  preacher  as  a  plea- 
sant home. 

Lebanon  is  connected  with  the  Summerfield  circuit.  The  church 
here  is  weak.  They  purchased  a  house  of  worship  in  1867.  The 
membership  at  these  two  points  numbers  about  100.  They  have  a 
good  Sunday-school  at  each  place.  The  value  of  their  church  pro- 
perty is  $3,000.  Parsonage,  $1  000.  H.  F.  Koen eke  is  the  present 
pastor. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  get  any  facts  about  the  churches  at  Mas- 
coutah and  Dutch  Hill.  I  think  organization  and  progress  is  about 
the  same  as  those  already  mentioned. 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

BY   REV.  O.  S.  THOMPSON,  A.  M. 

A  HISTORY  of  Presbyterianism  in  St.  Clair  county,  if  extended  to 
the  early  limits  of  the  county,  would  be  the  history  of  Presbyterian- 
ism in  the  early  settlement  of  the  entire  state,  as  the  early  settle- 
ments of  the  state  were  within  what  was  then  called  St.  Clair 
county.  When  the  county  was  organized  by  Governor  St.  Clair, 
in  1790,  it  included  almost  the  whole  southern  part  of  the  state,  ex- 
tending nearly  as  far  north  as  Peoria,  including,  at  that  time,  all 
the  settled  portions  of  the  state. 

The  earliest  settlers  under  the  French  occupation  of  Illinois,  were 
Roman  Catholics.  The  earliest  historical  mention  of  a  Protestant 
professor  of  religion  in  the  territory  of  Illinois,  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Dr.  J.  M.  Peck  (Baptist)  on  page  706  of 
Western  Annals  says,  speaking  of  events  that  occurred  about  the 
time  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  or  previously ;  "  For  the  first  eight  or 
ten  years  of  the  period  I  have  glanced  over,  the  only  professor  of 


religion  in  the  colony  was  a  female,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian    church."      When  Samuel  J.  Mills  and  his  comis- 
sionaries  visited  the  Illinois  country,  on  their  south-western  mis- 
sionary tour  in  1812,  and  again  in  1814,  they  did  not  find  a  single 
Presbyterian  or  Congregational  minister  in  a  population  of  12,000 
or  15,000  people  then  living  in  the  territory.  "  There  are  a  number 
of  good  people,"  they  say,  "  in  the  territory  who  are  anxious  to  have 
such  ministers  among  them.''     Again,  in  1814,  they  say  :    "  There 
is  no  Presbyterian  minister  in  the  territory.     Numbers  who  have 
heretofore  belonged  to  other  Presbyterian  churches  are  anxious  to 
have,  at  least,  occasional  supplies.'     Six  miles  south  of  Kaskaskia 
there  was  an  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  church    Besides  this 
they  did  not  hear  of  a  "single  organized  society  of  any  denomina- 
tion in  the  county,  (Randolph)  nor  of  an  individual  Baptist  or 
Methodist  preacher.     The  situation  of  the  two  counties  above  this 
(which  would  be  St.   Clair  and  Madison)  is  somewhat  different. 
Baptist    and    Methodist   preachers   are  numerous,    and,  we  were 
informed,   a    majority    of   the    heads    of   families    are     profes- 
sors of  religion."     '  A  Methodist  preacher  told  us  that  these  pro- 
fessors were  almost  all  of  them  Presbyterians.     And  they  would 
have  been  so  still,'  he  said,  '  had  they  not  been  neglected  by  their 
eastern  brethren.  Now  they  are  Methodists  and  Baptists.'    It  seems 
from  these  extracts,  therefore,  that  there  were  a  number  of  persons 
of  Presbyterian  connection,  who  came  with  the  early  settlers  of  St. 
Clair  county,  both  under  its  wider  territorial  limits  and  after  other 
counties  had  been  set  off  from  it,  their  preferences  being  still  for 
the  Presbyterian  church,  but  being  without  ministers  or  church  or- 
ganizations, they  identified  themselves  with  other  bodies  of  Chris- 
tians. 

EARLY  PRESBYTERIAN  MINISTERS  IN  THE  COUNTY. 

The  first  Presbyterian  minister  to  visit  the  Illinois  country  was 
Rev.  John  Evans  Fiuley,  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  who 
landed  at  Kaskaskia  1797.  His  purpose  was  to  labor  in  the  Spanish 
colonies,  mainly,  perhaps,  with  a  view  to  the  Indians.  "He  preached 
and  catechised,  also  baptized  .several  Indians.'  He  seems,  how- 
ever, to  have  remained  but  a  short  time,  when  he  removed  to  Mason  ' 
county,  Kentucky. 

The  next  Presbyterian  ministers  to  visit'  Illinois  were  the  young 
licentiates,  John  F.  Schimerhorn  of  New  York,  and  Samuel  J. 
Mills  of  Connecticut,  in  1812,  who  visited  the  county  on  a  mission- 
ary exploring  expedition.  They  returned  after  visiting  various 
places  in  the  south-west,  going  as  far  as  New  Orleans,  in  1813.  The 
following  year,  1814,  Mr.  Mills,  accompanied  by  Rev.  Daniel  Smith, 
of  Vermont,  revisited  the  country  of  the  south-west,  and  returned  the 
summer  of  1815.  Up  to  this  time  there  was  no  organized  Presby- 
terian church  in  the  territory  of  Illinois,  and  no  Presbyterian 
preacher.  Mills  and  his  companions,  on  their  return,  published  in 
eastern  papers  an  account  of  the  spiritual  destitution  of  the  couutiy 
they  had  visited,  which  at  once  aroused  a  deep  interest  among 
Christian  people  in  the  East,  in  the  evangelization  of  the  West. 

The  reading  of  these  reports  of  Mills  and  his  companions  led  Sal- 
mon Giddings,  born  in  Hartford  county,  Connecticut,  to  devote 
himself  to  missionary  labor  in  the  South  West,  with  headquarters 
in  St.  Louis.  He  was  commissioned  by  the  Connecticut  Missionary 
Society,  December,  1815,  and  the  same  winter  rode  through  to  St. 
Louis  on  horseback,  arriving  April  6th,  where  he  continued  to  live 
until  his  death,  February,  1828.  Although  Mr.  Giddings  lived  in 
St.  Louis,  where  he  organized  the  first  Protestant  church,  and  was 
the  first  Protestant  pastor,  he  frequently  made  evangelistic  tours 
through  the  adjacent  country,  east  as  well  as  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river.  The  first  summer  after  coming  to  St.  Louis  he  visited  a 
number  of  points  in  Illinois,  among  them  Kaskaskia,  wherehe  bap- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


177- 


tized,  in  August,  1816,  Col.  James  L.  D.  Morrison,  long  known  as 
a  citizen  of  this  county.  Of  the  fifteen  churches  organized  by  Mr.  Gid- 
dings  in  ten  years,  ten  of  them,  or  two-thirds,  were  in  Illinois,  among 
which  were  CoUinsville  church,  in  the  edge  of  Madison  county,  and 
the 

TURKEY  HILL  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

of  St.  Clair  county,  four  miles  southeast  of  Belleville,  organized  by 
Mr.  Giddings  in  April,  1820,  the  first  Presbyterian  church  within 
the  present  limits  of  the  county.  The  church  originally  had  eight 
members,  but  their  names  are  unknown  to  the  writer,  except  that 
Nathan  Jones  was  one  of  the  elders,  and  Deacon  Josiah  Crocker 
was,  perhaps,,  another.  The  church  increased  for  a  few  years  until 
in  1824,  it  had  fourteen  members,  but  the  next  year  it  was  reduced, 
by  removals  and  otherwise,  to  seven.  Nathan  Jones  removed  to 
Fulton  county,  the  church  became  discouraged  with  its  losses,  a 
part  of  the  remaining  members  joined  the  Methodists  and  the 
church  became  extinct.  It  never  had  the  ministrations  of  a  settled 
minister,  but  was  dependent  upon  occasional  supplies  by  traveling 
missionaries,  which,  as  Governor  Reynolds  declared  of  ministers  of 
that  day,  "  were  like  angel's  visits ;  few  and  far  between," 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  ORGANIZATIONS  OF  BELLEVILLE. 

Of  these  there  have  been  three. 

First  Organization — 1833. — From  the  time  of  the  disband- 
ing of  the  Turkey  Hill  church,  about  the  close  of  1825,  un- 
til January  6th,  1833,  a  period  of  almost  seven  years,  St. 
Clair  county  was  left  without  a  Presbyterian  church.  Whether 
it  was  visited  by  Presbyterian  ministers  in  that  time  is  now 
unknown.  The  town  of  Belleville  had  been  laid  out  in  1814, 
the  same  year  that  Mills  made  his  last  tour  of  exploration  through 
the  South-west.  It  is  possible  that  during  this  time.  Dr.  Black- 
burn or  Mr.  Giddings  might  have  visited  Belleville,  before 
the  organization  of  the  church. 

The  first  church  of  Belleville  was  organized  Jan.  6,  1833,  by 
Rev.  John  F.  Brooks.    It  numbered  six  members,  viz. :  Alfred  Cow- 
les,  Charlotte  Cowles,  Thomas  Scott,  Jane  S.  Brooks,  Simon  Van  Ars- 
dale,  and  Harriett  C.   Alexander.     Alfred   Cowles   and  Thomas 
Scott  were  made  elders.     There  were  afterwards  added  :    Andrew 
Spillard,  Benjamin  Van  Arsdale,  Joseph  Green,  Thomas  H.  Kim- 
ber,  David  Swyer,  Louisa  Swyer,  and  Samuel  Patterson,  making, 
with  the  six  original  members,  thirteen  in  all.  Of  all  these,  only  David 
and  Louisa  Swyer  remain,  after  near  fifty  years,  in  connection  with 
the  church  to-day.     In   1837,  by  deaths   and   removals  only  ten 
members  were  left  upon  the  church  roll.     One  half  of  these  lived 
elsewhere  than  in  Belleville,  and  the  others  were  about  to  move 
away.     Letters  of  dismission  were  granted  therefore  to  both  absent 
and  present  members,  and  the  first  church  organization  of  the  Pres- 
byterian name  in  Belleville,  became  extinct,  after  an  existence  of 
something  over  four  years.    This  organization  occupied,  as  its  place 
of   worship,   1,   a  one  story  brick  building,    24x30,  on  the  S.  E 
corner  of  2nd,  South  and  High  streets,  one  square  from  the  present 
Presbyterian  church,  where  the  church  worshiped  for  one  year.     2. 
After  this  its  meetings  were  held  in  a  small  room,  used  by  Mr. 
Brooks  as  a  school-room,  on  the  east  side  of  High  street,  between 
Man  and  1st  South.      8.  Occasionally  the  court-house  and  Metho- 
dist church,  also,  were  used.     Mr.  Brook  was  the  only  pastor  this 
church  had.  He  preached  once  in  two  weeks  at  his  regular  appoint- 
ment, and  taught  school  three  years  of  the  time  of  his  pastorate. 
Both  as  teacher  and  pa'^tor  he  rendered  very  acceptable  service. 
He  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  a  graduate  of  Hamilton 
College,  and  of  New  Haven  Seminary.      In  his  senior  year,  he, 
23 


with  six  other  theological  students,  drew  up  and  subscribsd  their 
names  to  a  solemn  pledge  to  engage  in  mission  work  in  the  state  of 
Illinois.  After  his  ordination,  in  1831,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he 
came  immediately  to  Illinois,  and  in  a  little  more  than  one  year 
thereafter,  he  organized  the  church  at  Belleville.  Mr.  Brooks  now 
lives  at  Springfield,  Ills.,  and  is  eighty  years  of  age. 

Second  Organization.— K  second  organization  of  a  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Belleville  was  efi"iicted  two  years  from  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  first.  It  was  organized  by  Revs.  Thomas  Lippincott 
and  A.  T.  Norton.  There  were  nine  members,  three  more  than 
constituted  the  first  church.  These  were  William  E.  Chittenden, 
Thomas  H.  Kimber,  Alonzo  Dewey,  Miss  Sarepta  Elder,  and  Miss 
Esther  C.  Dewey,  all  coming  by  letter.  Three  others  were  received 
on  examination— David  Miley,  Phebe  Miley,  and  Charles  T.  Elles. 
William  E.  Chittenden  and  Thomas  H.  Kimber  were  elected  elders. 
The  organization  of  the  church  the  second  time  took  place  in  a 
small  brick  house,  owned  by  Elder  Kimber,  on  the  corner  of  Jack- 
son and  Second  North  streets,  on  the  lot  on  which  the  new  Baptist 
church  now  stands.  The  house  is  still  standing,  the  first  door  south 
of  the  Baptist  church.  It  was  for  a  while  used  as  the  regular 
place  of  worship,  with  the  occasional  use  of  the  court-house,  as 
previously. 

Mr.  Lippincott  had  supplied  the  church  the  summer  previous  to 
the  organization,  and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  for  more 
than  a  year  afterwards.  He  was  a  man  of  wide  influence,  of  literary 
tastes  and  reputation,  and  lived  to  about  eighty  years  of  age.  The 
church  under  him  made  no  additions  to  its  number  of  members.  It 
seems,  however,  to  have  zealously  pushed  forward  its  work,  as  it 
determined  at  its  organization  that  the  "  regular  worship  of  God 
should  be  kept  up  in  their  house  every  Sabbath,  whether  their  min- 
ister was  present  or  not.''  These  meetings,  in  the  absence  of  the 
pastor,  were  conducted  by  Elder  Chittenden,  who  was  afterward 
ordained  as  a  minister,  and  served  the  church  two  and  a-half  years 
as  pastor. 

Mr.  Lippincott  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Chamberlain, 
after  the  former  had  served  the  church  one  and  a-half  years.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  gave  the  church  one-half  his  time  at  first,  then  one- 
fourth  of  the  time.  He  had  been  a  missionary  to  the  Cherokee 
Indians  in  Georgia.  With  their  removal  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
he  settled  in  Illinois. 

A  protracted  meeting  held  by  Mr.  Chamberlain,  in  which  he  was 
assisted  by  Rev.  James  Gallaher,  in  1841,  resulted  in  greatly 
strengthening  the  church,  and  in  the  addition  of  twenty-four  mem- 
bers to  its  number.  He  was  followed,  in  1842,  by  Henry  B.  Whit- 
taker,  who  was  a  licentiate  of  Lexington  presbytery.  He  re- 
mained with  the  church  eight  months,  during  which  time  a  series 
of  meetings  were  held,  resulting  in  ten  accessions  to  the  church. 

Rev.  William  E.  Chittenden  succeeded  Mr.  Whittaker,  and 
served  the  church  for  two  and  a-half  years,  with  very  great  accept- 
ance. It  was  mainly  through  his  efibrts  that  the  second  house  of 
worship  was  built.  About  the  time  he  began  his  pastorate,  April, 
1844,  the  church  first  became  a  corporate  body,  electing  E.  B.  Lock? 
wood,  C.  T.  Elles  and  Samuel  Hinckley  trustees.  Their  first  work 
was  to  take  steps  towards  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  Hith- 
erto the  church  had  worshiped  in  the  Kimber  building  on  Jack- 
son street,  then  in  a  school-room,  and  finally  in  a  rented  room  on 
High  street,  where  the  tailoring  establishment  of  Rheiu  Brothers 
now  stands. 

James  Mitchell  donated  the  larger  part  of  the  ground  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  building  on  the  north-east  corner  of  Illinois  and 
First  North  streets,  near  the  market-house,  where  a  brick  building, 
with  basement,  the  present  city  hall,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 


178 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


$2500.  The  ehurcli  building  was  dedicated  Nov.  9th,  1844,  and 
continued  to  be  the  place  of  worship  for  twenty-nine  years,  up  to 
April,  1873. 

Following  Mr.  Chittenden,  Rev.  James  R.  Dunn  supplied  the 
pulpit  six  months,  in  1845 ;  B.  Y.  Messenger  six  months,  in  1846- 
47.  Joseph  A.  Ranney  then  began,  Nov.  1847,  a  pastorate  of 
seven  years,  the  longest  pastorate  the  church  has  ever  had. 

During  Mr.  Ranney's  ministry  the  church  had  a  prosperous  and 
steady  growth,  having  received,  in  that  time,  sixty-nine  members. 
In  a  series  of  meetings  in  February,  1849,  when  the  pastor  was 
assisted  by  Rev.  George  Clark,  twenty  persons  were  added  to  the 
church  at  one  time.  During  the  year  1849,  when  the  cholera  raged 
with  such  violence  in  St.  Louis,  Belleville  also  suffered  severely. 
Out  of  a  population  of  three  thousand,  two  hundred  and  fifty  died  in 
sixty  days,  including  ten  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
among  whom  was  Elder  Henry  Batz. 

Rev.  John  Gibson  supplied  the  church  six  months  in  1855  ;  W. 
W.  Warner  a  year  in  1855-56.  B.  F.  Cole,  E.  Barber,  W.  F.  P. 
Noble  each  supplied  the  church  a  short  time.  Andrew  Luce  was 
pastor  of  the  church  from  November,  1857. 

In  1860  the  church  caught  fire  while  the  basement  was  used  as  a 
school-room,  but  was  not  greatly  damaged. 

In  1863  Mr.  Luce  entered  the  United  States  service  as  chaplain 
of  the  twenty-fourth  regiment  Missouri  volunteers.  His  pastoral 
relation  to  the  church  was  not  dissolved  until  October,  1866. 

Rev.  Ovid  Minor  preached  to  the  church  in  lfcC4,  during  Mr. 
Luce's  absence. 

Rev.  John  Dillingham  was  pastor  of  the  church  three  years, 
from  May,  1866 — a  prosperous  pastorate.  Rev.  James  Brownlee 
was  then  with  the  church  one  year.  Gerrit  Huyser  one  year. 
Henry  W.  Woods  one  year  three  months  from  October,  1871. 

In  February,  1S72,  a  lot  was  purchased  by  the  church  on  High 
street  and  Third  South  for  82800,  with  a  view  to  erecting  a  new 
building.  The  old  building  was  sold  for  $4500  to  the  city,  April 
19th,  1873.  Work  was  begun  on  the  new  building  May  Ibt,  1874. 
The  building  was  erected  and  the  basement  completed  and  ready 
for  use  on  May  2d,  1875,  when  the  present  pastor,  0.  S.  Thompson, 
began  his  labors  with  the  church,  six  years  ago.  The  audience 
room  was  finished  and  the  church  furnished  over  a  year 
later.  The  church  was  dedicated  July  16th,  1876,  Dr.  J.  H. 
Brookes  of  St.  Louis  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  new 
building  is  gothic,  brick,  about  45x80  feetj  measuring  from  outside 
walls,  with  seating  capacity  for  four  hundred,  with  lecture  room, 
astudy  and  infant  class-room  in  basement.  Cost  $21,472.  Cost  of 
pipe-organ  $1800- 

The  first  year  of  Mr.  Thompson's  pastorate  witnessed  an  ingath- 
ering of  fifty-eight  new  members,  forty-four  of  whom  united  on 
profession  of  faith.  One  hundred  and  twenty  in  all  have  been  re- 
ceived in  the  six  years. 

In  1879-80  a  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost  of  over  $1700.  The 
ruling  elders  have  been  : — W.  E.  Chittenden  and  T.  H.  Kimber, 
elected  1839 ;  Henry  Batz  and  David  Swyer,  1843  ;  W.  H.  Under- 
wood, 1848;  Charles  T.  Files  and  Russell  Hinckley,  1850;  E.  W. 
West,  1876 ;  Joseph  Small  and  James  McQuilkin,  1879. 

The  church  has  now  about  one  hundred  names  on  the  roll  of 
active  membership.  It  has  always  had  a  flourishing  Sabbath-school. 
The  church  has  enrolled  altogether  about  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  members.  It  has  raised  for  all  purposes,  buildings,  pastor's 
salary,  benevolence,  etc.,  about  $70,000. 

Third  Organization. — The  Presbyterian  church  of  Belleville,  of 
which  mention  has  been  made,  was  in  connection  with  what  was 
known  as  the  New  School  body. 


On  April  15,  1843,  Rev.  James  Staflbrd  organized  a  church  of 
eighteen  members,  in  connection  with  the  Old  School  body.  Ten 
of  these  eighteen  members  were  from  the  already  existing  church. 
Thomas  Osborn  was  one  of  the  ruling  elders.  The  church  had 
occasional  preaching,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Potts  of  the  Second  Church,  St. 
Louis,  being  among  the  number  of  its  supplies.  But  it  was  found 
that  both  churches  were  weakened  by  the  division,  and  in  time 
nearly  all  the  members  of  the  Old  School  church  united  with  the 
one  in  connection  .with  the  New  School  body,  and  the  church  was 
disbanded. 

LEBANON  PEESBYTEKIAN  CHURCH. 

The  town  of  Lebanon,  in  the  northern  part  of  St.  Clair  county, 
has  long  been  known  as  the  seat  of  McKendree  College,  one  of  the 
early  educational  institutions  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  institu- 
tion is  under  the  auspices  of  the  Meth.  Epis.  Church.  It  has 
been  not  only  a  power  for  good  in  that  denomination,  but  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  advancing  educational  interests  in  Southern  Illinois. 
It  has  likewise  long  made  its  presence  felt  in  the  town,  where  a 
large  church  of  that  denomination  has  existed  for  many  years. 
But  Presbyterianism  is  of  comparatively  recent  growth  in  Lebanon. 
It  was  not  until  1866,  April  8th,  that  an  organization  was  efiected 
in  that  place.  The  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  A.  T.  Norton, 
D.  D.,  of  Alton,  the  veteran  Nestor  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  State. 

The  church  was  originally  composed  of  nine  members,  namely  : 
Dr.  F.  W.  Lytic,  Miss  F.  M.  Lytle,  Miss  Amanda  M.  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Margaret  H.  Woodworth,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Seaman,  Miss  Ruth 
Danforth,  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Atwood,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheeler,  Mrs. 
Helen  M.  Horner.  It  has  had  as  ministers,  James  Brownlee, 
William  P.  Teitsworth,  and  Lyman  Marshall,  the  latter  continuing 
pastor  of  the  church  for  about  nine  years.  Its  ruling  elders  have 
been :  Dr.  F.  W.  Lytle,  Charles  Sayer,  James  H.  Patterson,  Robert 
Mills,  Elmore  W.  Elethorpe,  and  Dr.  C.  A.  Andrews  Its  house  of 
worship  was  dedicated  Nov.  10,  1867,  and  cost  $4500. 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  EAST  ST.  LOUIS 

Was  organized  by  Dr.  A.  T.  Norton  and  M.  B.  Gregg,  July  14th, 
1867,  in  the  school-house  on  the  island.  The  original  members 
were : — Edwin  E.  Bassett,  Miss  Mercy  B.  Gregg,  Mrs.  Ellen  V. 
Barrowman,  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Hill,  Mrs.  Martha  Ann  Lowry,  Mrs. 
Ann  Brewer,  Mrs.  Lydia  Chamberlain,  Miss  Emma  Mockber,  Mrs. 
Frances  Todebush,  Mrs.  Mary  Ellen  Mahang,  James  H.  Brooks, 
David  Shield,  Mrs.  Euphemia  Shield,  Samuel  McCullough,  Mrs. 
Sophia  McCullough,  William  Morrison,  Mrs.  Sophia  Morrison,  and 
Mrs.  Virginia  Raithel. 

The  services  were  first  held  in  the  upper  room  of  a  two  story 
school-house  on  the  island,  since  burned.  A  frame  church  edifice, 
with  basement,  was  built  the  following  year,  1868,  at  a  cost  of 
$6700.  It  was  soon  found  that  the  population  was  moving  away 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  church,  and  that  a  removal  of  the  church 
was  necessary.  A  lot  was  accordingly  bought  on  Collinsville  ave., 
where  a  new  building  was  erected,  the  material  in  the  old  church 
being  used  in  part,  at  a  cost  of  about  $5000.  The  building  was 
dedicated  September  8th,  1878. 

Its  first  minister  was  Rev.  Martin  B.  Gregg,  1867,  after  the 
church  was  organized.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  D.  Janes, 
who  preached  to  the  church  in  1869-71 ;  Samuel  Sawyer,  1872-73, 
William  L.  Johnston  began  his  ministry  with  the  church,  as  licen- 
tiate, April,  1873,  and  continued  for  six  years,  until  May  3d,  1879. 
Mr.  Johnston  left  the  field  to  accept  an  appointment  as  foreign  mis- 
sionary at  Sidon,  Syria.  His  pastorate  was  a  very  efficient  one. 
It  was  largely  due  to  his  unwearied  efforts  that  the  second  church 
was  built. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


179 


Rev.  S-  H.  Hyde,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge  of  the  church 
Feb.  15th,  1880.  It  now  has  sixty  members,  with  prospects  of  an 
increased  membership  amd  usefulness. 

LEBANON  GERMAN  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Was  organized  Feb.  16th,  1868,  by  Revs.  James  Brownlee  and 
Charles  W.  Saaman.  It  had,  at  its  organization,  eighty  members- 
It  had  church  property,  which  was,  however,  involved  and  embar- 
rassed with  debt.  The  church  has  not  had  a  prosperous  life.  Only 
a  very  few  now  remain  of  the  original  number.  They  keep  up  a 
Sabbath-school,  and  have  services  on  Sabbath  afternoons,  when  an 
evangelical  German  minister,  from  Summerfield,  preaches. 


UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN. 


BY   REV.   S.    B.   LYONS. 


The  United  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Marissa,  St.  Clair  co., 
Illinois,  is  now  in  the  eleventh  year  of  its  existence. 

The  congregation  originated  with  thirty-two  members  from  the 
Reformed  Presbyterian  (N.  S.)  congregation  of  Hill  Prairie,  St. 
Clair  county.  In  order  to  fully  uniarstani  the    circumstances  of  its 
origin,  we  go  back  to  a  period  shortly  before  its  history  opens.     In 
1869  the  General  Assembly  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  and 
the  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  (N.  S.),  each  ap- 
pointed delegates  to  confer  and  prepare  a  basis  of  union  upon 
which  the  two  churches  might  unite.     A  basis  was  agreed  upon  by 
these  delegates,  and  in  1870  accepted  by  the  United  Presbyterian  As- 
sembly.   The  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  did  not 
accept  this  basis  of  union.  In  Aug.,  1870,  the  Western  Presbytery  of 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church,  at  a  called  meeting  in  Coulters- 
ville,  Illinois,  agreed  to  enter  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.    The 
ministers  of  said  Presbytery  at  that  time  were  Revs.  Wylie,  Hars- 
ha,  McMaster,  Bratton,  and  Martin.     Rev.  Wylie  did  not  favor  the 
movement.    The  Presbytery  was  received  into  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church  at  a  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Illinois,  at  Paxton,  in 
1870.    This  movement  caused  a  division  of  each  congregation  in 
this  Presbytery,  excepting  that  in  Eden,  Randolph  county.  Rev. 
Wylie,  pastor,  part  only  of  each  congregation  entering  with  their  pas- 
tor the  United  Presbyterian  Church.     The  congregation  of  Hill 
Prairie  was  without  a  pastor  at  the  time,  but  two  members  of  ses- 
sion, Robert  Wilson  and  Hugh  Nairn,  with  thirty  members  of  the 
congregation,  entered  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  as  an  organ- 
ized body,  thus  forming  the  present  United  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion of  Marissa.    In  the  summer  of  1871  this  congregation  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  in  the  new  town  of 
Marissa.    The  building  was  finished  and  ready  for  occupancy  Jan. 
1, 1872.    The  first  pastor  of  the  congregation.  Rev.  J.  W.  Glenn, 
began  his  pastoral  labors  Jan.  1, 1872,  preaching  about  one-half 
time  in  Marissa ;  but  from  Jan.  1, 1874,  his  full  time  was  given  to 
Marissa  congregation  until  his  death  in  June,  1879.    The  present 
pastor,  Rev.  8.  R.  Lyons,  was  installed  Aug.  3,  1880.    The  congre- 
gation, beginning  with  thirty-two  members,  has  received  into  its 
communion,  in  all,  two  hundred  and  six.    Present  membership 
(Jan.,  1881),  one  hundred  and  twenty-three. 

Early  in  the  year  1872  a  Sabbath-school  was  formed,  which  has 
since  been  steadily  increasing  in  attendance,  interest,  and  useful- 
ness, numbering  at  present  in  its  average  attendance  nearly  two 
hundred. 


REFORMED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

BY   REV.    J.    B.    CRAWFORD. 

In  the  summer  of  1842  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  of 
St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  had  taken  its  rise.  About  twenty  persons 
who  had  been  instructed  in  and  possessed  a  knowledge  of  the  noble 
and  precious  principles  of  their  Covenanting  fathers,  and  of  the 
holy  religion,  to  which  they  were  inseparably  attached,  entered 
into  an  organic  capacity.  This  is  the  only  congregation  of  Re- 
formed Presbyterians  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  is  known  by  the 
name  of  the  "  Hill  Prairie  Church."  In  the  fall  of  1842  they  suc- 
ceeded in  calling,  and  had  ordained  and  installed  over  them,  the 
late  Rev.  Michael  Harsha,  who  preached  to  them  one-fourth 
of  his  time.  The  country  not  being  closely  inhabited,  their  growth 
was  by  no  means  rapid.  Yet  they  labored  with  the  utmost  patience 
and  zeal,  and  with  the  brightest  anticipations  that  success  should 
some  day  crown  their  efforts.  Their  meagre  supply  of  the  stated 
ordinances  by  the  Rev.  Michael  Harshaw  continued  only  until 
August,  1846,  when  the  union  between  pastor  and  people  was  dis- 
solved. Prom  that  time  until  1857  a  very  small  amount  of  supplies 
could  be  rendered  tliem,  and  financially  they  were  unable  to  obtain 
it.  For  about  thirteen  years  they  were  without  a  house  of  worship. 
The  private  houses,  however,  were  the  sanctuaries  of  the  Lord, 
where  sociability  and  afl^ection  marked  the  character  of  every  wor- 
shiper. Here  the  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  was  most  enthusiasti- 
cally received  to  unfold  the  word  of  truth  and  dispense  the 
sacraments.  Public  worship  was  for  the  most  part  carried  on  in  the 
houses  of  Mr.  James  Wilson,  sen.,  and  James  Lyons,  now  deceased. 
Prosperity  began  to  dawn  upon  them,  and  harmony  and  unanimity 
characterized  the  worshipers  as  men  and  women  zealous  of  good 
works.  In  the  spring  of  1855  their  ability  and  energy  enabled 
them  to  erect  for  themselves  a  house  of  worship  on  Hill  Prairie.  It 
still  stands  for  the  worship  of  God,  and  is  the  joy  of  those  who 
come  hither  to  join  in  the  sacred  exercises.  The  town  of  Marissa 
is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  it. 

In  January,  1857,  after  having  called  Mr.  N.  K.  Crow,  he  was 
ordained  and  installed  over  them  as  their  pastor,  who  preached  to 
them  the  one-half  of  his  time,  until  March,  1864.  Being  largely 
endowed  with  a  missionary  spirit,  and  regarding  it  a  greater  neces- 
sity to  carry  the  word  of  truth  among  the  freedmen  of  the  South, 
he  was  released  of  his  charge  in  Hill  Prairie.  During  his  pastor- 
ate there  was  marked  prosperity.  His  ministration  was  waited 
upon  with  eagerness. 

Not  long,  however,  were  the  congregation  destitute  of  an  under 
shepherd.  The  people  who  had  been  so  faithful  in  maintaining  the 
noble  principles  they  professed,  and  who  were  so  constant  to  the 
most  grand  of  all  the  causes  by  which  they  were  identified,  had 
placed  over  them  in  July,  1864,  the  late  Rev.  John  Nevin,  who 
was  unexcelled  as  a  faithful  pastor.  During  his  pastorate  in  Hill 
Prairie  he  was  eminently  successful,  and  his  labors  were  specially 
blessed.  The  membership  of  his  congregation  amounted  to  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty.  They  possessed  in  a  large  degree  the 
spirit  of  charity  and  liberality.  They  contributed  largely  to  home 
and  foreign  missions,  and  other  benevolent  purposes.  In  August, 
1866,  death  bereft  them  of  their  faithful  and  beloved  pastor.  This 
cast  a  cloud  of  sorrow  over  the  whole  community,  and  the  bright 
anticipations  of  his  beloved  flock  were  blighted.  For  a  lapse  of 
about  eleven  years  they  were  without  the  stated  ministry.  During 
this  time  some  were  anxious  for  a  union  between  the  Reformed 
and  the  United  Presbyterian  Churches,  and  in  1870  those  who 
were  favorable  to  this  union  withdrew  from  the  Reformed  Presby- 
terian Church  and  joined  the  United  Presbyterians.     Sixty-five 


180 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


individuals,  however,  v\ho  still  had  respect  to  their  principles, 
maintained  their  integrity  and  organization,  and  in  1877  J.  B. 
Crawford  having  been  called  by  them,  was  in  May  of  that  year  or- 
dained and  installed  over  them.  Thus  the  congregation  still 
exists. 


BEIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN 
CHURCH  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY. 

BY   REV.    C.    KUEHN. 

This  church,  at  present,  comprises  various  congregations  in  this 
county.  All  these  congregations  belong  to  the  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Synod  of  Missouri,  Ohio  and  other  States.  A  few  remarks 
concerning  this  large  and  important  church  body  are  therefore 
justified,  and  will  be  of  interest; 

It  was  in  the  year  1839,  the  19th  of  February,  when  the  last 
division  of  a  larger  company  of  emigrants,  called  the  Saxon  emi- 
grants, arrived  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.  The  sole  cause  of  their  leaving 
their  native  country  was  the  decay  and  deplorable  condition  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  Germany,  where  from  most  pulpits  the  pure 
doctrine  was  no  longer  preached,  but,  instead  of  it,  unbelief  and 
skepticism.  This  sad  state  of  affairs  induced  a  great  number  of 
Lutheran  Christians  to  come  to  America,  hoping  to  be  thus  enabled 
better  to  provide  for  their  own  and  their  children's  spiritual  wel- 
fare. They,  and  amongst  their  number  several  ministers  and  candi- 
dates of  theology,  under  the  leadership  of  a  certain  pastor,  chartered 
five  ships  to  sail  for  their  new  home,  four  of  which  arrived  safely  at 
New  Orleans ;  the  fifth  was  lost  at  sea,  never  to  be  heard  of  again. 
From  New  Orleans  they  proceeded  by  river  to  St.  Louis  A  few 
of  them  remained  there,  starting  a  small  congregation,  while  the 
rest  selected  a  piece  of  land  of  4440  acres  in  Perry  county.  Mo., 
where  they  finally  settled.  Meantime,  their  leader  proving  to  be  a 
hypocrite  and  an  immoral  m^an,  they  renounced  him  and  cast  him 
off.  At  last  they  divided  themselves  into  four  congregations,  of 
which  the  several  ministers  mentioned  above,  to  wit :  E.  G.  W. 
Key],  G.  H.  Loeber,  M.  Buerger,  C.  F.  W.  Walther,  took  charge. 
Rev.  O.  H.  "Walther  was  the  pastor  of  the  congregation  at  St.  Louis. 
After  his  decease,  in  1840,  his  younger  brother,  C.  F.  W.  Walther, 
was  called  in  his  place  by  the  congregation.  He  fills  it  to  the 
present  day,  under  the  aid  of  four  vicars.  In  1844  he  started  a 
church  paper,  the  Lutheraner,  a  well-known  semi-monthly.  After 
the  endurance  of  many  hardships,  these  congregations  became 
thriving  and  flourishing. 

During  this  time  a  number  of  Lutheran  pastors  had  come  to 
America  to  serve  the  church,  of  whom  the  most  important  were — 
F.  W.  Wyneken,  August  Craemer  and  Dr.  AVm.  Sihler.  As  mission- 
aries, they  visited  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michigan.  The 
former  at  length  became  pastor  of  a  congregation  at  Baltimore;  the 
latter  became  the  founder  of  one  at  Frankenlust,  Mich. ;  while  Dr. 
Sihler  finally  was  called  to  Fort  "Wayne.  These  gentlemen  were 
in  communication  with  Rev.  "William  Loehe,  of  New  Dettelsau, 
Germany,  who  induced  them  to  start  a  seminary  at  Fort  "Wayne, 
supporting  them  with  money,  and  sending  students  and  candidates 
of  theology. 

Chiefly  by  means  of  the  Lutheraner,  were  they  acquainted  with 
their  Saxon  brethren  at  St.  Louis  and  Perry  county.  Three  of 
them  journeyed  to  St.  Louis  in  1846,  to  become  personally  acquainted 
with  them,  and  to  speak  about  uniting  in  an  ecclesiastical  organiza- 
tion. This  was  carried  out  a  year  later  at  Chicago,  then  a  city  of 
about  20,Q00  inhabitants.  From  St.  Louis  had  arrived  the  Revs. 
"Walther,  Fuerbringer  and  Loeber ;  from  Fort  "Wayne,  Dr.  Sihler, 
"Walter,  Streckfuss,  Ernst  and  Husmann,  and  some  students.     Be- 


sides these,  were  present  the  ministers  Fick,  Poeschke,  Buerger, 
Scholz,  Trautmann,  Richmann,  Schuster  and  Craemer.  After  filing 
a  constitution,  sixteen  ministers  and  twelve  congregations  united  as 
the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Missouri,  Ohio  and 
other  States.  In  the  course  of  time,  this  Synod  so  increased  in 
number  that  it  was  necessary  to  form  several  districts.  At  present 
there  are  seven  of  them,  and,  as  is  expected,  two  more  will  be  added 
in  a  short  time.  The  congregations  of  this  Synod  are  located  in 
nearly  all  the  States  of  the  Union,  and  their  missionaries  are  at  work 
in  many  Territories.  About  six  hundred  congregations  and  seven 
hundred  or  more  ministers  are  members  of  this  Synod ;  its  president 
pro  tem.  is  Rev.  H.  C.  Schwan,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

BRIEFS   ABOUT   THE   CONGREGATION   AT   BELLEVILLE. 

In  the  year  1861,  several  members  of  the  United  Evangelical 
congregation  separated  from  it  on  account  of  disharmony,  which 
arose  during  the  building  of  a  new  church  (on  Jackson  street). 
They  separated  with  the  intention  of  forming  a  new  congregation, 
and  the  17th  of  March  they  met  for  the  first  time,  organizing  them- 
selves under  the  name  of  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Zion's 
congregation.  Of  those  first  members  are  still  living  and  having 
membership,  Messrs.  Hy.  Riitter,  Wm.  "Wehmeyer,  F.  Rutter,  N. 
Schuessler,  J.  Schiissler,  Casp.  Nagel  F.  Nagel,  Wm.  Schlueter,  C 
H.  Eggersmann,  Wm.  Winker,  Ad.  Loos,  F.  Endres,  H.  Stolte, 
Aug.  Brandenburg  and  others. 

In  order  to  obtain  a  minister,  they  applied  to  the  Synod  of  Mis- 
souri, Ohio  and  other  States,  respectively  to  Rev.  Prof.  C.  F.  W. 
Walther,  at  St.  Louis,  who  proposed  to  them  two  candidates  from 
the  Theological  Seminary  of  that  city.  Of  these  two  candidates 
they  elected  Mr.  E.  Mangelsdorf,  and  called  him  as  their  pastor  to 
Belleville,  who  took  charge  of  the  congregation  in  April  or  May. 
Under  his  labors  and  control  the  congregation  increased  and  de- 
veloped. Their  services  were  held  in  a  small  chapel  of  the  Episco- 
palians, on  Jackson  street.  A  good  constitution  was  adopted  and 
subscribed  to  by  all  members. 

In  the  next  year,  the  congregation,  encouraged  by  increase,  and 
compelled  by  various  circumstances,  resolved  to  put  up  a  building, 
in  which  its  services  could  be  held.  They  purchased  a  corner  lot  on 
Church  and  First  North  streets,  for  the  sum  of  $500,  and  soon  after 
commenced  the  building  on  Church  street  (30x40),  with  the  under- 
standing that  it  should  be  the  school-house  of  the  congregation, 
which  should  be  followed  by  a  church  building  as  soon  as  conve- 
nient. So  this  little  building  has  been  used  both  for  school  and 
church  until  lately. 

Rev.  Mangelsdorf  commenced  to  teach  school,  and  as  soon  as  it 
was  established  several  teachers  in  succession  were  called  to  take 
charge  of  it.  The  name  of  the  present  teacher  is  Wra.  Fedder.  In 
April,  1865,  the  congregation  joined  the  Synod  from  which  it  had 
received  its  pastor  and  teacher,  namely,  the  Synod  of  Missouri, 
Ohio  and  other  States ;  and  two  years  later  they  increased  their 
property  by  building  a  parsonage  beside  the  school.  Shortly  after, 
their  minister  was  called  as  pastor  to  a  Lutheran  congregation  at 
Bloomington,  111.,  which  call  he  followed,  the  vacancy  at  Belleville 
being  filled  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Ad.  Bilwend,  a  graduate  of  the 
St.  Louis  Theological  College.  He  also  remained  but  a  short  time, 
following  a  call  to  E.  Boston  in  1871. 

Rev.  C.  S.  Kleppisch,  from  Waterloo,  111.,  took  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  remained  for  six  years,  till  April,  1877. 

Chr.  Kuehn,  a  graduate  of  the  St.  Louis  Theological  Seminary, 
of  the  Synod  of  Missouri,  Ohio  and  other  States,  was  appointed  his 
successor,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 

In  the  fall  of  1879,  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  new  church.    A  few 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


181 


months  after,  a  subscription  list  was  put  up,  and  witli  the  arrival  of 
seasonable  weather  the  digging  for  the  foundation  commenced.  The 
second  day  of  Pentecost  (17th  of  May)  the  corner-stone  was  laid, 
and  about  a  year  later  (the  27th  of  March),  the  dedicatory  ceremo- 
nials, conducted  by  Prof.  Schaller,  Rev.  Link,  of  St.  Louis,  and 
Eev.  Gotringer,  of  Mascoutah,  took  place.  The  length  of  the  church 
is  60  feet,  with  an  addition  of  a  12-feet  niche,  and  a  projection  5  feet 
by  the  tower,  making  an  entire  length  of  77  feet.  The  width  is 
about  40;  height  of  steeple,  128  feet.  The  building  is  carried  out 
in  Gothic  style,  and  is  pronounced  by  the  papers  an  ornament  for 
the  city.  This  fine  church  building,  including  a  beautiful  12-stop 
pipe  organ  (costing  about  $900),  and  two  bells  of  400  and  750  pounds, 
costs  about  $10,000.  Mr.  Wm.  Wehmeyer  is  the  one  to  whom 
the  congregation  is  mostly  indebted  for  attaining  the  desired  end. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  learn  that  since  the  organization,  of  the 
congregation,  1142  children  have  been  baptized  by  its  ministers ; 
464  children  have  been  confirmed ;  205  couple  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, and  303  persons  have  been  buried. 


THE  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  ZION  CHUECH  OF  MASCOUTAH,  ILL., 

Was  organized  on  the  8th  of  November,  1868,  by  Rev.  Fred. 
Rudolf  Herold,  and  is  in  connection  with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod  of.  Missouri,  Ohio  and  other  States.  In  1869  the  congrega- 
tion, then  numbering  about  sixty  members,  erected  a  church  edifice 
at  the  cost  of  about  $6000. 

No  one  can  be  or  become  a  member,  still  less  an  officer,  in  this 
congregation,  or  participate  in  any  of  the  rights  of  a  member,  ex- 
cept he  who  (a)  is  baptized ;  (b)  acknowledges  all  the  canonical 
books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  as  the  only  divine  rule  and 
standard  of  faith  and  life ;  (c)  while  he  may  perhaps  be  yet  defi- 
cient in  the  knowledge  of  the  collective  symbolical  books,  at  least 
knows  and  acknowledges  the  Augsburg  Confession  and  Luther's 
Smaller  Catechism  ;  (d)  does  not  live  in  manifest  works  of  the  flesh 
(Gal.  V.  19-21),  but  maintains  a  Christian  deportment ;  (e)  does  not 
belong  to  a  secret  society ;  (f )  frequently  joins  in  the  communion, 
when  of  adult  age ;  (g)  submits  to  the  church  regulations,  which 
have  been  established  by  mutual  consent,  or  which  may  yet  be 
established,  provided  they  are  not  contrary  to  the  word  of  God,  and 
.  permits  being  corrected  in  brotherly  love,  when  he  has  erred.  The 
tests  as  to  qualification  for  membership  are  the  person's  profession, 
when  not  contradicted  by  his  conduct. 

The  present  number  of  voting  members  (males  over  twenty-one 
years  of  age)  is  about  70.  In  all — men,  women  and  children — 
about  425  persons  belong  to  the  congregation.  After  the  death  of 
Rev.  F.  R.  Herold,  which  occurred  on  the  6th  day  of  July,  1871, 
the  present  pastor,  J.  G.  Goehringer,  was  called  by  the  congrega- 
tion. He  entered  upon  his  new  field  of  labor  in  July,  1872,  and 
has  been  serving  the  congregation  since  that  time.  Besides  the 
church  building,  the  congregation  has  a  parsonage  and  a  school-  • 
house  of  its  own.  The  Sunday-school  is  attended  by  150,  the  day- 
school  by  60  scholars.  The  present  teacher  of  the  day-school,  Mr. 
J.  G.  Wissbeck,  was  engaged  by  the  congregation  in  September, 
1880,  and  it  is  his  duty  to  instruct  the  children  attending  the  school 
in  all  the  branches  of  science  taught  in  the  public  schools,  and  in 
the  faith  and  confession  of  the  Lutheran  Church  ;  so  that  they  may 
not  only  become  useful  citizens,  but,  above  all  things,  good,  sound 
Christians.  The  present  value  of  property  owned  by  the  congrega- 
tion (church,  parsonage  and  school-house)  is  about  $8000-  The 
annual  expenses,  including  the  salaries  of  the  pastor,  the  teacher 
and  the  sexton,  insurance,  repairs,  etc.,  are  about  $1200,  which  are 
covered  partly  by  subscriptions  and  partly  by  collections.     Fairs, 


suppers,  lotteries  and  religious  amusements  for  the  benefit  of  the 
church,  are  not  approved  nor  tolerated. 

EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  AT  DARMSTADT. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  1865,  under  guidance  of  Rev. 
J.  P.  Baumgart,  of  Venedy,  Washington  county.  III.,  who  officiated 
as  minister  of  the  new  congregation  until  a  pastor  could  be  had. 
The  congregation  consisted  at  first  of  thirteen  members  only.  The 
pastors  having  had  charge  of  it  are :  Revs.  M.  Stuelpnagel,  F.  W. 
Pennekamp,  H.  Proehl,  and  H.  W.  Hoemann.  The  present  pastor. 
Rev.  J.  P.  Baumgart,  organized  the  church  as  above  stated.  The 
church  building  was  erected  in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  $2000. 

At  the  present  time,  the  congregation  numbers  seventeen  families. 
There  is  a  day-school  connected  with  the  church,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Rev.  Baumgart,  the  pastor. 

The  present  trustees  of  the  church  are  P.  Hartenberger,  G.  P. 
Eckert  and  P.  Schneider. 

EVANGELICAL   LUTHERAN   CHURCH  AT   MILLSTADT. 

The  first  church  building  of  this  congregation  was  erected  in  the 
year  1849,  when  an  organization  was  perfected.  The  membership 
was  very  limited,  not  more  than  ten,  all  told.  Rev.  Schieferdecker 
took  charge  of  the  small  flock ;  but  the  blessing  of  the  Most  High 
was  with  them.  Their  temple  of  worship  was  a  small  wooden  edi- 
fice, erected  at  a  cost  of  $800.  The  present  worthy  pastor.  Rev.  F. 
W.  Holls,  has  been  in  charge  of  the  congregation  ever  since  1851 ; 
he  has  seen  it  grow  and  prosper,  numbering  now  about  400  souls. 
1  he  wooden  edifice  of  1849  made  room  for  a  splendid  church  build- 
ing of  brick,  erected  in  1871,  at  a  cost  of  over  $4000,  including  par- 
sonage and  school-room.  The  church  building  proper  will  com- 
fortably seat  300  persons ;  has  a  bell-tower,  aud  is  provided  with  a 
fine  organ.  The  parish-school,  under  the  control  of  the  pastor,  is 
conducted  at  present  by  a  competent  teacher,  G.  Seboldt,  and 
attended  by  about  45  pupils. 

The  congregation  has  another  church  building,  in  township  10, 
1  north,  erected  in  1845,  under  management  of  the  Rev.  Schiefer- 
decker. It  is  now,  and  has  been  since  1851,  under  the  charge  of 
Rev.  F.  W.  Holls. 


THE  GERMAN  FREE  PROTESTANT  ST.  PAUL'S  CON- 
GREGATION, OF  BELLEVILLE. 


BY   FERDINAND   FLEISCHER. 


Proceeding  from  former  organization,  was  establis-hed  in  1859. 
The  landed  property,  100x150  feet,  is  situated  on  the  corner  of 
Richland  and  2d  North  streets,  bearing  the  church  building,  the 
old  parsonage,  and  the  new  parsonage,  with  Sunday-school  room. 

Of  the  former  preachers  and  their  career  of  life,  nothing  is 
known  to  the  undersigned,  present  incumbent  of  the  parsonage, 
since  May,  1871. 

Their  names  are,  1.  Jacob  Balthasar  Hoppe,  left  the  parsonage 

in  July,  1859 ;  died  5th  of  December,  1861.     2.  Klingsohr, 

left  January,  1862,  aud  died  about  1876.  3.  Edward  Graf,  left 
January,  1866,  and  died  about  1877.  4.  J.  C.  Mosebach,  left  May, 

1871. 

Presidents  of  the  board  of  the  congregation  have  been  the  follow- 
ing citizens  of  Belleville:  Philip  Rodenmayer,  John  Rodenmayer, 
Andreas  Kissel,  and  Wilhelm  Friedrich,  the  present  one  since 
several  years.    The  membership  amounts  to  about  200  voters. 

The  new  parsonage  was  erected  in  1877,  at  the  expense  of  $3,300, 
paid  ofi",  by  instalments,  out  of  the  resources  of  the  congregation. 


182 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Also  an  organ  for  the  church  has  been  acquired  at  the  cost  of 
$1200,  and  paid  for  in  full. 

Connected  with  the  congregation  are: 

1.  A  Sunday-school,"  superintended  by  the  preacher,  a  number  of 
young  ladies  assisting.     Scholarship,  about  100. 

2.  A  ladies'  association  of  about  100  members,  indefatigable  and 
very  successful  in  supporting  the  congregation. 

3.  An  association  for  mutual  life  insurance,  about  200  members. 


THE  RE-ORGANIZED  CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  OF 
LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

BY   JOSEPH   E.   BETTS. 

William  Anderson  and  Henry  Curedon,  appointed  at  a  special 
council,  by  the  officers  of  said  church,  held  at  Nauvoo,  Hancock 
county,  Illinois,  September  12, 1863,  arrived  in  St.  Louis,  January, 
1864.  They  commenced  setting  forth  the  claims  of  the  Re-organ- 
ized Church,  and  soon  found  some  to  receive  them  and  endorse 
their  teaching. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  a  Branch  with  eighteen  members  was 
organized  ;  they  then  came  over  the  river  and  commenced  preach- 
ing in  St.  Clair  county  at  Illinoistown,  and  at  Caseyville  and 
Chester  ;  they  reported  their  labors  at  the  annual  conference. 

April  6th,  1864,  a  Branch  was  organized  at  Caseyville  and 
Illinoistown.  June  11th,  the  Caseyville  Branch  numbered  thirteen 
members.  In  July  a  Branch  was  organized  at  Carbondale  of  ten 
members,  and  through  the  preaching  of  the  representatives  the 
Branches  continued  to  increase  in  membership. 

In  December,  1866,  a  Branch  was  organized  at  Alma  mine  with 
nine  members.  At  the  above  date  the  Carbondale  Branch  num- 
bered twenty-five ;  the  Caseyville  Branch  numbered  fifteen.  On 
March  10th,  1867,  a  Branch  was  organized  in  East  St.  Louis  with 
nine  members.  A  Branch  organized  at  Newpitsbourge  reported,  at 
the  above  date,  thirteen  members. 

December  14th,  1873,  the  Alma  mine  Branch  reported  thirty-two 
members.  A  Branch  organized  at  Beeb's  Station  reported  twelve 
members.  Also  a  Branch  at  West  Belleville,  at  the  above  date, 
reported  forty  members. 

April  4th,  1880,  the  Caseyville  Branch  reported  forty  members. 
The  Alma  Branch  reported  fifty-six  members.  The  Belleville 
Branch  reported  sixty  members.  The  total  membership  of  the 
Church  of  St.  Clair  county  in  January  2d,  1881,  was  one  hundred 
and  fifty-eight. 

This  church  does  not  believe  in  Brigham  Young  being  a  prophet, 
nor  in  the  doctrines  he  taught,  but  believe  that  old  Joseph  Smith, 
the  martyr,  was  a  true  prophet  of  God,  and  that  his  son  Joseph  is 
his  legal  successor,  and  have  adopted  the  same  code  of  discipline, 
both  moral  and  spiritual. 

The  above  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  church  in  this  county. 


THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 

This  organization  numbers  but  few  members  in  St.  Clair  county, 
there  being  but  one  congregation  within  her  limits     This  is  located 


in  the  town  of  Mascoutah,  and  was  organized  chiefly  through  the 
instrumentality  of  Elder  W.  A.  Manville.  Mrs.  Schwisser  was  for 
years  the  sole  representative  of  the  cause  in  Mascoutah.  She  was 
a  faithful,  zealous  Christian,  and  when  steps  were  taken  to  hold  a 
series  of  protracted  meetings  by  Elders  Mulkey  and  Bryant,  she 
hailed  their  advent  gladly.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the 
Methodist  Church.  These  were  followed  up  by  meetings  in  a  Grove, 
("  God's  first  temple  "),  near  the  town ;  considerable  interest  was 
awakened,  and  an  organization  was  effected  by  choosing  Elders 
Bridges  and  Manville,  as  elders,  and  Absalom  P.  Free,  as  clerk. 
In  all  there  were  twelve  members.  Believing  it  the  most  available 
point,  they  erected  a  house  of  worship  at  Reutchler's  Station, 
which  through  financial  embarrassments  they  subsequently  lost. 
The  organization  was  made  May  3d,  1874,  and  in  1874-5  they  built 
the  house  they  now  occupy  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  Mascoutah, 
at  a  cost  of  $12.30.  Elder  Manville,  in  his  earnest  zeal,  sacrificed 
a  farm  to  secure  the  erection  and  proper  fitting  up  of  the  house. 
The  present  membership  is  twenty-five.  The  congregation  has 
been  blessed  by  the  efforts  of  Elder  Isaac  Mulkey,  Elder  R.  L. 
McHatton,  Elder  Bryant,  and  others.  The  house  was  dedicated  to 
the  service  of  God,  by  Elder  J.  H.  Garrison,  editor  of  The  ChiisHan, 
October  24, 1875.  At  present  J.  H.  Brinkerhoff,  Principal  of  the 
Public  Schools  of  Lebanon,  and  W.  A.  Manville,  are  elders.  A 
Sunday-school,  in  connection  with  the  church,  is  well  kept  up 
under  the  superintendence  of  Charles  Lively.  Few  congregations 
of  any  order  can  point  to  nobler  spirits  than  W,  A.  Manville ;  few 
men  have  the  cause  of  Christianity  more  at  heart  than  he  ;  fewer 
yet  have  sacrificed  so  much  in  behalf  of  the  cause.  A  faithful 
pastor,  a  diligent  worker,  he  is  respected  by  all  men. 


ST.  LUKE'S  PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OF 
BELLEVILLE.* 

The  Parish  of  St.  Luke  is  under  the  spiritual  authority  of  the 
Right  Rev.  George  F.  Seymour,  Bishop  of  Springfield,  and  the 
application  to  him  for  its  establishment  bears  the  date  of  March 
24,  1880,  and  is  subscribed  to  by  the  following  names: — A.  B. 
Russell,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Russell,  Mrs.  Jane  C.  Snyder,  Thomas 
Ibbotson,  Mrs.  Lucy  M.  Ibbotson,  Mrs.  Isabella  M;  Codye,  Miss 
Mary  A.  Park,  Mrs.  Sarah  Henkemeyer,  Mrs.  Catharine  Campbell, 
Mrs.  Collie  McCuUough,  Mi-s.  Mary  E.  Gunn,  Dr.  A.  B.  Gunn,  S. 
H.  Ingham,  Mrs.  Caroline  Ingham,  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Monk,  Mrs.  M. 
C.  Mullen,  Mrs.  Fannie  I.  Schember,  Miss  Marie  Challenor,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Challenor,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Niles,  Miss  Agnes  A.  Hallam, 
Dr.  J.  G.  Hallam,  Henry  Davis,  Mrs.  Marie  E.  Davis. 

This  parish  is  yet  young,  but  having  been  established  with  a 
goodly  number  of  zealous  Christian  workers,  it  is  sure  to  grow  and 
prosper. 

The  parish  is  under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Frank  Clendenin. 
Alexander  B.  Russell  is  senior  warden,  and  Henry  Davis,  junior 
warden. 

*  Data  furnished  by  Bev.  Frank  Clendenin. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIIi  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


183 


THE  CITY  OF  BELLEVILLE. 


I  >Ba  ■ij-^-g>-6i»ii<  ■ 


JHE  site  of  Belleville  was  selected  as  the  county 
seat  of  St.  Clair  county  in  the  year  1814.  As 
the  American  settlers  on  the  highlands  east  of 
the  American  Bottom  began  to  outnumber  the 
old  French  residents  along  the  Mississippi,  the 
idea  was  entertained  of  removing  the  county 
tt  -«««gm5«=sw  s^*t  to  ^  more  eligible  and  central  location 
K         >wr  than  the  village  of  Cahokia.     This  question  was 

one  of  the  issues  which  entered  into  the  election  of  members  of  the 
legislature  in  1813.  In  December,  1813,  the  legislature,  in  session  at 
Kaskaskia,  appointed  John  Hay,  James  Lemen,  Isaac  Enochs,  Wil- 
liam Scott,  Jr.,  Nathan  Chambers,  Jacob  Short  and  Caldwell  Cains, 
commissioners  to  select  a  new  seat  of  justice.  The  commissioners  met 
at  the  dwelling-house  of  Col.  William  Whiteside  on  the  twenty-fifth 
of  January,  1814,  but,  '■'  by  reason  of  not  being  thoroughly  informed 
as  to  their  legal  duties,  and  that  no  proper  officer  was  present  to 
administer  the  necessary  oaths,"  they  adjourned  to  meet  at  Cahokia 
on  the  following  fourteenth  of  February.  At  the  latter  meeting  no 
decision  was  reached.  The  commissioners  desired  further  considera- 
tion of  the  subject,  and  a  personal  view  of  the  proposed  location. 
Their  next  meeting  was  at  the  house  of  Geo.  Blair,  on  the  site  of 
the  present  city  of  Belleville.  At  this  meeting  considerable  diver- 
sity of  opinion  was  shown,  and  they  adjourned  without  being  able 
to  come  to  any  conclusion.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  held  at  Blair's 
house  on  the  tenth  of  March,  1814,  all  the  commissioners  being 
present,  the  majority  fixed  the  county  seat  on  Blair's  land,  and  a 
site  for  the  county  buildings  was  marked  in  Blair's  corn-field,  about 
twenty-five  rods  north-east  of  his  dwelling-house.  Blair  agreed  to 
give  one  acre  of  land  for  a  public  square,  on  which  to  erect  the 
public  buildings,  and  to  relinquish  twenty-five  acres  adjoining,  of 
which  every  fifth  lot  of  land,  exclusive  of  the  streets,  he  gave  as  a 
donation  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  county  of  St.  Clair.  The 
report  was  signed  by  all  the  commissioners  except  William  Scott, 
Jr.,  and  Caldwell  Cains.  Blair  agreed  to  have  suitable  arrange- 
ments made  so  that  the  June  term  of  court,  1814,  could  be  held  at 
the  new  county  seat. 

Such  was  the  beginning  of  Belleville.  The  locality  was  previ- 
ously known  as  Compton  Hill.  It  is  said  that  the  name  of  Belle- 
ville, "  beautiful  city,"  was  given  to  the  place  by  George  Blair.  A 
survey  was  made  in  the  summer  of  1814,  by  John  Messenger.  This 
survey  was  completed  some  years  afterward  by  Gov.  Niniaa  Ed- 
wards, who  placed  it  on  record.  An  old  plat  is  now  on  file  made 
on  a  scale  of  four  chains  to  the  inch.  The  names  of  the  streets 
were  given  by  Mr.  Blair.    The  most  eastward  street  was  called 


Church  street,  and  westward  were  Jackson,  High,  Illinois,  Spring 
and  Hill  streets.  North  and  south  from  the  public  square  the 
streets  were  numbered  First,  Second  and  Third.  The  street  ex- 
tending east  and  west  through  the  public  square  was  called  St. 
Clair  street,  but  by  common  usage,  it  has  become  known  as  Main 
street.  This  and  Illinois  streets  were  laid  off  sixty-six  feet  wide, 
and  all  the  others  forty-nine  and  a  half  feet.  In  the  summer  of 
1814,  Etienne  Pensoneau  was  given  the  contract  to  build  a  court- 
house. This  was  an  unpainted  frame  building,  two  stories  high, 
and  stood  in  the  public  square  east  of  the  site  of  the  National  He. 
tel,  and  north  of  the  present  court-house.  The  court  room  occupied 
the  whole  lower  floor,  and  in  the  upper  story  were  the  clerk's  of- 
fices and  jury  rooms.  The  records  show  that  for  hauling  to  Belle- 
ville the  benches,  seats  and  tables,  from  the  old  court-house,  at 
Cahokia,  Mr.  Blair  was  paid  six  dollars.  A  new  brick  court-house 
was  begun  in  the  year  1829,  and  finished  in  1831.  It  stood  in  the 
public  square  north-east  of  the  old  building.  This  in  turn  gave 
place  to  the  present  court-house,  which  was  erected  about  1859. 
The  first  jail,  of  which  a  man  named  Henry  Sharp  was  the  archi- 
tect, was  built  of  logs,  and  stood  in  the  public  square,  about  one 
hundred  feet  south-east  of  the  site  of  Hinckley's  bank.  The  second 
jail  was  a  two  story  brick  building  on  Illinois  street,  east  of  the  old 
log  jail.  The  third  jail  was  built  on  Illinois  street,  above  First 
North  street,  and  the  building  is  still  standing.  It  was  used  for 
the  confinement  of  prisoners  till  the  erection  of  the  present 
jail. 

George  Blair,  the  original  proprietor  of  the  town,  was  the  pioneer 
citizen  of  Belleville.  His  dwelling  was  the  first  erected  in  the 
town.  For  several  years  he  kept  a  hotel.  Gov.  John  Reynolds 
says  of  him,  that  he  was  a  man  of  no  extraordinary  talents,  and  that 
his  name  was  magnified  into  some  fame  and  notoriety  simply  from 
the  fact  that  he  owned  the  land  on  which  the  city  of  Belleville  was 
built.    He  says : 

"  The  first  time  I  saw  Mr.  Blair  was  in  the  fall  of  1806,  and  I 
was  well  acquainted  with  him  from  that  time  until  his  death.  He 
then  resided  in  a  log  cabin,  covered  with  split  boards  and  weight 
poles,  and  occupied  a  point  just  north  of  Hinckley's  mill.  This 
log  cabin  and  this  man  were  somewhat  similar  in  their  humble  po- 
sition at  this  time,  in  1806,  and  were  the  primitive  specimens  of  the 
men  and  houses  that  then  appeared  in  Belleville.  Mr.  Blair  loca- 
ted at  this  place  to  enjoy  the  fine  spring  water  that  at  this  time  is 
used  in  Mr.  Hinckley's  steam  mill.  In  1814  he  was  a  man  of  mid- 
dle size  and  medium  age,  and  possessed  nothing  attractive  about 
him.    He  was  not  wealthy  at  the  time ;  but  he  had  purchased  two 


184 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


militia  rights  of  one  hundred  acres  each,  and  located  them  on  the 
land  whereon  Belleville  is  built.  He  had  a  small  farm,  extendiog 
from  his  log  cabin  to  "about  the  north  side  of  the  public  square, 
and  it  was  not  well  cultivated.  Mr.  Blair,  like  many  other  persons, 
had  ^  natural  and  inborn  hatred  to  work,  and  scarcely  ever  per- 
mitted^ his  peace  of  mind  to  be  disturbed  by  any  kind  of  labor 
whatever.  He  immigrated  with  his  father  to  Illinois  in  1796,  and 
had  not  the  means  of  any,  or  much,  education.  He  was  no  scholar, 
but  supposed  he  was,  and  he  had  the  imprudence  on  all  occasions, 
in  and  out  of  order,  to  use  words  of  wondrous  length  and  mostly 
inapplicable.  I  was  always  a  guest  of  Mr.  Blair's  hotel  when  there 
was  no  other ;  and  I  can  testify  that  the  landlord  was  blessed  with 
a  good  nature  and  a  'benevolent  spirit,  but  '  mine  hostess '  was 
pretty  much  the  reverse  of  her  husband,  as  the  truth  of  history 
will  not  permit  me  to  call  him  '  her  lord  and  master.'  " 

West  of  Blair,  his  nearest  neighbor  was  Henry  Miller.  In  1806, 
William  Phillips  settled  in  what  is  now  South  Belleville,  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  Reuss'  mill. 

With  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  John  Hay  came  to  Belle- 
ville, though  his  family  still,  for  some  years,  continued  to  reside  at 
Cahokia.  He  was  the  son  of  Major  Hay,  the  English  Governor  of 
Upper  Canada.  He  had  received  a  liberal  education,  was  indus- 
trious, and  on  his  settlement  at  Cahokia,  was  chosen  to  all  the  offi- 
ces that  required  talents,  writing  and  good  penmanship.  A  will  or  con- 
tract never  carried  with  it  quite  so  undisputed  an  authority  as  when 
in  his  handwriting.  He  filled  at  difierent  times  the  positions  of 
circuit  clerk,  county  clerk,  recorder,  probate  judge,  notary  public 
and  commissioner  of  deeds.  He  returned  to  his  home  at  Cahokia 
every  Saturday  evening,  but  was  promptly  at  his  post  on  Monday 
morning  to  begin  the  duties  of  the  week.  After  some  years  he  re- 
moved his  family  to  Belleville,  where  he  died  in  1843.  In  1810 
the  first  mill  was  built  at  Belleville,  by  Elijah  Chapman.  This  was 
a  water  mill,  and  stood  on  the  western  side  of  Richland  creek,  not 
far  above  the  bridge,  on  the  road  leading  to  Centerville.  It  was 
subsequently  purchased  by  Etienne  Pensoneau,  but  ceased  running 
for  lack  of  water.  In  the  year  1814,  the  first  store  was  opened  in 
Belleville,  near  Chapman's  mill,  by  Joseph  Kerr.  He  was  a  brother 
of  Matthew  Kerr,  of  St.  Louis,  from  whom  he  obtained  his  stock 
of  goods.  Among  the  other  early  merchants  of  Belleville  were 
Messrs.  Lindell,  Ringgold,  Wilkinson  and  Pensoneau. 

In  the  year  1815,  Reuben  Anderson  moved  from  Cahokia  and 
settled  in  Belleville.  He  lived  in  a  small  log  cabin  on  Illinois 
street.  He  afterward  opened  a  hotel,  was  soon  elected  constable, 
and  likewise  served  as  deputy  sheriflT.  He  was  agreeable  and  so- 
cial in  manner,  but  too  fond  of  gay  and  mirthful  company.  Among 
the  most  noted  of  the  early  citizens  of  Bellville  was  James  Tanne- 
hill  He  was  a  wagon  maker  by  trade.  He  became  a  resident  of 
Belleville  in  1817.  He  built  a  large  house  on  the  south  side  of 
Main  street,  adjoining  the  public  square  on  the  west,  where  now 
stands  the  National  Hotel.  This  house,  when  built,  was  the  largest 
in  town.  It  was  constructed  of  frame  work  and  hewn  logs,  the  logs 
placed  above  the  frame  work.  The  main  building  was  two  stories 
high,  but  additions  and  sub-additions  were  made  to  it,  until  the 
whole  structure,  as  Gov.  Reynolds  remarks,  looked  like  a  French 
village.  Here  Tannehill  kept  a  hotel,  which,  in  those  early  days, 
was  famous.  It  was  probably  the  largest  hotel  in  southern  Illinois. 
The  building  was  standing  for  about  forty  years,  till  at  last  the  Na- 
tional Hotel  was  built  on  the  site.  Here,  at  difierent  times,  many 
prominent  men  were  entertained,  and  many  stirring  scenes  were 
witnessed.  Tannehill  was  a  kind  and  attentive  landlord,  and  was 
anxious  to  afl!brd  his  guests  any  accommodation  in  his  power.  He 
was  not  a  good  business  man,  his  guests  paid  their  bills  only  when 


it  suited  their  conveniencB,  and  though  he  and  his  family  labared 
■  hard,  and  he,  at  the  sams  timj,  carried  on  his  trade,  he  could  ac- 
cumulate no  money,  but  kept  about  even  with  the  world.  So  he 
disposed  of  the  hotel  to  Judge  Latham,  of  Edwardsville,  and  pur- 
chased a  half  section  of  land  on  the  High  prairie,  where  he  opened 
up  a  farm.  Tannehill  started  the  first  distillery  at  Belleville.  It 
stood  near  the  mill,  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  where  he  secured 
a  twelve-acre  tract  of  land,  covered  with  heavy  timber,  in  exchange 
for  an  old  horse,  valued  at  thirty-five  dollars.  Whiskey  had  been 
previously  distilled  in  the  county,  but  this  was  the  first  distillery  in 
which  steam  was  used. 

Instead  of  the  metal  pipes  now  in  use  the  steam  was  conveyed 
through  hollow  logs  bored  for  the  purpose.     The  entire  product  of 
the  distillery  wa3  onsumed  at  the  hotel.     It  was  no  rare   circrim- 
stance  on  public  occasions  to  empty  three  or  four  barrels  of  whis- 
key in  a  single  day.     The  whiskey  was  used  in  its  virgin  purity, 
brought  from  the  still  one  day  and  drank  the  next.     A  few  dried 
apples  roasted  brown  and  put  into  a  barrel  of  whiskey  gave  it  a 
very  rich  color.     By  subitituting  peaches  for  apples,  a  very  fair 
peach  brandy  was  said  to  be  made,  for  which  a  ready  sale  was  had. 
At  that  early  period  there  were  no  temperance  societies,  grain  of 
all  kinds  was  abundant,  and  in  consequence  whiskey  was  plentiful 
and  cheap,  and  its  use  on  all  occasions  was  free  and  universal. 
Tannehill's  distillery  burned   down  in   1830  or  1831.     Tannehill 
undertook  to  build  a  wind-mill  for  grinding  grain   on  his  farm  in 
High  prairie.     He  succeeded  in  getting  the  mill  to  run  but  was  un- 
able to  control  it,  for  the  want  of  a  regulator,  which,  it  seems,  he 
did  not  know  how  to,  construct.  The  want  of  this  regulator  resulted 
in  the   complete  failure  of  the  experiment,  and  the   destruction  of 
the  whole  fabric,  shortly  after  it   had  been  started.    The  mill  was 
so  constructed  that  the  wind  acted  upon  a  horizontal   shaft,  about 
thirty  feet  long,  into  which  long  arms  were  framed,  having  a  spiral 
inclination  around  the  shaft,  the  end  to  windward  being  small  in 
diameter,  and  increasing  as  it  approached  the  mill.     On  these  arms 
were  pinned,  with   wooden  pins,  half-inch  boards,  which  boards 
formed  the  wings  or  sails  of  the  mill ;  the  whole  when  finished,  re- 
presenting   the  twist   of  an     auger    more  than   ^anything  else. 
Gearing  attached  to   the  end  of  ths  shaft,  gave  motion  to  the 
burrs.     The  wind   had     the    greatest    power   when   applied    to 
the    outer   end    of    the  shaft.       When   completed,   the    neigh- 
bors were  all  in  ecstacies  about  the  prospect  of  having  such  a  mill 
in  their  vicinity.    But   sad  disappointment  soon   supervened.    A 
storm  came  on,  which  caused  the  sails  to  run  with  such  velocity  that 
the  runner  was  projected  some  sixty  or  seventy  feet,  where  it  was 
embedded  and  buried  in  the  soil,  and  there  long  afterwards  it  re- 
mained.    When  this  occurred  the  shaft  had  gained  such  momentum 
that,  though  thrown  out  of  his  bearings,  it  continued  to  run  with 
great  speed,  tearing  down  everything  before  it,  until  it  and  all  the 
machinery  attached  was  broken  to  pieces. 

In  1828  he  purchased  from  the  heirs  of  Etienne  Pensoneau  for 
the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  the  old  mill  and  a 
tract  of  fifty  acres  of  land  lying  west  of  Race  street  and  adjoining 
West  Belleville.  Harrison's,  Breese's,  and  Kennedy's  additions  to 
the  city  are  embraced  in  this  tract  as  well  as  much  other  valuable 
property.  Tannehill  erected  new  dams  and  made  other  additions 
and  improvements,  but  the  mill  and  distillery  were  scarcely  more 
successful  in  bringing  him  in  money  than  the  hotel  had  been.  In 
1832  he  sold  the  mill  and  a  greater  part  of  the  land  to  Thomas 
Harrison  for  eight  hundred  dollars.  Shortly  afterward  he  exchanged 
the  hotel  and  other  property  in  Belleville  for  a  farm  in  the  Ameri- 
can Bottom,  to  which  he  moved  and  where  he  subsequently  died.- 
His  farm  in  the  High  prairie  he  sold  to  John  and  Edward  Tate  for 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


185 


a  small  sum.  Among  his  other  pursuits  he  filled  the  positions  of 
justice  of  the  peace  and  jailor.  He  possessed  great  skill  in  the  use 
of  the  divining  rod,  in  discovering  springs  and  the  general  locality 
of  water — so  it  was  said.  He  acquired  a  great  reputation  in  this 
art,  and  most  folks  had  unlimited  faith  in  his  skill.  As  commonly 
used,  the  divining  rod  is  a  forked,  slender  switch  of  hazel,  or  other 
elastic  wood.  One  branch  of  the  fork  was  taken  in  each  hand,  the 
two  ends  being  held  pointing  downward.  In  this  way  the  operator 
passed  the  rod  over  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  by  the  particu- 
lar inclination  of  the  points  of  the  rod,  decided  whether  or  not, 
and  where  water  might  be  found,  and,  oracle-like,  gave  a  vague 
hint  as  to  the  probable  depth  below  the  surface,  the  water  would  be 
found.  It  was  a  comparatively  easy  matter  with  our  credulous 
and  somewhat  superstitious  pioneers  to  establish  and  confirm  the 
faith  of  many  of  them  in  the  art  of  using  the  divining  rod.  At 
one  time  he  engaged  in  the  business  of  mining  lead  in  Missouri, 
where  he  employed  a  brother  oi  Robert  Higgins,  named  Ichabod, 
to  sink  a  shaft,  but,  like  the  windmill,  his  mining  operations  did 
not  prove  a  success  and  therefore  were  abandoned.  Mr.  Tannehill 
was,  in  stature,  very  large.  He  stood  about  six  feet  four  inches 
high,  and  was  stoutly  built.  His  acquired  abilities  were  somewhat 
limited,  but  he  was  a  kind-hearted,  moral  and  good-natured  man- 
He  was  a  South  Carolinian  by  birth  and  a  zealous  advocate  for 
negro  slavery. 

He  was  inconstant  and  fickle  in  business  matters,  and  accumu- 
lated but  little  of  this  world's  goods.  Though  he  had  owned  much 
valuable  property  in  the  neighborhood  of  Belleville  he  died  poor. 

After  Mr.  Tannehill  left  the  hotel  Judge  Tathara  had  it  kept  by 
Mr.  Garrison  and  wife.  Mr.  Tannehill  afterward  regained  posses- 
sion and  kept  a  hotel  for  several  years.  It  then  passed  into  the 
hands  of  William  Orr,  who  died  there  of  the  cholera.  After  him 
Mr.  Maus  became  proprietor  who  kept  a  hotel  in  the  old  building 
till  he  erected  a  new  and  more  spacious  edifice.  Another  hotel  was 
built  on  Main  street  a  short  distance  east  of  High  street,  in  the 
year  1815,  by  Daniel  Wise,  which,  when  erected,  was  considered 
quite  a  large  building.  At  one  time  Mr.  Bottsford  was  the  land- 
lord and  gave  general  satisfaction  to  the  public.  From  Mr.  Wise 
the  building  passed  into  the  hands  of  an  Englishman  named  Robi- 
son.  This  gentleman  had  no  family.  He  was  a  warm  and  zealous 
Roman  Catholic,  and  gave  his  property  to  that  church.  Gov. 
Reynolds  calls  attention  to  the  different  passions  and  motives  which 
governed  Tatham  and  Robison.  He  says :  "  I  knew  them  well,  and 
can  testify  that  they  possessed  rather  better  than  ordinary  talent?. 
Each  was  well  educated.  Mr.  Robison  was  a  school  teacher  and 
discharged  his  duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  employers.  Tatham 
possessed  too  much  gallantry  for  his  landlady ;  that  would  lead  any 
man  to  ruin  and  death  if  persisted  in.  The  pure  and  holy  passions 
of  Mr.  Robison  chastened  his  heart,  and  elevated  his  existence  into 
elysian  fields  of  bliss  in  this  life,  with  a  well-founded  hope  of  a  seat 
at  the  right  hand  of  God." 

In  1815  Joseph  Kerr  built  a  log  house  at  the  corner  of  the  pub- 
lic square  and  Illinois  street,  on  the  spot  where  Jacob  Knoeble 
afterward  built  a  brick  hotel.  The  site  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Belleville  House.  It  was  one  of  the  conspicuous  buildings  of  the 
place,  and  remained  standing  till  1844. 

In  the  year  1817  Daniel  Murray  became  a  citizen  of  Belleville. 
He  emigrated  to  this  state  from  Baltimore.  He  had  a  large  and 
respectable  family,  which  made  quite  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
community.  He  built  a  house  on  the  lot  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  block  in  which  is  Hickley's  mill.  He  was  a  man  of  sound, 
solid  mind  and  exemplary  morals,  and  made  an  excellent  member 
of  society.    With  him  came  his  son,  John  Murray,  who  for  many 


years  was  a  useful  and  efficient  citizen  of  the  town,  and  who  at  dif- 
ferent times  held  various  offices  of  honor  and  responsibility. 

Etienne  Pensoneau,  who  purchased  Mr.  Blair's  interest  in  the 
town,  was  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  and  but  little  acquainted  with 
the  English  language.  He  possessed  some  wealth,  though  he  con- 
tributed only  in  a  small  degree  to  the  growth  and  advancement  of 
the  town.  He  had  a  small  store  of  dry  goods,  some  negro  slaves, 
the  mill  on  Richland  creek,  and  much  other  property,  but  seemed 
to  have  not  the  least  notion  that  the  improvement  of  the  city  would 
increase  his  wealth.  It  is  related  that  about  the  year  1816  an 
eastern  clergyman  named  Taylor  preached  in  the  court-house,  and 
in  the  course  of  his  sermon  observed,  referring  to  a  familiar 
portion  of  Scripture,  that  there  would  be  two  servants  in  a  mill, 
one  would  be  taken  and  the  other  left.  Pensoneau  was  ex- 
ceedingly irritable  anil  hasty.  This  expression  falling  from 
the  lips  of  an  abolition  preacher  put  him  in  a  flame.  As  soon 
as  the  minister  descended  from  the  pulpit  Pensoneau  rushed  at  him 
with  the  double  tree  of  a  wagon  to  demolish  him,  believing  that  it 
was  the  intention  of  the  preacher  to  take  one  of  his  slaves  at  the 
mill.     The  incident  created  much  merriment. 

The  early  settlers  in  Belleville  were  principally  from  Virginia 
and  other  Southern  States.  Among  the  families  of  Southern  origin 
who  settled  in  the  towQ  or  vicinity  at  an  early  period  were  those 
of  Mitchell,  West,  Dennis,  Gay,  Cohen,  Greaves,  Glasgow  and 
Heath.  Most  of  these  had  large  families  and  brought  with  them 
their  negro  slaves.  Their  right  to  hold  these  negroes  in  slavery 
was  hotly  contested  at  every  term  of  court  for  four  or  five  years, 
and  the  question  was  finally  settled  by  setting  the  negroes  free.  On 
account  of  this  some  of  the  leading  citizens  removed  to  St.  Louis 
James  Mitchell  was  appoiuted  justice  of  the  peace  in  1821,  and 
filled  that  oflSce  and.  that  of  postmaster  for  many  years.  John  H. 
Dennis  engaged  in  teaching,  and  for  a  long  number  of  years  the 
youth  of  the  city  received  from  him  their  principal  education.  His 
first  school  was  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  public  square,  and  he 
afterward  taught  where  Judge  Snyder's  residence  now  is.  About 
the  year  1820  several  brick  houses  were  built.  Gov.  Ninian  Ed- 
wards and  Robert  K.  McLaughlin  erected  one  fronting  on  Main 
street,  before  the  removal  of  the  former  to  Belleville.  In  1820 
Samuel  Crane  built  a  brick  residence  on  High  street;  a  carpenter 
named  Taft  built  another  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  new 
court-house,  and  S.  Hull  on  High  street,  south  of  Second  South 
street.  In  1818-19  mechanics  began  to  make  their  appearance 
and  prosecute  their  trades.  Messrs.  Smith  and  Small  carried  on 
the  blacksmith  business.  With  Mr.  Small  came  Conrad  Bornman, 
the  first  German  to  settle  in  Belleville.  He  was  then  recently  from 
Germany  and  could  scarcely  speak  the  English  language.  He 
abandoned  the  blacksmith  trade  and  learned  the  trade  of  making 
and  laying  brick.  By  prudent  industry  he  accumulated  wealth, 
and  his  probity  and  honesty  gave  him  high  standing  as  a  citizen. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Belleville  till  his  death,  in  1878. 

In  the  year  1819  the  town  of  Belleville  was  incorporated  and 
Daniel  Murray  was  its  first  president. 

The  town  of  Belleville  in  1819  or  1820,  according  to  the  recol- 
lection of  some  of  the  old  pioneer  citizens  still  living,  was  composed 
of  between  twenty  and  twenty-five  families  residing  within  the  pre- 
sent corporate  limits  of  Belleville  and  West  Belleville.  Several  of 
these  families  have  already  been  mentioned.  At  that  period  the 
old  house  of  George  Blair  on  Illinois  street  was  occupied  by  a  store 
which  was  carried  on  by  the  firm  of  Glasgow,  Porter  and  Nevin. 
The  only  other  store  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  public  square, 
where  now  stands  the  academy  of  music,  the  proprietor  of  which 
was  Robert  K.  McLaughlin.     Mr.  McLaughlin  was  a  lawyer  by 


186 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


profession,  and  emigrated  from  Kentucky.  From  law  he  turned 
Ivis  attention  to  the  mercantile  business.  After  a  residence  of  four 
years  in  Belleville  he  removed  to  Vandalia.  William  Mears  and 
Alphonso  C.  Stuart  were  lawyers  who  settled  at  Belleville  the  same 
year  with  Mr.  McLaughlin,  1816.  Stuart  lost  his  life  by  an  un- 
fortunate occurrtiice  to  which  reference  is  made  elsewhere.  Thomas 
Cohen,  who  was  elected  burgomaster  about  1820  and  who  afterward 
removed  to  St.  Louis  and  was  elected  mayor  of  that  city,  carried  on 
the  business  of  jewelry  and  silversmith  on  Illinois  street,  opposite 
Glasgow's  store.  The  house  which  he  occupied  as  a  residence  and 
workshop  is  still  standing  on  the  east  side  of  Illinois  street  about 
fifty  feet  north  of  Second  South  street.  It  was  originally  a  log 
building  ;  was  then  covered  with  clap  boards  by  George  Eipley, 
brother  to  William  Ripley,  whose  family  still  lives  south  of  Belle- 
ville ;  the  clap  boards  then  gave  way  to  weather-boarding.  Cohen 
was  a  man  of  active  mind,  dressed  handsomely,  and  wore  a  ruffled 
shirt  after  the  fashion  of  those  days.  Beside  the  Tannehill  tavern 
and  the  Robison  h(>te]  on  Main  street,  a  third  hotel  was  kept  by 
Reuben  Anderson,  on  Illinois  street,  in  the  first  building  north  of 
Glasgow's  store.  Beside  those  already  mentioned,  the  following 
families  lived  iu  Belleville  in  1819  and  1820:  William  Hook,  son 
in  law  of  James  Tannehill,  who  was  a  millwright  and  carpenter  by 
trade ;  Jacob  Maurer,  who  carried  on  a  blacksmith  shop ;  Lewis  W. 
Myers  who  came  to  Belleville  from  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky, 
and  was  a  hatter  by  occupation  ;  and  his  brother,  Jacob  Myers,  who 
had  married  a  sister  of  Robert  K.  McLaughlin,  and  who  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  A  man  named  Brigham  kept  a  grocery  in  the 
"  old  blue  house  "  so  called  because  plastered  on  the  outside  and 
painted  blue,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Belleville  House. 
John  H.  Gay  and  Richard  Chandler  were  early  residents  of  Belle- 
ville. Edmund  P.Wilkinson  was  one  of  the  first  justices  of  the 
peace.  One  of  the  leading  men  in  the  vicinity  was  Mayor  Wash- 
ington West,  who  lived  a  mile  and  a  quarter  south  of  town.  He 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1818  from  Botte- 
tourt  county,  Virginia. 

Among  the  celebrated  characters  connected  with  the  early 
history  of  the  town,  was  Zachariah  Stephenson,  who  was  renowned 
as  a  pugilist,  and  who  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  fighting  at  the 
drop  of  a  hat.  Saturday  was  observed  as  a  kind  of  holiday ;  the 
settlers  gathered  in  from  the  surrounding  country,  and  a  fight 
was  a  frequent  and  usual  Saturday  entertainment.  On  these  oc- 
casions Stephenson  was  in  his  element,  and  acted  as  master  of 
ceremonies.  He  would  take  the  crowd  out  doors,  form  a  ring, 
act  as  umpire,  and  see  that  the  combatants  had  fair  play.  When 
one  of  them  cried  "  Enough,"  Zach.  rushed  in  and  separated  the 
men,  and  brought  the  fight  to  a  close.  He  frequently  took  part 
in  these  conflicts,  as  principal,  and  on  one  of  these  occasions  had 
a  piece  bit  out  of  his  ear,  and  he  carried  the  mark  to  his  dying- 
day.  He  got  even,  however,  for  he  bit  off  the  nose  of  his  oppo- 
nent, Jennings  Gaskill.  This  fight  happened  at  the  corner  of  the 
public  square,  where  the  court-house  now  stands.  The  ofiicers  of 
the  law  never  thought  in  those  days  of  interfering  with  these 
proceedings.  These  fights  originated  from  trivial  causes,  and  after 
they  were  over,  the  participants  shook  hands  and  were  good 
friends  again,  seldom  harboring  any  ill-feeling  or  resentment. 

James  Affleck,  now  a  resident  of  Belleville,  has  resided  continu- 
ously in  the  town  since  1820.  He  came  to  St.  Clair  county  with 
his  parents  in  the  year  1817.  His  brother,  Robert  G.  Affleck,  was 
also  a  resident  of  Belleville  till  1866,  when  he  moved  to  Missouri. 
Mrs.  James  Mitchell,  who  is  now  living  in  Belleville,  became  a  resi. 
dent  of  the  town  in  December,  1819.  She  says,  at  that  time,  there 
were  only  two  houses  in  Belleville  with  a  shingle  roof.    Her  first 


husband,  David  Blackwell,  was  a  lawyer,  and  represented  St.  Clair 
county  in  the  legislature  a  number  of  terms.  He  was  a  strong 
anli-slavery  man,  and  for  a  time  published  a  paper  at  Vandalia, 
devoted  to  the  anti-slavery  cause.  Her  second  husband,  James 
Mitchell,  was  for  a  long  time  postmaster  at  Belleville. 

THE  STUAET-BENNETT   DUEL. 

In  February,  1819,  occurred  one  of  the  most  lamrntable  inci- 
dents in  the  history  of  Belleville — the  killing  of  Alphonso  C.  Stuart, 
in  a  sham  duel  with  Timothy  Bennett.  It  appears  that  a  horse  be- 
longing to  Bennett  was  accustomed  to  break  loose,  enter  the  neigh- 
bors' fields,  and  make  havoc  among  the  growing  corn  and  other 
crops.  A  field  of  Stuart's  was  a  frequent  object  of  these  visits,  and 
from  this  cause  an  ill-feeling  arose  between  the  two  men.  On  one 
occasion  a  man  in  Stuart's  employment  shot  the  horse  with  beans, 
which  greatly  excited  Bennett's  anger.  While  in  a  furious  pas- 
sion, Bennett  met  Jacob  Short  and  Nathan  Fike,  who  concluded  it 
would  be  sport  to  have  Bennett  challenge  Stuart,  and  then  have  a 
sham  duel  fought.  The  preliminaries  were  all  arranged  in  the  old 
Tannehill  hotel,  which  stood  on  the  corner  where  the  National 
Hotel  now  stands.  All  the  parties  to  the  afiair  understood  that  the 
rifles  were  to  be  loaded  with  powder  only.  It  is  said,  that  just  be- 
fore starting  to  the  ground  where  the  duel  was  to  be  fought,  Bennett 
stepped  into  an  alley  and  rammed  a  ball  down  his  rifle.  This  act 
was  witnessed  by  Miss  Tannehill  (subsequently  Mrs.  Rader),  whose 
testimony  afterward  in  the  trial  was  of  material  aid  in  securing 
Bennett's  conviction.  The  duel  was  fought  just  south  of  where  the 
City  Park  now  is.  Nathan  Fike  and  Jacob  Short  acted  as  seconds. 
When  all  had  been  prepared,  the  principals  were  placed  forty  yards 
apart  and  told  to  await  the  signal  to  fire.  Bennett  fired  before  the 
sign  was  given ;  his  aim  was  sure,  and  Stuart  fell,  shot  through  the 
heart,  and  died  instantly.  Stuart  had  not  discharged  his  rifle.  The 
affair  was  the  cause  of  great  excitement  and  consternation.  Bennett 
and  the  two  seconds,  Fike  and  Short,  were  arrested.  Bennett  was 
confined  in  the  county  jail,  which  was  built  of  logs.  At  the  spring 
term  of  the  circuit  court  all  three  were  indicted  for  murder.  Ben- 
nett, by  means  of  an  inch  auger,  bored  his  way  out  and  escaped 
before  the  trial.  Two  years  later  he  was  recaptured  ;  brought  to 
Belleville,  tried  at  a  special  term  of  the  circuit  court,  found  guilty, 
and  was  hanged  on  the  third  of  September,  1821,  in  an  old  field 
where  now  stands  the  town  of  West  Bellville,  in  the  presence  of  an 
immense  concourse  of  spectators.  Short  and  Fike,  after  lying  for 
a  time  in  jail,  were  brought  to  trial  and  acquitted.  The  trial  of 
Bennett  was  perhaps  the  most  celebrated  and  exciting  that  ever 
occurred  in  the  history  of  St  Clair  county.  John  Reynolds,  then 
chief  justice,  sat  upon  the  bench ;  Daniel  P.  Cook  was  the  prose- 
cuting attorney,  and  the  defence  was  conducted  by  Col.  Thomas  H. 
Benton.     The  duel  was  fought  on  the  8th  of  February,  1819. 

The  following  entries  concerning  this  celebrated  trial  appear  in 
the  circuit  court  record :  — 

Monday,  March  8th,  1819.— Members  present :  Hon.  John  Reynolds,  judge  j 
John  Hay,  sheriff;  William  A.  Beard,  clerk. 

Members  of  Grand  Inquest.— Benjamin  Watts,  foreman ;  Solomon  Teeter, 
Eobert  Abernathy,  Jacob  Ogle,  Jr.,  James  Marney,  William  Padfield,  Fran- 
cis Swan  Robert  Lemen,  Henry  Hutton,  Joshua  Oglesby,  Marshal  Duncan, 
Curtis  Moore,  George  Prickett,  Jos.  Penn,  William  Bridges,  John  Leach, 
David  Everet,  Theophilus  M.  Nichols,  John  Hendricks,  James  Walker,  Adam 
Caatleberry,  William  T.  Kincade,  Jeremiah  Hand— 23,  who  all  appeared  and 
received  their  charge,  and  retired  to  consult  of  presentments. 

Persons  sworn  to  go  before  the  Grand  .Jury.— Reuben  Anderson,  James 
Park,  James  Kincade,  James  Read,  Daniel  Million,  Benjamin  Million,  Peter 
Sprinkle,  Rachel  Tannehill. 

Nicholas  Horner  excused  from  serving  on  the  traverse  jury. 


mSTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


187 


Tlie  grand  jurors  returned  from  their  retirement,  and  presented  a  bill  of  in- 
dictment against  Timothy  Bennett,  Jacob  .Short,  and  Nathan  Fike,  for 
murder. 

And  thereupon,  by  order  of  the  court,  the  clerk  issued  his  pr>ces3  directei 
to  the  HherifF  of  the  county,  to  bring  forth  the  body  of  the  said  Timothy  Ben- 
nett; and  thereupon  the  sheriff  returns :  ''The  within  named  Timothy  Ben- 
"nett  has  made  his  escape  by  breaking  the  Jail  of  St.  Clair  county,  therefore 
"  I  cannot  bring  his  body  in  the  court  as  I  am  commanded. 

"Wm.  a.  Beard,  Sheriff  of  St.  Clair  county." 

Ordered  that  the  court  adjourn  sit>e  die. 

[Signed.]  John  Reynolds. 

The  case  was  called  again  at  the  naxt  term,  Tuesday,  June  15.  1819,  and 
the  recognizances  of  James  and  Richel  Tannehill,  witnesses,  taken  in  the 
sum  of  $100  each  for  their  appearance  on  the  following  day  to  testify. 

Wednesday,  June  16. — The  case  against  Jacob  Short  and  Nathan  Fike 
called. 

And  thereupon  comes  as  well  the  said  defendants,  to  wit :  Jacob  Short  and 
Nathan  Fike.  As  the  attorney-general  and  the  said  defen  1  ints  sny,  they  are 
not  guilty  in  manner  and  form  as  in  the  indictment  against  them  is  alleged, 
and  of  this  they  put  themselves  upon  the  country,  and  the  attorney-general 
doth  the  like.  Therefore  it  is  commanded  that  a  jury  of  twelve  good  and 
lawful  men  who  neither  is.  etc.,  because,  etc.,  and  the  Jurors  of  the  jury  of 
which  mention  is  within  made,  being  called,  to  wit:  Isaac  Clark,  Eli  Hart, 
Isaac  Bairey,  D.miel  Phillips,  Henry  Stout,  Patrick  Johu«ou,  Divid  Coons. 
Andrew  Maurer,  Peter  Hill,  William  McNeal,  Brice  Virtjin  and  John  C  it- 
ton,  who  being  duly  elected,  tried  and  swore  the  truth  of  and  upon  the  pre- 
mises to  speak. 

Or.lered  that  the  court  adjourn  to  tomorrow  mornin»,  8  o'clock. 

Thursday,  June  17,  1819. — Trial  had  and  the  following  order  entered  up  : 

Upon  their  oaths  do  say  that  the  said  defendants  are  not  guilty  in  manner 
and  form  as  in  the  said  indictment  against  them  is  alleged  :  therefore  it  is 
considered  by  the  court  that  the  said  defendants  be  acquitted  and  discharged 
of  the  charge  aforesaid,  and  go  thereof  without  a  day,  etc. 

This  acquitted  Short  and  Fike  of  the  charge  against  them.  The 
next  proceedings  were  had  after  Bennett  was  retaken,  an  1  are  as 
follows : 

State  op  Illinois.  \ss. 

.  At  a  special  circuit  court  called  and  held  at  the  court-house  in  Balleville 
for  and  within  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  on  Thursday,  the  twenty-sixth  day  of 
July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  eighteen  hundred  and  twenty-one,  were 
pre'sint : 

The  Hon.  John  Reynolds,  justice,  William  A.  Beard,  Esq.,  sheriff,  John 
Hay,  clerk. 

Names  of  Grand  Inquest. 

William  Gla-sgow,  foreman;  James  Cohen,  David  Sparks,  John  Eider, 
Daniel  Burkey,  William  L.  Whiteside,  James  Marney,  Ho.sea  Risrg,  .Jacob 
Whiteside,  Richard  W.  Chandler,  Daniel  Phillips,  John  Thomas,  James 
Pulliam,  Archibald  Allen,  Jo^^eph  Wilbank^,  Hanry  Stout,  Daniel  Million, 
John  Leach,  Tilghman  West,  Thomas  Gillham,  George  Harris,  John  Scott 
and  John  Glass,  who  all  appeared  and  were  sworn. 

Thereupon  the  grand  jury  having  received  their  charge  from  the  bench, 
retired  to  consider  of  presentments. 

The  grand  jury  returned  from  their  retirement  and  presented  the  following 
bill  of  indictment : 

THE  PEOPLE  1 

vs.  V  Indictment  for  Murder. 

TIMOTHY  BENNETT.  J 

Thereupon  it  was  ordered  that  process  i.ssue  to  the  sheriff  of  St.  Clair 
county  commanding  him  that  he  have  the  body  of  Timothy  Bennett,  a 
prisoner  now  in  the  gaol  of  the  county  aforesaid  under  safe  and  secure  con- 
duct before  the  court  here  immediately  to  an.swer  an  indictment  against  him 
for  murder. 

The  sheriff  of  St.  Clair  county,  agreeable  to  process  to  him  directed  com- 
manding him  to  have  the  body  of  Timothy  Bjnnett,  a  prisoner  confined  in  the 
gaol  of  the  county  aforesaid,  brings  into  court  here  the  said  Timothy  Bennett 
accordingly,  and  beipg  demanded  of  him  whether  he  is  guilty  of  the  felony 
aforesaid,  or  not  guilty,  says  he  is  not  guilty  thereof,  and  for  his  trial  puts 
himself  upon  God  and  his  country,  and  the  a'. toiney  general  in  behalf  of  the 
I)eople  of  the  state  of  Illinois  likewise. 


And  thereupon  it  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  a  Jury  come  instanter,  wlio 
neither  is,  etc.,  as  well,  etc,  and  the  Jurors  of  the  Jury  of  which  mention  is 
within  made,  being  called,  to  wit :  Noah  Matheny,  John  A.  Mauzy,  James 
Simmons,  Burill  Hill,  John  Cotton — 

Ordered  that  the  court  adjourn  until  to  morrow  morning,  9  o'clock. 

Friday  the  2Tth  of  July,  1820.— Court  opened  according  to  adjournment. 
Present  as  before.  James  C  Work,  George  W.  Jack,  Joel  R  Small,  Elijah 
Davis,  James  Fox  and  Zachariah  Stephenson,  and  who  being  duly  elected, 
tried  and  sworn  the  truth  to  speak  of  and  upon  the  premises,  and  having 
heard  the  evidence. 

Ordered  that  the  court  adjourn  to  to  morrow  morning,  7  o'clock. 

Saturday,  2Sth  July,  1821. — Court  optned  according  to  adjournment.  Pre- 
sent as  before. 

The  jury  here  returned  their  verdict : 

Upon  their  oaths  do  say  that  Timothy  Bennett  is  guilty  of  the  felony 
aforesaid  in  manner  and  form  as  in  the  indictment  against  him  is  alleged, 
and  it  being  demanded  of  him  if  anything  for  himself  he  had  or  knew  to  say 
why  the  court  have  to  Judgment  and  execution  against  him  of  and  upon  the 
premises  should  not  proceed,  lie  said  he  had  nothing  but  what  he  had  before 
said.  Thereupon  it  is  considered  by  the  court  that  he  be  hanged  by  the 
neck  until  he  be  dead,  and  that  the  sheriff'  of  this  county  do  cause  execution 
of  this  judgment  to  be  done  and  performed  upon  him  the  said  Timothy  Ben- 
nett, on  Monday  the  third  day  of  September  next,  between  the  hours  often  in 
the  forenoon  and  four  in  the  afternoon,  at  or  near  the  town  of  Belleville. 

PROGRESS   OP   BELLEVILLE. 

For  several  years  subsequent  to  1818,  Belleville  was  stationary 
in  its  growth.  Business  suffered,  the  population  of  the  town  re- 
ceived no  new  accessions,  and  many  of  the  former  residents  moved 
away.  This  period  of  hard  times  affected  not  only  Belleville,  but 
all  the  settlements  in  Illinois,  and  was  an  incident  of  the  financial 
crisis  which  was  brought  on  the  country  by  the  war  with  England. 
Weeds  sprouted  in  the  streets  and  public  square.  Corn  sold  as  low 
as  seven  cents  a  bushel,  and  good  cows  at  five  dollars.  Blair,  dis- 
couraged with  the  prospect,  sold  his  interests  in  the  town  to  Etienne 
Pensoneau.  Pensoneau  was  conservative  and  unprogressive,  and 
contributed  little  to  the  advancement  of  the  town.  This  period  of 
stagnation  continued  till  about  the  year  1828.  Pensoneau  sold  his 
property  in  Belleville  to  Gov.  Ninian  Edwards,  then  resident  of 
Edwardsville,  and  from  this  incident  more  than  any  other,  may  be 
dated  the  staady  and  prosperous  growth  of  Belleville.  Reynolds 
says  that  no  individual  in  Illinois  was  as  well  calculated  to  start  a 
town  into  existence  as  Gov.  Edwards.  "  He  was  then  a  private  citi- 
zen, and  possessed  wealth  and  talents,  and  a  becoming  ambition  to 
increase  his  fortune.  He  permitted  no  honorable  occasion  to  escape 
where  he  could  make  money.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  talents,  rather 
on  the  brilliant  and  showy  order,  and  was  an  accomplished  orator, 
and  also  a  classical  scholar.  He  never  abandoned  his  literary 
studies  till  the  hour  of  his  death.  Possessing  a  fine  library,  he 
used  his  books  not  for  show  in  a  book  case,  but  for  the  intrinsic 
merits  of  the  works.  He  was  active  and  enterprising  in  politics, 
and  had  many  bitter  enemies,  as  all  great  men  have.  The  men 
opposed  to  Gov-  Edwards  in  politics  never  gave  him  the  credit  for 
talents  and  merit  that  he  in  my  opinion  deserved."  While  still  a 
resident  of  Edwardsville,  he  established  a  store  in  Belleville,  with  a 
fine  stock  of  goods,  James  Mitchell  acting  as  his  agent.  On  his 
removal  to  Belleville  a  year  or  two  afterwards,  he  took  personal 
charge  of  the  store,  and  Mr.  Mitchell  opened  another  on  his  own 
account.  Gov.  Edwards  put  forth  every  effort  to  promote  the 
growth  of  the  town.  To  mechanics  and  others  he  offered  liberal 
inducements  by  selling  them  building  lots  at  merely  nominal  prices, 
and  allowing  them  to  make  their  own  terms  as  to  time  of  payment. 
He  advertised  the  town  far  and  near,  and  as  a  consequence  immi- 
gration began  to  pour  in,  both  from  the  older  states  and  from  Eu- 
rope..   Thomas  Harrison  bought  an  old  tread-mill  on  High  street, 


188 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


and  began  the  manufacture  of  flour,  prosecuting  the  business  with 
a  sound  practical  judgment,  which  was  a  great  benefit  both  to  the 
town  aud  the  surrounding  country.  Then  coal  was  discovered,  and 
attention  drawn  to  the  fact  that  Belleville  possessed  rare  advan- 
tages for  the  manufacturing  business.  About  the  year  1829  the 
Germans  began  to  arrive,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  low  price  at 
which  almost  everything  was  then  held,  bought  mostly  for  cash  many 
of  the  finest  locations,  both  in  the  town  and  the  surrounding  country. 
In  1828  there  were  only  two  German  families  in  the  town  ;  those  of 
Jacob  Maurer  and  Conrad  Bornmann,  both  engaged  in  the  black- 
smith business.  During  the  years  1832  and  1833,  a  large  German 
immigration  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  many  enterprising,  libe- 
ral and  educated  citizens  of  that  nationality  made  Belleville  their 
home.  The  following  names  of  German  citizens  appear  as  found- 
ers of  a  library  in  July,  1836 :  Edward  Gilgard,  Fritz  Wolf,  Fritz 
Hilgard,  Fr.  Th.  Engelmann,  Sr.,  Theo.  Hilgard,  Jr.,  Julius 
Scheve,  Gustavus  Koerner,  Anton  Schott,  Hermann  Wolf,  George 
Bunsen,  Wilhelm  Decker,  Joseph  Ledergerber,  Adolph  Reuss,  Otto 
Hilgard,  Adolph  BereJielmann,  and  J.  C.  Hildenbrandt. 

Belleville  became  an  incorporated  city  in  1850,  and  adopted  the 
same  charter  as  governed  the  city  of  Springfield.  Theodore  J.  Kraft 
was  elected  the  first  Mayor.  In  1877  the  city  adopted  a  new  o'r- 
jjanization  under  the  general  state  law,  and  the  number  of  wards 
was  increased  from  four  to  seven.  The  following  gentlemen  have 
filled  the  office  of  Mayor  since  1850 : 

1850 Theodore  J.Kraft. 

1851 Edward  Abend. 

1852 J.  W.  Pulliani. 

1853 Joseph  B.  Underwood. 

1854 William  C  Davis. 

1854 James  W.  Hughes, 

(To  fill  out  unexpired  term  of  William  C.  Davis). 

1855  and  1856 James  W.  Hughes. 

1857  and  1858 Edward  Abend. 

1859  and  1860 Peter  Wilding. 

1860 Frederick  K.  Pieper, 

(To  fill  out  unexpired  term  of  Peter  Wilding). 

1861  and  1862 Henry  Goedekirg. 

1863  and  1864 Charlts  Palm. 

1865 Herman  Burckhardt. 

1866 Joseph  Kirkpalriek. 

1867  and  1868 Frederich  Ropiequet. 

1869  and  1870 Hi  nry  Abend. 

1871  and  1872 Peter  Wilding. 

1873  and  1874 H.  G.  Webber. 

1875  and  1876 Peter  Wilding. 

1877  and  1878 Henry  A.  Kircher. 

1879  and  1880 Peter  Wilding. 

1881 Benjamin  J.  West,  Jr. 

The  following  are  the  present  elective  officers  of  the  city : 

Mayor Benjamin  J.  West,  Jr. 

Clerk James  W.  McCulIough. 

Treasurer John  Winter. 

Attorney William  J.  Underwood. 

Aldermen. — First   Ward August  Scheske,  Robert  Rogers. 

Second    "     F.  A.  Benedict,  William  Albrecht. 

Third      "     F.  Kretschmer,  G.  F.  Baumann. 

Fourth   "     Martin  Herr,  Peter  Stauder. 

Fifth      "     Joseph  Leopold,  C.  Heinfelden. 

Sixth      "     William  Wehraeier,  H.  R  Willmann. 

Seventh  "     Henry  Ehret,  Samuel  Strohmberg. 

EAELY    PHYSICIANS  OF   BELLEVILLE. 

Dr.  Estes  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  physician  who  settled  in 
Belleville.  He  built  a  residence  a  few  hundred  yards  south  of  the 
public  square  in  1815.     Reynolds  says  of  him  that  he  had  a  strong 


mind,  but  that  it  was  not  properly  balanced.  He  was  the  captain 
of  the  band  of  regulators,  organized  in  1815  to  protect  the  com- 
munity from  horse-thieves  and  other  criminals.  It  was  generally 
believed  that  they  dealt  out  justice  in  a  very  efiective  and  summary 
manner.     Estes  afterward  removed  to  another  locality. 

Dr.  Schogg  was  a  contemporary  of  Dr.  Estes.  "  He  was  a 
noxious  vapor,  shedding  light  and  darkness  so  close  to  each  other, 
that  he  put  the  whole  town  in  an  uproar.  He  had  two  shooting 
matches,  using  pistols,  and  their  targets  were  their  own  bodies- 
The  combat  arose  from  the  same  cause  wherein  Troy  was  de- 
stroyed." 

Dr.  Joseph  Green,  who  married  the  widow  of  Alphonso  C.  Stuart, 
was  a  man  of  quiet  and  peaceable  disposition,  and  for  a  long  time 
practiced  his  profession.  He  was  reasonable  in  his  charges,  regu- 
lating his  fees  by  his  judgment  of  human  nature  and  the  wealth  of 
his  patients.  He  was  remarkably  humane  and  kind  in  his  treat- 
ment of  the  dumb  creation.  He  would  frequently  get  down  ofi"  his 
horse,  and  lead  the  animal  to  rest  him.  For  many  years  an  old 
sorrel  horse  was  his  companion  on  his  visits  to  his  patients.  He 
would  ride  no  other.  Sometimes  persons  would  come  for  him  in 
a  buggy,  hoping  to  obtain  his  presence  quickly,  but  if  old  sorrel 
was  not  at  hand  he  would  walk.  The  Dr.  possessed  great  caution, 
and  would  always  dismount  from  his  horse  before  crossing  a  bridge. 
A  neighbor  borrowed  the  horse  one  day,  and  in  ignorance  of  the 
Dr.'s  habits,  endeavored  to  cross  a  bridge  without  dismounting.  He 
plied  spur  and  whip  without  avail.  The  horse  would  not  budge. 
At  length  getting  ofi"  he  secured  a  hickory  withe,  and  mounting 
again,  at  length  succeeded  in  getting  the  horse  across.  The  next 
time  the  worthy  Dr.  traveled  that  road  he  was  almost  startled  out 
of  his  wits  by  the  sorrel's  bolting  across  the  bridge  at  a  headlong 
gait  without  giving  him  time  to  get  off.  He  had  passed  his  early 
life  among  the  Pennsylvania  Germans,  and  he  and  Lewis  and 
Jacob  Myers  were  the  first  persons  in  Belleville  who  could  speak 
the  German  language.  He  was  also  acquainted  with  the  French. 
He  was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1837.  He  was  a  warm  Whig, 
and  strong  advocate  of  internal  improvements,  particularly  the 
building  of  railroads.  He  died  in  1842.  He  interested  himself  in 
silk  culture,  procured  silk  worms,  and  erects  J  a  cocoonery.  His 
wife  made  the  silk  into  thread  on  an  ordinary  spinning  wheel,  and 
then  wove  the  thread  into  a  kind  of  cloth. 

Dr.  William  G.  Goforth  settled  in  the  town  in  1816  or  1817,  and 
died  in  1835.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  singular  man,  both  in 
mental  characteristics  and  physical  appearance.  He  looked  and 
acted  like  no  one  else.  He  practiced  medicine  successfully,  though 
perhaps  he  relied  as  much  on  his  natural  genius  and  experience  as 
on  his  scientific  knowledge  of  the  profession.  He  felt  the  patient's 
pulse,  examined  his  tongue,  and  as  quick  as  thought  adopted  a 
course  of  treatment.  Gov.  Reynolds  always  went  to  him  when 
sick.  He  was  very  tall,  with  a  long  and  slender  neck.  He  had 
the  reputatioaof  being  the  homeliest  man  in  all  the  country  round. 
The  story  was  current  that  a  man  of  great  utlattractiveness  of  ap- 
pearance once  came  to  Belleville  from  an  eastern  state,  carrying  a 
jack-knife,  which  had  been  presented  to  him  in  consideration  of 
being  so  homely  a  man.  Meeting  Dr.  Goforth's  brother  then  tem- 
porarily residing  at  Belleville,  and  who  resembled  the  doctor  as  to 
looks,  the  stranger  stopped  him  and  wanted  to  hand  over  the  jack- 
knife,  remarking  that  it  had  been  given  him  with  the  direction  to 
carry  it  till  he  could  find  a  homelier  man,  and  at  last  he  thought 
he  had  succeeded. 

"No,"  replied  Goforth,  "I  am  not  the  man  you  wish  to  see. 
You  must  find  my  brother."  Dr.  Goforth  carried  the  knife  for  a 
long  time,  but  finally  met  a  man  from  Madison  county,  to  whom 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


189 


it  was  awarded.  He  took  to  drinking:  reformed  and  delivered 
addresses  on  the  subject  of  temperance,  but  again  fell  a  victim  to 
his  old  habits.  He  was  a  reckless  rider,  and  one  day  when  intoxi- 
cated, was  thrown  from  his  horse  just  outside  of  town  and  killed. 

Dr.  William  Heath,  one  of  the  early  physicians,  was  a  Virginian 
by  birth.  He  was  a  Methodist  minister  also,  and  preached  at  oc- 
casional intervals.  He  held  that  a  physician  must  live,  and  when 
practice  was  light  he  charged  high-  fees,  and  vice  versa.  He  had 
the  reputation  of  making  long  prayers  and  big  bills.  He  charged 
the  McClintock  family  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars,  a  large 
sura  in  those  days,  for  his  services  during  one  season's  sickness.  He 
moved  to  St.  Louis,  and  died  at  Alton. 

Dr.  Francis  J.  Crabb  was  one  of  the  early  practitioners  of  medi- 
cine. His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Edward  Mitchell,  and  his 
second  wife  was  an  Ogle.  A  physician  named  Dr.  Woodworth 
settled  in  Belleville  soon  after  1820,  practiced  medicine  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  then  moved  away. 

Lewis  W.  Myers  opened  the  first  hat  store  in  Belleville.  Jefier- 
son  Goforth  and  David  Miley  also,  each  kept  a  hat  store  subse- 
quently. Myers  remained  in  that  business  for  a  long  time ;  Goforth 
and  Miley,  only  a  short  space  of  time.  At  one  time  the  tanning  of 
leather  was  carried  on  here  quite  extensively ;  among  those  en- 
gaged in  the  business  were  Bichard  Chandler,  who  had  an  exten- 
sive yard  and  the  machinery  necessary  for  tanning,  on  the  five  lots 
now  in  part  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Heckel  as  a  planing  mill 
and  sash  factory.  The  tannery  was  afterwards  carried  on  by  dif- 
ferent persons,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Talbott,  John  Eck- 
ert.  Brooks,  Beard,  and  lastly,  David  Swyer.  The  saddlery  and 
harness  manufacturing  business  was  also  carried  on  somewhat  ex- 
tensively by  John  D.  Hughes,  afterward  county  judge,  who  em- 
ployed a  large  force  of  journeymen.  Hb  supplied  a  large  territory 
with  saddles,  bridles  and  harness,  for  everybody  rode  on  horseback 
then,  both  male  and  female  (carriages  not  having  come  into  general 
use  at  that  time).  Amoug  the  journeymen  who  worked  at  that  bu- 
siness for  Mr.  Hughes,  was  Samuel  B.  Chandler,  and  there  are 
those  now  living  who  remember  him  as  a  most  excellent  mechanic. 
Tailoring  was  also  an  important  branch  of  business,  and  Theodore 
Gray,  a  man  named  Spilliard,  John  Blackwell,  Robert  Hughes,  a 
man  named  Lyons,  and  others,  supplied  the  demand  in  that  line. 

Large  quantities  of  light  coopers'  work  were  also  made  here  in 
early  days.  Arthur  Ellis  filled  many  contracts,  but  he  sold  most 
to  Nathan  Cole,  who  was  a  heavy  beef  and  pork  packer  at  Illinois- 
town,  or  East  St.  Louis  as  it  is  now  known. 

Mr.  Fleishbein  opened  up  the  first  brewery  in  Belleville.  Shortly 
afterward  George  Busch  erected  the  old  Anderson  brewery,  and  the 
erection  of  others  followed  in  rapid  succession. 

Cooking  stoves  w  ere  first  brought  into  use  here  about  1834.  Be- 
fore then,  the  old  chimuey-coruer  log  furnished  the  only  conve- 
nience for  cooking  known  to  the  western  settlers. 

In  1830  Joseph  Scott  erected  a  carding-mill  at  Belleville,  which 
he  operated  during  the  winter  season  of  each  year. 

First  Fire  Company. — A  book  of  constitution  and  by-laws  of 
the  Belleville  Fire  Company,  published  in  1841,  gives  the  roll  of 
the  officers  and  privates  of  the  company.  It  will  be  seen  that  the 
list  embraces  the  names  of  several  prominent  gentlemen,  some  of 
whom  have  since  become  distinguished  citizens  of  the  state  : 

William  McClintock,  President;  John  Ward,  Vice-President;  D. 
W.  Hopkins,  Secretary;  Samuel  B.  Chandler,  Captain;  Alexander 
Rainey,  1st  Lieutenant ;  Augustus  Hasel,  2d  Lieutenant ;  Joseph 
Sturgis,  1st  Engineer;  James  L.  Davis,  2d  Engineer. 

Engine  Jlfew.— William  McClintock,  John  "Ward,  D.  W.  Hop- 
kins, N.  Pensoneau,  J.  R.  Nolen,  T.  H.  Kimber,  John  Flanagan, 


A  Hildenbrandt,  Joseph  Meyer,  Gustav  P.  Koerner,  John  A.  Sum- 
merville,  Alex.  iN.  Green,  Lyman  Trumbull,  A.  T.  Terrill,  T.  J. 
Burnett,  J.  L.  D.  Morrison  and  C.  Tittmann. 

Hose  and  Water  iJfew.— Alexander  Rainey,  William  C.  Kinney, 
John  Mace,  Jacob  Knoebel,  James  Affleck,  R.  P.  Hughes,  J.  B. 
Lyons,  Jos.  Smith,  N.  B.  Atlierton  and  E.  Tittmann. 

Hooh  and  Ladder  Men. — Augustus  Hasel,  Henry  Johnson,  Nel- 
son Green,  C.  Westermann,  R.  G.  Affleck,  Enoch  Luckey,  George 
W.  Hook,  Christian  Kaysing,  Christoph  Vierheller,  Geo.  Eckert 
and  Charles  Knoebel. 

All  are  now  deceased  except  William  McClintock,  J.  R.  Nolen, 
Gustav  P.  Koernei-,  Lyman  Trumbull,  J.  L.  D.  Morrison,  James 
Affleck,  R.  G.  Affleck  and  Christoph  Vierheller. 

The  first  engine  used  by  the  company  was  bought  by  Gustavus 
Koerner  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  was  called  the  Depford, 
and  afterward  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  South  Belleville 
Fire  Company.  It  cost  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and 
was  shipped  by  water  from  Baltimore  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence 
to  St.  Louis. 

Cholera.— In  1832  and  1833,  and  again  in  1849,  the  cholera 
was  prevalent  in  Belleville.  The  first  death  in  Belleville  from  the 
disease  occurred  in  1832.  The  victim  was  a  man  from  Washington 
county  who  had  passed  through  Belleville  on  his  way  to  St.  Louis, 
had  spent  two  days  and  nights  in  the  city,  and,  returning,  camped 
out  three  miles  west  of  Belleville.  He  was  taken  with  the  cholera, 
and  was  too  unwell  to  reach  town.  He  came  to  Belleville  the  next 
morning.  None  of  the  hotels  or  boarding  houses  would  receive  him, 
and  he  died  in  the  court-house  the  succeeding  night.  Dr.  William 
Mitchell  was  the  attending  physician.  The  deaths  in  1833  ex- 
ceeded those  of  the  previous  year.  When  any  one  was  taken 
with  the  disease  death  was  considered  certain.  A  man  named  Sa- 
muel Crane,  a  bricklayer,  who  had  just  commenced  building  a  mill 
for  Richard  Raper  on  the  present  site  of  Hinckley's  mill,  was  one 
of  those  who  died.  His  coffin  was  made  and  taken  to  the  house  in 
which  he  lay  sick,  before  he  was  dead,  and  within  one  hour  after 
his  death  he  was  buried.  Another  victim  was  Thomas  .Kelley.  At 
noon  he  was  working  in  the  harvest  field,  and  at  night  he  was 
buried.  Among  others  who  died  were  an  old  man  named  John 
Vaughn,  Mrs.  Berry,  and  the  wife  of  James  Tannehill.  The  death 
of  Gov.  Ninian  Edwards  occurred  from  cholera  on  the  twentieth  of 
July,  1833.  The  town  was  again  visited  with  the  cholera  in  1849, 
and  in  that  year  the  deaths  were  numerous.  More  than  fifty  cho- 
lera victims  were  interred  in  the  Belleville  burying  ground.  After 
that  year  there  were  no  further  interments  in  the  old  graveyard, 
which  was  deeded  by  the  Edwards  family  to  the  city  of  Belleville. 

Churches. — Belleville  has  nine  churches  belonging  to  the 
Methodist,  Episcopal,  Baptist,  Presbyterian,  German  Methodi&t, 
Lutheran,  Evangelical,  Roman  Catholic,  Colored  Methodist  and 
Colored  Baptist  denominations.  A  Protestant  Episcopal  church 
was  also  organized  in  1880,  but  no  church  building  has  yet  been 
erected. 

The  Catholics  have  parish  schools  in  connection  with  their 
church,  and  also  a  young  ladies'  seminary,  known  as  the  Institute 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  which  occupies  a  fine  and  spacious 
building- 

St.  Agnes  Orphans'  Asylum  is  a  charitable  institution  under  the 
management  and  control  of  the  Roman  Catholics.  It  occupies  a 
building,  erected  in  l8fe0  at  a  cost  exceeding  eight  thousand 
dollars. 

Six  newspapers  are  published  in  Belleville,  two  in  the  Geiman 
language.  Both  German  papers  issue  daily  and  weekly  numbers. 
The  English  papers  are  published  weekly. 


190 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


The  city  has  been  fortunate  in  escaping  serious  injury  from  fire; 
a  fact  which  may  be  in  part  attributed  to  the  solid  and  substantial 
character  of  the  buildings.  At  present  there  is  no  regularly-or- 
ganized fire  department.  The  city  owns  two  first-class  steam  fire 
engines,  each  of  which  is  placed  in  charge  of  an  engineer,  fireman, 
and  three  hoseraen,  who  are  paid  according  to  actual  services  ren- 
dered in  case  of  fire. 

Belleville  Saengerbund  and  Libraey  Society. — After 
the  Napoleonic  wars,  the  German  people,  having  risen  to  defend 
the  thrones  of  their  native  princes,  expected  to  live  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  more  liberal  laws  than  were  accorded  to  them  during  the 
last  century.  But  the  thirty-seven  princes,  unmindful  of  their 
sacred  promises,  oppressed  the  people  more  and  more,  until  the 
tyranny  became  so  great  and  intolerable,  that  the  woU-minded 
citizens  began  to  feel  the  salvation  of  their  country  was  possible 
only  by  a  general  overthrow  of  the  existing  dynasties.  A  conspi- 
racy of  the  patriots,  known  under  the  name  of  the  "  Black  League," 
extended  over  all  parts  of  Germany,  uniting  citizens  of  all  classes, 
old  and  young.  When  the  cry  of  "  Liberty,  Fraternity  et  Egalitd," 
resounded  from  the  banks  of  the  Seine,  proclaiming  the  second  re- 
publican France,  the  patriots  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Rhine  be- 
lieved the  time  had  come  for  them  to  proceed  to  action  in  the  "  Fa- 
therland." Mass  meetings  were  held  and  speedily  dissolved  by  the 
police,  the  leaders  were  incarcerated,  and  a  general  despotism  pre- 
vailed. In  the  spring  of  1833  several  revolts  broke  out  in  the  Pa- 
latinate and  other  parts  of  Germany,  but  proved  unsuccessful ;  and 
many  of  the  participants,  to  avoid  imprisonment  and  capital  pun- 
ishment, were  forced  to  flee  from  their  native  soil.  At  that  time 
the  first  direct  news  of  our  young  republic  had  reached  the  old  world, 
and,  excited  by  the  hope  of  leading  a  more  congenial  life  in  the 
wildernesses  of  the  Hudson,  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  the  unhappy 
victims  of  misrule  and  despotism  turned  their  backs  on  Europe  and 
came  to  the  United  States.  Their  first  intention  was  to  form  colo- 
nies in  the  West,  but  discord  among  the  members  soon  led  to  the 
abandonment  of  these  schemes.  A  little  band  of  these  Germans 
settled  in  St.  Clair  county.  They  were  mostly  men  of  letters,  not 
used  to  wield  the  plow  and  axe,  and  their  success  as  farmers  was 
consequently  but  moderate.  Yet  they  had  not  in  vain  received  a 
classical  education;  their  love  of  study  and  good  books  did  not  die 
among  the  daily  labors  of  the  farm,  and  after  the  first  struggles  for 
the  necessities  of  life,  they  bethought  themselves  how  they  might 
form  a  collection  of  the  books  which  were  scattered  among  the 
several  families,  and  how  they  might  augment  the  same.  Many  of 
the  settlers  had  upon  their  arrival  here  made  it  their  business  to 
study  the  laws  and  institutions  under  which  they  were  to  live,  and 
the  desire  to  own  "  Jared  Sparks'  Life  of  Washington,"  led  to  the 
first  step  toward  founding  the  German  Library  of  St.  Clair  county. 

One  Sunday  afternoon,  July  17th,  1836,  sixteen  of  the  German 
settlers,  Edward  Hilgard,  Fritz  Wolf,  Fritz  Hilgard,  Fr.  Th.  En- 
gelmann,  Sr.,  Theo.  Hilgard,  Jr.,  JuliusScheve,  Gustavus  Koeriier 
Anton  Schott,  Hermann  Wolf,  George  Bunsen,  Wilhelm  Decker, 
Joseph  Ledergerber,  Adolph  Reuss,  Otto  Hilgard,  Adolph  Berchel- 
mann,  and  J.  C  Hildenbrandt,  met  at  the  house  of  Anton  Schott, 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  necessary  steps  toward  collecting  the 
scattered  books  and  founding  a  library.  Anton  Schott  read  a  me- 
morial setting  forth  his  views  upon  the  subject.  He  closed  his 
remarks  with  the  following  sentence  :  "  Thus,  in  the  course  of  time 
a  considerable  library  may  be  formed,  which  may,  perhaps,  be 
useful  to  our  posterity  in  inciting  them  to  scientific  research,  and 
aiding  them  in  mental  culture."  Each  one  of  the  above-named  six- 
teen gentlemen  subscribed  $3.00  toward  the  purchase  of  "Life  and 
Writings  of  Washington,"  and  lliis  organized  the  St.  Clair  County 


Library  Association.  Anton  Schott  was  unanimously  chosen  libra- 
rian, and  George  Bunsen  and  Gustavus  Koerner  directors.  At  a 
subsequent  meeting,  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  a  constitution 
was  adopted,  and  the  association  received  its  charter  by  the  next 
session  of  the  legislature. 

At  first,  the  number  of  books  increased  but  slowly,  but  when  the 
following  years  sent  more  Germans  hither,  the  members,  and  conse- 
quently the  means  for  augmenting  the  library,  increased.  The 
meetings  were  held  semi-annually  at  the  houses  of  the  several  mem- 
bers, and  united  the  families  of  the  settlement.  These  meetings 
partook  more  of  the  nature  of  picnics,  and  singing  and  dancing, 
and  other  social  amusements,  were  the  order  of  the  day. 

Until  1852  the  library  was  kept  at  the  house  of  Anton  Schott, 
when  it  was  removed  to  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  in  Belleville,  and 
Carl  Rau  succeeded  Mr.  Schott  as  librarian.  He  in  turn  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Joseph  Kircher  in  1855,  until,  in  July,  1859,  steps  were 
taken  to  consolidate  the  association  with  the  Belleville  Saenger- 
bund, an  organization  founded  1855  for  the  culture  of  vocal  music 
and  sociability.  The  negotiation  between  the  two  associations  lasted 
for  over  a  year  ;  a  charter  was  obtained  in  1860,  and  Anton  Schott 
chosen  president,  Frederick  Reiss  treasurer  and  secretary,  Gustavo 
Kellermann  librarian,  and  Jacob  Weingaertner  and  Bernhard 
Wiek  directors.  In  1861  Henry  Raab  was  chosen  librarian  :  he 
still  holds  the  office  to-day. 

The  library,  having  been  founded  by  Grermans,  contains  the  most 
select  productions  of  German  literature,  principally  works  in  history, 
geography,  natural  sciences  and  fiction ;  nor  are  the  standard  Eng- 
lish works  in  these  branches  of  literature  wanting.  The  Greek  and 
Roman  classics,  mostly  donations  of  the  founders,  give  evidence  of 
the  predilections  of  these  men.  Senators  and  representatives  from 
Illinois  have  contributed  freely  to  its  treasures.  The  principal  pe- 
riodicals, both  English  and  German,  are  kept  on  file,  also  a  com- 
plete set  of  congressional  documents  graces  its  shelves.  The  library 
now  numbers  upwards  of  6,000  volumes.  The  number  of  members 
is  about  110. 

THE   MASONIC   ORDER 

Obtained  a  strong  foothold  in  Belleville  in  1843,  by  the  organization 
of  St.  Clair  Lodge,  Na  24,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
The  lodge  was  organized  on  the  fourteenthday  of  December.  John 
C.  Theil  was  the  first  master.  Archimedes  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  377, 
received  its  charter  on  the  eighth  of  October,  1863.  Theodore 
Joerg  was  the  first  to  fill  the  chair  of  worshipful  master.  On  the 
fourth  of  October,  1867,  Belleville  Chapter,  No.  186,  of  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  was  instituted  ;  the  first  H.  P.  was  John  N.  Ryan. 

The  following  secret  societies  exist  in  Belleville  : 

ilfasonic.— St.  Clair  Lodge,  No.  24  ;  Archimedes  Lodge,  No.  377  ; 
Belleville  Chapter,  No.  106,  R.  A.  M. ;  Tancred  Commandery,  No. 
60,  K.  T. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. — Belleville  Lodge,  No.  338  ; 
Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  369 ;  Pride  of  the  West  Lodge,  No.  650 ; 
St.  Clair  Encampment,  No.  92  ;  Belleville  Encampment,  No.  169  ; 
(West  Belleville.) 

Dratds.— -Illinois  Grove,  No.  1  ;  St.  Clair  Grove,  No.  29. 

Knights  o/flbreor.— Belleville  Lodge,  No.  429 ;  Arminius  Lodge, 
No.  582 ;  Washington  Lodge,  No.  1180. 

Knights  of  Pythias.— Ga,va.lier  Lodge,  No.  49 ;  Lessing  Lodge, 
No.  71. 

Independent  Order  of  Mutual  ilirf.— Friendship  Lodge,  No.  2. 

Ancient  Order  United  Foremen.— Belleville  Lodge,  No.  108; 
Gerstiiecker  Lodge,  No.  138. 

Ro'jal  Templars  of  Temperance.— ^%.  Clair  Council,  No.  41. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


191 


Treubund — Teutonia  Lodge,  No.  5 ;  Kuetli  Lodge,  No.  21 ; 
Freundschaft  Lodge,  No.  35  ;  Columbia  Lodge,  No.  34. 

Harugari. — Herniaim  Lodge,  No.  286 ;  Freiligarths  Lodge, 
No.  415. 

Order  of  Sons  of  Hermann. — Standhaft  Lodge,  No.  22. 

Belleville  Working  Men's  Society. 

The  St.  Clair  County  Agricultural  Board  holds  an  annual  fair 
ci>mmencing  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  October.  The  capital  stock 
is  $7,500.  The  grounds,  which  are  located  in  the  northern  portion 
of  the  city  of  Belleville,  embrace  twenty  acres,  and  are  well  shaded 
and  well  improved.  The  exhibition  hall  is  150  by  60  feet  in  di- 
mensions, and  cost  $8,200.  It  was  built  during  the  years  1864, 
1868  and  1872.  Two  amphitheatres,  built  at  an  expense  of  $3,400, 
adjoin  the  ring.  This  society  was  first  organized  in  1853,  and  was 
reorganized  in  August,  1872,  under  the  name  of  the  St.  Clair 
County  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Society.  The  name  of  the  St. 
Clair  County  Agricultural  Board  was  adopted  in  February,  1881. 
The  recent  annual  fairs  have  been  well  attended  and  successful, 
with  a  particularly  good  display  of  agricultural  machinery. 

PRESENT  OFFICERS. 

Pkesident JOSEPH   REICHERT. 

Vice-President J.  H.  ATKINSON. 

Tkeasurbe... F.  H.  PIEPER. 

Secretary GUSTAVUS  F.  HILGARD. 

General  Superintendent JEFFERSON  RAINEY. 

Marshal  of  the  Ring JOSEPH  PENN. 

BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS. 

JEFFERSON  RAINEY,  JAMES  H.  ATKINSON, 

CHAS.  T.  ASKINS,  JOSEPH   REICHERT, 

SIDNEY  SHOOK,  ISAAC  N.  SHOOK, 

THOMAS  WINSTANLEY,  JOSEPH  PENN, 

JAMES  A.  BORNMAN,  FREDERICK  GLASER, 

F.  H.  PIEPER. 

THE   GREEN  MOUNT   CEMETERY   ASSOCIATION 

Was  organized  July,  1873.  The  managers  of  this  enterprise  have 
succeeded  in  making  this  cemetery  attractive  and  beautiful.  The 
cemetery  is  situated  two  miles  east  of  Bell^ille,  and  is  accessible 
from  the  Mascoutah  plank  road  by  the  Freeburg  plank  road,  and 
also  by  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  railroad.  The  grounds  com- 
prise 160  acres.     The  officers  are : 

President WILLIAM  C.  BUCHANAN. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer FREDERICK  H.  PIEPER. 

Superintendent THEOPHILUS  HARRISON. 

DIRECTORS. 
THEOPHILUS  HARRISON,  D.  H.  MURRAY, 

WILLIAM  C.  BUCHANAN,  JOHN  J.  THOMAS, 

FREDERICK  H.  PIEPER. 

THE  WALNUT   HILL   CEMETERY, 

Southeast  of  Belleville,  is  owned  in  part  by  the  city.  The  ceme- 
tery grounds  are  large,  and  nature  and  art  have  combined  to  ren- 
der this  a  fit  resting  place  for  the  dead.  Many  of  the  prominent 
men  who  have  had  their  homes  in  Belleville  are  interred'here.  The 
grounds  are  under  the  care  of  a  sexton  appointed  by  the  city. 

THE  citizens'   HORSE   RAILWAY  COMPANY, 

in  1876  purchased  the  interests  of  the  Belleville  Street  Car  Com- 
pany, which  was  organized  in  1874,  and  has  since  been  operating  a 
street  railway  between  Belleville  and  West  Belleville.  A  branch 
also  extends  to  the  fair  grounds.     The  officers  are : 


President JOHN  EIMER. 

Secretary  AND  Treasurer EDWARD  ABEND. 

DIRECTORS. 
JOHN  EIMER,  EDWARD  ABEND, 

G.  A.  KOERNER,  HENRY  DEIDESHEIMER, 

AUGUST  TIEMANN,  JOSEPH  FUESS. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  business  done  at  the  Belle- 
ville Post  Office,  H.  A.  Millitzer,  Postmaster,  during  the  year  1880 : 

Kind  of  Matter.  No.  Packages.  Weight,  Lbs. 

Regular  newspapers  mailed,  65,000  33,500 

Books  and  miscellaneous  mailed,  1,500  760 

Transient  newspapers  mailed,  8,000  798 

Unsealed  circulars  mailed,  5,600  82 

Letters  mailed,  267,900  7,300 

Postal  cards  mailed,  65,600  438 

Letters,  postal  cards  and  circulars  delivered,  414,400  10,350 

Drop  letters  delivered,  14,200  148 
Newspapers  delivered : 

Published  once  a  week  or  oftener,  112,000  14,000 

Published  less  than  once  a  week,  16,000  2,500 

Transient  newspapers,  45,000  5,425 

Money  Order  Department. 

Issued.  Paid. 

No.  Value.  No.  Value. 

Domestic  money  orders,  2873        |65,467  2992        $60,200 

International  money  orders,  223  2,219  168  2,310 

At  the  West  Belleville  Post  Office,  Fr.  W.  Beineke,  Pastmaster, 
for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1881,  stamps  and  postal  cards  were 
sold  to  the  amount  of  $651.64.  Stamps  and  postal  cards  were  can- 
celled to  the  amount  of  $577.20. 

Population  of  Belleville,  United  States  Census  of  1880. 

First  Ward 1,988 

Second  Ward 1,533 

Third  Ward 1.642 

Fourth  Ward 1,652 

Fifth  Ward 1,551 

Sixth  Ward..... 1.066 

Seventh  Ward 1,535 

10,967 
West  Belleville 2,720 

Total 13,680 

COAL. 

The  abundance  of  coal  has  been  one  of  the  main  elements  in  the> 
prosperity  of  Belleville.  Coal  was  first  discovered  in  High  Prairie, 
six  or  seven  miles  south  of  the  city,  and  used  by  Messrs.  Smith, 
Small,  and  others  engaged  in  the  blacksmith  business.  The  first 
coal  mine  was  opened  by  William  Fowler,  in  the  year  1825.  This 
mine  was  situated  south  of  Belleville  on  the  blufi"  where  Eichland 
creek  strikes  the  highlands  and  makes  a  sharp  curve  to  the  left. 
The  coal  found  a  ready  sale  in  Belleville,  where  it  was  used  as  fuel. 
Since  the  opening  of  this  mine  it  has  been  ascertained  that  the 
whole  southern  part  of  the  state  is  one  vast  field  of  coal.  Anywhere 
in  the  vicinity  of  Belleville  coal  may  be  found  by  sinking  a  shaft. 
Frequently  three  diflTerent  strata  are  found,  one  over  the  other,  the 
lower  the  best  coal,  and  often  eighty  or  one  hundred  feet  below  the 
surface.  The  building  of  a  railroad  in  1837  from  Pittsburg,  at  the  foot 
of  the  blufis,  to  the  Mississippi  opposite  St.  Louis,  was  an  advanced 
step  in  the  development  of  the  coal  mines  of  St.  Clair  county,  and 
with  the  prosperity  of  the  coal  interest  the  growth  of  Belleville  has 
kept  puce. 


192 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


THE   MANUFACTURES   OF   BELLEVILLE. 

Among  the  advantages  of  Belleville  as  a  manufacturing  point 
are  cheap  fuel,  superior  railroad  fadlities,  close  proximity  to  one  of 
the  best  markets  in  the  country,  and  a  healthy  location  and  cheap 
living. 

The  supplies  of  coal  are  inexhaustible  and  easy  of  access;  south- 
east Missouri  affords  near  and  abundant  deposits  of  iron;  and  in 
the  rapid  growth  of  trade,  commerce  and  manufactures  in  the  cen- 
tre (if  the  Mississippi  valley,  Belleville  will  doubtless  secure  a  full 
share  of  the  benefits  to  which  she  is  entitled  by  her  natural  ad- 
vantages. 

Note. — The  following  figures  in  relation  to  the  difference  in  cost  of  the  manu- 
facture of  iron  at  Belleville  and  Pittsburg  were  prepared  by  Gon.  W.  II.  Powell, 
and  published  by  the  Belleville  Board  of  Trade : 

The  development  of  experiments  made  by  the  Carbondale  Coal  and  Coke 
Company  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1879,  demonstrate  that  the  want  of 
coke  to  complete  the  list  of  all  important  materials  for  manufacturing  purposes 
is  now  overcome  by  the  supply  of  coke  from  Carbondale,  which  is  now  rapidly 
working  its  way  into  use,  displacing  the  Connclsville  coke.  'Below  we  give  the 
analysis  of  the  Connelsville,  Sewanee  and  Carbondale  cokes  : 


CONNELSVILLE. 


CARBONDALE. 


SEWANEE. 

Moisture 0.55 0.90 0.67  per  cent. 

Volatile  matter 2.20 2.10 2.25  per  cent. 

Fixed  carbon 82.53 79.65 84.15  per  cent. 

Ash 13.72 17.35  12.93  per  cent. 

Color  of  the  ash  In  each,  reddish  brown  and  similar. 
Sulphur  as  separately  determined — 

CONNELSVILLE.  SEWANEE.  CARBONDALE. 

1.012  per  cent.  0.682  per  cent.  0.842  per  cent. 

Demonstrating  conclusively  that  we  have  a  coke  well  adapted  to  blast  furnace 
purposes,  here,  where  we  have  our  own  coal  and  iron  ores  for  all  branches  of 
iron  manufacturers.  A  comparison  as  to  cost  of  making  pig  iron  at  Pittsburgh 
and  St.  Louis,  may  perhaps  better  illustrate  what  advantage  Belleville  has  as  a 
manufacturing  point  than  any  general  statement  that  can  be  made.  We  shall 
therefore,  make  the  comparison  between  Pittsburgh  and  Belleville,  on  the  basis 
of  present  prices : 

PITTSBCEGH. 

3,360  lbs.  of  Lake  Superior  ore  at  |13  per  ton,  Cleveland,  0 $19.50 

Freight  from  Cleveland  to  Pittsburgh  per  ton 3.75 

8o  bushels  of  Connelsville  coke,  7^0.  per  bushel 5.60 

J  ton  limestone 75 

Labor  and  management  per  ton 2.00 

Ordinary  and  incidental  expenses 1.50 

Repairs  and  interest  on  capital 75 


Cost  per  ton., 


,.$33.85 


BELLEVILLE. 


3360  lbs.  of  iron  Mt.  ore,  at  Belleville,  $14  per  ton $21.00 

80  bushels  Carbondale  coke,  8c.  per  bushel G.40 

J  ton  limestone 75 

Labor,  management,  etc 2.00 

Ordinary  and  incidental  expenses I.50 

Repairs  and  interest  on  capital 75 


Cost  per  ton $32.40 

To  the  c«st  of  producing  a  ton  of  pig  iron  at  Pittsburgh  or  vicinity,  add  the 
cost  of  $3.00  per  ton  to  deliver  in  St.  Louis,  and  the  actual  cost  of  upper  Ohio 
River  Valley  pig  iron  in  our  market  is  made  $36.85,  whilst  the  cost  of  manu- 
facturing a  ton  of  pig  iron  of  unsurpassed  quality,  at  Belleville,  would  be  $32.40. 
The  advantage  claimed  for  Belleville  results  entirely  from  close  proximity  to  the 
ore,  the  coal  mines,  and  the  coke  ovens,  and  that  of  being  near  the  market  with 
the  product. 

The  Harrison  Mills  is  the  lineal  descendant  of  one  of  the  early 
milling  enterprises  of  Belleville— the  ox  tread  mill  of  Kingold  and 
Wilkinson,  which  stood  on  High  street,  on  ground  occupied  by  the 
present  residence  of  J.  Baker.     This   mill  was  built  in  1819,  and 


in  1826  was  purchased  by  Thomas  Harrison,  who  adopted  steam  as 
a  motive  power.  This  steam  mill,  which  was  the  first  in  the  county, 
stood  at  First  South  and  High  streets,  where  the  post-office  now  is. 
It  was  afterward  removed  to  the  present  location  of  the  Harrison 
mills  on  West  Main  street,  in  order  to  secure  a  better  supply  of 
water.  The  mill  was  burned  down  in  the  fall  of  1843.  It  was  full 
of  wheat ;  there  was  no  insurance,  and  the  loss  was  the  heaviest  that 
ever  occurred  from  fire  in  Belleville.  The  mill  was  rebuilt  in  1844. 
B.  F.  Switzer  &  Co.  now  operate  the  Harrison  Mills.  The  ma- 
chinery is  of  the  latest  and  best  improved  pattern,  and  the  mill  has 
done  its  share  toward  sustainihg  the  reputation  of  Belleville  flour. 
The  mill  is  run  by  a  Corliss  engine;  it  has  eight  run  of  buhrs,  and 
a  capacity  of  three  hundred  barrels  per  day.  Thirty-five  hands  are 
employed.     Flour  is  manufactured  by  the  new  patent  process. 

Hinnk/ey's  Mill  occupies  the  site  of  the  old  Rapier  mill,  built  by 
Richard  Rapier  in  1832  and  1833.  Rapier  disposed  of  the  mill  in 
1837  to  a  company  composed  of  James  Mitchell,  Adam  A.  Snyder, 
Charles  Sargent,  D.  B.  Reel,  and  Timothy  Hinckley.  These 
gentlemen,  after  running  the  mill  two  or  three  years,  sold  to  J. 
Charles  Cabbaune,  L.  D.  Cabbanne,  and  A.G.  Edwards,  who  retained 
possession  till  1847,  when  ihe  mill  was  sold  to  Russell  Hinckley, 
who  has  owned  and  operated  it  ever  since.  The  site  of  the  mill  is 
said  to  have  been  an  old  Indian  camping  ground.  A  spring,  from 
which  the  water  gushed  in  a  stream  the  size  of  a  man's  arm,  made 
it  peculiarly  suitable  for  this  purpose.  This  spring  was  the  induce- 
ment which  made  George  Blair  choose  the  place  for  a  residence  in 
1806.  Near  the  mill  was  formerly  a  tan  yard,  in  which  John  H. 
Gay,  of  St.  Louis,  was  once  interested.  The  block  on  which  the 
mill  stands,  bounded  by  Second  and  Third  South  streets  and  Illi- 
nois and  Spring  streets,  is  the  only  entire  block  in  Belleville  owned 
by  one  individual.  Hinckley's  mill  is  one  of  the  largest  manufac- 
turing establishments  in  Belleville.  It  has  nine  run  of  buhrs.  Its 
capacity  is  four  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  The  annual  pro- 
duct is  seventy-five  thousand  barrels. 

The  Crown  Mill,  at  the  east  end  of  Main  street,  occupies  the 
place  where  a  small  steam  mill  was  originally  built  by  Mr.  Meis- 
ter.  The  present  mill  is  one  of  the  large  manufacturing  enterpris&s 
of  Belleville.  It  is  operated  by  a  Corliss  engine  of  three  hundred 
horse  power;  has  ten  run  of  buhrs,  seven  sets  of  rolls,  and  a  capa- 
city of  five  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  The  mill  has  a  front 
of  135  feet  on  Walnut  street  and  50  feet  on  Main  street,  and  is  four 
stories  in  height.  The  elevator,  in  which  sixty  thousand  bushels  of 
wheat  can  be  stored,  fronts  82  feet  on  Main  street,  and  is  50  feet 
in  depth.  The  cooper  shop  is  130  by  50  feet.  The  mill  has  been 
rebuilt  on  the  latest  improved  plan,  and  contains  the  best  modern 
machinery.  Flour  is  made  by  the  new  patent  process,  combining 
the  buhr  and  roller  systems.  The  product  of  the  mill  finds  its  way 
to  every  market  in  this  country,  as  well  as  many  in  Europe.  About 
fifty  hands  are  employed.  The  mill  is  owned  and  operated  by  the 
Crown  Mill  Co.,  of  which  J.  H.  Imbs,  of  St.  Louis,  is  president. 
The  gentlemen  who  compose  the  company  are  well  known  for  their 
enterprise.  They  were  the  first  to  take  advantage  of  the  use  of  the 
telephone  in  Belleville.  They  also  own  three  large  grain  ware- 
houses at  points  on  the  lines  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  apd 
Cairo  Shoft  Line  railroads,  where  wheat  is  purchased. 

KnoebeCs  Mill  was  erected  and  put  in  operation  by  Hermann 
Knoebel  in  1872.  Hermann  Burckhardt  was  associated  in  the 
business  frop  1873  to  1881.  The  present  members  of  the  firm  are 
Hermann  and  George  W.  Knoebel.  The  mill  has  three  run  of 
buhrs,  has  a  regular  custom  trade,  and  grinds  flour  and  feed.  Four 
hands  are  employed,  and  the  capacity  is  about  thirty  barrels  per 
day.    The  new  patent  process  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  flour. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


193 


The  building,  on  First  South  Street,  between  Jackson  and  Church, 
is  40  by  60  feet. 

F,  A.  Reuss  &  Co. — The  Reuss  mill,  in  south-east  Belleville,  was 
started  in  1857  by  William  Maguire,  John  H.  Wilderman,  and 
William  Miller.  A  building  was  erected,  forty-five  by  sixty  feet  in 
dimensions,  which  now  forms  the  north-east  part  of  the  present  mill. 
There  were  then  four  run  of  buhrs.  In  1860  the  mill  was  pur- 
chased by  F.  A.  Reuss,  then  of  St.  Louis.  The  mill  was  enlarged 
in  1863  and  1867.  In  1875  George  H.  Braun,  of  St.  Louis,  pur- 
chased the  mill,  and  is  the  present  owner.  It  now  has  five  run  of 
buhrs,  two  sets  of  rolls,  employs  sixteen  hands,  and  can  manufac- 
ture three  hundred  and  twenty-five  barrels  of  flour  every  twenty- 
four  hours.  Eighteen  coopers  are  also  employed  in  the  cooper  shop 
on  work  exclusively  for  the  mill.  The  mill  fronts  120  feet  on 
South  Eighth  street  and  80  feet  on  Abend  street.  There  are  two 
warehouses,  150  by  20  feet  and  31  by  60 ;  a  cooper  shop,  28  by  80 
feet,  and  other  buildings. 

The  Belleville  Nail  Company. — The  nail  mill  occupies  a  promi- 
nent place  among  the  manufacturing  establishments  of  Belleville. 
In  1869  the  works  of  the  Bogy  Nail  Mill  Company,  of  St.  Louis, 
were  purchased  by  James  Waugh,  removed  to  Belleville,  and  the 
manufacture  of  nails  was  begun  by  a  joint-stock  corporation,  of 
which  James  Waugh  was  president,  James  N.  Douglas,  secretary, 
and  James  Waugh,  James  C.  Waugh,  W.  H.  Chick,  Conrad  Born- 
niann,  Edward  Abend,  Andrew  Stolberg,  and  Oscar  Heinrich, 
directors.  The  works  were  operated  with  varied  success  till  1876, 
when,  on  account  of  financial  difiiculties,  business  was  suspended, 
and  the  mill  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  bondholders.  The  com- 
pany was  re-organized  the  same  year,  and  work  resumed.  James 
Waugh  is  now  president,  James  C.  Waugh,  secretary,  and  Robert 
F.  Waugh,  treasurer.  The  board  of  directors  is  composed  of 
Robert  F.  Waugh,  James  C.  Waugh,  James  Waugh,  William  W. 
Waugh,  Edward  Abend,  and  James  M.  Dill.  The  capital  stock  of 
the  company  when  first  organized  was  1161,000.  On  the  re-organi- 
zation, after  wiping  out  a  debt  of  $90,000,  the  capital  stock  was 
made  $100,000,  all  paid  up.  The  actual  cost  of  the  works  is  esti- 
mated at  $224,000.  James  Waugh,  the  president,  to  whose  energy 
is  largely  due  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  was  born  in  Ireland,  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestors,  and  in  1836  came  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
resided  till  his  removal  to  Belleville.  The  works  have  an  advan- 
tageous location,  in  the  south-west  portion  of  the  city,  on  the  line 
of  the  St.  Louis,  Alton,  and  Terre  Haute  railroad,  and  cover  seven 
acres  of  ground.  A  large  artificial  lake  furnishes  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  water.  Coal  is  procured  from  mines  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood.  An  engine  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  horse 
power  is  employed  in  the  rolling  mill,  and  one  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  horse  power  in  the  factory.  The  nail  machines  are 
fifty-seven  in  number,  and  turn  out  about  six  hundred  kegs  a  day. 
All  kinds  of  nails  and  spikes  are  made,  from  a  nine  inch  spike  down 
through  many  difierent  grades  to  what  is  known  to  the  trade  as  a 
"  two  penny  fine."  The  larger  sizes  are  cut  hot.  The  small  nails 
are  made  from  cold  metal,  but  are  afterward  annealed,  and  thus 
given  the  peculiar  blue  appearance  characteristic  of  nails  cut  from 
hot  metal.  Thirty  or  thirty-five  tons  of  iron  are  used  each  day, 
and  twenty-five  hundred  bushels  of  coal.  The  working  ^ce  con- 
sists of  two  hundred  men  and  boys.  The  "nails  are  mostly  sold  in 
the  West  and  South.  The  warehouse,  a  spacious  brick  building, 
has  a  capacity  of  between  thirty  and  forty  thousand  kegs,  and  is  so 
arranged  that  five  cars  can  be  loaded  from  it  at  the  same  time 
This  was  the  first  nail  mill  erected  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  There 
are  now  two  others,  one  at  Central  ia  and  one  at  Chicago. 
25 


THE   HARRISON   MACHINE   WORKS. 

In  1848,  two  mechanics,  John  Cox  and  Cyrus  Roberts,  settled  in 
Belleville  and  began  the  manufacture  of  a  machine  for  threshing 
grain.  They  secured  a  number  of  patents  and  called  their  machine 
the  Cox  &  Roberts  Thresher.  The  name  has  since  been  changed 
to  that  of  the  Belleville  Ssparator.  In  the  year  1855,  Theophilus 
Harrison,  who  had  been  in  the  employment  of  Cox  &  Roberts  for 
a  number  of  years,  together  with  F.  M.  Middlecoff",  a  farmer  and 
practical  mechanic,  purchased  Mr.  Cox's  interest  in  the  business. 
At  that  date,  about  one  hundred  machines  were  made  annually.  In 
1857  Mr.  Roberts'  interest  was  purchased  by  William  C.  Buchanan. 
In  1878,  Cyrus  Thompson  and  Hugh  W.  Harrison  became  associa- 
ted with  the  old  members  of  the  firm,  and  a  joint  stock  company 
was  organized  under  the  corporate  name  of  the  Harrison  Machine 
Works.  In  1873  additional  buildings  were  purchased  and  fitted  up 
with  superior  facilities  for  the  construction  of  steam  engines.  The 
threshing  mxchinery,  manufactured  by  this  company,  has  met  with 
a  high  degree  of  popular  favor.  Beside  the  large  field  afforded  by 
the  central  States  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  large  sales  have  been 
made  in  Louisiana,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Texas,  Montana,  Dakota, 
Colorado  and  Mexico.  Shipments  have  been  made  to  South  Africa. 
The  works,  which  are  situated  on  the  St.  Louis,  Alton  and  Terre 
Haute  Railroad,  occupy  six  acres  of  ground.  The  capital  invested 
is  $300,000  One  hundred  and  twenty  hands  are  constantly  em- 
ployed, and  during  busy  seasons  many  more.  Fifty  thousand 
dollars  are  annually  expended  in  wages.  Seventy  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  raw  material,  principally  purchased  in  the  east  and  north 
from  first  hand^,  is  worked  up  each  year.  The  business  has  grown 
steadily  year  by  year.  The  members  of  the  company  are  all  natives 
of  St.  Clair  county. 

THE   PUMF   AND   SKEIN   COMPANY, 

Was  incorporated  in  1872,  with  a  capital  of  $30,000.  The  pres- 
eut  officers  are :  President,  John  J.  Thomas ;  Secretary,  Thomas 
Ibbotson  ;  Directors,  John  J.  Thomas,  Thotuas  Ibbotson  and  John 
Bailey.  Mr.  Thomas  has  been  president  for  eight  years.  Mr. 
Bailey,  who  superintends  the  mechanical  part  of  the  business,  has 
been  connected  with  the  company  for  the  last  five  years.  The 
buildings  comprise  a  two-story  machine  shop,  fifty  by  one  hundred 
feet ;  a  blacksmith  shop,  thirty  by  fifty  feet ;  and  a  foundry,  sixty 
by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  Much  of  the  machinery  is  new. 
The  establishment  has  a  gigantic  hammer  worked  by  steam,  the 
only  steam  hammer  in  Belleville.  Among  the  articles  manufac- 
tured are  letter-copying  presses,  jack  screws,  steam  pumps,  steam 
engines,  boilers  for  steam  heating  apparatus  and  the  Eureka  and 
Eclipse  plow  attachments.  Jack  screws  and  copying  presses  are 
manufactured  in  large  quantities  and  made  a  specialty.  Iron  and 
Brass  castings  are  made  to  order.  Business  was  begun  with  twenty 
hands,  and  now  from  seventy-five  to  ninety  are  employed.  The  in- 
vestment in  real  estate  and  working  capital  represents  $47,000. 
The  yearly  sales  amount  to  $75,000,  and  the  yearly  pay  roll  to 
$25  000.  $25,000  in  raw  material  is  used  each  year,  and  about 
$1,200  paid  for  coke. 

The  Rogers  Foundry,  on  Second  North  street,  was  established  m 
September,  1 878.  The  business  started  in  a  room  thirty  feet  square. 
The  moulding  room  is  now  fifty  by  one  hundred  and  forty  feet. 
Thirty-five  hands  are  employed.  Drill  castings,  stove  castings, 
pulley  castings  and  hollow-ware  are  the  principal  articles  manu- 
factured, and°all  kinds  of  castings  for  custom  work  are  made. 

Oaylord's  Foundry,  on  First  South  street,  between  Richland  and 
Race  streets,  was  started  by  George  Gaylord,  in  the  summer  of 
1876.     AlUinds  of  mmldings  and  castings  are  made.       ■ 


194 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  Union  Machine  Shop  and  Brass  Foundry,  on  First  South 
Street,  between  Jackson  and  Church,  is  carried  on  by  Jacob  Ehret. 
Particular  attention  is  paid  to  repairing  steam  engines,  farming  ma- 
chinery and  other  work  of  a  similar  nature. 

The  West  Main  Street  Machine  Shop  and  Brass  Foundry  first  be- 
gan work  in  March,  1880.  Ludwig  Liebig  and  John  Koderhandt 
were  then  partners.  JCoderhandt  is  now  the  sole  proprietor  of  the 
establishment.  Special  attention  is  paid  to  the  manufacture  of 
brewery  and  coal  mine  machinery,  stationary  and  portable  (ngines, 
and  iron  railing.     Repairs  of  all  kinds  are  made  as  required. 

Williams'  Carriage  Factory. — Volney  L.  Williams  came  to  Belle- 
yille  in  1837  and  opened  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  carriages, 
buggies  and  spring  wagons.  This  was  the  first  establishment  of 
that  kind  in  Belleville.  He  carried  on  the  business  till  1877.  His 
first  shop  was  on  the  corner  of  Race  and  Main  streets.  The  present 
factory,  now  uuder  the  management  of  H.  C.  Williams,  occupies  a 
building  on  First  North  street,  eighty  feet  front  and  one  hundred 
feet  deep.  Twelve  hands  are  employed.  All  kinds  of  buggies, 
spring  wagons,  barouches  and  phaetons  are  manufactured. 

Heinzelman  Bros.,  Carriage  Manufacturers. — John  A.  Heinzel- 
man,  in  1857,  purchased  the  interest  of  Pensoneau  &  Miller  in  a 
wagon  factory,  which  they  had  estab  ished  about  1850.  Since  the 
death  of  Mr.  Heinzelman,  in  1869,  his  sons,  John  and  William 
Heinzelman,  have  carried  on  the  business.  The  real  estate  and 
working  capital  of  the  establishment  now  represent  $-15,000.  From 
tweuty  to  twenty-fiye  hands  are  employed,  and  the  annual  sales 
amount  to  $30,000.  The  main  building  is  of  brick,  three  stories 
ill  height,  50  by  100  feet,  with  an  addition  40  by  50  feet.  Another 
building  is  100  by  40  feet  in  dimensions.  Cairiages  and  buggies  of 
all  kinds  are  manufactured,  and  a  specialty  is  made  of  the  Timken 
side  bar  buggy. 

The  Novelty  Carriage  Works,  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Race 
streets,  were  put  in  operation  in  August,  1878,  by  Gustavus  Lud- 
wig, J.  S.  Beck  and  Joseph  Stegmeyer.  All  kinds  of  top  and  open 
buggies,  doctors'  phaetons  and  spring  wagons  are  made.  Special 
attention  is  given  to  repairing  and  painting.  The  members  of  this 
firm  have  endeavored  to  give  public  satisfaction,  and  have  numer- 
ous patrons.     From  eight  to  fourteen  men  are  employed. 

Schanuel  £ro«..  Carriage  Makers,  began  business  in  March,  1879, 
on  High  street,  and  in  1880  moved  to  their  present  location,  at  the 
corner  of  Richland  and  First  South  streets.  The  members  of  the 
firm,  Henry  E.  and  John  Schanuel,  learned  their  trade  in  Belle- 
ville with  Heinzelman  Bros.,  and  bore  the  reputation  of  being  good 
workmen.  They  employ  seven  men.  Top  and  open  buggies,  spring 
and  platform  wagons  are  manufactured.  Attention  is  also  given  to 
repairing,  painting,  and  all  other  branches  of  the  business. 

BELLEVILLE   OIL    WORKS. 

Among  the  well-known  institutions  of  Belleville  is  the  Oil  VVorks, 
at  the*c()rner  of  Main  and  Mascoutali  streets,  established  in  the 
year  1866,  by  Brosius,  Geiss  &  Co,  This  was  the  first  oil  mill  ever 
started  in  Belleville,  and,  indeed,  is  the  only  one  that  has  ever  ex- 
isted in  the  city.  Shortly  after  beginning  business  the  process  of 
manufacture  was  improved,  and  in  1867,  the  establishment  was  the 
only  one  of  the  kind  in  the  West  to  manufacture  oil  by  the  cold. 
.pressed  process.  This  process  was  an  invention  of  the  firm,  which 
consequently  soon  obtained  a  reputation  for  making  the  best  oil  to 
be  obtained  in  the  western  country.  The  improvements  have  since 
been  copied  by  other  factories.  In  1868  the  works  were  enlarged, 
and  new  additions  were  again  made  in  1875.  The  presses  used  are 
the  invention  of  Jacob  Brosius.  The  product  of  the  works  consists 
of  cold  pressed  castor  oil,  linseed  oil,  hickory  nut  oil  and  pecan  oil. 


Thid  is  the  only  place  in  the  United  States  where  pecan  oil  is  manu- 
factured. Since  its  introduction  into  the  market  by  the  Belleville 
Oil  Works,  it  has  secured  a  place  among  the  finest  oils  for  table  use, 
and  by  many,  is  considered  much  superior  to  olive  oil.  The  works 
era  loy  ten  hands.  The  real  estate  and  working  capital  foot  up  to 
$100,000,  and  the  annual  sales  reach  a  similar  amount.  The  firm 
is  now  known  as  Brosius  &  Co.  The  establishment  ships  largely  to 
eastern  market-",  and  finds  ready  sales  for  its  goods.  The  telephone 
in  the  office  of  the  Oil  Works  was  the  first  in  use  in  Belleville. 

THE  STEAM   SUPPLY   COMPANY. 

In  the  year  1879,  Jacob  Brosius,  whose  attention  had  been  di- 
rected to  the  advantages  which  might  result  from  the  distribution 
of  steam  for  heating  and  power  purposes  from  some  central  works, 
made  the  necessary  preparations,  and  in  December,  1879,  began 
furnishing  steam.  The  necessary  buildings  were  erected  at  Kron- 
thal,  Mr.  Brosius'  residence,  in  the  east  of  Belleville,  and  from 
there  pipes  conduct  the  steam  to  various  parts  of  the  city.  The 
establishment  began  with  few  customers,  the  number  of  which, 
however,  steadily  increa-^ed.  During  the  winter  of  1880-81,  steam 
was  furnished  to  fifty-five  places  in  Belleville,  including  the  court, 
house  and  some  of  the  larger  buildings.  The  result  was  in  every 
way  satisfactory.  During  the  coldest  weather  of  an  extremely  cold 
winter  an  agreeable  and  even  temperature  was  maintained,  while 
the  patrons  of  the  steam  works  were  relieved  from  many  of  the  in- 
conveniences which  attend  the  use  of  coal.  Steam  power  was  also 
furnished  to  seven  engines.  Arrangements  have  been  made  to 
greatly  extend  the  service  of  the  works  during  the  winter  of  1881-2. 
Belleville  was  the  first  place  in  the  State  of  Illinois  to  adopt  this 
arrangement,  and  parties  from  other  cities,  who  have  inspected  the 
operations  of  the  works  at  Belleville,  assert  that  the  system  in  use 
here  is  the  finest  in  existence.  The  pipe  through  the  streets,  usually 
six  and  eight  inches  in  diameter,  is  laid  in  insulating  boxes,  made 
under  a  new  invention,  for  which  Mr.  Brosius  holds  recent  patents. 
By  this  arrangement  much  saving  of  heat  is  gained.  The  works 
represent  an  investm  nt  of  $45,000.  Jacob  Brosius  is  the  sole 
owner.  Twenty  acres  of  coal  land,  adjoining  the  works,  will  furn- 
ish a  supply  of  coal  sufficient  for  thirty  years.  An  ample  supply 
of  water  is  also  at  hand,  so  that  the  works  are  prepared  to  furnish 
unlimited  supplies  of  steam  on  a  ch^ap  and  economical  basis. 

Mr.  Brosius  has  otherwise  been  interested  in  several  enterprises 
of  benefit  to  Belleville.  In  1879  he  placed  an  electric  clock  in  the 
tower  of  his  residence,  with  which  connection  is  made  with  striking 
apparatus  in  some  of  the  school  buildings  and  with  the  bell  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  By  this  means  the  city  is  furnished 
with  correct  time.  In  1872  he  erected  a  steam  pump  near  his  resi- 
dence by  which  a  tank  at  the  Oil  Works  is  kept  filled  with  water. 
This  water  is  used  iu  sprinkling  the  streets  of  the  city. 

The  Belleville  Oas  Light  and  Coke  Company  was  chartered  in 
1856,  and  has  since  been  furnishing  gas  to  the  citizens  of  Belleville 
and  West  Belleville.  The  capital  stock  of  the  company  is  $100,000. 
The  company  has  between  six  and  seven  miles  of  gas  mains,  and 
furnishes  gas  to  two  hundred  and  seventeen  street  lamps  in  Belle- 
ville and  West  Belleville,  and  to  about  four  hundred  private  con- 
sumers^ The  officers  are :  President,  John  Eimer ;  Secretary  and 
Treasum-,  Edward  Abend ;  Superintendent,  Henry  Maguire ;  Di- 
rectors, John  Eimer,  Edward  Abend,  Henry  Maguire,  Adam  Karr, 
Philip  Schuck  and  H.  Westermann. 

THE    BELLEVILLE   WOOLEN   FACTORY 

Was  built  in  the  year  1848  on  Richland  Creek,  at  the  corner  of 
Mill  and  Race  Streets,  north  of  the  business  part  of  Belleville. 


HISTORY  OP  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


105 


Louis  Krimmel  was  the  originator  of  this  enterprise.  A  year  or 
two  afterwards  he  was  drowned  while  attempting  to  cross  Richland 
Creek  on  horseback  in  time  of  high  water.  In  1850  the  factory 
passed  into  the  hands  of  John  Winter  and  John  Romeis,  S3n.,  and 
a  short  time  afterward  Winter  purchased  Romeis'  interest.  Since 
the  death  of  Mr.  Winter  in  1862,  the  factory,  which  is  still  owned 
by  his  estate,  lias  been  opera'ed  by  various  parties ;  from  1864-70 
by  Philip  Rothangel  and  John  Winter,  and  from  1870-4  by  John 
Winter,  and  since  1874  by  John  and  George  Winter. 

SILK. 

A  mile  and  a  half  south-west  of  Belleville  on  the  Centerville  road 
the  manufacture  of  silk  goods  is  carried  on  by  Frederick  Murphy. 
The  investment  in  real  estate  and  working  capital  is  $5,500.  About 
$3,500  of  raw  material  is  used.  The  gross  business  amounts  to 
$8,500  per  annum 

stoelzle's  brewery. 

In  1853  Fidel  Stoelzle  started  a  brewery  on  Main  Street,  at  the 
corner  of  Race,  which  has  been  carried  on  by  him  ever  since.  He 
started  out  on  a  small  basis,  but  enlarged  his  business  as-necessity 
required.  IJe  employs  twelve  men  and  manufactures  between  six 
and  seven  thousand  barrels  annually,  using  between  fifteen  and 
sixteen  thousand  bushels  of  barley  and  malt.  The  sales  amount  to 
$50,000  a  year.  The  beer  finds  a  sale  in  Belleville  and  neighbor- 
ing towns  in  St.  Clair  County.  Mr.  Stoelzle  has  been  a  resident  of 
Belleville  since  1850. 

WESTERN    BREWERY   COMPANY. 

A  brewery  was  started  in  West  Belleville  in  1856,  which  with  en- 
largements and  improvements  became  the  extensive  brewery  now 
operated  by  the  Western  Brewery  Company.  In  the  old  brewery 
Philip  Neu  and  P.  Gintz  were  interested,  and  in  1873  the  property 
was  purchased  by  an  incorporated  company  the  stock  of  which  was 
owned  by  four  men,  William  Brandenburger,  Adam  Gintz,  Valen- 
tine Steg,  and  John  Kloess.  All  the  stock  is  now  in  the  hands  of 
Adam  Gintz.  Large  and  capacious  buildings  have  been  erected, 
and  every  facility  secured  for  carrying  on  the  busines  on  a  liberal 
and  extensive  scale.  The  capital  invested  reaches  $100,000. 
Twenty  thousand  barrels  of  beer  are  made  each  year  and  sold  in  St. 
Clair  and  adjoining  counties.  Twenty  five  hands  are  employed. 
Fifty  thousand  bushels  of  malt,  and  thirty-six  thousand  pounds  of 
hops  are  consumed  each  year.  ^ 

THE  STAR   BREWERY 

In  North  Belleville  was  built  in  1857  by  Neuhoff  and  Bresler.  It 
afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  Neuhofi",  who  associated  with  him 
Charles  Loe-er  as  partner.  Loeser  afterwards  became  sole  owner. 
The  firm  of  Loeser  and  Euckert  carried  on  the  b  rewery  till  1868, 
when  Hubert  Hartmann  became  associated  with  Loeser.  About 
the  time  of  the  latter's  death  in  1871  he  sold  his  interest  to  Bern- 
hard  Hartmann,  and  the  Hartmann  Bros,  have  been  carrying  on  the 
brewery  ever  since.  In  1871,  at  the  time  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  present  firm,  about  six  thousand  barrels  of  beer  were  manu- 
factured annually.  The  business  has  steadily  increased,  and  now 
twenty-five  thousand  barrels  are  manufactured  every  year  ;  in 
making  which  62,500  bushels  of  malt  are  used  and  37,500  pounds 
of  hops.  Their  ice  house  has  a  capacity  of  six  thousands  tons. 
The  brewery  is  situated  outside  the  city  limits.  A  dam  on  Rich- 
land Creek,  constructed  at  considerable  expense,  aflTords  an  ample 
supply  of  excellent  water,  and  to  this  fact  they  claim  is  due  the 
superior  quality  of  their  beer.  The  firm  also  have  a  bottling  estab- 
lishment on  Main  Street.     Beside  supplying   a  large  market   in 


Bjlleville  and  St.  Clair  County,  considerable  quantities  are  shipped 
to  St.  Louis  and  other  points.  Thirty-one  men  are  employed. 
The  amount  invested  in  real  estate  and  working  capital  is  $100,000, 
and  the  annual  sales  amount  to  $200,000. 

SCHOOL,   CHURCH   AND   SEWING   MACHINE   FDRNITURE. 

Gustavus  Heckel,  who  had  previously  been  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  sash,  doors,  and  blinds,  in  1865  began  the  business  of 
manufacturing  church  and  school  furniture,  which  he  has  carried 
on  ever  since.  School  desks  of  every  variety,  church  pews,  and 
other  articles  of  school  and  church  furniture,  are  made  by  him. 
This  is  the  only  establishment  of  the  kind  in  Southern  Illinois.  In 
1870  he  undertook  alsi  th3  bu^l  less  of  manufacturing  sewing 
machine  cases,  and  obtained  a  contract  from  the  Howe  Machine 
Company.  He  has  since  mad 3  cases  for  a  number  of  sewing 
raichine  c:)mpanie?,  am)ng  which  are  the  New  Home,  Victor, 
Singer  and  Domestic.  The  beauty  and  abundance  of  the  native 
woods  of  the  West  give  this  section  of  the  country  great  advantage 
over  the  Atlantic  border  in  the  production  of  such  goods  as  Mr. 
Heckel  manufactures.  Daring  the  next  year  he  proposes  to  em- 
ploy about  fifty  hands.  The  real  estate  and  working  capital  of  the 
factory  represent  from  $20,000  to  $25,000. 

LOUIS  VIERHELLER, 

At  the  corner  of  Spring  and  First  North  Streets,  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  household  furniture  for  the  retail  trade. 

EEUTCHLER   AGRICULTURAL   WORKS. 

J.  B.  Reutchler  in  1853  began  the  manufacture  of  grain  drills  at 
Belleville  under  Pennock's  patent,  the  first  patent  granted  for  a 
grain  drill.  This  was  the  first  establishment  of  the  kind  west  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains.  The  first  year  he  made  five  hundred  drills. 
The  second  year  this  number  was  doubled,  but  only  a  few  were  sold 
on  account  of  the  bad  season.  The  third  year  three  hundred  were 
manufactured.  All  were  sold  as  well  as  those  on  hand  from  pre- 
vious years  When  the  enterprise  was  first  started  people  laughed 
at  the  idea  of  "  sowing  wheat  in  rows."  In  1856  Mr.  Reutchler 
built  a  factory  at,  the  present  location  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
city  and  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Belleville  Agricultural  Works, 
under  which  it  ha?  since  been  known.  From  1864  to  1878  the 
establishment  was  run  by  D.  &  H.  Reutchler.  J.  B.  Reutchler 
thsn  agiiln  bscarae  interested,  and  in  1881  became  the  sole 
proprietor.  The  investmsnt  in  real  estate  and  working  capital 
amounts  to  $120,000.  Abjut  forty  hands  are  employed.  The 
article  principally  manufacture!  is  the  I.  X.  L.  Grain  Drill. 
Agricultural  implementi  in  general  are  also  repaired.  The  inven- 
tions and  improvements  made  use  of  in  the  drill  are  covered  by  Mr. 
Reutchler's  and  his  brother's  patents. 

ESLER  AND    ROPIE(4UET    MANUFACTURING   COMPANY. 

This  establishment  had  its  origin  in  a  machine  shop  which  was 
started  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1855  by  Geiss  and  Brosius. 
The  firm  first  turned  its  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  cider  mills 
and  double-movement  grain  drills,  and  carried  on  the  business 
successfully  till  1867,  when  the  bu.siness  was  sold  out  to  Esler  and 
Ropiequet  In  1875  the  Filer  and  Ropiequet  Manufacturing 
Company  was  organized  as  a  stock  company  with  a  capital  of 
$40  000  The  capital  now  employed  in  the  business  amounts  to 
$65000  and  the  annual  sales  to  $75,000.  From  forty  to  fifty- 
five'men  are  employed.  Th.  company  occupies  two  buildings,  each 
of  which  is  150  X  35  feet.  Special  attention  is  given  to  the  manu- 
fa-ture  of  the  Sacker-State  Grain  Drill,  and  the  Belleville  Sulky 


196 


EISTOBT  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Hay  Rfike.  Cider  and  wine  mills  and  presses,  circular  wood  saws, 
and  other  miscellaneous  articles  are  also'  made.  The  factory  is  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Mascoutah  Streets.  Edward  Abend  is 
president  of  the  company  and  J.  J.  Esler,  secretary. 

Philip  M.  Oundlach  started  the  manufacture  of  Grain  Drills 
in  West  Belleville  in  1858.  He  began  business  on  a  small  scale, 
but  was  soon  obliged  to  enlarge  his  facilities. 

In  1863,  he  removed  his  works  from  West  Belleville.  They  are 
now  located  north  of  Belleville,  just  outside  of  the  city  limits.  He 
manufactures  the  Rotary  Forced  Feed  Drill,  among  the  excellent 
points  of  which  he  claims  strong  construction  and  light  draught. 
The  main  building  of  his  factory  is  built  of  brick,  and  is  160  by  80 
feet  in  dimensions.  A  foundry,  80  by  60  feet,  has  recently  been 
added,  in  which  are  made  his  castings.  Mr.  Gundlach  has  been  a 
resident  of  St.  Clair  county  since  eleven  years  of  age. 

Sewing  Machines.  —  The  Belleville  Manufacturing  Company 
was  organized  in  April,  1879,  as  a  stock  company  with  a  capital  of 
$10,000,  which  was  subsequently  increased  to  |13,500,  and  after- 
ward to  $25,000,  the  present  capital.  The  works  are  now  located 
on  Second  North  street,  between  Illinois  and  Spring  streets.  The 
Fairbank's  Sewing  Machine  is  manufactured.  As  soon  as  the 
necessary  preparations  are  made  it  is  proposed  to  vigorously  push 
this  enterprize.  The  gentlemen  principally  interested  are  persons 
of  ample  business  experience,  and  are  prepared  to  utilize  the  natural 
advantages  which  Belleville  has  for  a  factory  of  this  description. 

The  Keg  Shops  on  the  line  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  rail- 
road  employ  lietween  thirty-five  and  forty  hands.  About  six  hun- 
dred kegs,  of  five  diflferent  sizes,  are  manufactured  each  day.  Nearly 
the  whole  product  of  the  establishment  is  used  by  the  Belleville 


Nail  Company.      George  W.  Shipman  has  been  superintendent  of 
the  shops  for  four  years. 

St.  Clair  Sash  Factory. — The  sash  factory  of  Storck  &  Brother 
was  started  in  the  year  1860  by  Friedrich  Storck,  and  is  the  oldest 
establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  Since  1870,  Friedrich  and 
George  Storck  have  carried  on  the  business  under  the  present  firm 
name.  Ten  hands  are  employed.  The  factory  turns  out  doors, 
blinds,  sash,  frames,  mouldings :  and  all  kinds  of  wood-turning  are 
also  done. 

Charles  Daehnert,  carpenter  and  builder,  is  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  sash,  doors  and  blinds.  His  factory  is  at  the  corner  of 
First  South  and  Church  streets.  He  does  a  large  amount  of  custom 
work  in  the  city  of  Belleville  and  elsewhere  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Deeke  and  Huhn,  at  the  corner  of  First  North  and  Richland 
streets,  have  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  doors,  blinds,  sash, 
frames  and  mouldings,  since  1878.  The  establishment  is  one  of  the 
largest  of  the  kind  in  Belleville,  and  employs  about  twenty-five 
hands.  The  members  of  the  firm  are  George  Deeke  and  Christopher 
Huhn. 

The  following  persons  are  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars : 

John  Bur,  167  Spring  Street ;  August  Fernaii,  37  West  Main  Street;  Daniel 
Fischer,  142  First  North  Street;  Charles  Goerlitz,  49  High  Street  and  29 
Second  South  Street ;  Martin  Henkemeyer,  19  Public  Square ;  Phillip  Kauf- 
mann,  27  Lebanon  Boad  ;  Frederick  Kaemper,  33  West  Main  Street;  Charles 
Kuefelkamp,  231  East  Main  Street;  Frank  Lebknecher,  1  Wist  Main  Street; 
Henry  Meyer,  143  Jiickson  Street;  Henry  Nagel,  240  West  Main  Street;  J. 
W.  Mueller,  218  Illinois  Street ;  Charles  F.  Seib,  178  West  Main  Street ;  Jacob 
Schen,  Jr.,  212  East  Main  Street;  Henry  Yiehnaann,  320  East  Main  Street; 
Henry  E.  Willmann,  180  Charles  Street ;  Kick  Wilhelm,  61  Main  Street, 
West  Belleville. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


— ^^^"l-Jt-SSB^— 


This  distinguished  citizen  of  Illinois  and  of  St.  Clair  county, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1788.    His  father,  Robert  Reynolds,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Moore,  were  natives  of  Ireland, 
and  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  Philadelphia  in 
1785.    When  he  was  about  six  months  old,  his  parents  removed 
with  him  to  Tennessee,  and  settled  at  the  base  of  the  Copper 
Ridge  Mountain,  about  fourteen  miles  north-east  of  Knoxville. 
The  Governor,  many  years  afterw;ards,  writes  thus  of  his  child- 
hood home  in  Tennessee:    "My  earliest  recollections  are  con- 
nected with  this  spot  at  a  period  when  I  was  probably  not  more 
than  five  or  six  years  old.    The  nightly  alarm  of  hostile  Indians 
and  the  mountains  with  their  majestic  summits,  often  veiled  in 
clouds,  made  an  impression  upon  my  mind  which  the  lapse  of  years 
and  the  scenes  through  which  I  have  since  passed  have  failed  to 
obliterate    I  well  remember  seeing  my  parents  when  a  night  attack 


of  the  Indians  was  expected  bar  the  door  of  our  cabin.  After  one 
of  these  alarms,  my  father,  with  gun  in  hand,  looked  cautiously  out 
in  every  direction  to  see  that  no  Indian  was  lurking  near  the  house 
before  he  would  venture  to  open  the  door.  My  grandfather,  who 
resided  in  the  vicinity,  had  built  a  fort,  to  which  our  family  and 
others  repaired  in  times  of  more  than  ordinary  danger,  and  there 
remained  till  the  danger  was  over."  For  many  years  previous  to 
Wayne's  treaty  with  the  Indians  in  1795,  the  Cherokees  were  in 
deadly  hostility  to  the  frontier  settlers,  and  killed  not  a  few  of  the 
pioneers  of  Tennessee.  In  1794  young  Reynolds'  father  rented  out 
his  frontier  farm,  and  retired,  with  his  family,  into  the  interior  of 
the  state. 

During  the  same  year  the  man  to  whom  he  had  rented  the  farm 
was  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  his  entire  family  escaped  destruction 
at  their  hands  only  by  the  merest  chance. 

His  father  emigrated  with  the  family  from  Tennessee  to  Illinois 


198 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


in  February,  1800,  and  settlerl  at  Kaskaskia.  More  than  half  a 
century  afterward,  -when  nearly  three  score  and  ten  years  of  age, 
Gov.  Reynolds  re-visited  the  frontier  home  of  his  childhood  in 
Tennessee.  We  give  a  short  extract  from  his  beautiful  description 
of  it  in  his  work :  "  My  Own  Times,"  as  serving  to  exhibit  his  lite- 
rary skill  when  he  chose  to  indulge  it,  and  also  the  strong  pathos 
and  filial  affection  of  the  author.  He  says :  "  In  1853  I  paid  a 
visit  to  the  state  of  Tennessee,  and  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  home 
of  my  infancy  and  childhood,  the  place  where  once  stood  the  hum- 
ble frontier  cabin  of  my  father.  I  now  re-visited  that  spot  for  the 
first  time  since  we  bade  it  adi,eu  in  1800,  and  removed  to  Illinois. 
I  left  it  a  mere  boy,  a  carekss,  happy  child.  I  returned  to  it  in 
the  wane  of  life.  More  than  half  a  century  stood  between  those  two 
points  of  time.  During  all  that  long  period  of  my  humble,  yet 
eventful  history,  the  home  of  my  early  years  lived  fresh  and  green 
in  my  memory,  just  as  I  had  seen  it  in  childhood.  I  knew  the 
place  where  our  cabin  had  stood,  though  every  vestige  of  its  walls 
and  roofs  had  disappeared  for  more  than  a  generation.  Nothing 
now  remained  to  mark  the  spot,  except  a  slight  elevation  of  the 
ground  where  the  chimney  had  been,  and  a  few  flat  stones  that  had 
once  been  our  hearth.  I  visited  this  hallowed  spot  alone.  I  stood 
upon  the  hearth-stone  of  my  childhood.  The  memories  of  early 
days  thronged  around  my  heart.  It  almost  seemed  as  if  I  was 
once  more  a  child  listening  to  the  stories  my  mother  told  me  in  the 
long  winter  evenings  around  that  very  hearth.  How  well  did  I 
remember  telling  her  all  my  childish  griefs,  and  with  what  gentle 
ness  she  chided  my  waywardness,  banishing  all  my  sorrows  with 
her  affectionate,  soothing  words.  I  almost  fancied  that  I  could 
again  feel  her  gentle  band  parting  the  luxuriant  hair  that  shaded 
my  youthful  beard,  and  her  warm  kiss  upon  my  forehead  and  lips. 
I  care  not  who  may  sneer  at  the  confession.  I  wept  like  a  child  as 
I  stood  alone  upon  that  hearthstone  and  thought  of  you,  my  fond, 
my  affectionate,  my  sainted  mother." 

Young  Reynolds  entered  with  zest  into  all  the  amusements  and 
athletic  exercises  of  the  young  pioneers,  among  whom  he  was  re- 
markably popular.  He  says:  "  In  the  early  days  of  Illinois  horse- 
racing  was  a  kind  of  mania  with  almost  all  the  people,  and  almost 
all  indulged  in  it,  either  as  spectators  or  otherwise.  In  my  youth 
I  possessed,  like  many  others,  a  species  of  mania  for  horse-racing, 
and  was  tolerably  successful  in  the  vocation  ;  delighted  extremely 
in  a  fine  race-horse,  and  have  expended  much  time  in  training 
them.  Just  preceding  an  important  race  I  have  slept  on  a  blanket 
in  a  stable  loft  to  take  care  of  my  horse.  Much  titne,  money  and 
morals  were  lost  in  these  early  sports  of  the  turf.  Foot-racing, 
jumping,  and  wrestling  were  practiced  by  the  Americans  in  early 
times,. and  many  bets  were  made  on  the  foot-races  as  well  as  on  the 
horse-races.  I  was  delighted  with  these  rural  sports,  and  became  a 
swift  foot-racer  myself.  When  I  arrived  at  the  years  of  eighteen 
or  twenty  I  grew  large  and  active.  My  ambition  urged  me  to 
excel  in  these  athletic  sports.  I  practiced  foot-racing  incessantly, 
and  discovered  I  was  hard  to  beat.  The  first  race  I  ever  run  for  a 
wager  was  in  Kaska.skia  in  the  autumn  of  1808,  with  the  Houi 
John  Scott,  of  Ste.  Genevieve,  Mo.  After  the  above  race  a  bet  of 
a  hundred  dollars  Was  made  on  a  foot-race  of  one  hundred  yards,  to 
be  run  by  me  and  a  man  by  name  of  Paine.  The  race  was  to  be 
run  at  the  place  of  Gov.  Kinney's,  a  few  miles  east  of  Belleville." 
How  remarkable  it  now  appears  to  us  to  find  this  young  athlete 
ten  years  afterward  elevated  to  the  Supreme  bench  ;of  the  state  of 
Illinois ! 

He  says  further :  "  It  was  considered  at  that  day  both  fashiona- 
ble and  honorable  to  game  for  money.  Card-playing  was  sustained 
by  the  highest   classes,  as  well  as  the  lowest  in  the  country.     A 


person  who  could  not,  or  would  not  play  cards,  was  scarcely  fit  for 
genteel  society.  The  French  delighted  much  in  this  amusement, 
which  gave  the  card-parties  much  standing  and  popularity  with  the 
Americans.  The  French  at  that  time  had  the  ascendency  In  the 
country,  and  their  manners  and  habits  gave  tone  and  character  to 
many  such  transactions.  I  never  considered  card-playing  as  the 
most  innocent  amusement,  but  I  yielded  to  the  custom  and  habits 
of  the  country.  When  I  was  appointed  one  of  the  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  in  1818, 1  abandoned  card  playing  and 
every  other  species  of  gambling  for  money." 

About  the  year  1805,  a  small  school  was  formed  in  the  neigh- 
borhood where  his  father  resided.  This  the  future  Governor  and 
Supreme  Judge  attended  during  the  winters  and  "wet  days."  Still 
he  was  ambitious,  and  studied  much  alone,  and  with  such  private 
aid  as  he  could  procure.  He  gave  a  young  colt,  a  present  from  his 
father,  to  a  man  to  work  in  his  place  while  he  went  to  school.  In 
the  winter  of  1806  and  1807,  he  attended  a  good  school  taught  by 
a  competent  teacher.  This  school  was  situated  a  few  miles  north- 
east of  the  present  city  of  Belleville. 

He  says :  "  I  have  often  examined  with  deep  feeling  the  tumuli 
of  earth  where  this  school-house  once  stood.  I  ravere  and  respect 
the  site  with  the  same  feeling  as  the  Jews  in  ancient  tiiues  did  the 
city  of  Jerusalem."  In  the  year  1809,  through  the  influence  of  his 
uucle,  John  Reynolds,  of  Tennessee,  he  entered  college  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tennes-iee,  being  then  in  his  twentieth  year,  and  a  fine  spe- 
cimen of  a  sharp  backwoods  western  youth. 

He  says  that  he  was  in  an  "  unsettled  condition — ready  for  a 
college,  horse-race,  or  a  tour  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  I  was  a 
singular  spectacle  when  I  started  in  1809  to  college.  I  looked 
more  like  a  trapper  going  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  than  a  student 
to  college."  "  I  was  well  educated  in  the  arts  and  mysteries  of 
horse-racing,  and  foot-racing,  shooting-matches,  and  all  other  wild 
sports  of  the  backwoods.  My  clothes  were  made  up  without  tailors, 
and  did  not  fit.  so  that  I  was  placed  in  fashionable  and  polished 
society  in  Tennessee,  in  a  most  ludicrous  position.  I  wore  a  cream- 
colored  hat,  made  out  of  the  fur  of  the  prairie  wolf,  which  also  made 
a  rather  grotesque  appsarance."  Hs  says  further :  "  When  I 
turned  my  head  back  on  leaving  home,  and  saw  my  mother  shedding 
tears  I  bitterly  condemned  the  college,  but  honor  and  obstinacy 
propelled  me  onward,  though  I  had  died  on  my  horse." 

In  October,  1810,  he  also  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  John  Campbell,  aud  was  intensely  studious.  Bjlng 
threatened  with  consumption,  he  was  compelled  to  omit  study  for 
almost  a  year. 

"  I  possessed  then,"  he  says,  "  nothing  on  earth  save  a  few 
clothes  and  the  commencement  of  consumption.  But  the  hearts  of 
my  uncie  and  aunt  overflowed  with  kindness  to  me.  I  was  fur- 
nished with  a  fine  horse  and  money,  and  started  home  to  Illinois 
in  the  spring  of  the  year  1811." 

In  January,  1812  his  health  being  restored  again,  he  entered 
the  college  at  Knoxville  to  renew  his  studies.  But  he  was  more 
prudent  in  his  studies,  and  occasionally  attended  and  engaged  in 
foot-races.  He  says :  "  The  race  was  run,  and  I  won  the  bet.  I 
paid  off  some  debts  I  owed  in  town,  and  that  was  I  believe  the  last 
foot-raqe  I  ran  for  a  wager.  My  preceptor  and  staid -friends  did 
not  approve  it ;  but  they  excused  it  in  mej  as  it  was,  they  presumed, 
about  the  last  of  ray  wild  backwoods  education  oozing  out"  He 
states  also  that  he  won  a  horse  at  a  horse  race  in  Cahokia,  Illinois, 
the  preceding  fall,  and  says :  "  I  sold  the  horse  I  won  to  a  hotel- 
keeper  in  Knoxville,  and  boarded  it  out  with  him  while  I  studied 
law."  These  incidents  serve  to  illustrate  the  spirit  of  the  pioneer 
times. 


SW-!IJj;!5'7WWT^5?7WP^^ 


I   ,.  „^' v-f  ■■■ 


•^7 ,''.—;T"'"iry'  vi"-"r*'yi.' J* "  *>*"r'j*st?;g 


Residence  of  LOUIS  C.STARKEL.  Belleville.  Illinois. 


Residence  of  Dr   W.  WEST.   Belleville.  Illinois, 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


199 


Returning  home  in  1813,  he  served  a  while  as  a  private  in  the 
war  against  the  Indians.  In  the  fall  of  1812,  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  law,  having  been  examined  by  two  United  States  Judges 
for  the  Territory  of  Illinois.  On  the  3d  of  March,  1813,  Captain 
Wm.  B.  Whiteside  organized  his  United  States  Hanging  Company, 
and  in  it  Reynolds  enlisted  as  a  private. 

This  service  gave  him  the  "  soubriquet "  of  "  the  Old  Ranger,"  by 
which  he  was  in  after  years  known  ail  over  the  state.  His  friends 
gave  him  the  cognomen  in  electioneering  campaigns,  being  indica- 
tive of  services  as  a  ranger  on  the  frontier  in  the  last  war  with 
Britain. 

In  the  spring  of  1814,  he  opened  his  law  office  in  the  French 
village  of  Cahokia,  without,  as  he  tells  us,  "  a  cent  of  money,  and 
scarcely  any  books  or  clothes,"  and  with  a  "  horse,  but  no  decent 
saddle  or  bridle."  He  was,  he  says,  like  the  man's  oxen,  "  strong 
in  light  work."  But  he  had  a  press  of  business,  in  selling  land  and 
practicing  law.  In  the  course  of  the  four  successive  years,  he  pur- 
chased two  stores,  valued  at  ten  thousand  dollars.  He  says  that 
when  in  1818,  he  was  appointed  Judge,  he  "  ceased  land  specula- 
tions and  entered  another  field  of  more  trouble  and  less  profit."  In 
the  spring  of  1817,  he  was  married  to  a  French  Creole  lady,  a 
native  of  Cahokia,  who  died  in  Belleville  in  1834.  Her  death,  he 
tells  us,  was  the  severest  shock  he  ever  experienced. 

Illinois  became  a  state  in  1818,  and  the  first  legislature  which 
commenced  at  Kaskaskia,  in  September,  1818,  elected  him  one  of 
the  supreme  judges,  as  he  tells  us,  much  to  his  surprise.  He  presided 
in  the  counties  of  St.  Clair,  Madison,  Washington,  Monroe  and 
Bond.  It  will  not  be  amiss  to  quote  from  his  experience  as  a  judge. 
"  The  judges  of  the  supreme  couit  of  Illinois  in  1 818,  were  all  young 
men  and  had  not  that  practice  at  the  bar  that  was  necessary  to  give 
standing  and  character  to  their  decisions,  but  the  law  was  ad- 
ministered at  that  day  with  less  form  and  ceremony,  yet  with  as 
much  equity  and  justice  as  at  the  present  time.  The  judges  had 
laborious  duties  to  perform,  to  hold  both  the  circuit  and  supreme 
courts  throughout  the  whole  state.  The  first  court  I  held  was  in 
the  spring  of  1819,  in  Covington,  Washington  county,  and  it  was  to 
me  a  strange  and  novel  business.  I  commenced  my  official  duties 
among  my  old  comrades  with  whom  I  had  been  raised,  ranged  in  the 
war  with  them  and  lived  with  them  in  great  intimacy  and  equality,  so 
that  it  was  difficult  in  my  situation  to  assume  a  diflerent  relation- 
ship than  I  had  previously  occupied  with  them.  And  moreover,  I 
utterly  despised  a  mock  dignity  that  is  sometimes  assumed.  Both 
the  sheriff  and  clerk  of  Washington  county  were  rangers  in  the 
same  company  with  myself,  and  it  seemtd  we  were  still  in  the 
United  States  service,  ranging  on  eqiial  terms  in  pursuit  of  the  In- 
dians. And  it  appears  that  the  sherifi"  Bowling  Green  entertained 
the  same  opinion,  as  he  opened  court  in  a  very  familiar  manner. 
While  he  was  sitting  astride  on  a  bench  he  proclaimed,  without 
rising,  that  "  the  court  is  now  opened.  John  is  on  the  bench  " 
Not  long  after  in  Union  county,  the  deputy-sherifi"  opened  court 
(myself  presiding)  by  saying  "  Oh  yes  "  three  times,  and  then  in  a 
solemn  manner  proclaimed  "  the  Honorable  Judge  is  now  opened." 
In  1825,  he  again  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  in  1826  was 
elected  to  the  legislature,  where  he  remained  for  two  sessions.  In 
August,  1830,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  state,  after  a  most  ex- 
citing political  campaign. 
During  his  administration  he  was  commander  of  all  the  Illinois 


Militia  and  prosecuted  to  a  successful  termination  the  war  against 
Indians,  known  in  history  as  the  "  Black  Hawk  War." 

As  illustrative  of  the  distinguishing  traits  of  Gov.  Reynolds  as  a 
man  and  politician,  we  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  from  Ford's 
History  of  Illinois  in  describing  his  race  for  Governor  in  1830 
Governor  Ford  says  of  him :  "  Judge  Reynolds  was  a  man  of 
good  natured,  easy  and  pliable  materials.  He  had  received  a  classi- 
cal education,  and  was  a  man  of  good  talents  in  his  own  peculiar 
way,  but  no  one  would  suppose  from  hearing  his  conversation  and 
public  addresses,  that  he  had  ever  learned  more  than  to  read  and 
write  and  cipher  to  the  Rule  of  Three :  such  acquisitions  being  sup- 
posed to  constitute  a  very  learned  man  in  the  times  of  his  early  life. 
He  had  been  a  farmer,  a  lawyer,  a  soldier,  a  judge  and  a  member 
of  the  legislature.  He^^had  passed  his  life  on  the  frontiers  among  a 
frontier  people :  he  had  learned  all  the  by  words  and  catch  words, 
old  sayings  and  figures  of  speech  invented  by  vulgar  ingenuity,  and 
common  among  a  backwoods  people  :  to  these  he  had  added  a  co- 
pious supply  of  his  own  and  had  diligently  compounded  them  all 
into  a  language  peculiar  to  himself  which  he  used  on  all  occasions 
both  public  and  private. 

He  was  a  man  of  remarkably  good  sense  and  shrewdness  for  the 
sphere  in  which  he  chose  to  move,  and  possessed  a  fertile  imagina- 
tion, a  ready  eloquence,  and  a  continued  mirthfulness  and  pleas- 
antry when  mingling  with  the  people;  He  had  a  kind  heart,  and 
was  always  ready  to  do  a  favor,  and  never  harbored  resentment 
against  any  human  being." 

In  1834,  he  was  elected  as  a  representative  to  Congress.  While 
there  he  was  married  to  a  lady  living  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 

In  1836,  he  with  a  few  others  determined  to  construct  a  railroad 
from  the  bluifs  to  the  Mississippi,  and  actually  did  build  it,  which 
was  the  first  railroad  ever  built  in  Illinois.  They  were  forced  to 
bridge  a  lake  over  2000  feet  across,  and  to  drive  down  piles  more 
than  eighty  feet  into  the  mud  and  water  of  the  lake  on  which  to 
build  the  bridge.  The  road  was  six  miles  in  length,  and  built  for 
the  coal  traffic.  They  graded  the  track,  cut  and  hauled  the  timber, 
piled  the  lake,  built  the  road  and  had  it  running  in  one  season  of 
the  year  1837.  It  was  the  first  railroad  built  in  the  Mississippi 
valley. 

He  was  again  elected  to  Congress  in  1838.  In  the  summer  of 
1839,  he  went  to  Europe  under  appointment  of  Gov.  Carlin  for  the 
purpose  of  negotiating  a  loan  of  four  million  dollars.  In  this  ca- 
pacity he  visited  London,  Liverpool,  Paris,  Brussels,  Dover,  and 
other  cities. 

In  1846,  he  was  again  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature,  and 
again  also  in  1852.  On  this  occasion  he  was  elected  speaker  of 
the  house. 

Gov.  Reynolds  dic^  at  his  home  in  Belleville,  in  St.  Clair  county. 
Ills.,  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  1865,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of 

his  age. 

His  was  indeed  an  eventful  life,  so  illustrative  of  the  spirit  and 
quaint  novelty  of  pioneer  times  that  we  may  well  say,  "  We  shall 
never  see  his  like  again."  His  library  effijrts  consist  mainly  of 
"  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois,"  "  My  Own  Times,"  "  Development 
of  the  Human  Mind,"  "  John  Kelly,"  and  a  sketch  book  descrip- 
tive of  scenes  and  places  by  the  way  on  a  tour  to  Crystal  Palace  at 
N.  Y.  He  was  a  representative  from  Illinois  to  the  World's  Fair 
also  held  at  New  York. 


200 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


HON.  8AMUEL  B.  CHANDLER,  (deceased.) 


Among  the  many  prominent  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county  of  the 
past,  who  aided  and  did  much  to  advance  the  material  interest  of 
the  county,  was  Samuel  B.  Chandler.  A  history  of  the  county  to 
which  he  contributed  so  much  would  be  incomplete  without  proper 
mention  being  made  of  him.  It  is  also  fitting  that  a  man  possessed 
of  80  many  good  traits  of  character,  of  so  benevolent  a  disposition 
jand  liberality,  should  be  passed  down  to  posterity  as  an  example 
worthy  of  imitation.  He  was  of  Eoglish  ancestry  on  the  paternal 
'side,  and  German  on  the.n)^,ternal.  He  was  the  son  of  Samuel 
and  Soloma  (Hofiman '  Chandler,  and  was  born  in  Rockbridge 
ijounty,  Virginia,  February  9th,  1808.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  came  west,  and  for  several  years  worked  in  the  lead  mines  at 
Galena,  Illinois.  It  not  proving  remunerative,  he  came  south  to 
St.  Louis,  and  from  there  to  Belleville.  Here  he  found  work  at 
his  trade  of  saddler,  in  the  shop  of  John  D.  Hughes,  who  paid  him 
the  small  pittance  of  twenty-five  cents  per  day.  He  continued  at 
the  trade  but  a  short  time,  and  then  engaged  in  general  merchan- 
dizing, in  which  he  continued  actively  until  hii  death,  August  7th, 
187L  On  the  21st  of  January,  1834,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Adilini  La  Croix,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Catherine 
(Dubuque)  La  Croix.  Mrs.  Chandler  was  born  Dec  6,  1806,  at 
Marivais  Ferre,  then  an  Indian  trading  post  on  the  Illinois  River, 
near  Peoria,  Illinois.  She  still  survives  her  husband,  and  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Belleville.  By  this  marriage  there  was  one  child,  which 
died  in  infancy. 

During  Mr.  Chandler's  life  he  became  prominent  in  the  local 
politics  of  the  county.  He  was  not  a  politician,  however,  but  his 
well-known  probity  of  character,  busiuess  sense  and  fidelity  to 
trusts  and  friends,  made  him  almost  invincible  as  a  candidate  for 
public  place.  If  he  accepted  a  nomination  or  office,  it  was  only  at 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  friends.  Once  accepted,  he  entered  upon 
the  duties  thereof  and  discharged  them  with  a  strict  impartiality 


and  fairness  that  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  classes.  In 
1840  he  was  elected  sherifl'  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  became  his 
own  suceessor,  and  held  the  ofiice  for  a  number  of  terms.  In  1849 
he  was  elected  to  represent  St.  Clair  county  in  the  Legislature, 
and  while  acting  as  legislator,  it  is  said  of  him  that  his  acts  were 
marked  by  great  prudence  and  economy,  and  a  due  regard  for  the 
will  of  his  constituents.  All  enterprises  which  had  for  their 
object  the  good  of  his  county  or  locality,  or  the  increase  of  the 
material  wealth,  always  found  in  him  an  advocate  and  friend, 
ready  to  take  hold  and  give  it  substantial  aid,  and  that  too  without 
hoping  to  reap  any  direct  personal  advantage.  In  short,  his 
greatest  pleasure  seemed  to  be  doing  good  to  others,  or  in  doing 
something  that  would  redound  to  the  advantage  of  the  public  or 
the  benefit  of  individuals.  He  accumulated  wealth  rapidly,  but 
wealth  in  his  hands  was  simply  the  means  of  enabling  him  to  do 
good  to  others  He  was  industrious  in  making  money,  but  seemed 
equally  industrious  in  giving  it  away.  No  object  of  charity  ever 
appealed  to  him  and  went  away  empty-handed.  Every  worthy 
enterprise  of  a  public  character  found  in  him  a  donor  to  the  full 
extent  of  his  ability  to  give.  The  sums  he  gave  were  not  so  large 
and  princely,  but  he  was  constantly  giving;  and  yet  in  such  a 
quiet,  unostentatious  manner,  that  it  may  truly.be  said  of  him  that 
the  right  knew  not  what  the  left  hand  hand  did.  In  the  origina- 
tion and  organization  of  the  Agricultural  Society,  he  had  more 
to  do  than  perhaps  any  other  man  in  the  county.  He  was 
one  of  the  origiual  directors,  and  continued  his  connection  with  it 
until  his  death.  He  was  for  some  time  its  president,  and,  in  fact, 
held  all  the  offices.  The  society  sustained  a  great  loss  in  his 
death.  He  was,  for  many  years,  a  director  in  the  Belleville 
Savings'  Bank,  and,  at  his  death,  resolutions  of  respect  were  passed 
by  the  Directors,  and  placed  upon  the  records  of  the  bank,  extolling 
his  many  virtues  as  an  officer  and  a  man. 


rtitmiJ-LmtitJiJrUl 


fmf-^i 


r-^'fPiiv'cv'^'^  " 


THcBusmessHOUsi:  or  L.  LEBHUECHER .  Dealer  in  all  kinds  of\^ 

Heaths  dT0VE38c/fANGESjmWARE&f/aUSE  FURNISHING  GoODSjSWESTMA/NST.BELmLLEjlL. 


/// 


mSTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


201 


HON.  JOHN  THOMAS. 

Among  the  old  settlers  of  St  Clair  county,  and  of  those  who 
have  exercised  a  marked  influence  in  the  county,  is  Colonel  John 
Thomas,  the  subject  of  the  following  sketch :  His  ancestors  were 
from  Wales,  and  emigrated  to  America  about  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century.  His  great-grandfather,  Daniel  Thomas,  was  the 
father  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  son,  Griffith 
Thomas,  had  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  two  daughters.  Of  this 
family  was  John  Thomas,  the  father  of  Colonel  John  Thomas.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  married  Jane  Smith,  of  North  Caro- 
lina. By  this  union  there  was  a  large  family,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living.  Colonel  John  Thomas  was  born  in  Wythe  county, 
Virginia,  January  11th,  1800.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and 
followed  that  trade  and  farming.  The  family  was  large,  and  the 
means  of  Mr.  Thomas  limited,  therefore  all  the  sons  had  to  become 
helpers,  and  provide  for  their  own  support  and  that  of  the  family 
at  a  very  early  age.  Being  poor,  and  living  in  a  slave  country, 
where  schools  were  the  exception,  their  education  was  limited  and 
neglected,  except  that  which  they  received  from  their  excellent 
mother,  who  taught  all  of  her  children  to  read  and  write.  It  was 
the  intention  of  his  father,  who  abhorred  the  system  of  slavery,  to 
remove  from  Virginia  as  soon  as  he  could  do  so,  and  take  his 
children  to  one  of  the  free  western  States,  where  they  could  grow 
up,  and  not  be  under  the  blighting  influence  of  slavery.  Full  of 
this  resolve,  he  left  Virginia,  and  arrived  in  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois,  April  28,  1818.  He  halted  near  the  present  village  of 
Shiloh,  and  there  set  up  a  blacksmith  shop,  in  what  was  known  as 
the  Alexander  settlement.  There  he  remained  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  in  1848.  His  wife  survived  him,  and  died  in 
1854.  John  remained  at  home  and  worked  for  his  father  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self. The  first  year  after  leaving  home  he  divided  between  going 
to  school  and  working.  He  felt  the  need  of  more  education.  In 
June,  1852,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Arabella,  daughter 
of  William  Kinney,  afterwards  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Illinois. 
After  his  marriage  he  commenced  farming  in  a  very  small  way, 
on  a  rented  farm.  Six  years  later  he  made  his  first  purchase  of 
land,  bought  and  stocked  a  farm ;  and  from  that  first  investment 
in  land  dates  his  prosperity.  He  was  shrewd  and  far-seeing,  and 
knew  that  permanent  prosperity  would  come  to  him  who  would 
invest  liberally,  or  place  his  means  in  land.  He  knew  it  was  only 
a  question  of  time  as  to  when  the  broad  and  fertile  prairies  of 
Illinois  would  be  brought  into  market,  and  a  great  demand  by  the 
tide  of  emigration  was  pouring  in  from  foreign  shores,  and  that 
was  rapidly  moving  westward  from  the  east.  He  therefore  con- 
stantly purchased  all  the  land  he  could  get,  and  pay  for,  notwith- 
standing he  was  advised  that  he  was  acting  foolishly  and  inviting 
bankruptcy,  and  sooner  or  later  he  would  repent  his  rashness. 

He,  however,  kept  on  buying  land.  He  had  an  abiding  faith 
that  real  estate  was  the  true  source  of  wealth,  and  he  who 
would  invest  in  it  liberally  would  in  time  reap  permanent  pros- 
perity. This  has  been  the  secret  of  his  success  and  wealth.  He 
has  seen  the  land  for  which  he  paid  a  few  dollars  per  acre  grow  in 
value  to  over  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre.  The  history  of  his 
success  is  the  history  of  nearly  all  the  rich  men  of  Illinois.  In 
early  life  Mr.  Thomas  was  considerably  devoted  to  military  pur- 
suits. In  1832,  during  the  progress  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  raised  a  company,  and  was  elected  colonel  of  the  regi- 

26 


ment,  and  participated,  with  his  command,  in  the  skirmishes,  and 
helped  to  break  the  power  of  Black  Hawk  in  the  west.  In  the 
same  war  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  John  J.  Hardin,  E.  D.  Baker 
and  other  subsequently  noted  men  of  Illinois.  Politically  Col. 
Thomas  has,  to  a  certain  extent,  been  in  politics  for  many  years 
That  is  to  say,  he  never  was  an  office-seeker.  He  was  one  of  those 
men  who  were  outspoken  upon  all  subjects  in  which  the  people 
were  interested,  therefore  his  opinions  were  sought  for,  and  his 
position  upon  public  questions  was  known  to  be  sound  and  the 
result  of  honest  conviction,  and  generally  in  accord  with  public 
sentiment.  While  yet  a  resident  of  Virginia,  he  imbibed  principles 
antagonistic  to  slavery.  He  knew  its  baneful  influence  and  effect 
upon  society,  and  had  felt  its  force.  He  believed  that  the  normal 
condition  of  all  men  was  to  be  free  and  equal  before  the  law.  As 
early  as  1824,  the  first  opportunity  presented  itself  of  giving  him 
a  chance  to  raise  his  voice  and  deposit  his  ballot  against  the  system 
of  slavery.  At  that  date  the  Legislature  submitted  to  a  vote  of 
the  people  the  question  of  the  admission  of  a  slavery  clause  in  the 
constitution.  He  acted  with  the  old  line  whig  party,  and  belonged 
to  the  advanced  wing  of  the  party.  In  1854,  when  Congress,  un. 
der  the  domination  of  Southern  influence,  passed  what  was  known 
as  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  with  a  view  to  the  extension  of  slavery 
into  the  territories,  he  took  an  active  part  in  opposition  to  its  pas- 
sage, and  did  what  he  could  to  prevent  the  measure  from  becoming 
a  law.  In  1856  he  was  zealous  and  active  in  forming  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  one  of  its  first  members.  In  short,  he  and  Lincoln, 
Trumbull,  Palmer,  Lovejoy  and  a  few  others  were  the  leaders,  and 
may  be  regarded  as  the  founders  of  the  Republican  parfy.  In  the 
political  contest  of  1856  he  was  named  as  the  leader  of  the  party 
in  this  Congressional  District,  and  was  nominated  for  Congress  on 
the  ticket.  He  was  beaten  by  Col.  J.  L.  D.  Morrison,  the  demo- 
cratic nominee,  but  not  until  he  had  demonstrated  that  he  was  a 
strong  man,  and  on  equal  grounds  would  have  defeated  him.  In 
St.  Clair  county,  where  both  lived,  he  beat  Morrison  over  seven 
hundred  majority,  and  also  made  an  equally  good  showing  in  Madi- 
son county.  In  1830  Col.  Thomas  was  elected  to  the  State  Legis- 
lature, and  served  in  the  last  session  held  at  Vandalia,  and  the  first 
at  Springfield.  In  1862,  during  the  exciting  times  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, he  was  again  elected,  and  re-elected  in  1864.  During  the 
war  he  was  loyal  and  patriotic,  and  favored  every  measure  for  the 
speedy  ending  of  the  war  and  restoration  of  the  Union.  In  1872 
he  was  elected  for  the  fourth  time  to  represent  his  District  in  the 
Legislature,  and  in  1874  was  re-elected.  In  1878  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  by  the  Republican  party  to  represent  St.  Clair  county 
in  the  State  Senate.  He  was  a  very  useful  member,  and  brought 
to  the  Senate  much  intelligence,  accumulated  from  long  experience. 
Col.  Thomas  is  a  believer  in  the  general  education  of  the  masses, 
and  believes  that  therein  lies  the  future  hope  and  perpetuation  of 
free  institutions  in  America. 

By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Arabella  Kinney  there  were  ten 
children  born,  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  Two  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  yet  living.  In  January,  1875,  he  married  Magdalena 
Holdner,  a  widow,  daughter  of  Jacob  Von  Eue,  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land. Such  is  a  brief  history  of  Col.  John  Thomas.  His  career 
is  full  of  encouragement  to  the  poor  young  man  starting  out  in 
life.  The  sequel  of  his  success  shows  how,  with  industry,  per- 
severance and  the  practice  of  economy,  and  guided  by  correct 
principles,  a  man  may  attain  wealth  and  honor  in  this  free  land 
of  ours. 


202 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


<Jrm 


i/cSvlcL^ 


One  of  the  early  German  settlers  of  St.  Clair  Co.  was  John  Schcel. 
He  was  born  at  Falkenstein  in  Eheni.sh  Bavaria,  German}',  May 
20th,  1808.  He  was  educated  for  the  Furrcstry  at  the  Academy  of 
Aschaffenberg,  in  1823  ;  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  in  Augii.st 
of  the  same  year,  together  with  the  Engelmanns,  Koerners,aud  other 
German  families  came  west  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois. 
Here  he  took  up  the  profession  of  Civil  Engineer.  In  18:!G  he 
received  an  appointment  as  Civil  Engineer  under  the  so-called 
"  Internal  Improvement  Law,"  which  position  he  retained  until 
18.39,  when  the  system  was  abolished.  He  was  afterwards  elected 
County  Assessor,  for  St.  Clair  county.  In  1849  he  become  County 
Clerk,  which  office  he  held  eight  years,  or  for  two  full  terms.  In 
1858,  while  absent  on  a  visit  to  the  country  of  his  birth,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  He  served  with  distinction 
in  that  body.  In  1860  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the  office  of 
State  Senator  by  the  Republican  party.  Although  he  receceived  a 
heavy  majority  in  his  own  county,  and  reduced  the  Democratic  ma- 
jority in  Monroe  (wdiieh  with  St.  Clair  formed  the  Senatorial  Dis- 


trict), he  was  defeated,  and  his  opponent.  Judge  W.  H.  Uuderwood, 
elected  by  a  small  majority.  In  18G2  he  was  appointed  Assessor 
of  Internal  Ivevcnue  for  what  was  then  the  12th  Congressional 
District  of  Illinois,  and  held  that  office  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  January  17th,  18G4. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  1838,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Engelmaun,  who  still  survives  him.  Mr.  Scheel,  in  hi^ 
line,  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  stood  very  high 
in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  death  was  universally 
lamented  by  all  classes  of  people,  and  he  was  one  among  the  many 
prominent  Germans,  who  have  left  their  impress  upon  the  history 
of  St.  Clair  county.  As  a  public  officer  he  was  noted  for  strict 
integrity  and  probity  in  all  of  his  official  acts.  Of  a  genial  dis- 
position and  equitable  temperament  he  endeared  himself  to  all  who 
knew  him.  Progressive  and  enterprising  he  was  ever  ready  to  aid 
in  promoting  and  furthering  all  laudable  undertakings  which  had 
for  their  oliject  the  moral,  intellectual  and  material  advan  "tmeut 
of  the  State  and  county  of  his  ado]ition. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


203 


Hon.  GUSTAVUS  KOERNER. 
This  distinguished  German-American  writer  and  statesman  was 
born  in  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  Germany,  November  20th,  1809. 
His  father,  Bernhard  Koerner,  was  a  book  publisher  and  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Frankfort,  and  was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly,  in  which  he  became  conspicuously  known  for  his 
strong  liberalism.  Young  Koerner  attended  the  Academy  (Gym- 
nasium) of  his  native  city.  This  university  was  then  the  centre  of 
those  associations  of  students  known  as  "  Burschenschaft."  The 
patriotic  tendencies  of  the  youth  of  Germany  at  the  universities, 
found  in  Koerner  an  active  adherent  in  whom  was  instilled  a  warm 
and  sincere  devotion  to  the  cause,  and  a  clear  comprehensive  know- 
ledge of  the  questions  and  principles  involved.  In  the  fall  of  1830 
he  studied  at  the  University  of  Munich.  During  his  residence 
there,  he  was  charged,  with  some  others,  with  having  resisted  the 
police.  For  this  he  was  arrested  and  imprisoned  for  four  months, 
when  he  was  released  and  discharged  from  the  complaint,  by  judg- 
ment of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Bavaria.  He  completed  his  studies 
at  Heidelberg  iu  1832,  graduating  with  honors  and  receiving  the 
degree  of  LL.  D.  After  his  graduation,  he  was  admitted  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  his  native  state  to  practice  law. 

In  1833  the  movement  undertaken  in  behalf  of  the  introduction 
of  a  different  form  of  government,  based  upon  Republican  princi- 
ples, enlisted  the  ardent  and  active  support  of  young  Koerner,  and 
thousands  of  others,  principally  young  professional  men  and  stu- 
dents. He  became  involved  in  the  uprising  at  Frankfort  on  the.3d 
of  April,  1833,  and  in  the  conflict  with  the  soldiery  was  wounded-. 
After  his  recovery,  with  the  aid  of  friends,  he  escaped  to  France. 
The  French  government  would  not  permit  him  to  stay,  and  sent 
him  under  escort  to  Switzerland.  He,  howeverj  again  made  his  way 
back  to  France,  went  to  Paris,  and  from  there  to  Havre;  where  he 
fvund  theEnglemann  family,  friends  of  his,  who  were  embarking  for 
America.  He  joined  them  and  arrived  in  New  York  June  18th, 
1833.  In  July  following,  he  came  west,  and  settled  in  Belleville,  in 
St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  where  he  has  continued  to  reside. 

Soon  after  his  ai  rival  here,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  study 
of  American  law,  and  for  the  purpose  of  fitting  himself  thoroughly 
for  the  practice,  attended  the  law  school  at  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
where  he  prosecuted  his  studies  with  great  energy,  and  in  1835  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  commenced  the  practice  and  soon  attained 
considerable  reputation  as  a  lawyer,  and  was  retained  as  counsel  in 
most  of  the  important  cases  occurring  in  the  courts  of  St.  Clair 
county,  and  Supreme  court  of  southern  Illinois. 

In  1846  his  reputation  as  a  clear,  logical  reasoner  and  sound  ju- 
rist,-received  commendable  and  honorable  recognition,  by  being 
appointed  by  the  governor  of  the  state  to  a  position  upon  the  Su- 
preme Bench.  In  the  following  year  he  was  elected  to  the  same 
position  by  the  Legislature  of  the  state.  He  served  in  that  official 
capacity  until  1849,  when  the  office  was  made  an  elective  one.  He 
declined  to  be  a  candidate,  and  returned  to  Belleville  and  resumed 
his  practice.  His  judicial  opinions  while  upon  the  bench  were 
marked  by  great  clearness,  exhibiting  thorough  research  and  care- 
ful analysis,  and  are  yet  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  bar  of  the 
state. 

His  political  sentiments  at  that  time  were  in  accord  with  the 
democratic  party.  He  was  elected  by  that  party  in  1842,  to  repre- 
sent his  district  in  the  Legislature  of  the  state.  In  1852  he  was  the 
candidate  of  the  same  political  organization  for  the  office  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, and  was  elected  by  a  large  majority,  being  the  first 
German  in  the  state  nominated  and  elected  to  that  position.  As  a 
presiding  officer  in  the  Senate,  he  was  distinguished  for  the  correct- 
ness of  his  rulings  and  thorough  knowledge  of  parliamentary  law. 


In  1854  came  the  slavery  agitation  and  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
troubles.  Prior  to  that  time,  as  intimated  above.  Governor  Koer- 
ner had  been  a  conspicuous  member  of  the  democratic  party.  His 
whole  life  and  teachings  had  been  in  the  direction  of  the  largest 
liberty  to  the  masses.  That  idea  had  been  impressed  upon  his  youth, 
and  had  grown  with  his  strength,  and  in  his  maturer  years  it  domi- 
nat-'d  and  controlled  all  others.  Educated  in  the  advanced  schools 
of  republican  theories,  associated  and  constantly  in  contact  with  the 
advanced  thought  of  the  age,  he  abhorred  mental  or  physical  slavery 
in  whatsoever  form  it  appeared.  He  therefore  unhesitatingly  ap- 
proached the  question  of  the  admission  of  slavery  into  the  territories, 
and  took  a  decided  stand  against  it.  This  action  was  exceedingly 
unpopular,  particularly  in  the  southern  portion  of  Illinois,  and  iu 
fact  throughout  the  western  country.  He  and  other  leaders  found 
themselves  without  the  lines  and  sympathy  of  the  democratic  party 
by  their  refusal  to  subscribe  to  the  principles  and  uphold  the  tenets 
as  represented  by  the  slave  oligarchy  of  the  south,  who  represented 
the  dominant  wing  of  the  party.  His  action  and  position  upon  the 
Kansas-Nebraska  question  brought  him  in  sympathy  and  accord 
with  Abraham  Lincoln,  Lyman  Trumbull,  John  M.  Palmer,  and  all 
the  great  leaders  of  the  progressive  thought  of  that  day,  and  to- 
gether they  constituted  the  leadership  through  whose  agency  the 
republican  party  was  formed  and  brought  into  organization  and 
power.  Governor  Koerner  was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  new 
party  in  southern  Illinois. 

In  1 858  Governor  Koerner  was  president  of  the  convention  that 
nominated  Lincoln  for  United  States  Senator,  and  stumped  the 
state  for  him,  and  did  valuable  service  in  presenting  the  issues  and 
principles  of  the  new  party  to  the  people.  In  1860  he  was  a  dele- 
gate for  the  state  at  large  to  the  Chicago  convention  which  placed 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  nomination  for  the  presidency.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  who  wrote  the  memorable  platform  of  the 
party.  Upon  the  same  committee  were  Governor  Boutwell,  Carl 
Schurz  and  Horace  Greeley.  With  the  election  of  Lincoln  came 
the  war  of  the  rebellion.  In  the  summer  of  1861,  Governor  Koer- 
ner put  aside  his  practice  and  business,  and  was  active  in  raising  a 
regiment  ( f  Infantry,  known  as  the  43d  Illinois,  but  before  its 
organization  was  completed  he  received  from  President  Lincoln  an 
appointment  as  Colonel  of  volunteers,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  ou 
the  staff  of  Gen.  Fremont,  and  afterwards  assigned  to  a  position 
upon  the  staff  of  Gen.  Halleck.  Severe  illness,  however,  compelled 
his  resignatiou  in  March,  1862. 

It  was  due  in  part  to  Governor  Koerner's  influence  that  the  mas3 
of  German  voters  took  position  and  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union. 
The  war  records  of  the  country  show  that  the  German- Amei  leans 
were  sound,  union  loving  men,  and  the  successful  termination  of  the 
war,  and  re-establishment  of  the  Union  was  in  a  great  measure  due 
to  their  patriotic  efforts. 

In  June,  1862,  Governor  Koerner  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  as  Minister  to  Spain,,  which  honorable  position  he  held  un- 
til his  resignation,  two  and  a  half  years  later.  During  that  period, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  diplomatic  correspondence  with  the  State 
Department,  his  prudent  and  able  management  of  the  questions 
growing  out  of  the  war  had  much  to  do  in  maintaining  the  strict 
neutrality  of  that  foreign  power  during  the  progress  of  the  civil 

war. 

In  1868  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  electors  for  the  state  at  large 
on  the  republican  ticket,  and  presided  over  the  Electoral  College  of 
Illinois,  and  cast  the  Electoral  vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  In  1871 
he  was  appointed  by  the  governor  of  the  state  one  of  the  newly 
created  Board  of  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commissioners,  of  which 
body  he  was  subsequently  chairman,  and  in  which  capacity  he  was 


204 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


instrumental  of  much  good,  in  guarding  the  interests  of  the  public 
against  the  grasping  railroad  monopolies  and  corporations. 

In  1872  he  became  dissatisfied  and  disgusted  with  the  abuses  and 
corrupt  influences  at  work  in  the  party  with  which  he  had  affilia- 
ted since  185G,  and  he  became  an  advocate  of  liberalism,  or  reform, 
in  all  that  the  term  implies.  The  questions  that  compelled  his  sev- 
erance from  the  democratic  party  had  been  settled  by  the  war,  and 
the  principles  which  brought  the  republican  party  into  power  and 
sustained  the  organization  through  that  trying  ordeal,  had  also  been 
settled  by  the  arbitrament  of  the  sword.  Its  plea  for  further  con- 
tinuance in  power  was  based  upon  its  record  of  the  past.  Its  promi- 
ses for  the  future  were  self-reformation.  Gov.  Koerner's  well- 
known  statesmanship  and  his  liberal  views  on  qnestions  of  public 
policy,  indicated  him  as  a  leader  in  the  political  contest  of  1872, 
and  he  accordingly  became  the  candidate  of  the  liberal  democratic 
party  for  governor  of  Illinois.  His  fitness  for  the  post  was  gener- 
ally admitted,  and  his  name  gave  strength  and  character  to  the  ntw 
party  born  at  Cincinnati,  of  which  Mr.  Greeley  was, the  champion. 
The  political  canvass,  which  failed,  demonstrated  that  he  was  a 
strong  and  popular  man  ;  although  sharing  defeat  which  attended 
the  liberal  movement  everywhere,  he  ran  16,000  votes  ahead  of  the 
presidential  nominee  of  the  party.  With  a  record  untarnished, 
and  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose  unquestioned,  he  again  as- 
sumed the  duties  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  still  continues,  and 
gives  evidence  of  long  usefulness. 

Governor  Koerner's  has  been  a  long  and  busy  life.  Aside  from 
the  many  duties  and  labors  depending  upon  official  and- professional 
life  he  has  found  time  and  devoted  much  labor  to  literary  work. 
In  1834,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  he  wrote  valuable 
articles  for  the  monthly  magazine  "  Das  Ausland,"  published  in 
Stuttgardt,  Germany,  which  contributions  did  much  to  enlighten  and 
correct  German  views  in  relation  to  American  institutions.  He 
was  a  frequent  contributor  to  various  other  magazines  and  leading 
papers,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

In  1840  he  translated  into  the  German  all  the  laws  of  a  general 
character  found  in  the  Revised  Code  of  Illinois,  of  1833.  The 
translation  was  printed  at  St.  Louis.  After  his  return  from  Spain 
he  published  at  Frankfort,  Germany,  Spanish  reminiscences  under 
the  title  "  Aus  Spanien,"  and  in  1880  quite  a  large  work,  printed  at 
Cincinnati,  entitled  "  Das  Deutsche  Element  in  den  Vereinigten 
Staaten,  von  1818-1848," — The  German  Element  in  the  United 
States  from  1818  to  1848,  which  has  been  very  favorably  reviewed 
in  the  New  York  Nation,  N.  Y.  Tribune,  and  in  the  principal  Ger- 
man periodicals  in  Germany  and  this  country. 

Oil  the  16th  of  June,  1836,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sophia,  daughter  of  Frederick  Theodore  Englemann,  late  of  St.  Clair 
county.  By  this  union  there  has  been  eight  children,  five  sons  and 
three  daughters.  One  son  and  two  daughters  are  yet  living.  Theo- 
di)re,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  in  1837,  and  was  a  cadet  at  West 
Point.  la  1856,  while  there,  he  contracted  an  acute  inflammation  of 
the  bowels,  and  died  after  a  few  days'  illness. 

This  in  brief  is  a  biographical  sketch  of  one  of  the  old  settlers  of 
St.  Clair  county,  and  one  who  has  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
history  of  the  state  during  the  last  half-century.  Few  men,  now 
Jiving,  have  been  more  prominent  in  the  state,  and  few  have  exert- 
ed more  influence,  or  have  been  more  thoroughly  representative  of 
tliL'ir  class  or  people  than  Mr.  Koerner. 


HON.  EDWAED  ABEND. 

Few  men,  now  living  in  St.  Clair  county,  have  been  more  actively 
identified  with  its  history,  or  aided  more  in  building  up  and  adding 


to  its  material  wealth  than  he  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  Since 
he  first  settled  here  he  has  seen  the  State  grow  from  an  insignificant, 
unimportant  frontier  State  to  the  fourth  in  population,  importance 
and  wealth  in  the  great  union  of  States.  This  change  has  occurred 
as  he  advanced  from  boyhood  to  mature  years.  He  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  May  30, 1822.  Henry  Abend,  his  father,  was 
an  officer  in  the  revenue  service  of  his  native  country.  He  was  a 
man  of  broad  views  and  liberal  ideas,  which  led  him  to  favor  and 
espouse  the  principles'of  Republicanism.  His  well-known  opinions 
and  intimacy  with  the  leaders  of  that  sentiment  bfought  him  into 
disrepute  with  the  government.  Knowing  that  he  was  looked  upon 
with  disfavor,  he  tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted.  He 
then,  in  company  with  other  prominent  families,  emigrated  to 
America,  and  landed  in  New  York  in  the  spring  of  1883.  The 
destination  of  the  party  was  Missouri,  of  which  they  had  glowing 
accounts,  but,  upon  their  arrival  in  St.  Louis,  the  cholera  was 
raging,  and  Mr.  Abend  and  two  of  his  children  fell  victims  to  the 
disease.  The  mother  then  brought  the  family  to  St.  Clair  county^ 
Illinois,  and  settled  at  Shiloh,  where  they  remained  several  years 
and  then  removed  to  Belleville,  where  Mrs.  Abend  lived  until  her 
death,  which  occurred  in  1865.  Her  maiden  name  was  Margaret 
Lavealle.  By  her  marriage  with  Henry  Abend,  there  were  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  the  eldest  living  of  the  family.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
the  primitive  schools  of  St.  Clair  county  of  half  a  century  ago. 
His  first  teacher  was  George  Bunsen.  After  the  family  removed  to 
Belleville,  he  attended  the  subscription  schools  of  the  town.  He 
afterwards  spent  one  term  at  McKeudrec  College,  Lebanon,  and  al- 
together received  a  fair  English  education.  He,  however,  before 
attending  school  at  Lebanon,  had  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two 
years  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  quit  the  carpenter  trade  to  take 
charge  of  a  farm  that  his  mother  had  purchased,  near  Belleville. 
Soon  after  that  he  concluded  to  study  law,  and  with  that  idea  in 
view  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Lyman  and  George  Trumbull,  and 
pursued  his  studies  until  1842,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  commenced  the  practice  which  he  continued  for  a  number  of 
years,  or,  until  his  mother,  who  had  become  possessed  of  a  large 
amount  of  property,  demanded  all  his  time  in  looking  after  and 
taking  care  of  it.  That,  and  other  growing  interests,  absorbed  so 
much  of  his  attention,  that  he  gradually  abandoned  the  practice 
and  quit  it  entirely  about  1 850.  In  1849  he  was  elected  by  the 
Democratic  party  to  represent  St  Clair  county  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature. He  served  through  the  session  of  1849-50,  and  took  part 
in  the  Senatorial  fight  between  Gen.  Shields  and  Judge  Breese. 
In  1852  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  native  country,  and  while  there,  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  a  number  of  German  capitalists,  who 
made  him  their  American  agent,  and  sent  him  large  sums  of  money 
for  investment  in  American  lands  and  securities.  This  new  busi- 
ness added  to  his  other,  made  Mr.  Abend  a  very  busy  man,  which 
he  has  continued  to  be  to  the  present  time.  Very  few  enterprises 
of  a  public  character  were  started  without  his  having  a  direct  or 
indirect  connection  with  them,  and  all  the  enterprises  with  which  he 
had  any  connection,  were  originated  for  the  public  good,  or  the  in- 
crease of  the  material  wealth  of  the  city  or  county.  In  1856  the 
Belleville  Gas  and  Coke  Company  was  formed.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  directors,  and  has  been  its  treasurer  and  secretary  for  many 
years.  In  1860  he  was  prominent  in  forming  the  St.  Clair  Savings 
and  Insurance  Company,  which,  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature,  was 
afterwards  changed  to  the  Belleville  Savings  Bank.  He  was  elec- 
ted its  first  president,  and  has  held  that  position  ever  since,  except 
for  a  short  time,  when  he  was  temporarily  absent  in  Europe.  The 
Belleville  Savings  Bank  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 'firmly 


Res,denc€    of   henry      TJYLOR.  Belle^ulc ,  Illino ,s . 


Residence      of    Col.  JOHN    TH  0  M  A  S  .    Belleville  ,  Illinois. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


205 


established  institutions  of  its  kind  in  St.  Clair  county.  Since  the 
day  of  its  first  opening,  it  has  never  closed  its  doors  in  business 
hours,  or  refused  to  pay  every  legal  demand  made  upon  it.  During 
the  financial  crisis  of  1873,  when  banks  generally  throughout  the 
country  closed  their  doors,  it  kept  open.  No  one  made  the  second 
demand  for  money,  or  time,  or  other  deposits  in  the  keeping  of  the 
bank.  To  do  this  required  sacrifices,  but,  in  the  judgment  of  Mr. 
Abend  and  others  associated  with  him,  it  was  better  to  suffer  finan- 
cially than  to  sacrifice  the  reputation  and  standing  of  the  bank- 
The  bank  was  organized  to  pay  every  legal  demand  made  upon  it> 
and  it  has  redeemed  every  promise  made  from  the  first  opening 
down  to  the  present.  Mr.  Abend  has  been,  and  is  yet,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  various  other  corporations  and  companies  in  St.  Clair 
county. 

In  1852,  while  in  Europe,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Caroline  Wetermann.  She  died  in  1854  On  the  26th  of  October, 
1856,  he  married  Miss  Anna  Hilgard,  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county, 
and  daughter  of  Theodore  Hilgard,  Jr ,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
German  settlers  of  this  county.  By  this  marriage  there  are  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  Politically,  Mr.  Abend  was 
originally  a  Democrat  In  1854,  during  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
troubles,  he  took  strong  grounds  against  the  admission  of  slavery 
into  the  territories,  and  became  a  free-soiler.  In  1860  he  voted  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  for  President,  and  continued  a  Republican  until 
1872,  when  he  joined  the  Liberal  party,  and  afterwards  went  back 
to  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  occupied  offices  of  local  trust, 
and  was  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Belleville  for  four  terms  In  official 
positions  he  sustained  the  character  of  a  careful  and  economical 
officer,  and  all  his  official  acts  were  dictated  by  a  just  regard  for 
the  interests  of  his  constituents. 

The  Abend  family,  and  others  that  came  with  them,  were  among 
the  pioneers  of  the  German  emigration  to  St.  Clair  county.  They 
were  composed  of  the  wealthy  and  prominent  class  in  their  native 
country.  After  their  arrival  here,  they  were  instrumental  in  bring, 
ing  others  of  the  same  class  to  this  section  of  the  country. 

This,  in  brief,  is  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Abend's  life.  During  his  long 
residence  here,  and  connection  with  the  business  interests,  and  as- 
sociation with  the  people  of  St.  Clair  county,  he  has  proved  himself 
a  useful  citizen,  and  one  entitled  to  the  respect  and  entire  confidence 
of  the  community. 


FELIX  SCOTT. 

This  venerable  gentleman  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
American  families  in  St.  Clair  county.  They  are  of  Scotch  descent 
on  the  paternal  side  and  Irish  on  the  maternal.  William  Scott,  the 
grandfather  of  Felix,  was  a  native  of  Botetourt  county,  Virginia ; 
born  May  17lh,  1745.  His  wife,  Mary  Scott,  was  born  in  same 
county  and  state  in  1748.  He  removed  to  Kentucky  about  the 
time  that  state  was  admitted  to  the  Union.  In  1794  he  came  north 
to  the  country  now  known  as  Illinois,  on  a  tour  of  observation,  and 
while  here  he  picked  out  some  land  with  a  view  to  settling  upon  it 
at  a  later  date.  He  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  remained  there 
until  1797,  when  hs  came  with  his  family  t)  a  point  known  as 
Turkey  Hill  in  this  county,  and  then  opened  a  farm,  and  remained 
there  until  1820.  After  which  he  lived  with  the  widow  of  his  son^ 
James  Scott,  until  his  death  in  1828.  He  had  six  sons  and  on.e 
daughter.  Joseph  Scott,  the  father  of  Felix,  was  born  in  Botetourt 
county,  Virginia,  September  14th,  1781.  He  came  with  his  father 
from  Kentucky  to  Illinois,  and  here  he  married  Nancy  Harrison,  a 
niece  of  Gen.  Harrison.     She  was  born  in  Ohio,  where  her  parents 


died  while  she  was  yet  young.    She  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  her 
friends. 

Joseph  Scott  in  his  day  was  quite  a  remarkable  man.  He  was 
in  the  Ranger  Service  during  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  also  the 
first  manufacturer  of  powder  in  the  state.  He  had  learned  the 
secret  of  its  manufacture  from  a  man  by  the  name  of  Dixon.  He 
manufactured  powder  during  the  spring  of  the  year,  or  on  his  re- 
turn from  "Ranging;"  then  would  distribute  it  to  the  different 
posts,  and  by  that  means  kept  the  old  Rangers  supplied  with' 
powder. 

During  his  life  he  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the 
term  of  twelve  years.  He  died  from  apoplexy  Nov.  9th,  1867, 
in  his  eighty-seventh  year.  His  wife  had  died  as  early  as 
1826.  By  his  marriage  with  Nancy  (Harrison)  Scott  there 
were  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  Felix  is  the 
eldest  son.  He  was  born  in  Shiloh  Valley,  St.  Clair  county,  Ills., 
July  16th,  1807.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm,  and  received 
some  little  schooling.  It  must  be  recollected  that  he  was  in  his 
boyhood  some  years  before  Illinois  was  admitted  to  the  Union,  and 
consequently  in  those  early  pioneer  days,  a  school  was  an  exception 
as  they  are  now  the  rule.  They  perhaps  learned  to  read,  which 
was  regarded  as  a  very  fortunate  circumstance,  and  then  their  in- 
formation from  books  was  got  from  such  as  fell  in  their  way.  But 
it  must  not  be  supposed  that  they  were  entirely  ignorant  in  those 
days,  because  schools  were  not  plenty.  On  the  contrary  Illinois  in 
her  pioneer  days  produced  some  of  the  brightest  minds  and  greatest 
intellects  of  modern  times,  men  who  have  become  famous  in  the 
world's  history.  Men  drew  their  inspiration  from  nature  and 
nature's  laws,  and  reasoned  not  from  forms  laid  down  in  books,  but 
from  cause  and  effect.  Felix  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age,  then  went  to  the  lead  mines  of  Galena. 
While  at  Galena  he  helped  to  build  the  forts  as  a  protection  against 
the  Indians.  In  1827,  after  the  completion  of  the  forts,  he  went 
into  the  military  service,  in  the  Winnebago  War,  under  General 
Whiteside,  who  was  a  resident  of  Madison  county,  Illinois.  Dur- 
ing the  Black  Hawk  war  in  1831,  Mr.  Scott  enlisted  in  Capt.  Mil- 
ler's company,  which  was  afterwards  divided,  and  he  went  with 
those  who  formed  the  company  under  Capt.  Moore.  His  enlistment 
was  for  three  months.  In  his  youth  Mr.  Scott  was  quite  handy  in 
the  use  of  tools,  and  had  considerable  mechanical  genius,  and  there- 
fore he  worked  at  carpentering,  mill-wrighting,  or  in  fact  in  any 
kind  of  wood  work.  He  quit  the  trade  in  1835,  and  went  to  farm- 
ing, and  engaged  in  that  calling  until  1877,  when  he  retired  from 
active  life,  and  came  to  Belleville,  where  he  is  at  present  a  resident. 
In  1832  Mr.  Scott  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nicey  Moore, 
daughter  of  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Illinois. 
The  Moore  family  are  of  English  ancestry.  James  Moore  was 
born  in  England  in  1716.  He  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  Virginia.  His  son,  James  Moore,  was  born  in  \  irginia  in  1750, 
and  brought  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1781.  He  was  a  captain  of 
militia,  and  was  sent  out  first  to  Illinois  county,  by  the  Governor 
of  Virginia.  Gen.  James  B.  Moore  was  his  son.  He  was  born  in 
Virginia  in  1780,  and  was  captain  of  a  company  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  also  represented  his  district  in  the  senate  in  1838-40.  In  1810 
he  married  Sarah  Shuck.  She  died  in  1860,  and  Mr.  Moore  in 
1841.  By  the  marriage  of  Felix  Scott  and  Nicey  Moore  there  are 
two  children  living,  both  sons,  who  married  and  have  families. 
Their  names  are  James  and  Joseph  Scott.  Joseph  Scott,  the  young- 
est son,  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war.  He  enlisted  for  three  years 
in  the  117th  Reg't  Ill's  Vol's,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Felix  Scott  was  during  the  war  a  very  strong 
Union  man,  and  did  much  to  sustain  the  Union  sentiment  in  Sfc 


206 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Clair  county.     During  the  dark  days  of  the  Republic,  in  the  winter 
of  1862-63,  ■«  hen  treason  stalked  through  the  land,  and  the  sympathi- 
zers of  the  South  in  St.  Clair  county  and  other  portions  of  the  State 
began  to  be  defiant,  and  bold,  Mr.  Scott  counseled  the  friends  of 
the  Union  to  prepare  and  organize  to  maintain  the  peace  by  the 
force  of  arms,  if  necessary,  and  for  this  purpose,  personally  visited 
Gov.  Yates,  at  Springfield,  and  asked  his  support,  and  supply  of 
arnis  from  the  State.     But  the  Governor  was  powerless  to  provide 
them  with  arms.    Mr.  Scott  then  went  to  St.  Louis  and   bought 
arms,  using  his  private  means.     They  were  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  members  of  the  Union  League,  who  were  loyal  men.     Compa- 
nies were  formed,  armed  and  drilled,  and  thus  with  the  victories  won 
by  our  armies  in  the  field  in  the  next  campaign,  the  rebel  sentiment 
in  the  community  was  overawed  and  kept  in  subjection.    After 
Mr.  Scott  purchased  the  arms  in  St.  Louis,  they  received  arms  from 
the  State,  for  which  he  became  personally  responsible.     Politically 
Mr.  Scott  was  originally  an  old  line  whig,  then  became  a  free 
soiler,  and  from  that  position  it  was  but  a  step  into  jibe  republican 
party.     He  has  been  a  member  of  the  last  named  political  organi- 
zation since  1856.   While  he  has  been  active  in  local  politics  he  has 
never  sought  ofiBce.     He  was  one  of  the  first  Board  of  School 
Trustees.    Wm.  Moore  and  William  Hendricks  were  the  other 
members.     He  was,  in  early  life,  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
His  wife  is  still  a  member.     He  never   belonged  to  any  secret 
organization  except  the  Union  League  during  the  war.     Thus,  in 
brief,  have  we  sketched  one  of  St.  Clair  county's  oldest  native-born 
citizens.     Born  here  in  1807,  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago,  he 
has  seen  the  county  and  state,  the  latter  grow  from  a  territory,  then 
an  insignificant  -frontier  state,  to  one  of  the  first  in  population, 
wealth  and  importance  in  the  Union. 


JOSEPH  OGLE. 

Prominent  among  the  early  settlers  of  St  Clair  cunty,  Illinois, 
is  Joseph  Ogle,  a  native  of  Newcastle  county,  Delaware.  He  was 
born  on  the  8th  of  February,  1809,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  Ogle 
and  Deborah  nee  WoUaston. 

His  father,  a  native  of  Maryland,  was  born  in  1775,  and  named  in 
honor  of  Samuel  Ogle,  then  Governor  of  Maryland.  His  mother 
was  born  in  Delaware  in  the  year  1781,  and  belonged  to  the  Society 
of  Friends-  Her  original  ancestors  in  this  country  emigrated 
from  England  with  William  Penn.  The  Ogle  family  is  of  Welsh 
origin,  and  removed  from  Virginia  to  Illinois  in  1789.  One  of  this 
family,  Joseph  Ogle,  was  a  captain  in  the  revolutionary  war,  a  copy 
of  whose  commission,  signed  by  Patrick  Henry,  is  found  below.  It 
is  highly  prized  as  a  relic,  and  has  descended  in  a  direct  line  from 
the  original  receiver  to  his  namesake,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

"  His  Excellency,  Patrick  Henry,  Jun  ,  Esq.,  Governor  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  to  Joseph  Ogle,  Esq. : 

"  By  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  to  me  delegated  by  the 
general  convention  of  the  represeutatives  of  this  commonwealth,  I, 
reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  patriotism,  fidelity, 
courage  and  good  conduct,  do,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  privy 
council,  by  these  presents,  constitute  and  appoint  you  to  be  captain 
of  militia  in  the  County  of  Ohio.  You  are,  therefore,  carefully  and 
diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  captain  of  the  militia,  by  doing 
and  performing  all  manner  of  things  thereunto  belonging.  And 
you  are  to  pay  a  ready  obedience  to  all  orders  and  instructions 
which  from  time  to  time  you  may  receive  from  the  convention, 
privy  council,  or  any  of  your  superior  officers,  agreeable  to  the 


rules  and  regulations  of  the  convention  or  general  assembly;  and 
to  require  all  officers  and  soldiers  under  your  command  to  be  obe- 
dient and  to  aid  you  in  the  execution  of  this  commission,  according 
to  the  intent  and  purport  thereof. 
"Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Williamsburg.  2d  day  of 

June,  1776. 

«P.  Henky." 

Mr.  Ogle's  early  educational  advantages  were  very  limited,  and 
he  received  only  a  meagre  knowledge  of  the  ordinary  branches.  In 
1818  he  left  his  native  state,  going  by  wagon  to  Pittsburg,  Penn'a, 
thence  by  flatboat  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
and  thence  overland  to  Belleville,  Illinois.  Here  he  passed  his 
early  life  in  farming,  but  did  not  begin  for  himself  till  1 843.  From 
that  time  he  gave  himself  unremittingly  to  his  work,  and  by  his 
persevering  industry,  integrity,  frugality  and  good  management,  he 
has  made  for  himself  a  competency. 

He  served  as  second  sergeant  during  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and 
at  its  close  engaged  as  assistant  surveyor  in  connection  with  the 
survey  of  the  line  between  Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  In  1832-3  he 
spent  Christmas  in  Chicago,  and  there  engaged  as  assistant  surveyor 
under  the  late  John  Messinger,  commissioner  for  Illinois.  In  1851 
he  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  Belleville  and  St.  Louis  turn- 
pike, of  which  he  is  now  president.  He  is  also  director  of  the 
Belleville  mail  line,  director  of  East  St.  Louis  and  Carondelet  Rail- 
road, and  of  the  American  Bottom  Board  of  Improvements.  His 
travels  have  been-  confined  to  the  United  States.  In  1843  he 
crossed  the  plains  as  far  as  Green  river,  and  in  1872  went  to  Port- 
land, Oregon,  as  a  witness  in  the  case  of  Joseph  Thomas  alias 
"  Wrestling  Joe  "  vs.  Carruther's  Estate,  involving  five  million  dol- 
lars. 

Mr.  Ogle  is  not  a  member  of  any  church,  but  he  adheres  to  the 
Presbyterian  faith  and  liberally  supports  its  services.  He  was 
married  on  the  15th  of  February,  1844,  to  Miss  Felicite  Boneau,  a 
lady  of  French  parentage,  whose  father  served  under  Gen.  Harri- 
son, and  fought  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  in  1811.  They  had 
eleven  children :  Charles  M.,  Joseph  Decatur,  who  died  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1881;  Edward  Rufus,  Thomas  Winstanley,  William  Linn, 
Russell  Hinckley,  Isabella,  wife  of  Richard  Roman,  a  lawyer ;  Mary 
Louisa,  wife  of  Edward  Underwood,  merchant;  Amelia,  Celena  and 
Susan  R.  Ogle. 


MARSHALL  W.  WEIR. 

The  Weir  family  are  descendants  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestors. 
Samuel  Weir,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Williamston,  Pennsylvania,  March  16,  1807.  His  father,  Samuel, 
was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather,  the  great-grand- 
father of  Marshall  W.,  was  born  in  county  Londonderry,  province 
of  Ulster,  Ireland.  He  there  grew  to  manhood  and  married,  and 
came  to  this  country  with  his  wife  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

Samuel  Weir,  the  father  of  Marshall  W.,  was  by  trade  a  cabinet 
maker.  While  yet  young  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Trumbull  county.  There  on  the  16th  of  March,  1835,  he  married 
Miss  Nancy  Sophia  Barnes,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Gill, 
Franklin  county,  Mass.,  September  14,  1812.  Her  father,  Samuel 
Newton  Barnes,  and  her  grandfather,  John  Barnes,  were  both  na- 
tives of  New  England.  Her  father  married  a  Miss  Elizabeth 
Morley,  a  daughter  of  John  Morley.  Both  of  her  grandfathers, 
John  Barnes  and  John  Morley,  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war. 

Samuel  Weir  was  of  a  roving  disposition.     Soon  after  his  mar- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


207 


riage  he  removed  to  Indiana ;  from  there  he  went  to  Missis- 
sippi, where  he  remained  about  five  years — until  the  year  1843 — 
when  he  returned  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  A  year  later,  leaving 
his  family  in  Ohio,  he  went  on  a  prospecting  tour  to  Texas,  which 
place  about  that  time  was  attracting  considerable  attention.  He 
did  not  live  to  reach  home  again ;  on  his  way  back  he  was  taken 
sick  and  died. 

By  his  marriage  with  Nancy  Sophia  Barnes  there  were  four 
children — three  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  eldest,  Virgil  Newton 
Weir,  enlisted  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  and  was  lieu- 
tenant in  Company  B  of  the  86th  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteers. 
He  remained  in  the  service  until  discharged  by  death,  the  result  of 
disease  contracted  in  the  service  and  in  the  regular  line  of  duty. 
He  died  February  3d,  1863.  Mary  the  only  daughter,  is  the  wife 
of  Judge  A.  H.  Foote,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Lawrence,  Kansas. 
Henry  Barnes  Weir,  the  youngest  son,  has  established  himself  in  a 
prosperous  mercantile  business  in  Warren,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio, 
not  more  than  half-a-dozen  miles  from  the  spot  where  he  was  born. 
He  has  never  lived  elsewhere  than  in  Trumbull  county. 

The  mother,  Mrs.  Weir,  still  survives.  She  is  and  ever  has  been 
a  remarkable  woman.  In  early  life  she  received  as  good  an  educa- 
tion as  the  times  afforded,  and  she  paid  special  attention  to  the 
education  of  her  children.  The  latter  remember  the  constant  en- 
couragement and  assistance  given  by  her  during  their  early  life  at 
school.  No  branch  was  too  difficult,  in  h€r  estimation,  for  her 
children  to  pursue.  When  they  encountered  a  lesson  too  intricate 
for  their  young  minds  and  calculated  to  discourage  them,  she  never 
wearied  in  her  endeavors  to  keep  up  their  courage  until  the  task 
was  accomplished.  She  was  gifted  with  rare  qualities  of  mind  and 
grace  of  person.  Now,  at  the  age  of  nearly  sixty-nine  years,  she  is 
of  tall,  commanding  presence,  exceedingly  interesting  in  conversa- 
tion, affable  in  her  manners  and  loved  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  her. 

Marshall  W.  Weir  is  the  second  of  the  family.  He  was  born  in 
Amite  county,  Mississippi,  February  9,  1889.  About  four  years 
after  he  was  born  his  father  removed  to  Ohio.  At  an  early  age 
Marshall  was  placed  in  the  "  Western  Reserve  Seminary  "  of  Trum- 
bull county,  where  he  remained  a  number  of  years,  making  rapid 
advancement  in  study,  from  which  institution  he  afterwards 
received  the  degree  of  A.M.  It  may  be  mentioned  in  this  connec- 
tion that  the  honorary  degree  of  A.M.  was  conferred  on  him  in 
1877,  by  Shurtleff  College,  Upper  Alton,  Illinois. 

After  leaving  school  he  taught  one  year  in  Ohio,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  came  to  Illinois,  arriving  at  Springfield  March  26, 
1857.  In  less  than  a  week  thereafter,  (March  31st)  having  en- 
gaged a  school,  he  commenced  teaching  near  Loami,  Sangamon 
county.  At  the  end  of  his  engagement  there,  in  the  spring  of  1858> 
he  removed  to  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since, 
and  where  he  followed  the  vocation  of  a  teacher  for  several 
years. 

In  the  summer  of  1861  he  concluded  to  adopt  the  profession  of 
law  as  the  business  of  his  life,  and  with  that  object  in  view  read  the 
standard  text-books,  and  pursued  his  studies  until  he  had  made 
sufficient  progress  to  entitle  him  to  admission  to  the  bar.  On  the 
13th  of  June,  1863,  he  passed  a  creditable  examination,  and  on  the 
8th  of  July  following  he  received  his  license  to  practice  in  the 
courts  of  the  state. 

At  the  time  that  he  was  admitted  to  practice,  George  Trumbull, 
Esq.,  was  about  removing  from  Belleville  to  Chicago,  and  desired 
to  have  some  competent  young  man  in  his  office  to  take  charge  of 
his  unfinished  business.  He  offered  the  place  to  Mr.  Weir,  which 
offer  was  gladly  accepted,  and  thereby  Mr.  Weir  was  assisted  ma- 


terially in  getting  what  young  attorneys  most  desire — "  a  start." 
Since  then  he  has  continued  alone  in  the  practice. 

As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Weir  takes  front  rank  at  the  bar  of  St.  Clair 
county.  He  is  a  man  of  liberal  education  and  scholarly  attain- 
ments. He  has  always  been  a  close  student.  His  libraries,  law 
and  miscellaneous  are  well  filled  with  works  of  the  best  authors. 
He  possesses  much  natural  aptitude  for  the  law ;  he  is  a  concise, 
logical  reasoner,  and  always  has  his  cases  and  the  law  governing  the 
points  well  in  hand.  In  his  business  transactions  he  is  methodical 
and  exact.  Method  is  the  governing  principle,  and  he  carries  that 
trait  of  character  into  his  practice  as  well  as  in  his  private 
business. 

On  the  5th  day  of  November,  1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Hannah  Angle  Stookey,  a  most  estimable  and  accomplished 
young  lady,  the  daughter  of  Simon  and  Hannah  Stookey,  an  old 
and  respected  family  of  this  county.  Hannah  Stookey  was  the 
daughter  of  Major  Cornelius  Gooding,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  in 
the  year  1767.  Major  Gooding  married  Sept.  12,  1786,  a  lady 
named  Peggy  Scott.  Ten  children  were  born  to  them,  from  whom 
descended  many  well-known  and  honored  families  in  this  section  of 
country.  Hannah  was  born  January  12, 1802,  in  Fleming  county, 
Kentuck  .  She  came  to  this  county  with  her  father's  family  in 
the  fall  of  1816,  two  years  before  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the 
Union.  She  married  in  1819 ;  she  died  April  9,  1879,  at  the  age 
of  over  seventy-seven  years.  Her  husband,  Simon  Stookey,  died  in 
1849. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weir  two  children  have  been  born,  a  daughter, 
Sophie  Barnes,  and  a  son,  Marshall  Gooding  Weir. 

Mr.  Weir  has  never  been  ambitious  to  shine  in  the  field  of 
politics,  or  to  occupy  public  office.  His  profession  and  business 
plans  have  occupied  his  time  and  absorbed  his  attention.  Finan- 
cially he  would  be  able  to  leave  his  family  provided  for,  should  he 
be  taken  away  from  them.  He  has  been  a  Republican  from  his 
boyhood  to  the  present  time,  and  sincerely  believes  that  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  political  organization  to  which  he  has  given  his  con- 
stant adherence  are  best  calculated  to  secure  the  progress  of  free 
government  and  perpetuate  our  institutions  on  the  basis  proposed 
by  the  founders  of  the  Republic. 


JULIUS  KOHL,  M.  D., 

Was  born  at  Grenzhausen  in  the  Province  of  Nassau,  Germany , 
April  18,  1838.  He  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
village  four  years,  and  was  awarded  by  the  school  authorities  with 
a  gratuitous  classical  education  as  a  reward  for  his  extraordinary  di- 
ligence in  his  studies  and  good  behaviour.  In  1853,  at  the  age  of 
about  fifteen,  together  with  his  father,  one  brother  and  two  sisters,  he 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois.  One  brother  and  a  married  sister  had  preceded  the  family 
to  this  country  the  year  before.  Young  men  who  had  a  good  edu- 
cation were  received  with  open  arras  in  those  days  in  the  Western 
country.  Mr.  Kohl's  services  were  secured  by  Mi;  Kelerman,  a 
prominent  druggist  of  Belleville,  who  h  niself  had  received  a  fine 
education  in  Europe  under  the  celebrated  Professor  Liebig.  Mr. 
Kelerman  was  consequently  just  the  man  to  train  a  student  of  me- 
dicine properly.  Young  Julius  took  hold  of  his  new  vocation  with 
his  accustomed  energy,  and  in  a  short  time  had  charge  of  Mr.  Keler- 
man's  business.  The  idea  of  becoming  a  Doctor  of  Medicine,  being 
favorably  received  by  his  senior  brother,  Ferdinand,  now  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Centralia,  Illinois,  Julius  concluded  to  adopt  it  as 
the  business  of  his  life,  and  with  this  idea  in  view  he  devoted  his 


208 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


time  to  it.  Dr.  Trapp,  now  a  resident  of  Springfield,  Ills.,  can  be 
named  as  his  first  teacher.  Having  completed  his  engagement  with 
Mr.  Kelerman,  he  went  to  St  Louis  in  the  year  1856,  to  enter  the 
St.  Louis  Medical  College.  Having  no  means  at  command,  except 
some  kind  donations  from  his  brother  and  sister,  he  attended  the 
drug  store  of  his  friend.  Dr.  Berghoif,  during  the  summer  months,  in 
order  to  raise  the  money  to  study  during  the  winter.  This,  together 
with  a  loan  from  Mr.  Kelerman,  enabled  him  to  get  through  the 
first  two  years.  One  day,  while  visiting  the  City  Hospital,  together 
with  the  professors  and  students  for  clinical  studies,  the  thought 
struck  him,  that  a  residence  at  the  hospital  would  be  the  best  thing 
in  order  to  have  opportunities  to  study  the  different  phases  of  dis- 
ease, and  become  a  thorough  physician.  Here  was  an  opportunity 
that  could  not  be  had  in  any  other  place  than  this.  But  there 
were  barriers  in  the  way.  The  city  council  of  St.  Louis  at  that 
time,  allowed  only  one  resident  physician  with  two  assistants 
at  the  hospital — the  salary  of  the  assistants  being  very  small. 
Julius  was  determined  to  get  in,  but  how  ?  He  was  poor,  a  stranger, 
and  not  yet  a  graduate  of  medicine.  Matters  in  those  days  were 
managed  very  much  as  at  present.  Politics  and  patronage  went  a 
long  way.  The  Mayor  with  the  concurrence  of  the  city  council 
made  the  appointment  of  the  principal  physician,  and  he  appointed 
his  assistants  with  the  sanction  of  the  Board  of  Health.  An  elec- 
tion coming  off,  Julius  secured  through  his  friend.  Dr.  Berghoff, 
the  promise  of  assistant  from  the  doctor,  who  seemed  to  have  the 
best  chance  to  secure  the  position  ;  but  unfortunately  his  friend 


failed,  and  he  was  left  apparently  in  the  cold.  Dr.  P.  M.  Cornytr 
was  appointed.  Julius  mustered  up  courage  and  went  to  him  and 
plead  his  case  in  the  best  English  he  could  command,  and  some- 
what to  his  astonishment,  but  to  his  great  joy,  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment. Dr.  Comyer  was  a  kind  man.  He  gave  Julius  per- 
mission to  pursue  his  studies.  The  hospital  gave  him  a  home,  a 
little  salary,  boarding  and  washing,  all  the  dissecting  matter  he 
needed,  and  ample  time  to  attend  lectures.  He  worked  hard  and 
graduated  in  1859.  He  remained  in  the  hospital  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  time  contracted  with  the  city,  and  then  went  to  Centra- 
lia,  wht  re  the  greater  part  of  his  family  had  settled.  He  there 
practiced  a  short  time,  and  in  the  mean  time  married  Miss  Kate 
Berghoff,  sister  of  his  St.  Louis  friend.  Dr.  berghoff.  From  Cen- 
tralia  he  went  to  Columbia,  near  Waterloo,  in  Monroe  county,  and 
practiced  there  for  six  years ;  then  removed  to  Belleville,  his  first 
American  home,  and  here  he  has  remained,  practising  his  profes- 
sion, which  has  grown  very  large  and  lucrative.  He  was  a  partner 
in  the  St.  Clair  drug  store  for  a  number  of  years,  and  three  years 
with  his  son  Emil  in  the  National  Drug  Store.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Belleville,  and 
its  first  president  for  five  years.  He  is  physician  to  the  St.  Eliza- 
beth hospital,  and  several  other  institutions.  He  is  a  member  of 
several  medical  societies,  and  has  been  Becording  Secretary  of  the 
St.  Clair  Medical  Society  for  the  past  twelve  years.  He  has  had 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living,  four  sous  and  three 
daughters. 


HISrORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


209 


^     (2     ffUvT^ 


^^.^^^  f\q^^ 


Mrs.  R.  a.  MOORE. 


'^■^ow  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  St  Clair  county,  was  born  east 
of  Belleville,  within  a  short  distance  of  his  present  residence,  on  the 
26th  of  January,  1817.  The  Moore  family  is  of  Welsh  descent. 
Mr.  Moore's  ancestors  emigrated  from  Wales  to  America  in  the 
year  1732,  and  settled  in  Delaware.  His  grandfather,  Risdon 
Moore,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  his  grand- 
father's brother  served  as  paymaster  in  the  American  army.  Mr. 
Moore  has  now  in  his  possession  an  interesting  and  valuable  relic  of 
Revolutionary  times,  in  the  shape  of  two  statements  of  the  expendi- 
tures of  General  Washington  during  the  war,  made  out  in  the  hand- 
writing of  Washington  himself,  and  signed  by  his  name.  After  the 
Revolution,  his  grandfather,  Risdon  Moore,  went  to  North  Carolina 
where  he  was  married,  and  afterward  settled  in  Georgia,  where  he 
resided  till  his  emigration  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1812.  His  second 
wife,  the  grandmother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  Anna  Dent. 
He  engaged  in  farming  in  Georgia.  Though  a  man  of  quiet  dis- 
position, he  occupied  a  prominent  and  influential  place  in  the  com- 
munity, and  was  three  times  elected  to  represent  his  county  in  the 
state  legislature,  and  was  once  speaker  of  the  house  of  representa- 
tives. 

William  Moore,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was 
born  in  Georgia  in  the  year  1791.  He  lived  in  his  native  state  till 
twenty  years  of  age.  He  made  a  trip  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1811, 
with  a  view  to  the  selection  of  a  location  to  which  the  family  might 
remove  from  Georgia.  He  carried  back  a  favorable  report  of  the 
country,  and  the  next  year,  1812,  the  whole  family  came  to  this 
county.  With  the  family  of  Risdon  Moore  came  S(jme  negroes, 
fifteen  or  eighteen  in  number,  whom,  as  soon  as  they  became  of  age, 
97 


he  allowed  to  look  out  for  themselves  and  use  thtir  own  earnings. 
Risdon  Moore  was  strongly  opposed  to  slavery,  and  that  was  one 
cause  of  his  removal  from  Georgia.  It  was  his  boast  that,  while 
owning  slaves  in  Georgia,  he  never  struck  a  negro,  and  sold  but 
one,  and  this  sale  was  necessary  in  order  to  allow  the  negro  to 
remain  with  his  family,  and  for  him  he  received  only  one-fourth  of 
his  value. 

On  coming  to  St.  Clair  county,  the  family  resided  one  season  on 
Turkey  Hill,  and  then  settled  on  survey  number  762,  about  three 
miles  east  of  Belleville.  Here  Risdon  Moore  died  in  the  year  1828. 
He  was  elected  two  or  three  times  to  represent  St.  Clair  county  in 
the  state  legislature  He  was  elected  a  member  of  that  body  in 
1824,  in  the  exciting  contest  of  that  year,  in  which  the  main  ques- 
tion was  the  proposed  change  of  the  constitution  to  permit  the  in- 
troduction of  slavery  into  the  state.  He  made  the  canvass  for  the 
legislature  on  this  issue.  He  did  all  in  his  power  to  resist  the  pro- 
slavery  movement,  and  he  is  one  of  the  men  to  whom  credit  and 
honor  should  be  given  that  Illinois  maintained  her  place  among  the 
free  states,  and  that  the  blot  of  slavery  never  rested  on  her  name. 
During  the  session  of  the  legislature  he  made  a  speech,  published 
in  the  journals  of  the  day,  in  which  he  urged  the  members  to  vote 
against  the  proposed  convention  to  change  the  constitution,  and 
made  use  of  the  expression  that  "  unborn  millions  would  thank  them 
for  their  action."  His  pcr.^istent  efforts  in  favor  of  freedom  excited 
the  enmity  of  those  who  wished  to  make  Illinois  a  slave  state,  and 
he  and  Churchill,  the  member  from  Madison  "ounty,  were  burnt  in 
effigy  at  Troy. 

In  the  vear  1814,  William  Moore  married  Margaret  Alexamler, 


210 


HISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


daughter  of  David  Alexander,  -who  was  born  in  Tioga  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  7th  of  September,  1794.  The  Alexander 
family,  from  which  Mr.  Moore's  mother  was  descended,  was  of 
Scotch  origin.  Members  of  the  Alexander  family  fled  from  Scot- 
land to  the  North  of  Ireland  on  account  of  the  religious  persecu- 
tions in  the  former  country  Hugh  Alexander,  the  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  America  with  his  father 
in  1736,  then  about  twelve  years  of  age.  He  made  an  early  settle- 
ment in  Sherman's  Valley,  Perry  county,  Pennsylvania,  from  which 
he  and  his  family  were  often  driven  back  by  the  Indians  to  their 
former  home  in  Cecil  county,  Maryland,  east  of  the  Susquehanna. 
Hugh  Alexander  was  a  member  of  the  conference  of  deputies  from 
the  different  counties  of  Pennsylvania  which  met  in  Philadelphia^ 
on  the  18th  of  June,  1776,  a  short  time  before  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  was  made.  He  there  represented  in  part  the  large 
Scotch-Irish  population  of  the  Cumberland  valley  which  was  en- 
thusiastically on  the  side  of  independence,  and  which  did  its  full 
share  toward  securing  the  freedom  of  the  thirteen  colonies.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  first  free  legislature,  dr  assembly,  of 
Pennsylvania,  which  met  at  Carpenters'  Hall,  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, on  the  28th  of  November,  1776.  He  was  one  of  the  three 
representatives  from  Cumberland  county.  He  died  in  Philadelphia 
while  attending  the  sessions  of  the  body,  in  February,  1777. 

David  Alexander,  son  of  Hugh  Alexander,  was  born  about  1760, 
in  Sherman's  Valley,  Cumberland,  (now  Perry)  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. At  Tioga,  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania,  he  married 
Margaret  Miller.  About  the  year  1810,  he  moved  to  St.  Clair 
county,  and  settled  first  a  short  distance  west  of  Shiloh,  and  after- 
ward moved  to  a  location  east  of  that  place.  He  was  killed  in  the 
year  1822  by  lightning,  while  walking  behind  a  wagon  during  a 
thunder  storm.  The  blade  of  a  knife  which  at  that  time  he  held  in 
liis  hand  was  completely  melted  away. 

William  Muore  took  part  in  the  Winnebago  war  and  the  Black 
Hawk  war.  He  was  cai)tain  of  a  company  raised  in  St.  Clair 
county.  For  several  years  he  served  as  county  commissioner.  He 
also  filled  the  office  of  county  surveyor,  and  for  two  years  was  asses- 
sor of  the  county.  He  represented  St.  Clair  county  in  the  legi^la- 
ture  two  terms  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  a 
local  preacher  in  that  denomination.  His  death  occurred  in  the 
year  1849. 

Eisdon  A.  Moore,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch, 
was  the  second  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  and  the  oldest  son. 
Seven  of  these  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  are  now 
living.  He  was  raised  east  of  Belleville,  in  the  neighborhood  in 
which  his  father  settled.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  sub- 
scription schools,  which  then  oflfered  the  only  educational  opportuni- 
ties. These  schools  were  usually  held  three  months  during  the 
winter  season  in  log  school-houses.  Slabs  were  used  for  benches, 
and  the  floors  were  made  of  puncheons.  Greased  paper  pasted  over 
an  aperture  in  the  side  of  the  building,  made  by  leaving  out  a  log, 
furnished  the  only  excuse  for  a  window.  St.  Louis,  in  his  boyhood, 
was  a  place  of  comparatively  small  size  and  importance,  resembling  a 
village  in  its  size  and  proportions.  Mr.  Moore  frequently  hauled  corn 
there,  for  which  he  was  paid  ten  cents  a  bushel.  His  father  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  before  his  marriage,  Mr.  Moore's  time  was  mostly 
employed  in  the  blacksmith  shop.  His  first  marriage  took  place  on 
th6  26th  of  November,  1835,  to  Ann  Middlecofi",  who  was  born  on 
Ihe  6th  of  August,  1818.  Her  father,  John  Middlecofl'',  emigrated 
from  Virginia  to  Illinois  in  1818  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on 
his  present  farm  in  Section  19,  of  township  1  north,  range  7  west. 
His  place  was  at  that  time  unimproved.  Where  his  dwelling-house 
now  stands  was  a  thicket  of.  hazel  brush.      He  cleared  a  farm,  of 


His 


which  he  has  been  the  owner  ever  since,  now  forty-six  years, 
first  wife  died  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  November,  1843. 

In  the  spring  of  1845,  he  joined  Gen  Fremont  on  his  exploring 
expedition  to  California.  He  was  under  the  army  regulations, 
though  not  regularly  enlisted  as  a  soldier.  He  marched  overland 
with  Fremont  by  way  of  the  present  town  of  Pueblo,  Colorado ; 
thence  up  the  Arkansas  river ;  across  the  Rocky  mountains,  and  so 
on  to  the  Pacific  coast  by  Salt  Lake,  at  which  the  Mormons  had  not 
at  that  time,  yet  made  a  settlement.  On  this  journey  the  expedi- 
tion experienced  considerable  privation.  From  Salt  Lake  to 
California  game  was  scant,  and  the  men  were  compelled  to  live  on 
the  flesh  of  mules  and  anything  that  could  be  found  to  satisfy 
their  hunger.  He  was  in  California  in  1846,  on  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Mexican  war.  When  the  Spaniards  ordered  the  Americans 
to  leave  the  country,  he,  with  the  other  Americans,  gathered  at 
Sonoma,  and  raised  a  flag  on  which  was  a  lone  star  and  a  grizzly 
bear.  On  the  arrival  of  Commodore  Stockton,  who  hoisted  the 
American  flag  at  Monterey,  he,  with  Fremont,  joined  Stockton. 
Here  his  knowledge  of  blacksmitbing  came  into  play.  The  re- 
sources of  the  American  troops  were  limited,  and  Mr.  Moore 
mounted  the  eight  guns  which  composed  the  entire  American  artil- 
lery. For  this  work  he  has  not  yet  received  his  whole  pay,  though 
he  held  vouchers  signed  by  both  the  quarter-master  and  Gen.  Fre- 
mont. He  held  two  vouchers ;  and  the  commissioners  to  settle  the 
accounts  incurred  by  the  army  in  California  held,  though  unjustly, 
that  when  the  latter  voucher  was  given,  the  first  was  merged  into 
it,  and  that  only  the  latter  could  be  paid. 

He  returned  home  by  a  more  northern  route,  by  way  of  Fort  Hall 
and  Fort  Laramie.  The  winter  after  his  return,  that  of  1847-8,  he 
spent  at  Washington,  where  he  was  a  witness  in  the  trial  by  court- 
martial  of  Gen.  Fremont,  against  whom  charges  had  been  preferred 
by  Gen.  Kearney.  While  there,  on  the  16th  of  March,  1848,  his 
second  marriage  took  place,  to  Sarah  Ann  Duncan,  daughter  of 
William  Duncan.  In  the  spring  of  1848,  he  returned  to  his  farm 
in  St.  Clair  county.  His  second  wife  died  on  the  14th  of  February, 
1856. 

He  was  married. again  on  the  30th  of  November,  1856,  to  Sarah 
Ann  Wilderman,  who  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  was  born 
two  miles  north  of  Freeburg,  on  the  1st  day  of  February,  1821. 
Her  parents  were  Dorsey  and  Phoebe  Wilderman.  Her  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Carr,  who  emigrated  from  Virginia  to 
Illinois  about  the  year  1797.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary wa.r.  He  first  came  to  Kaskaskia,  and  then  settled  at  New 
Design,  in  the  present  county  of  Monroe,  and  was  there  during  the 
great  sickness  which  in  one  summer  carried  off"  half  the  entire  popu- 
lation. He  lost  two  children  at  New  Design.  About  the  year 
1802,  he  settled  at  Turkey  Hill.  George  Wilderman,  Mrs.  Moore's 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Maryland,  was  married  in  that  state,  and 
then  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1806  or  1807. 
His  wife  was  named  Patience  Dorsey. 

From  1871  to  1873,  Mr.  Moore  resided  in  Boone  county,  Mis- 
souri, but  becoming  convinced  that  there  was  no  place  like  Illinois, 
he  returned  to  his  native  county.  For  a  few  years  he.  resided  in 
Belleville,  and  in  February,  1880,  moved  back  to  the  old  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  four  children  : 
Nancy  M.,  Margaret  Ann,  John  M.,  and  Emily  A.,  all  deceased 
except  the  first.  Nancy  M.  married  Samuel  B.  Scott,  and  now  lives 
in  Crawford  county,  Kansas.  By  his  second  marriage  he  had  four 
children  :  Martha,  William  D.,  Helen  and  Charles  D.,  of  whom  the 
latter  two  are  living.  Helen,  now  Mrs.  William  Alexander,  resides 
in  Monroe  county,  Missouri,  and  Charles  D.  still  has  his  home  with 
his  father.     He  has  one  child,  Sarah  Ann,  by  his  last  marriage. 


HISTOBY  OF  8T.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


211 


Mr.  Moore  is  a  gentleman  of  enterprise,  and  has  carried  on  agricul- 
tute  in  an  intelligent  and  practical  manner,  and  has  always  sought 
to  take  advantage  of  the  most  improved  methods  of  farming,  and  to 
bring  his  land  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  early  directed  his 
attention  to  under-draining,  and  demonstrated  the  great  utility  of  that 
system.  He  was  the  first  in  the  county  to  begin  to  raise  potatoes 
under  straw^-a  custom  which  is  now  universally  followed.  His 
home  farm  consists  of  three  hundred  and  thirteen  acres.  He  owns 
a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  seven  acres  east  of  Lebanon, 
and  is  the  owner  beside  of  fifty  acres  of  timber,  and  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Crawford  county,  Kansas.  In  his  political  opinions 
he  was  first  a  Whig,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  President  for  Gen. 
Harrison  in  1840.  Since  the  dissolution  of  the  Whig  party  he  has 
been  a  Democrat.  In  1857,  he  was  president  of  the  St.  Clair 
county  agricultural  society.  He  became  connected  with  the  Bap- 
tist church  in  1 866.  Through  the  many  long  years  he  has  resided 
in  St.  Clair  county,  he  has  sustained  the  reputation  of  a  useful 
citizen  and_a  valuable  member  of  the  community. 


JAMES  WAUGH 

Is  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  Belleville,  and  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  leading  manufacturing  establishment  in  St.  Clair 
county.  He  was  born  in  the  county  of  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  is  of 
Scotch  ancestry  on  the  paternal  side.  His  father,  William  Waugh, 
was  a  farmer  and  land-owner,  and  possessed  of  considerable  means. 
He  married  Jane  Crowl,  a  native  of  the  county  above-mentioned. 
By  that  union  there  were  ten  children ;  James  Waugh  is  the  eldest. 
He  was  born  February  12,  1817.  He  was  reared  in  the  family  of 
his  uncle,  where  he  received  private  instruction  and  tuition.  In 
1833  he  left  Ireland  and  emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New 
York  in  July  of  the  same  year.  He  went  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  remained  three  years.  During  that  time  he  was  employed  as  a 
clerk  in  the  dry  goods  business.  In  1836  he  came  west  to  St.  Louis, 
and  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  house  of  Isaac 
Burnett  &  Co.  He  remained  with  that  firm  until  1841,  when  he 
embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  the  same  line,  and  continued 
until  1845,  at  which  time  he  retired  from  active  pursuits  until 
1850,  when  he  received  the  appointment  of  .assistant-auditor  and 
book-keeper  in  the  auditor's  oflBce  of  St.  Louis.  He  continued  in 
this  capacity  until  1856,  when  he  was  elected  auditor.  He  retired 
from  the  oflSce  in  1858,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term.  He  then 
purchased  a  flouring  mill  in  St.  Louis,  and  operated  it  until  the 
close  of  1859.  From  that  date  until  1868  he  was  engaged  in  general 
trading  and  management  of  his  private  business.  In  1868  he  pur- 
chased the  Bogy  nail  mills,  and  operated  them  until  1869,  when  he 
came  to  Belleville,  Illinois,  and  here  formed  a  corporation  and  re- 
moved the  works  and  machinery  to  this  place.  Here  he  made 
large  additions  to  the  machinery,  and  also  added  various  improve- 
ments. The  corporation  was  known  as  the  Belleville  Nail  Mill 
Company,  of  which  Mr.  Waugh  was  elected  president.  He  re- 
mained as  the  principal  officer  of  the  company  until  1873,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  C.  Bormann,  who  conducted  the  management 
until  1876,*  when  the  company  failed.  The  works  were  sold,  and 
purchased  by  the  bondholders,  and  the  company  reformed  under 
the  name  and  title  of  the  Belleville  Nail  Co.  Mr.  Waugh  was  again 
elected  president,  and  has  continued  in  that  capacity  to  the  present 
time. 

The  company  has  also  remained  substantially  the  same  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  slight  changes.    The  nail  works  is  the  largest 


manufacturing  establishment  in  the  county.  They  have  a  capacity 
for  manufacturing  120,000  kegs  of  nails  annually,  and  employ  an 
average  daily  force  of  two  hundred  men.  To  operate  these  vast 
works  successfully,  requires  large  capital,  administrative  ability, 
and  good  business  management. 

•  On  the  7th  of  December,  1843,  Mr.  Waugh  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Emily  L.  Papin,  a  native  of  St.  Louis  and  a  descend- 
ant of  an  old  and  influential  French  family,  who  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  St.  Louis.  She  died  in  1849.  By  this  marriage  there 
are  three  sons.  The  eldest,  James  C,  is  one  of  Belleville's  enter- 
prising business  men.  He  is  largely  engaged  in  the  grocery  and 
provision  trade,  and  is  also  secretary  of  the  Nail  Mill  Company. 
William  is  a  graduate  in  medicine,  and  is  at  present  prac;ising  his 
profession  in  Minnesota.  Robert  F  ,  the  youngest  son,  is  engaged 
in  the  manufacturing  of  kegs,  and  assistant-manager  with  his  father 
in  the  nail  mill ;  he  is  also  treasurer  of  the  company.  Politically, 
Mr.  Waugh  was  originally  an  old  line. whig  and  frce-soiler.  He 
was  elected  auditor  in  1856  on  the  first  free-soil  ticket  ever  run  in 
the  State  of  Missouri.  In  1860  he  joined  the  democratic  party,  and 
voted  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  President,  since  which  time  he 
has  acted  with  that  organization.  He,  however,  is  not  entirely  in 
harmony  with  its  principles  and  traditions,  as  he  is  a  believer  and 
advocate  of  protection  for  home  manufactures.  In  the  matter  of 
religion,  he  comes  from  the  old  Presbyterian  stock,  and  was  reared 
in  that  religious  belief;  but  of  late  years  he  is  inclined  to  liberal- 
ism. Since  his  residence  in  Belleville,  Mr.  Waugh  has  done  much 
to  build  up  the  to'wn,  particularly  its  manufacturing  interests,  and 
add  to  its  material  wealth,  and  is  regarded  by  all  as  an  enterpris- 
ing and  useful  citizen. 


HENRY  HUHN, 

Editor  of  Der  Stern,  was  born  at  Landau,  in  the  Palatinate,  Ger- 
many, on  March  3d,  1830.  In  his  youth  he  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  learned  the  trade  of  book-binding.  In  the 
years  1848-49  he  participated  in  the  republican  uprising  of  the 
people  in  southern  Germany  against  the  royal  power,  and  in  conse- 
quence thereof  came  to  the  United  States  in  the  summer  of  1849. 
Landing  in  New  York,  without  any  means,  he  was  compelled  to 
remain  in  the  great  metropolis,  where  he  soon  became  connected 
with  the  German  press.  In  1851  he  visi'ed  his  native  country, 
from  whence  he  returned  to  the  U.  S.  in  1852,  landing  at  New  Or- 
leans, and  from  there  he  came  to  St.  Louis.  In  1853  he  married, 
and  first  came  to  Belleville  in  1854.  He  afterward  removed  to 
Chicago,  and  from  there  to  Cincinnati,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  he  entered  the  service  of  the  U.  S.,  as  a  private  soldier.  After- 
wards he  was  promoted  to  an  ofiicership  and  appoint  d  regimental 
adjutant.  He  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  rebel  forces  shortly  before 
the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  afterward  resigned  his  commission. 
He  then  came  to  St.  Louis,  and  took  a  position  on  the  editorial 
stafi"  of  the  Westliche  Post.  In  1864  he  re-entered  the  service  of  the 
U.  S.  as  adjutant  of  the  41st  Mo.  regiment,  and  when  the  war  was 
over  he  removed  to  Washington,  Mo  ,  where  he  started  the  Wash- 
ington Freie  Presse  In  1866  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature of  the  state  of  Missouri.  In  1868  he  came  back  to  Belle- 
ville, and  took  the  editorial  management  of  the  Stem  des  Westens, 
which  he  held  until  1872,  when  the  paper  was  sold  to  Mr.  F.  E. 
Scheel.  In  1871  he  was  appointed  deputy  collector  of  the  United 
States,  which  position  he  held  till  1876.  In  1878  he  took  control 
of  the  editorial  department  of  the  Stern,  which  he  still  holds. 


212 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


,J      ^^iO^-^^.^.-^.^ 


Is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  born  February  9th, 
184  i.  His  father,  John  Halbert,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  of 
English  ancestry.  He  emigrated  west  at  an  early  day,  and  settled 
in  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  followed  farming,  teaching  school, 
and  subsequently  engaged  in  merchandising,  in  which  business  he 
was  engaged  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  fell  a  victim  to  the 
cholera  in  1849.  He  married  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Nancy  (Cox)  Carr.  Jacob  was  the  son  of  Joseph  Carr,  who  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  but  left  that  state  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
St.  Clair  county  as  early  as  1793.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  only  offspring  of  the  union  of  John  aud  Clarissa  Halbert.  His 
mother  died  in  1841,  soon  after  his  birth.  He  was  taken  into  the 
home  and  reared  by  his  maternal  grandparents.  He  received  a 
fair  English  education  in  the  .schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  entered  McKendrec  College,  at  Lebanon,  Illinois, 
and  remained  there  three  years;  then  left  and  entered  tlu^  Minois 
College,  at  Jacksonville,  and  there  completed  his  education,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1861.  After  his  return  from 
school  he  engaged  in  teaching,  taught  six  months,  then  enlisted  as 
a  private  for  three  years.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  117th 
regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  he  was  elected  captain  of  company 
"  H,"  a  position  he  held  during  his  entire  term  of  service.  The 
regiment,  of  which  he  was  a  member  was,  for  the  greater  jtortion 
of  the  time  a  part  of  the  16th  Army  Corps,  under  command  of 
Major  General  A.  J.  Smith,  and  participated  in  many  of  the  bat- 
tles in  which  the  corps  was  engaged.  The  regiment  also  formed  a 
part  of  the  command  under  General  Banks,  and  was  in  the  dis- 
astrous Red  liiver  campaign,  also  in  what  is  known  as  the 
"Meridian  Kaid;"  afterwards  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Mobile, 
the  reduction  of  Fort  Blakley  and  Spanish   Forts.     At  the  close 


of  the  war  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  the  date  of  which 
was  August  5th,  1865.  After  his  return  to  Belleville  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  Hon.  W.  H.  Underwood,  and  commenced  reading 
law.  At  the  fall  term  (1866)  of  the  Supreme  Court  held  at 
Ottawa,  Illinois,  he  applied  for  admission  to  the  bar.  He  passed  a 
creditable  examination  and  was  admitted.  He  commenced  the 
practice  in  Belleville,  and  has  continued  here  to  the  present.  In 
1868  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  for  the  office  of 
State's  Attorney  for  the  Judicial  District,  which  was  composed  of 
the  counties  of  St.  Clair,  Bond  and  Madison  ;  and  in  November  of 
the  same  year  was  elected.  He  held  the  office  for  four  years,  aud 
retired,  in  1872,  at  the  end  of  his  term,  having  earned  the  reputa- 
tion of  an  able,  efficient  and  vigilant  public  prosecutor.  In  1875, 
after  the  death  of  Judge  Underwood,  Captain  Halbert  formed  a 
partnership  with  C.  F.  Noetling,  Underwood's  law  partner,  and  to- 
gether they  have  continued  the  practice  to  the  present  time.  They 
have  a  very  large  and  lucrative  business,  and  as  lawyers  take  front 
rank  at  the  bar  of  St.  Clair  county.  As  a  lawyer,  Capt.  Halbert 
is  rewigni'/.ed  as  possessing  a  clear,  logical  mind.  In  the  courts  of 
this  and  surrounding  counties  he  has  secured  for  himself  a  most 
excellent  and  enviable  reputation  as  a  sound  lawyer.  His  practice 
while  State's  Attorney  was  confined  to  the  criminal,  but  afterwards 
embraced  all  branches  of  the  law,  both  before  the  courts  of  the 
county  and  in  the  intricate  litigation  before  the  Supreme  aud 
Federal  courts.  Before  all  these  courts  he  has  proven  himself  a 
man  of  sound  legal  learning,  successful  in  the  management  of  his 
cases,  ready  in  resources,  possessing  much  tact,  and  especially  able 
m  the  presentation  of  a  case  to  tlie  court  and  j  ury.  He  has  earned 
the  well-merited  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  successful 
lawyers  m  this  Judicial  District.     Politically  Captain  Halbert  is  a 


/9^s/D^A/c^    ^r    R.  A. H ALBERT.  Belleville.  Illinois. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


213 


stauch  Republican,  and  most  soundly  indoctrinated  in  the  princi- 
ples of  that  political  organization.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  for  president  in  1864,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
present  he  has  not  swerved  from  his  allegiance  to  the  party  of  his 
first  choice. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emma  L.  Underwood,  of  Belleville.  Her  father,  Judge  W  H. 
Underwood,  was  a  native  of  Schoharie  county,  New  york,  and  was 
born  in  1818,  and  came  west  to  Belleville  in  1840.  He  became 
prominent  in  the  profession  of  law,  ably  filled  the  offices  of  Stat^  's 
Attorney,  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  represented  St.  Clair 
county  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  two  terms  in  the  Senate,  and 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1869.  He 
was  a  man  of  marked  ability,  and  his  reputation  as  a  lawyer  was 
known  throughout  the  Sute.  He  married  Miss  M.  E.  Smith,  in 
1841,  and  died  September  23d,  1875. 

By  the  union  of  Captain  Halbert  and  Emma  L.  Underwood 
there  are  three  children.  His  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Captain  Halbert,  in  his  manners,  is  a  plain,  unassuming  gentle- 
man, of  fine  social  qualities,  broad,  liberal  views,  and  most  generous 
impulses. 


DR.  LYMAN  P.  STOOKEY. 

The  Stookey  family  is  an  old  one  in  the  history  of  St.  Clair 
county.  Daniel  Stookey,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  removed  with  his  family  to 
the  territory  of  Illinois  in  1805,  and  settled  near  Belleville  in  St. 
Clair  county,  and  there  remained  until  his  death.  He  married 
Barbara  "Whetstone,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia.  Of  this 
union  was  Moses  Stookey,  the  father  of  Dr  Stookey.  He  was  born 
in  Virginia  in  January  of  1789.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  St.  Clair 
county,  and  died  in  1857,  on  the  farm  were  his  father  settled  in 
1805.  He  married  Elizabeth  '  Anderson,  who  was  a  native  of 
Wilkesbarre,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  1807.  Her  parents 
came  to  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  in  1812.  Her  marriage  took 
place  in  1824,  and  her  death  occurred  March  9th,  1869.  By 
this  union  there  were  eleven  children.  Four  sons  and  three 
daughters  have  survived  the  parents.  Lyman  P.  is  the  youngest 
of  the  family.    He  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Feb   I3th,  1846. 


He  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  and  attended  the  district  schools, 
where  he  prepared  himself  for  entrance  to  Shurtlefl^  College  at 
Upper  Alton  ;  here  he  spsnt  two  years,  after  which  he  returne.l 
home  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine.  After  careful  read- 
iug  and  several  years  of  study,  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  entered 
the  Medical  College,  and  took  one  full  term.  His  health  failing, 
he  was  compelled  to  suspend  his  studies,  which  he  took  up  again 
in  1869.  In  the  tall  of  the  same  year,  he  for  the  second  time  en- 
tered the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  completing  the  course,  and 
graduating  from  that  institution  with  the  degree  of  M  D.  Imme- 
diately thereafter  he  commenced  the  practice  in  Belleville,  where 
he  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  In  the  practice  of  medicine 
Dr.  Stookey  has  been  eminently  successful,  and  is  in  the  possession  of 
a  large  and  lucrative  business.  He  belongs  to  the  progressive 
school  of  medicine,  and  keeps  fully  posted  and  abreast  with  the 
many  new  discoveries  that  are  constantly  being  made  in  medical 
science.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  State  Medical,  Southern 
Illinois,  and  St.  Clair  County  Medical  Societies. 

Oil  the  25th  of  October,  1867,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
A.  M.  L.  Brumbaugh,  of  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania.  The 
marriage  has  been  blessed  with  three  children,  one  of  whom  is 
living,  who  is  named  Lyman  B.  Stookey,  now  in  his  third  year. 
Dr.  Stookey  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  his  wife  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 

He  is  also  a  member  of  the  ancient  order  of  Freemas  )nry,  and 
belongs  to  St.  Clair  Lodge,  No.  24,  of  BdUeville,  Illinois.  Some 
years  ago  he  became  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  in  that  order 
has  passed  the  different  Chairs,  as  Past  Grand,  and  also  Past  Grand 
Patriarch  in  the  Encampment.  Politically,  he  is  a  democrat.  He 
simply  votes  and  exercises  his  rights  as  a  citizen,  and  further  takes 
no  active  part  in  politics. 

Few  young  men  in  the  profession  of  medicine  have  attained  the 
reputation  and  large  practice  now  enjoyed  by  Dr.  Scookey,  which 
is  in  part  attributable  to  his  success  in  the  treatment  of  diseases 
incident  to  this  climate  and  locality ;  and  secondly,  to  the  close 
attention  which  he  gives  to  his  business.  Genuine  love  for  the  pro- 
fession makes  him  a  student,  united  with  which,  is  industrious 
habits.  The  union  of  both  are  necessary  to  make  the  successful 
practitioner.  In  1879  he  opened  a  drug  store  in  connection  with 
his  practice.  His  object  was  to  have  pure  drugs,  and  that  he  might 
have  his  own  prescriptions  carefully  compounded  and  prepared. 
Dr.  Stookey  is  of  pleasing  and  easy  address  conversational  powers. 


214 


lUSTOEY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COVNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  pi-eseiit  county  clcl'k  of  St.  ('lair  counly  is  a  native  nf  l'ia,i;uc, 
Bohemia,  Austria,  born  Se]it.  1st,  1^39.  His  pari'uts  eniii^rated  to 
America  in  1850,  and  first  settled  in  Ohio.  Louis  ( !.  was  educated 
in  the  .schools  of  his  native  country  and  (Jhio.  Ho  rea<l  niedieim^  and 
graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine  and  iSurgery, 
and  in  1861  came  west  to  St,  Chiir  C(junty,  Illinois,  aud  couimenced 
the  practice,  in  which  he  continued  until  December,  1860,  when 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  abandon  the  })rofession.  Jletlien 
entered  the  county  clerk's  office  as  deputy,  and  remained  in  that 
position  until  1873,  when  he  was  elected  county  clerk.  In  1877  he 
became  his  own  successor,  and  at  present  is  discharging  the  duties 
therein  imposed  in  a  manner  alike  creditable  to  himself  and  those 
who  honored  him  with  their  suffrages.  In  1880  he  was  honored  by 
being  nominated  for  the  office  of  State  auditor,  by  tlie  Democratic 
State  Convention,  but  suffered  defeat  witli  the  balance  of  the  ticket. 
He  is  active  and  prominent  in    Masonic  circles.     He  belongs  to  all 


tlu'  orders  of  Masonry,  including  Ancient  Ilite  iMasonry.  He  has 
been  J'^niinent-Commander  of  Tancred  Conimandery  N.).  50,  sta- 
tioncl  at  Itclleville,  since  its  organization.  Politically  he  is  a  sound 
<l^''-iocrat.  On  the  18th  of  January,  1859,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
nage  to  M,ss  Anna  Br,yant  of  Fayette  county,  Ohio.  By  this  union 
there  are  hve  cluldren  living-all  sons,  and  all  of  whom  are  yet  be- 
neath the  jiarental  roof 

Socially  Dr.Starkel  possesses  .|nalities  of  a  high  order.  Liberally 
educated,  a  fine  conversationalist,  of  polite  and  agreeable  manners, 
he  ,s  the  bie  of  the  social  circle.  Moreover,  he  is  a  gentlen.an  of 
nio.t  generous  nnpulses,  sanguine  in  ten.peran.ent;  whole  souled  and 
op.n.heartec,  he  attracts  and  secures  confidence  at  first  sight. 
Coupled  w.th  these  traits  of  character  his  integrity  and  worth  as  a 

.     U^e  won  for  h,m  the   respect  of  the  good  people  of  his   com- 


,jMk   wi 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


2L5 


JAMES  L.  PERKYMAN,  A.M.,  M.D. 

The  Ferryman  family  are  of  English  ancestry  on  the  paternal 
side,  and  German  on  the  maternal.  Three  brothers,  named  James, 
John  and  David  Ferryman  came  with  Leonard  Calvert,  brother  of 
Lord  Baltimore,  to  America  in  1632,  and  formed  the  colony  of 
Maryland.  One  of  these  brothers  was  secretary  to  Calvert,  another 
became  a  member  of  the  Colooial  Parliament,  and  the  third  was  en- 
gaged in  Indian  wars  on  the  frontier. 

From  these  three  brothers  have  sprung  the  present  Ferryman 
family  in  this  country.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  held 
an  appointment  under  the  authority  of  the  king  of  Englaud  that 
required  his  residence  in  the  colonies  lying  along  the  coast  of  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  which  took  him  into  the  Caroliuas.  There  is  no  posi- 
tive knowledge  as  to  what  kind  of  an  appointment  it  was,  but  it  is 
sufficient  that  it  was  one  requiring  courage,  knowledge  of  the  country 
and  wants  of  the  people  over  whom  he  was  called  to  preside  as  their 
executive  officer  and  military  protector.  While  a  resident  of  the 
Carolinas  his  son,  James  E.  Ferryman,  was  born.  He  was  bred  to 
martial  life  in  the  camp  under  the  instructions  of  his  father.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he  espoused  the  patriot 
cause,  entered  the  service,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel.  He  was 
connected  with  the  army  under  the  command  of  General  Wayne, 
and  participated  with  that  gallant  hero  in  the  hard-fought  and  his- 
toric battles  of  Saratoga,  Germantown  and  Brandy  wine. 

Aftt  r  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Tennessee  and  settled 
in  Claiborne  county.  He  there  married  Nancy  Condray,  by  whom 
he  had  a  large  family.  Charles  Mattison  Ferryman,  one  of  the 
sons,  and  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  the  above 
named  county  and  state  in  1809,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and 
married.  In  1832  he  came  north  to  Illinois  and  settled^  near  Leb- 
anon, St.  Clair  county.  He  afterwards  returned  to.j  Tennessee, 
then  came  back  to  this  county  and  removed  to  Jefferson  City, 
Mo.,  again  returned  here,  where  he  remained  uutil  his  death 
which  occurred  in  1851.  He  was  a  man  of  naturally  fine  tastes 
and  considerable  culture.  In  the  use  of  choice  language  he  was  an 
adept  and  superior  to  most  men.  The  ability  to  talk  well  or  write 
well  is  a  trait  characteristic  of  the  Ferryman  family.  Many  of 
ihem  have  attained  distinction  in  the  form  and  in  the  general  do- 
main of  oratory. 

While  yet  a  resident  of  Tennessee,  and  on  September  1st,  1829, 
he  married  Miss  Louisa  J.  Collingsworth.  She  « as  born  January 
9th,  1814,  in  the  same  county  and  state,  and  yet  survives  her  hus- 
band, and  is,  at  present,  a  resident  with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Her  father  was  also  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  By  this 
marriage  there  were  four  children,  all  sons,  of  whom  Dr.  Ferry- 
man is  the  eldest  and  sole  survivor.  The  second  son  was  named 
Frederick  A.  He  died  in  his  fifteenth  year.  Bluford  Hamilton 
was  the  name  of  the  third.  He  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  No- 
vember 1st,  1835,  and  was  educated  for  the  profession  of  medicine, 
and  was  a  graduate  of  the  medical  school  of  St.  Louis.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Holmes,  of  Galena,  111.,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children,  named  Ida,  who  died  in  her  nineteenth  year,  and  Ham- 
ma,  who  was  reared  by  Dr.  Ferryman,  and  is  yet  an  inmate  of  his 
home. 

Bluford  H.  Ferryman  died  March  5th,  1860.  Horace  M.  was 
the  youngest  son.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  February 
6th,  1838,  and  died  September  20th,  1870.  He  was  also  educated 
by  his  eldest  brother  for  the  profession  of  medicine,  and,  in  early 
life,  gave  evidence  and  promise  of  a  brilliant  career  in  the  profes- 
sion. He  graduated  with  honors  and  entered  upon  his  practice 
with  great  hopes  of  achieving  success,  and  leaving  the  impress  of  his 


knowledge  and  skill  upon  the  science  of  msdicine.  But  "  mau 
proposes  and  God  disposes."  While  yet  in  the  full  flush  of  man- 
hood, vigor  and  strength,  he  was  cut  down  and  laid  away  in  the 
silent  chambers  of  death  In  his  early  demise  the  profession  lost 
one  of  its  brightest  memberi.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Belcher,  a 
native  of  St.  Clair  county.  She  was  an  amiable  and  superior 
woman.  She  died  January  1st,  1863.  By  this  marriage  there 
was  a  son  and  daughter,  Edgar  and  Stella  Ferryman.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Tertlington,  by 
whom  he  had  one  son,  named  Jerome.  The  children  of  his  first  wife 
have  also  been  reared  by  Dr.  James  L.  Ferryman  and  his  estimable 
wife,  who  have  lavished  on  them  all  the  affection  of  parents. 

James  L.  Ferryman,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Claiborne  county,  Tenn.,  April  11th,  1831.  He  was  yet  in  his  in- 
fancy when  his  father  removed  to  Illinois.  His  boyhood  days  were 
spent  upon  the  farm  and  in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  where 
he  learned  the  rudimentary  principles  and  received  a  fair  English 
education,',  He  soon  passed  the  limits  of  a  common  school  instruc- 
tion, and,  in  his  sixteenth  year,  entered  McKendree  College,  taking 
the  full  course.  He  remained  there  until  his  graduation,  four  years 
later.  He  had,  previous  to  his  entering  college,  determined  to  adopt 
the  profession  of  medicine  as  the  business  of  his  life,  and,  with 
that  idea  in' view,  became  an  ardent  and  enthusiastic  student  of 
books  and  literature,  that  led  him  in  the  direction  of  that  science. 
After  his  graduation,  in  1849,  he  entered  the  office  of  Drs.  W.  W. 
&  J.  A.  Roman,  of  Belleville,  and,  under  their  direction,  pursued 
his  stadies  uatil  he  had  made  sufficient  progress  to  enter  the  Medi- 
cal Ddpartment  of  the  University  of  Missouri,  where  he  took  two 
full  courses  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.D.  He  returned 
to  the  county  and  commenced  the  practice  at  Freeburg,  where  he 
remained  for  several  years,  then  returned  to  St.  Louis  and  entered 
the  St.  Lou^  JVIedical  College  and  was  graduated  therefrom.  At  a 
later  date,  he  attended  lectures  on  medicine  and  surgery  in  Jeffer- 
son College,  Fhiladelphia.  From  there  he  went  to  the  College  of 
Fhysicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York,  and  attended  lectures  for 
one  term.  His  intention  was  to  qualify  himself  for  instructor  in 
medicine  in  the  University  of  Missouri,  but  the  premature  death  of 
his  father,  whereby  the  cares  of  the  family  and  their  maintenance 
depended  mainly  upon  him,  disarranged  his  plans  and  prevented 
him  from  carrying  out  long-cherished  designs.  He  took  charge  of 
the  family,  educated  his  brothers,  prepared  them  for  the  profession 
and  provided  for  their  wants  uutil  they  became  self-supporting. 
This  trying  ordeal  was  attended  with  difficulties  and  embarrass- 
ments that  would  have  broken  down  and  discouraged  many  stronger 
men,  but  he  had  the  courage  and  the  will-power,  and  he  struggled 
through,  never  uttering  a  complaint,  steadily  gaining  in  practice, 
and  at  last  emerged  from  under  the  load,  a  strong  man,  with  full 
confidence  in  his  strength  and  ability  to  overcome  any  and  all  ob- 
stacles obstructing  life's  pathway. 

In  the  profession  of  medicine.  Dr.  Ferryman  belongs  to  the  pro- 
gressive school,  as  is  attested  by  his  active  membership  in  the  State 
Medical,  St.  Clair  County,  and  Southern  Illinois  Medical  Societies 
which  are  organized  for  the  advancement  of  the  science. 

Folitically,  he  is  a  member  of  the  dmocratic  party,  but  seeks 
no  office,  nor  takes  further  part  than  to  express  his  sentiments  through 
the  right  of  the  ballot.  Sometimes,  during  exciting  national  cam- 
paigns, he  gives  expression  to  his  sentiments  from  the  hustings, 
where  his  voice  is  heard  admonishing  his  friends,  and  pointing  out 
the  way  that  leads  to  national  welfare,  and  the  success  of  the  politi- 
cal organization  of  which  he  is  a  member.  On  such  occasions,  the 
gift  of  oratory,  bequeathed  to  so  many  of  the  family,  does  not  de- 
sert him. 


216 


HISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


On  the  20th  of  September,  1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Virginia,  daughter,  and  only  survivor,  of  Kichard  A.  Bradsby, 
an  old  and  prominent  settler  of  this  county.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Kentucky.  Her  grandfather,  William  Bradsby,  and  his 
brother,  were  soldiers  of  the  revolution,  and  went  from  Virginia, 
their  native  State,  to  join  Washington's  command.  After  the  war 
they  emigrated  to  Kentucky  with  Daniel  Boone,  and  took  part  with 
him  in  the  tragic  events  occurring  on  the  "  dark  and  bloody 
ground."  The  family  of  Bradsbys  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1804. 
Bichard  Bradsby  here  accumulated  large  possessions  and  held 
honorable  and  responsible  positions.  He  died  September  5th, 
1875. 

In  his  manners.  Dr.  Ferryman  is  an  urbane,  pleasant  and  agree- 
able gentleman,  possessed  of  fine  conversational  powers  and  a  mind 
well  stored  with  information  upon  history,  literature  and  the  cur- 
rent topics  of  the  day.  He  is  a  pleasing  talker  and  a  companionable 
and  entertaining  friend. 


WILLIAM  WINKELMAN. 

Among  the  prominent  attorneys  who  have  achieved  success  is 
Mr.  Winkelman.  He  was  born  in  Destel,  Prussia,  February  28, 
1829.  He  is  the  son  of  Christian  and  Wilhelmiua  Winkelman. 
His  father  was  a  practicing  lawyer  and  a  large  property  holder,  and 
consequently  a  man  of  much  prominence  in  his  country.  William 
is  the  second  child  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  four  are 
now  living.  One  sister  and  brother  yet  remain  in  their  native  land, 
and  one  sister — now  a  widow — is  a  resident  of  Clinton  county.  111. 
Mr.  Winkelman's  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools ;  he 
also  had  fine  opportunities  of  receiving  an  academic  and  university 
training,  but  he  was  of  such  a  disposition  that  he  could  not  submit 
to  the  dull  and  irksome  routine  of  school-life.  His  knowledge, 
therefore,  is  not  from  books,  but  rather  from  actual  experience  and 
contact  with  the  world.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1849,  he  left  his  na- 
tive country  and  emigrated  to  America,  coming  direct  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  arrived  July  2d  following,  without  money,  relations,  or 
friends  to  apply  to  for  help  or  assistance.  He  was  a  complete 
stranger  in  the  city.  He  realized  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  that 
henceforth  his  success  in  life  must  depend  upon  himself.  He  looked 
around,  and  soon  found  work  at  teaming,  for  which  he  received  $10 
per  month  and  board.  He  continued  the  occupation  of  teamster  for 
six  months,  when  his  employer  failed,  and  was  unable  to  pay  his 
employees.  He  next  hired  to  drive  a  team  at  a  saw  mill  in  St. 
Louis,  for  which  he  received  $25  per  month.  He  remained  at  that 
place  for  eighteen  mouths,  when  the  men  and  teams  were  removed 
to  Jefierson  county.  Mo.  There  he  continued  the  san)e  occupation. 
At  the  end  of  six  mouths  he  bought  a  wagon  and  team,  and  hauled 
iron  ore  from  the  Filot  Knob  and  Iron  Moun  ains  to  St  Genevieve, 
a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles.  After  two  years  of  tliis  kind  of  la- 
bor he  sold  his  wagon  and  traded  his  horses  for  a  saloon  in  Cale- 
donia, Washington  county.  Mo.  While  in  the  latter  place  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Hanger,  an  American  lady, 
to  whom  he  was  married  on  the  7th  of  I^ovemher,  1855,  at  the 
house  of  Judge  Ferryman,  in  the  s-ame  county.  The  next  day  Mr. 
W.  and  his  wife  Uft  for  Illinois,  and  the  lollowiiig  day  landed  in 


Monroe  city,  in  Monroe  county.  There  Mr.  Winkelman  opened  a 
saloon,  and  carried  it  on  with  great  success  for  two  years.  During 
this  time  he  got  hold  of  text  books  on  law,  and  he  concluded  to 
study  for  the  profession  of  law.  He  first  purchased  a  dictionary 
and  "Walker's  American  Law,"  and  next  "Haines'  Treatise." 
His  wife  and  the  dictionary  were  frequently  consulted  with  refer- 
ence to  the  definition  of  words  and  their  proper  pronunciation,  the 
latter  being  the  most  diflBcult  thing  for  him  to  master.  After  he 
had  obtained  a  fair  knowledge  of  law,  he  commenced  the  practice 
before  justices'  courts,  and  was  quite  successful.  While  attending 
court  in  Waterloo,  in  September  of  1862,  he  made  application  to 
Judge  W.  H.  Underwood,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Belleville,  to 
read  law  in  his  oflice.  His  wishes  were  gratified,  and  one  week 
later  he  had  read  Blackstone's  Commentaries  through  In  Septem- 
ber following  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  state.  From  the  first  outstart  he  had  a  paying  business.  The 
first  year  his  fees  amounted  to  $1,500.  His  practice  increased  from 
year  to  year.  In  1868  he  came  in  contact  with  the  court — Judge 
Gillespie  presiding.  Mr.  Winkelman  at  once  promptly  removed 
his  case  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and  emerged  from  that  tribunal  of 
justice  victorious.  By  this  time  the  better  class  of  citizens  became 
fully  acquainted  with  his  merits,  and,  finding  him  deserving  of  their 
support,  were  not  slow  to  put  him  in  possession  of  their  legal  busi- 
ness. The  result  was  his  business  increased,  and  his  practice  real- 
ized him  from  $8,000  to  $10,000  per  year.  That  practice  he  to  a 
large  exient  retains,  but  of  late  years  a  great  deal  of  his  time  is 
given  to  the  management  of  his  farm  lands  and  city  property.  In 
the  former  he  has  invested  largely  in  the  last  few  years.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  4,600  acres  of  land,  divided  into  twenty  farms,  all 
highly  improved.  They  are  located  in  the  counties  of  St.  Clair, 
Clinton,  and  Monroe.  From  these  lands  and  city  property  he  real- 
izes from  rents  about  $15,000  annually.  The  whole  value  will  ag- 
gregate $200,000.  Politically  he  has  always  acted  and  voted  with 
the  democratic  party.  Sometimes  during  the  heated  campaigns  he 
has  addressed  his  fellow-citizens  from  the  rostrum.  His  speeches, 
we  are  told,  are  replete  with  good  sense,  and  show  a  thorough  know- 
ledge of  the  political  questions  of  the  day.  He  is  gifted  with  ora- 
tory, and  whether  in  the  hustings  or  on  the  forum,  he  commands 
the  attention  of  his  audience  by  his  earnestness,  logical  statements, 
and  fonible  delivery.  As  a  lawyer  he  is  well  read.  In  many  of 
the  criminal  cases  of  importance,  in  this  judicial  district,  he  is  re- 
tained for  the  defence,  and  very  rarely  fails  to  secure  an  acquittal 
for  his  client.  He  is  aggressive,  which  sometimes  subjects  him  to 
censure,  as  the  following  colloquy  will  show:  The  judge  being 
troubled,  and  somewhat  out  of  humor,  remarked,  "  Mr.  Winkle- 
man,  you  cause  me  more  trouble  than  any  other  lawyer  at  the  bar." 
Mr.  W.  coolly  replied,  looking  up  at  the  judge, "  May  it  please  your 
honor,  I  have  more  business  than  any  other  lawyer  at  the  bar." 
The  judge  smiled,  and  the  business  proceeded  as  usual. 

The  secret  of  Mr.  Winkleman's  success  has  been  his  self-reliant 
powers,  industry,  and  indomitable  will.  Trained  in  the  hard,  rough 
school  of  adversity,  he  learned  early  to  depend  on  himself.  Few 
men  have  succeeded  as  he  has.  Self-educated,  he  mastered  the  pn  - 
fes^ion,  and  lose  side  by  side  with  those  who  had  enjoyed  early  and 
thorough  training  in  the  best  schools  of  the  country,  and  he  is  now 
recognized  as  an  able  and  successful  lawyer.  Success  is  the  world's 
measure  of  a  man.     The  world  has  no  use  for  unsuccessful  men. 


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ffii; 


The  OLD  ST  00  KEY  HOMESTEAD  is  Represented  by  theLower  Picture,  as  it  Appeared  Forty  Years  Ago. The  House  Was 
Built  in  1802.  The  Views  in  The  Upper  Corners  ShowsThe  Remains  of  The  Old  Building  As  it  Now  Stan  os. 


'■"liS^^'^^'^'r^ 


Business  Block  or  P.H.APPEL,   B£llevill£  St.Clair   Co.,  Ill 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  fjnlJ^^TY,  ILLIKOIS. 


The   West   family  of  St.  Clair  county  are  among  the  oldest 
American  settlers  and  early  pioneers  of  Illin(Ms.     They  are  of  Eng- 
lis-h  ancestry,  and  came  with   Leonard   Calvert,  brother  of  Lord 
Baltimore,  in  1632,  and  formed  the  tirst  settlement  of  Maryland. 
John  West,  the  great-great-grandfather,  lived  and  died  in  Mary- 
land.    His  son,  Benjamin,  removed  to  Virginia  at  a  date  prior  to 
the  revolution,  and  during  that  memorable  struggle  served  upon 
the  staff  of  General  AVashington.    The  family  remained  in  Virginia 
nntil  1818,  when  they  came  west  to  the  territory  of  Illinois,  and 
settled  in  St.  Clair  county.     Washington  West,  the  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Maryland,  and,  while  in  his 
infancy,  the  family  removed  to  Virginia.     He    married    Frances 
Mitchell,  of  Virginia.     By  this  marriage  there  were  three  children 
— two  sons  and  one  daughter.     Benjamin  Hillerary  West,  the  father 
of  Dr.  West,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  IS  17,  aiid  was  but  one  year 
old  when  the  family  came  to  Illinois.     He   married  Miss  Maria 
Catherine  Hiel,  a  native  of  King  and  Queen's  county,  Virginia. 
She  was  born  in  1824.     Both  jMrents  are  still  living,  and  residents 
of  this  county.     By  this  union  there  was  a  large  family — eleven 
children,  yet  living — all  of  whom  have  reached  the  age  of  maturity. 
Washingt(;n  West  is  the  third  son,  and  fourth  in  the  family.     He 
was  born  near  Belleville,  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  February  9th, 
1847.     He  was   raised  uj)on  the  farm,  and  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Belleville.     At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  entered  the  city  university  of  St.  Louis,  and  remained  there 
two  years  after  which  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  James  L.  Perry- 
man,  of  Belleville,  Illinois,  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine. 
'       28 


He  prosecuted  his  studies  diligently,  and  soon  prepared  himself  for 
entrance  to  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  in  which  inttituti.m  he 
took  two  full  courses,  graduating  in  1868  with  the  degree  of  M  D. 
He  began  the  practice  in  Belleville,  but  .-oon  after  received  tlie  ap- 
pointment of  assistant  Surgeon  in  the  United  States  army,  and  \Aa3 
assigned  to  active  duty  on  the  staff  of  Cnn.  William  E.  Harney, 
then  stationed  at  the  Cheyenne  River  Agency,  in  Dakota  Ten  itoiy. 
He  remained  in  the  regular  service  two  years,  when  he  tendered  his 
resignation,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  returned  to  Belleville  and 
continued  the  practice.  In  187G  he  attended  lectures  (clinics)  in 
the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
there  received  much  valuable  medical  infonnation  in  the  different 
branches  of  the  science.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Medical 
Association,  State  Southern  Illinois,  and  St.  Clair  County  INIedical 
Societies.  At  the  last  meeting  of  the  American  :Medical  Associ- 
ation, held  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  in  May,  1881,  he  was  a  dele- 
gate, and  represented  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  in  that 
convention.  On  the  30th  of  June,  1870,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  31iss  Mary  Agnes  Wolfe,  a  native  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  a  resident  of  St.  Louis  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  By 
this  union  there  are  four  children— one  son  and  three  daughters. 
His  wife  is  a  me-mber  of  the  Presbyterian  Church-  Politically,  he 
is  a  democrat.  Dr.  West  takes  great  interest  in  the  different  secret 
organizations,  and  is  particularly  active  in  Masonic  circles.  He 
betongs  to  all  the  orders  in  ancient  craft  Masonry,  and  is  a  Sir 
Knight  and  member  of  Tancred  commandery  No.  50,  stationed  at 
Belle-ville,  and  is  Recorder  of  the  order.     He  is  also  a  member  <.if 


218 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


the  Knights  of  Pythias,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  the  beneficiary  order  of 
Knights  of  Honor.  In  the  practice  of  medicine  Dr.  West  has  been 
unusually  successful,  and  is  in  the  possession  of  a  large  and  lucrative 
business.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  medical  attainment-*,  and  thoroughly 
in  love  with  his  profession.  In  his  manners  and  habits  he  is  a  dig- 
nified gentleman,  of  scholarly  mien,  though  possessing  social  quali- 
ties of  a  high  order.  He  is  temperate,  and  neat  in  person.  It  is 
with  genuine  pleasure  that  the  writer  of  this  article  has  the  oppor- 
tunity of  paying  this  tribute  to  the  character  of  one  who  stands  high 
in  the  estimation  of  the  good  people  of  Belleville  and  vicinity. 


FRED.  K.  ROPIEQUET. 

This  gentleman  was  born  on  the  Rhine,  Bavaria,  December  16, 
1835.  His  father,  Andrew  Joseph  Ropiequet,  was  a  lawyer  of  high 
standing,  and  possessed  ample  means.  He  died  in  1847-  Fred- 
crick's  youth  was  passed  in  the  free  schools  of  his  native  country, 
and  therein  he  was  fitted  for  entrance  to  the  Latia  schools.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  entered  the  Polytechnical  School  at  Kaiser- 
lanturu,  aud  pursued  his  studies  for  three  years,  taking  a  full  course 
in  geometry,  trigonometry  and  the  higher  grades  in  mathematics. 
He  also  studied  mineralogy,  geology,  practical  science  and  the  sci- 
ence of  mechanism,  taking  the  full  course  and  graduation  from  that 
school.  His  object  was  to  prepare  himself  for  entrance  in  the  Col- 
lege of  Mining,  at  Freeburg,  Saxony,  where  he  proposed  to  further 
pursue  his  studies,  and  fit  himself  for  the  profession  of  geologist 
and  mineralogist.  However,  before  going  to  Freeburg,  he  met  Mr. 
Abend,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Belleville,  Illinois,  who  was  paying 
a  visit  to  his  old  home  in  Germany.  He  gave  young  Ropiequet  a 
glowing  account  of  the  new  world,  and  of  the  many  advantages 
there  attending  the  industrious  youth,  which  so  impressed  him  that 
he  changed  his  rqind,  gave  up  the  plans  made  for  entering  the 
school,  and,  instead,  prepared  for  immediate  emigration  to  America. 
He  landed  in  New  York  in  December  of  1862,  and  came  direct  to 
Belleville,  where,  soon  after,  he  found  employment  in  a  general 
store  as  clerk.  One  year  later  he  took  up  the  profession  of  civil 
engineer,  and  surveying  under  Henry  Holbrook.  The  next  year 
he  received  the  appointment  of  assistant  engineer,  and  assisted  in 
the  construction  of  the  Alton  branch  of  the  Belleville  and  Illinois-' 
town  Railroad,  now  known  as  the  Terre  Haute,  Alton  and  St. 
Louis  Road.  He  remained  in  the  service  of  the  company  one  year, 
then  returned  to  Belleville,  where,  soon  after,  he  was  appointed 
City  Engineer,  and  held  that  position  for  two  years.  He  then  con- 
cluded to  adopt  the  profession  of  law.  He  studied  under  George 
Trumbull,  and  continued  until  Geo.  C.  Hart  was  elected  sheriff  of 
the  county.  He  appointed  Ropiequet  his  deputy.  After  his  term 
expired  he  resumed  surveying,  and  continued  until  E.  H.  Fleming 
was  elected  sheriff,  when  he  was  again  appointed  deputy,  and  re- 
mained in  the  office  until  1862.  From  that  date  until  1864,  he 
compiled  the  St.  Clair  County  Abstract  Records,  and  sold  them  to 
Chas.  P.  Knispel,  in  1867.  In  1864  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
sheriff  of  St.  Clair  county  by  a  majority  of  1700,  which  was  strong 
evidence  of  his  personal  popularity.  By  the  then  existing  laws  he 
could  not  become  his  own  successor,  and  he  retired  from  the  sheriff's 
office  in  1866.  In  December,  1867,  formed  the  firm  of  Eslert  & 
Ropiequet,  founders  and  manufacturers  of  all  kind  of  agricultural 
implements  He  continued  in  this  business  until  1876.  In  1875 
he  was  appointed  County  Treasurer  and  Assessor,  to  fill  the  vacan- 
cy caused  by  the  resignation  of  Hon  Edward  Rutz.  In  1877  he 
commenced  the  compilation  of  a  second  set  of  Abstract  Records, 


which,  when  completed,  he  sold  to  Mr.  Sebastian  Fietsara.  In 
1879  he  was  elected  City  Treasurer,  and  held  the  office  until  his 
resignation,  in  1880,  when  he  was  nominated  and  elected  sheriff  of 
the  county,  a  position  he  now  fills  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
people  who  honored  him  with  their  suffrages.  In  addition  to  the 
offices  named,  he  has  filled  others  of  local  honor  and  trust.  In 
1868  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Belleville.  He  has  been 
a  Republican  in  politics  from  the  time  of  casting  his  first  vote  to 
the  present.  Mr.  Ropiequet  is  very  popular  with  the  masses,  as  was 
evidenced  in  the  late  election,  when  he  carried  the  county  by  756 
majority  in  excess  of  his  party  vote. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna,  daughter  of  Col.  Hugo  Wangelin,  an  old  settler  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Belleville.  During  the  late  war  he  was 
Colonel  of  the  12th  Regiment,  Mo.  Vol.,  and  was  breveted  Briga- 
dier  General  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct.  Mrs.  Ropiequet 
was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1841,  but  was  a  resident  of  Leba- 
non, in  St.  Clair  county.  111.,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  By 
that  marriage  there  are  eight  children,  three  son?  and  five 
daughters. 


T.  W.  ECKERT. 

The  present  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Belleville  Republican  is 
"  to  the  manor  born."  His  birth-place  was  Monroe  county,  Illinois, 
and  the  date  November  6,  1840.  His  father,  John  Eekert,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  emigrated  west  as  early  as  1818,  and 
settled  in  St.  Clair  county.  111.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Mon- 
roe county,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  April,  1842.  He 
was  twice  married.  His  last  wife,  who  still  survives  him,  and,  at 
present,  is  a  resident  of  Lebanon,  in  this  county,  was  Arab  Wil- 
liams. She  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  was  a  resident  of  Monroe 
county,  Illinois,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  By  this  union  there 
were  four  children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living.  Thomas  W.  is  the 
youngest  of  the  family.  He  came  with  the  family  to  Lebanon  in 
1853.  His  early  educational  training  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  Monroe  and  St.  Clair  counties.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  he  entered  McKendree  College,  at  Lebanon,  and  spent  three 
years  in  further  preparing  himself  for4;he  bustle  of  life.  After  he 
left  college  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which  he  continued 
until  1863,  when  he  took  up  the  profession  of  dentistry.  He  prac- 
ticed his  profession  in  St.  Louis  for  three  years,  then  returned  to 
Lebanon,  and  continued  until  1872.  His  health  failing,  he  was 
compelled  to  abandon  the  business.  He  concluded  to  try  journal- 
ism, and  made  his  first  venture  in  that  direction  by  purchasing  the 
Lebanon  Journal.  The  venture  proved  a  reasonably  profitable 
one.  He  continued  the  paper  until  1878,  with  the  exception  of 
a  short  time,  during  th&se  years,  when  it  was  in  the  hands  of  par- 
ties who  had  purchased  it,  but  failing  t6  meet  their  obligations,  it 
fell  back  into  Mr.  Eckert's  hands.  In  1878  he  sold  out,  and  in 
February  following,  came  to  Belleville  and  established  the  Belleville 
Republican,  now  one  of  the  recognized  political  organs  of.  this  Con- 
gressional District.  His  connection  with  the  Republican  has  con- 
tinued without  interruption  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Eekert  is  a  good 
newspaper  man,  because  of  his  industry,  close  attention  to  business 
and  desire  to  give  his  patrons  a  good,  newsy  paper,  and  one  worthy 
of  their  support.  The  leading  feature  of  the  Republican  is  its  local 
columns,  which  are  always  filled  with  bright,  crispy  news  and  home 
society  events.  That  kind  of  management  has  reacted  in  a  steadily 
increasing  patronage  and  wide  circulation.  On  the  30th  of  May, 
1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Viola  M.  Calhoun,  daugh- 


■y^r^i;  ^V;a^>5i^«teJ'^^?l|^ta!si^ii^^ 


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HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


219 


ter  of  Dr.  Calhoun,  an  old  and  prominent  physician  and  settler  of 
the  northern  part  of  St.  Clair  county.  By  this  marriage  there  have 
been  three  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters.  Politically,  Mr. 
Eckert  has  always  been,  from  casting  his  first  vote,  a  Republican. 
In  1874  he  was  appointed  postmaster  in  Lebanon,  111  ,  and  held  the 
position  for  nearly  two  years  when  he  nsigned. 


DR.  FERDINAND  RUBACH. 

The  subject  of  the  following  biographical  sketch  is  a  native  of 
the  Province  of  Nassau,  Germany.  The  date  of  his  birth  was 
November  29,  1837.  His  father,  Augustus  W.  Rubach  was  edu- 
cated in  the  military  schools  and  was  an  officer  in  the  German 
army.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1841,  and  settled  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  remained  two  years,  then  came  west  to  St. 
Clair  County,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  subse- 
quently in  mercantile  pursuits  in  Belleville.  He  died  in  1871. 
He  married  Miss  Wilhelmina  Schenck,  youngest  daughter  of  Pre- 
sident Schenck  of  the  Duchy  of  Nassau.  She  still  survives  her 
husband,  and  is  a  resident  of  Belleville,  and  an  inmate  of  the  home 
of  her  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  By  this  union  there  were 
two  children,  both  sons,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  maturity.  William 
R.,  the  youngest  son,  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war.  He  enlisted  in 
the  12th  Regiment,  Mo.  Vols.,  under  the  first  call  for  troops. 
After  the  term  of  the  first  enlistment  expired  he  volunteered  for 
three  years'  service  in  the  same  regiment,  and  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Adjutant  of  the  regiment.  He  served  through  the 
war. 

Ferdinand  received  his  education  in  the  Public  Schools  of 
Belleville  and  by  private  instruction  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
entered  the  ofiice  of  Dr.  A.  Hammer  of  St.  Louis,  and  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine.  After  making  suitable  progress  in  his 
studies  he  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  taking  two  full 
courses,  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  March,  1858,  with 
the  degree  of  M.D.  In  May  following  he  went  to  Germany,  and 
entered  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Wiirtzburg, 
and  pursued  his  studies  there  for  eighteen  months.  From  Wiirtz- 
burg he  went  to  Prague,  Austria,  and  from  there  to  Vienna,  where 
he  received  special  instruction  from  Professor  Arlt.  From  the 
latter  place  he  went  to  Berlin,  where  he  studied  the  diseases  of  the 
eye,  and  their  remedies,  under  the  celebrated  surgeon  and  special- 
ist, Professor  Von  Graefe.  He  then  returned  to  Belleville,  having 
been  absent  three  years,  which  time  was  employed  in  receiving 
more  thorough  instruction  in  Materia  Medica  and  Surgery,  and 
fitting  him  for  the  general  practice.  He  commenced  the  practice  in 
Belleville  and  has  continued  here  to  the  present  time.  Dr.  Ru bach's 
practice  is  large  and  his  success  as  a  practitioner  all  that  could  be 
desired.  He  belongs  to  the  progressive  School  of  Medicine,  and 
readily  adopts  the  new  methods  and  discoveries  that  are  constantly 
being  made  in  the  science  of  medicine.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St. 
Clair  County  Medical  Society.  He  was  appointed  U.  S.  Examin- 
ing Surgeon  in  1862,  and  still  retains  that  position.  He  has  been 
County  Physician  since  1866.  On  the  4th  of  February,  1864,  he 
married  Miss  Sophia  Maus,  daughter  of  John  Maus,  deceased.  By 
this  marriage,  there  are  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Dr.  Rubach  possesses  exceedingly  agreeable  social  qualities,  and  is 
much  respected  by  the  citizens  of  Belleville,  and  also  bears  the 
reputation  of  being  an  honorable  gentleman  and  good  citizen. 


HON.  THOMAS  QUICK. 

Thomas  Quick  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  early  families  and  pioneers  of  Illinois.  His  father, 
Aaron  Quick,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  1812,  and  was  also  in  the  Indian  wars  on  the  frontier.  His 
father,  Isaac  Quick,  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir,  removed  from  New  Jersey  to  the  western  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania soon  after  the  close  of  the  last  century.  He  remained  there 
until  1806,  when  he  came  to  the  territory  of  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  St.  Clair  county.  His  son  Aaron  followed  him  in 
1809. 

Isaac  Quick  married  Lucretia  Runyon,  who  was  born  February 
14,  1761.  By  this  union  Aaron  was  born  October  19,  1778.  On 
the  9th  December,  1800,  he  married  Lacy  Preston,  who  was  born 
December  1,  1780.  She  was  a  native  of  the  western  part  of 
Virginia.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Maryland.  By  the  union 
of  Aaron  and  Lacy  Quick  there  were  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity.  Our  subject  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  He 
was  born  in  St.  Clair  County  October  13,  1823.  He  was  educated 
in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Illinois,  and  from  those  rude  schools 
entered  M'Kendree  College  at  Lsbanon,  Illinois.  He  remained  in 
the  latter  institution  for  two  and  a  half  years,  then  adopted  the 
profession  of  school  teacher,  and  also  read  the  standard  text  books 
upon  law,  under  the  direction  of  George  Trumbull,  an  eminent 
lawyer  of  Belleville,  and  in  1846  was  admitted  to  the  practice. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  United  States  Courts  on  motion 
of  Abraham  Lincoln,  with  whom  Mr  Quick  was  intimate,  and 
both  were  strong  personal  friends.  In  1847  he  removed  to  Water- 
loo, Monroe  County,  Illinois,  and  continued  his  practice  with  varied 
success  until  1855,  when  he  returned  to  Belleville.  While  a 
resident  of  Monroe  County,  in  1850  he  was  elected  to  represent  his 
district  in  the  Legislature.  After  his  return  to  Belleville  he 
formed  a  law-partnership  with  Judge  W.  H.  Underwood,  which 
continued  for  a  short  time.  In  1856,  he  and  Hon.  Jehu  Baker, 
formed  a  partnership  in  the  practice  of  law  which  continued  until 
Mr.  Quick  was  appointed  Bank  Examiner  by  Governor  Bissell. 
He  was  reappointed  by  Govs.  Yates  and.  Oglesby,  and  held  that 
position  until  the  law  was  abolished.  In  1858  he  purchased  land 
in  Washington  County,  where  he  farmed  until  1874.  In  1861  he 
was  appointed  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Illinois  Agricultural 
College  at  Irvington,  in  Washington  County.  He  worked  faith- 
fully for  the  instititution,  and  spent  much  time  and  a  great  deal  of 
his  private  means  in  his  efibrts  to  establish  and  build  it  up.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Illinois  Indus- 
trial University  at  Urbana,  Illinois,  and  was  active  in  its  manage- 
ment during  Gov.  Oglesby's  administration.  He  held  the  position 
until  1873.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Richview,  in  Washington 
County,  Illinois,  and  from  there  went  to  East  St.  Louis,  and  in 
1876  came  back  to  Belleville,  and  here  he  has  remained  to  the  pre- 
sent. On  the  1st  of  October,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Evilina  S. 
Thrift,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Mrs.  Quick  died  November  19,  1676.  Orlando  T.,  the  eldest  son, 
was  a  soldier  during  the  late  rebellion.  He  was  a  student  at 
McKendree  College  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  "C."  of  the  72d 
Regt.,  111.  Vol ,  and  died  in  the  service  from  disease  contracted 
while'  in  the  line  of  his  duty,  the  date  of  which  was  March  27, 
1865.  The  youngest  daughter  named  Eugenia  Eloise,  died  in  her 
eleventh  year.  Abram  E.,  Judson  Thrift,  the  latter  a  school 
teacher  in  this  county.  Edwin,  another  son,  is  a  telegraph  opera- 
tor in  Chicago,  for  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company,  and  is 
also  a  student  in  the  Chicago  Law  School.     Burton  is  a  resident 


220 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


and  school  teacher  in  St.  Clair  County.  On  the  6th  of  February, 
1881,  Mr.  Quick  was  united  in  mirriage  to  Mr,^.  Mary  E.  Miles, 
nee  Tyrrell,  widow  of  Stephen  W.  Miles,  jun.  Politically,  Mr. 
Quick  was  originally  a  democrat,  but  was  opposed  to  slavery. 
During  the  Kansas-Nebraska  difficulties  he  became  a  free  soiler, 
and  from  that  political  position,  he  joined  the  republican  party. 
He  took  a  decided  stand  against  the  admission  of  slavery  into  the 
territories,  and  when  that  opposition  culminated  and  crystalized 
into  an  organization  he  was  found  in  its  ranks,  and  heartily  sup- 
ported the  election  of  John  C.  Fremont  to  the  Presidency.  Since 
that  time  he  has  voted  the  republican  ticket.  During  the  war  he 
was  a  strong  Union  man,  favorable  to  the  most  vigorous  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war.  He  was  then  a  member  of  the  State  Republican 
Central  Committee.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
since  1868,  as  was  his  deceased  wife,  and  his  present  one.  He  is 
also  an  honored  member  of  the  ancient  and  honorable  order  of  A. 
F.  and  A.M.,  and  belongs  to  St.  ClairLodge,  Billeville,  Illinois. 
Personally  and  socially,  Mr.  Quick  is  a  man.  of  rare  and  social 
qualities.  He  has  given  much  attention  to  self-culture,  and  has 
contributed  considerably  to  newspapers  and  periodicals. 


D.  REUTCHLER. 

Tins  gentleman,  who  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and  coal  busi- 
ue^s  at  Reutchler's  station,  is  a  native  of  the  state,  and  was  born  at 
Jacksonville,  Morgan  county,  December  tenth,  1837.  His  ances- 
tors emigrated  at  an  early  date  to  America  from  Wittenberg,  Ger- 
many, and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  The  family  is  said  to  have 
been  originally  of  the  same  stock  as  the  Van  Rensellaers  of  New 
York.  The  name  was  formerly  spelled  Reutschler.  John  Reutch- 
ler,  the  grandfather  of  D.  Reutchler,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 

His  father,  Jacob  Reutchler,  lived  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1837  immigrated  to  Illinois^  reaching  Morgan  county 
the  last  of  October  of  that  year— the  journey,  which  was  by  wagon, 
occupied  five  weeks.  They  remained  in  Morgan  county  about  three 
months  ;  the  greater  part  of  the  winter  was  spent  at  Upper  Alton  ; 
and  in  the  spring  of  J  838  they  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  settled 
on  section  thirty-three  of  township  one  north,  range  seven  west. 
When  he  came  west,  Jacob  Reutchler  was  a  man  of  considerable 
means.  He  had  been  eugaged  in  farming  and  milling  in  Union 
county.  Pa.,  and  on  leaving  that  locality  sold  his  farm  and  mill  for 
twenty-one  thousand  dollars,  a  much  larger  sum  in  those  days  than 
now  He  brought  this  amount  with  him  to  Illinois.  He  was  un- 
fortunate in  losing  a  loan  of  about  fourteen  thousand  dollars,  which 
he  made  to  a  man  in  Upper  Alton.  With  the  balance  he  purchased 
eight  hundred  acres  of  land,  paying  for  the  improved  part  twelve 
dollars  and  a  half  an  acre.  At  the  time  he  purchased  this  land  the 
improvements  on  the  place  were  among  the  best  in  that  part  of  the 
county,  the  original  settlement  having  been  made  by  James  Mitch- 
ell in  1817. 

Jacob  Reutchler  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  superior  busi- 
ness qualifications.  He  gave  his  personal  attention  to  farm- 
ing, but  was  also  occupied  largely  in  trading  in  stock,  by  which  he 
accumulated  considerable  means.  His  trading  expeditious  mono- 
polized a  great  part  of  his  time,  made  necessary  a  great  amount  of 
rough  traveling  over  the  country,  and  was  the  source  of  much 
hardship.  He  had  a  fair  education,  which  had  mostly  been  acquired 
by  his  own  efl'orts,  was  a  good  judge  of  human  nature,  a  successful 
trader  and  a  capable  business  man.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  nearly  twenty-five  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  covering 
the  site  of  Reutchler's  station.     He  died  on  the  9ch  of  January, 


1853,  from  a  congestive  chill,  supposed  to  have  been  brought  on  by 
exposure.  His  widow -still  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  aud  enjoys 
good  health,  though  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  Mrs.  Reutchler 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  ever  since  her  mar- 
riage, and  her  husband,  while  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania,  was  also 
an  active  member  of  that  denomination.  She  has  warmly  at  heart 
the  interests  of  the  church,  and  has  built  with  her  own  means  the 
church  at  Reutchler's  station,  and  in  every  other  way  has  done  all 
she  could  to  forward  the  cause  of  Christianity.  She  raised  a  family 
of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood. 
Five — three  sons  and  two  daughters — are  now  living. 

Daniel  Reutchler,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  about  six  weeks  after  the  arrival  of  the  family  in  Illinois, 
and  was  about  six  months  old  at  the  time  his  parents  settled  in  St. 
Clair  county.  He  was  raised  in  that  part  of  the  county,  and  at- 
tended the  common  schools.  In  1855  he  went  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
during  the  winter  of  1855-6  went  to  school  at  the  Union  County 
Seminary  and  an  academy  in  Juniata  county.  He  subsequently, 
during  the  winter  of  1860-1,  attended  a  commercial  college  in  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.  He  had  his  home  on  the  farm  in  St.  Clair  county,  though 
at  intervals  he  was  in  Ohio  and  elsewhere  till  1864,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Belleville  and  purchased  of  his  brother,  J.  B  Reutchler, 
an  interest  in  the  agricultural  works  which  were  conducted  for  four" 
teen  years  under  the  firm  name  of  D.  &  H.  Reutchler.  During 
this  time  the  establishment  was  eugaged  in  the  manufacture  of  their 
well-known  grain  drills.  Od  the  seventh  of  January,  18' 8,  he  met 
with  a- serious  misfortune  by  breaking  one  of  his  limbs  in  two 
places.  This  accident,  which  was  occasioned  by  his  being  caught 
in  the  fly-wheel  of  the  engine  at  the  coal-shaft,  which  had  been 
opened  up  at  Reutchler's,  unfitted  him  for  any  physical  exertion  foi 
about  a  year. 

Since  1878,  having  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  Agricultural 
Works,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  management  of  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  which  is  composed  of  over  five  hundred  acres,  and  in 
operating  the  coal-shaft  at  Reutchler's,  which  was  opened  up  at  the 
time  of  the  building  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad. 
Since  1874  he  has  also  had  charge  of  a  store  at  that  place,  and 
since  June  of  that  year  has  filled  the  office  of  post-master.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  enterprize  and  energy.  He  has  never  filled  any 
public  position.  He  began  his  political  course  by  voting  for 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  President  in  1860,  but  in  1864  supported 
Lincoln  for  the  presidency,  and  has  since  acted  with  the  republican- 
party,  though  in  his  political  views  he  is  liberal  aud  independent. 


CHARLES  F.  NOETLING 

Is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  William  Noetling,  his  father,  was  of 
GLTmaii  birth,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1824.  He  settled  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  practiced  medicine.  He  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Juniata  county,  in  the  same  state,  and  there  married  Eli- 
zabeth Zulauf,  who  was  a  Penusylvauian  by  birth.  Dr.  Noetling 
subsequently  removed  to  Union  county,  and  remained  there  until 
the  division  of  that  county  and  Snyder,  whereby  he  became  a  resi- 
dent of  the  latter,  and  remained  until  his  death  in  1861.  His  wife 
still  survives  him.  By  the  marriage  of  Dr.  William  and  Elizabeth 
Noetling  there  were  three  children,  all  sons.  William,  the  eldest, 
is  at  present  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  State  Normal  School 
in  Bloomsburg,  Pa.  John,  the  youngest,  is  a  physician,  located  in 
Mifflinburg,  Pa.  Charles  P.,  the  second  son.  was  born  in  Union 
county.  Pa.,  September  19,  1832.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  in  the  academy  at  New  Berlin,  and  in    the 


Residence  of    JOHN  MAULE.  Belleville,  Illinois. 


144^^ 


Residence  of  PETER  STAUOER.BellevilleJlunois. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


221 


Uaiou  Ssminary  in  Union  county.  It  was  the  wish  of  his  father  that 
he  should  adopt  the  profession  of  medicine,  and  with  that  idea  in  view 
hs  read  medicine  in  his  father's  office  for  several  years,  but  it  proved 
distasteful,  and  he  abandoned  the  idea  of  becoming  a  physician,  and 
came  west  to  Belleville  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  and  here  he 
was  induced  to  take  charge  of  the  public  schools  as  principal.  Af- 
ter a  term  he  was  engaged  to  teach  in  the  Belleville  German  and 
English  High  School,  which  was  select  and  composed  of  the  child- 
ren of  prominent  citizens,  who  desired  that  their  children  should  be 
taught  both  languages,  and  have  the  advantages  of  an  education 
superior  to  that  obtained  in  the  common  schools.  The  profession 
of  teaching  like  that  of  medicine  was  uncongenial,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  study  law.  In  November,  1856,  he  entered  the  law-office 
of  Wm.  H.  &  J.  H.  Underwood,  prominent  and  well-known  attor- 
neys of  Belleville,  and  commenced  the  study.  In  1859,  at  the 
April  term  of  the  circuit  court,  he  underwent  an  examination  be- 
fore a  committee,  composed  of  Judge  Underwood,  George  Trumbull, 
and  Nathaniel  Niles,  and  upon  their  unanimous  recommendation  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  On  the  12th  of  June,  1860,  he  entered  the 
office  of  Judge  Underwood,  and  remained  in  his  service  for  one 
year,  when  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  his  preceptor,  which 
continued  until  September,  1875,  or,  until  the  death  of  Judge  Un- 
derwood. On  the  1st  of  November,  1875,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  R.  A.  Halbert,  which  still  continues.  The  law  firm  of  Under- 
wood &  Noetling  did  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  was  during 
its  existence  one  of  the  most  successful  law  firms  in  southern  Illi- 
nois. The  firm  of  Noetling  and  Halbert  still  continued  the  prestige 
achieved  in  former  years,  and  still  occupy  the  conspicuous  position 
at  the  bar  of  St.  Clair  county. 

Few  cases  of  any  prominence  are  tried  in  the  courts  but  what 
they  are  retained  for  one  side  or  the  other.  Their  success  and  large 
practice  is  the  best  evidence  of  their  ability  as  lawyers.  Mr.  Noet  • 
ling  politically  is  a  republican.  He  joined  that  organization  in 
1856,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has  been  a  staunch  sup- 
porter of  republican  principles. 

In  1871,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, and  for  six  years  served  with  distinction  in  that  body. 

Notwithstanding,  Mr.  Noetling's  life  has  been  a  busy  one,  his  large 
law  practice  requiring  much  of  his  time,  he  has  still  found  leisure 
to  cultivate  his  mind,  and  add  to  his  store  of  historical  and  literary 
information.  He  has  also  found  time  to  make  pleasure  trips  to 
difierent  parts  of  the  country.  These  journeys  have  embraced  a  vi- 
sit to  nearly  every  state  in  the  Union.  In  1879,  he  was  one  of  a 
large  party  of  men  engaged  in  difierent  callings  and  professions, 
who  went  south  and  to  Mexico  on  a  tour  of  information  and 
observation.  The  party  was  known  as  the  "American  Industrial 
Deputation,"  whose  object  was  to  some  extent,  to  establish  more 
friendly  business  relations  between  Mexico  and  the  United  States. 
Their  observations  and  impressions  were  published  at  the  time  in 
the  leading  journals  throughout  the  country,  and  did  much  to  cor- 
rect false  impressions,  and  give  the  people  of  the  two  countries  a 
better  knowledge  of  each  other.  On  the  22d  of  December,  1858, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  M.  Swyer,  a  native  of 
Belleville.  By  this  union  there  are  three  children,  one  son  and  two 
daughters.  William  F.,  the  son,  is  preparing  for  the  profession  of 
law.  He  married  Miss  Anna  Grant  of  Memphis,  Tenn.  Ella  L., 
the  eldest  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Swiaford,  now  a  resident 
of  St.  Louis.  Bessie  N.,  the  youngest,  is  yet  at  home.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Noetling,  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  During 
Mr.  Noetling's  long  residence  in  Belleville,  and  connection  with  the 
business  interests  of  the  town  and  county,  he  has  proved  himself  a 
man  entitled  to  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people.     In  his 


manners  he  is  open,  frank  and  unassuming,  and  at  home  or  abroad 
is  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  gentleman. 


CHARLES  BECKER. 

The  subject  of  the  following  biographical  sketch  was  born  in 
Rhenish  Bavaria,  Germany,  June  21th,  1840.  Urban  Becker,  his 
father,  was  by  trade  and  profession  an  architect  and  builder,  and 
carried  on  a  large  business  in  his  native  country.  He  there  mar- 
ried Mary  Spross,  by  which  union  there  were  thirteen  children.  In 
1851  he  left  Germany  and  emigrated  to  America,  and  came  direct 
to  Belleville,  where  he  continued  his  trade  of  builder,  and  where 
he  remained  until  his  death  in  1874.  His  wife,  and  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  survived  him,  and  died  in  Belleville,  March 
25th,  1881.  Charles  was  in  his  eleventh  year  when  the  family 
came  to  America.  His  education  was  obtained,  mainly,  in  the 
schools  of  Belleville,  in  which  he  continued  until  his  fifteenth  year, 
when  he  went  to  the  Harrison  Machine  Works  in  Belleville,  and 
commenced  learning  the  trade  of  moulder.  He  remained  at  the 
trade  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  the  war  broke  out. 
He  then  laid  down  his  tools  and  with  patriotic  devotion  to  the  coun- 
try of  his  adoption  he  enlisted  under  the  first  call  of  the  President 
for  300,000  men.  He  enlisted  in  company  B,  of  the  12th  Missouri 
Volunteers,  and  participated  with  the  regiment  in  the  battles  and 
skirmishes  until  near  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  which 
commenced  on  the  6th  of  March,  1862.  On  the  8th,  in  the  third 
day's  fight,  he  was  woumled  in  the  right  thigh,  the  ball  shattering 
the  limb  so  badly  that  in  order  to  save  his  life  it  was  necessary  to 
amputate  the  leg  above  the  knee  while  he  yet  lay  on  the  field  of 
battle.  This  desperate  wound  necessitated  his  discharge  from  the 
service,  which  was  acjorJingly  done  on  the  8th  of  March,  1862.  He 
returned  horns,  and  thiu  went  to  school  for  a  short  time.  He  re- 
alized from  the  nature  of  his  physical  disability  that  he  would  for 
the  future  have  to  depend  upon  clerical  labor  for  support  He  took 
a  course  in  book-keeping,  and  afterwards  returned  to  Harrison's 
Machine  shops  and  clerked,  and  did  such  general  work  until  he 
married.  That  event  occurred  January  23d,  1864,  at  which  time  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Louisa  Fleischbein,  a  native  born 
lady  of  Belleville,  and  daughter  oi  Jacob  and  Louisa  Fleischbein, 
who  came  to  this  country  as  early  as  1833.  After  his  marriage,  he 
moved  to  West  Belleville,  where  he  engaged  in  hotel  keeping;,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1866,  when  he  received  the  nomination 
for  the  office  of  sherifif,  and  in  the  ensuing  election  was  elected.  He 
served  two  years,  which,  by  the  then  existing  law,  rendered  him  in- 
eligible for  a  second  term.  He  then  went  into  the  Belleville  brew- 
ery, in  connection  with  Mr.  Ehrhardt,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Ehrhardt  &  Becker.  They  continued  the  brewing  business  until 
1872,  when  he  was  nominated  and  elected  circuit  clerk.  In  1876 
he  was  again  nominated,  and  became  his  own  successor,  and  con- 
tinued in  office  until  the  expiration  of  his  term. 

In  all  of  the  offiiies  held  by  Mr.  Becker  his  entire  course  was 
marked  by  close  attention  to  business,  a  careful  regard  for  the  wants 
and  wishes  of  other.-J,  an  accomodating  disposition,  obliging  man- 
ners, and  a  proficiency  in  his  duties,  which  had  the  efiect  of  making 
him  exceedingly  popular  amo'ig  the  masses  and  those  who  came  in 
direct  contact  with  him.  lie  is  emphatically  a  republican,  and  has 
never  gone  back  on  that  [)arty.  In  1872,  when  the  great  Liberal 
wave  swept  thousands  of  his  countrymen  from  the  republican  into 
the  liberal-democratic  ranks  he  re.iiained  firm.  He  was  nominated 
for  county  clerk  on  the  republican  ticket,  and  was  the  only  repub- 
lican elected.     In  1876  his  personal  popularity  and  worth  asa  man 


222 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


and  citizen  received  still  more  flattering  proof.  He  was  nominated 
for  the  second  time  for  circuit  clerk,  and  notwithstanding  his  party- 
was  defeated  by  1183  majority,  he  was  elected  by  800  majority, 
which  was  2000  in  excess  of  his  party's  vote.  This  is  the  strongest 
evidence  of  his  worth  as  a  man,  and  his  fidelity  to  public  trusts.  In 
the  party  he  has  been  active,  and  has  done  much  to  sustain  the  or- 
ganization in  St.  Clair  county.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the  Re- 
publican Central  Committee  for  some  years,  and  under  his  vigorous, 
wise  and  judicious  management,  the  party  owes  much  of  its  success 
in  this  county 

In  his  manners  Mr.  Becker  is  a  plain,  unassuming  gentleman. 
In  his  home,  as  well  as  abroad,  he  is  hospitable  and  kind.  In  the 
former  his  generous  hospitality  is  most  readily  attested  by  the  wri- 
ter of  this  article,  who  has  been  the  recipient  of  it,  and  who  wishes 
to  bear  testimony  to  this  trait  of  character  in  him. 

By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Louisa  Fleischbein  there  have  been 
five  children,  four  living,  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Their  names 
are  Bertha,  Casimer,  Gustave  and  Arthur  Carl  Becker.  Frederick 
died  in  his  eighth  year. 

Mr.  Becker  is  a  member  of  the  German  societies  in  Belleville 
which  are  organized  for  social,  musical  and  other  purposes.  He  was 
president  of  the  Philharmonic  Society  for  five  years. 


JAMES  H.  THOMAS. 

The  present  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Advocate,  the  oldest  estab- 
lished journal  of  St.  Clair  county,  is  a  native  of  Belleville,  and  was 
bom  Dec.  2, 1848.  The  Thomas  family  were  originally  from  South 
Carolina.  John  Thomas,  the  great  grandfather  of  James  H.,  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  as  early  as  1807,  and  settled  near  Shiloh,  in  St. 
Clair  couiity.  His  sons,  among  whom  was  James  D. ,  came  several 
years  later.  James  D.  married  Elizabeth  Tozer,  who  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  but  was  a  resident  of  this  county  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage.  Her  people  came  here  about  the  same  time  as  ihe 
younger  Thomas.  By  this  union  there  were  four  children,  who 
reached  the  age  of  maturity,  two  of  whom  had  families.  One  of 
these  was  Margaret,  who  was  the  wife  of  George  E.  Walker  of 
Chicago,  now  deceased.  John  J.  Thomas,  the  father  of  James  H., 
is  the  sole  survivor  of  the  family.  He  was  born  near  Shiloh,  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  "  Glaser  "  farm,  July  9,  1818.  He  there 
grew  to  manhood,  and  married  Margaret  Harrison,  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  daughter  of  James  D.  and  Lucinda  Harrison.  On  the 
paternal  side  the  Harrisons  were  originally  from  North  Carolina, 
and  the  maternal  grandmother,  whose  name  was  Gooding,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky.  On  both  sides  the  family  were  among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  St.  Clair  county.  By  the  union  of  John  J.  and 
Margaret  Thomas  there  were  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing ;  the  others  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  died  February  5, 
1877  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  of  the  children,  and 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Belleville.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered  McKendree  College  at  Lebanon, 
and  graduated  therefrom  in  1869.  After  his  return  from  school  he 
entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  W.  H.  Underwood,  and  commenced 
the  study  of  law.  He  pursued  his  studies  until  1871,  when  at 
the  August  terra  of  the  circuit  court  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  commenced  the  practice  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  continued  until 
1873,  when  he  abandoned  the  profession  and  engaged  with  his  father 
in  the  drug  business  in  Belleville,  in  which  he  continued  until  1880, 
when  he  purchased  the  Advocate  printing  ofiice,  and  from  that  time 
to  the  present  has  been  engaged  in  the  newspaper  busiiiess.  As  a 
newspaper  man  Mr.  Thomas  has  been  successful.     He  has  made  the 


Advocate  one  of  the  influential  and  leading  republican  newspapers  of 
southern  Illinois. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Hattie  P.,  daughter  of  John  L.  Sargent  of  Lebanon,  Illinois.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  order  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  chapter  and  com- 
mandery.  He  is  high  priest  and  presiding  officer  of  the  Belleville 
Chapter  No.  106.  Politically  he  has  always  voted  the  republican 
ticket.  He  is  a  man  whose  influence  is  felt  in  all  enterprises  calcu- 
lated to  further  the  interests  of  Belleville  and  this  county. 


BENJAMIN  J.  WEST,  JR. 

Benjamin  West,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
short  biographical  sketch,  was  born  in  Maryland  in  the  year  1 743. 
Tilghman  H.  West,  his  oldest  son,  was  born  in  Montgomery  co. 
Maryland,  September  20,  1773.  When  but  six  years  of  age,  his 
father  moved  to  Virginia,  and  settled  in  Botetourt  county,  near 
Fincastle,  the  county  seat.  In  1803  Tilghman  H.  West  married 
Mary  Mitchell.  Having  accumulated  considerable  property  in 
Virginia,  he  determined  to  move  westward,  and  in  1818  came  with 
his  family  and  slaves  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county. 
Benjamin  J.  West,  his  son,  married  Louisa  A.  Mitchell,  June  7th, 
1836  settled  in  Belleville,  the  county  seat,  and  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  1834,  and  continued  business  until  1879.  Hav- 
ing accumulated  a  competency,  he  determined  to  retire  from  busi- 
siness.  Benjamin  J.  West,  Jr.,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm,  one 
mile  south  of  Belleville,  in  July,  1846,  where  he  remained  until 
1860.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered  McKendree  College,  re- 
maining two  years.  He  then  entered  the  St.  Louis  University,  and 
remained  until  1864.  About  this  time  the  call  was  made  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States  for  one  hundred-day  volunteers.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
second  Regiment  Ills.  Volunteers  in  the  company  of  Captain  D.  H. 
Porter,  but  was  immediately  transferred  to  the  quartermaster's  de- 
partment, and  remained  until  his  regiment  was  ordered  from  Ten- 
nessee to  Chicago.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  142d  Regiment  in  Chi- 
cago, Governor  Yates  called  upon  the  troops  to  go  to  Missouri,  as 
that  state  was  threatened  by  invasion  of  Gen.  Price's  armies.  Mr. 
West,  » ith  about  two  hundred  of  his  regiment,  although  their  term 
of  service  was  over,  volunteered  to  return  to  Missouri,  and  remained 
in  that  state  until  the  confederate  armies  were  driven  out.  Re- 
turning to  his  home,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  June 
12,  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lora  Kinney  Gere,  of 
Alton,  Ills.  In  1877  he  was  elected  city  register ;  in  '79  was 
elected,  without  solicitation,  a  member  of  the  city  council ;  and  in 
1881  was  elected,  over  the  Convention  nominee,  mayor  of  the 
city. 


WILLIAM  KEMPFF 

Is  a  native  of  Prussia,  and  was  born  Dec,  25,  1811.  He  served  in 
his  youth  a  regular  apprenticeship  to  the  drug  trade,  and  success- 
fully passed  a  rigid  examination  in  pharmaceutical  science.  In 
1848  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  came  the  same  year  to  Belle- 
ville, and  in  March,  1849,  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Birchel- 
mann  in  the  drug  business.  The  partnership  continued  until  1873 
— or,  until  the  d(  alh  of  Birchelmann.  Since  that  time  Dr.  Kempff" 
has  continued  alone  in  the  business.  He  is  now  the  oldest  druggist, 
and  has  been  longer  in  the  business  than  any  other  druggist  in 
Belleville.  He  started  in  the  same  building  where  he  now  is,  and 
has  continued  at  the  same  place  for  nearly  thirty-three  years. 


lllSTOn  Y  OF  ST.  CLAIR  CO  UNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


223 


C^-^-t^ 


Inventor,  mechanic,  and  one  of  the  enterprising  men  of  Belleville, 
was  born  in  Cronberg,  Germany,  February  27th,  1824.     His  father 
was  a  man  possesssing  ample  means;  consequently,  Mr.  Brosius,  in 
his  youth,  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education.     He 
early  exhibited  a  taste  for  mathematics  and  mechanism,  and  for  the 
purpose  of  developing  the  latter  he  was  sent  to  the  schools  where  it 
was  made  a  special  study,  and  where  he  had  opportunities  of  learn- 
ing  mechanism  practically.     In   1849  he   concluded    to  come    to 
America.     He  landed  in  New  York  the  same  year,  and  came  direct 
to  Belleville.     He  tried  farming  for  a  short  time ;  then,  in  connec- 
tion with  Jacob  Geiss,  commenced  the  foundry  and  manufectory  of 
all  kinds  of  agricultural  implements,  in  all  of  which  they  were  very 
successful.     During  his  connection  with  this  business  he  contracted 
to  build  and  do  all  the  iron  work  on  the  new  court-house,  which  was 
completed  in  1862.     In  1866  he  started  the  oil   works.     The  ma- 
chinery and  works  were  built  by  him,  and  were  of  an  entirely  new 
and  novel  construction.     He  was  the  inventor  of  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Water  Clear  Cold  Pressed  Castor  Oil.     The  construction  of 
the  machinery  and  kind  used  was  a  secret,  but  in  time  the  process 
was  discovered,  and  now  it  is  in  general  use  throughout  the  country. 
While  in  the  manufacturing  of  agricultural  implements  he  also  made 
a  number  of  useful  inventions,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
"Atmospheric  Radiator  "  for  heating,  which  takes  the  foul  air  by 
means  of  suction,  carrying  it  to  the  heater,  where  it  is  consumed. 
In  1879  he  built  the  works  for  heating  the  city.     He  adopted  the 
"Holly  "  system,  heating  with  steam,  which  has  proven  to  be  all 


that  is  claimed  for  it.  It  stood  the  test  last  winter,  which  was  one 
of  tlie  longest  occurring  in  many  years,  and  of  unusual  .severity.  In 
the  matter  of  heating  and  the  adoption  of  the  best  method  of  con- 
veying the  steam  to  different  parts  of  the  city  so  as  to  prevent  rapid 
condensation,  called  forth  the  exercise  of  Mr.  Brosius'  inventive  ge- 
nius. He  came  to  the  conclusion  that  air  itself  was  the  very  best  non- 
conductor of  heat.  He  therefore  constructed  two  boxes,  placing 
the  pipes  in  a  box  and  enclosing  the  same  box  in  another,  leaving 
a  space  of  one  inch  all  around  the  inside  box  for  the  free  circulation 
of  the  air.  By  the  use  of  the  two  boxes,  two  air  spaces  are  obtained ; 
one  between  the  pipe  and  the  inner  box,  and  the  other  between  the 
inner  and  outer  box,  the  two  air  rooms  thereby  insulating  the  heat 
as  completely  as  possible.  The  insulating  boxes  are  much  cheaper, 
and  save  a  large  amount  of  money  usually  expended  for  asbestos  and 
otlier  material  used  for  packing  the  pipes  to  prevent  them  from 
frci  zing.  His  system  of  Insulating  Boxes  has  attracted  much  at- 
tention and  called  to  the  city  a  number  of  scientific  men,  who  have 
made  a  thorough  examination  of  the  system,  and  universally  pro- 
nounce it  a  valuable  invention,  and  the  best  in  use.  It  will  no 
doubt  go  into  geneial  use  wherever  steam  is  used  for  heating  cities, 
or  where  it  is  to  be  conveyed  in  pipes  for  any  great  distance.  He 
is  also  the  inventor  of  the  "  Electric  Clock,"  which  is  placed  in  the 
tower  of  his  private  residence,  and  which,  by  the  means  of 
wires,  is  connected  with  the  public  clocks  of  the  city.  They  all 
register  the  exact  time  of  day  and  night.  The  clock  and  connectioi;s 
with  others  was  constructed  from  his  private  means,  which  proves 


224 


EI8T0RY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


him  to  be  a  public-spirited,  as  -well  as  a  useful  citizen.  In  1852  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  Annie  Weingaertner,  a 
native  of  Germany,  but  a  resident  of  Belleville  at  the  time  of  their 
marriage.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  twelve  children — nine 
of  whom  are  living — six  sons  and  three  daughters.  John,  the  eldest 
son,  was  married  on  the  2lEt  of  April,  1881,  to  Miss  Lizzie,  the  ac- 
complished daughter  of  August  Teimann,  of  Belleville. 

In  his  home  Mr.  Brosius  is  a  true  Geiman  gentleman,  dispensing 
to  all  who  gather  around  his  hearthstone  a  genuine  hospitality.  In 
1876  he  erected  a  fine,  large,  palatial  residence  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  city,  known  as  "  Cron-thal,"  which  is  a  credit  to  the  city  of 
Belleville.  Mr.  Brosius  has  been  very  successful  in  life,  particularly 
since  he  has  made  Belleville  his  home,  all  of  which  has  betn  the 
result  of  industry,  energy,  and  the  exercise  of  sound  judgnienl,  and 
gdod  management  of  his  business. 


CURT  HEINFELDEN. 

Among  the  enterprising  young  German-AnKrican  citizerjs  of 
Belleville  is  Mr.  Heinfelden.  He  is  a  native  of  Prussia,  and  was 
born  October  3d,  1848.  He  comes  from  a  family  of  soldiers  and 
land  owners.  His  grandfather  held  the  rank  of  Colonel  in  ihe 
army.  His  father  was  also  trained  to  arms,  and  retired  from  the 
service  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  After  his  retirement  he 
married  and  took  charge  of  the  lands  and  family  estate,  and  super- 
intended their  cultivation,  and  so  continued  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1851,  while  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  still  in  his 
infancy.  After  the  death  of  his  father  Curt  became  an  inmate  of 
his  grandfather's  home,  and  by  him  was  educated  and  prepared  for 
entrance  to  the  College  at  Liege,  Belgium,  where  he  remained  three 
years.  From  1865  to  1869  he  visited  the  Gymnasiums  of  Cologne 
and  Duren.  In  October,  1869,  he  entered  the  University  at  Bonn, 
where  he  proposed  to  prepare  himself  for  the  profession  of  law.  In 
1870,  a  short  time  after  his  entrance  in  the  university,  the  Prussian- 
Franco  war  broke  out,  and  in  July  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the 
service  in  the  King's  Hussar  Reg't,  which  was  garrisoned  in  Bonn. 
In  a  short  time  after  his  enlistment  he  became  an  ofiicer,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  he  determined  to  remain  in  the  army  and  abandon 
the  study  of  law.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  was  transferred  from  the 
Hussars  to  one  of  the  new  regiments  of  dragoons  of  Hurttenberg. 
He  remained  with  the  latter  command  until  the  close  of  1874, 
when  he  resigned  and  quit  the  service  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  landing  in  New  York  where  he  engaged  in  working  for  the 
New  York  Stoats  Zeitung,  and  the  Belletridische  Journal.  He  re- 
mained in  New  York  until  1876,  when  he  went  to  Philadelphia  as 
Exposition  correspondent  for  the  German  newspapers.  From  Phila. 
he  went  to  Cincinnati  and  became  assistant  editqy  of  the  Volksfreund. 
He  remained  with  the  latter  journal  until  May,  1877,  when  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  became  a  dramatic  critic  for  the  Illinois  Staaig  Zeit- 
ung. In  October  of  1878  he  left  Chicago  to  accept  a  position  on 
the  editorial  staff  of  the  Anztiger  des  Wedens,  of  St.  Louis,  which 
position  he  held  until  the  editorship  of  the  Belleville  Zeitung  was 
offered  him.  He  came  to  Belleville  in  October,  1879,  and  assumed 
editorial  control  of  the  Zeitung.  On  the  21st  of  June,  1880,  he 
purchased  Mr.  Sebastian  Feitsam's  half  interest  in  the  paper,  and 
from  that  time  to  the  present  has  been  half  owner  and  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  Zeitung,  which  is  recognized  as  the  leading  German 
newspaper  of  Southern  Illinois.  Politically,  Mr.  Heinfelden  has 
been  a  republican  since  he  first  landed  in  America.  In  the  spring 
of  1880  he  was  elected  Alderman  of  the  5th  ward  of  Belleville. 
On  the  9th  of  November,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Louisa  W.Weber,  eldest  daughter  of  Herman  G.  Weber,  an  old  and 


prominent  citizen  of  Belleville.  Mr.  Heinfelden  posesses  social 
qualities  of  a  high  order,  and  is  a  frank,  out-spoken  gentleman. 
Liberally  educated  and  of  considerable  experience  for  one  of  his 
years,  he  brings  to  the  profession  of  journalism  a  mind  well  stored 
with  information,  and  being  a  fluent  writer  he  has  in  a  short  time 
made  the  Zeitung  the  most  popular  German  newspaper  in  Southern 
Illinois. 


LUCIUS  DON  TURNER. 

Lucius  Don  Turner,  the  father  of  Don  Turner,  was  born  in 
Nelson  county,  Virginia,  May  5th,  1803.  On  the  paternal  side, 
the  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Mr.  Turner  came  west,  to 
Illinois,  in  1831,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county,  and,  soon  after, 
married  Miss  Matilda  V.  Stuntz.  She  was  borii  in  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois,  in  1811.  She  is  the  youngest  daughter  of  Captain  John 
Stuntz,  who  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  of  Ger- 
man parents.  He  was  a  man  of  much  prominence  in  his  day,  and 
held  many  important  positions  in  the  county,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  County  Board  for  many  years,  and  also  represented  this  district 
in  the  Legislature.  He  received  his  title  of  Captain  from  having 
commanded  a  company  in  the  Mexican  war.  Mr.  Turner,  after 
his  marriage,  engaged  in  farming,  north  of  Belleville,  and  remained 
there  one  year,  when  he  exchanged  for  a  farm  midway  between 
Belleville  and  Freeburg,  where  he  moved,  cultivated  his  farm  and 
continued  to  reside  until  1857,  where  he  abandoned  farming  and  re- 
moved to  Freeburg,  of  which  place  he  is  still  a  resident.  By  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Turner  and  Matilda  V.  Stuntz,  there  were  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living,  two  sons  and  four  daughters. 
Don  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  He  was  born  in  St.  Clair 
county,  Illinois,  October  5,  1849.  He  received  a  liberal  education, 
first  in  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  where  he  prepared 
himself  for  entrance  in  McKendree  College,  at  Lebanon.  He  re- 
mained at  McKendree  for  three  years,  then  entered  Washington 
University,  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  had 
determined  to  study  for  the  profession  of  law,  and,  during  vaca- 
tions, read  law  in  the  ofiice  of  G.  &  G.  A.  Koerner,  of  Belleville. 
After  having  read  the  text  books,  he  entered  the  Law  Department 
of  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  remained  there 
two  years  and  graduated  iu  the  class  of  1873.  Upon  motion,  he 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Illinois  in  June,  1873. 
In  1875  he  formed  an  arrange  nent  with  the  Messrs.  Koerners  by 
which  he  has  an  interest  in  the  practice.  That  arrangement  still 
continues.  As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Turner  possesses  the  necessary  quali- 
fications, which  are,  industry  and  a  natural  aptitude  for  the  pro- 
fession. He  prefers  the  real  estate  law  practice  to  any  other. 
Politically,  he  is  a  democrat  at  present,  but  was,  originally,  a  re- 
publican. He  is  uot  a  firm  adhereut  of  any  political  organization, 
but  votes  for  principles,  and  men  who  are  worthy,  without  regard 
to  party  ties  or  affiliations.  In  short,  he  is  independent  in  politics. 
On  the  14th  of  August,  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Josephine  Eckert,  daughter  of  Leonard  Eckert,  of  Waterloo,  Mon- 
roe county,  Illinois.  She  is  of  German  parentage,  through  a  na- 
tive of  Monroe  county.  She  was  educated  and  graduated  from 
the  Normal  School  at  Bloomington,  111.,  several  years  prior  to  her 
marriage,  and  was  employed  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Belleville.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  four  children,  one 
son  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Turner  is  not  a  member  of  any 
church  organization,  nor  does  he  subscribe  to  any  of  the  formulated 
creeds  or  dogmas,  yet,  withal,  he  is  not  ready  to  condemn  or  rail 
against  church  or  Christian  organizations,  until  something  equally 
as  good  is  substituted. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Is  one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  Belleville.  His  history 
demonstrates  that  a  man  possessing  industry,  energy,  and  perse- 
verance can  succeed  despite  the  difficulties  which  frequently  hedge 
around  life's  pathway. 

He  was  born  in   Martzaum,  Hesse  Catsel,  Germany,  May  10, 
]844.     He  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  tw-o  sons  and  two  daughters, 
children  of  Frederick  and  Mary  Eeinecke.     The  family  emigrated 
to  America  in  1857,  landing  in  New  Orleans  in  June  of  that  year^ 
and  from  there  came  up  the  river  direct  to  Belleville,  where  Fred-' 
erick,  the  father,  found  work  in  a  distillery.     He  was  a  miller  by 
tiade,  and  followed  that  calling  in  Germany.     He  was  a  man  who 
at  one  time  was  pofsessed  of  large  means,  but  he  made  some  unfor- 
tunate ventures  and  lost  all  of  his  savings  excepting  sufficient  to 
bring  him  and  the  family  to  America-     When  he  arrived  here  he 
■w  as  pennilef s.     This  loss  was  a  serious  blow  to  the  family,  as  it  com- 
pelled all  the  members  of  the  family  to  become  self-supporting  at  a 
very  early  age.     He  died   in   1871.     His   wife  survived   him  and 
died  May  Sd,  1879.     The  result  was  Conrad  had  but  little  oppor- 
tunity for  receiving  an  education.     He  attended  the  public  schools 
until  his  thirteenth  year,  when  he  hired  out  to  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Waid  to  work  on  a  farm,  for  which  he  received  seven  dollars  per 
month  and  board.     He  was  faithful,  and  remained  with  Mr.  Ward 
for  six  years.     He  then  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  and  did  work 
in  that  line  for  coal  miners,  which  gave  him  some  idea  of  the  busi- 
ness.    He  then  worked  at  the  mines  and   became  superintendent; 
then  went  into  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law  in  the  business^ 
which   latter  undertaking  was  very  unprofitable,  as  the*  conteru 
failed,  owing  to  the  unwise  action  of  his  partner.   Mr.  Eeinecke  con- 
29 


eluded  for  the  future  to  avoid  partners,  and  start  alone  in  the  bui-i- 
ness.  In  1872  he  had  but  a  small  sum  of  money,  but  he  invested 
it  in  coal  and  commenced  buying  and  selling,  and  was  exceedingly 
fortunate,  and  made  money  rapidly.  At  the  end  of  six  months  he 
sunk  a  shaft  of  his  own,  and  after  he  got  it  in  working  order  he 
began  going  upward  to  prosperity.  By  his  speculation  in  coal  the 
iirst  winter  in  St  Louis  he  made  $7000.  He  then  with  that  money 
leased  land,  sunk  a  shaft,  and  when  completed  he  was  $6000  in  debt. 
It  was  not  a  very  encouraging  outlook,  but  he  knew  just  what  he 
was  doing,  and  never  doubted  his  ability  to  soon  pay  off  every  dol- 
lar he  owed,  which  he  did  in  a  short  time  after  he  commenced  ope- 
rating his  mine.  He  has  now  two  of  the  best  mines  in  the  county, 
which  are  certain  sources  of  wealth  under  such  experienced  man- 
agement as  his.  A  fine  view  of  the  mine  and  also  of  his  i-esidcnce 
can  be  seen  on  another  page  of  this  work.  On  the  22d  of  October; 
1864,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Reeves,  daughter  of 
John  and  Eliza  Reeves.  She  is  a  native  of  Staffordshire,  England. 
Her  parents  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county, 
where  both  remained  until  their  death.  By  this  union  there  were 
seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  Their  names  are  Caroline, 
Clara  and  Freddy  Reinecke.  Both  he  antl  his  most  excellent  wife 
are  believers  in  the  Protestant  religion  He  is  a  member  of  the 
beneficiary  order  of  A.  0.  U.  W.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  but 
his  life  has  been  too  busy  to  take  any  further  part  than  to  express 
his  sentiments  and  choice  through  the  ballot. 

He  started  in  life  witii  nothing  to  aid  him  but  a  strong,  rugged 
frame,  an  industrious  disposition,  energy,  and  a  determination 
to    succeed,    and  gain    for  himself,   an   indejsendeuce  and  compe- 


22l 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  C&UNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


teiicy.  That  he  has  succeeded  in  doing,  and  at  the  same  time  he 
has  made  for  himself  an  honorable  name  which  is  the  best  heritage 
he  can  leave  to  his  posterity.  In  early  life  he  learned  that  without 
correct  principles  as  the  basis  upon  which  to  build  a  business  repu- 
tation no  man  could  reap  permanent  success.  He  therefore  made 
it  a  rule  to  meet  every  obligation  promptly.  If  he  made  a  bad 
bargain  he  did  the  best  he  could,  and  was  careful  in  the  future  to 
steer  clear  of  the  same  difficulty.  His  reputation,  therefore,  in  the 
community  is  that  of  an  honorable  business-man,  whose  word  is  as 
good  as  his  bond.  In  his  home  and  abroad  he  is  a  courteous  and  , 
hospitable  gentleman. 


WILLIAM  J.  UNDERWOOD 
Was  born  in  Abbeville  county,  South  Carolina,  in  1833.  Moved 
to  Alabama  in  1851,  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1855. 
Imbued  with  the  political  teachings  of  John  C.  Calhoun,  he  became 
an  advocate  of  secession  upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  pre- 
sidency, and  acted  with  the  ultra  wing  of  the  southern  party.  Up- 
on the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he  promptly  joined  the  confederate 
army  as  a  private,  and  was  stationed  the  first  year  of  the  war  in  the 
vieiuity  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  in  the  brigade  of  Gen.  Mahone,  the  now 
famous  Virginia  Senator.  He  was  afterwards  transferred  to  Braggs 
army  in  Tennessee,  and  became  captain  of  a  volunteer  company  of 
cavalry.  He  served  with  that  command  until  detailed  for  the  se- 
cret and  special  service.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits.  In  1872,  he 
removed  to  Belleville,  and  continued  commercial  business  in  St. 
Louis  until  1876,  when  he  returned  to  the  profession  of  law  and  lo- 
cated permanently  in  Belleville.  In  1879,  he  was  elected  city  at- 
torney and  re-elected  in  1881,  without  opposition.  In  1879,  he  be- 
came editor  of  the  Belleville  Demociat.  He  is  a  liberal  and  pro- 
gressive democrat,  accepting  the  new  era  of  political  and  national 
affairs  in  good  faith,  and  is  now  much  devoted  to  the  state  of  his 
adoption.  Mr.  Underwood  is  a  man  of  ability,  being  a  versatile  and 
vigorous  writer. 


ADAM  GINTZ. 

One  of  the  enterprising  business  men  of  West  Belleville  is  Adam 
Gintz,  the  proprietor  of  the  Western  Brewery  Company.  He  was 
born  in  Rhenish  Bavaria,  July  10th,  1850.  His  father,  Jacob 
Gintz,  was  a  land-owner  and  farmer,  and  Adam's  youth  and  boy- 
hood were  therefore  passed-  upon  the  farm.  He  is  the  fourth  in  a 
family  of  seven  children.  He  attended  school  and  also  received 
private  instruction  from  a  Protestant  minister.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  he  was  regularly  apprenticed  to  the  cooper's  trade,  and 
served  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came  to  America  in 
company  with  Peter  Gintz,  his  uncle,  who  was  then  a  resident  of 
Belleville,  but  was  on  a  visit  to  the  home  of  his  birth.  He  and 
Adam  came  direct  to  Belleville,  and  here  the  latter  found  work  in 
the  brewery  of  his  uncle.  He  remained  at  work  there  for  five  years, 
then  went  to  St.  Louis  and  worked  six  months,  when  he  came  again 
to  Belleville.  In  1873  he,  John  Kloess,  William  Brandenberger 
and  Valentine  Steig  purchased  the  Western  Brewery.  Some  of  the 
parties  soon  retired,  and  the  firm  became  Kloess  &  Gintz,  which 
continued  until  February,  1881,  when  Mr.  Gintz  became  sole 
owner  and  proprietor  of  the  Western  Brewery  Co.  This  brewery 
manufactures  and  ships  from  15,000  to  20,000  barrels  of  beer  annu- 
ally. It  is  the  chief  industry  and  manufactory  of  West  Belle- 
ville. 
In  Nov-  1875,  Mr.  Gintz  married  Miss  Rosa,  daughter  of  Peter 


and  Catherine  Gintz.  She  was  born  in  Belleville.  There  are 
three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  Gintz  is  a  member 
of  Archimedes  Lodge,  No.  377,  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  In  the  city 
where  he  has  long  resided,  few  men  are  more  respected  for  their 
liberality,  enterprise  and  worth  as  a  man  than  Mr.  Gintz.  Hia 
business  qualifications  are  of  a  high  order,  as  is  attested  by  bis  suc- 
cessful management  of  the  brewery.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  we 
here  have  the  opportunity  of  speaking  for  one  of  West  Belleville's 
most  useful  and  valuable  citizens. 


FRANZ  F.  METSCHAN. 

The  present  able  and  efficient  manager  of  the  "Stem,"  the  lead- 
ing German  democratic  newspaper  of  -scuthern  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Eiterfeld,  Hessen  Kapel,  where  his  father  practiced  law.  He 
visited  the  gymnasium  at  Eschwege  and  then  at  Herspeld,  then 
came  to  America,  landing  in  New  York  Sept.  20,  1840.  He  came 
west  to  (Jincinnati,  where  he  learned  the  printers  trade  in  the  office 
of  the  "  VolkMatt,"  of  which  Stephen  Molitor  v.  as  publisher.  He 
also  worked  in  the  office  of  the  "  Hoehniechter,"  Frederick  Has- 
saureck,  editor.  In  1853  he  and  August  Korsch  established  "Die 
Menschenrechie,'  (Rights  of  Men).  When  Rothacker  took  the 
'complete  control  of  the  paper  Mr.  Metschan  came  to  St.  Louis  and 
worked  on  different  papers  there  and  at  Alton,  Illinois,  and  in  1854 
went  to  Chicago,  where  he  became  foreman  in  the  office  of  the 
" Deuteh  Amerskanet"  (German-American).  From  there  he  went 
to  Milwaukee,  and  afterwards  returned  to  Chicago  and  had  charge 
of  the  office  of  the  "  Illinois  Staats  Zeitung,"  as  foreman.  Sometime 
after  he  returned  to  Milwaukee  and  was  foreman  of  the  Corsar,  the 
first  German  Republican  paper  in  that  city,  of  which  Bernhard 
Domschcke  was  editor.  From  there  he  went  to  Madison,  AVis., 
then  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  in  partnership  with  Heinrich  Bin- 
der he  took  charge  of  the  "  Burlingion  Freie  Presse,"  in  1856.  In 
1857  he  went  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  organized  and  started  the 
"  Westllche  Blaetter."  He  failed  in  the  business  and  came  back  to 
St.  Louis  and  worked  in  the  offices  of  the  "  Revue  del  Quest,"  a 
French  Journal  "  Westliche  Post,"  Wiebusch's  job  office,  "  Ameiger 
des  Westens,"  and  then  in  the  autumn  of  1860  came  to  Belleville 
and  was  made  foreman  of  the  "Belleville  Zeitung."  When  the  war 
broke  out  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist  under  the  first  call  for 
troops  by  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  entered  as  a  private  in  Co.  A  of 
the  9th  Regiment  111.  Vols.,  and  remained  in  the  service  for  three 
months,  when  his  time  of  service  expired.  He  then  returned  home, 
and  in  August,  1861,  re-enlisted  in  Co.  "  B  "  of  the  12th  Mo.  Vols., 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  company  was  elected  sergeant,  and 
afterwards  promoted  to  the  first  lieutenancy  of  the  company.  He 
commanded  the  company  during  the  Georgia  campaign,  and  at  the 
battle  of  Kenesaw  mountain  he  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  leg. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  Oct.  1861,  after  which  he 
was  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Provost  Marshal  of  the  1st 
Dist.  of  Mo.,  until  after  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  accepted  the 
situation  of  foreman  at  the  office  of  the  "  Ameiger  des  Westens."  He 
also  started  a  job  office.  On  the  23d  of  Sept.,  1866,  he  married 
Miss  Emilie  Stauber,  daughter  of  Rudolph  Stauber,  late  teacher  at 
Wetzicon,  Canton  Zurich,  Switzerland.  He  came  back  to  Belle- 
ville, and  on  the  29th  of  Oct.,  1870,  took  charge  of  the  "Stern  des 
Wedens  "  as  foreman  and  continued  in  charge  until  it  was  sold  to 
Messrs.  Fietsam  hnd  Semmelroth.  Soon  after  a  stock  company  was 
formed,  who  started  the"*S/eTO,"  which  has  been  published  regular- 
ly up  to  the  present  time,  of  which  Mr.  Metschan  has  been,  and  still 
is  business  manager. 


Farm  Residence  of  SOLOMON  MUELLER,  Esq-'C/DER MumEi\"4yiMiLE3 east OFBELLEmLE^STCumCoJiL. 


\  8  8J.  \\ 


UVXPlY  „.S_T  a  BIX&  C  JRIR  I  AGE    M  A  N  U  F  A  CTO  R  Y> 


H.C,Wf     LLIAMS,  AGENT 


■  ■  J ' ,  ■  t,  '■■'-it  ■ 

1     \  B  LA  C  K  S  M  IT  Jt^gj^O  P  TT 


WnuAMsCAniiiAGEMAmACT0P.y8:LtvEHY3TABLE,0N  FimNomST.BnmN  Jackson  &HighStsM^^ 


HI8T0EY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


227 


^  The  ancestry  of  the  McCouaughy  family  on  the  paternal  side  is 
Scotch-Irish,  on  the  maternal  Irish.     John  McConaughy,  the  great- 
grandfather, was  a  native  of  county  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  of  Pres- 
byterian stock,  which  denotes  his  Scotch  origin.     He  emigrated  to 
America,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  close  of  the  last 
century.   He  married  Jane  Eiley,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ireland. 
David  McConaughy,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  the  offspring  of  that  marriage.     He  was  born  in  Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania,  and  there   married   Hannah  Britzer.     One    of  the 
children   by  that  union    was   named   John   B.   McConaughy,  the 
father  of  Franklin.    He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Martin,  of  Lan- 
caster county,  Pennsylvania.     He  is  a  physician,  and  has  practiced 
his  profession  for  many  years.     He  commenced  in  1854,  and  settled 
in  Olney,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.     Then  re- 
moved to  Trenton,  Clinton  county,  then  back  to  Olney.    When  the 
war  broke  out  he  was  appointed   Regimental  Surgeon  of  the  17th 
Regiment  Mo.  Volunteers,  and  was  afterwards  Medical  Director  of 
tiie  Department  of  Louisiana.     When  the  war  closed   he  came  to 
Belleville,   and    continued  the  practice  of  medicine  until  August, 
18S0,  when  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  yet  resides. 

The  subject  of  this  biograi^hy  is  the  only  son.  He  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  25th,  1849.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  until  his  thirteenth  year. 
He  entered  the  preparatory  department  of  McKendree  College,  in 
the  fall  of  1862,  and  at  the  end  of  two  years  he  entered  the  Col- 
legiate department,  taking  the  full  classical  course,  and  graduating 
from  that  institution  in  June  10th,  1869.     In  1870  he  received  the 


degree  of  A.  M.  In  June,  1869,  he  commenced  reading  law  in  the 
office  of  Judge  W.  H.  Underwood  and  Charles  F.  Noetling.  He 
pursued  his  studies  diligently  until  1871,  when  at  the  March  term 
of  the  Circuit  Court  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  commenced 
the  practice  in  Belleville,  and  has  continued  there  to  the  pre- 
sent. 

Mr.  McConaughy  is  one  of  the  rising  attorneys  of  the  bar  of  St. 
Clair  county.  He  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree  those  qualities 
necessary  to  the  successful  lawyer,  which  are  a  thorough  education 
and  scholastic  preparation,  industry,  a  love  for  the  profession,  and 
a  determination  to  succeed.  To  the  possessor  of  these  necessary 
requisites,  the  problem  of  future  success  is  easily  solved. 

In  the  short  time  in  which  he  has  been  in  the  practice,  he  has 
built  up  a  reasonably  lucrative  business,  which  is  increasing  as  his 
success  and  ability  becomes  known.  In  1877  he  was  elected  City 
Attorney,  and  held  that  position  for  two  years.  He  is  a  staunch 
republican,  of  undoubted  stalwartism.  In  1876  he  was  nominated 
by  the  republican  party  for  the  office  of  States  Attorney,  for  St 
Clair  county,  but  the  county  being  largely  democratic,  he  was  de- 
feated, although  he  ran  five  hundred  votes  ahead  of  the  ticket. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lucie  Wait  Thomas,  of  Belleville,  daughter  of  W.  S.  Thomas,  an 
old  settler  and  prominent  citizen  of  St.  Clair  county.  By  this 
union  there  are  two  children,  both  boys. 

Mr.  McConaughy  possesses  social  qualities  of  a  high  order.  He 
is  an  entertaining  friend  and  most  excellent  companion,  and  is  very 
popular  among  his  acquaintance. 


228 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


-4^ 


oyBr^ 


It  i.s  a  pleasure  for  the  biographer  to  chronicle  and  write  the  his- 
tory of  a  successful  mau.  Such  is  our  duty  iu  presenting  to  our 
readers  the  biography  of  Mr.  Dobschutz,  one  of  the  worthy  German- 
American  citizens  of  Belleville.  His  family  in  Germany  were  of  the 
nobility,  but  he,  like  a  true  American  citizen ,  left  all  traces  of  that 
behind  when  he  came  here  and  made  this  free  country  his  home, 
He  believes  that  the  highest  mark  of  nobility  is  to  be  a  respected 
and  worthy  citizen.  His  grandfather  held  high  rank  in  the  Prus- 
sian army,  as  did  also  his  father,  who  in  his  old  age  was  placed 
upon  the  retired  list  of  generals,  and  drew  a  pension  with  the  rank 
of  major.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  i.s  one  of  a  large  family. 
He  was  educated  at  the  excellent  schools  of  Pru.ssia,  vi.sited  the 
gymnasiums,  and  spent  several  years  in  the  University  of  Prussia. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  was  ai)|irenticed  to  the  merchant 
trade,  at  which  he  remained  from  1849  to  1856.  He  then  conclud- 
ed to  come  to  America  and  seek  his  fortune  in  the  new  world.  \h\\\ 
of  this  resolve  he  embarked  on  board  a  vessel  and  arrived  in  New 
York  in  April  1856.  He  did  not  stop  in  the  over-crowded  me- 
tropolis of  the  east,  but  went  to  Sioux  county,  Iowa.  That  place 
was  then  on  the  frontier  of  civilization.  He  built  the  first  frame 
house  in  that  city.  The  climate,  however,  was  too  severe,  and  ho 
remained  there  only  two  years,  then  came  to  St.  Louis,  and  a  few 
davs  later  to  Belleville,  where  he  still  resides.  Wheu  he  first  came 
here  he  hired  out  as  a  laborer  and  gardener,  at  which  he  continued 
until  he  entered  the  employ  of  Messrs  Brosius  &  Gciss,  foundry- 
men  and  manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements.  He  worked 
ia  the  foundry  during  the  winter,  and  traveled  through  the  country 
iu  the  summer  months,  taking  orders  for  agricultural  ma- 
chinery, manufactured  by  the  firm.     He  continued  thus  employed 


for  three  years,  then  became  book-keeper  (in  which  business  he  is 
an  expert)  for  several  firms  and  attended  to  their  collections. 
While  attending  to  the  latter  part  of  the  business  he  learned  that  a 
collection  agency  established  here  would  be  profitable,  and  acting 
upon  that  idea,  he  opened  an  office  as  collecting  agent,  to  which  he 
soon  after  added  that  of  loan  and  money  broker,  the  first  of  the 
kind  in  Belleville  To  these  different  pursuits  he  has  also  added 
a  real  estate  agency.  With  these  different  branches  he  has  been 
able  through  the  practice  of  industry  and  economy,  aided  by  a 
personal  integrity,  which  has  never  been  doubted,  to  build  up  a 
business  which  has  brought  him  a  competency  and  independent 
position  among  the  citizens  of  Belleville. 

lie  has  been  twice  married.  The  first  time  in  1853,  to  Miss  N. 
A.  Moore,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  but  who  was  a  resident  of 
Sioux  City  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  died  June  1st,  1869. 
P>y  this  marriage  there  were  two  sons  and  two  daughters  living. 
On  the  15th  of  July,  1869.  he  married  Louisa  Zimlick.  She  is  of 
German  parentage,  and  was  born  in  Baltimore.  By  the  latter 
marriage  there  are  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Mr.  Dobschutz  is  a  member  of  the  beneficiary  order  of  A.  O.  U. 
W.  and  Knights  of  Honor.  Politically,  his  life  has  been  too  busy 
to  take  much  stock  or  active  interest  in  politics.  He  has  never 
asked  for  an  office,  nor  would  he  allow  his  name  to  be  used  in  that 
connection.  When  he  does  vote  he  always  votes  the  republican 
ticket.  In  all  of  Mr.  Dobschutz's  relations  with  his  fellow-men  he 
bears  the  reputation  of  being  an  honorable,  upright  citizen,  and  an 
honest  man.  In  all  of  his  business  relations  his  integrity  is  un- 
stained by  an  act  of  personal  dishonor  or  reproach. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


229 


J)^^  OTc/^^^^^tA^i^^^s^'^ 


Mr.  Wilderman  is  a  desceiulaiit  of  one  of  tlie  oldest  families  in 
St.    Clair   county.      Th3    Wildermaiis    are   of  German    ancestry. 
George  Wilderraan,  the  great-grandfathor  of  the  present  family, 
was  a  native  of  Washington   county,   >raryland.      He  emigrated 
west  as  early  as  1805,  and  settled  in  the  territory  of  Indiana,  now 
known  as  Illinois.     The  place  of  settlement  was  made  at  what  is 
now  known  as  Freeburg,  in  St.  Clair  county.     There  he  remained 
until   his  death,  which  took    place  a  few  years  later.     His  son, 
Dorsey  Wilderniau,  was  born  in  1793  in  the  same  state  and  county 
as  his  father,  and  was  in  his  twelfth  year  when  the  family  removed 
west.     He  died  in  St.  Clair  county  in  1857.     In  1812  he  married 
Phoebe  Carr,  who  was   born   in  Virginia  in   1790.      Her  father, 
Joseph  Carr,  was  a  native  of  the  same  state,  and  was  born  March 
21,  1752,  and  died  March  6,  1817.     He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.     After  the  close  of  that  struggle  he  came  west  and 
settled  at  what  is  now  known  as  Illinois  landing,  in  1793.     Dorsey 
Wilderman,  the  grandfather  of  Alonzo  S  ,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1812,  and  was  connected  with  the  military  department  on  the 
frontiers  in  the  Indian  wars.     By  his  marriage  with  Pha3be  Carr 
there  were  nine  children  :  Michael  J.  Wilderman,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  second  in  the  family.     He  was  born 
in  St.  Clair  county,  Oct.  10,  1814,  and  is  one  of  the  five  children 
who  have  survived  the  parents.     On  the  24th  of  April,  1838,  he 
married   Theresa  Patterson,  a  native  of  Guilford    county,   North 
Carolina.     She  was  born  March  21,  1818,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Greene  B.  and  Rebecca  Patterson,  who  were  of  Scotch  descent. 
Their   family  were  among  the  early  settlers   of  iNorth  Carolina. 
They  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1818,  and  settled  at  a  place  known 
as  High  Prairie.     'S,^  the  marriage  of  Michael   J.  and   Theresa 


Patterson,  there  were  seven  children  ;  three  sous  and  one  daughter 
are  yet  living.  The  mother  died  April  27,  1868.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  the  eldest  son.  He  was  born  near  Freeburg,  St. 
Clair  county,  111.,  D.'cember  1,  1839.  He  was  raised  upon  the 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  common-schools  of  his 
neighborhood  ;  his  advantages  in  this  particular  were  none  of  the 
best,  as  the  school  system  in  those  daj's  was  crude  and  imperfect 
as  compared  with  the  present.  He  was  naturally  of  an  inquiring 
mind,  and  having  a  genuine  love  for  reading,  he  soon  improved, 
and  bjf  the  time  he  reached  maturity  his  mind  was  well  stored 
with  much  valuable  information  derived  from  books  and  close  ob- 
servation of  men  and  things.  In  1864  he  determined  to  adopt  the 
professi(m  of  law.  With  this  idea  in  view,  he  entered  the  law 
office  of  Hon.  S.  M.  Kase  of  Belleville,  and  commenced  the  study, 
and  applied  himself  diligently.  In  November,  ISGlJ,  at  the  term  of 
the  supreme  court  held  at  Mt.  "Vernon,  he  made  application  for 
adnnission  to  the  bar.  He  passed  a  good  examination  and  was 
licensed  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  the  state.  In  1868  he  formed 
a  law  partnership  with  his  preceptor,  which  continued  until  July, 
1872,  when  it  was  dissolved.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  James  M.  Hamill,  which  still  continues.  The  law  firm  of 
AVilderman  &  Hamill  have  a  large  and  paying  practice,  and  are 
recognized  as  an  able  and  reliable  legal  firm,  and  stand  in  the 
front  rank  as  practitioners  at  the  bar  of  St.  Clair  county.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Wilderman  is  a  democrat  and  has  been  a  member  of 
that  political  organization  since  1860,  when  he  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential ballot  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1876  his  zeal  for  his 
]iarty  and  worth  as  a  man  and  citizen,  received  honorable  recognition 
by  being  nominated  and  elected  to  represent  St.  Clair  county  ifl 


230 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


the  30th  General  Assembly  of  the  State.  While  a  member  of  that 
body  he  sustained  the  reputation  of  a  careful  and  prudent  member, 
bringing  to  the  practical  working  of  the  House  a  large  share  of 
valuable  business  experience.  He  served  on  several  important 
committees,  among  -which  was  the  Judiciary,  to  which  was  referred 
the  bill  originating  and  creating  appellate  courts  and  giving  them 
concurrent  jurisdiction.  He  was  chairman  of  the  sub-committee 
from  the  House,  and  had  charge  of  the  bill  and  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  it ;  managed  it  on  the  floor  of  the  House,  and  secured  its 
passage  through  the  lower  House.  All  of  his  acts  as  legislator 
were  dictated  by  a  just  view  of  the  interests  of  his  constituents  and 
those  of  the  state  at  large.  He  is  an  honorable  member  of  the 
ancient  and  honorable  order  of  Freemasonry,  and  passed  through 
the  several  lodges,  and  received  the  orders  of  Knighthood  in 
Tancred  Commandery  No  50,  Belleville,  Illinois.  On  the  15th  of 
September,  1871,  he  was  happily  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Amanda,  daughter  of  James  and  Hester  (Coleman)  Affleck.  She 
is  a  native  of  St;  Clair  county,  but  was  a  res-ideiit  of  Decatur,  Illin- 
ois, at  the  tindi  of  her  marriage.  This  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children,  named  Hester  T ,  Augusta  A.,  and  Eunice  E. 
Wilderman.  His  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Wilderman  early  recognized  that  the  law  was 
a  jealous  mistress,  who  required  of  her  devotees  undivided  atten- 
tion and  diligent  application,  if  they  would  succeed.  He  possesses 
those  qualities  which  as  factors,  are  so  essential  to  success  in  every 
department  of  business  life,  namely,  industry,  integrity  and  a  large 
share  of  common  sense.  In  possession  of  these  sterling  qualities, 
the  problem  of  success  is  easily  solved.  They  are  iodissolubly  linked 
with  success,  and  as  naturally,  and  of  necessity,  follow  each  other 
as  cause  and  effect. 


GEORGE  LOELKtS,  M.D. 

This  gentleman  was  born  in  Todtenhausen,  province  of  Hesse 
Nassau,  Germany,  February  3,  1845.  lie  was  educated  in  the 
high  schools  (Gymnasiums)  and  University  of  Marburg,  and  spent 
one  term  in  the  University  at  Gottingen.  In  these  institutions  of 
learning  he  laid  the  foundations  and  prepared  himself  for  entrance 
upon  the  profession  of  Medicine,  which  he  had  determined  to  adopt. 
With  that  idea  in  view  he  studied  chemistry  and  kindred  sciences. 
After  he  returned  from  the  University  he  came  to  America,  land- 
ing in  New  York  in  1867.  From  there  he  proceeded  to  Phila- 
delphia, where,  soon  after  his  arrival,  he  was  engaged  as  medical 
assistant  to  Constantino  Herring,  father  of  Homeopathy  in 
America,  and  then  Professor  in  Hahnemann  Medical  College. 
Dr.  Loelkis  took  a  course  in  that  college,  studied  and  adopted  the 
new  system,  and  graduated,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.D.,  March 
4,  1868.  He  then  came  west,  arriving  in  Belleville  April  9,  1868, 
where  he  commenced  the  practice,  and  here  he  has  continued  to 
the  present.  Dr.  Loelkis  belong  to  the  progressive  School  of 
Medicine.  The  system  that  he  practices  requires  a  progressive 
mind  and  studious  habits,  not  a  mind  that  is  fettered  by  old  estab- 
lished forms,  founded  upon  conditions  that  exist  only  in  the 
memories  and  traditions  of  the  past.  The  School  of  Homeopathy 
has  been  to  the  old  School  of  Medicine  what  the  liberal  and  en- 
lightened thought  of  the  present  age  has  been  to  the  dogmas  and 
formulated  creeds  of  religion  in  the  past.  It  has  liberalized,  and 
brought  each  to  a  higher  state  of  perfection.  On  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  Dr.  Loelkis  was  happily  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emma  Helffof  Philadelphia.  He  is  a  respected  member  of  the 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  belongs  to  Archimedes  L)dg3,  No.  377,  of 
Belleville,  Illinois.     In  matters  pertaining  to  the  education  of  the 


rising  generation  he  takes  an  active  part,  and  is  zealous  in  his  ad- 
vocacy of  methods  whereby  the  cause  of  education  will  be  promoted 
and  become  more  general  and  instructive.  He  has  been  for  several 
terms  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  which  has  charge  of 
the  Public  Schools  of  Belleville. 


DAVID  SAFFOLD,  M.  D. 

The  Saffold  family  is  of  English  ancestry  on  both  the  paternal 
and  maternal  sides-  Reuben  and  William  Saffold  were  officers  in 
the  English  army.  Not  liking  the  service,  they  quit  it  and  came  to 
America,  landing  in  Virginia  in  1792.  From  these  brothers  have 
sprung  the  present  Saffold  family  in  America.  They  are  numerous 
in  the  southern  states,  and  are  a  somewhat  noted  family,  many  of 
them  occupying  places  of  honor  and  trust.  Notably  among  these 
may  be  mentioned  B.  T.  Saffold,  cousin  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Alabama.  Another  one  has  been  the  editor  of  the 
Selma  Times  since  1867,  aod  at  present  is  judge  of  the  circuit  court. 

Daniel  Saffold,  the  grandfather  of  David,  married  Jennie  Waters, 
an  only  sister  of  the  celebrated  Col.  John  Waters,  of  Georgia.  Of 
this  union  was  Isham  Saffold,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Isliam  removed  from  Georgia  to  Arkansas  in  1835,  and  died  there 
in  1853.  He  married  Rachael  Nobles,  a  native  of  Georgia.  She 
died  in  Arkansas  in  1853.  By  this  marriage  there  were  thirteen 
children.  Dr.  Saffold,  the  eldest  of  the  children,  and  the  only 
survivor  of  the  family,  was  born  in  Coweta  Co.,  Georgia,  August  3d, 
18-32.  His  advantages  in  youth  for  receiving  an  education  were 
limited  ;  his  father  dying  while  he  was  yet  young,  the  care  of  the 
farm  and  family  devolved  on  him.  In  1847  he  went  to  New  Or- 
leans and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  Stone,  a  noted  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  south,  who  had 
charge  of  the  Infirmary  and  Hospital  at  that  time.  Dr.  Saffold  at- 
tended lectures  and  the  Hospital  during  the  day,  and  at  night  at- 
tended night  schools  and  improved  his  educatioa.  He  continued 
there  until  1849,  then  went  to  the  Centenary  College  at  Jackson, 
Louisiana,  and  remained  there  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  concluded  to  adopt  the  profession  of  dentistry.  He  came  north 
to  Philadelphia,  and  entered  the  Pennsylvania  Dental  College  and 
remained  part  of  two  terms,  then  went  back  to  New  Orleans  and 
commenced  the  practice.  Two  years  later  he  went  to  Charleston, 
S.  C,  and  practiced  there  fourteen  years.  On  the  8th  of  August. 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  1st  S.  C.  Artillery,  stationed  at  Fort  Sum- 
ter. In  December,  1861,  he  was  promoted  to  Assistant  Surgeon. 
In  1863  he  was  transferred  to  Fort  Moultrie,  on  Sullivan's  Island, 
and  afterwards  altertating  between  Forts  Sumter  and  Moultrie. 
He  remained  at  those  posts  until  the  end  of  the  war.  After  the 
war  he  went  to  New  York,  then  to  St.  Louis,  and  then  south  to  dif- 
ferent points,  where  he  remained  until  1877,  when  he  came  to  Belle- 
ville, and  here  he  opened  a  dental  office,  and  has  pursued  his  pro- 
fession to  the  present.  On  the  10th  of  June,  1860,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Maria,  daughter  of  Hugh  Quinn,  of 
Dublin,  Ireland.  Mrs.  Saffold  was  born  in  Ireland,  but  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Charleston,  S.  C  ,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  By  this 
union  there  is  one  child,  a  son,  named  David  B.  Saffold.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  Politically  he  is 
democrat.  He  is  an  advocate  of  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance.  Dr.  Saffold  is  a 
fiue  dentist,  and  in  operative  and  dental  suigery  he  has  few  superiors. 
He  adopts  all  the  improved  methods  which  the  science  of  dentistry 
has  developed  from  time  to  time,  and  his  laboratory  is  well.supplied 
with  all  the  late  improvements  in  the  way  of  machinery  to  carry  on 
the  business. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


23  L 


Among  the  successful  physicians  of  Belleville  is  the  subject  of 
this  bio,'raphical  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
Dec.  22>1,  1849.  His  father,  D.  M.  Dake,  is  a  native  of  New 
York.  He  was  a  practicing  physician  for  many  years.  One  of 
the  notable  fiicts  of  the  Dake  family  is,  that  all  the  male  members, 
for  many  generations  back,  or  at  least  within  the  knowledge  of  the 
present  members,  have  been  members  of  the  medical  profe.ssion. 
Dc  Dike's  fj,th3r,  grandfather,  graat-graiidfather,  all  his  uncles 
and  their  sons,  have  been  and  are  physicians.  It  is  as  natural  for 
a  Dake  to  be  a  physician  as  for  a  duck  to  take  to  water.  They 
are  members  of  the  different  schools.  Some  practising  Allopathy, 
some  Homeopathy,  and  others  Eclectic.  His  father  was  graduated 
at  Castleton  University,  Vermont,  in  1835.  He  studied  and  was 
graduated  in  the  regular,  or  Allopath  school  of  mediciue,  and 
practiced  that  system  in  New  York  State  for  ten  years.  In  1845 
he  became  a  convert  to,  and  practised  Homeopathy.  Pie  removed 
to  Pittsburg  in  1848,  and  there  continued  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession until  his  retirement. 

He  married  Mary  Manuel,  who  was  of  English  birth,  but  a  resi- 
dent of  the  State  of  New  York  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  By 
this  union  there  were  four  children,  one  son  and  three  daughters. 
Charles  R.  is  the  only  son.  He  received  private  instruction  at 
home,  where  he  was  prepared  for  entrance  to  the  Western  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.  In  1868,  after  his  return  from  college, 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  and  under  the 
direction  of  his  father.  After  reading  the  standard  text-books, 
and  making  suitable  progress  in  his  studies,  he  entered  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York,  and  was  graduated 
therefrom  in  1872,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.     He  was  one  of  six 


in  a  graduating  class  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  who  received 
honorable  mention  for  the  value  of  their  graduation  thesis  and 
proficiency  in  general  at  the  conferring  of  degrees  by  the  Faculty 
of  the  College.  He  commenced  the  practice  at  Rockaway  Beach, 
Long  Island,  where  he  continued  until  1873,  when  he  came  west 
with  the  intention  of  going  south.  He  was  induced  to  stop  here, 
and  finally  concluded  to  remain  permanently.  In  the  fall  of  1874  he 
was  elected  to  the  Chair  of  Chemistry  in  the  Homceopathic  College 
of  St.  Louis,  but  was  unable  .to  accept  that  honorable  position, 
owing  to  circumstances  over  which  he  had  no  control,  and  business 
arrangements  made  prior  to  his  election.  In  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine Dr.  Dake  has  been  very  successful.  Since  his  residence  in 
Belleville  he  has  made  for  himself  a  reputation  as  a  close  student,  a 
careful  practitioner,  and  one  thoroughly  in  love  with  his  profession. 
He  belongs  to  the  progressive  school  of  medicine,  bound  down 
by  no  dogma  or  theories  of  any  particular  school.  His  principle 
is  to  study  thoroughly  what  all  schools  of  medicine  present,  ignor- 
ing nothing  without  investigation,  and  adopting  in  practice  all 
that  has  proved  of  undoubted  value.  "  I  am  a  physician,  bound 
down  to  the  rules  of  no  single  system  or  school  of  medicine,"  is 
his  reply  upon  inquiry.  After  his  graduation  from  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York,  he  studied  the  system  of 
Hon  oeopathy,  and  by  some  he  is  placed  in  that  school,  when  in 
fact  he  is  as  much  of  a  Regular  as  those  who  pretend  to  practice 
exclusively  by  the  Allopathic  system.  The  measure  of  success  is 
success,  and  the  public  care  not  by  what  system  the  body  is  cured 
and  restored  to  health,  so  that  it  is  cured.  The  physician  who, 
in  the  shortest  possible  time,  brings  about  that  result,  will  very 
soon  have  all  the  business  to  which  he  can  give  his  attention.     Dr. 


232 


HI8T0BY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Dake  has  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  -Hhich  keeps  constantly 
increasing  in  proportion  as  his  successes  and  abilities  become 
known  to  the  public.  On  the  12th  of  September,  1874,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eugenia  C.  Swyer,  a  native  of  St.  Clair 
county,  Illinois.  By  this  union  there  is  one  child,  a  daughter. 
Politically  he  is  a  republican,  but  he  takes  no  interest  iu  politics 
further  than  to  express  his  preference  and  sentiments  through  the 
right  of  suifrage.  In  his  intercourse  with  men  he  is  a  genial  com- 
panion and  friend ,  possessing  social  qualities  of  a  high  order.  In 
the  community  where  he  is  well  known  he  is  regarded  as  an  honor- 
able man  and  valuable  citizen. 


THEODORE  HILGARD,  JR.     (deceased.) 

One  of  the  early  German  settlers  of  St.  Clair  county,  was  Theo- 
dore Hilgard.  He  was  a  native  of  Rheinish  Bavaria,  and  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Zweitruecken.  He  was  educated  for  the  pro- 
fession of  law,  but,  being  in  sympathy  with  the  Republican  move- 
ment in  1830,  he  fell  under  the  displeasure  of  the  government,  and 
his  advancement  in  his  profession  was  therefore  retarded,  and  pa- 
tronage from  that  source  cut  off.  In  1832  he  came  to  America,  on 
a  tour  of  observation.  He  came  west  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  was 
here  so  much  pleased  with  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  that  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Turkey  Hill,  on  the  Mascoutah  road.  He'then 
returned  to  Germany  and  married,  and  the  next  year  came  back 
and  settled  on  his  farm,  and  resided  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  the  fall  of  1872.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
German  emigration  to  America,  and  was  instrumental  in  having 
others  come  here  and  settle.  He  married  Emma  Heimberger. 
She  died  in  1860.  By  that  marriage  there  were  eight  children, 
four  sons  and  four  daughters.  All  the  children  still  survive  the 
parents.  Ernst  H  ilgard  is  the  youngest  in  the  family.  He  was 
born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  January  20th,  1845.  He  was 
reared  upon  the  farm  where  he  continued  until  1863,  when  he 
enlisted  for  three  years  in  the  United  States  service,  in  the  43d 
Regiment  Illinois  Vol.,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  the 
end  of  the  war.  Iu  1 869  he  came  to  Belleville  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  trade.  In  1871  he  went  into  the  dry  goods  business  with 
Messrs.  Espenhain,  Fuess  &  Co.  In  October,  1880,  he  opened  the 
present  large  dry  goods  and  carpet  house  on  Main  street.  January 
1st,  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie  Schcfl,  the  ac- 
complished daughter  of  John  Scheel,  now  deceased. 


GEORGE  SEMMELROTH, 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Belle- 
ville Zietung,  was  born  in  Hubeurode  Hesse,  Germany,  March  24, 
1840.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  Jost  Henry  and  Dorothea  Semmel- 
roth.  He  received  a  fair  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
country.  In  1856  he  emigrated  to  America  and  came  direct  to 
Belleville,  landing  here  on  the  8th  of  June  of  the  same  year.  He 
immediately  found  work  under  Dr.  Wentzel,  who  had  charge  of 
the  Belleville  Volkshlatt,  a  German  newspaper,  and  there  learned 
the  printer's  trade.  His  father  and  t(ro  other  remaining  sons  came 
over  the  next  year  and  settled  in  Belleville,  where  both  these  sons 
have  since  died.  The  father  still  survives  and  resides  in  the  city. 
George  continued  in  the  printing  business  until  February,  1865, 
when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  company  "H"  149th  Regt.  111. 
Vols.,  and  upon  the  organization  of  the  company  was  elected  orderly 


sergeant.  He  remained  in  the  service  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  in  February,  1866.  When  he  enlisted 
he  was  foreman  in  the  oflSce  of  the  Zeitung,  and  on  his  return  was 
appointed  to  the  same  position,  and  continued  in  charge  until.  May, 
1866,  when  he  became  the  publisher  of  The  Stem  dea  Westens,  and 
remained  the  publisher  until  1872,  when  he  sold  out  to  F.  E. 
Scheel,  and  was  then  general  manager  until  1874.  At  the  last 
named  date  he  purchase!  a  half-interest  in  the  Zeitung,  and  has 
been  one  of  the  proprietors  to  the  present.  Mr.  Semmelroth  is  a 
practical  printer,  and  has  been  connected  with  the  journalism  of  St. 
Clair  county  since  he  first  came  here  in  1856,  and  has  been  longer  in 
the  business  than  any  other  man  now  connected  with  the  journalism 
of  the  county.  As  a  newspaper  manager  he  possesses  more  than 
average  ability,  which  has  been  the  result  of  his  many  years  expe- 
rience. He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Masonic  Society,  and  also 
of  the  I.  O.  O,  F.  On  the  15th  September,  1866,  he  married  Miss 
Minnie  Deeke.  She  is  of  German  birth;  her  parents  came  to 
America  in  1848.  By  this  marriage  there  are  six  children  living — 
four  daughters  and  two  sons.  Socially,  Mr.  Semmelroth  is  a  plea- 
sant, agreeable  gentleman  of  quiet,  unassuming  manners  and  habits, 
and  bears  the  reputation  of  a  good  citizen  and  honorable  gen- 
tleman. 


GEORGE  H.  STOLBERG, 

The  present  efficient  circuit  clerk  of  St.  Clair  county,  is  a  native  of 
Hanover,  Germany.  He  was  born  Nov.  22,  1843.  His  father, 
George  H.,  was  engaged  in  general  merchandizing.  In  the  winter 
of  1845-46  he  emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New  Orleans  in 
January  of  1846  He  came  up  the  river  to  St.  Louis,  and  from 
there  to  Belleville,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  4,  1866.  When  he  first  came  to  Belleville  he  en- 
gaged in  merchandizing,  in  which  he  continued  for  several  years. 
He  married  Christina  Brittmann,  who  survived  him,  and  died  July 
15,  1878.  By  that  marriage  there  were  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. One  son  and  daughter  survive  the  parents.  George  H.  is  the 
youngest  of  the  family.  He  received  an  educational  training  in  the 
private  and  public  schools  of  Belleville.  In  his  sixteenth  year  he 
was  entered  as  an  apprentice  to  a  silversmith  and  jeweller.  He 
continued  at  the  trade  until  1866,  when  he  accepted  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  Recorder's  Office.  In  1869  he  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  Deputy  Recorder  and  fir^t  assistant  clerk,  under  Geo. 
M.  Roeder,  in  which  capacity  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1880, 
when  his  qualification  and  efficiency  as  a  clerk  received  recognition 
by  being  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  in  convention  assem- 
bled, for  the  office  of  circuit  clerk,  and  in  the  following  November 
he  was  elected  by  a  majority  in  excess  of  his  party's  vote.  Mr. 
Stolberg  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  position  of  circuit  clerk  by 
his  previous  fifteen  years  as  deputy,  in  which  time  he  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  records  and  routine  duties  thereto  be- 
longing. The  promotion  to  the  office  by  the  people  of  St.  Clair 
county  was  a  suitable  recognition  of  past  services  and  faithful  per- 
formance of  the  duties  imposed  upon  him,  and  the  honor  thus  con- 
ferred IS  fully  appreciated  by  him.  Politically,  he  has  been  a 
Republican  smce  casting  his  first  vote,  which  was  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  1864. 

On  the  18th  of  June  1874,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  daughter  of  John  W.  Eckert.  of  St.  Louis,  in  which  citv 
she  was  born  and  reared.  That  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children,  a  son  and  daughter.  Mr.  Stolberg  is  of  an  accommoda- 
ting disposition,  which  trait  of  character  has  made  hira  many 
friends.  ■' 


HISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


233 


Among  the  enterprising  men  of  St.  Clair  county  who  are  actively 
engaged  in  coal  mining,  stands  the  name  of  Joseph  Yoch.  He  is  a 
native  of  Prussia.  His  father,  Christian  Yoch,  was  born  in  1803, 
in  Prussia ;  he  was  a  small  farmer.  He  married  Catherine  Klorius. 
She  died  in  Dec.,  1864.  By  this  marriage  there  were  five  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living.  Their  names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth, 
are :  John,  Joseph,  Sophia,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Bernhart  and 
Lenora. 

Joseph,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  second  in  the  family. 
He  was  born  in  Prussia,  May  17th,  1844.  He  came  with  his  father 
to  America,  when  he  was  but  three  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1847. 
The  family  came  direct  to  St.  Clair  co..  Ills ,  and  settled  one  and  a 
half  miles  west  of  Belleville  on  a  farm,  and  remained  there  until 
1858,  when  they  removed  to  a  place  known  as  the  old  "Breeze's  " 
farm,  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Belleville.  In  1859  Mr.  Yoch, 
the  elder,  opened  a  mine,  which  has  since  been  known  as  Yoch's 
coal  mine.  He  continued  in  the  business  of  farming  and  min- 
ing until  1864,  when  he  retired  and  passed  the  management  of  the 
business  to  his  sons,  who  have  continued  in  the  line  marked  out 
by  their  father. 

Joseph,  after  the  retirement  of  his  father,  took  charge  of  the 
business,  and  under  his  good  management  they  have  prospered  and 
grown  rich  enough  to  be  beyond  any  possibility  of  want.  The  Yoch 
Brothers  have  two  mines  of  their  own,  and  are  largely  interested  in 
many  others.     They  handle  over  three  and  a  half  millions  bushels 


of  coal  annually.  They  are  now  engaged  in  opening  a  mine  on  the 
line  of  the  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis  railway,  near  Litchfield, 
where  they  own  a  coal-field  of  four  hundred  acres.  They  ship 
their  coal  to  St.  Louis,  where  Joseph  manages  the  sales,  ship- 
ping, etc.  John  is  an  experienced  miner,  and  has  charge  of  and 
superintends  the  mines.  Bernhart  is  a  practical  machinist,  and  a 
man  of  fine  inventive  genius.  He  has  invented  a  number  of  ma- 
chines for  mining  purposes,  which  are  great  improvements  on  those 
used  before.  He  is  the  inventor  of  the  road  engine,  known  as  the 
"  B.  Yoch  Engine,"  which  is  self-propelling.  On  the  14th  of  May, 
1878,  Joseph  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Isch,  a  na- 
tive of  St.  Clair  county.  Her  father  and  mother  were  natives  of 
Alsace,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1843.  By  the  union  of  Joseph 
and  Catherine  Yoch  there  are  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter. 
The  son  died  in  infancy.  The  name  of  the  daughter  is  Josephine 
Rosa  Yoch.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoch  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  but  he  takes  no  further  in- 
terest in  that  matter  than  to  vote,  and  thereby  express  his  opinions 
on  all  political  subjects. 

In  conclusion,  it  may  be  truthfully  said  that  the  Yochs  started  in 
life  poor.  They  have,  by  hard  work,  industry,  and  practice  of 
economy  and  good  management,  succeeded  in  the  world,  and  have 
made  a  name  for  themselves  for  honorable  dealing  and  plain,  honest 
men,  which,  after  all,  is  the  best  heritage  to  leave  to  posterity. 


234 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


4^  fyi^X^^^  ^Xi^,'. 


r-'Z^  . 


The  proprietor  of  the  H(jtel  Tiemann  of  Belleville,  Ills.,  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  Province  of  Westphalia,  Prussia,  and  was  born  July  19, 
1833.  He  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  three  children,  the  offspring 
of  Frederick  William  and  Augusta  (8tein)  Tiemann.  His  father 
is  still  living,  and  a  resident  of  Germany.  August  remained  at 
home  until  1850,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  landing  at  New 
Orleans,  and  from  there  came  u]i  the  river  to  St.  Louis  and  to 
Belleville,  where  he  had  friends.  He  worked  on  his  uncle's  farm 
for  a  short  time,  and  then  came  into  the  city  and  work(;d  at  the 
cabinet  trade  for  two  years,  then  went  to  St.  Lo\iis  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  returning  to  Belleville,  and  in  connection  with 
Eugene  Glad  started  a  carpenter  shop  and  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building.  They  continued  together  for  four  years,  in  which 
time  they  erected  many  of  the  substantial  business  houses  of  the 
town.  He  then  went  to  Highland,  and  in  connection  with  his  father- 
in-law  started  a  rope  factory  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  two  years, 
when  he  met  with  an  accident  whereby  his  arm  was  broken.  He 
returned  to  Belleville  and  started  in  the  saloon  business,  and  two 
years  later  built  the  Hotel  Tiemann,  and  opened  a  hotel  and  board- 


ing-hou.se.  This  was  in  1802.  fie  has  continued  to  the  present  time. 
He  has  also  been  lessee  of  the  City  Park  for  the  past  six  years,  and 
in  that  time  has  contributed  much  enjoyment  and  amusement  to  the 
good  people  of  Bcllcvile.  He  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders 
in  the  Esler  Ropieipiet  Manufacturing  Company,  which  was  one  of 
the  largest  establishments  for  manufacture  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments in  St.  C'lair  county.  He  is  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  takes 
stock  and  subscribes  liberally  to  every  enterprise  that  has  for  its 
object  the  increase  of  the  material  wealth  of  the  town.  On  the  16th 
of  (October,  18r)(i,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Auguste  Hen- 
Hciiaii,  a  native  of  Prussia.  She  came  to  America  in  1854,  and 
settled  in  Belleville.  There  have  been  eight  children  by  this  union. 
All  of  them  arc  yet  at  home,  except  Bertha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam HuH;  and  Lizzie,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Brosius,  both  of 
Belleville.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Knights  of  Honor, 
and  the  German  Societies.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Al- 
dermen. Politically  he  voted  first  for  John  C  Fremont  in  1856, 
afterwards  joined  the  democratic  party,  and  is  still  a  member  of 
that  political  organization. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


235 


The  subject  of  the  following  biographical  sketch  is  a  native  of 
the  Dukedom  of  Schleswig,  which  is  situated  on  the  Baltic  sea, 
Germany.  He  was  born  March  23d,  1843.  His  father,  H.  A. 
Lorenzen,  was  a  large  farmer,  and  possessed  of  ample  means,  and 
able  to  give  his  children  such  an  education  as  the  best  schools  of  the 
country  afforded.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  Schleswig-Holstein 
war,  and  lost  his  life  in  that  struggle.  His  property  was  also 
swept  away,  from  causes  resulting  from  the  war.  His  widow  and 
mother  of  John  still  survives,  and  is  a  resident  of  her  native  coun- 
try. There  were  six  children  in  the  family.  John  is  the  third. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  grocery  trade,  and 
served  four  years  in  the  business  in  Schleswig  City.  He  then  went 
to  Flensberg,  and  clerked  one  year  in  a  large  house,  and  then  came 
to  America,  landing  in  New  York  in  December,  1 863.  From  there 
he  went  to  Racine,  Wis.,  and  clerked  for  nearly  one  year,  when  he 
concluded  that  he  could  do  better  in  Chicago,  but  failing  there  he 
moved  to  St.  Louis,  and  there  enlisted  for  one  year  in  Co.  "  K  "  of 
the  41st  regiment  Mo.  Vols.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
enlistment  he  was  mustered  out.  He  then  clerked  for  several 
months  in  St.  Louis,  then  came  to  West  Belleville,  and  engaged 
to  clerk  for  Mr.  Weissenborn,  and  continued  with   him  for  nearly 


two   years.     Then    in    connection    with    a    man    by  the    name   of 
Muehlhausen  started  business  for  himself     The  firm  continued  for 
eight  years,  when   Mr.  Lorenzen    bought   out   his  partner,   built  a 
fine  brick  business  house,  and   from  that  time  to  the  present  has 
been  conducting  the  business  with  great  success.     His   store  is  well 
stocked,  and  supplied  with  everything  in  the  line  of  his  trade,  and 
he  does  an  extensive  business,  particularly  iu  high   explosive  pow- 
ders, used  for  blasting  purposes.     la  fuse-powder  and  niiaers'  su]:!- 
plies  he  does  a  large  business,  and  supplies  the   country  for  many 
miles  around.     On  the  26th  of  April,  1870,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage  to  Miss   Margaret  Benk,  a  native  of  Woerrstadt,  Germany. 
She  was  a  resident  of  West  Belleville  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  ancient  order  of  Freemasonry,  and  belongs 
to  St.  Clair  Lodge,  No.  24.     He  is  also  a   Knight  of  Pythias,  of 
Cavalier  Lo<lge  No.  49,  and  is  Sir   Knight  Commander  of  the 
Uniform. Eank  of  Belltville  Division,  No.  6. 

Politically  he  is  a  republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Eilucation,  and  takes  an  active  part  iu  educational  interests. 
This,  in  brief,  is  a  sketch  of  one  of  West  Belleville's  most  enter- 
prising and  i)rominent  business  men. 


"^ 


236 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


Is  a  native  of  Prussia,  and  was  born  March  V2l\\,  1845.  lie 
received  a  liberal  education  in  the  schools  and  f^ymnasiuuis  of  his 
native  country.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  army  during  the  troubles 
of  Austria  and  Bavaria.  In  1866  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
came  direct  to  Belleville,  and  here  formed  a  partnership  in  the 
liquor  business  with  Louis  Bartel,  in  the  wholesale  trade.  He 
continued  in  the  trade  until  1872,  when  he  returned  to  Germany, 


and  remained  there  until  1874,  when  be  came  back  to  Belleville, 
and  l)()U^dlt  out  a  stationery  and  general  notion  store,  and  engaged 
also  in  bookbinding  of  all  kinds,  in  which  he  still  continues. 

Mr.  Pitthan  is  one  of  the  substantial  business  men  of  Belleville, 
and  as  such  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  entire  com- 
munitv. 


HISTORY  OF  BT.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


237 


JAMES  A.  WILLOUGHBY. 

The  Willoughby  family  is  of  English  ancestry  on  the  paternal, 
and  on  the  maternal  Scotch-Irish.  His  father,  William  E.  Wil- 
loughby, was  born  in  Delaware  in  1824.  He  came  with  his  father, 
whose  name  was  also  William,  to  Illinois  in  1835,  and  settled  in 
the  American  Bottom,  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  near  Collinsville, 
where  he  died.  William  E.,  the  father  of  James  A.,  was  yet  in 
his  boyhood,  when  the  family  came  to  Illinois.  Here  he  grew  to 
manhood,  and  married  a  Miss  Penn.  She  died  without  issue.  In 
1852  he  married  Mary  Moore,  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  Her 
father,  William  Moore,  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  her  mother 
was  an  Alexander,  and  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Both  Mr.  Wil- 
loughby and  wife  are  yet  living,  and  are  residents  of  Lebanon,  where 
they  removed  in  1873.  By  this  latter  union  there  are  four  chil- 
dren. James  A-,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  second  in  the 
family.  He  was  born  May  2d,  1855,  on  Looking  Glass  Prairie, 
St.  Clair  county,  Illinois.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
After  his  father  removed  to  Lebanon,  he  entered  the  McKendree 
College,  taking  the  scientific  course,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1874.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  entered  the  Law  Department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor.  He  remained  there  until 
the  end  of  the  term.  In  the  summer  of  1875,  he  read  law  at  home, 
and  in  the  fall  returned  to  Ann  Arbor,  and  graduated  in  March, 
1876.  He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  Noetling  and  Halbert,  of 
Belleville,  and  remained  there  a  few  months.  His  graduation 
from  the  law  school  at  Ana  Arbor,  admitted  him  to  practice  in  the 
courts  of  Michigan.  Upon  motion,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  courts  of  Illinois  in  June,  1876.  He  returned  to  Lebanon,  and 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  in  which  he  continued  for  four  years. 
In  the  summer  of  1880,  he  was  nominated  by  the  republican  party 
for  the  office  of  Recorder,  the  first  in  the  county  ;  and  at  the  elec- 
tion in  the  following  November  was  triumphantly  elected,  and  is 
now  serving  the  people  in  that  capacity. 

Politically,  he  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  is  an  honored 
member  of  the  ancient  and  honorable  order  of  Freemasonry,  and 
belongs  to  Lebanon  Lodge,  No.  110.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any 
church  organization,  but  on  the  contrary,  is  rather  liberal  in  his 
belief.  Mr.  Willoughby  is  comparatively  a  young  man,  but  so  far 
has  been  quite  successful.  He  possesses  the  full  confidence  of  his 
party  and  friends,  who  know  him  well ;  and  all  accord  him  a  first 
class  reputation  as  a  business  man,  and  man  of  honor  and  integrity. 


JOHN  ADAM  8TAUDER 

Was  born  on  the  Rhine,  Bavaria,  March  18,  1828.  John  W. 
Stauder,  his  father,  was  a  contractor  and  builder  in  Germany.  He 
there  married  Mary  Brown.  In  the  winter  of  1835  he  left  Ger- 
many, and  after  a  long  voyage  landed  in  New  York,  and  came  west, 
traveling  by  canals  and  boats  to  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  St.  Louis, 
and  from  the  latter  place  to  Belleville.  They  stopped  with  an  uncle 
two  weeks,  and  then  Mr.  Stauder  went  to  Kaskaskia  and  bought 
eighty  acres  of  government  land  in  Dutch  Hollow.  It  was  timber 
land,  unimproved.  They  built  a  log-house,  and  lived  there  two 
years ;  then  moved  to  Belleville.  Here  he  followed  brick-laying, 
building,  teaming,  and  hauling  freight  to  and  from  St.  Louis,  in  which 
he  continued  until  his  death  in  1858.  His  wife  survived  him  two 
years.  There  were  five  children  in  the  family,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Michael,  the  youngest  son,  died  in  his  sixteenth  year. 
The  others  are  living,  and  all  have  families.  The  subject  of  the 
present  sketch  had  but  little  chances  to  go  to  school.  The  family 
was  poor,  and  he  had  to  help  support  them  and  himself,  and  there- 


fore found  no  time  for  schooling.  He  remained  at  home,  assisting  his 
father  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  and  his  father  were 
in  the  transfer  business,  and  he  drove  the  team  and  did  much  of  the 
hauling.  After  the  railroad  was  finished  to  St.  Louis,  it  broke  up 
his  teaming.  He  then  eilgaged  in  the  grocery  business,  and  opened 
a  hotel  and  wagon  yard  on  Illinois  street.  In  1865,  he  purchased 
property  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Main  and  Ray  street,  where  he 
opened  a  large  boarding-house,  saloon,  and  also  engaged  in  the 
grocery  and  provision  trade,  in  which  he  has  continued  to  the  present. 
In  1853,  he  married  Margaret  Muchbaucher.  She  died  two  years 
later.  By  this  marriage  there  is  one  son,  named  John  W.  Stauder. 
In  1858,  he  married  his  present  wife,  by  whom  he  has  five  children 
living.  Their  names  are  Jacob,  Mary,  Katie,  Adam  and  Joseph 
Stauder.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  Poli- 
tically he  is  a  democrat,  but  was  originally  a  republican,  and  sup- 
ported Lincoln  for  two  terms.  He  has  been  reasonably  successful 
in  life,  although  he  has  had  many  reverses  and  much  bad  luck.  His 
kind-heartedness  has  led  him  to  go  security  for  friends  who  have 
left  him  to  pay  their  debts.  He  is  an  old  settler  in  this  county,  and 
among  the  old  people  is  much  respected  for  his  worth  as  a  man  and 
citizen. 


LEONHARD  LEBKUECHER 
Is  a  native  of  Nassau,  Germany,  and  was  born  April  9th,  1851.  His 
father,  Adam  Lebkuecher,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place.  He  was 
born  April  1st,  1816.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  merchandising, 
and  held  the  position  of  collector  in  his  native  country.  He  mar- 
ried Eva  Hahn,  who  was  born  in  Nassau  Aug.  27,  1823.  The 
family  emigrated  to  America  in  November,  1851,  with  his^wife  and 
E)ur  children.  He  first  settled  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  then  went  to  New  Albany,  iu  Indiana,  and  two 
years  later  came  to  Belleville,  Illinois.  Here  he  remained  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  May  22,  1864.  He  was  the  inventor 
and  manufacturer  of  a  patent  axle  grease,  which  came  into  general 
use  before  his  death,  at  which  time  also  he  was  a  city  officer.  His 
wife  still  survives  him,  and  is  a  resident,  with  her  children,  of  Belle- 
ville, Illinois.  By  his  marriage  there  were  eight  children — three 
sons  and  five  daughters.  Their  name3  are:  Anna,  who  was  born 
March  30th,  1845.  She  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Jenks,  now  a  resident 
of  St.  Louis  ;  Felicitas,  born  Nov.  20th,  1846,  a  resident  of  Belle- 
ville, and  engaged  iu  the  millinery  business ;  Eliza,  born  May  7th, 
1849,  who  married  Philip  Mause,  now  deceased.  She  is  now  the 
wife  of  John  Rinck,  foreman  in  Harrison's  machine  shop ;  Leonhard, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Frank,  born  April  16,  1853,  at  New  Al- 
bany, Indiana,  and  married  iu  Ithaca,  New  York,  Dec.  9th,  1872, 
to  Miss  Catharine  Green,  of  Lanesboro,  Mass.,  and  in  business  in 
Belleville  since  1880;  John,  born  Jan.  17, 1856,  died  Jan.  25,  1870 
Emma,  born  June  8th,  1859;  Helena,  born  March  10,  1861. 
Leonhard,  of  whom  we  write,  was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of 
tinsmith  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  served  three  years,  then 
went  to  St.  Louis  and  worked  at  the  trade  for  three  years  as  a 
journeyman,  when  he  came  back  to  Belleville,  and  in  1872,  in  con- 
nection with  Jacob  Hoerr,  started  in  the  tinning  business.  The 
partnership  was  dissolved  in  1874,  since  which  time  Mr.  Lebkue- 
cher has  conducted  the  business  alone,  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful.  On  the  8th  of  February,  1875,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Karr,  youngest  daughter  of  Peter  Karr,  of 
West  Belleville.  Mrs.  Lebkuecher  was  bora  in  West  Belleville. 
Peter  Karr  was  born  in  Deidesheim,  Germany,  Feb.  2d,  1809,  and 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county  iu  1837. 
He  was  for  many  years  in  the  grocery  and  dry  goods  business,  in 


238 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUMTT,  ILLINOIS. 


West  Belleville.  He  subsequently  retired  and  went  into  the  wine 
business.  He  amassed  a  fortune,  and  retired  from  the  business  in 
1867,  and  died  December  24, 1878.  During  life  he  was  a  prominent 
man,  and  held  various  positions  of  honor  and  trust  under  the  city 
government  He  married  Abaloma  Eschenfelder.  Mrs.  Lebkue- 
cher  is  the  fifth  child  of  that  marriage.  Only  two  of  the  children 
are  living.  Lena,  Mrs.  Lsbkuecher's  sister  is  the  wife  of  George 
Rice.  By  the  marriage  of  Leonhard  and  Eliza  Lebkuecher  there 
were  three  children  born  to  them,  two  of  whom  are  living.  Their 
names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  are  Peter  Leonhard,  who  was  born 
Nov.  10, 1876,  and  Lena  Abaloma,  born  July  2,  1877.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America.  In  politics  he  votes 
the  democratic  ticket,  but  takes  no  further  part  than  to  exercise 
the  right  of  suffrage.  He  is  one  of  the  enterprising  merchants  of 
Belleville,  and  consequently  has  a  large  patronage.  In  his  deal- 
ings with  mankind  he  is  just  and  honorable,  and  conducfs  his  busi- 
ness on  the  basis  of  doing  right  and  dealing  fairly  with  all  who 
honor  him  with  their  trade  and  custom.  He  started  in  business 
unaided.  His  whole  capital  consisted  of  his  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness, his  industry,  and  a  large  share  of  good  common  sense,  with 
which  to  back  him  up.  It  is  with  pleasure  we  here  introduce 
him,  and  a  fine  lithographic  view  of  his  business  house,  to  be  found 
on  another  page  of  this  work,  to  the  people  of  St.  Clair  county. 


MICHAEL  RIES. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Nassau,  Germany,  Nov.  5, 1831.     Valentine  Ries,his  father,  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  but  also  engaged  in  farming,  trading,  etc.     In 
1846  he  came  to  America,  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  and  remained 
there  until  the  fall  of  1857,  when  he  removed  to  Shakopee,  Minne- 
sota, and  died  there  in  1874.     He  married  Catherine  Friehaut. 
She  died  in  Minnesota  in  the  fall  of  1867.     By  this  marriage  there 
are   nine   children,  six   sons   and  three  daughters.     Valentine,  a 
builder  and  contractor,  and  resident  of  Belleville,  is  the  eldest  son. 
Soon  after  the  family  came  to  St.  Louis,  Valentine  Ries,  the  father, 
made  shoes,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  his  sous.     He  afterwards 
went  into  the  lumber  business,  and  his  sons  became  interested  with 
him.     In  1867  he  went  to  Minnesota,  and  Michael  took  charge  of 
the  business  in  St.  Louis.     The  latter  continued  there  until  1862, 
when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Belleville,  and  here  formed  a  part- 
nership   in    the    lumber    business,   which    continued  until  1866, 
when    he  formed   a  partnership  with  his  brother  Henry  in   the 
same  business,  which  continues  to  the  present.     The  firm  of  M.  & 
H.  Ries  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  mast  successful  in  the  city  of  Belle- 
ville.    On  the  13th  of  May,  1856,  Michael  was  joined  in  holy  wed- 
lock to  Miss  Abaloma  Eberle,  a  native  of  Germany,  but  a  resident 
of  St.  Louis  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.     By  this  marriage  there 
are  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters.     Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic   church.     Henry  Ries  married 
Elizabeth  Kissell,  July  24th,  1866.     She  was  born  and  reared  in 
Belleville.     By  this  union  there  are  eight  children,  five  sons  and 
three  daughters.   He  and  his  wife  are  also  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Henry  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  for  many 
years  in  St.  Louis,  Minnesota,  and  in  Belleville,  where  he  has  re- 
sided since  1866.     Both  are  members  of  the  democratic  party,  but 
take  little  interest  further  than  to  express  their  preference  by  the 
right  of  ballot.     The  Ries  Brothers  rank  among  the  best  business 
men  of  Belleville,  and  the  firm,  for  probity  of  character  and  honor- 


able dealing,  stands  high  iu  the  estimation  of  the  people  of  St.  Qair 
county. 

Valentine  Ries,  the  elder  brother,  of  whom  mention  is  made 
above,  has  been  a  resident  of  Belleville  since  1872.  In  1853  he 
married  Josephine  Abafaeld,  a  native  of  Poland,  but  a  resident  of 
St.  Louis  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  Eight  children  have  been 
born  to  them. 


LOUIS  GRANER. 

George  F.  Graner,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  the  present 
sketch,  was  a  native  of  Hesse  Cassel,  Germany.    He  emigrated  to 
America  in  1848,  and  settled  in  Belleville,  in  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1875.     He  was  a  civil 
engineer,  and  followed  that  profession  in  his  native  country  and 
after  he  came  to  America.     In   1856  he  was  elected  County  Sur- 
veyor, and   held  the  office  for  two  terms.     The  Belleville   and 
Mascoutah,  and  Belleville  and   Westfield  plank-roads  were  laid 
out  by  him.     He  married  Louisa  Joerg,  a  native  of  Saxony.     She 
died  in  July,  1880.     Her  father,  Johan  Godfrey  Joerg,  came  to 
America  prior  to  Mr.  Graner.     Louis  Graner  is  the  only  oflTspring 
of  that  marriage.     He  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  Feb. 
12th,  1853.     He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Belleville,  and  studied  surveying  and  civil  engineering  under  his 
father.     His  first  work  was  as  rodman,  on  the  Cairo  short  line 
railroad  during  the  time  of  its  construction.     Then  next  on  the 
O'Fallon  road,  and  next  as  assistant  engineer  on  the  Cairo  and 
Vincennes.     He  had  charge  of  the  Illinois  and  St.  Louis  road  as 
engineer.     From  there  he  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  surveyed  the 
route  for  the  contemplated  Mill  Creek  and  Council  Grove  railroad. 
In  1872  he  returned  to  Belleville,  and  was  appointed  city  engineer. 
In  1877  he  was  elected  county  surveyor,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  resignation  of  C.  F.  Hilgard,  and  in  1879  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  for  the  full  term. 

On  the  28th  of  May,  1876,  he  married  Miss  Augusta  Meyer,  of 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  but  a  resident  of  Waubansie,  Kansas,  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  This  marriage  has  been  productive  of  three 
children.  Politically  Mr.  Graner  is  an  unswerving  democrat.  His 
first  vote  for  president  was  cast  for  Tilden,  in  1876.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  beneficiary  order  of  Knights  of  Honor,  and  also  of 
some  of  the  German  societies  of  Belleville,  which  are  organized 
for  social,  musical  and  other  purposes. 


H.  A.  HEINEMAN 
Was  born  in  Olden  berg,  Germany,  November  12,  1837.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  butcher  business  and 
served  a  full  apprenticeship.  In  1859  he  left  home  and  came  to 
America,  landing  in  New  York  in  August  of  the  same  year,  where 
he  remained  working  at  his  trade  until  1861,  when  the  war  broke 
out.  He  then  enlisted  under  the  first  call  of  300,000  troops  for 
three  years  of  service.  He  entered  Co.  "  F  »  of  the  54th  Regiment 
New  York  Vols.  He  was  in  the  service  nearly  one  year  when  he 
was  discharged  from  physical  disability.  He  returned  to  New 
York  and  remained  there  until  August,  1864,  when  he  came  west 
m  search  of  a  location.  He  finally  settled  in  Belleville,  and  in 
December  following  opened  a  butcher  shop,  and  has  carried  on  the 
busmess  to  the  present  time.  On  the  Uth  of  December  1864  he 
married  Miss  Caroline  Huber,  a  native  of  Germany,  on  the  river 
Rhine.  Her  father,  Philip  Huber,  came  here  when  she  was  but 
seven  years  of  age.     There  are  six  children  by  this  marriage.     Mr 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


239 


an  active  i  t      ^^^"^  ^^""^  successful  as  a  butcher.     He  also  takes 
cjL_  °^'"®®' 111  the  improvement  of  stock.     t„  ii.„  x^.x  o^-.i. 


In  the  Fat  Stock 


Heinem; 
an  activ 

Shows  of  c7'"'',?'f""P'"' 

times  been  i  a""    !.      '  **^^"  *  prominent  part,  and  has  several 

committee  a^  awarded  premiums,  and  has  also  been  on  the 

good  citizens  o^BeUrv^lle.^"  ^  ""'  °^  '^^  "'''"^^^'   ^"^'''^^^^  ^'^'^ 
FRED.  E.  SCHEEL. 

Bavaria,  and  who   emigrated  to  America  in  June,  1833     He  re 
ceived  private  instruction  until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
he  entered  the  Wyman  High  School  of  St.  Louis.     He  then  went 
to  Germany,  where  he  received  private  tuition  for  one  year  and  a 
half;  then  returned  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  entered  the  Washington 
University,  and  was  in  his  sophomore  year  when  the  war  broke  out. 
He  promptly  laid  aside  his  books,  and  with  patriotic  devotion  en- 
listed for  three  years,  in  Co.  "A,"  of  the  famous  9th  regiment 
Illinois  Vols.,  one  of  the  historic  regiments  of  the  war.     He  re- 
mained with  the  regiment,  and  participated  with  it  in  the  various 
battles  and  skirmishes  until  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  April, 
1862,  when  he  was  wounded  in  the  right  ankle,  the  ball  shattering 
the  joint     He  returned  home,  and  remained  here  until  the  wound 
healed.     At  the  time  of  the  battle    he  was  second  lieutenant  of 
Co.  ■'  D,"  having  passed  through  all  the  grades  to  that  position. 
He  resigned  his  lieutenancy  when  he  came  home.     After  he  was 
convalescent  he  returned  to  the  army,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  on 
the  staff  of  Col.  Morton,  of  the  81st  Ohio,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  Brigade.     The  service,  however,  was  too  severe  for  his  en- 
feebled condition,  and  he  quit  the  service  and  returned  to  Belleville 
in  May,  1863.    He  entered  the  office  of  the  Circuit  Clerk  and  was 
made  deputy,  and  remained  in  this  office  three  years.    During  that 
time  he  read  law  under  the  direction  of  Governor  Koerner,  and 
later  under  Hon.  John  B.  Hay.     At  the   October   term  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  (1866),  at  Mount  Vernon,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.     In  1867  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Oglesby  a  member 
of  the  newly-established  State  Board  of  Equalization,  representing 
the  counties  of  St.  Clair  and  Madison.    He  also  was  appointed 
Deputy  Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue,  under  General  Kueffner. 
In  1871  he  opened  an  office  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
In  1872  he  became  identified  with  the  Liberal  Republican  move- 
ment, and  the  same  time  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Stern 
des  Westens,  a  German  newspaper ;  to  the  influence  of  which,  in  a 
measure,  the  remarkable  change  in  the  political  condition  of  St. 
Clair  county  is  due.    He  continued  the  publication  until  1877, 
when  he  went  back  to  the  practice  of  law.    At  the  September 
term  of  the  Circuit  Court  (1879)  he  was   appointed  Master  in 
Chancery  by  Judge  W.  H  Snyder,  a  position  he  still  holds.     He 
was  a  republican  until  1872,  since  which  time  he  has,  in  all  na- 
tional and  state  elections,  voted  for  the  nominees  of  the  demo- 
cratic party. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1864,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Josephine  A.  Kircher,  a  native  of  Cass  county,  Illinois.  Her 
father,  Joseph  Kircher,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  1832,  and  came  to  Belleville  in  1849,  where  he  engaged 
in  business,  and  where  he  still  continues  to  reside.  By  the  mar- 
riage of  Fred.  E.  and  Josephine  A.  Scheel,  there  are  three  daughters. 
Personally  and  socially  Mr.  Scheel  has  most  excellent  qualities, 
generous  to  a  fault ;  a  genial  and  entertaining  friend,  a  most  excel- 
lent companion,  loyal  in  his  friendships ;  he  is  a  fair  representative 
f  the  true  German  character. 


JAMES  W.  McCULLOUGH 

Is  a  native  of  Lincoln  county,  Missouri,  bom  September  4th, 
1843.  His  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Scotland.  He  emigrated 
to  America,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  George  McCul- 
lough,  the  father  of  James  VV".,  was  born.  He  went  south,  to  Mis- 
sissippi, where  he  married  Louisa  Pepper.  He  afterward  removed 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo  ,  then  to  Troy,  Lincoln  county,  where  our  subject 
was  born.  He  subsequently  located  in  Florrissant,  in  St  Louis 
county,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  1849.  His  wife  still 
survives  him,  and  is  a  resident  of  Belleville.  There  are  two  chil- 
dren living  by  this  union,  a  daughter,  Louisa,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  R.  D.  Valentine,  a  resident  physician  of  Canton,  111.,  and 
James  W.,  of  whom  we  write.  The  mother  removed  to  Belleville 
in  March,  1852.  James  W.  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Belleville,  and  in  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy,  in 
St.  Louis.  He  spent  two  years  in  the  latter.  He  then  commenced 
the  express  business  in  the  office  of  J.  P.  Majors,  who  was  operating 
a  line  from  Belleville  to  St  Louis,  via  the  Cairo  Short  Line.  In 
1867  he  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  line,  and,  soon  after,  other 
parties  bought  Majors'  remaining  interest,  and,  together,  Mr.  Mc- 
Cullough  and  his  partner  operated  the  line  until  the  railroad  was 
finished  to  Du  Quoin,  when  they  sold  out  to  Adams  Express  Com- 
pany. Mr.  McCullough  was  then  appointed  agent  for  the  company, 
and  he  has  retained  that  position  until  the  present,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  short  time  when  engaged  in  other  business.  From  1873 
to  1876  he  was  book-keeper  in  the  Belleville  Nail  Mills,  but  also 
had  charge  of  the  office.  On  the  25th  of  December,  1868,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Callie  E.  Lorch,  of  Springfield,  Illinois, 
By  this  union  there  are  five  children  living.  The  eldest.  Amy, 
died  in  November,  1877,  in  her  ninth  year.  His  estimable  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  bene^ 
ficiary  order  of  A.  0.  U.  W.,  and,  at  present,  is  Master  Workman. 
Politically,  he  is  a  democrat.  In  1879  he  was  elected  City  Clerk, 
and  re-elected  in  1881,  and,  is  now  attending  to  the  duties  of 
the  office  in  a  manner  that  gives  complete  satisfaction  to  the 
citizens  of  Belleville.  Mr.  McCullough  is  a  thorough  business  man, 
and  entirely  reliable  and  trustworthy,  and  possesses  the  confidence 
of  his  employers  and  the  entire  community. 


ROBERT  D.  W.  HOLDER 

Was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Illinois,  February  22d,  1847.  His- 
parents  were  natives  of  Tenneesee,  but  emigrated  to  Illinois  at 
an  early  day,  and  settled  in  Jefferson  county.  His  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  Second  Lieutenant  of  a  com- 
pany. He  contracted  camp  fever,  and  died  while  in  the  service, 
in  1848.  Mr.  Holder's  mother's  maiden  name  was  Cook.  Her 
parents  came  to  Illinois  in  1822,  and  settled  in  Jefferson  county. 

Mr.  Holder  received  his  early  educational  training  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county.     His  opportunities  were  none  of 
the  best.     After  he  could  master  the  intricacies  of  the  three  •'  R's," 
he  reported  to  teaching,  in  order  to  obtain  means  and  enable  him 
to  educate  himself.     At  an  early  age  he  had  determined  to  adopt 
the  profession  of  law,  as  the   business  of  his  life,  and  therefore  it 
was  necessary  to  obtain  a  good  educational  foundation  whereupon 
to  build  the  future  legal  structure.     By  teaching  and  studying,  he 
managed  to  prepare  himself  for  entrance  to  McKendree  College,  at 
Lebanon,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  one  year.    His  means  having 
been  exhausted  he  resumed  teaching,  and  continued  in  that  profes- 
sion for  three  years.     During  vacation  in  the  summer  months,  he 
read  the  standard  text  books  on  law ;  first  in  the  office  with  Judge 


240 


EIST0B7  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


White,  and  afterward  in  the  office  and  under  the  direction  of  Hon. 
F.  A.  Lietzel  of  Carlyle,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  entered 
the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor, 
and  remained  there  two  terms,  and  was  graduated  from  that  insti- 
tution in  the  spring  of  1874.  By  his  diploma  from  the  University 
he  was  entitled  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Michigan.  He  came 
here,  and  upon  motion  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  courts  of 
Illinois.  lu  July,  1875,  he  opened  an  office  and  commenced  the 
practice  in  Mascoutah,  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  remained  until 
February,  1877,  when  he  came  to  Belleville,  and  here  he  has  con- 
tinued in  the  profession  until  the  present  time.  In  the  summer  of 
1880,  he  received  the  nomination  of  State's  Attorney,  at  the  hands 
of  the  democratic  party  in  convention  assembled,  and  November 
following  was  elected  by  a  majority  in  excess  of  his  party  vote.  As 
a  public  prosecutor,  Mr.  Holder  lacks  only  experience,  which  will 
come,  and  of  which  he  will  have  sufficient  before  his  term  of  office 
expires ;  when  we  predict  for  him  a  brilliant  reputation  as  a 
vigilant  and  able  prosecutor.  * 

Politically,  he  has  always  voted  the  democratic  ticket,  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  furthering  the  interests  of  that  political 
organization. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  1877,  he  was  happily  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Anna  E.  Barth,  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  daughter 
of  John  Barth.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  one  child,  named 
Jessie  May  Holder. 

Mr.  Holder  is  comparatively  a  new  citizen  of  Belleville,  but  since 
his  residence  here  he  has  established  a  reputation  as  a  strictly 
honorable  man,  in  all  the  relations  of  business  life.  Socially  and 
personally  he  has  many  friends. 


SEBASTIAN  FIETSAM 

Is  a  native  of  the  province  of  Nassau,  Prussia.  He  was  born  Dec. 
29,  1818.  He  was  in  his  younger  years  engaged  in  clerking  and 
mercantile  pursuits  until  1845,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
settled  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  and  afterwards  lived  in  Mercer 
county.  He  then  went  into  the  cooper  business,  and  remained  so 
engaged  until  1849,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  county.  111.,  where 
he  lived  to  the  present  time.  Here  he  first  engaged  in  farming,  in 
which  he  continued  for  a  few  years ;  then  went  to  Fay  e  tteville,  in  this 
county,  and  embarked  in  general  merchandizing,  in  which  he  re- 
mained two-and-a  half  years,  when  a  fire  destroyed  his  house  and 
all  his  goods.  He  then  came  to  Belleville,  and  here  clerked  and 
kept  books  until  1861,  when  he  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  in  the 
county  clerk's  office.  He  remained  in  that  capacity  for  four  years, 
when  he  opened  a  book  and  stationery  store,  and  carried  on  that 
business  until  1867,  when  he  was  called  back  to  take  the  po.ition  of 
deputy  in  the  clerk's  office.  He  filled  the  position  until  1869,  when 
he  was  nominated  by  the  republican  partj'  for  the  office  of  county 
clerk  and  elected,  and  served  until  1873.  In  the  same  year  Mr. 
Kupp,  owner  of  the  Belleville  Zeitung,  died.  Mr.  Fietsam  bought 
the  office  and  fixtures,  and  soon  afterwards  sold  a  half  interest  to 


Mr.  Semmelroth,  and  together  they  continued  the  publication  of  the 
paper  until  June,  1880,  when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Hienfelden.  In 
1874  he  commenced  the  compilation  of  a  set  df  abstract  records  un- 
der the  AValton  system,  which  were,  when  completed,  the  most 
complete  set  of  records  in  the  county.  Since  he  quit  the  newspaper 
he  has  given  all  of  his  time  to  the  abstract  business.  Politically,  he 
was  originally  a  dtmocrat,  but,  when  the  republican  party  was 
formed,  he  joined  its  ranks,  and  has  acted  with  it  to  the  present  time. 
On  the  26th  of  November,  1857,  he  married  Sophia  Dauth,  who 
was  of  German  parentage,  but  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  She 
died,  leaving  three  children.  On  the  8th  of  September,  1864,  he 
married  Louisa  Dauth,  by  which  union  there  are  two  children.  All 
of  them  are  yet  beneath  the  parental  roof.  Mr.  Fietsam's  father 
came  to  America  in  1850,  and  died  here.  In  the  family  there  were 
eleven  sons  and  one  daughter.  Sebastian  is  the  eldest  and  smallest 
in  physical  frame  in  the  family  ;  the  others  were  large-framed  men. 
Five  of  his  brothers  went  to  Texas,  where  four  of  them  died  from 
yellow  fever. 


HARTMANN  BEOTHERS. 

The  enterprising  firm  of  Hartmann  Bros,  deserve  mention  among 
the  prominent  citizens  of  Belleville.  Tbey  are  natives  of  Hanover, 
Germany.  Hubert  Hartmann  emigrated  to  America  in  1847.  Soon 
after  he  came  to  Belleville,  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business. 
In  1868  he  embarked  in  the  brewing  business,  and  in  1871  his 
brother  was  taken  into  partnership  in  the  business.  Bernhard 
Hartmann  came. to  this  country,  and  direct  to  Belleville,  in  1867. 
He  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  provision  trade.  He  was  a  wide- 
awake, enterprising  German,  and  introduced  a  new  system  into  the 
business,  and  soon  built  up  a  large  trade. 

As  intimated  above,  he  joined  his  brother  in  the  brewing  business 
in  1871,  and  infused  the  same  life  and  vigor  into  that  business  as 
he  had  in  the  one  that  he  had  abandoned.  The  business  kept  in- 
creasing, and  calls  were  made  for  "  Star  "  beer  to  such  an  extent 
that  in  1877,  in  order  to  place  it  in  reach  of  more  customers,  they 
commenced  to  bottle  it.  Their  "  Star  Beer  Bottling  "  establish- 
ment is  now  one  of  the  institutions  of  Belleville.  They  ship  each 
day  as  much  as  200  cases,  and  it  is  sold  largely  throughout  south- 
ern Illinois  and  Missouri.  Messrs.  Wulfing,  Diekreide  &  Co.,  of 
St.  Louis,  one  of  the  largest  grocery  houses  in  that  city,  are  the 
sole  agents,  and  take  all  that  the  Hartmann  Bros,  can  manufac- 
ture. 

The  names  of  the  officers  are:  Hubert  and  Bernhardt  Hartmann, 
proprietors ;  Adolph  Reidiger,  superintendent ;  Robert  Bethmann, 
general  agent;  H.  MoUer,  superintendent  of  office;  Hermann 
Schneidwind,  superintendent  of  bottling  establishment.  When  the 
Hartmann  Bros,  first  took  hold  of  the  brewery  they  sold  from  five 
to  six  thousand  barrels;  now  their  sales  reach  thirty  thousand  bar- 
rels annually.  This  is  the  best  evidence  of  the  popularity  of  their 
beer  over  other  manufacturers,  and  it  also  shows  that  they  are  go- 
ahead  business  men. 


Farm    Res/oeince    of  DAVID   OGL£:,SgcJ ,T.  /J^  p^^ 


„'J.V,.U„^,iiV^v^. 


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P!l*5P*i^'My<*i(!(^;5»> 


R.S,(BE:Lm.v;  llePr  E.CI nct)  St.Clair  Co,  Illinois. 


SHILOH   PRECINCT. 


— ^!a-<§-*"?>-e^f— 


I  HIS  Precinct  is  located  in  the  northern  part  of 
Tp.  IN.,  R.  Y  W.,  and  contains  fifteen  whole 
and  three  fractional  sections,  on  the  east  side. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  O'Fallon  and 
Lebanon,  on  the  east  by  Lebanon  and  Mascou- 
tah,  on  the  south  by  Mascoutah  and  Belleville, 
and  on  the  west  by  Belleville  Precinct.  Silver 
creek,  which  forms  the  eastern  boundary  line, 
and  its  affluents,  drain  the  lands  and  furnish  an  abundant  supply 
of  water  for  stock  purposes.  There  is  considerable  good  timber 
along  the  borders  of  the  various  streams,  much  of  which  is  annually 
sawed  into  lumber  by  local  mills.  The  surface  is  generally  rolling, 
but  along  the  streams  it  is  broken  and  in  many  places  quite  rugged. 
The  most  of  the  prairie  land  in  this  precinct  is  included  in  what 
has  been  known  for  a  number  of  years  as  Shiloh  valley.  This 
valley  contains  some  of  the  finest  improved  farms  in  the  county, 
and  the  soil  is  famous  for  its  fertility.  The  principal  product  is 
wheat,  which  yields  large  crops  annually. 

Shiloh  was  a  very  early  settled  portion  of  the  county.  There 
were,  no  doubt,  families  here  a  short  time  prior  to  1800,  but  at  this 
late  date  we  are  able  to  give  only  the  parties  who  became  perma- 
nent settlers.  Many  of  those  old  pioneers  located  in  various  parts 
of  the  country,  but  so  soon  as  others  began  settling  around  them, 
they  would  sell  out  their  claims  and  move  farther  into  the  wilder- 
ness. It  would,  indeed,  be  a  difficult  matter  to  determine  who  was 
the  first  settler.  No  doubt,  the  Scotts  were  the  first  permanent 
settlers,  as  they  located  here  in  1802.  They  were  sons  of  William 
Scott,  who  located  on  Turkey  Hill  in  the  fall  of  1797,  and  were 
amongthe  very  first  American  families  in  whatis-nowSt.  Clair  county. 
They  were  all  natives  of  the  "  old  dominion,"  and  all  came  to  this  state 
with  their  father.  He  had  six  sous  and  one  daughter,  viz. :  James, 
born  August  15, 1772 ;  William,  born  October  26, 1774 ;  Samuel,  born 
August  2,  1777  ;  Elizabeth,  born  July  7,  1778  ;  Joseph,  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1781 ;  John,  born  January  10,  1784,  and  Alexander, 
born  November  25,  178.6.  Elizabeth  was  married  to  John  Jarvis, 
who  came  with  the  family  in  wagons  to  Illinois.  They  floated 
down  the  Ohio  river  to  Fort  Massacre,  and  from  there  traveled 
overland  through  southern  Illinois,  and  located  first  at  New  Design. 
They  remained  there,  however,  but  a  few  months,  when  in  the  fall 
of  1797  they  settled  on  Turkey  Hill  in  this  county,  where  Mr. 
Scott,  with  the  assistance  of  his  sons,  made  a  large  farm.  A  more 
extended  sketch  of  Mr.  Scott  may  be  seen  in  the  Pioneer  chapter  of 
this  work,  as  in  this  precinct  only  those  who  settled  here  can  be 
mentioned . 

James  Scott  married  Sarah  Teter  soon  after  he  came  to  Illinois^ 
and  in  1802  settled  in  what  is  now  Shiloh  precinct,  just  south  of 
the  village  of  Shiloh,  on  the  place  now  owned  by  his  youngest  son 
Philip.  Here  he  erected  a  log  cabin  and  began  farming,  which 
occupation  he  always  followed,  and  where  he  always  continued  to 
reside.  He  was  a  natural  mechanic,  and  adopted  the  trade  of 
a  cabinet  maker,  which  he  learned  without  any  instruction,  and  fol- 
lowed together  with  farming.  His  children  were :  Mary,  William, 
Franklin,  Sarah,  Madison,  Zeno  and  Philip.  They  were  all  mar- 
31 


ried  and  have  descendants  living.  Zeno  and  Madison,  who  resided 
in  Lebanon,  and  Philip,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  are  all  of 
the  family  now  living. 

William  and  Samuel  Scott,  sons  of  William  Scott,  settled  about 
a  half  mile  west  of  Shiloh  village,  at  a  very  early  date.  William 
married  Mississippi,  a  daughter  of  Judge  William  Biggs,  by  whom 
he  had  a  large  family  :  Nancy ;  George,  who  was  wounded  in  the 
hand  and  crippled  for  life  in  the  Black  Hawk  war ;  William,  de- 
ceased ;  Margaret,  deceased ;  Whitfield,  who  resided  in  O'Fallon 
precinct,  and  Washington,  who  died  on  the  way  to  California,  were 
all  of  their  children  that  grew  up.  William  Scott  died  in  1835  ; 
Samuel  married  Nancy,  also  a  daughter  of  Judge  William  Biggs, 
and  reared  a  family.  His  son  Benjamin  had  his  head  cut  off  by 
the  Indians  in  1832,  in  the  Black  Hawk  war ;  William  died  in 
Missouri ;  John  Milton,  who  is  now  Supreme  Judge  in  this  state, 
resides  at  Bloomington ;  Harrison,  deceased ;  James  resides  at 
Belleville  ;  his  daughters,  Elizabeth,  Sarah  and  Margaret  are  dead. 

Joseph,  also  son  of  grandfather  William  Scott,  married  Nancy  Har- 
rison, a  niece  of  Gen.  Harrison,  of  Ohio.  She  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents  about  1800,  and  located  at  New  Design.  Mr.  Scott  settled 
two  miles  south  of  the  village  of  Shiloh,  on  Sec.  17,  about  1805.  In 
1809'  he  erected  a  small  grist  and  powder  mill  on  a  branch  of  Silver 
creek,  running  through  his  place.  It  was-  a  log  building,  and  was  pro- 
pelled by  an  undershot  water-wheel.  For  a  number  of  years  he  con- 
tinued the  manufacture  of  a  fine  quality  of  powder.  He  procured 
the  nitre  in  the  caves  on  the  Gasconade  river,  in  Missouri,  in  the 
winter  months,  with  but  one  companion,  Joseph  Dixon,  when  the 
whole  country  was  filled  with  hostile  Indians.  This  was  undoubt- 
edly the  first  powder  mill  in  the  state.  Mr.  Scott  furnished  the 
rangers,  and  hunters  and  sporting  men  of  St.  Louis  with  powder, 
but  never  sold  it  to  the  Indians.  In  1828  he  erected  a  wool 
carding  machine  in  Belleville,  the  first  in  the  place,  which  he  suc- 
cessfully operated  for  several  years.  He  became  a  resident  of 
Belleville  in  1838,  and  in  this  place  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  over  twelve  years.  In  his  latter  days  he  lived  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Shiloh,  where  he  died,  iabout  1866,  mourned  by  a  large 
family  and  a  host  of  friends.  He  was  a  man  possessed  of  excellent 
judgment  and  good  business  qualities ;  honest  and  fair  in  all  his 
dealings.  Few  men  in  his  day  were  more  enterprising  and  indus- 
trious than  Mr.  Scott.  In  politics  he  was  a  whig,  and  a  zealous 
anti-slavery  advocate.  He  raised  quite  a  large  family :  Mary,  married 
James  Park,  died,  and  left  two  children ;  Felix  married  Nicey,  a 
daughter  of  Gen.  James  B.  Moore  ;  he  was  born  and  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  place,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1878. 
He  is  now  a  resident,  of  Belleville,  in  the  74th  year  of  his 
age.  Mr.  Scott  has  lived  an  active  and  industrious  life,  and 
is  among  the  aged  and  respected  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county. 
Thomas  died  while  young ;  Isaac  died  a  few  years  ago,  leaving  a 
small  family ;  Joseph  lives  in  Arkansas,  and  Elizabeth,  Sarah  and 
Elias  are  also  deceased;  William  died  in  1840. 

Alexander  and  John,  sons  of  William  Scolt,  always  lived  in  Belle- 
ville precinct,  where  they  died  and  left  large  families. 

A  family  of  Jourdens  settled  the  widow  James  Pierce's  place 

241 


242 


EI8T0RY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


at  a  very  early  date,  and  built  a  fort.  It  was  a  strong  block- 
house, enclosed  with  a  palisade.  They  afterwards  sold  out  to  Silas 
Bankson,  and  he  in  turn  sold  to  Daniel  Pierce. 

Joseph  Dixon  settled  near  the  village  of  Shiloh  as  early  as  1806. 
Dixon  was  a  great  hunter,  and  frequently  made  long  trips,  and  re- 
turned laden  with  p3Uries.  Oa  one  of  these  trips,  in  northern 
Missouri,  he  was  robbed  of  his  furs  by  a  band  of  Indians.  He 
subsequently  moved  to  Sangamon  county  in  this  state.  William 
Adams  settled  in  this  precinct  as  early  as  1806.  He  was  a  black- 
smith, and  had  a  shop  here  at  a  very  early  day.  A  number  of 
his  descendants  are  now  residing  in  the  county.  Hugh  and  Wil- 
liam Alexander  settled  a  little  soath-west  of  the  village  of  Shiloh 
in  1811,  and  several  of  their  descendants  are  among  the  respected 
citizens  of  the  county.  About  the  same  time  David  Everett  settled 
the  place  where  Ira  Manville  now  resides.  He  subsequently  moved 
to  Ottawa,  in  this  state.  Matthew  Cox  came  about  the  same  date. 
He  was  a  son-in-law  of  Judge  William  Biggs ;  he  remained  here 
but  a  short  time.  The  Calbreaths'  two  cousins,  both  named  Wil- 
liam, and  John  Middlecoff,  settled  on  Silver  creek.  Joseph  Griffen, 
Sen.,  purchased  the  Calbreath  place,  and  it  is  now  owned  by  his 
son,  Joseph  GrifTen.  James  McCann,  Henry  Isballs,  Josiah  Haw- 
kins, with  a  large  family  ;  the  Prentices,  with  a  large  family  of 
sons ;  Deacon  Crocker,  William  Moore,  Benjamin  Watts,  whose 
descendants  are  numerous  in  southern  Illinois,  and  Walter  West- 
field,  who  had  a  large  family,  some  of  whom  are  living  in  this 
vicinity,  were  all  early  settlers  in  this  neighborhood.  Daniel 
1  ierce,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  located  on  Sec.  8  in  the  spring  of 
1814.  He  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
DOW  living  in  this  county,  viz. :  Juliette  A.  Pierce  and  Hiram  A., 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  and  is  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  the  community.     Daniel  Pierce  died  in  1846. 

Ira  Manville  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  Nov 
23,  1795,  and  came  with  his  father,  Ira  Manville,  to  this  state  in 
1810.  His  father  lived  for  six  years  in  Kaskaskia,  when  he 
moved  and  settled  six  miles  south  of  Athens,  on  the  Kaskaskia 
river.  At  this  point  he  kept  a  ferry  until  his  death  in  1821.  The 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  murdered  at  the 
Wyoming  valley  massacre,  where  a  monument  has  been  erected 
to  their  memory.  In  1822  Mr.  Manville  settled  in  this  pre- 
cinct, on  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  He  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  under  Capt.  Absalom  Cox.  He  is  now  eighty-six  years  of 
age,  and  is  still  hearty  and  intelligent,  and  delights  in  telling 
stories  of  the  pioneer  days.  When  he  settled  here  in  1822,  he 
states  that  the  following  families  lived  in  this  neighborhood :  Robert 
Hughes,  David,  Hugh  and  William  Alexander,  James  McCann, 
Robert  and  James  Thomas,  Josiah  Hawkins,  the  Calbreaths,  Louis 
Laramie,  David  Paine,  Joseph  Land,  Ebenezer  Harkness,  Isaac 
Swan,  Rev.  William  Moore,  Stephen  Cooper,  the  Scotts,  Simons 
and  Pickets,  Samuel  Allen,  David  Everett,  Jesse  Walker,  David 
Walker,  the  father  of  George  Walker,  well  known  in  the  county ; 
Joseph  Dixon,  Ebenezer  Allen,  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier  who 
was  buried  here  in  1828  ;  William  Parker,  Samuel  Tozer,  Daniel 
Pierce,  Anthony  Thomas,  Daniel  Wilbanks,  Jerry  Black,  Benjamin 
Woods,  Joshua  Winters,  James  Park,  Peter  Wright,  and  perhaps 
a  few  other  families,  lived  in  what  is  now  Shiloh  at  that  date. 

We  show  below  the  land  entries  in  1814,  as  copied  from  the 
record  :  James  McCann,  N.  half  Sec.  2,  311,00  acres,  Sept.  23 ;  R. 
and  J.  D.  Thomas,  S.  W.  quarter  Sec.  2,  160  acres,  Sept.  30 ;  Silas 
Crane,  N.  E.  quarter  Sec.  3,  158 1^  acres,  Sept.  23 ;  D.  Everett  and 
J.  Walker,  W.  half  Sec.  3,  320  acres,  Sept.  8  ;  Hugh  Alexander, 
S.  half  Sec.  13,  320  acres,  Aug.  24 ;  Joseph  Dixon,  N.  E.  quarter 
Section  5,  September  6  ;  Matthew  J.  Cox,  N.  W.  quarter  Section  6, 


147 /o°o  acres,  Dsc.  21;  William  Biggs,  S.  W.  quarter  Sec.  6, 
143i*„1,  acres,  Dae.  24;  William  Adams,  N.  E.  quarter  Sec.  7, 
145  S  acres,  Aug.  24 ;  James  Scott,  E.  half  and  S.  W.  quarter,  480 
acres  in  Sec.  8,  Sapt.  30  ;  Silas  Bankson,  W.  half  Sec.  9,  320  acres, 
Sept.  23;  David  Alexander,  S.  W.  quarter  Sec.  10,  160  acres,  Aug. 
13  ;  William  Kinney,  S.  W.  quarter  Sec.  7,  150i'i!'o  acres,  Aug.  24. 

The  Michel  family,  who  settled  at  an  early  date,  were  the  first 
Gsrmans  to  locate  in  this  precinct.  Henry  Knoebel,  a  native  ol 
Bavaria,  Germany,  settled  in  this  county  in  1833,  and  resides  ou 
Sec.  3  of  this  precinct.  Peter  Weil,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
lives  on  Sac.  11,  and  cams  to  this  county  in  1837.  S.  G.  Clark,  a 
Tennesseean,  cams  to  St.  Clair  county  in  1831,  and  resides  on  Sec. 
15  of  Shiloh. 

The  first  school-house  was  erected  of  logs  on  the  place  now  owned 
by  H.  A.  Piercs,  just  opposite  the  present  Cherry  Grove  school- 
house,  at  a  very  early  date.  There  was  also  an  early  school-house 
on  the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Shiloh.  Rev.  Clark,  a  Baptist 
minister,  was  an  early  teacher.  A  post-office  was  established  at 
Clierry  Grovs  as  early  as  1318,  and  Daniel  Wilbanks  was  the  first 
postmaster.  This  office  was  kept  at  several  places  in  the  settle- 
ment, and  at  Rock  Spring,  and  in  1845  it  was  permanently  located 
at  Shiloh. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  by  James  McCann,  on  Sec-  2.  It  was 
a  horse  mill,  and  at  one  time  was  quite  popular.  Hugh  Alex- 
ander had  a  saw  and  grist  ox  mill  and  a  distillery,  on  Sec.  4. 
Daniel  Piercs  also  had  an  ox  mill  and  distillery.  These,  with 
Scott's,  above  msntioned,  were  the  pioneer  mills. 

The  precinct,  including  the  village  of  Shiloh,  has  a  population  of 
792,  according  to  the  census  of  1880. 

VILLAGE   OF   SHILOH. 

In  Rsynolds'  Pionser  History  of  Illinois,  we  find  that  in  the 
summsr  of  1807,  Bishop  McKendree,  whose  name  has  been  per- 
petuated in  the  Methodist  College  at  Lebanon,  was  one  of  the 
earliest  Methodist  ministers  to  preach  in  this  vicinity.  He  had 
erected  at  Shiloh  a  log  meeting-house,  which  was  one  of  the  earliest 
churches  of  this  denomination  in  Illinois.  He  also  organized  and 
held  a  camp-meeting  at  this  point  the  same  year.  There  have 
been  four  churches  erected  by  this  denomination  on  the  same  spot. 
The  present  one  is  constructed  of  brick,  and  is  a  neat  and  costly 
edifice. 

The  first  house  erected  in  the  village  proper  was  by  Edwin 
Pierce,  in  1845.  It  is  still  standing,  just  in  the  rear  of  the  church, 
and  is  known  as  the  Gaag  house.  The  next  dwelling  was  built  by 
Robert  Dorey.  Jacob  Canmann  erected  the  first  store-house  and 
opened  the  first  stock  of  goods  for  sale,  in  1845.  Andrew  Haege 
erected  two  or  three  houses,  and  his  brother  Jacob  erected  a  dwell- 
ing and  blacksmith  shop  about  the  same  date.  Jacob  Haege  was 
the  first  blacksmith.  A  steam  saw-mill  was  erected  by  Edwin 
Pierce,  Philip  Scott  and  Charles  Alexander,  about  1847.  The  vil- 
lage is  located  in  the  north-western  part  of  the  precinct,  near  the 
O'Fallon  line,  and  was  laid  out  by  Martin  Stites  and  James  Atkins. 

It  has  the  following  business : — 

General  Stores — Yaeger  &  Haase,  Henry  Friedewald.  Hoteh — 
"Shiloh  House,"  Charles  Renner,  proprietor ;  "Union  Hall,"  John 
Reppel,  proprietor.  Blacksmith  and  Wagon  Shop — F.  W.  Herbst. 
Shoe  Shops — Joseph  Ley,  H.  Kemp.  Physician — John  Bailey. 
Postmaster — Henry  Friedewald. 

One  mile  east  of  the  village  is  situated  the  saw-mill  of  Albert  C. 
Reuss  &  Co.  It  is  a  frame  building,  constructed  in  1880;  they 
have  steam  power ;  considerable  hard  lumber  is  sawed,  and  a  large 
stock  is  constantly  kept  on  hand. 


'■  'IJI'^W'^WS-A^^ 


TENANT  HOUdB    SEC  /4.  TJN.f?7Y' 


Reside NCF-    ano   Farm    Property    of  CHARLES    GRn 


I  11 « iL  I     -iinm 


^SJ5?fW!^^5W! 


TENANT  HOV3E     SeS  H3    T-l N  R   7  W 


:A/   Esq.-SecI^  [TI.N.R.JWlSHtLOhPREaNCT.  St  Clair  Co.  Ill 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JOSEPH  GEIFFEN,  (deceased.) 


JAMES  PAKK. 


The  family  from  which  Joseph  Griffen  is  descended  was  of 
Welsh  origin,  and  at  an  early  date  came  to  America,  and  settled 
in  the  State  of  New  York.  His  father,  Jacob  Griffen,  resided  in 
Duchess  County,  New  York,  and  in  that  part  of  the  state  was  born 
Joseph  Griffen,  on  the  23d  of  September,  1796.  His  birth-place 
was  the  town  of  Clinton  in  Duchess  County.  His  father  afterward 
moved  with  the  family  to  Albany  County,  New  York.  He  secured 
an  ordinary  common  school  education.  He  left  home  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  and  began  life  on  his  own  account,  without  any  means 
on  which  to  rely  except  his  own  industry  and  energy.  He  went  to 
the  western  part  of  New  York  State,  and  for  about  a  year  was 
employed  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Kochester.  When  he 
reached  the  age  of  about  twenty-one  he  determined  to  strike  out 
for  the  West  and  find  what  opportunities  existed  in  a  new  country. 
His  first  trip  to  Illinois  was  made  by  way  of  the  Ohio  river, 
which  he  descended  in  a  flat  boat.  His  first  stopping  place  in  this 
State  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Kaskaskia. 


After  a  couple  of  years  he  returned  to  New  York,  making  the 
trip  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  But  after  remaining  in  the  East  a  short 
time  he  came  back  to  Illinois,  making  the  entire  journey  on  horse- 
back. When  he  first  cume  to  Illinois  he  was  employed  part  of  the 
time  in  a  saw  mill  at  Walnut  Hill.  He  managed  to  accumulate  a 
little  money,  and  after  returning  from  New  York  invested  his 
means  in  a  stock  of  goods  which  he  sold  throughout  the  country, 
carrying  the  goods  around  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  In  those  days 
stores  were  scarce  to  what  they  are  at  the  present  time,  and  the 
settlers  often  found  their  only  opportunity  to  purchase  goods  from 
the  itinerant  merchants  who  traveled  over  the  country.  In  ex- 
change for  his  goods  he  was  obliged  to  take  considerable  produce, 
money  at  that  time  being  a  scarce  article.  He  sold  this  produce, 
especially  large  quantities  of  honey,  at  advantageous  prices,  and 
gradually  obtained  sufficient  money  with  which  to  buy  land  in 
Horse  Prairie  in  Randolph  County.  He  lived  there  till  his  re- 
moval to  St.  Clair  county. 


243 


244 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


Oa  comiag  hare  he  first  resided  on  Turkey  Hill  and  there 
two  of  his  children  are  now  buried.  In  the  year  .1828  he  pur- 
chased for  four  hundred  dollars  the  south  half  of  the  south-east 
quarter  of  section  fourteen  of  township  one  north,  range  seven  west. 
He  had  not  then  sufficient  means  to  make  the  whole  payment  on 
the  land.  This  place  was  subsequently  his  residence  till  his  death. 
At  the  time  he  moved  on  this  land  only  a  small  part  was  under 
cultivation.  Mr.  Griffen  worked  industriously  at  improving  the 
farm.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  activity.  He  had  good 
business  qualifications,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the 
largest  land  owners  of  the  Shiloh  valley.  -His  first  marriage  took 
place  in  February,  1826,  to  Mrs.  Mary  Shepherd,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Foulks.  Her  death  occurred  on  the  5th  of  February, 
1841,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
on  the  5th  of  February,  1802.  His  second  marriage  was  on  the 
13th  of  October,  1841,  to  Sally  Ann  Collins,  who  was  born  near 
Greenville,  New  York,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1805.  This  mar- 
riage occurred  at  Amsterdam,  New  York,  while  Mr.  Grifien  was 
in  that  state  on  a  visit  to  his  brother. 

He  had  in  all  twelve  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows : — 
Jacob  Fardon  Grifien,  born  on  the  6th  of  February,  1827,  died  on 
the  15th  of  November  of  the  same  year  ;  Smith  Grifien,  who  was 
born  in  1828  and  died  in  1831  ;  Harriet  Jane  Grifien,  born  August 
10,  1831,  and  died  the  succeeding  15th  of  November;  Joseph 
Grifien,  who  was  born  in  1832,  and  is  now  living  in  the  Shiloh 
valley;  Caroline  Grifien,  born  in  1834  and  died  in  1835;  Sarah 
Ann  Grifien,  born  March,  1836,  now  residing  in  Macon  county, 
the  wife  of  James  H.Alexander;  Mariah  Grifien,  now  Mrs.  Wm. 
D.  Howard  of  Lebanon ;  Rachel  Grifien,  who  was  born  in  1840 
and  died  the  same  year ;  Boon  Grifien,  who  was  born  July  27th, 
1842  and  died  May  4,  1862  ;  Alletta  Grifien,  who  'was  born  in  1843 
and  died  in  1844  ;  Charles  Griffen,  born  February  20,  1845,  and 
Jane,  who  was  born  in  January,  1849,  and  died  in  September  of  the 
Boon  Griffen  was  a  student  at  McKendree  college  at  the  time  of 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He  enlisted  at  St. 
Louis  in  a  Missouri  regiment,  not  then  nineteen  years  old,  and 
was  in  the  three  months  service  under  General  Fremont.  After 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  he  returned  to  his  studies,  but 
died  of  consumption  in  1862,  while  a  member  of  the  college 
graduating  class.  He  would  have  graduated  had  he  lived  till 
June. 

For  a  number  of  years,  subsequent  to  1841 ,  Joseph  Grifien  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  in  that  capacity  gave  satisfaction  as  an 
upright  man,  and  a  just  and  impartial  magistrate.  He  was  a  man 
who  believed  in  upholding  the  rights  of  others,  and  never,  if  he 
could  prevent  it,  would  he  allow  the  weak  to  be  imposed  on  by  the 
strong.  He  was  respected  as  a  good  neighbor  and  a  worthy 
citizen.  His  religious  views  coincided  with  those  of  the  Baptist 
church,  though  he  was  an  active  member  of  no  religious  denomi- 
nation. He  was  seldom  away  from  home  and  paid  close  attention 
to  his  business  afiairs.  He  was  originally  a  Whig  in  politics,  and 
was  attached  to  that  party  till  the  dissolution  of  the  Whig  organi- 
zation, and  the  foundation  of  the  Republican  party,  when  his  views 
on  the  subject  of  slavery  led  him  to  become  a  Republican,  and  he 
acted  as  such  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  never  am- 
bitious to  hold  public  ofiice,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  to  his 


business  and  farming  operations.  He  was  interested  in  agricultural 
matters,  and  was  a  good  practical  farmer.  He  assisted  in  organizing 
the  fair  association  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  was  the  first  president  of 
the  society.  By  industry  and  good  business  management  he 
secured  considerable  wealth,  and  at  the  time  of  his  dieath  owned 
over  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land  in  St.  Clair,  Washington,  and 
Macon  counties.  His  homestead  farm  in  the  Shiloh  valley  par- 
took of  the  general  excellence  of  the  land  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  He  died  on  the  24th  of  October,  1874,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years,  one  month  and  one  day.  His  widow  survived 
him  till  the  7th  of  April,  1876,  when  she  died  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  four  months,  and  six  days.  As  an  honest  man,  a  kind 
neighbor,  and  a  useful  citizen,  his  name  deserves  perpetuation  in 
this  work. 

Chakles  Griffen, 

who  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead  farm, was  born  Feb- 
ruary20,  1845.  His  education  was  mostly  obtained  at  a  school 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  he  also  for  a  time  attended  a  com- 
mercial college  in  St.  Louis.  While  his  father  lived  he  assist- 
ed in  the  management  of  the  farm,  and  has  since  continued  to  live 
on  the  homestead.  He  was  married  on  the  10th  of  June,  1873,  to 
Martha  M.  Park,  who  was  born  in  the  Shiloh  valley,  December  23d. 
1848.  Her  father,  Jamas  Park,  was  born  near  Frankfort,  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  fourteenth  of  December,  1799,  and  was  one  of  a 
large  family  of  children,  sixteen  in  number.  His  father  was  of 
Scotch  descent.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left  Kentucky  and  came 
to  Illinois.  He  first  resided  in  Sangamon  county,  and  afterward 
became  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  county.  His  first  wife  was  Mary 
Scott,  daughter  of  Joseph  Scott,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  St. 
Clair  county.  After  her  death  he  married  a  ]Miss  Talbot,  of  Co- 
lumbia, Monroe  county.  His  third  wife,  Mrs.  Griffen's  mother, 
was  Julia  A.  Clark,  who  was  born  and  raised  near  Richmond, 
Virginia.  The  Clark  family  emigrated  from  Virginia  and  settled 
in  St.  Clair  county,  not  far  from  Collinsville.  Mrs.  Griffen's  grand- 
father, on  her  mother's  side,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
James  Park,  when  the  school  land  was  sold,  bought  land  in  section 
sixteen,  (township  one  north,  range  seven  west)  on  which  he  lived 
till  his  death.  This  is  the  farm  now  owned  by  James  Alexander. 
Mrs.  Griffen's  mother  died  on  the  25th  of  January,  1868,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-eight  years.  Her  father  died  on  the  4th  of  April,  1879,  at 
the  age  of  eighty.  He  was  a  man  of  great  activity  for  his  age,  and 
retained  much  of  his  youthful  vigor  till  within  a  short  time  of  his 
death. 

In  politics  Mr.  Grifi'en  is  a  republican.  He  is  one  of  the 
enterprising  farmers  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  is  the  owner  of  six 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  acres  of  land,  two  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  of  which  he  has  purchased  since  his  father's  death.  His 
farm  is  made  up  of  the  best  farming  land  in  St.  Clair  county,  and 
is  well-improved  and  under  excellent  cultivation.  Since  his  father's 
death  he  has  built  a  substantial  and  handsome  addition  to  the  old 
house,  and  his  residence  is  one  of  the  finest  in  that  portion  of  the 
county.  A  view  of  his  residence  and  farm  is  shown  elsewhere.  He 
has  two  children,  whose  names  are  Cyril  Albert  and  INIyrtle.  At 
the  head  of  this  sketch  appear  the  portraits  of  his  father,  Joseph 
Grifi'en,  and  of  his  wife's  father,  James  Park. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


245 


Mr^/y^^-^  ^^^  ^K^^^r\ 


Dr.  Adolphus  Reuss,  whose  portrait  appears  above,  was  one  of 
the  old  residents  and  leading  citizens  in  the  vicinity  of  Shiloh.  He 
was  descended  from  a  wealthy  family  who  formerly  lived  at  Amster- 
dam, Holland,  and  belonged  to  the  old  Dutch  population  of  that 
country.  Benedict  Reuss,  the  father  of  Dr.  Reuss,  was  born  at 
Amsterdam.  He  subsequently  became  a  resident  of  Frankfurt  on 
the  Main,  one  of  the  free  cities  of  Germany,  where,  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business.  He  had  considerable  wealth,  and  was  a 
successful  business  man  At  Frankfurt,  on  the  28th  of  November, 
1804,  was  born  Adolphus  Reuss.  His  mother,  Johanna  Basse,  was 
a  native  of  Westphalia.  Dr.  Reuss  spent  his  early  life  at  Frank- 
furt. He  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  composed 
of  seven  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  early  showed  a  disposition  for 
literary  pursuits,  and  after* having  passed  through  his  preliminary 
studies,  entered  the  University  of  Gottingen.  His  natural  tastes  and 
inclinations  led  him  to  adopt  the  profession  of  medicine.  He  was' 
graduated  from  the  university  of  Gottingen  in  1825,  receiving  the 
degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  After  leaving  Gottingen,  he  pursued 
his  medical  studies  at  Paris  and  Berlin,  and  there  secured  as  com- 
prehensive a  knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine  as  could  be  ob- 
tained in  the  European  universities. 

After  completing  his  studies,  he  entered  on  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  his  native  city  of  Frankfurt,  where  he  was  employed 
as  a  physician  as  long  as  he  lived  in  Germany.  At  Frankfurt  oc- 
curred his  marriage  to  Margaretha  C.  E.  Jucho,  who  was  a  native 
of  that  city,  and  was  born  on  the  17th  of  January,  1818.  Like  a 
great  many  of  the  educated  young  men  of  Germany  at  that  day,  he 


took  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs,  and  his  sympathies  were 
strongly  in  favor  of  a  republican  form  of  government  as  opposed  to 
the  strong  monarchical  system  existing  in  Germany.  His  senti- 
ments on  this  subject  were  the  cause  of  his  emigration  to  America. 
He  ilesired  to  live  in  a  'free  country'  under  free  institutions.  He 
came  to  this  country  in  1832.  After  traveling  over  the  states  of 
Ohio,  Iowa,  Missouri  and  Illinois,  he  concluded  that  St.  Clair  county 
offered  better  advantages  as  a  place  of  residence  than  any  other  lo- 
cation, and  he  accordingly  bought  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
sections  three  and  four  of  township  one  north,  range  seven  west,  on 
which  he  settled  and  resided  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
When  he  purchased  this  tract  of  land  it  was  nearly  all  covered  with 
timbsr,  only  ten  acres  having  been  brought  under  cultivation.  The 
German  residents  of  the  county  were  then  few  in  number,  compared 
with  the  great  body  of  emigrants  from  the  fatherland  who  poured  in 
at  a  later  day.  It  may  be  presumed  that  his  previous  modes  of  life 
in  the  cities  of  Germany  gave  him  no  particular  fitness  for  a  resi- 
dence in  a  new  country,  but  he  adapted  himself  as  best  he  could  to 
circumstances,  engaged  in  the  work  of  improving  his  land,  and  at 
the  same  time  carried  on  the  active  practice  of  his  profession.  His 
first  vvife  died  on  the  8th  of  March,  1841.  He  had  by  her  no 
children.  He  was  married  again  to  Carolina  Raith,  who  was  born 
at  Gottingen,  Germp,ny,  on  the  7th  of  March,  1824.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Frederick  Raith,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1833,  and 
settled  at  Turkey  Hill,  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Dr.  Reuss  devoted  himself  industriously  to  his  profession,  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  large  practice,  and  came  to  be  regarded  as  one 


246 


BIS  TOBY  OF  ST.  CUJH  COVItTT,  JZZmOJS. 


of  tie  atkst  physicians  in  the  county.  The  nature  of  his  practice 
in  a  rural  neighborhood  entailed  much  hard  labor  and  constant 
riding  over  the  country,  but  a  naturally  strong  and  robust  consti- 
tution enabled  him  to  withstand  without  injury  a  large  amount  of 
exposure  and  hardship.  He  took  an  intelligent  interest  in  the  in- 
stitutions of  the  country,  and  the  political  movements  of  the  times. 
He  adopted  the  views  of  the  democratic  party  with  which  he  acted 
till  the  question  of  slavery  became  the  absorbing  topic  of  the  day^ 
and  a  new  party  was  formed  on  the  issue  of  the  extension,  or  re- 
pression, of  the  slave  system.  His  warm  free-soil  sympathies  made 
him  a  republican.  He  became  connected  with  the  republican  party 
on  its  first  organization,  and  was  devoted  to  its  principles  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  never  held  any  political  office, 
and  always  refused  to  become  a  candidate  for  any  public  position, 
preferring  to  give  his  Avhole  attention  to  his  professional  practice. 
He  possessed  liberal  and  independent  views  on  all  subjects,  and  in 
religious  matters  was  a  free-thinker,  though  he  respected  the  opin- 
ions of  others,  and,  never  sought  to  bring  his  own  private  beliefs  in- 
to public  prominence.  He  was  a  man  of  literary  attainments  and 
culture.  In  his  youth  he  had  been  a  thorough  student  of  languages. 
He  was  fond  of  reading,  and  accumulated  a  large  library  of  books  in 
Greek,  Latin,  Italian,  French,  German  and  English,  with 
all  of  which  he  was  conversant.  His  health  was  good  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  7th  of  May,  1878.  His 
wife  had  died  previously,  on  the  5th  of  August,  1870.  He  was  a  man 
of  good  physical  proportions,  measuring  five  feet,  ten  inches  in  height, 
and  weighing  about  two  hundred  pounds.  His  hair  in  youth  was- 
dark,  but  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  it  turned  gray,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  of  snowy  whiteness.  He  accumulated  considerable 
property,  and  when  he  died  owned  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land. 

Dr.  Eeuss  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  of  whom  eight  are 
now  living.  The  oldest  son,  Henry  Eeuss,  now  resides  on  the  old 
homestead.  Julius  Eeuss  is  engaged  in  farming  in  section  three, 
of  township  one  north,  range  seven  west.  The  oldest  daughter  is 
named  Lena.  Eosa  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  Albert  C. 
Eeuss  lives  in  section  four  of  the  same  township.  Augusta  L.  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Fischer  of  St.  Louis.  The  other  children  are 
Johanna,  Mary,  and  Ferdinand  L.  Eeuss. 

Albert  C.  Eeuss,  a  representation  of  whose  farm  and  residence  is 
shown  on  another  page,  was  born  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  September 
1852.  He  lived  in  St.  Clair  county  till  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he' 
wras  sent  to  Germany  to  secure  an  education.  He  attended  school 
at  Stuttgardt,  Germany,  for  three  years,  and  then  returned  to  Ame- 
rica. On  the  19th  of  September,  1878,  occurred  his  marriage  to 
Kate  Pierce,  daughter  of  Hiram  A.  Pierce,  one  of  the  leading  far- 
mers of  the  Shiloh  valley.  Her  grandfather,  Daniel  Pierce,  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  and  influential  citizens  of  the  county,  removing 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  settling  near  Shiloh,  in  the  year  1812.  He 
established  an  ox-mill  on  his  farm,  which  was  one  of  the  popular 
institutions  of  that  part  of  the  county,  receiving  a  patronage  from 
the  distance  of  many  miles.     He  was  a  man  of  far  more  than  com- 


mon enterfrite  aid  lufiness  ability,  and  aeketch  of  his  history  is 
given  elsewhere.  Mr.  Eeuss  has  two  children,  whose  names  are 
Ida  L.  and  Albert  L.  Eeuss.  Beside  carrying  on  the  business  o^ 
faiming,  he  is  also  the  proprietor  of  a  saw-mill.  In  his  politics  he 
is  a  republican.  He  is  known  as  one  of  the  enterprising  young  men 
of  that  part  of  the  county. 

DANIEL  PIEECE  (deceased), 
One  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Shiloh,  was  born  in  Brad- 
ford county,  Penna.,  May  15,  1788.    He  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  afterwards  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.     He  was 
married  at  Tioga  Point,  (now  Athens)  Bradford  county,  Penna., 
November  10, 1811,  to  Alice  Tozer,  a  native  of  Connecticut.     Her 
father,  Col.  Judas  Tozer,  served  in  the  Eevolutionary  war,  and 
moved   from   Connecticut  to   Bradford   county,   Penna.     Daniel 
Pierce  moved  to  St.  Clair  county.  111.,  in  1812,  and  settled  in  Sec. 
10,  Tp.  1  N.,  E.  7  W.,  purchasing  a  small  improvement  which  had 
been  previously  made.    Some  time  after  settling  here,  he  built  an 
ox  mill,  which  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  early  settlers,  and  to 
which  people  often  came  to  get  their  grinding  done  from  a  distance 
of  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles.    He  subsequently  erected  a  dis- 
tillery adjoining  the  mill,  which  was  carried  on  for  several  years. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  industry,  and  of  a  persevering  disposi- 
tion,  and  possessed   much   more   than   ordinary  enterprise.     He 
was  one  of  the  men  who  in  1837  undertook  the  building  of  a  rail- 
road from  the  blufi'to  the  Mississippi.     This  was  the  first  railroad 
constructed  in  the  state.     Gov.  Eeynolds  was  one  of  the  men  inter- 
ested in  it.     The  road  was  successfully  built  and  put  in  operation, 
but  proved  a  disastrous  speculation  to  the  projectors  of  the  enter- 
prise, the  cost  largely  exceeding  the   original   estimates.      This 
venture,  together  with  the  payment  of  security  debts  to  a  large 
amount,  swept  away  a  great  portion  of  his  property.    He  died  on  the 
17th  of  May,  18^5.    His  widow  died  February  21st,  1852.    He  had 
seven  children :  Juliet  C;  Emily  J.,  who  married  Daniel  S.  Osborn. 
of  Lebanon,  and  is  now  deceased  ;  Hannah,  now  Mrs.  Sciota  Evans,' 
who  resides  in  Iowa;  John  O.,    who  resides  near  Bunker  KiU, 
Macoupin  county;  Daniel  E.,  who  now  lives  in  Iowa;  James  A.,' 
who  died  on  the  old  homestead  where  his  family  still  reside,  and 
Hiram  A. 

HiEAM  A.  PiEECE,  now  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  Shiloh 
valley,  was  born  August  22,  1822,  on  the  farm  on  which  his  father 
settled  on  coming  to  St.  Clair  county.  For  one  year  he  was  a 
student  in  McKendree  college.  February  18,  1847,  he  married 
Mary  Amj  Middlecoff,  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  Middlecoff. 
Mrs.  Pierce  was  born  in  the  Shiloh  valley.  In  March,  1861  Mr! 
Pierce  purchased  his  present  farm  in  Sec.  3,  Tp.  1  N  E  7  W  " 
which  consists  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  '  The  im' 
provements  are  of  an  excellent  character.  He  owns  altogether 
.five  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres  of  land  ;  he  has  devoted  much 
attention  to  the  raising  of  fine  stock.  He  has  eight  children  and 
in  his  politics  IS  a  democrat. 


i^i^wiivii  t^iff  ii\^.'i,iivi  Hty.j^w ' 


'ywv?^r^!m^^,fr^r^^^^^^^g^^ 


Residence  of  Dr  A.  REUSS.       .  decea  seoJ 


i^4j^'»^ 


1  y< 


X-   V  - ':4;n:.';^i^/v>- ^""^ 


Residence  ^Mill  Prokhty  of  A.  C.  REUSS  Esq.  Sec  3  (i.  /MR'/.  WestJShiloh  pjfecmr-  StClair  Co,  III. 


OASBYVILLE    PRECINCT. 


|HIS  is  one  of  the  northern  tier  of  precints,  bound- 
ed on  the  north  by  Madison  county,  east  by 
O'Fallon,  south  by  O'Fallon  and  French  Vil- 
lage, and  west  by  East  St.  Louis.  It  contains 
twenty-three  sections  or  about  14,720  acres. 
It  is  drained  by  Canteen  creek  and  its  afflu- 
ents in  the  northern  and  eastern  part,  and  the 
Grand  Marias  in  the  south-western.  Casey- 
ville,  situated  a  little  north  of  the  geogra- 
phical centre  of  the  precinct  is  the  only  village 
within  its  borders.  The  Ohio  &  Mississippi,  and  the  St.  Louis, 
Vandalia  &  Terre  Haute  Railroads  enter  the  western  part  of  the 
precinct  and  run  side-by-side  until  they  reach  Caseyville,  when  the 
latter  takes  a  north-easterly  course  and  passes  out  on  section  three. 
From  Caseyville  the  0.  &  M.  runs  in  a  south-easterly  course  and 
passes  out  on  section  27.  The  surface  of  the  precinct  is  divided 
between  bottom  lands  And  bluffs.  The  line  separating  the  two 
passes  through  Caseyville  in  nearly  a  north-eastern  and  south- 
western direction  from  that  point.  In  early  times  the  bottom  lands 
included  in  this  precinct  were  covered  with  water  the  greater  part 
of  the  year,  and  only  for  a  few  years  back  have  they  been  drained 
so  as  to  insure  crops  when  sown.  The  bluffs  in  the  region  of  Casey- 
ville are  very  rugged,  and  mostly  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of 
timber.  They  are  composed  principally  of  sand,  clay  and  gravel. 
Hence,  from  these  facts,  the  territory  embracing  Caseyville  was  not 
so  early  settled  as  some  of  the  precincts  adjoining  it. 

Below    we  give  the  lands   that  were    entered  in   what  is  now 
Caseyville  precinct,  in  the  year  1814,  as  taken  from  the  county  re- 
cords which  may  show  the  names  of  some  old  settlers.      In  T.  2  N. 
E.  8  W.,  we  find  the  following :  Joseph  Cornelius,  S.  W.  },  Sec.  5 
153  acres,  Sept.  28 ;  John  Swigart,  324  acres  in  Sec.  7,  Aug.  31 ; 
heirs  of  J.  R.  Simpson,  S.  W.  i,  Sec.  10,  160  acres,  Dec.  22 ;  Joseph 
Baird,  W.  i  of  the  N.  W.  },  Sec.   18,  89  acres,  Dec.  2 ;  Robt.  Mar- 
lott,  96  acres  in  Sec.  18,  Sept.  29,  in  T.  8  N.  R.,  9  W.,  we  fiud^ 
heirs  of  Solomon  Brown,  S.  E.   J  Sec.  13,  160  acres,  Sept.  28,  1811 
In  1826   George  Moffett,  a  native  of  Delaware,  settled  near  the 
Madison  county-line.     He  was  quite  a  wealthy  man,  and  purchased 
considerable  land  in  the  vicinity.       He  left  several  descendants. 
The  same  year  Marcus  Pelham,  a  South  Carolinian,  located  at  the 
edge  of  the  bluffs,  near  the  present  site  of  Caseyville.     He  and  part 
of  his  family  are  buried  here,  and  at  this   writing  none   are  re- 
siding in  the   neighborhood.     Simon   Kingston,  also   from   South 
Carolina,  came  with  Pelham  and  located  just  south  of  him.     His 
son,  Simon  Kingston,  a  druggist  in  Troy,  Madison  county,  is  the 
only  descendant  of  his  now  living.     He  and  his  wife  were  buried  in 
the  bluffs  near  Caseyville.    A  man  by  the  name  of  Decker,  settled 


early  in  the  decade  of  1830  on  the  bluffs  east  of  Caseyville,  and 
afterwards  moved  to  California.  One  McClanahan  settled  near 
Decker,  on  the  present  farm  of  T.  Hueckel,  and  subsequently  emi- 
grated to  Minnesota.  Mr.  Kennedy,  an  Irishman,  settled  in  the 
same  neighborhood  about  1834.  He  left  a  small  family.  Levi 
Nichols,  who  resides  about  four  miles  from  Caseyville,  settled  here 
at  an  early  date.  Dommique  Morback,  a  native  of  France,  settled  in 
this  county  in  1838,  and  owns  a  fine  property  on  section  15  of  T. 
2  N.  R.  9  W.,  where  he  now  resides.  Joseph  Delorme,  who  lives  on 
section  12,  T.  2-9,  is  an  ative  of  this  county  born  in  1837. 

Many  facts  percaining  to  the  early  history  of  this  precinct  may 
be  found  in  the  pioneer  and  other  chapters  of  this  work. 

Coal  mining  is  the  leading  interest  of  this  precinct.  On  the 
Vandalia  line  there  are  three"  mines.  The  Abby  shaft  N"o.  1,  was 
sunk  by  Mauleand  Williams  in  1868.'  It  is  160  feet  in  depth,  and 
the  vein  will  average  six  feet.  The  Abby  shaft  No.  2  was  sunk  in 
1873  by  the  Abby  coal  mining  company,  the  present  operators. 
The  depth  and  vein  is  about  the  same  as  the  other  mine.  They 
employ  about  160  men  and  boys.  The  Springwell  mine,  still  east 
of  the  others,  was  sunk  in  1874,  by  the  Bartlett  Coal  Company,  and 
is  now  operated  by  the  Springwell  Company.  Coal  is  reached  at 
160  feet,  and  the  vein  is  full  six  feet  in  thickness.  The  other  mines 
will  be  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the 

VILLAGE  OF  CASEYVILLE. 

The  village  was  named  in  honor  of  Zadock  Casey,  who  held 
many  high  offices  in  the  state.  In  1830  he  was  elected  Lieutenant 
Governor,  was  a  member  of  Congress  for  many  years,  and  for- 
several  terms  served  in  the  state  legislature. 

Prior  to  the  laying  out  of  the  village,  Charles  Harbour,  a  wealthy 
Frenchman,  erected  a  fine  large  brick  residence,  and  a  steam  saw 
mill,  which  he  operated  for  several  years.  The  mill  was  erected  in 
1845. 

It  was  laid  out  as  a  village  in  1849,  by  the  Illinois  Coal  Company, 
consisting  of  the  following  named  parties:  Hon.  Zadock  Casey, 
Judge  Walter  B.  Scates,  Charles  Harbour,  Malconib  Robinson, 
Dr.  Charles  Barrett  and  John  Roy.  This  company  began  the  oper- 
ation of  coal  raining  extensively  about  this  period.  The  mines 
were  then  worked  by  drifts,  instead  of  shafts  as  now,  two  of  which 
they  dug  into  the  side  of  the  bluffs  at  this  point.  Until  1851,  the 
coal  was  hauled  to  St.  Louis  by  ox  and  mule  teams  across  the  bot- 
toms. In  February,  1851,  the  company  completed  a  railroad  from 
Caseyville  to  Brooklyn  on  which  they  immediately  placed  a  loco- 
motive, and  rolling  stock,  and  large  quantities  of  coal  were  daily 
carried  into  St.  Louis.  / 

247 


248 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  first  house  erected  after  the  village  was  laid  out,  was  in  the 
spring  of  1849,  by  Jameson  Robinson.  Dr.  Barrett,  erected  four 
houses,  John  Eoy,  eight,  and  Gov.  Casey,  two,  about  the  time  the 
company  began  operaticn?.  In  the  same  year,  1849,  the  following 
erected  residences : — Belshazar  Warner,  Ealph  Whitehead,  Edward 
Bone,  AVilliam  Grice,  and  Mr.  Bumesaw.  The  latter  was  a 
Frenchman,  and  the  following  year  was  killed  in  the  mines.  He 
was  the  first  miner  killed  in  the  village.  The  same  year,  John 
Eoy  built  a  large  two-story  frame  building,  and  kept  in  it  the 
first  hotel,  store  and  saloon.  Eichard  Gofi"  was  the  company's 
blacksmith,  and  the  first  in  the  village.  B.  Warner  also  had  a 
saloon  in  1849. 

In  1850  there  were  in  the  place  about  forty  persons,  including 
men,  women  and  children,  and  the  year  following,  when  the  railroad 
was  completed,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  added  to  the 
population.  The  village  has  grown  a  little  each  year,  with  the  in- 
crease of  the  mining  interests  and  improvement  of  the  surrounding 
country,  and  now  contains  about  800  population. 

A  post-office  was  not  established  here  until  1856.  Maj.  E.  M. 
Mallory  was  the  first  post-master,  and  also  the  first  Justice  of  the 
Peace. 

Ineorporation. — The  place  was  incorporated  by  special  charter  in 
April,  1869.  The  members  of  the  first  board  were — C.  L.  Muil- 
berger.  President;  J.  T.  Hoeltmann,  Frederick  Euemler,  John 
Eoy,  J.  W.  Owens.  In  April,  1875,  it  came  under  the  general 
law  for  villages.  The  present  members  are — John  T.  Hoeltmann, 
President ;  Frederick  Euemler,  George  Haig,  David  Morgan,  G. 
Nuetzel,  James  Doyle,  Sr.,  James  Throly,  Clerk. 

School. — The  present  public  school  building  in  the  south-east 
part  of  the  village,  was  erected  in  1872,  and  cost  upward  of  |5000, 
including  furniture.  It  is  a  fine  brick  building,  two  stories  high, 
with  belfry.     It  is  a  graded  school  and  employs  three  teachers. 

Church — There  is  but  one  house  of  worship  in  the  village — the 
Union  Chapel,  built  in  1879  by  private  subscription,  at  a  cost  of 


about  $1800.  It  is  a  neat  frame  building  about  30  x  46  feet.  It  is 
controlled  by  a  board  of  directors,  and  used  by  all  denomina- 
tions. 

BUSINESS  TEADE  OF  1881. 

Physicians. — J.  L.  Wiggins,  L  .T.  Miller. 

General  Stores,  J.  T.  Hoeltmann,  J.  W.  Owens,  M.  Jenkins,  and 
Miller  &  Hueckel.  Groceries,  E.  Webb,  Mrs.  A.  Williams.  Flour 
and  Feed  Store,  F.  Hoeltmann.  Blacksmith  Shops,  F.  Euemler,  C. 
Schwarzkopf.  Wagon  Shop,  Fred.  Moser.  Carpenter  Shop,  Wm- 
M.  Kersey.  Butcher  Shop,  Joseph  Maisch.  Motel,  Brown  House, 
Peter  Brown,  proprietor.  Saloons,  John  Meyer,  Jacob  Mees,  John 
Michel,  F.  Geisert,  David  Molloy,  Fritz  Nuetzel.  Mill.— The  saw 
mill  built  by  Harbour,  mentioned  above,  was  converted  into  a 
flouring  mill  by  John  Eoy,  and  a  few  years  afterwards  was  blown 
up.  In  1866,  Mr.  Eoy  rebuilt  it  and  put  in  two  run  of  burrs.  It 
is  a  frame  building,  three  stories  high,  in  good  condition,  but  at 
present  it  is  not  operated.  Jerome  Winstanley  is  the  present 
owner. 

Lodges. — Crescent,  No.  426, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  July  1st, 
1870.  Has  a  membership  of  67,  and  is  in  good  standing.  Star  of 
Hope,  No.  149,  Encampment,  was  chartered  April  8th,  1880,  and 
has  considerable  membership.  A  Temperance  Society  was  organ- 
ized here  as  early  as  1851,  and  has  a  good  membership. 

Coal  Mines. — The  Savitz  Bro's  of  St.  Louis,  are  operating  two 
coal  mines  on  the  O.  &  M.  track,  just  east  of  the  village,  and  em- 
ploy about  120  miners.  The  mines  are  known  as  the  Union  and 
St.  Clair.  They  are  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  depth, 
and  the  veins  will  average  full  six  feet.  The  former  shaft  was 
sunk  by  Walter  Williams,  in  1858,  and  the  latter  by  Thomas 
Mayer  &  Bro.,  in  1862.  The  Black  Diamond  mine  was  sunk  by 
Smith  and  Winnemier,  in  1864.  This  mine  is  not  now  in 
operation. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


-%-»- 


Hon.  J.  R.  MILLER. 

J.  R.  MiLLEE,  representative  from  St.  Clair  county  in  the  legis- 
lature from  1869  to  1872,  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  Oct. 
31st,  1831.  He  was  a  student  for  several  sessions  at  College 
Hill,  six  miles  north  of  Cincinnati.  Among  his  fellow  students 
were  Beu  Harrison,  of  Indiana ;  W.  C.  Gray,  editor  of  of  the  In- 
terior, and  Murat  Halstead,  the  editor  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial. 
The  means  with  which  to  get  an  education  he  obtained  by  working 
on  a  farm  during  the  summer  months.  During  the  winter  of  1850-1 
he  taught  school  near  Cynthiana,  Harrison  county,  Kentucky.  He 
there  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  couple  of  young  men,  with 
whom,  in  the  spring  of  1851,  he  started  for  California.  He  reached 
Salt  Lake  on  the  24th  of  June,  and  remained  there  till  the  spring 
of  1852.  He  was  in  the  employment  of  Howe  &  Cogswell,  who 
carried  on  the  mercantile  business.  He  then  went  to  California 
where  he  lived  till  1856.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  in  the  Vacca 
Valley,  Solano  county,  and  part  of  the  time  followed  teaming  from 
Sacramento  to  the  mouutains.  He  left  San  Francisco  by  steamer 
on  the  21st  of  April,  crossed  the  Isthmus,  and  arrived  in  Madison 
county,  of  this  state  on  the  23d  of  May,  1856. 

He  engaged  in  farming  near  Collinsville.  On  the  25th  of  May, 
1858,  he  married  Melinda  Nicklous,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  In 
company  with  his  brother,  he  then  leased  one  of  the  O'Fallon  farms 
near  Caseyville.  December  20th,  1860,  he  lost  his  arm  in  a 
threshing  machine.  Thinking  that  his  days  for  physical  labor 
were  over,  he  left  the  farm,  and  for  two  terms  taught  school  in 
Madison  county ;  but  finding  there  was  no  prospect  of  accumulating 
money  in  that  business,  he  went  back  with  his  brother  to  the  farm 
near  Caseyville.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  built  his  present  residence, 
where  he  has  lived  since  that  date.  He  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  and  fruit  growing.  He  has  four  children  living  :  Charles 
R.,  John  E.,  Elsie  and  Mary  Miller. 

He  at  first  belonged  to  the  democratic  party.  His  sentiments, 
however,  were  always  anti-slavery,  and  in  company  with  other  free- 
soil  democrats,  when  the  republican  party  was  organized,  he  became 
a  republican.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  he  did  all  he  could 
to  aid  the  sanitary  commission,  assisted  "in  organizing  the  Union 
League  at  Caseyville,  and  was  also  an^ctive  member  of  the  Union 
League  at  Belleville.  In  November,  1868,  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  legislature,  and  was  re-elected  in  1870.  The  last 
General  Assembly,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  was  the  first  which 
met  after  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution  of  tl^e  state,  and  con- 
sequently much  labor  was  entailed  on  the  body.  There  were  three 
regular  sessions,  and  one  called  session  occasioned  by  the  Chicago 
fire.  Mr.  Miller  served  on  the  committee  which  visited  Chicago  to 
32 


ascertain  what  measures  were  necessary  for  the  restoration  of  the 
records  of  Chicago  and  Cook  county.  In  the  26th  General  Assem- 
bly he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Federal  relations.  In 
the  next  assembly  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
education,  at  the  solicitation  of  a  number  of  the  prominent  educa- 
tors of  the  state.  His  services  in  the  legislature  met  with  the 
approval  of  his  constituents,  and  gained  even  the  approbation  of 
those  who  had  been  his  political  enemies.  He  efficiently  supported 
the  interests  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  early  interested  himself  in 
the  passage  of  a  bill  for  the  protection  of  coal  miners,  the  bill 
compelling  owners  of  mines  to  furnish  an  additional  shaft  for  the 
purpose  of  ventilation  and  safety. 

In  1872  he  identified  himself  with  the  temperance  movement  and 
has  since  done  everything  in  his  power  to  forward  the  cause  of 
temperance.  His  services  as  an  orator,  before  temperance  meetings, 
have  been  in  frequent  request.  Since  1857  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  1881  he  was  a  delegate  from  the 
Alton  Presbytery  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  which  met  at  Buffiilo.  He  has  been  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  twenty-three  years,  and  has 
been  frequently  chosen  to  represent  that  order  in  the  Graud  Lodge 
of  the  state.  At  the  sessions  of  the  Grand  Lodge  held  at  Danville, 
November,  1880,  he  was  elected  Deputy  Grand  Master,  and  in  that 
capacity,  has  traveled  extensively  over  the  southern  portion  of  the 
state,  as  a  lecturer  and  instructor  before  Odd  Fellows'  Lodges. 


JOHN  SHULTZ, 

One  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  American  Bottom,  was  born 
at  Wantage,  Sussex  county,  New  Jersey,  August  16th,  1818.  His 
great-grandfather,  Christopher  Shultz,  was  a  native  of  Denmark, 
emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in  Maryland,  near  Baltimore. 
Mr.  Shultz's  grandfather,  John  Shultz,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
and  was  a  young  man  at  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  in  which  he  enlisted  at  three  diflferent  times,  serving 
altogether  in  the  American  army,  several  years.  Frederick  Shultz, 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  Merritt's 
island,  between  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  in  1792.  He  was 
raised  principally  in  New  Jersey,  and  at  Wantage,  in  Sussex  county, 
of  that  state,  married  Eleanor  Dsnnis.  Her  fa,ther,  Joseph  Daa- 
nis,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  though  his  parents  came  from  Eng- 
land. After  the  war  of  1812,  Joseph  Dennis  moved  to  Lundy's 
Lane,  Canada,  and  built  the  first  mill  constructed  at  thatplac3  after 
the  war.  His  first  wife  died  in  New  Jersey  ;  he  was  married  again 
in  Canada,  and  died  there. 

249 


250 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Mr.  Shultz's  father  learned  the  miller's  trade  in  New  Jersey, 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  fourteen  years.  About  the  year  1822, 
he  went  to  western  New  York,  and  took  charge  of  a  mill  at  Attica. 
He  was  afterwards  at  Alexandria.  He  gained  an  excellent  repu- 
tation as  a  miller;  thoroughly  understood  the  business,  and  assisted 
in  securing  for  the  flour  of  the  Genesee  Mills  its  wide  reputation 
for  excellence.  Receiving  injuries  in  his  back,  he  engaged  in 
farming,  near  Attica,  New  York.  In  1834  he  removed  to  Illinois) 
and  died  at  French  Village,  in  1840.  Mr.  Shultz's  mother  died  in 
1852. 

The  first  four  or  five  years  of  Mr.  Shultz's  life  were  spent  in 
New  Jersey,  and  he  then 'accompanied  his  father  to  the  western 
part  of  New  York.  He  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  only  three  are  now  living.  He  went  to  school  but 
little  in  New  York.  The  free-school  system  was  introduced  into 
that  State  too  late  for  him  to  take  advantage  of  it.  After  coming 
to  Illinois,  he  attended  a  night  school  one  winter,  kept  in  the  hol- 
low, about  a  mile  above  Caseyville.  The  teacher  was  James  B. 
Needles,  father  of  the  ex-State  Auditor,  T.  B.  Needles. 

Mr.  Shultz  first  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  St.  Clair  county,  on  the 
10th  of  December,  1834.  In  company  with  a  younger  brother,  he 
traveled  across  the  Bottom,  past  the  spot  where  he  now  resides,  and 
during  the  winter  of  1834-5,  was  employed  by  a  man  living  on  the 
bluff,  half  a  mile  south  of  Cassyville.  Part  of  the  next  year  he 
worked  in  St.  Louis,  and,  in  1836,  he  went  to  work  on  a  steamboat 
— the  old  Chester — which  ran  between  St.  Louis  and  New  Orleans. 
He  was  steamboating  during  the  summer  of  1636,  1837  and  1838, 
and  rose  to  the  position  of  mate.  In  1838  he  engaged  to  go  as 
mate  on  the  Moselle,  a  boat  running  between  St.  Louis  and  Cincin- 
nati. Through  some  misunderstanding,  the  mate  who  had  accom- 
panied the  boat  from  Cincinnati,  refused  to  give  up  his  position, 
claiming  that  the  time,  for  which  he  had  hired,  had  not  expired,  and 
consequently  Mr.  Shultz  postponed  going  on  the  boat  until  the  next 
trip.  This  misunderstanding  proved  very  fortunate,  for,  on  that 
trip,  the  Moselle  blew  up  in  front  of  Cincinnati,  and  one  hundred 
and  seventy  lives  were  lost  in  the  disaster.  This  accident,  which 
was  one  of  the  most  terrible  that  ever  occurred  on  the  river,  so 
alarmed  his  mother  that  she  begged  him  to  quit  the  river. 

Fur  sixteen  years  he  hauled  coal  from  the  bluffs  to  St.  Louis. 
He  followed  this  business  in  winter.  The  occupation  was  not  the 
easiest.  Coal  brought,  in  St.  Louis,  from  eight  to  twelve  and  a 
half  cents  a  bushel.  In  1840,  after  his  father's  death,  he  rented  a 
farm  on  the  bluffs,  below  Caseyville,  where  the  Sweigart  stone  house 
now  is,  and  mined  coal,  bought  teams  and  hauled  the  coal  to  St. 
Louis  on  his  own  account.  This  occupation  was  heavy  and  labori- 
ous, but  profitable.  In  1844  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  in 
section  fourteen  of  township  two  north,  range  nine  west,  for  twelve 
dollars  and  a  half  an  acre,  which,  at  that  time,  was  considered  a 
high  price.  His  present  residence  stands  on  this  piece  of  land.  He 
made  this  purchase  during  the  high  water  of  1844.  The  highest 
part  of  the  land  was  five  feet  out  of  the  water  during  that  flood — 
a  fact  which  convinced  Mr., Shultz  that  he  would  never  have  any 
trouble  from  high  water.  He  fenced  the  land  and  brought  it  un- 
der cultivation  in  1846.  After  raising  a  few  crops  of  corn,  he 
began  growing  wheat,  and  the  place  has  since  been  famous  for  its 
large  crops. 

As  soon  as  he  had  means,  he  began  trading  in  stock.  The  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  with  Mexico  gave  him  an  opportunity  for  mak- 
ing considerable  sums  of  money.  Cattle  rose  in  value  from  a  cent 
and  a  half  to  three  and  four  cents  a  pound.  After  the  high  water 
of  '44,  he  purchased  large  quantities  of  stock  at  a  low  price,  and 
was  in  a  position  to  take  the  best  advantage  of  the  rise  in  prices. 


He  shipped  many  cattle  to  New  Orleans.  He  followed  trading  in 
stock  till  1854,  when  he  went  to  California.  Two  of  his  younger 
brothers  had  gone  to  California  in  the  spring  of  1850,  another  in 
1852,  and,  thinking  there  was  money  in  the  cattle  business  in  Cali- 
fornia, where  cattle  then  commanded  a  high  price,  he  started  in 
1854,  with  several  teams,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty  head  of  cat- 
tle, for  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  journey,  from  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
to  Summit  Valley,  California,  occupied  ninety-three  days.  At 
Fort  Laramie  he  left  a  letter  for  home,  and  started  on  his  journey 
westward,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  That  night  the  fort 
was  attacked  by  the  Indians  and  burned,  and  the  garrison  killed. 
He  was  in  California  fourteen  months.  He  came  home  by  the 
Nicaragua  route,  and  passed  through  Nicaragua  when  Walker's 
filibustering  expedition  had  control  of  the  country.  Part  of  their 
baggage  was  seized,  but  the  passengers  were  not  interfered  with. 
He  had  taken  his  sisters  to  California,  and  there  they  remained. 
All  his  brothers  and  sisters  are  now  dead,  except  one  brother  and 
one  sister,  who  live  in  California. 

He  returned  to  Illinois  in  July,  1855,  and  on  the  11th  of  Sep- 
tember following,  he  married  Amelia  M.  Williams,  daughter  of 
William  W.  and  Nancy  E.  Williams.  Mrs.  Shultz  was  born  in 
the  American  Bottom,  January,  1837.  Her  father  was  an  early 
settler  of  the  Bottom,  and  his  house,  in  section  fifteen,  was,  at  one 
time,  the  only  house  on  the  Caseyville  road,  between  Papstown  and 
the  bluff.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade ;  settled  in  the  Bottom  in 
1832,  and  died  in  1846.  Mr.  Shultz  owns  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  valuable  land.  A  view  of  his  farm  and  residence  is  shown 
on  another  page.  He  has  nine  children  living :  Nannie  E  ,  Jesse 
L.,  John  D.,  Amelia  Malvina,  Ida  J.,  Sarah  A.,  Frances  May, 
Mary  Helen  and  Frederick  William.  Two  beside,  Isabelle  and 
Agnes,  died  in  infancy,  the  first,  three  weeks',  and  the  latter,  six 
months'  old. 

He  has  always  been  a  democrat  in  politics.  He  voted  for  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren  for  President  in  1840,  and  has  voted  for  every 
democratic  candidate  for  President  since,  except  in  1876,  when  he 
was  too  unwell  to  go  the  polls.  He  is  a  man  who  has  won  success 
in  life  by  his  own  efforts.  His  industry  and  energy  have  been  the 
chief  means  by  which  he  has  made  his  way  successfully  through 
the  world.  In  early  life  he  possessed  a  strong  and  vigorous  consti- 
tution. There  was  no  labor  or  hardship  too  great  for  him  to  with- 
stand. This  course  naturally  brought  its  fruits,  and,  in  late  years, 
his  health  has  suffered  in  consequence.  He  has  been  a  man  of 
temperate  habits,  and,  though  thrown  much  into  various  kinds  of 
company,  while  on  the  river  and  in  California,  has  never  been  ad- 
dicted to  the  vices  of  drinking,  card-playing,  or  other  bad  habits. 


J.  L.  WIGGINS,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Wiggins,  who  has  been  engaged  ia  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Caseyville  since  March,  1877,  was  born  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1855.  His  father,  Louis  Wig- 
gins, was  born  at  Cape  May,  New  Jersey,  was  raised  in  that  vicinity, 
and  married' Anna  R.  Edwards,  a  native  of  the  same  part  of  New 
Jersey.  In  his  early  life  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Bal- 
timore. In  the  year  1839  he  came  west,  lived  in  St.  Louis  till  1858, 
and  then  moved  to  a  farm  near  O'Fallon,  and  was  engaged  there  in 
fruit-growing  till  his  death  on  the  19th  of  July,  1878.  His 
mother  died  near  O'Fallon  in  1863.  Dr.  Wiggins'  health  in  early 
life  was  delicate,  and  for  this  reason,  at  the  age  of  nine,  he  went  to 
live  with  some  relatives  at  New  Orleans,  where  he  resided  the  most 
of  the  time  till  he  was  fifteen.  His  education  was  chiefly  obtained  in 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


the  district  schools  in  the  neighborhood  of  O'Fallon.  For  two  years 
he  was  a  student  at  the  Natchez  Institute,  Natchez,  Mississippi.  He 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Charles  Oatmen,  and  in  1875 
entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1877.  Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began 
practice  at  Casey  ville.  His  marriage  occurred  on  the  21st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1880,  to  Miss  Louisa  Moeller,  of  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri, 
the  daughter  of  Charles  Moeller.  In  bis  political  affiliations.  Dr. 
Wiggins  is  a  member  of  the  republican  party.  He  has  devoted 
himself  to  his  profession  with  energy  and  assiduity.and  though  still 
young  in  the  profession,  has  made  a  successful  record  as  a  physician. 
He  received  his  ad  eundem  degree  in  1879. 


DR.  LLOYD  T.  MILLER. 

Dr.  Miller,  who  has  been  practicing  medicine  at  Caseyville  for 
the  last  fifteen  years,  was  born  near  Burkittsville,  Frederick  county, 
Maryland,  May  15th,  1841.  He  is  descended  from  a  family  of  Ger- 
man origin,  though  his  ancestors  had  for  several  generations  lived 
in  Maryland.  His  father  was  Peter  Miller,  and  his  mother's  name, 
before  marriage,  was  Huldah  Arnold.  The  former  was  a  farmer, 
and  died  in  Washington  county,  Maryland.  The  latter  died  in 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the 
younger  of  two  children  by  his  father's  second  marriage.  He  was 
principally  raised  in  Washington  county,  Maryland,  and  attended 
the  ordinary  subscription  schools  in  that  part  of  the  state.  In  May, 
1857,  then  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  came  west,  and  for  a  time  nrade 
his  home  at  Palmyra,  Marion  county,  Missouri,  where  some  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters  had  settled.  He  attended  the  high  school  at 
Palmyra,  Missouri,  and  there  completed  his  scholastic  education. 
Having  determined  on  the  study  of  medicine,  in  the  fall  of  1861  he 
entered  the  old  McDowell  Medical  College,  and  pursued  his  medi- 
cal studies  during  the  winter  of  1861-2.  The  McDowell  School 
having  gone  to  pieces,  in  consequence  of  Dr.  McDowell  leaving  St. 
Louis  for  the  southern  confederacy,  (the  war  of  the  rebellion  then 
being  in  progress),  the  next  winter  he  attended  lectures  at  the 
St.  Louis  Medical  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  March, 
1863. 

After  his  graduation  he  was  commissioned  as  assistant-surgeon  of 
the  Third  Missouri  Regiment,  to  which,  however,  he  was  attached 
only  a  short  time.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  entered  the  Jefferson  Me- 
dical College  at  Philadelphia.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  received 
a  diploma  from  this  institution,  which  then  had  a  world-wide  re- 
putation as  a  medical  school.  The  succeeding  summer  he  began 
I)ractice  in  St.  Louis,  but  in  June,  '66,  came  to  St.  Clair  county 
and  established  himself  as  a  physician  at  Caseyville,  where  he  has 
since  remained.  He  was  married  in  April,  1868,  to  Margaret 
Blake,  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Mary  A.  Blake.  Mrs.  Miller  was 
born  and  raised  about  a  mile  north  of  Caseyville.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey.  Her  mother  was  a  daughter  of  George 
Moifett,  one  of  the  early  residents  of  that  part  of  St.  Clair  county. 
Dr.  Miller  has  three  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters.. 

He  is  a  democrat  in  politics.  He  served  one  term  as  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  was  appointed  post-master  at  Caseyville  under 
Grant's  administration,  and  has  filled  that  office  for  the  last  six 
years.  For  ten  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness. He  has  the  only  drug  store  in  Caseyville,  and  carries  beside 
a  general  stock  of  groceries  and  hardware.  He  has  been  employed 
continuously  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  has  gained  the  repu- 
tation of  an  able  and  successful  physician,  and  takes  a  warm  in- 
terest in  his  profession,  and  has  embraced   every  opportunity  to 


thoroughly  acquaint  himself  with  the  latest  developments  of  modern 
medical  science. 

During  the  winter  of  1878-9  he  attended  lectures  at  the 
Missouri  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis,  and  graduated  ;  so  that  he 
now  holds  diplomas  from  three  leading  medical  colleges.  Two 
years  ago  he  also  undertook  farming,  and  now  resides  on  a  farm  a 
mile  north  of  Caseyville. 


JOHN  T.  HOELTMANN. 

Mr.  Hoeltmann,  now  the  oldest  business  man  at  Caseyville,  is 
a  native  of  Werne,  Westphalia,  Prussia,  and  was  born  on  the  6th 
day  of  July,  1826.  His  father  was  also  named  John  T.  Hoeltmann, 
and  his  mother's  name  before  marriage  was  Catherine  Jagetho. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  next  to  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  seven  children.  He  was  raised  in  the  same  town  where  occurred 
his  birth.  As  is  the  custom  in  that  country,  he  went  to  school  from 
the  age  of  seven  to  fourteen,  and  secured  the  elements  of  a  practical 
business  education.  After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  tailor's 
trade,  following  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years.  On  the  1st  of 
October,  1850,  he  married  Magdalena  Ermann,  who  was  born  at 
Seuden,  Prussia.  After  his  marriage  he  established  a  shop  of  his 
own  and  followed  the  tailoring  business,  till  he  concluded  to  emi- 
grate to  America.  Disposing  of  his  shop  in  March,  1855,  the  fol- 
lowing May  he  left  his  native  country.  Landing  at  Baltimore, 
from  that  place  he  proceeded  at  once  to  St.  Louis.  He  only  re- 
mained two  mon  hs  in  that  city. 

Finding  that  there  was  an  opening  for  a  small  business  at  Casey- 
ville, he  came  to  that  town  in  August,  1855,  and  bought  out  an  old 
store  which  had  been  carried  on  by  John  Roy  and  Charles  Borkey. 
The  store  was  small,  and  contained  nothing  very  valuable.  He  pur- 
chased the  whole  stock  for  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars. 
He  began  business  in  a  modest  and  unpretentious  way,  but  suc- 
ceeded from  the  start,  and  was  soon  able  to  purchase  a  larger  stock 
of  goods  and  increase  his  business.  The  second  year  after  coming 
to  Caseyville  he  built,  at  a  cost  of  nine  hundred  dollars,  a  building 
which  he  used  for  a  store  and  residence,  and  in  which  he  lived  and 
did  business  till  he  erected  his  present  store  and  dwelling  in  1870. 
lie  has  given  his  whole  attention  to  business  matters,  and  enjoys 
the  reputation  of  being  an  excellent  business  man. 

The  death  of  his  first  wife  took  place  in  1869.  By  her  he  had 
seven  children,  whose  names  are  Lena,  Frank,  Lizzie,  Josephine, 
Phine,  Amelia,  and  Frank  William.  Of  these  Frank,  Phine,  and 
Frank  William  are  dead.  Lena  is  the  wife  of  Charles  A.  Singletary, 
of  CoUinsville.  His  second  marriage  was  on  the  10th  of  November, 
1870,  to  Louisa  H.  C  Peters,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany. 
He  has  five  children  by  this  marriage — Anna,  Ferdinand,  Rosa, 
Louis,  and  Louisa.     The  two  last  are  twins. 

Ever  since  his  residence  in  America  Mr.  Hoeltmann  has  been  an 
active  member  of  the  republican  party.  His  first  vote  for  presi- 
dent was  cast  in  1860  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  republican  organization  from  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent and  has  voted  the  republican  ticket  at  every  general  election. 
At  nearly  every  election  since  his  residence  in  St.  Clair  county  he 
has  served  as  judge  of  election.  In  18ti0  the  citizens  of  Caseyville 
precinct  had  hard  work  to  bring  the  total  vote  up  to  one  hundred, 
but  Mr.  Hoeltmann  has  seen  the  place  increase  in  population,  until 
now  three  hundred  votes  are  polled.  From  the  time  Caseyville  was 
organized  as  a  town,  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, and  for  about  ten  years  was  president  of  the  board.  A  view  of 
his  store  and  residence  appears  on  another  page.  He  has  always 
been  regarded  as  a  useful  citizen  and  a  man  of  great  uprightness 


252 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COVNTY,  ILLIlsOIS. 


in  his  business  dealings.  He  came  to  Casey ville  without  means,  and 
has  now  reached  a  position  among  the  substantial  business  men  of 
St.  Clair  county.  His  career  is  a  good  example  of  what  may  be  ac- 
complished by  due  attention  to  business  and  fair  and  honorable 
dealing. 


LOUIS  EVERSMANN, 

A  ErsiDEKT  of  Caseyville  precinct,  was  born  at  the  little  settle- 
ment of  Bunkum,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1846.  His  father,  John 
Matthias  Eversmann,  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  was 
born  on  the  2d  of  February,  1816.  He  was  married  in  Hanover  to 
Elizabeth  Obernuefemanu.  In  1842  he  emigrated  to  America  and 
arrived  in  St.  Clair  county  in  June  of  that  year.  He  settled  on 
section  nineteen,  of  township  two  north,  range  eight  west.  He 
brought  with  him  to  this  country  about  two  hundred  dollars.  He 
leased  land  for  several  years,  and  in  1846  or  '47  purchased  the 
farm  of  eighty-eight  acres  on  which  he  lived  till  his  death,  on  the 
11th  of  February,  1873.  When  he  died  he  owned  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  acres  of  land.    He  was  a  man  of  enterprise,  and  gave 


his  children  good  opportunities  for  securing  an  education,  sending 
e  £ch  one  to  St.  Louis  to  school.  His  first  wife  died  in  1853,  and  he 
then  married  Katharina  Obernuefemann,  her  sister.  He  had  nine 
children,  of  whcm  five  are  now  living.  Mary,  the  oldest,  is  the 
wife  of  Herman  Hannibal,  of  St.  Louis.  The  next  is  Louis  Evers- 
mann. Louisa  married  Louis  Thomas.  Anna  is  the  wife  of  John 
Berthesmann.  The  youngest,  Lizzie  Eversmann,  is  still  unmarried. 
He  was  a  man  of  industrious  habits  and  a  good  citizen.  He  died 
in  the  communion  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  was  buried  at 
French  Village, 

Louis  Eversmann  was  raised  in  the  county  and  obtained  his  edu- 
cation principally  in  St.  Louis,  at  a  school  connected  with  St. 
Joseph's  church  and  the  St.  Louis  university.  He  was  married  in 
October,  1871  to  Louisa  Gansmann,  who  was  born  at  Collinsville, 
August  10th,  1854,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Gansmann  and  Clara 
Seitz.  In  1878  he  bought  out  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  his 
father's  old  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres,  which  he 
now  owns.  He  has  five  children:  John  Matthias,  Anna,  Lizzie, 
Nicholas,  and  Lcuisa.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  one  of  the 
enterprising  young  men  of  the  county. 


CENTERVILLE    PRECINCT. 


'  HIS  is  an  irregularly  shaped  precinct,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county,  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Prairie  du  Pont,  Cahokia  and  Belle- 
ville ;  on  the  east  by  Belleville  and  Bichland  ; 
on  the  south  by  Richland  precinct  and  Monroe 
county,  and  on  the  west  by  Monroe  county  and 
Prairie  du  Pont  precinct.  It  contains  51i 
square  miles,  or  33,120  acres.  Agriculturally 
it  is  an  excellent  body  of  land,  especially  well 
adapted  to  the  raising  of  wheat.  From  its  centre,  water  flows  to 
every  point  of  the  com  pass.  Ross'  creek  rises  in  sections  16  and  17, 
T.  1  S.  R.  9  W.,  flows  a  south-easterly  course,  emptying  its  waters 
into  "West  Fork,  on  section  36.  West  Fork  of  Richland,  takes  its  rise 
in  sections  23  and  24,  flows  a  southerly  course,  leaving  the  township 
on  section  36.  Spring  creek  takes  its  rise  in  a  perennial  spring,  on 
section  31,  flows  a  southerly  course,  leaving  on  section  33.  Prairie 
du  Pont  creek  is  fed  by  numerous  springs  in  sections  18,  9  and  3, 
the  tributaries  from  which  leave  the  precinct  along  its  northern 
boundary.  It  is  well  watered  and  well  drained.  Along  its  north- 
western boundary  are  the  bluFs  which  overlook  a  part  of  the  Great 
American  bottoms.  At  the  foot  of  these  bluffs  on  an  old  military 
claim  is  Hill  Lake,  a  resort  for  fishermen.  Not  alone  are  the  water 
courses  followed  by  strips  of  timber,  but  here  and  there,  are  fine 
natural  grovesi  which  seem  to  beautify  the  landscape. 


Centerville  had,  according  to  the  census  of  1880,  2471  inhabi- 
tants, nearly  ninety  per  cent,  of  whom  are  German,  or  German 
descent. 

Not  only  is  this  precinct  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  grain, 
but  underneath  the  surface  lie  great  mines  of  wealth.  Coal  of  ex- 
cellent quality  abounds,  in  places  cropping  out  at  the  surface.  The 
first  ever  taken  out  was  by  a  blacksmith,  Joshua  Hughes,  as  early  as 
1830,  from  a  hill-side,  about  a  half  mile  south-east  of  Centerville. 
Stone,  both  lime  and  sand,  is  quarried  in  sections  31  and  32,  T.  1 
N.  R.  9  W.  It  is  claimed  to  be  of  very  superior  quality.  The 
quarries  of  Wm.  Lark  were  the  first  opened,  in  1835. 

Vague  rumors  are  circulated,  too,  about  silver  having  been  once 
mined  near  Centerville.  Two  Mexicans,  years  ago,  no  one  knows 
when,  directed  by  divining  rods,  staked  a  claim,  built  a  cabin  in 
the  solitudes  of  a  vast  wilderness,  and  every  now  and  then  visited 
the  settlements  with  pockets  well  lined  with  silver.  At  last  they 
disappeared.  A  visit  to  their  hut  led  to  the  discovery  of  an  earthen 
oven,  of  perhaps  eighteen  inches  in  thickness,  which  bore  traces  of 
having  been  used  in  the  reduction  of  silver  ore.  It  is  also  affirmed 
that  a  tanner  living  in  Monroe  county  knew  the  location  of  the 
mine.  Now  and  then  he  would  mysteriously  appear  from  the  sur- 
rounding woodlands,  carrying  sacks  of  crude  ore,  which  he  ex- 
changed in  St.  Louis  for  provisions.  Before  his  death  he  told  his 
wife  the  location  of  the    silver  quite  accurately,  describing  the 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


253 


vicinity  of  the  deserted  hut  of  the  Mexicans.  Search  was  insti- 
tuted and  quite  vigorously  prosecuted  without  avail,  yet  many 
citizens  firmly  believe  silver  to  be  among  the  undeveloped  re- 
sources which  will  yet  contribute  to  the  wealth  of  this  community. 
This  precinct  was  formed  by  order  of  the  county  court,  June  5th, 
1839.  The  first  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Lewis  Pulse. 
Isaac  S.  Reed,  Robert  Gooding  and  Philip  Creamer  acted  as  Judges 
of  the  election.  At  present  there  are  three  voting  places  in  the 
precinct. 

FIEST    LAXD   ENTEIES. 

The  first  land  entries  in  T.  1  S.  R.  9  W.,  were  by  Thrmas  Har- 
rison, of  320  acres,  being  the  West  J  of  section  1,  Sept.  7th,  1814 ; 
by  Sinil  Lacey,  of  340  acres,  being  the  N.  E.  \  and  the  S.  W.  \ 
sect.  2,  Aug.  15,  1815;  by  Daniel  Whitesides,  160  acres,  being  the 
N.  W.  i  sect.  2,  Dec  16, 1814 ;  by  James  Johnson,  320  acres.  South 
half  sect.  3,  Dec.  16,  1814;  by  Martin  Randleman,  160  acres, 
being  the  S.  E.  i  sect.  9,  Aug.  16th,  1814;  by  Mathew  Langford, 
160  acres,  being  the  N.  E.  i.sect.  23,  Sept  6th,  1814 ;  by  Cornelius 
Gooding,  160  acres,  being  the  8.  W.  i  sect.  10,  Sept.  10th,  1816; 
by  "William  Morriscn,  160  acres,  being  the  N.  E.  i  sect.  1,  April 
10th,  1815.  In  that  part  of  T.  1  S.  R.  10  W.,  which  lies  in  this 
precinct,  firtt  entiies  were  by  Absalom  Bradshaw,160  acres,. being 
the  N.  E.  i  Kct.  24,  Sept.  17th,  1814;  by  Samuel  Hill,  122S, 
acres  in  ftct.  4,  Jan.  24lh,  1817.  Before  government  lands  had 
been  survejcd,  £cme  claims  had  been  made,  and  confirmed  as  fol- 
lows :  Claim  l&CO,  survey  429,  to  George  Lunceford;  claim  1054 
survey  782,  to  Thomas  Warrs;  claim  339,  survey  430,  to  George 
Lunceford  ;  claim  598,  survey  557,  to  widow  of  Jacob  Groot.  All 
these  lands  were  first  claimed  in  payment  of  military  services  ren- 
dered in  1790,  although  some  of  the  claims  had  been  transferred. 
Representatives  of  the  Lunceford  family  yet  own  and  live  on  claim 
made  by  George  Lunceford.  Lunceford  had  been  a  soldier  under 
Clark  in  the  service  of  Virginia,  in  the  conquest  of  Illinois.  He 
settled  first  near  Kaskaskia.  In  1796  he  and  Samuel  Judy  opened 
a  farm  on  Sugar  Loaf,  on  claim  above-mentioned,  which,  in  1800, 
became  the  sole  property  of  Lunceford,  Samuel  Judy  saying  he 
desired  more  elbow-room  than  this  tract  furnished.  George  Lunce- 
ford died  there  in  1809.  His  son  "William  was  born  here  in  1796, 
the  first  birth  in  the  precinct. 

To  him  should  be  accredited  the  honor  of  being  the  first  settler 
in  this  precinct.  For  many  years  it  was  occupied  as  a  common 
hunting  ground.  The  breaks  in  the  bluffs  which  arose  from  the 
Mississippi  bottoms  afibrded  excellent  harborage  for  panthers,  wild 
cats,  wolves  and  bears,  whilst  the  prairie  strtetches,  dotted  here  and 
there  by  groves,  ofttimes  with  a  spring  of  living  water,  laughing 
under  their  shade,  invited  deer  in  great  numbers  to  luxuriate  upon 
their  fatness.  It  was  indeed  a  hunter's  paradise.  An  old  man 
yet  living  in  the  precinct,  told  the  writer  that  he  had  counted  forty- 
one  deer  in  one  gang,  and  was  met  in  his  pathway  by  a  panther 
the  same  night. 

Old  settlers  speak  of  a  deserted  house-site  on  the  bluffs,  about 
two  miles  south  of  Falling  Springs,  and  just  within  the  limits  of 
this  precinct.  Occupied  by  whom  or  when  deserted  no  one  knows. 
It  perhaps  was  built  by  one  of  the  parties  that  attempted  making 
a  settlement  in  this  vicinity  in  1796,  including  such  pioneers  as 
Short,  Griffen,  Gibbons,  Roberts  and  Valentine,  which  was  soon 
after  abandoned.  A  grave-yard  to  the  south-west,  in  Monroe 
county,  marks  the  location. 

In  the  north-eastern  part,  some  of  the  parties  who  came  from 
Bardy  county,  Virginia,  and  the  vicinity  of  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land, settled  in  1800.   •  For  history  of  this  immigration,  including 


the  Stookeys,  Eymans,  Millers,  Randlemans  and  others,  see  the 
chapter  on  Pioneers.  Of  their  number  Randleman  and  Teter 
stopped  in  this  precinct. 

Among  other  early  settlers  might  be  mentioned  Cornelius  Good- 
ing, (1816),  James  Glass,  Robert  Gooding,  (1816),  John  Mauzy, 
Charles  Jones,  Matthew  Roach,  (1815),  the  Laceys,  John  Primm, 
of  Cahokia,  at  an  earlier  date,  and  Goodner,  the  Baileys,  John 
Little,  Simon  Stookey,  1822. 

John  Little  selected  a  home  on  section  4,  and  exercised  the  pre- 
caution of  setting  out  a  small  cedar  tree  as  a  guide  when  he  should 
return  with  his  family,  which  he  shortly  afterwards  did.  The  tree 
is  yet  standing. 

In  early  times  these  settlers  were  compelled  to  repair  to  "White- 
side's station,  in  Monroe  county,  for  safety  from  marauding  bands 
of  Indians. 

Reynolds,  in  his  history  refers  to  John  Primm  as  follows :  "  In 
1803  John  Primm  emigrated  from  Virginia,  and  settled  first  in  the 
New  Design— made  a  crop  there,  and  settled  at  the  foot  of  the  Mis- 
ssisippi  bluff,  south-east  of  Cahokia ;  remained  there  several  years, 
and  moved  to  his  plantation,  a  few  miles  south-west  of  Belleville. 
Here  he  died  in  1836,  aged  almost  eighty-seven  years.  Mr.  Primm 
was  born  in  Stafford  county,  Virginia  ;  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  immediately  under  General  Washington,  and  assisted  in  the 
glorious  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  at  Yorktown,  in  the  year 
1781.  This  was  the  crowning  battle  for  the  freedom  of  the  colonies, 
and  Primm  enjoyed  the  honor  of  aiding  in  this  great  and  glorious 
victory.  He  had  a  large  family — seventeen  children — four  girls 
and  thirteen  sons.  He  lived  the  even,  temperate  life  of  an  agri- 
culturist, and  performed  all  his  duties  to  the  Creator,  and  to  man, 
in  a  moral  and  correct  manner." 

It  is  believed  that  within  the  limits  of  this  precinct,  or  its  ex- 
treme western  boundary,  was  enacted  a  tragedy  which  resulted  in 
the  death  of  Vallis  and  capture  of  Biggs,  in  1788.  The  old  trail 
from  Bellefontaine  to  Cahokia  passed  through  here,  and  at  the 
point  where  it  begins  its  descent  into  the  valley  is  a  fit  place  for 
such  scenes.  The  account,  as  given  by  Reynolds  in  his  history  of 
Illinois,  is  as  follows:  "In  the  spring  of  1788  Lieutenant  Biggs 
had  been  out  hunting,  and  had  got  some  beaver  fur,  which  he  was 
desirous  of  selling  at  Cahokia.  He  then  resided  in  Bellefontaine, 
and  started  in  company  with  Vallis  for  Cahokia.  Early  in  the 
morning  of  March  28th,  whilst  riding  on  the  road  to  his  trading 
post,  they  heard  the  report  of  two  guns.  Biggs  supposed  them  to 
be  hunters ;  but  soon  after  he  saw  sixteen  Indians  with  their  guns 
presented.  He  and  Vallis  whipped  their  horses,  but  in  vain — all 
the  Indians  fired  their  pieces  at  him  and  his  comrade.  The  bullets 
riddled  the  horse  of  Biggs,  killed  him,  and  shot  four  holes  through 
Biggs'  overcoat,  but  did  not  hit  him.  A  ball  entered  the  thigh  of 
Vallis,  of  which  wound  he  died  six  weeks  afterwards.  The  horse 
of  Vallis  carried  him  to  the  Fort.  Biggs,  his  furs,  saddle  and  all 
fell  off  his  horse ;  and,  after  running  some  distance,  the  Indians 
caught  him  and  made  him  a  prisoner.  He  was  taken  to  an 
Indian  town  on  the  Wabash  river,  traveling  the  three  hun- 
dred miles  in  ten  days.  He  was  ransomed,  by  agreeing  to 
pay  a  Spaniard,  Bazedone,  two  hundred  and  sixty  dollars 
ransom,  and  thirty-seven  more  for  other  necessaries  with  which 
to  enable  him  to  reach  home.  He  descended  the  Wabash  and 
the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi — up  that  river  to  the  Kaskaskia, 
and  on  home  to  Bellefontaine.  In  1790  he  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor St.  Clair  Sheriff  of  St.  Clair  county,  which  ofilce  he  held  for 
many  years. 

In  this  precinct  it  was  that  Thomas  Harrison  built  the  first  cot-  • 
ton  gin  ever  established  in  Illinois,  which  was  erected  in  1813. 


254 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Frank  Koacli  built  the  first  mill  more  than  sixty  years  ago,  a 
primitive  corn  mill,  erected  on  section  12,  T.  1  S.  R.  9  W.  Sub- 
sequently Samuel  and  Matthew  Roach  built  a  mill  on  Forbes' 
Fork,  which  was  washed  away  the  same  year.  Frank  Roach  lived 
to  the  great  age  of  106  years.  When  102  years  old  he  went  with 
a  grandson  to  the  store  kept  by  William  McClintock,  in  Belleville, 
and  challenged  him  to  a  wrestle. 

The  first  cemetery  was  that  near  the  Union  Meeting  House,  on 
sect.  11,  T.  1  S.  R.  9  W.  John  Ross  was  the  first  person  interred, 
October  1st,  1823.  Thomas  Jarrott,  the  second,  October  i6th, 
1823.  Union  Meeting  House  was  the  first  house  for  worship  built, 
which  was  in  1819. 

A  man  named  Gallop  taught  the  first  school.  Taught  in  the 
Union  Meeting  House,  about  two  miles  north-east  of  Millstadt, 
in  1824. 

Dr.  W.  C.  Goforth,  alias  "  old  pills,"  was  the  first  physician  to 
practice  in  the  precinct.  He  lived  in  Columbia  and  Cahokia, 
afterwards  in  Belleville,  where  he  died. 

Joshua  Hughes  was  the  first  blacksmith,  as  well  as  the  first  coal 
operator.  His  smithy  was  opened  in  1829.  He  took  out  coal 
from  a  hill-side,  about  a  half  mile  south-east  of  Centerville,  in 
1830.  This  bank  was  afterwards  transferred  to,  and  operated  by 
Benjamin  Goodner.     It  has  long  since  been  abandoned. 

Among  the  earlier  marriages  were  Isaac  Gooding,  to  Polly  Cox, 
March  28th,  1820,  and  Nathan  Cox,  to  Elizabeth  R.  Gooding, 
September  13th,  1826,  by  Cornelius  Gooding,  J.  P. 

Coal  Mines. — George  Grossman  has  a  mine  on  section  25,  T.  1 
S.  R.  9  W.,  which  was  first  opened  by  Andrew  PfeiflTer,  in  1842. 
It  is  entered  from  a  hill-side,  thus  becoming  what  is  known  as  a 
coal  bank.  The  vein  of  coal  is  about  6  J  feet  in- thickness,  and  is 
of  very  superior  quality.  It  is  not  worked  to  its  full  capacity, 
only  sufficiently  to  meet  local  demands. 

Teuerhahn,  Muskopf  &  Co.  operate  a  shaft  about  fifty  feet  deep 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Millstadt.  Vein  six  to  seven  feet 
thick,  local  trade. 

In  early  times  Simon  Stookey  and  Daniel  Eastwood  ran  for 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  Eastwood  was  elected.  The  first  case  brought 
before  him  was  for  assault  and  battery.  He  fined  the  victor  in  the 
fight  three  dollars,  which  he  promptly  handed  to  the  vanquished 
party,  saying,  "  You  got  licked  and  are  entitled  to  the  fine."  The 
squire's  ideas  of  justice  were  more  consistent  with  equity  than  with 
law,  as  many  of  his  decision  prove. 

In  1825,  a  dollar  of  paper  money  passed  current  for  twenty-five 
cents,  cut  in  two  ;  each  half  would  pass  for  twelve  and  a  half  cents, 
or  a  "  bit,"  as  it  was  termed.  Bits  being  popular  change,  half  bills 
were  common. 

Jacob  Randleman  brought  the  first  clock  to  the  precinct,  an  old- 
fashioned  wooden  one,  about  six  feet  high.  His  brother  Michael 
was  a  blacksmith.  One  day  he  proposed  to  Jacob  the  feasibility  of 
their  making  a  duplicate  clock  so  that  each  could  have  a  time-piece. 
Jacob,  being  a  carpenter,  agreed,  saying,  "  I  can  make  the  wood- 
work, if  you  can  iron  it,"  says  Michael ;  "  I  know  I  can  iron  it.' 
So  at  it  they  went,  taking  the  old  clock  apart,  using  its  wheels  by 
which  to  mark  out  patterns  for  the  second  edition.  Having  all  their 
patterns  completed,  they  concluded  to  put  the  old  clock  together, 
which  they  attempted.  A  sorry  job  it  was.  After  it  was  together, 
and  when  they  couldn't  see  another  place  to  put  a  wheel,  they  had 
material  enough  left  for  another  clock.  They  wound  it  up,  the  hands 
refused  to  move,  not  so  the  striking  weight.  It  went  lustily  to  work, 
and  without  ceasing  rung  out  a  full  week's  striking.  The  brothers 
thought  the  thing  bewitched,  and  after  repeated  trials  to  replace 


the  old-fashioned  clock,  they  confessed  their  ignorance  of  clock, 
making  and  burned  up  the  unruly  machinery. 

We  have  phrases  peculiar  to  states,  to  districts  of  country,  and 
why  not  one  peculiar  to  a  precinct  ?  Of  such  a  character  is  the  ex- 
pression, "a  Bornman  trip."  Its  origin  is  this.  About  1840,  Da- 
niel Bornman  started  for  St.  Louis  on  horseback,  with  two  baskets 
of  eggs  slung  across  his  horse.  On  his  way  the  rope  broke,  and  as 
a  consequence  the  eggs  also  were  broken.  He  returned  home  rather 
crestfallen  at  his  ill  luck,  and  ever  after  a  disastrous  trip  is  called 
by  the  neighbors  "  a  Bornman  trip." 

The  first  German  settlers  here  were  Daniel  Wagner,  Theobald  and 
Jacob  Miller,  who  crossed  the  sea  together  in  1834.  They  landed  at 
New  Orleans,  thence  proceeded  to  St.  Louis  and  Centerville,  where 
they  bought  land  the  same  year.  This  was  the  nucleus  of  a  settlement 
that  continued  to  grow  until  now  the  German  population  occupy 
the  territory  included  in  this  precinct  almost  exclusively.  There 
are  but  seven  families  of  English  descent  in  the  congressional  town- 
ship in  which  the  town  of  Millstadt  is  situated.  They  are  an  in- 
dustrious, frugal,  and  energetic  people.  Thoroughly  awake  to  every 
improvement  which  promises  additional  comfort  or  added  wealth, 
they  sufier  no  idlers  among  them,  believing  that  "  by  the  sweat  of 
the  brow  man  should  earn  his  bread."  They  perpetuate  their  social 
societies  for  purposes  of  mutual  improvement,  and  are  loath  to  give 
up  the  customs  they  brought  with  them  as  an  inheritance  from  the 
"Vaterland." 

TOWN   OF   MILLSTADT. 

In  1836,  Simon  Stookey  was  having  a  baru  built  on  section  four. 
Several  men  were  lending  a  helping  band,  among  them  Joseph 
Abend,  a  bachelor  saddler,  and  Henry  Randleman.  It  was  there 
proposed  to  Randleman  that  this  would  be  a  most  eligible  town- 
site.  The  matter  was  talked  over.  Abend  said  it  was  seven  miles 
to  Belleville,  seven  to  Columbia,  and  seven  to  the  lake,  and  he  pro- 
posed the  name  of  Centerville  for  the  embryo  city.  Randleman 
acted  on  the  suggestion,  and  on  March  13th,  1837,  Centerville  was 
platted,  forty  lots  being  set  apart  in  section  9,  T.  1  S.  R.  9  W. 
To  the  original  site  four  additions  were  made,  respectively  July 
15,  1837,  sixty  lots;  October  27,  1842,  eleven  lots;  October  28, 
1842,  fifty  lots,  and  October  15,  1845,  two  hundred  lots;  all  in  the 
S.  W.  i  section  9.  August  27,  1847,  George  Heuckler  made  an 
addition  of  seventy-nine  lots  on  W.  i  S.  E.  i,  same  section,  followed 
by  another  addition,  same  party,  of  sixty-nine  lots,  November  25, 
1848.  Cornelius  Gooding  made  an  addition,  north  of  town,  of  forty 
lots,  August  1,  1850;  James  Glass,  one  of  thirty-six  lots,  August  1, 
1850.  James  Glass  et  al.  addition  of  twenty  blocks,  March  25, 
1852 :  George  Hencklcr,  addition  on  the  W.  J  N.  E.  \,  section  16, 
and  Joseph  Kopp,  addition,  August  21,  1860,  of  thirty  lots.  Thus, 
from  time  to  time,  ample  provision  was  made  to  accommodate  the 
growth  of  the  town.  The  name  Centerville  was  retained  until  the 
year  1880,  when  the  Board  of  Trustees,  after  giving  thirty  days' 
notice  wherein  to  ofier  any  remonstrance,  changed  the  name  to 
that  of  the  post-office  Millstadt. 

It  was  incorporated  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  her  citizens,  Oct. 
26th,  1867.  The  first  board  of  trustees  were  elected  Nov.  2d,  1867. 
George  W.  Seiber,  Adam  Hoff'mann,  John  dinger,  Henry  Schul- 
theis,  and  Nicholas  Theobald,  Trustees. 

Population — census  of  1880—1274. 

Dr.  W.  S.  Van  Cleve,  now  a  resident  of  Belleville,  was  the  first 
physician  to  locate  in  Centerville.  Located  here  in  1845.  His 
practice  extended  for  fifteen  miles. 

George  Kuntz  was  the  first  postmaster,  appointed  in  1841.  The 
mail  was  carried  on  horseback  once  a  week. 


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HISTORY  01  bT.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


255 


Henry  Eandleman,  and  William  Davis,  opened  the  first  grocery 
store  in  a  log  building,  16x18  feet,  in  1837. 

Loyat  Brater  kept  the  first  general  store  in  1849.  Cumraings 
opened  the  first  house  for  public  entertainment,  on  the  site  now 
occupied  by  Brenfleck's  Hotel  in  1843.  The  original  building  was 
a  two-story  frame.  Leonard  Daub  built  a  brewery  in  1846.  Con- 
tinued in  operation  until  1874.  In  1842  Conrad  Schmidt  had 
erected  a  brewery  on  section  16,  south  of  Centerville,  which  was 
abandoned  in  1849.    All  traces  of  its  location  are  gone. 

Valentine  Brenfleck  built  a  brewery  in  1849,  at  a  cost,  including 
improvements  made  since,  of  $31,000.  Operated  it  until  1878, 
since  which  time  it  has  stood-idle.  After  it  was  first  built,  he 
stored  his  beer  in  a  coal  bank,  west  of  Centerville,  paying  for  the 
privilege  two  kegs  of  beer  per  annum. 

The  Lutheran  church  (Zion)  was  first  built  in  1844 ;  since  a  new 
church  has  been  erected.   The  Catholic  (St.  Jacob's),  in  1847. 

Prominent  among  the  enterprises  of  Millstadt,  in  fact  the  most 
important  in  the  town,  are  two  extensive  merchant  mills.  That 
now  owned  by  Becker  and  Sterns  was  first  built  in  1857-8,  by 
Franz  Baur.  The  present  proprietors  have  added  to  its  original 
capacity,  by  putting  in  a  new  Corliss  engine,  and  erecting  an  ele- 
vator attachment,  with  a  capacity  of  storing  40,000  bushels.  The 
mill  is  provided  with  five  run  of  stone,  and  can  turn  out  32.5  bar- 
rels of  flour  per  day.  Edward  Schoening  is  Manager,  and  Chas. 
Jacobs,  Clerk. 

Franz  Baur's  mill  was  erected  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  $-50,000,  and 
has  the  latest  improved  machinery ;  six  run  of  stone,  with  a  ca- 
pacity of  450  barrels  of  flour  a  day.  It  is  kept  constantly 
busy,  and  manufactures  an  average  of  300  barrels  of  flour  per  day, 
which  is  shipped  chiefly  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  Providence,  Rhode 
Island.    Jacob  Theobald,  Clerk. 

BUSINESS   OP   MILLSTADT. 

.    Hotels;  "Planters'  House,"   by  Val.  Brenfleck;  "City  Hall," 
l)y  Joseph  Carl;  John  Darr;  Peter  Kalbfleisch  has  a  Hotel  in  pro- 
gress of  erection. 

General  Merchants;  Heniy  Imbgeus;  Henry  Plate,  Philip 
"Balz,  Christian  Hess,  Joseph  Marxer,  Nicholas  Theobald,  Charles 
Young,  Hermann  Brueggenjuergen,  William  Teilnius. 

Boots  and  Shoes;  Henry  Hahn. 

Drugs;  Eugene  Kring,  Alfred  Kring. 

Cigar  Makers;  Francis  Wilkens,  No.  81,  established  1862, 
makes  from  75  to  80,000  cigars  annually,  for  which  a  home  market 
is  found  ;  Wm.  Tennis. 

Wagon  Makers;  One  of  the  leading  industries  is  represented  by 


Henry  Hinton;  George  Altschuk;  William  Sieber;  William 
Brauser;  John  M.  Diesel;  Fred.  Hartmann. 

Tinsmith  and  Stove  Store;  George  Nolle. 

Blacksmiths;  Daniel  Schmahlenberger;  George  Oldendorph ; 
Adam  Herbert;  Phillip  Mueller;  Frederick  Mueller;  Cornelius 
Markle;  Jacob  Muskopf. 

Physicians;  Adolph  Schlernitzauer  ;  A.  Berkebile  Vogel. 

Postmaster;  John  Dehn. 

Shoemakers ;  Henry  Petr6 ;  John  Dehn. 

Harness  and  Saddlery ;  Peter  F.  Breidecker ;  Louis  Theobald. 

Twelve  saloons  flourish  here. 

SECRET  SOCIETIES. 

Treu  Bund,  No.  267,  organized  Jan.  10, 1875,  with  twenty  charter 
members.     Meets  every  Wednesday  evening. 

I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge,  No.  567.  Instituted  April,  1875.  Meetings 
every  Tuesday  evening. 

In  addition  to  these  there  is  a  local  Union  Aid  Society,  organized 
Sept.  23d,  1866,  with  seventy  members,  which  meets  semi-monthly 
on  Saturday  evenings. 

ROACH    TOWN 

is  a  small  collection  of  houses  in  the  S.  h  of  the  N.  E.  i  of  section 
12,  clustered  about  Roach's  Mill.  This  mill  was  built  in  1864.  It 
is  a  frame  building,  one  story  with  basement.  Has  one  run  of 
burrs.  In  1867  a  saw  mill  was  attached  to  the  grist  mill.  Owners 
are  Samuel  P.  Roach  &  Son.  This  mill  occupies  the  site  improved 
by  the  erection  of  a  mill  by  the  grandfather  of  the  present  pro- 
prietor more  than  sixty  years  ago.  Samuel  and  Matthew  Roach 
also  aided  in  perpetuating  the  reputation  of  the  Roach's  as  mill 
owners  and  builders,  by  erecting  one  on  Forbes'  Creek,  which  was 
washed  away  the  same  year. 

Crime  : — A  most  atrocious  murder  was  committed  in  this  precinct 
March  19th,  1872,  by  whom  or  why  are  matters  yet  to  be  deter- 
mined. Stelzenriede,  his  son  and  his  son's  wife,  and  two  children 
were  all  killed  the  same  night.  The  coroner's  inquest  developed 
the  fact  that  their  heads  had  been  pounded  as  though  by  a  billet 
of  wood  and  their  throats  cut. 

This  precinct  furnished  three  soldiers  to  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
Joshua  W.  Hughes,  who  was  1st  lieutenant  of  a  rifle  company,  C. 
T.  Askins,  and  Gregory. 

There  are  churches,  here  and  there,  throughout  the  precinct, 
among  them  a  Presbyterian,  not  heretofore  referred  to  on  section 
28,  T.  1  N.  R.  9  W.  For  additional  history  of  schools,  churches, 
&c.,  see  appropriate  chapters  in  this  work. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


«-«-'wj^gj§:^e/n->-» 


Dr.  JOHN  SALTENBERGER. 

Tais  gentleman,  who  is  now  practicing  medicine  near  Millstadt, 
is  a  native  of  Nassau,  and  was  born  at  Naunstadt  am  Usingen, 
April  1st,  1838.  His  parents  were  John  William  Saltenberger  and 
Elizabeth  Miller.  He  was  the  third  of  seven  children.  In  the 
year  1847  his  father  emigrated  with  the  family  to  America.  Land- 
ing at  New  Orleans,  they  came  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  and 
after  living  in  that  city  about  a  mouth,  came  to  St.  Clair  county, 
where  his  father  bought  a  farm  of  ninety-nine  acres,  a  mile  and  a 
half  south  of  Millstadt,  where  he  lived  till  his  death  on  the  18th  of 
May,  1877.  Dr.  Saltenberger  was  about  nine  years  old  when  the 
family  left  Germany.  In  the  year  1858,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Peter  Brower,  at  Millstadt. 
He  afterward  pursued  the  study  of  Latin  under  Dr.  Gander  of 
Waterloo,  Monroe  county,  and  was  under  his  instruction  at  the 
time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He  went  to 
St.  Louis,  and  in  April,  1861,  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  of  the  4th  Missouri 
regiment.  He  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Camp  Jackson,  St. 
Louis  ;  was  afterward  stationed  at  Bird's  Point,  Mo. ;  then  at  Cai- 
ro ;  and  then  returned  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  till  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  service,  with  the  exception  of  making  an 
expedition  to  central  Missouri. 

After  his  three  months'  military  experience  he  resumed  his  Latin 
studies.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  after  attending  three  courses  of  lectures,  graduated  in 
March,  1864.  He  first  located  at  Bethalto,  Madison  county,  but 
three  months  afterward  removed  to  Ogle's  Station,  St.  Clair  coun- 
ty. February,  1865,  he  enlisted  as  private  in  the  149th  Illinois 
regiment.  He  acted  as  hospital  steward  at  Charleston,  Tennessee, 
and  then  accompanied  his  regiment  to  Dalton,  Georgia.  For  three 
days  he  had  charge  of  the  smallpox  hospital  at  that  place,  and  was 
then  detailed  to  the  brigade  hospital  as  hospital  steward.  He  was 
afterward  hospital  steward  for  six  months  and  a  half  at  Atlanta, 
and  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1866  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Dal- 
ton, Georgia.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Camp  Butler,  Springfield. 
After  returning  from  the  army  he  practiced  his  profession  for  six 
weeks  at  Vincennes,  Indiana,  and  then  was  located  three  months  at 
Freelandsville  in  the  same  state.  He  returned  to  St.  Clair  county 
in  the  summer  of  1866.  While  visiting  St.  Louis  he  was  attacked 
with  the  cholera,  and  after  recovering,  settled  at  Fayetteville,  in 
this  county,  where  he  remained  (with  the  exception  of  one  year, 
during  which  he  practiced  at  a  place  five  miles  from  that  town)  till 
1872,  when  he  moved  to  Washington  county,  Illinois.  In  the  fall 
of  1875  he  returned  to  the  old  homestead  to  live  with  his  father, 
who  had  been  left  alone  by  his  brother's  death,  and  has  since  been 
256 


engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  is  also  em- 
ployed in  farming. 

He  was  married  on  the  11th  of  November,  1872,  to  Anna  Liuisa 
Sumnicht,  who  was  born  at  Pottsdam,  Prussia,  on  the  10th  of  April, 
1863.  He  owns  the  old  homestead  farm  on  which  he  has  erected  a 
substantial  and  handsome  residence,  a  view  of  which  appears  among 
our  illustrations.  The  doctor  has  always  been  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics. 


GEORGE  JACOB  LINDAUER. 

George  Jacob  Lindauer,  one  of  the  representative  farmers 
about  Millstadt,  is  a  native  of  Gruppenbah,  Wurttemburg,  Ger- 
many, and  was  born  March  21st,  1835.  His  father  was  George 
Lindauer,  and  his  mother's  name  before  marriage  was  Christina 
Glumm.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third  of  a  family  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  eight  are  now  living.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  owned  land  in  Germany.  Mr.  Lindauer  was  raised 
in  his  native  town  of  Gruppenbah,  and,  as  is  the  custom  in  Ger- 
many, attended  school  from  the  time  he  was  six  till  he  was  fourteen 
years  old.  After  leaving  school  he  worked  at  home  on  the  farm . 
In  1 852  the  whole  family  emigrated  to  America.  After  a  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic,  which  lasted  fifty-two  days,  they  landed  at 
New  Orleans  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1853.  From  New 
Orleans  they  came  up  the  Mississippi  to  Cairo,  where  they  found 
the  river  frozen  by  the  extreme  cold  weather ;  and  from  that  place 
they  made  the  journey  by  wagon  to  St.  Clair  county,  which  they 
designed  making  their  residence.  His  father  settled  in  the  High 
Prairie,  four  miles  south-east  of  Millstadt,  and  died  in  1863,  His 
mother  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead  farm. 

When  he  came  to  America  Mr.  Lindauer  was  about  eighteen 
years  old.  He  was  living  at  home,  working  on  the  farm  till  Octo- 
ber, 1863,  when  he  married  Katherina  Lindauer,  daughter  of 
Frederick  Lindauer.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Lepper.  Mrs.  Lindauer  was  born  in  the  town  of  Millstadt.  The 
same  year  that  he  was  married  he  went  to  farming,  half  a  mile 
west  of  Millstadt,  where  he  has  since  lived  and  been  engaged  in 
carrying  on  agricultural  operations.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land.  A  picture  of  his  farm  and  residence  may 
be  seen  on  another  page.  The  names  of  his  four  children  are 
Loms,  Frederick,  Carolina  and  Katherina.  He  has  been  one  of 
the  enterprising  farmers  of  that  part  of  the  county,  and  has  car- 
ried on  agriculture  with  intelligence  and  success'  He  is  known 
as  an  industrious  and  hard-working  man,  and  has  paid  close  atten- 
tion to  his  farm  and  his  business  affairs.     He  possesses  good  busi- 


^i^m 


Parm  PaoPmrr  or  GEORGE  JAC0B.LINDEUER,E8(^.(Sec.8 J. I.S,R.9)GENTREV,LLEPR.ST.CLAmCo.lLL. 


M'^^^rAaTHoTELPETERKALBFLEISCH,Esp.PRaRRrcTaR,M,LL^rAOT,STCLAmC^. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


2.57 


ness  qualifications,  and  is  one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of  that 
portion  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  has  taken  no  specially  active  part 
in  politics,  nor  has  ever  cared-  to  be  a  candidate  for  public  office. 
He  has  generally  acted  with  the  democratic  party,  and  believes 
that  the  principles  of  that  organization  are  best  fitted  to  secure  the 
perpetuation  of  American  institutions.  His  name  is  worthy  of 
mention  in  this  work  as  a  representative  of  that  numerous  and 
industrious  class  of  citizens  of  foreign  birth,  who  have  made  their 
home  in  St.  Clair  county;  have  assisted  in  the  development  of  its 
agricultural  resources,  and  have  secured  for  themselves  the  reputa- 
tion of  good  citizens  and  useful  members  of  the  community. 


PETER  KALBFLEISCH 

Is  a  native  of  Millstadt,  and  was  born  on  the  I7th  of  April,  1846. 
His  father,  Peter  John  Kalbfleisch,  was  born  in  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, and  when  a  young  man  came  to  America,  and  was  among 
the  early  German  settlers  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade.  In  the  year  1837  he  was  employed  in  building  the  rail- 
road from  the  bluff  to  East  St.  Louis.  This  was  the  first  railroad 
constructed  in  the  state.  He  helped  to  drive  the  piles  across  the 
lake  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  where  the  water  was  then  eighteen  feet 
deep.  He  married  Anna  Elizabeth  Barbara  Oldendorf,.  also  a 
native  of  Darmstadt.  Mr.  Kalbfleisch's  father  settled  at  Millstadt 
where  for  some  time  he  carried  on  the  carpentering  business,  and 
then  bought  a  farm,  half  a  mile  south-east  of  the  town,  on  which 
he  lived  till  he  died.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third  of  a 
family  of  five  children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living.  He  was 
raised  in  the  town  of  Millstadt.  He  was  married  in  December, 
1866,  to  Mary  Keller,  who  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Millstadt,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Leonard  Keller. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kalbfleisch  went  to  farming  for  himself, 
and  was  so  engaged  till  1874,  when  he  met  with  a  serious  injury, 
a  rifle  being  accidentally  discharged  in  his  hands,  the  ball  passing 
through  one  of  his  legs,  and  carrying  away  pieces  of  the  bone. 
This  disabled  him  from  labor  for  two  years,  and  he  expend- 
ed a  large  amount  of  money  for  surgical  advice.  The  effects 
of  this  wound  rendered  him  incapable  of  active  work  on  the  farm, 
and  he  accordingly  moved  to  Millstadt.  In  1881  he  erected  a 
large  brick  building  to  be  used  for  hotel  purposes.  This  building 
is  the  largest  structure  in  the  town,  outside  of  the  mills,  and  a  view 
of  it  appears  among  our  illustrations.  He  has  had  nine  children. 
The  names  of  the  five  now  living  are  Louis,  Ida,  Peter,  Edward, 
and  Anna.  He  has  taken  no  active  part  in  politics,  or  in  public 
affairs,  but  has  given  his  attention  to  his  business. 


G.  VALENTINE  BRENFLECK 

Has  lived  at  Millstadt  since  1848.  He  was  born  at  Ilmspan,  Baden, 
July  6th,  1823.  His  parents  were  Antoine  and  Marianna  Brenfleck. 
He  went  to  school  from  the  age  of  six  to  fourteen,  and  was  then 
apprenticed  to  the  milling  business.  In  1846,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three,  he  emigrated  to  America.  In  1846  and  1847  he  was  in  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  Louisiana,  Wisconsin,  Illinois  and  Missouri,  remain- 
ing a  short  time  in  each  state,  his  principal  object  being  to  see  the 
country.  He  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  short  time  in  St.  Louis  and 
Prairie  du  Chien,  Wisconsin.  In  1848  he  married  Barbara  Funsch, 
who  was  born  il^Bavaria  in  1824,  and  came  to  America  in  1846. 
The  same  year  in  which  he  was  married  he  settled  at  Millstadt.  In 
1849  he  erected  a  brewery  at  that  place.     He  was  engaged  at  differ- 


ent  business  enterprises,  and  at  one  time  owned  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  of  land.  He  also  carried  on  a  brewery  at  Water- 
loo. The  payment  of  security  debts  deprived  him  of  a  great  part 
of  his  property.  He  now  carries  ou  a  hotel  at  Millstadt,  and  is  the 
owner  of  Union  Park,  adjoining  the  town.  Four  of  his  ten  children 
are  living.  His  sou,  Valentine  Brenfleck,  is  farming  near  Mt. 
Vernon,  Jefferson  county.  His  three  daughters  are  named  Lena, 
Sophie  Barbara,  and  Carolina  Katarina.  He  has  always  been  a 
democrat. 


CHARLES  T.-ASKINS, 

Who  is  now  the  oldest  settler  in  Centerville  precinct,  was  born  in 
Grayson  county,  Kentucky,  May  27th,  1810.  His  grandfather. 
El  ward  Askins,  settled  iu  Virginia,  and  was  one  of  the  army  that 
accompanied  General  Braddock  on  his  expedition  to  Western 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  present  at  Braddock's  defeat.  Philemon. 
Askins,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Virginia. 
He  had  a  brother  by  the  name  of  John  Askins,  who  served  in  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  was  considered  one  of  the  stoutest  men  in 
the  American  army.  Mr.  Askins'  mother's  name  was  Philenor 
Stayton.  She  was  born  in  Maryland.  Mr.  Askins'  parents,  at  an 
early  date,  moved  to  Kentucky,  and  first  settled  at  Louisville, 
-where  they  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  moved  to  Gray- 
son county.  There  were  twelve  children  in  all,  of  whom  nine  were 
born  at  Louisville,  and  three  in  Grayson  county.  Charles  T.  Asking 
was  the  tenth  child,  there  being  two  younger  than^himself. 

In -the  fall  of  1819  Mr.  Askins'  father  and  mother  came  to  Illi- 
nois, to  look  at  the  country  and  visit  a  daughter  who  had  married 
John  Bloom,  and  settled  in  Illinois  in  1802.  This  John 
Bloom  made  the  eighteenth  entry  of  public  lands  in  Illinois.  The 
land  which  he  entered  was  the  one-half  of  section  three,  of  town- 
ship one  south,  range  nine  west.  Part  of  this  identical  land  is  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Askins.  Liking  the  country,  Mr.  Askins'  parents 
sent  back  for  the  younger  children,  who  reached  Illinois  in  Feb., 
•1820.  They  lived  part  of  the  time  on  the  tract  of  land  north  of 
Millstadt  (sec.  three,  township  one  south,  range  nine  west),  and 
part  of  the  time  near  Venice,  in  Madison  county.  Philemon  As- 
kins died  in  St.  Clair  county  in  1831 :  his  wife  had  died  previously 
in  1826. 

Mr.  Askins  was  in  his  tenth  year  when  he  came  to  this  state,  in 
February,  1820.  The  school  facilities  in  those  days  were  extremely 
limited.  He  had  gone  to  school  a  little  in  Kentucky,  but  after  he 
came  to  St.  Clair  county,. there  were  for  several  years  no  schools  in 
his  neighborhood.  He  went  to  school  for  a  while  at  Venice,  and 
also  at  Jacksonville.  The  first  school  he  attended  in  St.  Clair 
county  was  in  the  year  1828.  The  teacher's  name  was  Gallop.  He 
lived  at  home  till  his  father's  death,  and  then  continued  to  live  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account. 
He  was  married  on  the  10th  of  January,  1854,  to  Mrs.  Jane  M. 
Drew,  who  was  born  in  Gallatin  county,  Illinois.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Russell.  He  has  since  been  occupied  in  farming  on  the  same 
tract  of  land  on  which  the  family  settled  on  coming  to  the  county. 
He  has  had  six  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows:  Louisa,  wife 
of  George  W.  Vance,  who  resides  in  the  State  of  Virginia ;  John 
W.  Askins,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  ;  Charles  T.  Askins, 
George  Askins,  Nancy  Askins  and  May  Askins. 

He  has  always  been  a  democrat  in  politics.  He  cast  his  first 
vote  for  president  for  Andrew  Jackson,  and  has  been  a  staunch  sup- 
porter of  democratic  principles  from  that  time  to  the  present;  and 
has  voted  for  every  subsequent  democratic  candidate  for  president, 
with  the  exception  of  Greeley  in  1872. 


258 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


He  formerly  held  a  commissioD  as  captain  in  the  militia,  in  the 
old  days  when  the  whole  male  population  of  the  county  between 
the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five  were  required  to  muster  three 
times  a  year.  He  served  in  the  last  campaign  of  the  Black  Hawk 
war  in  1832,  as  a  member  of  Capt.  John  Tate's  Independent  Com- 
pany of  Eiflemen.  He  took  part  in  all  the  marches  of  that  cam- 
paign. Mr.  Askins  was  the  democratic  candidate  for  representative 
in  the  legislature,  against  G.  A.  Koerner,  Jr.,  and  was  only  defeated 
by  twenty  votes.  For  the  last  twenty  years  he  has  been  a  director 
in  the  county  fair  association. 


HENRY  HUBER. 

One  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county  of  German  birth  who 
have  become  successful  business  men  is  Henry  Huber,  a  resident  of 
Millstadt,  who  for  a  number  of  years  carried  on  business  in  that 
town.  He  is  a  native  of  Rheinfalz,  Bavaria,  and  was  born  at  Elm- 
stein  on  the  4th  of  October,  1834.  His  father,  Charles  Philip 
Huber,  at  one  time  carried  on  an  extensive  business  at  Elmstein. 
A  short  distance  from  that  town  he  bought  a  property  which  had 
.formerly  been  used  as  an  iron  works,  and  established  a  saw  mill, an 
oil  mill,  and  a  flouring  mill,  all  under  one  roof,  and  propelled  by 
water  power.  Here  he  carried  on  business  for  some  time,  but  sub- 
sequently lost  a  considerable  part  of  his  property  by  the  payment 
of  security  debts  for  other  people. 

Mr.  Henry  Huber  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  seven- 
teen children.  His  mother  died  when  he  wag  four  years  old. 
"When  he  was  six  years  old  he  went  to  live  with  an  older  sister,  who 
had  married  and  had  gone  to  live  at  Kaiserslautern,  Bavaria,  and 
that  town  was  subsequently  Mr.  Huber 's  home  till  he  was  nineteen 
(19)  years  old.  He  went  to  school  till  he  was  thirteen.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  began  to  learn  the  tailor's  trade,  at  which  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years.  The  idea  of  emigrating  to 
America,  where  two  of  his  sisters  had  previously  gone,  had  occu- 
pied his  mind  for  several  years.  In  1853  all  the  unmarried  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  two  sisters  and  two  brothers  beside  himself,  five 
in  all,  sailed  for  the  United  States.  His  father  had  died  in 
Germany  previous  to  this  date.  Landing  at  New  Orleans,  from 
that  city  they  ascended  the  Mississippi  river  to  St.  Louis,  and 
thence  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  reaching  Millstadt,  where  his  sister 
lived,  on  the  29th  of  November,  1853. 

Mr.  Huber  was  then  nineteen.  His  first  occupation  was  as  clerk 
in  the  store  of  his  brother-in-law,  F.  M.  Fass.  He  remained  in 
this  store  one  year  and  nine  months,  when  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
after  recovering  from  an  illness  which  lasted  about  four  months 
he  entered  the  store  of  Jacob  Miller,  with  whom  he  remained  four 
years.  He  became  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  business,  was 
industrious  and  attentive  to  customers,  and  in  1859,  at  which  time 
Miller  disposed  of  his  business  to  Joseph  McKee,  there  was  an 
understanding  that  Mr.  Huber  should  become  Mr.  Mckee's  partner. 
This  partnership  lasted  about  one  year,  when  Mr.  McKee  became 
anxious  to  quit  the  business,  and  Mr.  Huber  bought  out  his  interest. 
From  that  time  till  1865  he  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  at 
Millstadt,  on  his  own  account.  He  paid  close  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness, and  managed  itwith  enterprise  and  success.  The  period  during 
which  he  conducted  the  store  covered  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
when  the  rise  in  values  and  activity  in  business  circles  gave  favor- 
able opportunities  to  shrewd  and  enterprising  business  men.  From 
1860  to  1865  he  acted  as  postmaster  at  Millstadt.  Since  the  latter 
year  he  has  been  employed  in  no  active  business,  but  has  lived  in 
a  comfortable  and  leisurely  retirement  at  Millstadt.     In  1866  he 


revisited  Europe,  leaving  this  country  in  April  and  returning  in 
November.  He  reviewed  the  scenes  of  his  early  childhood  days  in 
the  fatherland,  and  spent  several  months  of  pleasure  in  the  midst 
of  old  acquaintances  and  associates. 

His  marriage  occurred  on  the  5th  of  August,  1860,  to  Miss 
Sophie  E.  Krieger,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  three  miles 
west  of  Millstadt,  on  the  2d  of  February,  1843.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  George  Philip  Krieger.  Her  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Justina  Stemraler.  From  the  time  he  could  take  any 
active  participation  in  politics  he  was  a  member  of  the  republican 
party.  On  coming  to  the  United  States  his  sympathies  inclined, 
him  to  side  with  the  free-soil  party,  in  its  contest  against  slavery 
and  when  he  became  capable  of  exercising  the  right  of  suffrage  he 
cast  his  first  vote  for  president  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  and 
thus  assisted  in  the  election  of  the  first  republican  president  of  the 
United  States.  He  has,  however,  been  no  politician,  and  has  con- 
fined his  efforts  to  the  support  of  the  measures  and  candidates  of  the 
republican  party.  While  proprietor  of  the  store  he  carried  on 
business  on  business  principles,  and  was  straightforward,  honest, 
and  energetic.  His  name  is  here  presented  as  one  of  the  successful 
business  men  of  the  county. 


"W.  J.  McBRIDE  (deceased). 

W.  J.  McBride  was  born  in  Loudon  county,  Virginia,  on  the 
15th  of  March,  1808.  His  father  was  John  McBride.  His 
mother's  name  before  marriage  was  Sarah  Watkins.  He  was  the 
third  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  When  he  was  five  years  old 
the  family  moved  from  Loudon  to  Hampshire  county,  Virginia, 
where  two  years  afterward  his  father  died.  Our  subject  passed 
most  of  his  useful  days  in  Hampshire  county.  He  obtained  an 
average  common-school  education.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1829. 
His  mother  and  the  rest  of  the  family  also  came  to  this  state  and 
settled  at  Belleville.  Mr.  McBride  came  to  Centerville  township, 
April  5,  1831 ;  he  married  Dovej  Harrison,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Harrison.  Her  father  was  born  in  Georgia,  December  13,  1779, 
moyed  to  Illinois  in  1804,  and  settled  in  section  six  of  township 
one  south,  range  eight  west,  and  about  the  year  1815  moved  to 
section  one  of  township  one  south,  range  nine  west.  Mrs.  McBride 
was  born  April  30,  1814.  In  the  year  1826  Thomas  Harrison 
moved  to  Belleville  where  he  bought  an  ox-mill  which  had  been 
started  by  Wilkinson  &  Riiigold  which  he  ran  for  some  time,  and 
then  in  1831  started  the  first  steam  mill  ever  built  in  Belleville. 
He  was  subsequently  prominently  connected  with  the  milling  and 
manufacturing  interests  of  Belleville.  He  died  at  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota,  on  the  27th  of  August,  1867.  Mrs.  McBride's  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Gilbreth,  was  born  in  one  of  the 
Carolinas  on  the  10th  of  July,  1782. 

Mr.  McBride  lived  some  years  after  his  marriage  in  Belleville 
and  then  settled  on  the  farm  in  section  one  of  township  one 
south,  range  nine  west,  on  which  he  lived  till  his  death.  He  began 
life  without  any  means  except  his  own  energy  and  industry,  and 
succeeded  in  acquiring  a  competence.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
business  qualifications.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  three 
hundred  and  sixty-three  acres  of  land.  In  early  life  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Whig  party  and  afterward  became  a  Democrat. 
He  became  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
1830,  of  which  he  was  a  member  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
time  was  devoted  to  his  farm  and  his  business  affairs,  and  he  was 
never  a  candidate  for  any  public  office.  Of  his  seven  children,  four 
are    now   living.     John  McBride    resides   at  Des   Moines,  Iowa. 


Residence  &  Property  or  D .C.S C H MA H LE N B Eff  C E R    Esq. 
Wagon  Manufactory  &c. OF  D.C  SCHMAHLEN6ERGER  &  G  EO.  A  LT  SCHU  H .  Millstaot.Ill 


\ 


Residence:  8c  SODA  Water  Factory  of  Cf^R/ST/AN  F/SCH EH j^SQ.M/LL3TADr,pEmREv/LLEPRJST.CLAjR  CoJll^ 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


259 


Margaret  Olive  is  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Wilderman  of  this  county. 
Thomas  H.  McBride  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Joliet.  William  E.  McBride,  the  youngest  child,  and  the  only  son 
now  living  in  the  county,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm  on 
the  1st  of  August,  1849.  He  graduated  from  McKendree  college 
in  1871.  He  was  married  September  1,  1875,  to  Jennie  L. 
Thatcher,  who  was  born  at  Marion,  Williamson  County,  and  gra- 
duated from  McKendree  college  in  1872.  Her  father,  the  Rev. 
John  Thatcher,  now  deceased,  was  a  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


D.  C.  SCHMAHLENBERGER. 

D.  C.  ScHMAHLENBERGEE,  a  picture  of  whose  residence  and 
blacksmith  establishment  in  Millstadt  shown  on  another  page,  is 
a  native  of  Center ville  township,  and  was  born  October  6th,  1850. 
His  grandfather  John  Schmdhlenberger,  emigrated  to  America 
in  183;5,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county  in  the  year  1834. 
He  was  among  the  early  German  settl  -rs  of  the  county,  and  entered 
land  in  section  twenty-one  of  township  one  south,  range  nine  west, 
a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Millstadt,  where  Dr.  John  Saltenberger 
now  lives.  Jacob  J.  Schmahlenberger,  the  father  of  the  gentleman 
whose  names  heads  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  was  about 
ten  years  old,  when  he  came  to  America,  and  about  eleven,  when  his 
father  settled  in  this  county.  When  twenty- four  years  of  age,  he  mar- 
ried Sophia  Weckler,  also  a  native  of  Germany.  Her  father  had 
settled  five  miles  south-west  of  Millstadt.  After  his  marriage,  he 
went  to  farming  in  section  thirty-two  of  township  one  south,  range 
nine  west,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  owns  two  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  of  land.  He  has  had  five  children,  all  sons :  Daniel 
C,  Jacob,  William,  August,  and  Frederick. 

Daniel  C.  Schmahlenberger,  the  eldest  child,  was  raised  in  this 
township.  He  obtained  a  common  school  education,  and  when 
seventeen,  began  learning  the  blacksmith  trade  at  Millstadt.  After 
completing  his  trade,  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  from  1872  to  1874, 
was  working  at  the  blacksmith  business  at  Fort  Atkinson,  in  that 
state.  He  came  back  to  Millstadt,  and  in  1877  started  a  shop  of 
his  own,  and  has  since  carried  on  business.  He  was  married  July 
31st,  1876,  to  Carolina  Ohlendorf,  who  was  born  near  Millstadt, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Philopena  Ohlendorf.  He  has 
three  children,  whose  names  are  Richard,  Edward  and  Sophia.  He 
is  independent  in  politics,  and  generally  votes  for  the  man  whom 
he  considers  best  fitted  for  the  office,  without  regard  to  the  party 
to  which  he  belongs. 


CASPAR  BOEMER 

Was  born  at  Warstein,  Prussia,  May  8,  1813.  He  was  the  only 
child  of  Frank  Boemer  and  his  wife,  Clara,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Semmelmann.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  died  when 
Caspar  Boemer  was  six  years  old.  Mr.  Boemer  went  to  school 
at  Warstein  till  thirteen,  and  afterwards  was  eighteen  months 
at  a  college  at  Liepstadt  and  one  year  at  a  college  at  Geseke.  In 
1833  he  volunteered  in  the  Prussian  army  and  served  till  1836. 
After  leaving  the  military  service  he  determined  to  emigrate  to 
America,  and  in  company  with  his  mother's  brother  sailed  from 
Bremen  and  landed  at  New  York,  June  27,  1837.  He  was  then 
twenty-four.  After  a  few  months  stay  in  Ohio  he  came  to  St. 
Louis  where  he  lived  till  1841.  He  was  married  in  St.  Louis  in 
November,  1840,  to  Catherine  Rodemich,  daughter  of  Philip 
Rodemich.  She  was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  and 
came  to  America  in  1836  when  fifteen. 


In  1841  he  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  for  five  hundred  dol- 
lars bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  eight  of  township  one 
south,  range  nine  west.  lie  had  lost  in  St.  Louis  all  the  money 
he  had  brought  from  the  old  country  and  borrowed  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars  with  which  to  make  the  first  payment  on 
his  purchase.  There  were  then  no  improvements,  not  even  a 
fence  rail  ,on  the  land.  He  began  the  improvement  of  the  place, 
put  in  a  crop,  and  through  the  winter  season,  worked  in  St.  LquIs 
to  secure  money  with  which  to  meet  the  payments.  He  was 
obliged  to  exercise  great  industry  and  economy  in  order  to  obtain 
a  start.  Once  in  St.  Louis,  when  left  unable  to  work  by  a  spell 
of  the  ague,  he  had  to  borrow  money  with  which  to  buy  bread  for 
his  family.  His  first  crop  of  wheat  he  hauled  to  St.  Louis,  and 
received  for  it  thirty -one  and  a  third  cents  a  bushel,  and  worked 
two  days  to  pay  for  the  use  of  the  wagon  in  which  the  wheat  was 
hauled.  Under  these  circumstances  it  took  some  years  to  pay  for 
the  land.  He  built  a  small  house  in  which  he  lived  till  Novem- 
ber, 1846,  when  one  night  it  burned  to  the  ground,  his  wife  and 
children  escaping  without  even  their  clothing.  In  1851  the 
first  eighty  acres  were  all  paid  for,  and  that  year  he  bought 
twenty  additional  acres.  He  received  that  year  eighty-five  cents 
for  his  wheat,  the  highest  price  he  had  so  far  obtained. 

From  that  time  he  was  prosperous  and  successful.  He 
mostly  raised  wheat,  and  more  of  it  to  the  acre  than  any  other 
farmer  in  that  part  of  the  county.  He  was  ready  to  adopt 
modern  methods  of  farming,  and  used  on  his  farm  the  first  thresh- 
ing machine  ever  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Millstadt.  As  soon  as 
he  was  able  he  bought  more  land.  He  still  owns  the  eighty  which 
he  first  purchased,  oh  which  stands  his  present  residence  and  farm 
buildings.  His  judgment  in  selecting  this  particular  tract  of  land 
©.1  coming  to  the  country  is  justified  by  the  fact  that  the  location 
is  considered  one  of  the  best  for  a  farm  residence  in  that  portion 
of  the  county.  He  owns  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  of  land 
besides  property  in  the  town  of  Millstadt.  He  has  had  twelve  child- 
ren. Of  these  nine  are  now  living.  The  oldest,  Catharine,  is  the 
wife  of  Louis  Diesel,  a  farmer  of  Centerville  township.  William 
Boemer  resides  in  Millstadt.  Frederick  Boemer  is  farming  near 
Millstadt.  Mary  married  William  Schuette,  a  millwright,  who 
resides  in  St.  Louis.  The  remaining  children,  Louisa,  John, 
Henry,  Henrietta,  and  Amelia,  still  have  their  homes  under  the 
parental  roof.  The  youngest  son,  Henry,  graduated  from  a  com- 
mercial college  in  St.  Louis  in  1877,  and  for  several  winters  has 
taught  school. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Boemer  was  a  member  of  the  democratic 
party,  with  which  he  acted  up  to  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  rebel- 
lion. In  1864  he  supported  Lincoln  for  the  presidency,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  republican  party  ever  since.  He  has  held 
no  public  office,  but  has  been  content  with  the  quiet  and  peaceful 
life  of  a  private  citizen.  During  the  many  years  he  has  resided 
near  Millstadt  he  has  been  a  respected  member  of  the  com- 
munity, and  maintained  the  reputation  of  an  honest  and  upright 


man. 


CHARLES  L.  PROBSTMEYER, 

Was  born  at  Bockenem,  Hanover,  February  26th,  1835.  He  was 
the  second  of  four  children,  of  Henry  and  Regina  Probstmeyer. 
His  father  was  a  middle  class  farmer,  and  died  when  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  eleven  years  old.  After  leaving  school  at  the  age 
of  fifteen,  Mr.-  Probstmeyer  learned  the  butcher's  trade.  In  1857, 
he  emigrated  to  America,  and  after  living  a  year  in  St.  Louis,  be- 
came a  resident  of  Millstadt.     He  followed  the  butchering  business 


260 


EIST0R7  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


till  1865.  Ficm  that  date  to  1870,  he  was  in  the  coal  mining  busi- 
ness, purchasing  one  mine  and  opening  another.  In  1873,  he  was 
electedjusticeofthepeace,  and  re-elected  in  1877,  and  has  been 
filling  that  office  ever  since  -with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction 
to  the  people.  Before  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  he  served 
two  terms  as  constable.  He  was  married  on  the  26th  of  March, 
18£9,  to  Elencra  Wagner,  a  native  also  of  Germany. 


JOHN  M.  LITTLE,  (deceased.) 

Amokg  the  former  residents  of  Centerville  township  was  John 
M.  Little,  who  died  in  1865.  He  was  born  near  Boonesville,  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  8th  of  November,  1814.  He  was  the  fifth  child  and 
only  son  of  seven  children  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Jackson)  Little. 
In  the  fall  of  1820,  when  he  was  six  years  old,  his  father  moved 
with  the  family  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  the  Badgley  neighbor- 
hood, north  of  Belleville.  A  few  months  after  coming  to  this  state 
his  father  died,  and  his  mother  soon  afterward  bought  land  in  sec- 
tion five  of  township  one  south,  range  nine  west;  where  the  family 
settled,  and  where  Mr.  Little  afterward  lived  till  his  death.  He 
obtained  an  ordinary  education,  and  was  obliged  to  walk  three  miles 
during  the  winter  months  to  school. 

February  28th,  1838,  he  married  Nancy  Atchison,  who  was  born 
July  23d,  1817.  Her  father  and  grandfather  were  both  named 
George  Atchison  ;  they  emigrated  from  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in 
the  American  Bottom,  in  the  present  county  of  Monroe,  and  were 
among  the  earliest  American  settlers  of  Illinois.  The  place  where 
they  settled  adjoined  the  old  farm  of  Gov.  Bond.  Mrs.  Little's 
father  and  grandfather  lived  in  a  fort  for  protection  against  the  In- 
dians, and  her  uncle,  Alexander  Atchison,  was  killed  by  the  red 
skins.  When  Mrs.  Little  was  twelve  years  old,  her  father  moved 
to  St.  Clair  county,  and  settled  on  land  which  he  entered,  four  miles 
west  of  Belleville.  Mrs.  Little's  mother's  name  was  Elizabeth 
Smirls,  whose  father  was  an  early  settler  of  Jefferson  county, 
Missouri. 

John  M.  Little  died  on  the  4th  of  September,  1865.  He  was  a 
good  citizen  of  the  county.  In  his  politics  he  was  first  a  democrat, 
but  became  a  member  of  the  republican  party  when  it  was  first 
formed.  He  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres 
of  land.  He  had  ten  children.  Henry,  George,  James,  and  Eme- 
line  are  deceased.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Leach,  and  lives  in 
Harvey  county,  Kansas.  Mahala  married  Monroe  M.  Stookey. 
Hester  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Anderson  of  Jackson  county,  Illinois. 
Elsie  married  James  Proffitt,  and  lives  at  Alma.  Jackson  and 
Lucinda  still  reside  at  home.  The  three  oldest  sons,  Henry,  George, 
and  James,  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  war  of  the  rebel- 
lion. Henry  enlisted  in  January,  1864,  in  Co.  E,  59th  Illinois  re- 
giment, and  served  two  years,  or  till  after  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
returned  home  in  bad  health,  and  died  June  9th,  1869.  George 
enlisted  in  1863,  and  while  at  Camp  Butler,  Springfield,  died  of  the 
measles  on  the  3d  of  February,  1864,  James  enlisted  in  the  154th 
Illinois  regiment  on  the  11th  of  February,  1865,  and  served  till  the 
following  September.  He  came  home  sick  from  disease  contracted 
in  the  service,  and  died  on  the  28th  of  October,  1865.  Emeline 
married  Alpheus  Badgley.     She  died  February  13th,  1875. 


EVAN  BAIRD,  (deceased). 

Eyan  Baied,  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Centerville  township, 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  Fleming  county  of  that 
state,  on  the  18th  of  December,  1804.  His  parents  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Kentucky.    His  father  died  when  he  was  small, 


and  his  mother  having  married  again,  he  lived  with  his  step-father 
till  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  secured  a  fair  business  education 
in  the  old-fashioned  subscription  schools  of  Kentucky,  held  in  log 
school-houses  with  floors  of  puncheons  and  benches  of  slabs.  He  was 
apprenticed  to  the  tanner's  trade,  in  Kentucky,  at  which  he  worked 
as  long  as  he  lived  in  his  native  state,  and  several  years  afterward. 
In  1827  he  came  to  Illinois,  reaching  Belleville  on  the  27th  of  May 
of  that  year.  He  went  into  the  tanning  business  at  Belleville, 
and  after  carrying  on  that  occupation  some  time,  entered  forty  (40) 
acres  of  land  in  section  four  of  township  one  south,  range  nine  west, 
on  which  he  moved  and  went  to  farming.  This  entry  was  made 
under  Gen.  Jackson's  administration,  and  the  original  patent  bears 
his  name.  While  living  at  Belleville  he  married  Mary  Miller, 
daughter  of  Wm.  Miller.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Her 
father  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  settled  a  short  distance  south- 
west of  Belleville,  and  lived  in  a  log  house  which  may  still  be  seen 
standing  on  the  Centerville  road. 

Mr.  Baird  afterward  entered  additional  land,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  owned  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  acres.  He  died 
February  8th,  1860.  He  was  a  man  respected  for  his  good  qualities 
as  a  neighbor  and  a  citizen.  He  was  first  a  member  of  the  demo- 
cratic party,  with  which  he  acted  till  new  parties  were  formed  on 
the  question  of  slavery,  when  he  became  a  republican,  and  was  one 
of  the  early  members  of  that  organization  in  St.  Clair  county.  He 
never  filled  any  public  office,  but  gave  his  time  to  his  farm  and 
business  aflfairs.  He  was  an  industrious  and  hard-working  man, 
and  all  that  he  accomplished  in  life  was  the  result  of  his  own  ef- 
forts. He  carried  on  the  tanning  business  for  some  time  after 
moving  on  the  farm.  His  widow  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  having  been  born  March  7th,  1807.  There 
were  six  children  whose  names  are  as  follows  :  William,  born  Apl. 
30th,  1831 ;  Mary  Jane,  born  Apl.  4th,  1834,  died  in  infancy  ;  Ed- 
ward, born  September  23d,  1837  ;  Margaret  Ann,  born  December 
20th,  1840,  married  Thomas  Lask,  and  died  February  11th,  1869  ; 
Elizabeth,  born  September  20th  1843  ;  and  David  Winfield,  born 
November  15th,  1847.  The  four  who  are  living  all  reside  on  the 
old  homestead  farm,  carry  on  farming  operations,  and  own  two 
hundred  and  eleven  acres  of  land. 


JACOB  E.  HENRICI, 
Was  born  at  Anspach  am  Usingen,  Dukedom  of  Nassau,  September 
25th,  1833.  He  was  the  second  of  seven  children  of  John  George 
Henrici  and  Catharine  Wueirich.  Three  brothers  by  the  name  of 
Henrici  came  from  Sweden  and  settled  at  Anspach  d-uring  the 
thirty  years  war,  and  from  one  of  these  Mr.  Henrici  is  descended. 
After  leaving  school  at  fourteen,  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  brewing 
business.  In  the  fall  of  1846,  he  came  to  America.  The  family 
landed  at  New  Orleans.  While  ascending  the  Mississippi,  seventy 
miles  below  St.  Louis,  his  mother  was  accidentally  drowned,  falling 
from  the  side  of  the  boat  while  trying  to  draw  a  bucket  of  water 
from  the  river.  His  father  settled  in  Marion  county,  Missouri 
where  he  died  in  1856.  After  staying  ten  days  in  St.  Clair  county] 
Mr.  Hennci  found  employment  as  a  baker  in  St.  Louis,  receiving 
four  dollars  a  month  wages.  In  the  spring  of  1847,  he  worked 
at  Columbia  in  Monroe  county,  and  afterward  went  to  Marion 
county,  Missouri,  and  with  his  father  established  a  brewery  While 
living  at  Palmyra,  Missouri,  he  married  Elizabeth  Lindenstruth 
born  at  Reiskirchen,  Hesse  Darmstadt,  daughter  of  Christian  and 
Catharine  (Magel)  Lindenstruth.  In  1848,  he  returned  to  St 
Clair  county.  In  1849,  he  was  employed  in  St.  Louis  as  a  coach- 
man by  a  physician  who,  finding  that  he  had  a  good  education. 


HiaTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


261 


made  him  a  clerk  in  his  drug  store.  Mr.  Henrici  resided  in 
Marion  county,  Missouri,  fifteen  months,  and  then  in  the  fall  of 
1850,  came  back  to  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Before  leaving  the  old  country,  he  served  three  years  in  the  Ger- 
man army.  When  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke  out,  a  company  of 
home  guards  was  organized  at  Millstadt,  in  which  he  held  the  po- 
sition of  first  lieutenant,  and  did  the  active  drilling  for  the  company. 
He  was  offered  a  lieutenant's  commission  in  a  regiment  raised  in  the 
county  for  the  war;  but  on  account  of  his  health  was  obliged  to  re- 


main at  home.  He  began  teaching  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and  has 
taught  school  every  winter  since,  with  the  exception  of  from  1862 
to  1864,  during  which  period  he  suffered  from  sickness.  He  has 
four  children  :  Catharine,  now  the  wife  of  Adam  Bohley  ;  Conrad 
August ;  Mary  Magdalena,  wife  of  Joseph  Geissel  of  St.  Louis,  and 
Elizabeth.  He  was  first  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been  a  re- 
publican since  that  party  was  formed.  His  education  has  been  ob- 
tained by  his  own  efforts,  and  is  the  result  of  self-study. 


ATHENS    PRECIN^CT. 


THENS  is  situated  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the 
county.  It  is  separated  from  Fayetteville  on  the 
north  by  the  Kaskaskia  river ;  on  the  east  and 
north-east  from  St.  Clair  by  Big  Mud  Creek,  ex 
cept  that  part  lying  along  the  line  of  Washington 
county ;  on  the  south  it  is  bounded  by  Randolph 
county ;  on  the  west  by  Monroe  county  and  Fayette- 
ville precinct,  from  both  of  which  it  is  separated 
by  the  Kaskaskia  river.  Geographically  it  embraces 
most  of  T.  3  S.  R.  7  W. ;  T.  3  S.  R.  6  W.,  and  parts  of  T.  2  S. 
R.  7  W.,  and  T.  2  S.  R.  6  W.,  in  all  44,470  acres.  It  is  well 
watered  by  the  streams  which  are  its  boundaries,  and  numerous 
small  affluents  among  them.  Dosa  creek,  which  enters  the  town- 
ship three  miles  south  of  Marissa,  on  section  34,  flows  a  north- 
westerly course,  then  westerly  and  southerly,  leaving  the  township 
on  section  33,  seven  miles  west  of  where  it  enters.  Belts  of  timber 
skirt  the  streams,  but  it  is  principally  a  beautiful  prairie,  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  Passing  through  it,  diagonally,  from  north- 
west to  south-east,  is  the  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad,  which  fur- 
nishes means  for  transportation  of  surplus  products,  stock,  etc. 
The  honor  of  having  been  the  first  settler  belongs  to  John  Lively, 
who  came  from  South  Carolina,  and  located  on  section  34,  T.  8  S- 
R.  7  W.  in  1805.  On  November  28th,  1816,  he  entered  the  S.W. 
quarter  of  section  34,  where  he  lived  for  several  years. 

A  few  years  later,  probably  1810,  Nathaniel  Hill,  Joshua  Per- 
kins, Reuben  Stubblefield,  James  and  Reuben  Lively  and  Richard 
Beasley,  senior,  located  in  the  same  neighborhood.  As  a  protection 
against  the  Indians,  they  constructed  a  block-house  on  Dosa  creek, 
near  the  present  site  of  Hillstown,  (named  for  Nathaniel  Hill.) 
It  was  built  in  the  prevailing  style  of  such  structures,  two  stories 
high,  the  lower  one  provided  with  port-holes  to  shoot  through,  and 
a'so  with  strong  puncheon  doors,  securely  barred  against  entering 
from  the  outside.  The  second  story  projected  over  the  first, 
enabling  parties  secreted  within  it  to  shoot  down  upon  Indians 
attempting  to  gain  access  into  the  lower  story.  It  was  to  this 
block-house  that  a  son  of  Lively,  who  had  been  murdered  in 
Washington  county  in  March,  1813,  and  a  hired  man,  made  their 


escape  before  blood-thirsty  savages.  An  account  of  this  terrible 
tragedy  may  not  be  here  amiss.  Lively  had  left  his  home  in  this 
precinct  to  make  a  new  one  near  Covington,  Washington  county, 
in  company  with  David  Huggins,  a  brother-in-law.  They  made 
one  crop  without  being  molested,  in  1812.  In  1813  Huggins  re- 
turned to  Monroe  county.  Friends  importuned  Lively  to  give  up 
his  place  and  join  them  at  the  block-house.  He  resolutely  de- 
clined, saying,  he  had  no  fear  of  the  red  skins.  His  wife  seemed 
to  have  a  presentiment  of  the  terrible  scenes  that  were  soon  to  be 
enacted.  An  account  of  the  massacre,  in  the  History  of  Washing- 
ton county,  is  as  follows :  Lively  had  an  enclosure  into  which  he 
had  his  stock  driven  at  night,  to  protect  them  from  marauding 
bands  of  Indians.  For  several  nights  previous  to  the  night  that 
witnessed  the  fearful  tragedy.  Lively  and  his  family  were  greatly  dis- 
turbed. The  stock  gave  evidence  of  their  alarm  by  their  unusual 
conduct ;  the  dogs  barked  continuously,  and  Lively  began  to  realize 
the  imminent  danger  of  himself  and  family.  He  frequently,  with 
rifle  in  hand,  would  go  out  and  search  for  the  cause  of  the  alarm, 
but  his  efforts  to  discover  the  source  were  unavailing.  He  en- 
deavored to  calm  his  wife's  fears  by  telling  her  it  was  nothing  but 
wolves  or  other  wild  animals  that  created  the  disturbance.  This, 
however,  did  not  suffice  to  quiet  her  feelings,  and  she  labored  more 
assiduously  to  convince  her  husband  that  their  safety  depended  on 
their  immediate  removal  to  the  fort.  The  last  night  before  the 
massacre  was  so  exceedingly  noisy  that  Lively  began  to  lose  his 
composure,  and  agreed  to  accede  to  the  request  of  his  wife  and  go 
to  a  place  of  safety.  He  began  preparations  for  moving  about  two 
hours  before  sundown.  He  directed  his  son,  hired  hand  and  his 
nephew,  to  get  up  the  horses  while  his  wife  and  daughters  milked 
the  cows,  and  got  things  in  readiness  to  start  to  the  settlements. 
The  young  man  and  boy  started  in  quest  of  the  horses,  leaving 
the  old  gentleman  in  the  cow-pen  with  his  wife  and  daughters,  who 
were  milking  the  cows.  He  was  on  the  stump  of  a  fallen  tree  with 
his  loaded  rifle  across  his  knees  ready  for  use,  chatting  with  his 
wife  and  daughters,  whose  spirits  were  buoyant  in  anticipation  of 
leaving  that  dreaded  place.  But  alas !  their  fond  hopes  were  never 
to  be  realized !   The  young  man  and  boy  had  proceeded  but  a  short 


262 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


distance  in  the  direction  of  the  horses,  when  they  were  alarmed  at  the 
report  of  fire-arms  in  the  direction  of  the  house.  They  hurried  to 
the  scene  of  the  firing,  and  when  they  had  come  in  sight,  a  scene 
met  their  gaze  that  was  calculated  to  freeze  their  hearts !  The 
premises  were  covered  with  Indians ;  the  death-dealing  tomahawk 
and  scalping-knife  were  doing  their  work  of  destruction.  All  were 
found  where  they  were  slain,  on  the  premises,  scalped,  and  their 
bodies  horribly  mutilated,  except  one  boy,  who  was  found  by  a 
party  that  followed  the  Indians,  beheaded  and  with  a  hole  cut 
through  his  body,  with  his  buckskin  shirt  drawn  through  it." 

The  }  oung  man  and  boy  made  their  way  on  foot  to  the  block- 
house, wading  Little  Mud  creek,  whose  waters  were  so  high,  that 
they  reached  the  boy's  chin.  They  gave  the  alarm,  and  all  occupants 
of  the  fort  able  to  bear  arms  followed  the  savages,  some  of  whom 
they  killed. 

Upon  the  abandonment  of  the  block-hcuse  its  occupants  scattered 
to  various  parts  of  the  country,  only  two  or  three  families  remain- 
ing in  the  neighborhood. 

There  are  yet  living  representatives  of  the  Hills  and  Livelys  in 
this  county.  These  pioneers  followed  the  usual  avocations  and 
endured  the  hardships  incident  to  such  life.  One  of  the  Livelys 
located  on  section  34,  where  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years.  To 
him  whilst  living  here  was  born  Mary  Lively,  who  first  enlivened 
the  humble  cabin  of  the  Liveiys  in  the  spring  of  1816.  Peace  had 
spread  her  fair  wings,  and  when  bands  of  Indians  of  the  Tamarois 
tribe  occasionally  stopped  at  the  house,  they  admired  the  little  pale 
face,  and  bestowed  on  her  presents  more  brilliant  than  useful. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  a  man  of  great  enterprise,  who  en- 
tertained, what  at  the  time  were  considered  extravagant  ideas  of  the 
future  of  the  country,  a  man  among  men, — a  man  whose  love  of 
liberty  was  learned  amid  the  mountains  of  Switzerland,  wended 
his  way  from  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  where  he'had  landed,  across 
the  AUeghenies  ;  across  the  states  of  Ohio   and  •  Indiana ;  across 
Illinois  until  he  halted  upon  the  banks  of  the  Kaskaskia,  and  looked 
upon  a  country  fair  to  behold,  a  fit  habitation  for  himself  and 
friends.     He  determined  on  its  possession,  and   lost   no  time  in 
making  his  way  to  Kaskaskia,  where  he  laid  claim  to  a  number  of 
sections  of  land,  paying  earnest  money  on  the  same.    The  following 
year  he  returned  to  his  native  land,  doubtless  with  fairy  sounding 
stories  of  the  wondrous  land  of  his  adoption.     In  1818  Bernhardt 
Steiner,  for  that  was  the  name  of  the  Swiss   Pioneer,  returned, 
bringing  with  him  several  families,  among  them  Jacob  Hardy,  the 
Wildys  and  others.     His  operations  were  all  planned  on  a  liberal 
scale.    He  commenced  merchandizing  on  what  is  now  called  Dutch 
Hill.     A  great  scarcity  of  salt  was  complained  of  throughout  the 
scattered    settlement.      He    in    1820    went    to    Kaskaskia,   con- 
structed a  raft,  loaded  it  with  salt  and  goods,  and  by  the  aid  of 
others,  poled  it  up  the  river.     A  stroke  of  enterprise  highly  com- 
mended by  the  early  pioneers.     In  1822,  through  his  persuasion,  a 
nephew,  Peter  Baumann,  a  scholar  and  a  gentleman  of  means, 
came  from  Switzerland,  it  is  supposed,  to  form  a  co-partnership 
with  him.     Before  his  arrival  Steiner  died,  or  was  killed.     As  re- 
lated by  those  most  likely  to  be  conversant  with  the  facts,  he  had 
started  with  considerable  money  in  his  possession,  on  horseback  for 
Kaskaskia,  to  complete  his  payment  on  lands  he  had  already  se- 
lected.    On  his  way  he  was  intercepted  and  killed,  his  body  being 
found,  some  time  during  the  night,  near  a  cabin  where  a  dance  was 
going  on.     His  relatives  and  friends  knew  not  of  his  death  for 
several  days,  when  his  body  was  obtained  and  buried  on  section  10, 
near  by,  a  mile  from  the  present  site  of  Dutch  Hill.     Baumann 
heard  of  this  tragic  death  while  on  his  way  hither.     Among  the 
pleasant  dreams  of  Steiner  was  that  of  founding  a  city  on  the  river 


near  his  home.  His  untimely  death  for  a  time  checked  the  pros- 
pects of  the  Swiss  settlement,  although  the  arrival  of  Baumann  gave 
it  fresh  impetus.  It  is  yet  firmly  balieved  by  many  that  Steiner 
buHed  large  sums  of  money  near  Dutch  Hill,  for  which  fruitless 
search  has  often  been  prosecuted. 

There  were  no  schools  in  reach,  so  Mr.  Baumann  determined  to 
make  the  best  of  a  bad  outlook,  taught  his  own  children,  giving 
them  fair  educations.  He  was  (As  scholar  of  the  settlement ;  an  ad- 
viser in  trouble.  To  him  all  looked  for  guidance,  or  for  drawing 
up  any  papers.  Often  did  he  wish  he  had  never  left  his  native 
land,  and  as  often  picked  up  fresh  courage  to  surmount  the  difii- 
culties  which  beset  the  pathway  of  a  pioneer.  To  him  was  born 
Peter  Baumann,  Jr.,  June  23d,  1823,  believed  to  have  been  the 
first  born  Switzer  in  the  county.  In  1825  he  erected  a  horse  mill, 
which  was  run  for  many  years,  each  patron  furnishing  his  own 
power  for  grinding  his  grist.  He  also  was  the  first  postmaster,  ap- 
pointed in  1840,  to  keep  the  office  called  Lively,  which  he  did  at 
his  own  house. 

To  the  south  of  the  Swiss  settlement,  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood of  John  Lively,  already  mentioned,  there  came-  a  New  Eng- 
lander,  direct  from  the  "land  of  steady  habits  (Connecticut)," 
Chauncey  S.  Burr  in  1820,  after  a  sojourn  of  two  years  at  Kaskaskia. 
His  conveyance  hither  was  a  singular  Yankee  combination  of  car- 
riage and  boat.  Upon  reaching  a  river  he  took  ofi"  the  running 
gear,  put  it  into  the  bed,  and  paddled  or  poled  his  way  across  the 
stream.  It  is  related  that  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash  he  was 
thought  by  the  inhabitants  to  be  possessed  of  a  spirit.  So  he  was, 
but  it  was  the  indomitable  spirit  of  enterprise  which  drives  success 
before  it.  In  his  humble  cabin,  on  sect.  27,  he  had  a  looking-glass, 
the  first  brought  to  the  locality.  Wyatt  Stubblefield,  then  a  lad, 
espied  himself  therein  and  rushed  out  of  doors  to  find  "  that  other 
boy."  He  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  his  vicinity.  The 
first  wedding  ceremony  he  performed  was  that  of  Jacob  Hardy  to 
Elizabeth  Wildy,  Aug.  2d,  1832.  He  was  a  conspicuous  character 
at  every  sale  that  came  off  in  his  vicinity.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Per- 
melia  Burr,  was  the  first  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Kas- 
kaskia, to  which  point  although  it  was  twenty  miles  distant  she 
rode  horseback  whenever  the  weather  would  permit.  Norton's 
Presbyterianism  in  Illinois,  says,  "  In  1819  or  20  she  became  the 
owner  of  a  colored  woman.  But  she  was  illy  satisfied  with  the  re- 
lation and  often  plead  for  her  freedom,  but  could  not  prevail.  At 
length  they  parted  with  her.  After  being  owned  by  another  for  a 
time  the  poor  colored  slave  woman  was  murdered.  Mrs.  Burr  says 
she  could  never  think  of  it,  but  with  horror." 

Another  and  very  eccentric  pioneer,  was  Reuben  Lively.  He 
bought  the  Athens  ferry  of  Ira  Manville,  Sr.,  who  first  established 
it,  and  kept  it  for  many  years.  He  also  furnished  entertainment 
for  travelers.  In  this  capacity  he  was  known  for  many  miles 
around.  As  parties  would  stop  to  ask  for  lodging  he  would  insult 
them,  sometimes  even  going  so  far  as  call  to  his  son  to  briug  him 
his  shot  gun,  to  drive  away  the  intruders,  then  as  they  would  start 
away  he  would  doff" his  mask  and  say,  "I  guess  the  old  woman  has 
a  crust  of  bread  and  a  pile  of  straw  in  one  corner  for  you,  come 
in."  No  matter  how  rough  he  was,  or  how  much  incensed  travel- 
ers became.  Lively  never  neglected  to  make  all  right.  To  him  a 
son,William  Lively,  was  born  in  Dec,  1816,  the  second  birth  iu  the 
precinct. 

Among  other  early  settlers  were  George  and  Jack  Baggs,  Robin 
McDonald,  Thos.  James  and  John  Rainey. 

As  early  as  1831  a  school-house,  better  than  pioneer  school- 
houses  usually  are,  in  that,  to  use  the  expression  of  a  pioneer  who 
attended  there,  "  They  did  make  out  to  have  a  pucheon  floor,"  was 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


263 


erected  in  section  34.  The  teacher,  Isaac  Hill,  contrary  to  custom 
had  a  regular  boarding  place  at  John  Lively's.  Several  pupils 
from  abroad  likewise  boarded  there.  In  all  there  were  as  many  as 
thirty  scholars.  It  was  a  subscription  school  at  $2.50  per  pupil  for 
three  months'  tuition.  In  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  precinct  in  % 
1836  a  school-house  was  built  on  Mud  Creek,  a  primitive  log  affair 
without  a  floor  other  than  that  furnished  by  mother  earth,  and  yet 
it  -was  not  without  its  pretensions,  as  there  were  four  or  five  small 
panes  of  glass  fitted  in  between  the  logs,  by  Mr.  Wilson,  the  hus- 
band of  Mrs.  Martha  Wilson,  the  first  teacher.  As  the  neighbors 
said,  "  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  handy  man." 

A  Scotchman  named  Kirkwood  was  claimed  to  have  been  the 
first  preacher,  resident  in  the  precinct.  He  preached  in  his  own 
house  to  the  neighbors  who  gathered  to  hear  him.  He  was  an  Old 
School  Presbyterian.  This  was  in  1829.  Prior  to  this  there  had 
been  occasional  services  by  traveling  preachers. 

As  illustrative  of  the  faithfulness  of  some  of  these  pioneers,  it  is 
said  that  Mrs.  Rebecca  Greene,  wife  of  Sir  Francis  Burdette 
Greene,  who  located  on  Sect.  27,  T.  3  S.  E.  6  W.,  1826,  walked 
to  attend  church  near  Sparta,  ten  miles  distant,  carrying  an  infant 
in  her  arms,  that  too,  when  life  was  endangered  by  wandering  bands 
of  Indians. 

As  early  as  1837  a  steamboat,  called  the  "Wild  Duck,"  steamed 
up  the  Kaskaskia  as  far  as  Carlyle,  thus  opening  up  a  new  era  in 
the  prosperity  of  this  county.  Athens,  which  had  been  laid  out 
Sept.  21st,  1836,  by  Narcisse  Pensoneau,  took  on  city  airs  (on 
paper  )  Plats  of  the  "  future  great "  showing  churches,  public  parks, 
steamboats  at  the  levee,  and  crowded  thoroughfares  were  circulated 
through  the  eastern  cities,  and  much  property  was  exchanged  for 
merchandise  of  various  kinds. 

The  first  Land  entries  were  by  Andrew  White,  160  acres,  it 
being  the  S.  E  I,  section  33,  Septembsr  29,  1814;  Robert  Morrison, 
160  acres,  being  the  N.  E.  J,  section  34,  September  11,  1816  ;  John 
Lively,  160  acres,  being  the  S.  W.  i,  section  34,  November  28, 1816  ■ 
Nathaniel  Hill,  320  acres,  it  being  the  S.  W.  \,  section  28,  and 
S.  E  \,  section  29,  September  14,  1814  ;  Thomas  Nichols,  134  acres, 
it  being  the  N.  W.  \,  section,  March  18,  1815  ;  Daniel  P.  Cook, 
160  acres,  it  being  the  S.  E.  \,  section  27,  July  26,  1817,  all  in 
T.  3  S.  R.  7  W. ;  and  by  Adam  Henderson,  80  acres,  being  the 
W.  J  of  the  S.  E.  J,  section  30,  September  30,  1816,  in 
T.  2  S.  R.  6  W.;  and  by  Henry  T.  Whitman,  160  acres,  being 
the  N.  E.  \,  section  15,  July  8,  1818  ;  and  by  James  Morrison,  160 
acres,  being  the  N.  W.  \,  section  10,  June  29,  1818,  both  in 
T.  3  S.  R.  6  W. 

The  first  threshing  machine  used  in  the  precinct  was  that  by 
Baumann  Bros,  in  1854,  It  was  bought  by  them  in  Alton.  It 
was  a  horse  power. 

Isaac  Hill  was  licensed  to  keep  a  tavern  at  what  is  now  the 
village  of  New  Athens  in  1816,  paying  into  the  County  Treasury 
the  sum  of  four  dollars  per  annum  for  the  privilege.  This  was  the 
nucleus  of  the  town  itself.  It  drew  to  the  vicinity  other  settlers, 
and  trade  demanded  the  location  of  the 

TOWN  OF  NEW  ATHENS. 

New  Athens,  or  Athens,  as  it  was  first  called,  was  laid  off  by 
Narcisse  Pensoneau  in  1836.  It  consisted  of  forty-eight  blocks, 
comprising  461  lots  and  a  public  square.  Streets  were  of  a 
uniform  width  of  63  feet,  save  Water,  which  was  99  feet  wide. 
It  is  beautifully  situated,  and  at  times  has  seemed  destined  to 
become  a  city  of  considerable  size  only  to  lapse  again  almost  into 
a  series  of  farms.     At  first  ii  grew  rapidly,  reaching  as  great  a 


population,  it  is  claimed,  as  1,500  inhabitants.  In  1851  there 
were  only  five  inhabitants.  The  first  business  house  was  a  general 
store  of  Narcisse  Pensoneau.  The  first  physician  was  Dr.  A. 
Trapp  in  1837,  the  second  Dr.  Edward  Klinckhardt,  who  is  still 
a  re'sident.  George  Rock  kept  entertainment  for  travellers  in 
1838.  During  the  same  year  the  first  mill  (a  saw  mill  and  corn 
cracker)  was  built.  John  Irwin  was  the  first  teacher ;  he  taught 
in  1836.  William  Brock  burned  the  first  kiln  of  brick  in  1838  or 
9.  A  house  built  of  some  of  the  brick  still  stands  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  south-east  of  New  Athens.  It  was  built  and  at  first  occupied 
by  Pensoneau.  The  prospects  were  bright,  but  reverses  came,  and 
in  fifteen  years  the  town  was  quite  deserted,  when  a  fresh 
impetus  was  given  it  by  the  opening  of  a  store  by  Baumann 
Bros. 

Again  it  revived.  The  steamboat  "  Pearl"  undertook  to  make 
regular  trips,  followed  shortly  after  by  the  "  Silver  Lake."  In 
1852  a  post-office  was  established  and  William  H.  Bennett  was 
appointed  Postmaster.  Was  succeeded  in  1856  by  William 
Baumann,  who  continued  as  such  until  near  the  close  of  Lincoln's 
administration.  The  Athens  Mill  Company  was  incorporated  and 
mill  built  in  1857  at  a  cost  of  $18,000.  The  company  also  bought 
the  steamboat  "  Wild  Duck"  to  ply  upon  the  river  between  Athens 
and  Kaskaskia. 

Great  confusion  resulted  from  the  fact  that  there  was  another 
Athens  in  the  State.  Baumann  Bros,  had  14  casej  of  boots  and 
shoes  and  other  merchandize  shipped  from  Boston  during  the 
winter  of  1855-6  which  reached  its  destination  the  following 
spring,  having  wintered  at  Athens,  Menard  county.  A  change 
was  made  in  the  name  from  Athens  to  New  Athens,  in  1868. 

In  1868  the  Era  was  established  and  published  by  WiU'^t^ 
Baumann. 

In  1866  New  Athens  was  incorporated  by  election,  all  residents 
excepting  eight  voting  in  favor. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  was  elected  December  8,  1866.  It 
consisted  of  William  Darmstetter,  John  Einge,  Joseph  Flach,  H. 
M.  Perryman  and  Gustav  Huelbig. 

In  1868  an  effort  was  made  to  improve  the  navigation  of  the 
Kaskaskia,  in  which  citizens  of  New  Athens  were  quite  active.  A 
company  was  organized.  Subscriptions  were  made  but  the  locks 
and  dams  were  never  put  in ;  the  railroad  superseded  the  move- 
ment. 

The  first  train  of  cars  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line  from  St.  Louis 
crossed  the  bridge  on  New  Year's  day,  1870. 

The  Methodist  Church  was  built  in  1869  ;  the  Catholic  in 
1870;  the  Lutheran  in  1878;  and  the  German  Evangelical  in 
1879. 

New  Athens,  which  a  few  years  ago  boasted  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  hundred  inhabitants,  had  by  the  census  of  1880  only  603. 
The  destruction  of  the  mill  by  fire  in  1879,  and  competition  with 
other  railway  towns  have  contributed  to  this  result. 

At  present  the  leading  business  houses  are : 

Dry  Goods  Merchants — Joseph  Flach,  Isfried  Probst,  C.  Stolz, 
F.  H.  Hoist,  William  Wimer. 

Druggists — Louis  Schenck,  Henry  Dose. 

Hotels — "  New  Athens,"  by  Peter  Deichmann  ;  "  Bennett,"  by 
Daniel  Bert ;  "  Tremont,"  by  Cristoph  Heinnemann  ;  "  Illinois," 
by  Mrs.  William  Geiger. 

Printing  Office — Hauft  Bros. 

Machine  Shops — Degen  Bros,  manufacture  plows,  wagons,  culti- 
vators and  do  repairing. 

Brewery — Jacob  Hooss,  built  in  1853,  original  cost  83,000,  en- 


264 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


larged  in  1866  at  an  expense  of  $9,000,  finds  a  home  market  for 
all  its  products.     Capacity,  3 1,000  gals,  annually. 

Millinera—M.r&.  Catherine  Judd,  Mrs.  J.  Lively, 

Blacksmith — Gain  Bros. 

Elevator— Rnss^li  Hinckley,  capacity,  5000  bushels.  Built  in 
1880. 

Physidans—'Dr.  F.  Eeier,  Dr.  R.  J.  Watts,  and  Dr.  Klinck- 
hardt. 

Lumber  Yard—'Fniz  Oberbek. 
There  are  ten  saloons. 

SECRET   SOCIETIES. 

New  Athens  Lodge,  No.  588,I.O.O.F.,  was  organized  October  16, 
1875,  with  ten  charter  members,  R.  J.  Watts  as  N.  G.  Present 
membership,  about  thirty. 

MARISSA. 

The  village  of  Marissa  was  laid  oifby  James  Stewart;  Dec.  12th, 
1867,  it  being  the  east  middle  part  of  the  west  one-half  of  south- 
west quarter  see.  22,  embracing  39  lots.  To  the  original  plats  ad- 
ditions have  been  made  by  John  W.  Hesker  of  21  lots  east  of  ori- 
ginal plat,  January  28,  1869,  and  by  W.  E.  C.  Lyons  of  54  lots  to 
the  south,  January  2bth,  1870.  It  now  has  a  population  of  about 
sixty  inhabitants.  It  contains  a  general  store  by  Henry  Strassinger 
&  Co. ;  blacksmith,  Henry  Hacket ;  and  two  saloons.  To  the  north 
one  quarter  of  a  mile  are  Coulter's  mills,  Henry  Schlosstein,  propri- 
etor, built  by  Archibald  Coulter  in  1852;  capacity  100  barrels  per 
day ;  three  run  of  stone  ;  brick,  with  frame  attachment.  Original 
cost,  $15,000. 

MAEISSA  STATION, 

One  of  the  livest  villages  in  the  county,  was  laid  out  by  M.  E. 
and  J.  C.  Hamilton,  Jan.  5,  1871,  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line  Rail- 
road, which  divides  into  the  north  and  south  divisions. .  It  occu- 
pies the  central  part  of  the  north-west  quarter  of  section  27.  Ori- 
ginally there  were  99  lots,  50  north  and  49  south  of  the  railroad. 
To  these  additions  have  been  made  at  various  times  to  meet  the 
demands  of  growth,  which  have  been  quite  regular  and  steady.  Its 
population  is  about  300. 

The  name  Marissa  was  selected  by  James  Wilson,  the  first  post- 
master appointed  in  1846,  who  showed  his  love  for  ancient  history 
by  selecting  a  name  preserved  alone  in  Latin  records.  It  was  the 
name  of  a  city  destroyed  and  afterwards  rebuilt  by  Gabinius,  and 
is  believed  to  be  the  only  place  in  the  world  of  the  name.  Messrs. 
Hamilton  and  Hayes  opened  the  first  store  at  the  station  in  1871. 

John  Hamilton,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town,  a  man  of  great 
energy,  came  to  this  county  from  South  Carolina  in  1834,  and  lo- 
cated on  sec.  28.  M-  E.  Hamilton  built  the  first  house,  now  used 
as  a  station-house.    It  was  built  for  the  storage  of  grain. 

BUSINESS   HOUSES. 

Marissa  Bank. — By  Hamilton,  Kunze  &  Co. ;  A.  H.  Wells, 
cashier;  was  established  Sept.  1st,  1879.  First  and  only  bank  in 
the  precinct. 

Marissa  Elevator. — By  F.  A.  Reuss  &  Co. ;  was  built  in  1877 ; 
has  a  capacity  of  32,000  bush. ;  Jacob  Adam,  manager. 

Marissa  Mill  and  Elevator. — A.  J.  Meek  builder  and  proprietor, 
was  erected  in  1877.  The  mill  has  a  capacity  for  turning  out  65 
barrels  of  flour^er  diem,  has  four  run  of  stone,  elevator;  capacity 
4,500  bushels. 

<Dry    Goods.— M.  E.  Hamilton  &  Co. ;  M.  W.  Borders  &  Co. ; 
Wyllie  Bros. 

Druggists. — Lyons  &  Strassinger. 


Hotels.— "MsiTissa,  House,"  by  J.  R.  Helbron ; "  Hamilton  House," 
by  James  A.  Coppedge ;  and  "  Globe  House,"  by  Philip  Kirch- 
hoefier. 

Hardwire. — J.  H.  Hamilton  &  Co. 

Stoves  and  Tinware. — A.  Wasem. 

Gents'  Furnishing  House. — J.  W.  Stewart. 

Jeweler. — A.  L.  Blankenmeister. 

The  Marissa  Monitor  was  established  by  John  Wells. 

Livery  and  Agricultural  Implements — S.  J.  Guthrie. 

Furniture. — L.  Vierheller,  Jr. 

Agricultural  Implements. — Robert  Mearns. 

Wogon  Maker. — Charles  Stewart. 

I/umber  Dealers. — W.  M.  K.  Lyons,  Francis  White, 

Saddlery. — H.  E.  Mitze. 

Carpenters. — J,  W.  Elder  &  Co.,  M.  M.  Lively,  J.  K.  Kelson, 
William  Little. 

Butchers. — John  Hotz,  A.  Buser. 

Post-master. — Daniel  Zihledorf. 

Liwyer. — A.  Lyons. 

Physicians.— L.  P.  Coulter,  J.  G.  Guthrie,  W.  O.  Wilcox, 

Justice  of  the  Pexae. — James  A.  Coppedge. 

Churches. — Reformed  Presbyterian,  built  in  1855 ;  United  Pres- 
byterian, in  1871 ;  and  Baptist,  in  1875. 

BENEVOLENT  SOCIETIES. 

Marissa  Lodge,  No.  602,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  Sept.  21st, 
1876,  with  five  charter  members,  M.  M.  Lively,  N.  G.  Present 
N.  G.,  E.  D.  McLean. 

Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  654,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  May 
20th,  1878,  with  nintf  charter  members ;  Philip  Kirchhoefer,  N.  G 

Harmonia  Lodge,  No.  13,  U.  O.  T.  B.,  was  instituted  Feb.  6th, 
1872,  with  ten  charter  members. 

LENZBURG. 

Here,  again,  we  have  old  and  new  towns,  not  a  half  mile  apart. 
The  old  town  was  laid  off  by  T.  A.  Schneider,  November  7th,  1862, 
it  being  the  N.  W.  \  of  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  7,  T.  3  S.  R.  6  W.^ 
and  the  adjoining  fraction  of  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  6.  Since  the 
iron  horse  has  superseded  the  old-fa,hioned  mail  coach,  the  town 
has  lost  its  trade  to  a  great  degree.  It  uow  has  ^  general  store  by 
Adam  Wesel,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  saw-mill*.  The  name  was 
bestowed  by  Peter  Baumann  in  honor  of  his  native  village,  in 
Switzerland. 

LENZBURG   STATION, 

Population  about  150,  and  rapidly  increasing.  Was  laid  oflf  by 
P.  J.  Dreher,  October  4th,  18'S6,  on  the  S.  E.  i  of  the  N.  E.  t  of 
section  12,  T.  3  S.  R.  7  W.,  containing  81  lots. 

Its  business  is  rapidly  increasing.     Business  houses  are : 

General  Store,  Peter  tT.  Dreher. 

Hotel,  Hermann  Heinike,  Frederick  Deutchmann. 

Elevator,  Henry  Serth. 

Wagon  Maker,  Charles  Vogler. 

Blacksmiths,  David  Haensel,  Philip  Keim. 

Physician,  Miles  Hughes. 

Lenzburg  post-office  was  located  in  1866,  P.  J.  Dreher,  P.  M 
who  has  ever  since  held  the  office.    There  is  a  neat  German 
Evangelical  church  building,  which  was  erected  in  1879. 


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HISTORY  01  &T.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


265 


DUTCH    HILL 

Was  laid  off  and  named  by  Fred  Griebel,  March  16th,  1867,  on 
the  S.  W.  i  of  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  11,  T.  3  S.  R.  7  W.  A 
brewery  had  been  established  on  the  site  by  Edward  Griebel,  in 
1844  or  5.    Long  since  destroyed. 

HILLSTOWN 

Was  laid  off  by  Jacob  Freeh,  April  2d,  1855,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  S.  E.  i  of  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  18,  T.  3  S.,  R.  6.  W.,  being  the 
first  town  laid  out  in  the  congressional  township. 

The  first  coal  mine  in  the  township  was  opened  by  George  W. 
Morgenthaler,  near  Lenzburg,  in  1865. 

The  Covenanters,  or  Reformed  Presbyterians,  built  a  house  of 
worship  half  a  mile  south  of  Marissa  Station,  in  1856. 

Among  additional  industries  in  the  township  should  be  men- 
tioned a  saw-mill,  owned  by  Hermann  Yunk,  on  section  29,  T.  8 
S.,  R.  7  W. 

CASUALTIES   AND    CRIME. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  1844,  there  occurred,  near  Athens,  the 
drowning  of  five  persons.  As  narrated  by  Otto  Huelbig,  one  of 
the  party :  "  Seven  of  us  started  to  attend  a  wedding.  Before 
reaching  the  Okaw  we  had  to  cross  a  slough.  The  waters  were 
much  swollen.  Unfortunately  the  wagon  upset,  caused  by  the 
ladies  rushing  to  the  front,  where  my  father  and  myself  were  seated. 
My  mother,  three  sisters  and  a  Miss  Lena  Williams,  found  watery 
graves,  whilst  my  father  and  myself  escaped  a  like  death." 

A  SHOCKING   MUEDEK. 

Was  committed  in  the  month  of  May,  1854,  at  the  house  of  Henry 


Snyder,  section  3,  T.  3  S.,  R.  7.  One  Valentine  Klaus,  it  seems, 
loved  his  step-daughter,  or  so  professed,  and  feigning  illness,  had 
her  come  to  his  bedside  at  Snyder's,  where,  after  a  short  conversa- 
tion, he  shot  her  with  a  bullet  that  had  been  cast  in  a  thimble ; 
immediately  he  sprang  from  the  room,  climbed  a  ladder  leading  to 
the  loft,  and  shot  himself  with  a  pistol.     Death  ensued  at  once. 

This  precinct  was  organized  June  5th,  1839,  and  embraced 
within  its  limits  the  precinct  of  St.  Clair,  which  was  stricken  off  in 
1870.  The  first  election  was  held  in  the  fall  of  1839,  at  the  store 
of  James  Turkington.  Reuben  Lively,  Adam  McDonald  and  Isaac 
Rainey,  were  the  first  judges  of  election. 

White  Oak  Mine,  for  the  mining  of  coal,  the  second  most  exten- 
sive coal-shaft  in  the  county,  is  located  on  section  35,  nearly  two 
miles  south-east  of  Marissa.  It  is  one  hundred  and  seventy-fivo 
feet  deep ;  the  vein  is  about  six  and  a  half  feet  in  thickness ;  gives 
employment  to  one  hundred  men  ;  is  operated  by  steam-power ;  its 
products  are  shipped  to  St.  Louis.  Proprietors  are  Donk,  Tijou 
«&  Co.     Shipments  amount  to  nearly  twenty  cars  a  day. 

Agriculturally,  Athens  is  an  excellent  body  of  land,  producing 
luxuriant  crops.  Dutch  Hill,  on  an  elevation,  surrounded  by  a 
fine  expanse  of  prairie,  overlooks  nearly  all  the  precinct.  Few 
finer  views  are  anywhere  presented  than  this.  Farm-houses, 
neat  and  comfortable ;  barns  good  and  substantial  greet  the  eye 
on  every  hand.  This  precinct  perpetuates  a  name  handed  down 
honorably  for  centuries  as  that  borne  by  the  Grecian  capital  and 
the  world's  seat  of  learning.  The  projectors  of  the  village  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  and  from  which  it  directly  derives  its  name, 
had  originally  in  mind  to  make  it  a  seat  of  learning,  as  plats 
first  named  clearly  show. 


266 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


BIOGliAPI-IICAL    SKETCHES 


-^ssS-gJI 


Among  the  rising  young  business  men  of  the  county  none  better 
deserve  mention  in  this  work,  than  Jas.  H.  iraniilton  of  Jfarissa. 
Being  thoroughly  identified  with  the  interests  of  his  own  eoranuiiiity, 
he  has  done  more  than  any  other  man  to  aid  in  its  dovelopnicnt. 
He  is  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Jas.  H.  Hamilton  &  Co.,  who  carry 
on  an  extensive  business  in  hardware,  agricultural  implements,  &c., 
both  in  Marissa  and  Sparta.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Hamilton,  Kunze  &  Co.,  bankers  of  Marissa. 

His  great-grandfather,  Kobert  Hannlton,  was  a  Scotch  Irishman 
who  emigrated  to  this  country  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century, 
and  settled  in  Chester  county,  S.  C  ,  where  he  raised  a  large  flimi- 
ly,  of  which  there  were  four  sons  :  John,  William,  Samuel  and  Ro- 
bert. 

John  Hamilton,  the  eldest  of  the  family,  and  grandfather  of 
Jas.  H.  Hamilton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  1794.  He 
married  the  daughter  of  Mathew  Elder,  who  with  his  young  wife 


had  come  to  this  country  in  the  same  ship  with  the  father  and 
motliei- (if  ]\lr.  Hamilton.  In  183'2,  Mr.  Hamilton  left  Carolina 
for  the  state  of  Illinois,  arriving  at  the  town  of  Columbus,  (now 
Sparta)  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1835,  when  he  came  to 
this  county,  and  settled  upon  what  is  now  known  as  the  old  Ham- 
ilton homestead,  near  the  present  town  of  Marissa.  There  were 
then  but  a  few  settlers  in  that  part  of  the  county.  The  now  beau- 
tiful farms  with  cozy  homes,  were  then  one  vast  plane  of  prairie 
grass,  as  high  as  the  shoulders  of  a  man  on  horseback,  with  deer 
and  wolves  its  principal  inhabitants.  ]\Ir.  Hamilton  raised  a  fa- 
mily of  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  married  and 
settled  immediately  around  him.  He  died  October  26,  1876,  over 
82  years  of  age. 

His  eldest  son,  Mathew  E.  Hamilton,  the  father  of  Jas.  H.  Ha- 
milton, was  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  they  arrived  in  Illinois. 
At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  married  Miss  Jeanetta  Gibson,  who  died  in 


'IheBurr  Homestead"  Residence  or  JOSEPH  C  BUHR,Sic.27.T3.R.7.(AjHEHsPREcmcT)  St.Clair  Co. Ill 


Farni Residence  OF  LOUIS  NUEHNBERQER,SEC.35,J.2,R.Z(ATHENsFHECtNCT)ST.CLAiECojLL. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


267 


1852,  leaving  three  sons  :  James  H.,  John  M.,  and  Robert  G.  In 
1854,  Mr.  Hamilton  married  again,  taking  Miss  Elizabeth  Bau- 
mann,  eldest  daughter  of  Peter  Baumann,  Sen.,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  an  energetic  man, 
and  did  much  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  own  community.  He 
was  an  earnest  Christian,  charitable  to  a  fault,  and  it  could  be  said 
of  him  that  he  had  no  enemy  among  men.  He  was  postmaster  of 
Marissa  for  twenty-five  years,  and  township  treasurer  for  an  equal 
length  of  time.  He  was  engaged  for  a  number  of  years  in  the 
mercantile  busiitess  in  the  old  town  of  Marissa,  but  upon  the  build- 
ing of  the  railroad  through  his  farm,  he  laid  out  the  present  town 
of  Marissa,  and  through  his  energy  and  liberality  did  much  to 
make  the  town  what  it  is.  By  untiring  industry  Mr.  Hamilton 
accumulated  a  considerable  amount  of  property.  But  by  that  ever 
charitable  disposition  which  led  him  to  aid  all  who  called  upon 
hira,  he  was  persuaded  by  misrepresentations  to  go  security  for 
large  sums,  which  by  the  failure  of  P.  Baumann  &  Bros,  of  New 
Athens  he  was  compelled  to  pay.  This  swept  away  at  one  stroke 
his  whole  life's  accumulation.  This  was  more  than  his  mortal  part 
could  stand  :  his  health  failed,  he  sought  the  most  skilled  of  medi- 
cal aid  ;  the  recuperative  powers  of  the  most  celebrated  Mineral 
Springs ;  the  diversion  of  travel  in  the  orange  groves  of  the  sunny 
south,  and  finally  took  a  trip  to  England  and  Ireland,  but  all  in 
vain.  He  returned  home,  arriving  upon  the  morning  of  the  25th 
of  October,  1876,  to  die  the  next  morning  surrounded  by  his  fa- 
mily and  friends. 

Mr.  Jas.  H.  Hamilton  was  born  Oct.  11,  1844.  He  spent  his  mi- 
nority in  laboring  upon  the  farm.  His  mother  died  when  he  was 
but  eight  years  old.  Being  the  eldest  of  the  family,  and  his 
father  engaged  in  a  mercantile  business,  it  devolved  upon  him 
early  to  take  charge  of  the  management  of  the  farm,  which  he  did 
with  much  success  as  long  as  he  remained  upon  it.  Having  a  de- 
sire for  a  more  extended  education  than  that  alForded  by  the  com- 
mon schools,  he  entered. Monmouth  College  in  the  fall  of  1866, 
where  he  graduated  in  1869.  He  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
attended  two  courses  of  lectures  in  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College. 
Studying  with  a  view  of  being  an  oculist,  but  haviiig  obtained  an  in- 
sight of  the  medical  profession,  he  concluded  that  he  did  not  like  it, 
and  formed  a  copartnership  with  Mr.  Wm.  M.  Lyons,  (then  as  now 
also  of  Marissa,)  and  embarked  in  the  drug  business  upon  the 
corner  of  Fifth  street  and  Washington  avenue  in  St.  Louis.  This 
venture  not  proving  a  success  they  sold  out  and  removed  to  Marissa, 
and  in  the  summer  of  1873,  began  in  the  drug  business  there,  to 
which  they  soon  added  a  hardware  store  and  a  lumber  yard,  all  of 
which  they  managed  very  successfully  until  the  spring  of  1876, 
when  they  dissolved  copartnership,  Mr.  Hamilton  taking  the  hard- 
ware, to  which  he  immediately  added  agricultural  implements.  In 
the  spring  of  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  started  a  house  also  in  Sparta, 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  E.  J.  Rankin,  a  gentleman  who  had 
been  with  him  a  number  of  years  as  a  clerk.  They  have  since  formed 
a  copartnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Jas.  H.  Hamilton  &  Co., 
and  carry  a  very  large  stock  of  goods  in  both  places.  In  1876,  Mr. 
Hamilton  married  Miss  Virginia  Short,  daughter  of  Mr.  J.  S. 
Short,  formerly  of  the  vicinity  of  Freeburg  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  one  of  the  organizers,  and  is  still  one  of  the 
principal  managers  of  the  banking  firm  of  Hamilton,  Kuuze  & 
Co.  of  Marissa. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  -Church, 
and  superintendent  of  their  Sabbath-school.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
self-reliance,  and  whatever  success  he  may  have  achieved  is  due  to 
his  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance. 


GEORGE  W.  GUTHRIE, 
Who  was  born  January  15th,  1841,  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county, 
and  of  Irish  and  German  descent.  His  father,  Joseph  Guthrie, 
was  born  on  Horse  Prairie,  Randolph  county,  Illinois.  The 
Guthries  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  this  prairie.  Guthrie 
grew  to  manhood  here,  and  married  Elizabeth  Boyd,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  was  brought  to  America  when  an  infant  by  her 
parents.  Her  father,  Robert  Boyd,  settled  in  South  Carolina,  near 
Charleston,  where  he  remained  several  years,  and  afterwards  came 
to  Randolph  county,  this  being  about  1828,  where  she  subse- 
quently married  Joseph  Guthrie.  They  raised  a  family  of  five 
children ;  three  now  living,  viz.,  Martha,  now  Mrs.  John  G.  Fel- 
lers, who  lives  near  Sparta,  George  W.,  our  subject,  and  Samuel, 
who  now  lives  in  Marissa.  During  the  life  of  Joseph  Guthrie,  he 
followed  shoemaking,  school-teaching,  and  farming.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  enlisting  from  Randolph  county. 
After  Mr.  Guthrie's  marriage,  he  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  about 
1835,  and  settled  on  section  thirty-four,  about  two  miles  south  of 
Old  Marissa,  where  he  improved  a  farm.  In  1841,  he  sold  out  his 
improvements  to  William  White,  and  moved  further  west,  in  the 
same  township,  near  where  George  W.  Guthrie  now  resides,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  in  1848.  He  left  his  family  in  fair  cir- 
cumstances, and  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  October  6th,  1866.  Joseph  Guthrie 
was  a  kind  and  hospitable  man,  a  warm-hearted  and  generous 
friend.  Many  of  the  old  settlers  who  struggled  with  him  to  sur- 
mount the  hardships  of  a  new  country,  destitute  of  schools  and 
churches,  and  beset  on  every  hand  with  difficulties  and  trials,  will 
join  with  his  children  and  relatives  in  shedding  a  tear  over  his 
grave.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  remained  at  home,  and  assisted 
his  mother  on  the  farm,  and  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  during  the  winter  months,  until  he  became  of  age. 

March  2d,  1864,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  E.  D.  John- 
son, a  daughter  of  Isaac  Johnson,  of  St.  Clair  county.  Mrs.  Guthrie 
died  September  13th,  1865,  leaving  one  son,  John.  Mr.  Guthrie 
was  married  to  his  present  wife,  January  8th,  1867,  who  was  a 
Miss  Rebecca  McClintock,  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  raised  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  and  daughter  of  David  McClintock.  They  have  had 
born  to  them  a  family  of  four  children,  viz.,  David,  Elizabeth, 
Joseph  (now  deceased),  and  George  W.  Mr.  Guthrie  has  made 
farming  his  life  occupation,  and  has  a  good  farm  of  179  acres 
situated  on  the  county  line,  between  St.  Clair  and  Randolph  coun- 
ties, a  view  of  which  can  be  seen  in  another  part  of  this  work.  The 
principal  part  of  this  place  he  has  gained  by  his  own  energy,  and 
practicing  economical  habits.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
democrat.  The  above  is  a  brief  mention  of  one  of  the  prominent 
young  farmers  of  Athens  precinct. 


HUGH  NAIRN. 

Among  the  prominent  farmers  of  Athens  precinct  may  be  men- 
tioned the  name  that  heads  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  parish  of 
Ayrshire,  Scotland,  in  the  year  1821,  and  was  the  son  of  James  and 
Susan  Nairn,  who  were  natives  of  the  same  place.  The  family  de- 
scended from  the  Highlanders  of  Scotland.  Mr.  Nairn  was  one 
of  nine  children,  and  brought  up  on  a  farm.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  his  native  land,  where  he  received  the  rudiments  of  a 
business  education.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  Watt,  and  imme- 
diately set  sail  for  America,  landing  in  New  York,  August  7th, 
1842,  coming  directly  to  Randolph  county,  111 ,  where  his  wife 
had  three  uncles.    In  the  winter  of  1842,  he  entered  eighty  acres. 


268 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


where  he  now  lives.  Two  years  later  he  settled  here,  and  began 
the  improvement  of  the  farm  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  wife 
died  in  1865.  There  were  a  family  of  eight  children  born  to  this 
union,  six  now  living,  vie :  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Eobert  Dixon ; 
James,  Hugh,  John,  Jenette,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Blasdell,  and  Rob- 
ert Watt.  All  but  the  youngest  are  married  and  have  families. 
September  7th,  1868,  Mr.  Nairn  married  Mrs.  Jenette  Kirkpatrick. 
They  have  two  children,  David  and  Samuel  W.  Mr.  Nairn  has  a 
well-improved  farm  of  1 87  acres.  A  view  of  the  residence  and  build- 
ing we  show  in  this  work.  Mr.  Nairn  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  Politically  he  is  a  republican.  Such  is  a 
brief  sketch  of  one  of  the  much-respected  citizens  of  Athens 
precinct. 


JOHN  K.  WHITE  (deceased), 

Was  born  in  Chester  District,  South  Carolina ;  was  a  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  White.  John  White  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
emigrated  to  America,  where  he  afterwards  married  Miss  Margaret 
Kennedy,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ireland.  John  White  improved 
a  farm  in  South  Carolina,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  leaving 
a  family  of  seven  children,  John  K.  being  the  youngest  of  the 
family.  After  John  White's  death,  his  widow  emigrated  with  her 
family  to  Indiana,  where  she  remained  only  a  short  time,  and  then 
came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county,  this  being  about 
1842.  She  had  two  sons  grown,  William  and  Frank,  who  entered 
land  and  began  the  improvement  of  a  farm  in  Athens  township, 
south  of  Marissa.  At  this  time  John  K.  White  was  about  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  assisted  his  mother  on  the  farm  until  he  arrived 
at  the  age  of  maturity.  Subsequently  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Margaret  Hamilton,  youngest  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Hamilton,  who  were  early  settlers  here,  and  a  much  respected 
family,  John  Hamilton  being  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  is 
favorably  mentioned  among  the  old  settlers  of  this  township.  Mr. 
White  was  a  carpenter,  but  his  principal  occupation  was  that  of  a 
farmer,  in  which  he  was  successful.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
August  28, 1866,  he  owned  a  well-improved  farm  of  near  three  hun- 
dred acres,  two  miles  south  of  Marissa,  where  his  widow  now  resides, 
a  view  of  which  can  be  seen  in  another  part  of  this  book.  His  farm 
residence  was  the  original  Marissa  post-ofiice.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
White  raised  a  family  of  five  children,  one  son  and  four  daughters, 
as  follows : — Sarah  C,  now  the  wife  of  James  A.  Wylie ;  Margaret 
J.,  now  the  wife  of  John  T.  Nixon,  living  in  this  township ;  John 
K.,  Nancy  J.,  and  Martha  E.  The  three  latter  are  still  beneath 
the  parental  roof.     Mr.  White,  in  character,  was  honest  and  up- 


right ;  ia  disposition  kind  and  charitable.  He  was  an  afiectionate 
husband,  a  loving  father,  a  firm  friend,  and  held  in  esteem  by  his 
neighbors. 


DR.  R.  I.  WATTS. 

One  of  the  great  problems  of  life  is  "  For  what  calling  am  I 
fitted?"  Many  mistake  their  vocation  and  drag  along  forever  in 
the  wrong  groove.  Not  so  with  Dr.  Watts;  nature  especially 
fitted  him  in  disposition,  in  energy,  and  in  quick  perception  for  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  He  was  born  near  Nashville, 
Washington  county,  111.,  Oct.  30th,  1843.  His  father  was  a  farme  r, 
and  in  common  with  farmers'  sons  generally  the  doctor  labored 
upon  the  farm  and  attended  the  winter  schools  by  turns.  His 
common  school  training  was  supplemented  by  attendance  at  Nash- 
ville College,  a  school  under  Presbyterian  guidance,  near  his  home ; 
here  he  studied  the  classics  and  mathematics,  and  acquired  a  taste 
for  scientific  research  that  has  ever  followed  him.  In  March, 
1868,  he  graduated  in  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati. 
He  had  for  four  years  prior  to  this  studied  medicine  with  Drs. 
Pierce,  of  Okawville.  After  graduation,  not  yet  willing  to  fully 
trust  himself  in  the  practice,  he  continued  his  studies  under  Dr. 
Means  and  Carter,  of  Nashville,  one  summer,  then  located  in  Ma- 
rissa, where  he  practiced  two  years,  thence  to  his  present  home  (a 
view  of  which  may  be  found  in  this  work)  in  New  Athens.  His 
ability  as  a  practitioner  is  acknowledged  on  all  hands,  and  few 
physicians  are  oftener  called  in  consultation  in  the  management  of 
difficult  cases  by  their  professional  brethren  than  he.  When  not 
actively  engaged  he  may  often  be  found  in  the  quiet  of  home  pur- 
suing his  favorite  themes  in  science,  in  whose  aid  he  invokes  the 
microscope  and  applies  chemistry.  Politically  the  doctor  is  a  sound 
republican,  gets  greatly  warmed  up  during  exciting  campaigns, 
and  "  takes  a  hand  "  with  a  will.  Was  president  of  the  Garfield 
club  during  the  last  presidential  campaign.  Some  years  ago  he 
united  with  the  Christian  church,  whose  faith  he  yet  avows.  He 
was  married  to  Eliza  Ellen  Boggess,  May  29,  1864.  His  parents, 
Benjamin  and  Lucinda  Watts,  came  from  Georgia  and  first  located 
on  Turkey  Hill,  from  whence  they  removed  to  Washington  county. 
The  doctor  has  a  family  of  four  children:  Edward  Ivy,  Ernest 
Everett,  Clara  Viola,  and  Ada  Ellen.  Three  are  deceased.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  the  medical  societies  of  the  county  and  of 
the  Southern  Illinois.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Freeburg  Lodge, 
No.  518  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  in  which  order  he  is  and  has  long  been 
deputy,  and  is  now  its  representative.  Active  in  his  profession, 
he  richly  merits  success  as  his  reward. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


269 


FAYETTEVILLE    PRECINCT. 


J  HIS  precinct  is  irregularly  shaped,  located  in 
the  south-east  central  part  of  the  county, 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Belleville  and  Mas- 
coutah ;  on  the  east  by  Mascoutah,  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  Silver  creek  and  St. 
Clair,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  the  Kas- 
kaskia  river ;  on  the  south  by  Athens,  the  Kas- 
kaskia  river  intervening,  and  on  the  west  by 
Richland  township.  It  contains  an  area  of 
58!  square  miles,  or  37,680  acres.     Has  a  population  of  3,338. 

The  Kaskaskia  river,  and  Silver  creek,  which  enters  the 
township  on  its  northern  boundary,  flows  a  southerly  course, 
emptying  into  the  Kaskaskia,  and  their  tributaries  furnish  water 
for  stock  and  other  purposes.  The  streams  are  skirted  with  a  fine 
growth  of  timber.  The  surface  is  gently  undulating,  with  con- 
siderable stretches  of  rich  prairie.  The  noted  Tamarois  prairie, 
named  for  a  tribe  of  Indians  who,  many  years  ago,  occupied  it, 
lies  partially  in  this  township.  Coal  is  found  in  veins  of  extraor- 
dinary thickness,  at  one  point,  on  Solomon  Teter's  farm,  cropping 
out  at  the  surface.  The  workable  thickness  of  one  of  the  veins, 
near  Freeburg,  exceeds  nine  feet.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to  all 
cereals,  and  produces  abundant  crops. 

THE  FIRST   LAND   ENTRIES 

were  by  James  Adams,  160  acres,  it  being  the  N.  E  i  of  section  19, 
September  12th,  1814;  by  Matthew  Atchison,  160  acres,  being  the 
S.  W.  i  section  •  22,  September  29th,  1814  ;  by  Pierre  Menard,  160 
acres,  being  the  S.  E.  i  section  22,  April  29th,  1815;  by  Daniel 
Howell,  160  acres,  being  the  N.  E.  i  section  25,  April  27th,  1815  ; 
by  William  Mcintosh,  320  acres,  being  N.  h  section  22,  April  25th, 
1815,  all  the  above  being  in  T.  1  S.  R.  7  W.,  and  by  Samuel 
Griffith,  35.54  acres,  in  section  4,  March  4th,  1815 ;  by  Heirs  of 
G.  Hendricks,  303  acres,  in  sections  8  and  9,  April  15th,  1815 ;  by 
Samuel  Mitchell,  160  acres,  being  the  N.  W.  i  section  10,  August 
14th,  1817,  all  in  T.  2  S.  R.  7  W. ;  also  by"  William  Goings, 
147  91  acres,  it  being  the  N.  W.  t  section  17,  September  7th,  1814 ; 
by  Thomas  Pulliam,  160  acres,  being  the  N.  E.  \  section  18,  Sep- 
tember 9th,  1814 ;  by  same,  252.82  acres,  in  section  8,  being  the 
location  of  his  ferry,  February  6th,  1817;  by  Daniel  Stookey, 
160  acres,  being  the  S.  W.  \  of  section  17,  July  31st,  1817,  all  in 
T.  2  S.  R.  6  W.  Prior  to  these  entries  some  claims  to  lands  had 
been  made  and  confirmed.  They  were  as  follows :  Survey  386, 
claim  523,  400  acres,  was  made  by  Theo.  G.  Hendricks,  Nov.  29th, 
1798,  for  militia  duty  in  1790.  The  tract  was  sold  by  his  heirs  to 
Stephen  Whiteside  in  1820 ;  survey  387 ,  claim  227,  400  acres, 
by  William  Biggs,  November  20th,  1798 ;  survey  388,  claim  759, 


400  acres,  by  Larkin  Rutherford,  in  1799.  About  500  acres  of 
the  celebrated  Tamarawa  claim,  being  survey  607,  claim  2209, 
made  by  J.  Edgar,  November  20th,  1798,  lies  in  this  township; 
also  claim  776,  200  acres,  by  same  party,  claimed  in  payment  for 
services  as  Indian  agent,  made  same  time. 

Two  enterprising  backwoodsmen,  Jacob  Short  and  Moses  Quick, 
from  a  settlement  to  the  south-east,  penetrated  the  forests  skirting 
the  Kaekaskia,  opposite  the  present  site  of  Athens,  in  1811,  and, 
with  an  eye  to  business,  at  once  commenced  felling  timber,  pre- 
paratory to  the  construction  of  a  raft.  This  was  not  a  settlement ; 
no  cabin  was  erected.  With  the  broad  skies  as  a  canopy ;  mother 
earth  spread  with  furs  as  a  bed  ;  game,  brought  down  with  their 
unerring  rifles,  for  their  subsistence,  they  worked  with  energy. 
Once  completed,  they  launched  their  raft  at  a  point  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  below  Athens,  and  calmly  floated  down  the  tide 
in  the  month  of  March.  On  their  way  they  bought  beef  cattle, 
corn,  furs,  etc.,  which  th  ey  took  on  with  them  to  New  Orleans, 
where  they  disposed  of  their  raft  and  "  plunder,"  and  returned  to 
seek  new  homes  in:  St.  Clair.  This  was  the  first  boat  built  on  the 
river  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  the  first  to  disturb  the  waters  of  the 
Kaskaskia  above  Levens,  save  the  canoes  guided  by  Indians. 

In  1797  Abraham  Teter  moved  from  Randolph  county,  Vir- 
ginia, to  New  Design,  Monroe  county,  this  state.  In  1803  or  1804, 
in  company  with  Peter  Mitchell,  Barbara  Shook,  Isaac  Grifien  and 
families  he  came  to  this  township,  followed  up  the  meanderings  of 
Silver  creek  to  section  33,  T.  1  S.,  R.  7  W.,  where  he  found  a 
double  log  cabin  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Cook.  He  bought  Cook's  claim, 
agreeing  to  occupy  one  end  of  the  cabin,  and  Cook  the  other,  the 
first  winter.  Mitchell  and  Griffin  located  near  by.  Across  the 
creek  lived  a  family  named  Radclifie.  So  that  Cook  and  Radclifie 
are  believed  to  have  been  the  first  settlers.  Among  the  early  settlers 
was  a  rumor  to  the  effect  that  a  family  of  three — husband,  wife  and 
child  had,  prior  to  this,  attempted  to  erect  a  cabin  near  the  mouth 
of  Silver  creek,  but,  before  its  completion,  had  met  their  deaths. 
Their  decomposed  bodies  were  found  by  hunters  from  New  Design, 
and  buried  underneath  a  large  hickory  tree  which  was  often  pointed 
out.  This  was  about  1797,  when  militia  claims  were  being  selected. 
The  names  of  the  parties  and  all  facts  are  matters  of  oblivion. 

Mrs.  Cook  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  bewitched.  Neigh- 
bors in  the  vicinity  of  Turkey  Hill  (in  those  days  ten,  or  even  fif- 
teen miles  was  looked  upon  as  being  in  the  neighborhood)  verily 
believed  her  a  witch.  Mr.  Radclifie,  living  on  the  other  side  of 
Silver  creek,  some  two  or  three  miles  distant,  laid  claims  to  being  a 
witch-master,  and  by  a  singular  coincidence  established  his  claim 
firmly  in  the  minds  of  the  people.  Once  Messrs.  Teter  and  Mit- 
chell had   occasion  to   remain  over  night  with  him.     At  midnight 


270 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COVHTY,  ILimOIS. 


Ihcy  mre  aroused  by  loud  laughter,  and  waking,  saw  Eadcliffe 
sitting  bolt  upright  in  a  bed  on  the  floor  laughing  heartily.  Said 
he,  "  Mrs.  Cook  just  came  down  the  chimney,  and  I  have  kicked 
her  into  the  fire.  Imagine  Teter's  surprise  on  the  following  morning 
at  hearing  his  wife's  greeting  him  with  a  statement  that  Mrs.  Cook  had 
"just  been  in  and  said  she  came  near  burning  up  last  night.  Some 
coals  had  rolled  out  of  the  fireplace  and  burned  her  bed  partially 
and  awakened  her  by  burning  her  feet."  Therefore  Radcliffe  was 
authority  in  matters  of  witchery,  and  Mrs.  Cook  was  more  a  witch 
than  ever.  The  following  spring  they  left  the  settlement.  Laac 
Mitchell  was  born  in  the  fall  of  1805,  being  the  first  male  child 
born  there. 

Solomon  Teter  was  born  Feb.  19,  1809,  and  is  the  oldest  native 
born  person  now  living  in  the  precinct.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  ten  of  whom,  five  boys  and  five  girls  grew  to  years 
of  maturity.  His  sister  Eebecca  was  the  first  female  child  born. 
She  was  born  in  1805. 

David  Hill,  the  oldest  settler  now  living  in  this  precinct,  and 
among  the  oldest  in  the  county,  was  brought  an  orphan  boy  from 
Pennsylvania  in  1808,  to  what  is  now  Richland  precinct.  He  mar- 
ried Isabella  Beunet,  who  was  also  an  orphan  brought  to  St.  Clair 
county,  from  Kentucky,  in  1815.  Mr.  Hill  is  yet  in  the  tnjoy- 
ment  of  his  faculties  at  the  age  of  88  years.  He  was  a  soldier  from 
this  county  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  is  one  of  the  few  who  draws  a 
pension  as  such. 

A  child  of  Peter  Mitchell  was  the  first  death,  occurring  in 
1806.  It  was  buried  on  section  34.  The  old  burial  ground  thus  set 
apart  was  used  until  some  fifty  or  sixty  graves  were  made,  then 
abandoned. 

Peter  Mitchell  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace,  and  many  were 
the  hearts  he  caused  to  thrill  with  happiness  as  he  tied  hymeneal 
knots.  As  a  justice  he  held  high  rank,  and  was  for  many  years  re- 
tained in  that  capacity. 

On  April  28th,  1813,  Patrick  Huggins  and  Elizabeth  Mitchell, 
also  William  Huggens  and  Darter  Barbary  were  married  by  Na- 
than Arnett,  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  Thus  the  list  of  marriage^ 
commenced  with  a  double  wedding. 

As  early  as  1815  John  Boucher  taught  subscription  school  in  the 
Silver  creek  settlement.  The  school-house  had  an  open  fire-place 
which  occupied  all  of  one  end  of  the  building.  On  dark  days  part 
of  the  roof  was  raised  for  admission  of  light. 

The  early  settlers  were  a  devoted  people,  conscientious  and 
straight-forward  in  the  observance  of  religious  exercises.  On  the  21st 
day  of  March,  1811,  they  organized  the  Silver  Creek  Baptist  Church, 
with  seven  members.  Met  from  house  to  house  until  1817,  when  a 
log  church  was  built.  At  their  first  meeting  they  adopted  a  consti- 
tution which  begins,  "  We  agree  to  unite  and  be  constituted  on  the 
Bible  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  and  to  be  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Baptized  Church  of  Christ,  Friends  to  Humanity.  Denying 
union  and  communion  with  all  persons  holding  the  doctrine  of 
Perpetual,  Involuntary,  Hereditary  Slavery."  In  their  constitu- 
tion was  a  clause  to  the  eflJect  that,  "  all  persons  failing  to  attend 
regular  church  meetings  for  three  meetings  in  succession,  shall  be 
subject  to  be  cited  to  attend  and  answer  for  neglect  of  duty."  Such 
rigorous  strictures  now  would  soon  deplete  the  church  roll  of  many 
organizations. 

On  the  east  side  of  Silver  Creek,  sec.  3,  Joseph  McKinney  put 
up  the  first  mill  in  1815  ;  it  was  a  band-mill.  Each  patron  fur- 
nished his  own  power.  It  would  grind  from  ten  to  twelve  bushels 
of  corn  a  day.  When  wheat  was  ground,  they  used  what  McKin- 
ney called  "tarchers,"  or  sieves,  to  sift  it  with.  A  great  improve- 
ment on  this  was  the  mill  built  by  William  Whitchinck  and  his 


son  in  1828.  They  did  all  the  work  themselves,  except  the  black- 
smithing.  The  stone,  which  they  dressed  themselves,  was  found  in 
David  Pulliam's  branch,  about  three  miles  south-east  of  Fayette- 
ville.  It  was  a  round  rock  about  h\  feet  in  diameter.  It  was 
claimed  by  millers  to  be  equal  to  any  French  burrstone.  By 
changing  teams,  the  mill  would  turn  out  seventy-five  bushels  per  day. 
Oxen  were  mostly  u^ed  in  grinding. 

An  amusing  story  is  told  of  the  administration  of  justice  in  early 

days,  or  rather  how  the  ends  of  justice  were  defeated.     One  C 

F ,  who  was  near-sighted,  was  placed  on  a  stand  when  deer- 
hunting.  He  shot  at  a  deer,  as  he  supposed,  but  the  ball  struck  a 
rider  and  his  horse,  severely  wounding  the  rider  in  the  leg.  For 
this  accident,  as  he  claimed,  he  was  arrested  and  tried  in  a  school- 
house  by  a  jury.  The  house  was  crowded  to  suifocation.  The  case 
was  heard.  All  parties  were  requested  to  leave  the  house,  to  enable 
the  jury  to  consult  together ;  whereupon  some  wags  stuffed  the 
chimney  with  prairie-grass,  smoking  out  the  jury,  who  adjourned 
procipitately  without  rendering  a  verdict. 

This  precinct  was  represented  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  by  Solo- 
mon Teter,  Aaron  Land,  Isaac  Gritfin,  John  Baker  and  Myram 
iMcMnllen. 

The  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad  crosses  the  precinct  diagonally 
through  the  western  half  from  north-west  to  south-east,  a  distance 
of  nearly  ten  miles. 

Drum  Hill,  in  this  precinct,  is  one  of  the  finest  farming  sections 
of  St.  Clair  county.  It  is  in  the  north-eastern  part,  and  derived  its 
name  from  the  fact  that  a  man  named  Carr,  a  drummer,  settled 
there  in  an  early  day.  So  habituated  was  he  to  drumming,  that 
morning  and  evening  found  him  out  in  front  of  his  cabin,  beating 
the  drum-call — hence  the  name. 

In  the  south-eastern  part  are  several  lakes,  the  largest  of  which 
(Swan  lake)  covers  an  area  of  five  hundred  acres,  and  is  nearly 
two  miles  long.  It  lies  in  sees.  11,  12,  13  and  14.  To  the  east 
and  near  by  are  Bluff  and  Horse-shoe  lakes,  while  to  the  south-west 
are  Gimblet  and  Dry  lakes.  Hunting  about  these  lakes  has  fur- 
nished rare  sport.  The  precinct  was  established  June  5th,  1839, 
and  called  Jefferson,' which  name  it  held  until  by  common  consent 
the  name  Fayetteville  was  substituted.  The  first  election  was  held 
at  Marshall's  store,  Jefferson.  The  judges  were  Philip  Land,  Jas. 
Mason  and  William  D.  Ross.  On  petition,  almost  unanimously 
signed,  the  polling  place  was  changed  to  Henry  Douth's,  on  Silver 
Creek,  June, 6th,  1843. 

TOWN   OF   FREEBURG. 

On  Nov.  llth,  1836,  the  town  of  Urbana,  as  it  was  first  called, 
was  platted  by  John  T.  Lemen.  It  comprised  eight  blocks,  divided 
into  128  lots.  Geographically,  it  was  th*  south-east  quarter  of  the 
south-east  quarter  sectioa  19,  T.  1  S.,  R.  7  W.  A  large  public 
square  was  planned  in  the  centre.  Various  additions  have  been 
made  to  the  original  town  as  follows :  by  Thomas  Temple,  36  lots 
east  of  town,  October  19th,  1853  ;  by  D.  C.  Wallace,  90  lots,  Sept. 
5th,  1853 ;  by  Reazin  Thrifts,  8  lots,  July  31st,  1857 ;  by  Philip 
Ranch,  14  lots  north,  Aug.  23d,  1854;  by  Geo.  W.  Smith,  3  blocks 
east,  Sept.  1,  1853;  by  mill  company,  12  blocks  north  of  town,  and 
others  at  a  later  date— in  all  fourteen  different  additions.  The 
name  was  changed  from  Urbana  to  Freeburg  in  1859,  and  Joseph 
Reichertmade  the  first  addition  of  42  lots  Dec.  30th,  1859,  to  Free- 
burg. The  post-office  was  located  in  1851,  with  Geo.  W.  Smith  as 
postmaster. 

Henry  Barthel  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  village ; 
first  chosen  in  1857,  and  served  continuously  until  1878. 

Harbert  Patterson  was  the  first  man  to  keep  a  stock  of  goods, 
which  he  opened  shortly  after  the  location  of  Urbana  was  made. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


27  L 


Mr.  Welden  was  the  second.  Mr.  Reicliert  was  the  first  cooper — 
he  came  in  1847. 

Prominent  among  the  industries  are  the  mills.  The  first  built 
was  what  is  now  called  Reichert's,  in  1853-4,  by  Temple,  Potter  & 
Co.  Its  original  cost  was  about  $25,000.  Has  five  run  of  stone. 
Capacity  250  barrels  per  day.  It,  together  with  the  cooperage  at- 
tached, gives  employment  to  thirty  men.  The  flour  is  shipped 
chiefly  to  St.  Louis.  Four  different  brands  are  made:  No.  1, 
"Potter's  Mills;"  No.  2,  "St.  Clair;"  No.  3,  "Southern  Star;"  and 
No.  4,  "Urbana."     Joseph  Reichert,  proprietor. 

Frederick  Mills,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  were  built  in 
1866,  by  Darmelatter,  Meng  &  Co.,  at  a  cost  of  $40,000.  Has  five 
run  of  stone,  with  a  capacity  of  making  200  barrels  of  flour  per 
day.  Is  well  equipped  with  first  class  machinery.  W.  H.  Wilder- 
mann  became  proprietor  in  1877. 

A  brewery  was  built  by  Heizmann  and  Barthel,  in  1859.  Now 
owned  by  Joseph  Reichert,  and  operated  only  sufficiently  to  supply 
a  local  demand. 

Freeburg  was  incorporated  March  4th,  1867,  by  a  unanimous 
vote  of  her  citizens.    Population  by  census  of  1880,  was  1040. 

LEADING  BUSINESS    HOUSES. 

General  Stores;  Henry  Barthel,  Andrew  Krause,  Philip  Hofl"- 
mann,  Peter  Hermann,  H.  Huber. 

Druggists;  Philip  C.  Dare,  Charles  Kring. 

Furniture;  Charles  Weber. 

Hotels;  "Freeburg  House,"  by  Adam  Wolfi",  "St.  Clair,"  by 
Conrad  Soerg,  Mrs.  Conrath's,  John  Reichert's,  Jacob  Rader. 

Blacksmiths;  Groh  Bros.,  Charles  Frank,  Daniel  Borger,  Tony 
Meyer. 

Hardware;  Philip  Conrath,  Barthel  Franz. 

Livery:  Peter  Carwright  Hill. 

Physicians;  Frederick  Koeberlin,  M.  S.  Carr,  Henry  Hertel. 

There  is  a  Lodge  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Freeburg  Lodge,  No.  418. 
Instituted  July  15th,  1864,  with  nine  charter  members.  First  W. 
M.  F.  Koeberlin.     Present  W.  M.,  W.  H.  Wilderman. 

A  singing  and  literary  society,  which  is  in  a  very  flourishing 
condition,  having  38  members,  and  about  600  volumes  in  its  library, 
was  organized  March  5th,  1867. 

Freeburg  Fire  Co.,  No.  1,  was  organized  April  12th,  1876,  with 
forty-nine  members.  Have  an  engine  manufactured  in  Philadel- 
phia, costing  $1000.  Peter  Etting,  present  captain.  Have  an 
engine  house,  the  property  of  the  company. 

Upon  the  incorporation  of  the  town  Messrs.  James  Hill,  Sr., 
Philip  J.  Koesterer,  John  Klingel,  Christ.  Barthel,  and  Fred.  Koe- 
berlin, were  elected  as  Trustees.  The  present  officers  are  Charles 
Weber,  Pres.,  Joseph  Koesterer,  Jaoob  Ratherni,  Nich.  Groh, 
Jacob  Hoeder,  Henry  Serth,  Otto  Heizmann,  Clerk ;  William  Bar- 
thel, Treas.,  and  Val.  Volz,  Constable. 

FAYETTEVILLE, 

Situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia,  was  laid  ofi'by  Abjiah 
Whiting  and  Thos.  J.  Pulliam,  May  15, 1837,  in  28  blocks,  the  cen- 
tral one  of  which  is  a  public  square.  Each  of  the  other  27  is  divided 
into  twelve  lots.  Thos.  J.  Pulliam  made  an  addition  of  180  lots 
April  26,  1855.  It  has  a  population  of  about  350  inhabitants. 
The  first  house  was  built  by  Thos.  J.  Pulliam,  who  for  many  years 
kept  the  ferry.  This  village  has  had  its  "  ups  and  downs."  When 
navigation  of  the  river  was  thought  to  be  an  assured  fact,  property 
commanded  good  prices  and  trade  was  brisk ;  mills  were  built ; 
many  residences  were  erected ;  stores  were  (eeming  with  piled  up 
goods,  and  all  seemed  fair  for  the  future.     Fires  contributed  much 


to  the  destruction  of  business.  Henry  Voskamp  was  the  first  post- 
master— appointed  about  1840.  He  also  opened  the  first  store  in 
1836.  L.  Grossmann  had  the  second  store,  opened  shortly  after 
Voskamp 's.  J.  Brannum  built  the  first  mill  in  1854-55;  it  was 
subsequently  destroyed  by  fire.  A  brewery,  built  in  1875  by  Louis 
Hedwegwas,  burned  down  the  same  year.  Being  well  insured,  it 
was  rebuilt,  but  lack  of  business  has  occasioned  it  to  stand  idle  for 
the  pa3t  year. 

The  business  of  FayettevlUe  is  conducted  by  : 

General  Stores. — -Philip  Wasem,  L^roy  Free,  Gertrude  Mitten- 
dorfi: 

Druggist. — Dr.  Rembe. 

Hotel: — "Okaw  House,"  Vahlkatnp  &  Bro.,  Fritz  Bautngarte, 
Mitchell  Funk,  John  Suess. 

Blacksmith. — Adolph  Kreikemier. 

A  large  mill,  having  three  run  of  stone,  was  built  in  1863  by 
William  Maguire.  It  sold  at  one  time  for  $20,000.  It  has  been 
idle  for  more  than  a  year  past..    Is  owned  by  August  C.  Miller. 

A  wooden  shoe  factory  is  run,  which  supplies  the  home  market. 

In  1856  a  floating  or  pontoon  bridge  was  built  across  the  river 
here,  supplanting  the  ferry.  This  bridge  was  carried  off"  by  the 
high  waters  in  February  this  year. 

There  are  two  churches  in  Fayetteville — the  Lutheran,  built  in 
1854  by  Henry  Feitsam,  contractor,  and  the  Catholic,  built  in 
1868. 

JEFPEESON 

Was  platted  Sept.  13,  1836,  some  months  before  Fayetteville,  by 
Pennington  Power,  Aaron  Land,  and  Fielder  Power.  Its  location 
is  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia,  about  three  miles  above  Fay- 
etteville. A  saw  mill  was  built,  two  stores  were  opened — one  by 
Francis  Wilderman,  the  other  by  Marshall,  and  all  seemed  merry 
as  a  summer  day.  The  destruction  of  the  saw  mill  by  fire  destroyed 
all  hope  of  making  a  city  of  Jefferson.  July  29,  1865,  it  was  var 
cated.  Down  the  river,  on  the  Tamarawa  claim,  being  No.  2209, 
Survey  607,  Adam  Snyder  (father  of  Judge  Snyder),  and  James 
Semple,  selected  a  town  site,  and  located  Tamarawa,  May  21, 1836. 
Its  location  was  sightly.  It  was  on  the  great  thoroughfare  from  the 
east  to  the  west,  at  what  was  claimed  to  be  the  best  ford  on  the  river. 
For  a  time  business  bid  fair  to  lay  hold  upon  Tamarawa  and  claim 
her  for  her  own  especial  pride.  So  sanguine  were  friends  of  the  fu- 
ture of  the  infant  city,  which  had  already  been  planned  on  a  most 
liberal  scale,  that  an  addition  was  made  July  8,  1837.  But  how 
idle  human  speculations  often  prove!  How  are  castles  in  Spain 
ruthlessly  dashed  to  earth?  Tamarawa  is  no  more,  and  Crescent 
Place,  now  owned  by  Chauncy  Hinckley,  occupies  the  site. 

LEMENTON 

Was  platted  July  9, 1874,  by  Edward  F.  Leonard,  John  T.  Lemen,- 
and  Robt.  Moore.  It  is  a  small  village,  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line 
railroad,  midway  between  Freeburg  aud  New  Athens.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  rich  agricultural  district,  and  is  quite  a  shipping 
point  for  grain  and  coal. 

Coal  Mi7ies. — Numerous  veins  have  been  opened  in  various  parts 
of  this  precinct,  many  of  which  are  now  deserted.  The  Freeburg 
Coal  Co.  operate  the  most  extensive,  having  a  shaft  156  feet  deep, 
with  a  7  foot  vein  of  coal,  operated  by  steam  power ;  employs  20  to 
30  men,  and  ships  about  six  cars  of  coal  daily  to  St.  Louis. 
Reichert's  shaft,  owned  and  operated  by  Joseph  Reichert,  is  of  about 
the  same  depth,  with  a  thicker  vein,  in  places  as  thick  as  10  feet, 
operated  by  steam  power ;  employs  ten  to  twelve  men.  Ships  3  to 
5  cars  daily.     (See  chapter  on  Geology). 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


^BS3-®)-ESsS- 


Attracted  by  stories  of  Americas  wonderful  fertility  and  the 
excellence  of  her  free  institutions,  Joseph  Rciehert,  Sr.,and  family, 
consisting  of  wife,  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  set  sail  for  this 
country  and  reached  New  Orleans  May  IjOth,  1847,  thence  made 
their  way  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  St.  Clair  county,  already  (piite 
thickly  settled  by  industrious  German  people.  He  soon  suited  him- 
self in  a  location,  and  bought  land  adjoining  the  town  of  Freeburg. 
His  son,  Joseph  Reichert,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  promptly 
offered  his  services  to  a  neighbor  farmer,  John  Wise,  who  engaged 
him  for  six  dollars  per  month.  Harvest  being  at  hand  he  was 
shown  how  to  wield  a  cradle,  and,  the  second  day,  kept  pace  with 
others  who  were  cradliug  wheat,  who  were  getting  regular  harvest- 
er's wages.  On  the  principle  that  a  boy,  although  he  does  the  labor 
of  a  man,  earns  less,  he  continued  for  three  months  in  the  service 
of  his  employer.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
where  he  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  remaining  there  about  two 
years.     He  then  returned  to  his  home,  and  on  the  28th  of  October, 


1850,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Maria  Rauth.  By  this  union  there 
have  been  eleven  children  born,  four  boys  and  seven  girls,  of  whom 
eight  are  living.  For  four  years  succeeding  his  marriage  he  fol- 
lowed liis  trade,  together  with  farming,  when,  in  1854,  he  opened  a 
cooper  shop  in  Freeburg.  In  1857  he  was  elected  constable  for 
Faycttcville  precinct,  which  office  he  held  until  1862,  when  he  re- 
signed and  bought,  largely  on  credit,  the  mill  property,  which  ac- 
tion laid  the  foundations  for  that  success  which  has  crowned  his 
eftbrts  in  life.  Nature  seemed  to  have  fitted  him  for  this  particular 
business.  During  the  war  he  watched  closely  the  fluctuations  on 
the  wheat  and  flour  markets,  and  by  taking  advantage  of  the  same, 
soon  amassed  considerable  property.  His  practical  knowledge  of 
coopering  enabling  him  to  combine  it  with  his  milling  business,  aided 
in  these  results.  Not  to  be  dependent  was  a  watchword  governing 
his  acts,  hence  he  owns  and  controls  a  coal  mine,  a  necessary  ad- 
junct to  a  mill,  besides  having  an  interest  in  another.  As  feeders 
to  his  mill  he  has  bought  several  valuable  farms.     His  eminent 


'^•.i-/,>vTifjaiit!t.i,yi^.(V!r^:>!^y'^^ 


Residence  OF  JOSEPH  REICH ERT,  Freeburg^Fayettevi lle  Precinct^  St.Clair  CoJll. 


BuiSfNESs  Block  on  Main  St  Belleville  Property  of  JOSEPH. HE/CHERT 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


273 


business  qualifications  led  his  fellow  citizens  to  elect  him  a  member 
of  the  town  council,  of  which  he  was  made  president,  and  in  which 
office  he  remained  for  seven  or  eight  years,  in  fact,  as  long  as  he 
■would  serve  his  constituencj'.  He  takes  great  interest  in  agricultural 
affairs,  and  was,  for  five  years,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  St.  Clair  County  Agricultural  Society.  Served  one  year  as 
Vice-President  of  that  organization,  and,  in  1879,  was  chosen  its 
President,  which  position  he  yet  holds. 

In  1879,  desiring  to  see  his  old  home  in  Germany,  Bargen,  State 
of  Baden,  where  he  was  born,  November  17th,  1828,  he  made  the 
trip  only  to  return  more  fully  impressed  than  ever  with  the  value 
and  worth  of  American  institutions. 

One  of  the  pleasant  memories  of  his  life  was  the  attendance  upon 
the  fiftieth  anniversary,  or  golden  wedding,  of  his  parents,  at  the 
home  of  his  brother,  October  1st,  1868.  There  were  gathered  to- 
gether upon  that  occasion  eight  children,  thirty-four  grand-children 
and  nine  great-grandchildren.  The  occasion  was  enlivened  by 
music  by  the  Belleville  band.  Speeches  were  made  by  friends 
present,  among  them  Father  Bartel,  of  Hanover  ;  Brefeld,  of  Hull ; 
Maurer,  of  Columbia,  and  Janssen,  of  Mud  creek.  Altogether  it 
was  an  occasion  of  much  good  cheer.  His  father  died  July  22d, 
1869,  full  of  years,  having  been  born  January  24th,  1791.  His 
mother,  who  was  born  December  14th,  1799,  in  Bargen,  a  village  of 
Baden,  yet  lives.  Politically,  Mr.  Reichert  is  a  democrat.  The. 
party,  recognizing  his  sterling  worth,  and  desiring  his  services  in 
legislation,  have  twice  nominated  him  as  Eepresentative.  As  their 
standard-bearer,  he  has  made  for  himself  hosts  of  friends.  Fortu- 
nate in  his  undertakings,  prompt  and  energetic  as  a  business  mana- 
ger, few  men  are  more  respected  than  he.  Beginning  life  in  hum- 
ble circumstances,  he  has.  steadily,  step  by  step,  by  perseverance, 
won  a  good  footing  in  worldly  goods,  and  is  a  fitting  example  of 
what  is  in  store  as  a  reward  for  energy  and  directness  of  purpose 
in  our  loved  country.  He  has  reared  a  large  and  intelligent  family 
of  children  who  do  him  honor. 

He  has  two  brothers  living  in  Freeburg:  John,  a  hotel-keeper, 
and  Jacob,  proprietor  of  the  Freeburg  brewery.  Of  his  children, 
several  are  married,  as  follows  :  Louisa,  to  Henry  Serth,  a  miller 
in  Lenzburg  ;  Mary,  to  John  Convar,  of  Belleville;  George,  to  Ida 
Friedlander,  and  Catharine,  to  Charles  Becker,  of  Freeburg. 


DR.  CHARLES  H.  E.  E.  REMBE. 
Among  the  wide-awake,  energetic  young  practitioners  of  medi- 
cine, none  stand  higher  than  Dr.  Rembe.  Thoroughly  in  love  with 
his  profession,  vigorous  in  health,  successful  in  practice,  he  has 
acquired,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fayetteville,  a  large  and  lucrative 
business.  He  was  born  in  Freis,  Germany,  February  9th,  1856. 
His  father,  Christoph  Rembe,  was  a  government  ofiicial — an  over- 
seer of  timber  tracts,  which  position  he  has  held  for  fifty  years. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Eliza  Plitd,  of  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germany.  He  received  his  education  in  the  Gymnasium  in  Hers- 
feldt,  completing  the  course  of  study  laid  out  for  him  in  1871. 
The  year  following  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  across  the 
sea,  and  emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New  York  in  the  month 
of  April,  1872,  thence  to  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo ,  where  he  went 
lo  Marthasville,  and  studied  his  chosen  profession  with  Dr.  L. 
Standinger,  with  whom  he  remained  one  and  a  half  years.  He 
entered  the  Missouri  Medical  College  in  1874,  and  in  1878  gradu- 
ated from  that  institution  in  the  largest  class  ever  sent  forth  from 
his  alma  mater.  He  was  fortunate  in  his  selection  of  a  home, 
which  he  promptly  found,  soon  after  graduation,  in  May,  1878,  in 
the  village  of  Fayetteville.     The  Doctor's  affability  of  manner, 


painstaking  in  practice,  promptness  in  responding  to  calls,  have 
won  for  him  an  enviable  reputation.  When  the  pontoon  bridge, 
spanning  the  Kaskaskia,  at  Fayetteville,  was  washed  away,  he 
managed  to  keep  relays  of  horses  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
across  which  he  was  carried  by  a  canoe.  There  was  at  that  time 
nauch  sickness,  and  he  was  compelled  often  to  catch  his  rest  as  best 
he  could  whilst  traveling  from  patient  to  patient.  A  constitution 
less  robust  would  have  broken  down  under  the  trials  to  which  he 
was  subjected.  In  1880  he  visited  his  old  home  in  Germany,  re- 
turning better  satisfied  than  ever  with  his  choice  of  a  home. 

Two  of  his  brothers  have  followed  him  to  republican  America, 
whilst  a  married  sister  yet  remains  in  the  old  country.  The  doctor 
has  entered,  with  a  will,  into  the  spirit  of  American  institutions, 
and  takes  an  ardent  hold  upon  politics.  His  first  vote  was  cast 
for  General  James  A.  Garfield  for  President,  and  in  his  espousal  of 
the  Republican  cause  he  is  most  earnest.  Ambitious  to  excel  in 
his  profession  ;  a  thorough  student  of  ways  and  means  presented 
to  insure  success,  Dr.  Rembe's  efforts  are  being  crowned  with  a 
full  measure  of  success. 


RUDOLPH  W.  HEIMBERGER. 
Rudolph  W.  Heimbeegee,  the  present  postmaster  at  Fayetteville, 
was  born  in  Mascoutah,  December  29th,  1838.  His  father,  Gustav, 
a  lawyer  in  Germany,  came  to  America  because  of  revolutionary 
troubles  which  convulsed  his  native  land,  and  which  contributed 
no  little  to  the  development  of  St.  Clair  County,  in  the  year  1834. 
Being  somewhat  of  a  roving  disposition,  and  dissatisfied  with  the 
outlook  in  and  around  Mascoutah,  he  went  to  Cuba  in  1840,  thence 
to  Central  America,  subsequently  engaged  in  the  Mexican  war 
as  interpreter  to  Gen'l  Shields,  lost  his  left  arm  in  a  battle,  and  in 
1856  he  returned  to  Belleville,  where  he  died  in  February,  1858. 
Thus  closed  a  remarkable  and  checkered  career  of  a  man  of  distinc- 
tion. Rudolph  was  married  to  Ann  Hermann  October  9th,  1866, 
by  whom  he  has  four  children,  Emma,  Anna,  Gustav  and  Her- 
mann. He  learned  watch-making  and  gun-smithing  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  in  1858,  and  became  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  establishment  in 
Belleville,  the  next  year,  where  he  remained  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  civil  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F.,  9th  Reg't,  Illinois 
Volunteers,  one  of  the  first  six  regiments  from  that  state.  Remain- 
ed in  the  army,  in  all  three  years  and  five  months ;  went  out  as 
color  sergeant.  His  experience  as  a  soldier  was  rough  in  common 
with  all  in  his  command ;  his  being  one  of  the  regiments  that  bore 
their  part  in  all  the  battles  from  Cairo  to  the  sea.  After  the  war 
he  resumed  his  clerical  duties,  engaging  his  services  in  the  employ 
of  S.  P.  Chandler  &  Co.,  then  of  Joseph  Abend,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained four  years,  next  that  of  Feuss  &  Hilgard,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  his  change  of  location  from  Belleville  to  his  present 
home  in  Fayetteville,  iu  1880.  In  all,  he  has  filled  the  position  of 
clerk,  for  various  firms,  for  a  period  of  twenty-six  years.  At 
present  he  is  post-master  at  Fayetteville,  and  is  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business,  with  which  he  combines  the  duties  of  a  Notary 
Public.  His  energy  is  meeting  the  success  he  deserves  to  win.  He 
inherits  the  restless  energy  of  his  father  and  grandfather.  Dr. 
Lafontaine  (who  located  in  in  Mascoutah  in  1836,  and  who  was  a 
physician  and  chemist  of  note  in  Germany),  and  being  possessed  of 
business  tact  will  succeed.  The  same  spirit  of  patriotism  which 
prompted  him  to  go  forth  and  battle  for  his  country,  still  actuates 
him  to  remain  true  to  the  Union  he  helped  to  preserve,  and  believ- 
ing that  the  grand  old  republican  party  saved  the  Union,  he  is 
active  in  his  support  of  its  principles.  A  true  friend,  a  genial 
companion,  a  live  citizen,  Rudolph  W.  Heimberger  is  respected  of 
his  fellow  men. 


274 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COTJNIY,  ILLINOIS 


^^J/f^.^^ 


"Was  born  'ia  the  village  of  Ostenfelde,  Prussia,  July  llth,  1839. 
His  father,  Theodore,  was  a  prjminent  contractor  and  builder  in 
his  native  land,  and  many  churches  and  public  buildings  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  skill  as  an  artisan.  He  combined  with  this  con- 
tracting for  railroads  to  the  importance  of  which  as  a  lever  of  pro- 
gress he  was  thoroughly  alive,  and  in  which  business  he  was  quite 
■successful.  During  the  troublous  times  in  Germany  in  1848  he 
came  to  America,  bringing  with  him  his  family  of  eight  children, 
five  boys  and  three  girls,  all  yet  living.  The  sons  by  name  and  in 
the  order  of  their  birth  are  Henry,  Bernhardt,  Frederick,  Stephan, 
and  George;  the  daughters  are  all  married  with  names  as  fiilows, 
Gertrude  Dickemper,  Christina  D,)enewald  and  Mary  p]hrliardt. 
He  located  on  an  eighty  acre  tract  of  Ian  I  near  Faycttcvillc,  St. 
Clair  county,  Illinois,  shortly  after  coming  to  this  country.  He 
brought  with  him  about  .$3,000,  which  at  tluit  time  was  considered 
a  small  fortune.  Here,  full  of  years  and  honor,  respected  of  all 
men,  admired  of  all  for  his  urbane  manners  and  kindly  disposiiion, 
he  died  July  2,  1859.  His  wife,  Mary  Ann,  survived  him  twenty 
years,  dying  February  11,  1879  Theodore  Vahlkamp  was  liorn 
September  16,  1792,  hence  had  witnessed  many  changes  and  great 
growth  in  his  native  land,  and  something  of  a  greater  growth  and 
one  filled  with  more  promise  in  the  land  of  his  adoption.  His  wife 
was  born  in  the  year  1800.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Steplian 
Vahlkamp  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  of  a  family  of  progres- 
sive spirit  and  rich  in  the  endowments  of  nature.  His  has  been  an 
active  life,  chiefly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  which  have 
been  varied,  as  his  tastes  dictated  and  restless  energy  demanded,  by 
merchandizing  and  hotel  keeping.  His  first  experience  outside  of 
farming  was  in  the  management  of  a  hotel  in  1865-6.     This  was 


followed  by  merchandizing  from    1867    to    1872,    in  which  busi- 
ness his  tact  compelled  success.     In  1873  he  took  charge  of  the 
Okaw  House  in   connection  with    his   brotlier  Bernhardt,    which 
business   he  yet  pursues.     He  skillfully   manages   a  farm  of  five 
hundred  and  fortj'  acres  of  excellent  land  and  is  rapidly  amassing 
wealth  by  judicious  investments  and  great  painstaking.     He  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Raub,  July  20,  1860,  by  the  Rev.  Rosenthal, 
in  the  Catholic  Church  in  Fayetteville.     By  this   union  there  have 
been  twelve   children  of  whom   six  are  living.     The  names  of  the 
living  are,  respectively,  Theodore,  Ida,  Sophia,   Henry,   John  and 
Jacol).     During  the  latter  part  of  the  war  he  was  drafted,  but  the 
cares  of  a  family  devolving  upon  him  he  furnished  a  substitute,    as 
did  many  others  like  situated,  at  no  small  cost  to  himself.     When 
a  youth    he  experienced    his  full    share   of  the  trials  incident  to 
])ioiiecr  settlement.     During  the  first  few  years  after  coming  to  this 
country  nuich  sickness  prevailed  throughout  the  vicinity.     He  is 
an  active  supporter  of  tiie  Citholic  faith,  and  has  contributed  no 
little  towards  the  success  of  the  cause  in  his  community.     Every 
beneficial  public  enterprise  finds  in  him   a  friend,  and  with  means 
and  voice  he  is  ever  ready  to  do  his  share.     Politically,   he  is  free 
in   the  expression  of  his  sentiments  and  earnest  in,   their  avowal. 
He  has  always  affiliated  with  the  democratic  party,  having  cast  his 
first  vote  for  the  "  Little  Giant,"    Stephen   A.  Douglas,  in  1860,  of 
which  he  is    quite  proud.     Although   eminently  qualified  to  fill 
positions  of  trust,  he  uniformly  declines  any  such  honors,  preferring 
the  quiet  of  home  life  and  the   prosecution  of  his  regular  business. 
Energetic  in  business,  affable  in  manners,  generous   in  dispensing 
hospitality,  no  man  stands  higher  in  tlie  esteem  of  his  fellow-men 
in  this  vicinity  than  Stephan  Vahlkamp. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


275 


Heney  Baethel  was  born  in  the  village  of  Langenselbold,  Cen- 
tral Germany,  August  28tli,  1827.     His  parents,  Wm.  and  Catharine 
Barthel,  emigrated  from  the  Fatherland  to  America,  lauding  at  New 
Orleans  in  1840  ;  thence  they  went  to  Belleville,  one  of  the  centers 
of  German  attractions,  from  which  point  they  looked  about   them 
for  a  new  home,  and  found  it  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east   of 
Freedom,  in  Prairie  Du  Long.     They  lived  but  a  short  time  in  the 
enjoyment  of  this  place,  as  William  died  in  1841,  and  his  wife  fol- 
lowed him  in  1842.     Henry  thus  left  an  orphan  went  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  saddle  and  harness  making  trade, 
with   Henry   T.    Ford.     At  the   age  of  nineteen   he   engaged  in 
the  quarter-master's  department  of  the  government  service,  and  was 
sent  to  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  in   1846.     Here  the  manufacturing 
and  repairing  of  sad.lles  and  harness  fell  into  his  charge.     The  fol- 
lowing year,  most  of  the  troops  having  been   sent  to    the   front, 
leaving  General  Price  in  command  at  Santa  Fe,  with  but  few  men, 
civilians  had  to  now  and  then   stand  guard,  so  that  guard  duty 
broke  the  monotony  of  his  trade.     Here  he  remained,  in   all,  five 
year,  and  in  1851  returned  to  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  about 
three  miles  east  of  Freeburg.     After  three  years  of  farm   life  he 
moved  to  Freeburg,  where  he  has  since  resided.     His  early  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  one  of  the  rough  school-houses  on  Prairie  Du 
Long,  where  in  company  with  Hon.  Wm.  R.  Morrison,  he  attended 
a  school  taught  by  Matthew  Donahue.     His  reader  was  the  old 
Illinois  form  book,  that  of  Morrison,  a  history  of  the  United  States. 
This  reader  indelibly  impressed  upon  his  mind  forms  of  legal  papers 
and  documents,  that  have  ever  remained  with  him,  aud  which   in 


his  position  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  which  he  was  first  elected 
while  liviug  in  Monroe  county  in  1852,  and  again  soon  after 
making  a  change  of  home  to  Freeburg,  have  been  of  great  service. 
He  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  continuously  for  a  period 
of  twenty-four  years — years  replete  with  interesting  reminiscences 
of  cases  before  his  court,  and  "  thank  you  "  wedding  ceremonies 
performed.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  St.  Clair  county  in  1876.  During  his  term  of  service 
many  public  improvements  were  inaugurated  ;  the  first  iron  bridge 
over  the  Kaskaskia  at  New  Athens  was  built,  macadamizing  of 
Centerville  and  St.  Louis  road  was  done,  the  Court  House  Square 
was  inclosed,  and  other  like  enterprises  were  consummated.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  consistent  democrat,  although  his  fir^t 
presidential  ballot  was  cast  for  Scott.  This  vote,  he  says,  was  so  cast 
because  he  knew  of  Scott  and  not  of  Pierce.  In  business  afiairs 
Mr.  Barthel  has  alway  been  energetic.  He  opened  the  first  sad- 
dlery establishment  in  Freeburg  in  1854.  Sold  out  in  1858,  and 
in  company  with  others  erected  the  brewery,  from  which  he  with- 
drew the  same  year.  In  1861  he  went  into  general  merchandizing, 
which  he  yet  pursues.  He  was  married  to  Mai-garet  Mohr  April 
12th,  1852,  who  died  Jan.  Hth,  1859.  Was  married  to  Anna 
Marie  Bumb  in  June,  1850,  who  died  Sept.  8th,  1872.  His  present 
wife  is  Gertrude  Bumb,  to  whom  he  was  married  May  22d,  1873. 
In  all  he  has  six  children  living.  An  upright  citizen,  a  straight- 
forward business  man,  he  is  an  honor  to  the  community  in  which 
he  lives,  aud  whose  servant  as  a  Justice  he  has  so  long  been. 


276 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


^u}A^a^ 


One  of  the  present  county  commissioners,  was  born  in  Nassau,  Ger- 
many, November  10th,  1834.  His  father,  Henry  Fietsam,  was  en- 
gaged for  many  years  in  the  government  service  of  his  native  land 
as  a  surveyor.  As  such  he  surveyed  nearly  all  of  Nassau.  One  of 
his  duties  was  to  make  a  division  of  timbered  lands,  belonging  to 
the  general  government,  between  the  various  villages,  alotting  tracts 
to  them  proportioned  to  their  population.  This  duty  he  discharged 
satisfactorily.  This  country  olfcred  better  inducements  than  tlieir 
own  to  his  growing  family,  so  that  the  year  1850  found  tliem  all 
here.  Sebastian  first  came  in  1846,  others  in  1.S47,  until  eleven 
sons,  in  all,  had  made  their  home  in  America.  He  followed  his 
family  here,  resigning  his  position,  and  once  hercloentid  in  Shiloh 
valley,  a  few  miles  from  Belleville.  Three  year.s  afterwards  he 
moved  to  Drum  Hill,  near  Fayetteville,  where  he  died  January  1, 
1872,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  His  wife  Judilli  i-urvived  him 
more  than  four  years,  having  died  August  '24ih,  187(1.  He  cele- 
brated the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  wedded  life  at  Lis  home  in  ]8(i4. 
A  notable  occasi(m  whose  plea.^ant  memories  are  treasured  up  in 
the  minds  of  loving  sons  and  friends.  The  subject  of  this  sketch, 
Charles  H.  Fietsam,  was  the  eleventh  child  in  the  fomily  in  the 
order  of  birth.  He  had  heard  of  America  iu  boyhdod  as  a  wonder- 
land, and  when  he  was  sixteen,  be  was  glad  of  his  father's  determi- 
nation to  cross  the  great  sea  and  make  a  home  in  old  St.  Clair 
county,  which  was  at  that  time  attracting  so  much  attention  among 
German  emigrants.  Once  here  his  first  great  necessity  was  to  master 
the  English  tongue.  In  this  he  was  quite  backward,  and  many 
were  the  mistakes  he  would  make,  mistakes  too  very  confusing  to 
his  sensitive  nature.  He  had  a  tolerably  good  German  education, 
which  was  supplemented  liy  but  twelve  hours  attendance,  all  told 


at  a  writing  school  in  his  neighborhood.     At  the  age  of  twenty-two 
he  -nas  crippled  by  falling  from  a  wagon,  drawn  by  a  runaway  team. 
This  disabled  him  fir  farm  service,  hence  he  was  set  to  work  in  a 
store  kept  by  an  older  brother,  Sebastian,   in   Fayetteville.     Here 
necessity  compelled  him  to  learn  English.     Calls  for  articles  with 
whose  names  he  was  not  familiar,  caused   ludicrous  errors.     This 
experience  gained  for  him  a  practical  business  education,  which  has 
proved  of  great  service.     He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Laux,  Septend)er  Oth,  18t)0.     One  child,  a  daughter,  Ida,  now  the 
wife  of  Frank  Abcrle,  was  the  fruit  of  this  marriage.     His  first 
wife  dying,  be  married  Philomena  Zeller,  Ajiril  4th,  1864,  by  whom 
he  had  seven  children,  all  living.     Mr.  Fietsam  has  pursued  farm- 
ing all  bis  life,  and  combined  with  such  pursuits  as  his  qualifications 
have  eminently  fitted  him -for,  and  to  which  his  neighbors  have  re- 
]H'atcilly  called  him.     For  twelve  years  he  was  retained  as  super- 
visiu-  in  his  home  precinct,  for  ten  years  the  duties  of  deputy  asses- 
sor were  assigned  him,  and  latterly  he  has   been   chosen  Justice  of 
the  Peace.     iMilarging  his  sphere  of  usefulness  his  fellow  citizens 
last  fall  elected  him  county  commissioner — a  just  recognition  of  his 
services  in  public  life.     To  this  position  be  has   carried   the  same 
degree  of  energy,  the  same  spirit  of  industry  that  has  ever  charac- 
terized him  in  oificcs  of  public  trust.      Exact  and  business-like  in 
all  his  methods,  judicious  in  all  his  actions,  ever  guardful  of  the  best 
interests  of  the  county,  he  is  making  for  himself  hosts  of  friends. 
His  selection  as  commissioner  is  one  of  which  his  constituency   is 
justly  proud.     In  politics  he  is  a  democrat  of  the  straightcst   sect, 
as  undeviating  in  his  devotion  to  the  principles  of  the  party  as   the 
needle  to  the  pidc.     His  first  vote  was  cast  tor  Judge  Wm.   H. 
Snyder  for  circuit  Judge  under  somewhat  singular  circumstances. 


JOHN  GRIFFEN,  (deceased.) 


Whose  portrait  adorns  this  page,  is  a  representative  of  oue  of  the 
pioneer  families  of  this  county.  He  was  bora  east  of  Belleville, 
January  6,  1807.  His  parents  were  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Jritien, 
nee  Peter.  Mr.  Griffen  always  resided  in  his  native  township  ]?y 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  In  agricultural  jiursuits  he  took  great 
delight.  When  it  was  proposed  to  organize  and  maintain  a  i''air 
Association  in  St.  Clair  county,  ho  was  one  of  the  first  to  lend  his 
aid,  and  was  for  many  years  an  officer  and  director.  As  jircsidcnt 
of  the  association  in  1866,  he  won  the  apjirobation  of  all.     He  was 


married  June  10,  1830,  to  3[alinda  J.  Rains,  by  whom  he  had — in 
all — sixteen  children,  only  three  of  whom  survive.  Politically,  he 
was  a  democrat  of  the  Jackson  school.  Not  a  seeker  for  office — he 
yet  was  active  in  the  propagation  of  his  political  faith.  He  was  a 
member  of  tlic  ISaptist  church,  holding  such  membership  with  the 
oiliest  organization  of  that  society  in  Illinois.  He  died  April  17, 
187'.),  within  sight  of  his  birth-place.  He  was  esteemed  for  his  vir- 
tues, honored  i'or  his  talents,  and  loved  for  his  social  qualities. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


211 


showiug  the  difference  between  political  elections  nearly  thirty  years 
ago  and  now.    There  was  no  excitement.     He  accompanied  his 
father  afoot  from  Belleville  to  his  home  on  election  day.     When 
they  reached  Freeburg,  or  Urbana  as  it  was  then  called,  they  were 
informed  for  the  first  time  that  an  election  was  being  held,  and 
voted.     His  first  presidential  ballot  was  cast  for  James  Buchanan  ; 
since  then  he  has  voted  for  the  regular  democratic  nominees,  al- 
though each  time  they  have  suffered  defeat.     He  is  of  the  opinion 
that  they  triumphed  at  the  polls  in  1876,  but  were  defrauded  out 
of  their  rights.     He  hopes  for  the  eventual  success  of  democratic 
principles.     In  religion  Mr.  Fietsam  is  an  adherent  to  the  Catholic 
faith.     His  business  qualifications  have  fitted  him  for  the  various 
positions  he  has  held,  among  them  that  of  Financial  Secretary  of 
the  Farmer's  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Society  of  St.  Clair  county,  to 
which  position  he  was  chosen  October  11th,  1868.     Upright,  honest 
and  capable,  he  has  hosts  of  friends.     In  the  community  where  he 
has  long  resided  and  is  Isnown  by  all,  none  are  more  respected  for 
their  worth  as  a  man  and  citizen  than  Mr.  Fietsam. 


THE  LAND  FAMILY. 

The  above  named  family  are  among  the  early  settlers  of  St. 
Clair  county.  Philip,  son  of  Moses  Land,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
March  2d,  1785.  He  removed  to  South  Carolina,  and  there  married 
Elizabeth  Fike.  The  year  of  the  marriage  was  1805.  He  after- 
wards left  South  Carolina  and  went  to  Kentucky,  and  from  that 
state  came  to  Illinois  in  1816,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county,  at  a 
point  then  and  now  known  as  Turkey  Hill.  About  ths  yeir  1818 
he  moved  to  a  place  on  the  Kaskaskia,  near  where  Fayetteville 
now  stands,  and  there  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  took 
plac3  in  April,  1857.  His  wife  died  on  the  old  place  or  homestead, 
in  1841.  There  were  six  children  born  to  Philip  and  Elizabeth 
Land.  Their  names  were  Aaron,  Cynthia,  Moses,  Rebecca,  Eva- 
line,  and  Nathan.  Aaron  and  Cynthia  were  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina. Moses,  Rebecca  and  Evaline  in  Kentucky,  and  Nathan  in 
St.  Clair  county,  Illinois.  Aaron  Land  married  Lucy  Dial.  Cyn- 
thia married  Patrick  Costello,  who  died  about  the  year  1841,  after 
which  she  married  Edward  McGarren.  Moses  Land  married 
Louisa  Dial.  Rebecca  died  unmarried,  about  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  Nathan  was  twice  married;  first  to  Sarah  Curtis,  in  1845. 
She  died  in  1853.  He  then  married  Minerva  Benwell,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Prim,  in  1858.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  until  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  merchandizing  in  the  town  of  Mascoutah,  in  which  he 
continued  for  three  or  four  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  flouring  mill  in  Mascoutah,  which  was  built  by 
Messrs.  Postal  &  Eisenmayer,  and  is  now  owned  and  operated  by 
Philip  H.  Postal.  In  August,  1862,  during  the  war,  he  raised  a 
company  of  volunteers,  which  were  enlisted  into  the  service,  when 
they  became  a  part  of  the  117th  regiment  Illinois  volunteers.  Col. 
R.  M.  Moore  commanding.  The  regiment  did  gallant  and  meri- 
torious service  during  the  war.  Captain  Land  contracted  sickness, 
which  compelled  him  to  send  in  his  resignation,  and  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  in  September,  1864.  During  the  last  six  months 
of  his  service,  he  was  detailed  as  one  of  the  members  of  the  military 
court  before  whom  offenders  under  the  military  law  were  tried.  In 
the  fall  of  186.5  he  moved  to  Warrenburg,  Missouri,  and  engaged 
in  mercantile  business.  On  Christmas  eve  the  year  following,  he 
suffered  considerable  loss  by  having  his  property  destroyed  by  fire. 
In  1867  he  built  a  flouring  mill  in  Warrenburg,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  present  has  been  engaged  in  milling  business.     Since 


starting  he  has  associated  others  with  him,  and  the  firm  is  now 
known  as  Land,  Fike  &  Co. 

Aaron  Land,  the  eldest  brother,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War;  and  went  out  in  1831,  and  again  in  1832.     He  was  orderly - 
sergeant  of  his  company  both  times.     He  also  served  a  number  of 
years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Cynthia  Land,  as  stated  above,  married  Patrick  Costello,  who 
was  a  native  of  Tipperary  county,  Ireland.  He  died  February 
21st,  1842.  By  that  union  there  wtre  six  children;  two  of  whom 
are  living,  viz,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Shawn,  farmer  of 
Washington  county,  Illinois,  and  William  Costello.  Nathan  died 
in  his  fourteenth  year.  William  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  and 
grew  to  manhood,  and  married  Miss  Nancy  S.,  daughter  of  Lucius 
Don,  and  Matilda  V.  (Stunz)  Turner.  The  date  of  the  marriage 
was  February  9th,  1865.  By  this  union  there  were  four  children ; 
three  of  whom  are  living.  Their  names  were  Mary  H.,  Laura, 
who  died  in  her  fourth  year,  Don,  and  Elizabeth  Costello.  Patrick 
Costello  was  of  an  old  family  in  Ireland.  His  ancestors  were  large 
land  owners,  at  the  time  when  Cromwell  invaded  the  country. 
They  were  Catholics,  consequently  their  lands  and  possessions 
were  seized  and  confiscated  to  the  Crown. 


THE  FIKE  FAMILY 

Is  probably  of  Welsh  or  German  origin.  Abel  Fike,  son  of  Nathan 
Fike,  was  the  first  person  of  that  name  who  lived  in  that  portion 
of  Illinois  now  embraced  in  the  bounds  of  St.  Clair  county.  He 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  April  15,  1777.  His  first  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Rachel  Crownover,  was  born  in  March,  1785,  in 
the  state  of  New  Jersey.  They  were  married  in  the  year  1805,  and 
settled  in  Pendleton  county.  South  Carolina,  where  two  sons  were 
born — Ai,  born  March  28,  1807,  and  Benjamin,  born  December  13, 
1808.  The  family  removed  to  Hopkins  county,  Kentucky,  where 
another  son,  John  Jasper,  was  born,  August  7,  1810.  From  Ken- 
tucky he  moved  with  his  family,  and  settled  about  the  year  1811-12, 
in  what  is  now  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  near  Turkey  Hill,  about 
six  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Belleville.  Here  two  more  children 
were  added  to  the  family — Ansby,  born  July  10, 1812,  and  Narcissa, 
born  November  1,  1813.  His  wife  died  in  March,  1815.  In  De- 
cember of  the  same  year  he  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Mrs. 
Nancy  Crownover  (whose  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Land),  widow 
of  Joseph  Crownover,  who  died  January  20th,  1815.  The  widow 
Crownover,  who  was  born  in  Pendleton  county.  South  Carolina, 
May  22,  1792,  and  whose  husband  was  a  brother  to  Abel  Fike's 
first  wife,  had  two  children — Melissa  Crownover,  born  in  Pendleton 
county.  South  Carolina,  January  14,  1810,  and  Garritt  Crownover, 
born  in  Illinois,  December  31,  1813. 

So,  when  Abel  Fike  was  married  to  his  second  wife,  they  had,  in 
addition  to  the  meagre  domestic  supplies  of  that  early  pioneer  period 
in  the  history  of  the  West,  a  joint  stock  of  seven  children  with  which 
to  embark  in  the  new  enterprise  of  life.  This  family  was  increased 
by  an  addition  of  six  more  children,  as  follows :  Nathan,  born 
March  25,  1817  ;  Permelia  Ann,  born  January  25th,  1819;  Moses 
Perry,  born  January  21, 1821 ;  Charity  Jane,  born  August  9, 1822 ; 
Sarah,  born  April  30,  1828,  and  Henry  Clay,  (who  furnished  this 
sketch),  born  December  21,  1832. 

Abel  Fike  continued  to  live  in  the  same  neighborhood,  where 
his  family  grew  up  and  mostly  married.  In  December,  1836,  he 
sold  the  farm  on  which  he  was  then  residing,  which  is  about  one 
half  a  mile  south  of  Reutchler's  station  on  the  South  Eastern  rail- 
ro  d,  to  Mr.  Raith,  who  had  just  arrived  with  his  family  from  Ger- 


278 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COVNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


many,  and  moved  into  Looking-glass  prairie,  and  settled  about  two 
miles  north-east  of  Mascoutah,  where  he  continued  to  live  till  his 
death,  which  occurred  February  10,  1852,  in  his  seventy-fifth  year. 
For  many  years  of  his  life,  Abel  Fike  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  was  for  several  terms  a  member  of  the  board  of 
county  commissioners.  The  oldest  commission  held  by  him,  of 
which  the  family  have  any  account,  is  one  dated  May  20,  1816, 
while  Illinois  was  yet  under  territorial  form  of  government,  and 
Nathaniel  Pope  was  governor  of  the  territory. 

ABEL   FIKE's   children. 

The  oldtst  of  Abel  Fike's  children,  Ai,  was  married  to  Nancy 
Brown,  daughter  of  Major  H.  T.  Brown,  about  the  year  1830.  He  was 
married  asecondtime,  to  Mrs.  Martha  Swan,  in  1855.  He  moved  from 
St. Clair  county  to  Clay  county,  Illinois,  in  the  year  1864,  from  which 
locality  he  soon  moved  to  Laclede  county,  Missouri,  where  he  now 
lives.  Ai  Fike  had  five  children  by  his  first  wife  and  three  by  the  last. 
Of  the  first  family,  Andrew  J.  lives  in  Lompoc,  California ;  Williaoi 
H.  lives  near  Clinton,  Mo.,  and  Abel  lives  near  Ottawa,  Kansas. 

Benjamin,  second  son  of  Abel  Fike,  was  married  about  1830,  to 
Maria  Swaggard,  sister  of  George  Swaggard,  Esq.,  now  of  Mascou- 
tah, Illinois,  and  was  married  again  to  Margaret  Chrisman,  about 
1 843.  None  of  the  children  of  the  first  marriage  are  known  to  be 
living.  One  child  by  second  marriage,  a  daughter  Emma,  was 
married  to  P.  McClelland,  and  was  living  in  Marion  county,  Illi- 
nois, when  last  heard  from.  Benjamin  Fike  died  in  March,  1845, 
on  his  farm,  five  miles  north-east  of  Mascoulah,  on  Looking-glass 
prairie. 

John  Jasper,  third  son  of  Abel  Fike,  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Howell  about  1831.  He  had  six  children,  all  girls  but  one.  He 
lived  after  marriage  near  Drum  Hill,  about  half-a-mile  west  of  the 
old  town  of  Jefierson,  on  the  Okaw  river,  till  the  year  1850,  when 
he  moved  with  his  family  to  the  state  of  California.  They  lost  two 
children,  David  and  Elizabeth,  by  cholera,  while  crossing  the  plains 
overland.  .  The  only  two  children  living  are  Mary,  (married  to 
William  Hopps  in  1848)  now  living  near  Joplin,  Mo.,  and  Rachel, 
(married  to  T.  J.  Pulliam  in  1856)  now  living  in  south-west  Mis- 
souri.    John  Jasper  Fike  died  in  California  in  the  year  1852. 

Ansby,  the  fourth  son,  was  married  to  Mary  Anderson,  November 
3,  1831.  He  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  lived  to  ma- 
turity and  married.  Their  names  are  Anderson  Y.,  John  W., 
Narcissa,  Mary  Jane,  Doniphan  and  Corrington,  who  are  all  living 
at  present.  Ansby  Fike  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
early  in  life,  in  Jefferson  and  Mascoutah  ;  went  to  California  in 
1849  ;  returned  in  1852;  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  member  of  the  county  court  of  St.  Clair  county,  in 
1854  and  1855.  He  now  lives  in  Cliulon,  Henry  county,  Mo.,  to 
which  place  he  moved  in  1866. 

Narcissa,  the  fifth  child  of  Abel  Fike,  was  married  to  T.  B. 
Davis  about  the  year  1831,  and  lived  on  Turkey  Hill  for  a  few 
years,  when  the  family  moved  into  Looking-glass  prairie,  where 
she  died,  February  13,  1842.  She  had  four  daughters — Louisa, 
Nancy,  Rachel  and  Maria,  who  lived  to  be  grown  and  married. 

Nathan  Fike,  the  oldest  of  the  second  family  of  children,  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Crouck,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  James  A. 
'who  now  lives  in  Ferndale,  California.  Nathan's  wife  dying,  he  went 
into  the  Mexican  war,  and  at  the  close  of  this  war,  went  to  the 
state  of  California,  where  he  engaged  in  mining  and  farming.  He 
subsequently  married  again,  and  settled  in  San  Francisco,  where 
he  now  lives,  engaged  in  metcautile  pursuits. 


Permelia,  second  in  order,  was  married  to  Johan  Bagby^^ho 
died  near  Mascoutah,  on  a  farm.  She  was  then  married  to  Henry 
Amos.  They  moved  to  the  state  of  Iowa,  but  returned  to  Mas- 
coutah in  a  few  years.  Permelia  had  one  daughter,  Leandra,  by 
the  first  marriage,  and  four  daughters  by  the  last -Joanna,  Nancy, 
Martha  and  Josephine.  The  family  moved  to  California  about 
1869.  The  daughters  are  all  married,  and  the  parents  are  now 
living  at  Napa  city  in  that  state. 

Moses  Perry  was  married  to  Sarah  Howell  in  1843.  He  went  to 
California  in  1849  and  returned  in  1851.  He  had  four  children- 
Delia  M.,  Lffititia,  AValter  M.  and  El  Dorado ;  all  lived  to  be 
grown  and  married.  Moses  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  day  prior  to  marriage.  After  his  return  from 
California  he  was  engaged  in  merchandizing  in  Mascoutah,  till  his 
death,  which  occurred  February  23,  1852. 

Charity  Jane  was  married  to  Charles  Rayhill  in  1841,  and  lived 
with  her  husband  on  a  farm  three  miles  east  of  Mascoutah,  where 
their  union  was  blessed  with  seven  children,  who  are  all  still  living. 
Their  namas,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are :  Batty  A.  L.,  Helen, 
Leonora,  George  W.,  Julia,  Lucy,  and  Charles  G.  The  family 
moved  to  Warreasburg,  Mo.,  about  the  year  1873,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1879,  when  they  m^ved  to  BjUeville,  111.,  where  thsy 
now  reside.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rayhill  gave  their  children  a  good  edu- 
cation, most  of  them  being  graJuatas  of  institu  Dions  of  learning  of 
high  rank.     All  tha  children  are  m  irrieJ  but  the  youngest 

Sarah  was  married  to  William  Floyd  in  1849.  They  lived  for 
some  time  in  Bond  cjuuty,  lUiajis,  oa  a  farui ;  afterwards  moved 
to  Lebanon,  where  Mr.  Floyd  engaged  in  merchandizing,  and  at 
the  same  time  educated  his  children  in  thj  exoelleat  schools  of  that 
place.  The  family  was  blessed  with  six  children,  in  the  following 
order:  Georgie,  Addie,  Hattie,  Nannie,  Henry  T.  and  Ettie.  Mr. 
Floyd  moved  with  his  family,  in  1873  to  Missouri ;  lived  in  Sedalia 
and  Warrensburg;  afterwards  moved  to  Green  Castle,  Indiana, 
where  he  now  lives.  He  gave  h\i  children  a  good- education,  some 
of  them  becoming  qaitj  proficient  in  the  science  of  music. 

Henry  C  ,  the  youngest  of  all  the  children,  after  receiving  a 
common-school  education,  entered  McKendree  College  in  1847,  at 
the  age  of  fourteen.  In  1852,  in  his  twentieth  year,  he  graduated 
in  the  classical  course.  During  the  ten  succeeding  years  he  was 
principally  engaged  in  teaching ;  was  principal  of  the  Mascoutah 
public  schools  from  1857  to  1862.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  U.  S. 
Volunteer  service,  and  was  mustered  in  as  quartermaster  of  the 
117th  Reg.  111.  Vols.  Inf't.,  on  the  26th  day  of  August  of  that  year. 
His  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Western  Department,  whose 
field  of  active  duty  led  them  through  parts  of  all  the  southern 
states  bordering  on  the  Mississippi  river.  He  was  discharged  July 
12,  1865,  after  the  close  of  the  war.  He  married  Lucy  C  Power, 
who  resided  near  Trenton,  Clinton  county,  111.,  December  25,  1855. 
They  have  had  two  children.  The  first,  a  daughter.  May,  died  in 
infancy  ;  the  second,  Ella,  was  born  January  16, 1861.  The  family 
moved  from  Mascoutah  in  1867  to  Warrensburg,  Mo.,  where  they 
now  live.  Mr.  Fike  has  filled  several  places  of  official  responsi- 
bility in  his  new  western  home.  He  was  for  four  years  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education  of  the  city  of  Warrensburg,  Mo.,  and  is 
now  serving  his  sixth  year  as  a  member  of  the  city  council.  He  is 
a  member  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  regents  of  the  State  Normal 
School  located  at  Warrensburg.  Mr.  Fike,  in  company  with  Na- 
than Land  and  Moses  Land,  erected  a  merchant  flour  mill  in  the 
city  of  Warrensburg  in  1867,  which  they  have  co.,iinued  to  operate 
to  the  present. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


279 


J.  C.  WILDE  RM AN. 
Prominent  among  the  names  of  early  settlers  about  the  bsauti- 
ful  Turkey  Hill  district  will  be  found  that  of  George  Wilderraan, 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.     George  Wilderman  raised  a 
large  family,  nine  in  number,  of  whom  J.  C.  Wilderman  was  the 
eighth  in  order  of  birth.     This  family  has  furnished  some  of  the 
best,  most  energetic  and  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  St.  Glair 
county.     Their  chief  occupation   has    been   that  of  farming,   in 
which  calling  they  have  excelled.     J.  G  Wilderman,  or  "  Gal.," 
as  he  is  familiarly  called  by  his  neighbors  and  friends,  was  born 
June  22d,  1827.     At  the  time  the  Kickapoo  Indians  were  still 
camping  around  the  borders  of  civilization,  farmers  were  making 
for  themselves  homes  along  the  water-courses ;  the  prairies  were 
left  to  their  long  grasses  and  bright  flowers,  so  that  Mr.  Wilder- 
man  has  witnessed  great  changes  around  the  home  of  his  youth. 
His   first  teacher  in  the    common   schools   was   William    Davis, 
honored  in  memory  as  having  been  the  instructor  of  many  of  our 
representative  men  of  to-day.    Here  Mr.  Wilderman  received  the 
rudiments  of  an  education,  and  in  1852  determined  on  yet  further 
improving  himself,  he  entered  Shurtleff  Gollege,  at  Upper  Alton, 
where  he  remained  but  one  session.     On  his  return  he  pursued  the 
work  of  his  life,  that  of  farming,  and  bought  the  place  where  he 
now  lives  the  same  year.      He   was    married    to   Margaret   0. 
Mc  Bride,  daughter  of  William  J  and  Dovey  McBride,  by  Rev.  J. 
H.  Holloway,  April  22d,  1856,  and  built  a  residence  on  his  farm 
about  two  miles  south  of  Freeburg.     By  this  marriage  there  liave 
been  born  to  him  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.     He  takes 
great  interest  in  agricultural  aflairs,  and  possesses  one  of  the  best 
cultivated  farms  in  his  neighborhood,  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  extent,  adorned  by  an  elegant  home  mansion 
and  creditable  out-buildings.  '  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  St.  Glair 
Gounty   Agricultural   Society,   in   whose   work    he    takes   pride. 
Politically  Mr.  Wilderraan  is  a  tried  and  true  Republican.     Tried, 
in  that  when  his  party  friends  thought  the  interests  of  his  party 
would  be  best  subserved  by  his  becoming  their  candidate  for  the 
Gounty  Commissionership  in  1880,  in  the  face  of  a  large  democratic 
majority,  he  made  the  race.    Despite  the  vaunted  strength  of  the 
opposition  and  their  boasted  majority  of  over  a  thousand  votes,  he 
was  only  defeated  by  a  paltry  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  votes- 
True,  in  that  he  has  remained  steadfast  to  the  colors  from  the  or- 
ganization of  the  party  in  1856,  with  Fremont  as  their  standard 
bearer  until  now.     His  first  ballot  was  cast  for  General  Taylor,  the 
whig  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  in  1848,  and  ever  since  he  has 
seen  no  reason  for  changing  front,  but  believes  in  being  identified 
with  the  great  party  of  progress.     In  educational  matters  he  has 
ever  been  active,  and  repeatedly  has  served  his  fellow-citizens  as 
school-director.    In  religion  he  is  an  active  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  takes  deep  interest  in  every  effort 
made  to  extend  the  usefulness  of  church  or  Sunday  School.     He 
and  his  wife  have  heeded  the  Macedonian  cry,  and  are  members 
of  the  Southern  Illinois  Missionary  Society,  also  of  the  American 
Bible  Society.     Mr.  Wilderman  can  look  back  over  a  life  well 
spent,  and  one  whose  labors   have    been   crowned   with   success. 
Thirty  years  ago  he  started  out  with  a  clear  head  and  willing 
hands,  to  erect  a  home.     He  owned  not  an  acre  of  land  ;  had,  how- 
ever, means  sufficient  to  give  him  a  start,  and  grandly  has  he  im- 
proved that  start.     Surrounded  by  an  intelligent  family,  in  an 
elegant  home,  in  the  midst  of  a  large  and  productive  farm,  he  is 
prepared  to  enjoy  the  evening  of  life  in  peace  and  comfort.     His 
oldest  son,  Hugh  H.  Wilderman,  born  January  26th,  1857,  was 
married  to  Roselle  Moore,  daughter  of  Capt.  L.  W.  Moore,  Feb. 
12th,  1879,  and  is  now  living  on  the  farm  in  which  Wilderman 


Station  stands.  He  attended  his  home  school,  and  supplemented 
the  course  by  attendance  at  McKendree  College  for  two  years, 
then  at  Gem  City  Business  College,  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  he 
graduated  in  June,  1876.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Bible 
Society.  Although  a  farmer,  his  natural  field  of  labor  seems  to 
be  mechanics,  as  he  is  possessed  of  rare  inventive  genius.  The 
other  children  of  Mr.  Wilderman  are  William  Norris,  born  April 
21st,  1859;  Adie,  born  August  22d,  1861,  died  March  22.1,  1873; 
Julius  T.,  born  March  10th,  1884;  Emma  W.,  born  January  3d, 
1868,  and  Olive  E.,  born  July  26th,  1870. 


4 


PETER  HERMAN,  Jr. 
Among  the  live,  wide-awake,  enterprising  business  men  of  Free- 
burg none  deserve  better  mention  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
It  is  men  like  him  that  build  up  the  country.     In  his  especial  line 
of  buiinssj  nothing  new,  possessed  of  real  merit,  escapes  his  atten- 
tion.    A  merchant,  he  keeps  up  his  stock  of  goods  to  meet  the  de- 
mands of  the  trade;  a  dealer  in  agricultural  implements,  he  makes 
himself  familiar  with  their  work,  and — having  been  raised  on  a 
farm — he  well  knows  the  adaptability  of  each  and  every  class  of 
agricultural  machinery  he  handles  to  do  the  work  for  which  it  is 
designed.     More  merchant  or  dealer  than  an  agent,  he  selects  the 
best  and  keeps  it  in  stock.    Peter  Herman,  Jr.,  as  his  name  indicates, 
is  of  German  origin  ;  was  born  on  Twelve  Mile  Prairie,  about  four 
miles  south  of  Freeburg,  July  24,  1848,  where  his  father  yet  lives 
on  an  extensive  and  beautiful  farm.     His  advantages  for  acquiring 
an  education  in  his  earlier  youth  were  meagre,  being  such  as  a  win- 
ter sesssion  of  the  public  schools  afforded.      His  summers  were 
passed  in  farm  labor.     In  early  manhood  his  father  sent  him  to  the 
State  Normal  University,  at  Normal,  Illinois,  where  he  fitted  him- 
self for  the  profession  of  teaching,  which  he  followed  for  five  years. 
As  a  teacher  he  succeeded,  as  his  retention  so  long  in  the  same  lo- 
cality attests.     Mercantile  business  had  for  him  its  attractions,  and 
in  1676  he  entered  into  a  co-partnership  with  Jacob  Etling  in  gene- 
ral merchandize  in  Freeburg.    The  same  year  he  visited  the  Cen- 
tennial Exposition  at  Philadelphia,  and  returned  amazed  at  the 
grandeur  of  his  country.     He  has  travelled  quite  extensively  in  this 
country,  having  visited  twenty-eight  States  and  several  territories 
of  this  Union.    His  travels  have  greatly  aided  his  judgment  of  men, 
besides,  rendering  him  familiar  with  his  native  land.      He  was 
united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  January  2 1 ,  1874,  to  Margaret 
Reinheimer,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Reinheimer,  an  old  settler  and 
retired  farmer,  of  this  county,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Frederick 
William  Herman,  born  October  13,  1875.     In  the  year  1880  he 
bought  out  his  partner's  interest  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  has 
since  managed  it  alone.     His  specialty  is  dealing  in  agricultural 
implements,  which  he  keeps  in  great  variety.     By  his  business  tact 
and  straightforward  course  he  has  established  himself  in  this  particu- 
lar branch  of  trade,  and  customers  rely  upon  his  recommendation 
of  any  machinery  he  offers  in  the  market.     After  convincing  him- 
self by  observation  that  it  was  the  best  he  commenced  the  sale 
of  Osborne's  harvesting  machines,  and  now  has  the  great  satisfaction 
of  knowing  that  farmers  who  have  bought  of  him  have  realized  all 
he  promised  in  their  behalf.     In  his  establishment  may  be  found 
such  standard  implements  as  Buford  plows,  and,  in  behalf  of  the 
ladies,  sewing  machines,  in  stock,  in  variety  to  suit.     In  short,  Mr. 
Herman  knows  the  demands  of  his  home  market  and  spares  no 
pains  to  meet  them.     In  behalf  of  every  undertaking  calculated  to 
benefit  his  vicinity  he  enters  with  the  same  energy  and  zeal  that 
characterizes  him  in  the  prosecution  of  his  own  business ;    hence, 
all  good  public  enterprises  find  in  him  a  friend.     In  his  political 


280 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


faith  he  is  an  unswerving  democrat,  although  his  participation  in 
politics  is  confined  to  voting  and  giving  private  counsel.  He  is 
known  as  a  man  of  generous  impulses  ;  has  made  a  successful  mer- 
chant, and  is  a  good  representative  of  the  progressive  and  enterpris- 
ing men  of  this  county  who  are  of  German  parentage,  and  who  re- 
tain the  same  frugal,  industrious  habits  of  that  nationality. 


JOSEPH  P.  SMITH. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  biography  first  saw  the  light 
of  day  near  Georgetown,  March  3d,  1841.  His  grandfather,  John 
Smith,  was  a  native  of  Lincoln]county,  Maine.  He  brought  his  fami- 
ly west  to  Ohio  in  1816,  and  in  1818  moved  them  to|t{iis  county  and 
settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Georgetown.  The  land,  then  unimproved, 
he  cultivated,  and  made  a  farm,  and  remained  there  umtil  his 
death.  He  married  in  Maine,  and  had  five  sons.  Benjamin  J. 
Smith  is  the  only  surviving  son,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  W.  W.  John- 
son, is  the  only  surviving  daughter  of  that  marriaige.  Kobert  J., 
the  father  of  Joseph  P.,  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Maine,  Nov. 
27th,  1814,  and  was  but  four  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to 
Illinois.  He  grew  to  manhood  here,  and  remained  a  citizen  of  the 
county  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  21st,  1866.  On  the 
16th  of  January,  1840,  he  married  Mary  McCulley.  She  was 
born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Oct.  22d,  1820,  and  died  Aug.  7th,  1878. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  were  also  among  the 
early  settlers  of  the  state. 

By  this  marriage  there  were  six  children,  viz.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  John  J.,  Kussell  B.,  Sarah  C,  Clarinda  J.  and  Mary  E. 
All  are  living  except  John  J.,  who  died  Dec.  26th,  1876.  He 
married  Sarah  Eittenhouse,  and  left  four  children.  Eussell  B. 
married  Margaret  E  McGuire,  and  have  four  children.  He  is  a 
farmer,  and  resident  of  Franklin  county.  Ills.  Sarah  C.  is  the 
wife  of  George  R.  Tate,  a  farmer  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  have 
five  children,  one  son  and  four  daughters.  Clarinda  J.  is  the  wife 
of  T.  O.  Holcomb,  a  merchant  of  Oakley,  Macon  county.  Ills. 
They  have  two  sous  and  one  daughter.  Mary  E.  is  unmarried,  and 
a  resident  with  Mr.  Holcomb. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest  of  the  children.  He  was 
raised  upon  the  farm,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, and  their  received  a  good  English  education.  In  his  youth 
he  was  in  ill  health,  and  was  physically  unable  to  do  hard  work,  and 
therefore  commenced  at  an  early  age  to  teach  school.  He  taught 
for  nine  winters  successively.  His  health  improving  he  abandoned 
teaching  and  resumed  farming.  He  remained  at  home  until  1869, 
when  he  removed  to  a  farm  near  Freeburg,  in  this  county,  and 
commenced  farming  on  shares.  In  1873  he  purchased  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  lives,  and  has  made  that  his  home  to  the  present. 
On  the  9th  of  September,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Ellen  E.  Adams. 
She  was  born  near  Freeburg,  St.  Clair  county,  and  there  died  Nov. 
1, 1873.  There  was  one  child  by  this  marriage,  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. On  the  4th  of  January,  1876,  he  married  Miss  Ruth  M. 
Chesney,  his  present  wife.  She  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Oct. 
14,  1856.  By  this  union  there  were  three  children.  The  eldest, 
Delphia  Eloise,  was  born  September  28,  1876,  and  died  August  17, 
1877.  Glenn  RoUin,  born  April  9,  1878,  and  Vinta  Blanche^ 
the  youngest,  was  born  April  12,  1880.  Mr.  Smith  is  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  and  good  citizens  of  St.  Clair  county. 


CHARLES  BECKER 

Was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  June  27th,  1848.    His 
father  was  a  teacher,  and  what  is  remarkable  to  those  in  this  coun- 


try, where  teachers  are  drifting  here  and  there,  is  the  fact  that  he 
occupied  the  same  room  for  fortj'-eight  years,  teaching  the  boys 
of  more  than  half  a  century  ago,  in  turn  their  sohs,  and  yet  again 
their  son's  sons.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  visited  the  Gymnasium 
from  the  age  of  twelve  to  nineteen,  where  he  studied  Latin,  Greek, 
French  and  Mathematics.  In  1873  he  came  to  America,  landing 
in  New  York  city.  May  10th,  of  that  year;  thence  to  Beaucoup, 
Washington  county,  Illinois,  where  he  visited  friends ;  thence  to 
Freeburg,  where  he  became  Principal  of  the  Catholic  school,  a  situ- 
ation for  which  his  European  training  had  eminently  fitted  hira, 
and  which  he  held  from  October  1st,  1873,  until  February,  1880, 
when  he  became  Clerk  in  Reichert's  mills,  a  position  he  yet  holds. 
Mr.  Becker  was  married  to  Catharine  Eeichert,  an  accomplished 
daughter  of  Joseph  Reichert,  in  May  1875 ;  Rev.  A.  Wirtschoreck 
officiating.  By  this  union  there  have  been  born  three  children. 
In  1880  Mr.  Becker  met  with  an  accident,  whilst  in  attendance 
upon  the  Millers'  International  Exhibition  at  Cincinnati,  which 
once  bade  fair  to  terminate  fatally.  Whilst  looking  for  friends  he 
had  occasion  to  pass  by  the  engine,  which  he  did  just  at  the  mo- 
ment when  an  elbow  of  cast  iron,  a  part  of  the  main  pipe,  bursted. 
Flying  fragments  injured  him  severely.  He  was  taken  up  for 
dead,  carried  to  the  Hospital,  where  he  lay  quite  helpless  for  four 
weeks,  when  he  was  brought  home.  He  is  Director  of  the  Free- 
burg Saengerbund ;  a  young  man  of  great  energy  and  promise. 


FREDERICK  KOEBERLIN,  M.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  bom  in  the  village  of  Grsenen- 
bacft,  Bavaria,  Germany,  June  21st,  1831.  His  father  was  a 
Lutheran  minister.  He  acquired  the  rudiments  of  an  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Germany,  which  he  attended  until  the  age 
of  eleven  years,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  Gymnasium.  At  the  age 
of  21,  he  entered  the  Univerty  of  Munich,  where  he  obtained  a 
classical  education.  He  came  to  America  in  1854,  landed  at  New 
York,  and  first  made  his  way  to  a  brother  in  Pennsylvania,  a 
Lutheran  minister,  thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  attended 
Pope's  Medical  college,  and  graduated  in  1858.  After  gra- 
duating he  located  in  Freeburg,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  in  which  he  has  met  deserved  success.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Rosa  Ochs,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  early  German  settlers, 
of  St.  Clair  county,  October  15,  1860.  He  has  by  this  union  four 
children  living.  In  politics  the  doctor  is  an  ardent,  unswerving 
republican.  He  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  several  years  as  Pre- 
sident of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  village  of  Freeburg,  and  has 
been  a  moving  spirit  in  all  public  enterprises,  notably  the  Singing 
and  Literary  Association,  of  which  he  is  now  president.  The  doctor 
takes  great  pride  in  literature  and  in  his  profession.  In  his  library 
are  some  rare  works,  which  are  his  delight.  In  society  he  is  af- 
fable, and  courteous,  hence  has  hosts  of  friends.  Professionally  he 
is  careful,  zealous,- and  ever  vigilant  in  answering  the  calls  of  duty. 


PETER  HERMANN,  Sr. 

Peter  Hermann,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Meiningen,  a  village  in 
Saxony,  Germany,  August  1st,  1820.  His  father,  Nicholas  Her- 
mann, was  the  owner  of  a  water  power  mill  at  that  place,  which  he 
ran  for  many  years.  Peter  attended  school  from  the  age  of  seven 
to  fourteen,  then  worked  with  his  father  in  the  mill  until  he  was 
eighteen,  when  he  was  allowed  the  privilege  of  six  months'  travel 
before  reporting  for  muster  duty,  which  he  had  to   do  under  the 


^  H  EAT  Fahm(320  aches)  &  RESIDENCE  or  JOHN  LORTZ, Survey  386. T.2,RZFAYETTEviLLEPHECiNCTSj.CLAtRCojLL. 


Farm Residenceof  PETER  HERMANN,SecJ8, IE, S.R7,W.(FArETTEviLLEPf^EciNCT)ST.CLAm  Co., III. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


281 


laws  of  Germany.  He  concluded  to  come  to  America.  Once  here 
he  neglected  to  return  to  his  native  land,  for  which  his  father  had 
a  penalty  to  pay,  or  hire  a  substitute  for  muster  service  which  he 
did  at  a  cost  of  about-$250.  In  1843  his  father  followed  him  'to 
this  country.  Peter,  whilst  traveling  from  New  York  westward,  got 
out  of  funds  at  Pittsburg,  Penn'a,  and  worked  on  a  canal,  wheeling 
a  wheelbarrow  for  four  months.  With  the  start  thus  gained  he 
went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo  ,  thence  to  Randolph  county.  111.,  where  he 
had  friends,  who  had  written  to  him  while  yet  in  Germany. 
These  letters  induced  him  to  come  to  America.  Here  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  to  gain  a  living  for  some  time,  when  he  went 
to  Belleville,  where  he  learned  the  turner's  trade,  remaining  with 
his  employer  a  year  and  ten  months.  His  father  reached  Belleville 
in  1843,  and  at  once  bought  552  acres  of  land  on  Twelve  Mile 
Prairie,  where  Peter  still  lives.    Here  it  waa  his  parents  died  and 


are  buried.  His  father  died  August  14,  1844,  and  his  mother 
November  17,  1860  Peter  Hermann  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Lortz,  March  13,  1844.  By  this  union  they  have  twelve  children, 
eleven  of  whom  are  living.  The  following  is  a  list  of  their  names, 
with  dates  of  their  births :  Ph.  Hermann,  December  22,  1844 ; 
Christina  B.,  October  24,  1846  ;  Peter,  July  24,  1848;  Catharine 
A.,  November  17,  1850;  Anna  E.,  February  14,  1853;  Edward  N., 
November  13,  1854 ;  Louis,  February  2,  1856 ;  Emma  Mary,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1859  ;  Julia  C,  November  10,  1861 ;  Frederick  W.,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1863;  and  Louisa  Lenora,  December  7,  1865.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Hermann  is  a  liberal  democrat;  he  does  not  believe  in  draw- 
ing party  lines  too  tight  in  local  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church.  His  wife,  a  most  estimable  woman,  died  December  14, 
1876.  Mr.  Hermann  has  been  fortunate  in  the  acquisition  of  pro- 
perty, and  is  a  liberal,  and  respectable  citizen. 


O'FALLON    PRECIIsrCT. 


I  HE  greater  part  of  this  precinct  includes  what 
has  been  known,  from  the  earliest  settlement, 
as  Ridge  Prairie.  It  is  high  rolling  land, 
with  a  sufficient  amount  of  timber  and  water 
to  make  it  desirable  for  agricultural  pursuits ; 
and  it  early  attracted  the  pioneer  within  its 
borders.  It  is  irregular  in  form,  and  contains 
forty  sections,  or  about  25,600  acres  of  rich 
productive  land,  nearly  all  of  which  is  sus- 
ceptible of  cultivation.  Situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county,  it  is  bounded  as  follows:  On  the  north  by  Madison 
county,  on  the  east  by  Lebanon,  on  the  south  by  Shiloh  and 
Lebanon,  and  on  the  west  by  French  Village  and  Caseyville. 
The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad  enters  the  precinct  on  section 
22,  T.  2  N.,  R.  8  W.,  and  traversing  an  eastern  direction,  it  passes 
out  on  section  28,  T  2  N.,  R.  7  W.  There  is  also  a  short  road, 
from  O'Fallon  to  Belleville,  which  is  a  great  convenience  to 
shippers. 

EARLY   SETTLERS. 

As  near  as  we  can  determine  at  this  writing,  the  first  settlement, 
in  what  constitutes  O'Fallon  precinct,  was  made  by  the  Ogle 
family  in  1802. 

Captain  Joseph  Ogle,  of  English  ancestry,  was  born  in  Virginia 
in  1744.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  where  he  was  com- 
missioned captain  by  Governor  Patrick  Henry,  in  June,  1777,  and 
commanded  a  company  of  Virginia  troops.  He  was  married  in 
Virginia  to  Drusilla  Biggs,  and  had  five  children,  viz. :  Nancy, 
Catherine,  Prudence,  Benjamin  and  Joseph.  After  the  death  of 
"his  first  wife,  he  married  Jemima  Meiggs,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children— Drusilla,  Polly,  Jacob  and  Jemima,  all  born  in  Vir- 
36 


ginia.  In  1785  he  brought  his  family  to  Illinois,  and  first  settled 
in  what  is  now  Monroe  county,  from  whence,  in  1802,  he  moved  to 
Ridge  Prairie,  and  located  two  miles  west  of  the  present  village  of 
O'Fallon.  He  was  engaged  in  several  Indian  fights  in  this  state. 
At  one  time  he  (and  six  other  white  men)  attacked  a  party  of  nine 
Indians,  who  were  on  the  war  path,  and  killed  seven  of  their 
number,  only  one  white  man  being  wounded.  This  occurred  in 
Monroe  county.  He  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  Though  a  man  of  but  little  book  learning,  he  possessed  a 
large  practical  knowledge,  and  was  a  brave  and  skillful  leader  in 
early  Illinois.  He  owned  several  slaves  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and  liberated  them.     The  Captain  died  on  his  farm  Feb.,  1821. 

His  son,  Joseph  Ogle,  was  born  June  11,  1777,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  this  state.  Married  Lucinda  Pulliam,  July  12, 
1804,  soon  after  he  located  in  this  precinct.  He  had  no  chil- 
dren. Was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  was  a 
good  farmer,  and  a  man  of  considerable  information  and  influence. 
Died  at  his  residence,  September  14,  1846,  aged  sixty-nine  years. 
His  wife,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  Pulliam,  came 
from  near  Richmond,  Va.,  and  settled  in  Illinois  in  1795,  was  a 
devoted  wife  and  Christian — a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
She  died  at  their  farm  near  O'Fallon,  January  15,  1862,  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age. 

Jacob  Ogle,  son  of  Captain  Ogle,  also  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1785,  and  married  Elizabeth  Teter,  and  settled  about 
two  miles  west  of  O'Fallon  at  an  early  date.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many  years, 
and  a  man  of  considerable  knowledge,  and  very  popular  in  the 
community.  His  principal  occupation  was  that  of  a  farmer,  in 
which  he  acquired  a  good  competence.     In  company  with   Rev. 


282 


EISTOEY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


James  Lemen,  he  built  and  operated  a  -water-mill  on  Ogle's  creek, 
three  miles  north  of  O  Fallon.  This  was  a  rude  afiair,  and  an  in- 
sufficiency of  water  prevented  much  success  in  this  enterprise. 
Mr.  Ogle  built  a  horse-mill  on  his  place,  with  which  he  ground 
most  of  the  flour  for  the  settlement  for  several  years.  He  was  an 
enterprising  and  valuable  man  in  his  day,  and  much  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  him.  He  died  at  his  residence.  Two  of  his  sons, 
George  and  Jacob  Ogle,  farmers,  now  living  near  O'Fallon,  are 
among  the  esteemed  and  useful  citizens  of  the  county. 

Some  of  the  daughters  of  Capt.  Joseph  Ogle  were  married  in 
Virginia,  and  the  others  who  came  to  Illinois  with  him  were  mar- 
ried here.  Nancy  married  L.  Rutherford,  in  Virginia,  and  came  to 
this  state  with  her  husband  and  the  Ogle  family  in  1785.  She 
died  without  issue.  Catharine  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  James 
Lemen,  Sr.,  in  Virginia,  and  emigrated  to  Illinois,  in  1786,  and 
reared  a  large  family.  Prudence  married  Peter  Casterliue,  in  Illi- 
nois ;  Drufeilla  married  William  Porter,  in  this  state,  and  raised  a 
family ;  Polly,  the  wife  of  Gen.  James  Moore,  married  in  this  state, 
but  left  no  children ;  Jemima  married  Charles  Matheny,  who  was 
an  early  resident  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  a  pioneer  Methodist  min- 
ister in  Illinois.  She  died  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1858.  Her 
husband  moved  to  Springfield  at  an  early  day,  where  he  filled  some 
responsible  positions,  and  died,  much  respected,  before  reaching  a 
very  old  age.  His  son,  James  Matheny,  of  Springfield,  who  by  mar- 
riage is  related  to  Abraham  Lincoln,  is  a  prominent  and  able 
attorney-at-law.  All  of  Mr.  Ogle's  daughters  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

Rev.  David  Badgley,  a  pioneer  Baptist  minister,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  in  1786,  came  in  company  with  his  brother,  Anthony 
Badgley,  to  Illinois  in  1796,  and  settled  at  New  Design.  In  the 
spring  of  1804  they  settled  in  St.  Clair  county.  Rev.  David 
Badgley  located  on  a  three  hundred  acre  "  head  right,"  occupying 
a  part  of  Sec.  3,  Tp.  1  N.,  R.  8  W.,  just  south  of  the  southern  line 
of  this  precinct.  With  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Joseph  Chance,  he 
organized  the  first  Protestant  church  in  the  territory  of  Illinois.  He 
aided  in  forming  a  number  of  churches  in  the  West,  and  died  De- 
cember 16,  1824.  His  descendants  are  numerous  in  this  county. 
His  children  were — David,  Ichabod,  Job,  Abraham,  Rachel,  Mary 
and  Elizabeth,  all  of  whom  left  large  families.  His  brother  An- 
thony settled  on  Sec.  34,  Tp.  2  N.,  R.  8  AV.  in  this  precinct.  He 
had  a  family  of  eight  children  when  he  came  here,  viz. :  Hiram, 
Butler,  Diademia,  who  married  David  Aikman  ;  Nancy  married 
Joseph  Beer,  an  old  settler ;  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Beer,  a  brother  of  Joseph  Beer.  He  moved  to  Iowa  in  ,1830. 
Adelina  married  William  Abbott.  These  are  dead,  but  all  left 
descendants,  many  of  whom  are  residing  in  this  county.  Eliza,  re- 
sides with  her  husband,  G  W.  Dixon,  on  Sec.  33,  Tp.  2  N.,  R.  8 
W.  They  have  in  their  possession  a  powder-horn  carried  by  An- 
thony Badgley,  the  father  of  Rev.  David  and  Anthony  Badgley, 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  has  been  in  the  family  more  than 
a  hundred  years,  and  is  greatly  prized  by  them.  Simeon,  the  only 
son  of  Anthony  Badgley  now  living,  was  born  in  this  county  iu 
1805,  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  He  is  possessed  of  a  good 
memory,  and  delights  in  telling  stories  of  the  olden  times.  Having 
seen  this  country  develop  from  a  wilderness  into  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  influential  states  in  the  Union,  he  is  naturally  well-informed 
on  its  history,  and  has  materially  aided  us  iu  the  preparation  of  this 
work. 

The  first  settlements  in  what  is  now  O'Fallon  precinct  were 
known  as  the  Ogle  settlement,  the  Badgley  settlement  and  the 
Lemen  settlement. 

The  Lemeus  are  as  prominent  and  well  known  to  the  citizens  of 


St.  Clair  county  as  any  family  that  ever  settled  within  its  borders. 
Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sr.,  who  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Illinois  in 
1786,  settled  and  always  resided  in  Monroe  county,  where  he  died. 
An  extended  sketch  of  his  life  is  given  in  the  Baptist  Church  His- 
tory in  this  volume.  His  three  eldest  sons,  Robert,  Joseph  and 
James,  who  settled  here  at  an  early  day,  were  the  founders  of  the 
Lemen  families  now  residing  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Robert  Lemen,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Vir- 
ginia, September  25, 1783,  and  was  brought  with  his  parents  to  this 
state  in  1786.  He  came  near  being  drowned  the  second  night  after 
leaving  Wheeling  by  flat-boat,  down  the  Ohio  river.  Having  tied 
up  for  the  night,  the  water  fell,  and  the  boat  being  tipped  by  a 
stump,  they  lost  most  of  their  provisions  and  chattels.  He  was 
saved  by  a  floating  bed-tick  upon  which  he  was  sleeping.  The  loss 
of  nearly  all  their  goods  caused  much  inconvenience,  but  they  pur- 
sued their  journey  regardless  of  the  hardships  and  dangers  incident 
to  emigration  in  that  early  day,  and  landed  at  Kaskaskia  July  10, 
1786.  They  remained  here  a  short  time  and  moved  to  New  Design, 
where  they  were  among  the  first  American  settlers.  Here  Robert 
grew  to  manhood  and  married  Hester  Tolin,  in  1805,  and  the  same 
year  moved  and  settled  on  Sec.  1,  Tp.  2  N.,  R.  8  W-,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  August  24,  1860,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 
He  lived  in  the  genuine  pioneer  days,  and  experienced  the  trials 
and  privations  of  a  pioneer  life.  He  was  a  man  possessed  of  an 
undaunted  will,  honest,  active  hands,  clear  judgment,  an  unceasing 
energy,  and  was  regarded  as  a  good  citizen  and  firm  Christian. 
His  principal  occupation  was  that  of  farming,  though  for  many 
years  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  under  the  administration 
of  John  Quincy  Adams,  was  appointed  U.  S.  Marshal  of  Illinois; 
was  a  faithful  officer  and  deservedly  popular.  He  united  with  the 
Baptist  church  in  early  life,  and  was  clerk  of  the  Richland  Baptist 
church  for  some  time.  When  the  Bethel  Church,  of  which  he  was 
a  constituent  member,  was  organized  in  1809,  he  was  made  Clerk, 
and  served  until  1845.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  were  buried  side 
by  side  in  the  Bethel  cemetery.  They  had  a  family  of  fifteen  chil- 
dren, only  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz : — Gideon,  Hester 
Bowler,  and  Emma  Beedle.  Gideon  Lemen  is  a  successful  farmer, 
and  resides  just  over  the  line,  in  Madison  county,  three  miles  south- 
east of  Collinsville.  Hester  is  the  widow  of  B.  F.  Bowler,  and  lives 
near  Alma.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Beedle,  a  farmer,  in 
Christian  county,  Illinois. 

Rev.  Joseph  Lemen,  son  of  Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sen.,  was  born 
in  Berkeley  county,  Va.,  September  8th,  1785,  and  came  with  his 
father  to  this  state,  and  grew  up  under  the  parental  roof  at  New 
Design.  He  received  a  liberal  education,  for  that  early  period. 
He  united  with  the  Baptist  church  in  early  life,  and  subsequently 
became  a  minister  oi  that  faith.  Was  married  to  Mary  Kinney, 
and  settled  at  an  early  period  on  section  one,  T.  2,  R.  8  W.,  in  this 
precinct,  where  he  purchased  and  made  a  fine  farm.  He  had  a 
family  of  foarteaa  ciildrjii,  all  of  whom,  that  reached  maturity, 
became  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  Rev.  Joseph  Lemen  was 
a  devoted  and  active  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  preached  for  nearly 
a  half  century,  and  his  field  of  labor  extended  from  Iowa  to  Ken- 
tucky. In  this  long  career  he  organized  many  churches,  and  won 
thousands  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  He  was  an  able  and  vigorous 
pioneer-preacher,  and  did  much  to  advance  the  cause  of  religion  in 
Illinois.  His  death  occurred  at  his  residence,  June  29th,  1861, 
aged  nearly  76  years,  and  his  well-worn  frame  was  interred  in  the 
family  cemetery,  near  their  residence.  A  few  years  later  his  faith- 
ful and  loving  wife,  Polly  K.  Lemen,  was  laid  beside  him. 

Six  of  their  children  are  yet  living.  James  resides  in  Bond 
county,  Illinois ;  Joseph,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  Mexican  war. 


HI8T0R  YOF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


253 


and  a  Major  in  the  late  rebellion,  is  living  at  Odin,  Illinois ;  Isaac 
W.,  in  this  precinct;  Eobert,  in  Collinsville ;  "William,  residlDg  in 
this  precinct,  and  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Charles  Leslie,  resides  in 
Kansas. 

Rev.  James  Lemen,  son  of  Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sen.,  was  born  at 
New  Design,  October  8th,  1787,  and  it  is  related  from  good  au- 
thority, that  he  was  the  second  white  child  born  of  American  pa- 
rents in  the  territory  of  Illinois ;  Enoch  Moore,  being  the  first.  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  a  portion  of  the  time,  being  applied  to 
study  under  the  instruction  of  Rev.  John  Clark,  who  was  a  liberal 
scholar.  Mathematics  and  the  higher  sciences,  including  a  course 
in  theology,  composed  the  curriculum.  He  professed  religion  in 
early  life,  and  was  ordained  a  Baptist  minister  about  the  time  he 
arrived  at  manhood.  He  was  the  first  ordained  native  preacher  in 
Illinois.  December  8th,  1813,  he  married  Mary  Pulliam,  and  the 
same  year  settled  on  section  one,  T.  2  N.,  R.  8  W.,  in  this  precinct. 
They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children  born  to  them.  For  a  little 
more  than  half  a  century  he  devoted  himself  to  the  ministry,  and 
during  that  time  he  and  his  brother,  Rev.  Joseph  Lemen,  supplied 
Bethel  church  with  pastoral  services.  He  also  traveled  considera- 
bly, and  organized  several  early  churches  in  the  west,  and  assisted 
in  ordaining  his  father,  and  many  others  as  ministers.  He  was  a 
very  liberal  man,  and  besides  gratuitous  labor  for  the  church,  he 
gave  of  his  own  means  fifty  dollars  annually,  to  religious  and  char- 
itable purposes.  Rev.  James  Lemen  occupied  several  public 
positions,  with  honor  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  people.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  legislature  under  the  territorial  government 
when  it  met  at  Kaskaskia,  and  in  the  state  legislature  when  the 
seat  of  government  was  at  Vandalia,  and  state  senator  for  two 
terms  after  the  capital  was  removed  to  Springfield.  He  also  served 
as  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention,  which  framed  the 
state  constitution  of  1818 ;  and  at  a  later  day  was  chosen  by 
informal  ballot  for  United  States  Senator,  but  declined.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Whig.  As  it  was  his  desire  to  devote  his  time  largely 
to  the  ministry,  he  finally  withdrew  from  polities.  He  accumu- 
lated a  fine  property,  on  Ridge  Prairie,  where  he  died  February 
8th,  1870,  aged  82  years,  and  was  buried  in  Bethel  cemetery,  where 
£ve  years  later  his  wife,  Mary,  was  laid  by  his  side.  Of  his  chil- 
dren now  living  are  James  Lemen  and  Mary  Stebbins,  residing  at 
Hastings,  Minn.,  Robert,  at  Cairo,  111.,  and  Joseph  B.,  on  the  old 
homestead  in  this  precinct. 

John  Porter,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  Illinois  late  in  the 
last  century,  and  first  settled  at  Cahokia.  He  afterwards  located 
in  the  Ogle  settlement,  where  he  resided  until  death.  William, 
David,  Andrew  and  John  were  sons  of  his,  and  left  a  large  pos- 
terity. He  also  had  daughters,  who  married  and  had  families. 
Dr.  Joseph  Oglesby  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  settled  near 
the  Badgleys  in  1805.  He  was  a  man  of  vigorous  mind,  and  a 
successful  laborer  in  the  cause.  He  subsequently  moved  to  In- 
diana. Rev.  Charles  R.  Matheny,  who  married  a  daughter  of 
Captain  Joseph  Ogle,  settled  near  his  father-in-law  in  1806.  He 
was  also  a  Methodist  minister,  a  lawyer  and  politician.  He  moved 
to  Springfield,  and  was  appointed  clerk  of  Sangamon  county.  Rev. 
Matheny  was  a  faithful  and  devout  Christian,  and  died  at  Spring- 
field several  years  ago.  Henry  Mace  was  another  prominent  and 
well-known  pioneer.  He  was  born  in  Shanandoah  Valley,  Vir- 
ginia, in  1776,  and  came  at  a  very  early  date  to  Illinois,  and 
located  at  Kaskaskia.  He  was  a  tailor,  and  followed  his  trade  in 
that  place.  He  married  Drucilla  Andrews,  a  daughter  of  James 
Andrews,  who,  with  all  his  family,  except  Drucilla,  were  killed  by 
the  Indians.  She  was  taken  captive,  and  remained  with  them  for 
over  two  years,  when  she  was  ransomed  by  the  French  at  Kaskas- 


kia. By  this  union  there  was  one  child,  Elizabeth.  She 
was  married  to  James  Tolly.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
he  was  again  married  and  had  nine  children,  seven  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity.  They  are  as  follows:  Susan,  who  married 
William  Hilt,  a  patriot  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  an  old  settler 
in  the  county ;  James,  John ;  Catherine  married  John  Stites ; 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Andrew  Umbarger ;  Lucy,  who  became  the  wife 
of  George  Hart ;  Christena,  the  widow  of  J.  B.  Needles,  a  soldier 
of  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Susan,  Catherine,  Sarah  and  Christena 
are  all  of  this  family  now  living,  but  they  were  all  married  and 
have  left  descendants. 

Mr.  Mace  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  lived  for  a 
time  at  Whiteside's  Station,  in  Monroe  county,  and  settled  as  early 
as  1810  in  this  precinct,  on  section  19,  T.  2  N.  R.  7  W.,  where  he 
resided  until  a  few  years  before  his  death.  He  died  in  O'Fallon. 
The  Simpson  family  were  also  very  early  settlers.  Rev.  John 
Simpson  was  born  near  London,  England,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  married  Nancy  Ann  Ryder.  He  was  educated  a  Baptist 
minister,  and  came  as  a  missionary  to  America  in  1780,  and  settled 
in  Kentucky.  At  a  later  period  he  moved,  and  located  in  Monroe 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the  ministry.  He  reared  a 
family,  some  of  whom  became  residents  of  St.  Clair  county.  Mrs. 
Nancy  Hogan,  who  resided  near  Bethel  church  in  this  precinct, 
was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Simpson.  She  was  twice  married. 
The  first  time  to  John  Best,  an  old  settler  in  the  county.  After 
his  death  she  became  the  wife  of  Patrick  Hogan,  and  raised  a 
family.  She  died  a  few  years  ago  at  her  residence,  where  she  had 
lived  for  more  than  half  a  century.  Rev.  Gideon  Simpson,  a  son 
of  Rev.  John  Simpson,  settled  about  three  miles  north  of  Alma,  at 
a  very  early  date,  and  raised  a  large  family.  He  was  a  Baptist 
minister,  and  served  as  captain  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Rev. 
Joseph  Chance,  another  Baptist  minister,  settled  in  th^  northern 
part  of  the  precinct  in  1807.  He  was  born  in  Delaware  in  1765. 
He  married  Jemima  Morris  and  moved  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
professed  religion  and  began  preaching.  He  moved  his  family  to 
Illinois,  and  located  at  New  Design,  in  1794,  and  then  he  came 
to  this  county.     He  raised  a  large  family. 

William  Penn  was  another  early  settler  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
village  of  O'Fallon.  Some  of  his  descendants  are  living,  at  this 
writing,  in  the  county.  David  Sparks,  David  McFarland  and  Isaac 
Forman  were  also  early  settlers.  Samuel  Redman  located  on  sec- 
tion 35  of  T.  2  N.  R.  8  W.,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  and 
left  a  large  posterity.  Abraham  Clark,  who  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  settled  the  William  Forquer  place,  very  early.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  New  Design.  Samuel  Dorris  and  Samuel  Caru- 
thers  came  in  1811.  John  Hendricks  located  in  the  south-western 
corner  of  T.  2-8  in  1812.  The  Stites  family  were  early  settlers  in 
the  vicinity  of  Alma. 

About  1811,  the  settlers  erected  a  block  house  for  protection 
against  the  Indians,  near  the  present  site  of  Alma.  Although  there 
were  frequent  alarms  in  this  section,  the  Indians  never  committed 
any  serious  depredations. 

The  first  settlers  in  this  precinct  were  a  noble  class  of  pioneers, 
and  their  families  have  always  been  among  the  honored  and  most 
respected  citizens  in  this  part  of  the  state.  The  Ogles,  the  Bad- 
gleys, the  Lemens  and  many  others,  brought  with  them  the  cheer- 
ing ceremonies  of  a  pure  religion,  and  with  prayer  and  religious 
worship  they  laid  the  foundation  in  the  fear  of  God.  The  privations 
and  hardships  of  pioneer  life  are  fully  detailed  in  the  chapter  on  old 
settlers  in  the  first  part  of  this  work. 

We  give  below  the  names  of  these  who  entered  land  in  this  pre- 
cinct in  1814,  as  taken  from  the  county  records.    In  T.  2  N.,  R.  7 


284 


mSTOBY  OF    ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


"W.,  they  are  as  follows :  James  Lemen,  Jr.,  S.  E.  \  sec.  7, 160  acres, 
Dec.  3 ;  Daniel  White,  S.  i,  sec.  8,  320  acres,  Dec  3 ;  Charles  R. 
Matheny,  250.87  acres  in  sec.  19,  Sept.  30  ;  Henry  Mace,  S.  E.  i 
sec.  19,  1  BO  acres,  Dec.  21;  Joseph  Dixon,  S.  E.  i,  sec.  31,  160 
acres,  Sept.  16  ;  Joseph  Ogle,  S.  i,  sec.  18,  263.74  acres,  March  7. 
In  T.  2  N.,  R.  8  W— Robert  Lemen,  441.63  acres  in  sec.  1,  Aug. 
12;  William  Phillips,  S.  E  i,  sec  1,  160  acres,  Sept.  29;  Samuel 
Kinney,  N.  E  J,  sec.  11,  127  acres,  Aug,  28  ;  J.  Enochs  and  J. 
Waddle,  S.  E.  J,  sec.  11, 160  acres,  Sept.  29  ;  Jacob  Ogle,  N.  E. 
k,  sec.  12,  160  acres,  Sept.  29;  Joseph  Chance,  160  acres, 
Aug.  2;  George  Dixon,  S.  W.  i,  sec.  22,  160  acres,  Aug.  13 ; 
Charles  R.  Matheny,  N.  E.  i,  sec.  25,  158.38  acres,  Sept.  30 ; 
Jofchua  Oglesby,  S  E.  J,  sec.  58,  149  acres,  Sept.  13;  John  Mes- 
singer,  N.  W.  J,  sec.  29,  160  acres,  Dec.  24 ;  David  Badgley,  N. 
E,  i,  sec.  34,  160  acres,  Sept.  10  ;  Anthony  Badgley,  S.  W.  \,  sec. 
34,  160  acres,  Aug.  13  ;  Samuel  Redman,  S.  i,  sec.  35,  320  acres, 
Sept.  16. 

Among  some  of  the  settlers  of  a  later  date  may  be,  mentioned 
Merlin  Jones,  Sen,  He  settled  on  a  farm  two  and  a  half  miles 
south-west  from  Bethel  church.  He  ^as  an  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  a  man  of  liberal  education,  and  became  quite  a 
prominent  citizen.  H  e  subsequently  removed  to  Washington  county, 
where  he  died  in  1868.  iJenjamin  and  Harrison  Scott,  brothers, 
and  John  and  Paul  Kingston,  settled  very  early,  just  south  of  the 
present  site  of  OTallon.  They  all  left  descendants  here.  The  Be- 
gole  family,  residing  in  this  vicinity,  are  descendants  of  Josiah  Be- 
gole.  He  was  born  of  Huguenot  parents  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  March  25,  1792.  In  the  the  year  1805,  he  emigrated 
with  his  father  to  the  state  of  New  York,  where  he  resided  until 
the  spring  of  1819.  In  1820,  he  came,  via  Detroit,  Cincinnati,  and 
the  Ohio  river,  to  this  state,  and  from  that  year  until  his  death  he 
was  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  died  March  2,  1874.  He 
was  married  March  2,  1824,  to  Mary  Terry.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  by  Rev.  John  M.  Peck.  Thus  the  day  he  would 
have  celebrated  as  his  golden  wedding  was  the  day  he  died.  He 
lift  a  widow  and  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters. 
When  he  crossed  the  Ohio  river  into  Illinois,  he  paid  the  last  piece 
of  money  in  his  possession,  a  shilling,  to  ferry  him  across,  but  by 
industry  and  energy  he  became  independent,  gave  all  his  children 
a  good  education,  and  settled  them  comfortably  around  him.  Isaac 
Nearen,  an  old  pioneer  and  soldier  of  1812,  was  born  in  Maryland, 
and  came  to  this  state  about  the  year  1800.  He  first  resided  in 
Monroe  county,  for  a  short  time,  and  then  became  a  resident  of 
Turkey  Hill.  About  1807,  he  removed  to  Ridge  Prairie,  where  he 
remained  until  about  1840,  when  he  removed  with  his  family,  all 
but  James,  to  Iowa.  James  Nearen  is  in  his  77th  year,  and 
resides  on  section  11,  T.  2,  N.j  R.  8  W.  His  wife,  Nicene  Gaskill, 
is  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Gaskill,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  settled 
about  seven  miles  south  of  Lebanon  in  1810.  They  had  three 
children,  married  and  settled  around  them.  George  Pousch,  a 
prominent  early  German  settler  in  this  precinct,  is  residing  on  sec- 
tion 11,  He  has  raised  a  good-sized  family,  all  of  whom  have 
settled  around  him. 

Among  the  prominent  and  successful  settlers  of  a  later  date  may 
be  mentioned  Peter  Bowler,  who  with  his  wife  and  family  settled 
four  miles  north  and  one  mile  east  of  Q'Fallon.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  it  was  largely  owing  to  his  ef- 
forts that  the  Bethel  church,  in  that  day  a  costly  one,  was  erected. 
He  was  an  industrious  and  enterprising  farmer,  and  an  influential 
member  in  society.  He  died  at  a  ripe  old  age  on  his  farm  on  Ridge 
Prairie,  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife,  who  was  a  de- 
voted Christian  woman,  died  a  few  years  previously  at  the  family 


residence.  They  had  four  sons— Benjamin  F.,  George  W.,  Wil- 
liam P.,  and  John  0.  F.  Bowler.  They  all  united  with  the  Bap- 
tist church,  and  were  all  farmers.  Beujamin  F.  died  at  his  resi- 
dence, three  miles  north  of  Alma,  in  1872,  leaving  a  widow  and  se- 
veral children,  well  provided  for.  George  W.  and  family  reside  in 
O'Fallon,  where  he  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he  has 
faithfully  filled  for  many  years.  The  two  brothers,  John  O.  F., 
and  Wm.  P.  reside  in  Madison  county. 

We  give  a  few  names  of  the  parties  now  living,  who  became 
early  residents,  that  are  not  mentioned  above :  S.  S.  Kirger,  a 
blacksmith  in  O'Fallon,  came  here  in  1821 ;  John  Eckertj  residing 
on  Sec.  32,  is  a  native  of  Penna  ,  and  located  here  in  1839 ;  W-  S. 
Scott,  was  born  in  this  county  in  1836,  and  resides  on  Sec.  36  ;  G. 
W.  Darrow,  born  in  the  county  in  1831 ;  George  W.  Ogle,  born 
herein  1818,  and  his  wife  in  1828,  reside  on  Sec.  30;  William 
Simmons,  lives  on  Sec.  19,  and  was  born  in  this  county  in  1834. 
J.  M.  Ogle,  on  bee.  18,  was  born  in  the  county  in  1834 ;  B.  F. 
Begole,  was  born  here  in  1828,  and  his  brother  who  resides  on  Sec. 
24,  was  born  in  1825 ;  Mary  Smiley,  widow  of  Matthew  Smiley,  is 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  came  here  in  1830  ;  A.  J.  Cooper,  was  born 
in  St.  Clair  in  1829,  and  resides  on  Sec.  1:3;  Rebecca  Forman,  re- 
siding on  Sec.  22,  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Isaac  Forman,  who  came 
here  from  Kentucky  in  1820 — she  became  a  resident  of  St.  Clair 
in  1818  ;  Warren  Beadle,  residing  on  Sec.  22,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  came  here  in  1818  ;  Levi  Piggott,  a  St.  Louisian^by  birth,  came 
to  this  county  in  1836 ;  Amos  Stites,  whose  father  was  a  very  early 
settler,  was  born  here  in  1830,  and  resides  with  his  family  on  Sec. 
33  ;  Jackson  Brake,  of  Greene  county,  Ohio,  settled  here  in  1 818, 
and  resides  on  Sec.  33.  His  widow,  Mary  Oglesby,  was  born  in 
St.  Clair  county  in  1817,  and  died  in  1879;  William  J.  Ritten- 
house,  also  a  native  of  the  county,  born  in  1833,  resides  on  Sec.  34  ; 
Thomas  P.  Owings,  was  born  in  18.30,  and  lives  on  Sec.  25. 

Thus  we  have  given  a  brief  history  of  some  of  the  earliest  and 
most  prominent  settlers.  A  full  history  of  the  churches  and  schools 
may  be  found  in  their  respective  chapters.  The  pioneer  chapter 
fully  details  the  trials  and  hardships  of  the  early  settlers,  and  much 
other  matter  of  general  interest  may  be  seen  in  it.  The  census  of 
1880  gives  the  precinct  a  population  of  3042,  including  the 
villages. 

THE  VILLAOE  OF  o'FALLON 

received  its  name  in  honor  of  John  O'Fallon,  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  gentleman  of  St.  L  )uis,  and  at  that  time  an  officer  of 
the  Ohio  «&  Mississippi  Railroad  company.  It  is  located  on  the 
W.  i  of  Sec.  29  and  the  E  i  of  Sec.  30,  T.  2  N.,  R.  7  W.,  em- 
bracing one  mile  square.  The  first  improvements  were  made  by 
the  O.  &  M.  company,  in  1854,  and  consisted  of  a  depot  and  water 
tank.  The  first  sale  of  lots  was  made  at  public  auction  May  •13th, 
1854.  There  were  but  few  disposed  of  in  this  way,  and  they  were 
divided  among  Frederick  A.  Carpenter,  Hugo  O.  Sheerbanh,  and 
two  or  three  others,  Anderson  llmbarger  erected  the  first  dwel- 
ling, in  the  place,  in  the  fall  of  1855.  It  was  a  small  frame  build- 
ing located  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Cherry  streets,  aud  now 
forms  the  front  part  of  the  neat  residence  still  occupied  by  Mr. 
Umbarger.  The  post-office  was  established  the  same  year,  and  Mr. 
Urabarger  was  the  first  post-master.  He  was  also  the  agent  for  the 
R.  R.  company.  The  second  building  was  a  residence  and  store 
room,  erected  by  Henry  S.  Gordon,  of  Randolph  county,  in  the 
fall  of  1856.  It  was  a  frame  structure,  ihe  main  part  about  18  x 
30  feet,  one  story  high,  with  an  L,  and  kitchen  in  the  rear.  The 
front  room  was  used  as  a  store  in  which  he  placed  the  first  stock  of 
goods.     Mr.  Gordon  soon  sold  out  to  his  son-in  law,  S.  Mace,  who 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


285 


ran  the  business.  The  next  house,  erected  by  Walter  Westfield 
in  1856,  is  still  standing,  where  it  was  built,  nearly  opposite  the 
depot.  William  Peach  built  a  residence,  one  block  north  of  the 
depot,  in  the  same  year.  In  1857  Peach  &  Simmons  erected  the 
next  (fifth)  building.  It  was  constructed  of  brick,  about  30  x  40 
feet,  two  stories  high,  and  stood  on  the  lot  where  John  Shinton's 
saloon  now  stands.  On  the  night  of  June  3d,  1863,  it  was  destroy- 
ed by  fire,  and  Levi  Simmons  built  another  brick,  which  is  still 
standing.  Peach  &  Simmons  placed  a  complete  stock  of  general 
goods  in  it  as  soon  as  completed.  John  and  Robert  R.  Salter 
erected  the  store  and  residence  now  occupied  by  R.  Kampmeyer,  in 
1867,  in  which  they  resided  and  kept  store. 

The  next  store  was  kept  in  the  room  of  what  is  now  Fischer's 
saloon,  by  Herman  J.  Blanck,  in  the  spring  of  1859.  The  building 
was  erected  the  year  before  by  Henry  Stocker,  for  a  hotel,  and  has 
always  been  kept  as  a  public  house.  Henry  Stocker,  Phillip 
Schildknecht  and  John  Distler,  who  located  here  in  1859,  were  the 
first  German  residents  of  the  village. 

In  July  of  that  year  Dr.  Columbus  Hixson,  became  the  first 
resident  physician,  and  is  still  engaged  ito  practice  here.  In  1859 
the  following  families  were  the  only  residents  of  the  place :  Ander- 
son Umbarger,  Wm.  Peach,  Mrs.  C.  Kolowlton,  John  Daily,  John 
Salter,  Dr.  C.  Hixson,  Henry  Stocker,  Phillip  Schildknecht,  Cor- 
nelius Neville,  Henry  Farr,  John  Disler,  C.  Powell,  Benjamin 
Orcutt,  Henry  Mace,  and  G.  W.  Rawson.  From  this  date  the 
village  has  grown  gradually,  and  the  population,  as  taken  in  1880, 
was  960.  About  two-thirds  are  Germans,  and  they  control  the 
place. 

Schools. — At  the  laying  out  of  the  village  there  was  a  small 
frame,  district  school-house,  within  its  limits,  where  the  children 
first  attended  school.  The  first  school-building,  erected  in  the  vil- 
lage, was  in  1861,  when  the  main  part  of  the  present  house  was 
built.  Since  then  an  addition  has  been  made  to  it.  It  is  a  brick 
structure.  There  are  also  two  German  parochial  schools,  both  well 
attended. 

Incorporation. — It  was  incorporated  under  the  general  law  as  a 
village  January  27,  1874,  and  the  first  election  for  oflBcers  held 
April  21,  of  the  same  year.  The  following  were  elected :  Frank 
Poigne^,  President ;  Charles  Tiedemann,  Daniel  Schafer,  Thomas 
Mackin,  John  Feder,  and  John  Powell,  Trustees.  The  present 
board  are  Ertst  Tiedemann,  President;  Evan  Davis,  Thomas 
Mackin,  Joseph  Landgraf,  William  Wittig,  D.  D.  Gartside;  Henry 
A.  Schildknecht,  Clerk;  Herman  Obst,  village  Constable.  The 
Justices  of  the  Peace  are  Philip  Schildknecht,  James  Owens,  and 
G.  W.  Bowler. 

Cliurches. — The  village  is  supplied  with  four  churches.  The  Bap- 
tist church  was  organized  in  1865,  and  their  house  of  worship  was 
erected  the  same  year.  The  Methodist  church  was  built  in  1866. 
The  Catholic  in  1867,  and  the  German  Lutheran  in  1879.  They 
are  all  neat  and  commodious  edifices. 

Lodges. — The  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance  was  organized  in 
February  1880.  The  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templers  in 
February,  1881.  The  O'Fallon  Lodge,  No.  576,  A  F.  and  A.  M., 
was  chartered  Oct.  6, 1868.  Treu  Bund,  W.  O.  T.  B.,  was  organ- 
ized May  6, 1871.  The  German  Lodge  No.  463,  L  O.  O.  F.,  or- 
ganized in  1872.  The  0  Fallon  Lodge  No.  431,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  was 
chartered  in  1869.  St.  Clair  Lodge,  K.  of  P.  No.  40,  chartered 
in  1875.  German  Lodge,  K.  of  H.  No.  878,  chartered  February  4, 
1878.     They  are  all  well  attended,  and  have  a  good  membership. 

BUSINESS  TRADE   OF   1881. 

The  Richland  Mills  were  erected  in  1861,  by  Tiedemann  &  Raith, 
and  now  owned  and  operated  by  Charles  A.   Tiedemann.    The 


building  was  then  only  a  small  one,  with  but  two  run  of  burrs.  It 
has  since  been  enlarged  to  65x75  feet,  three  stories  high.  The 
building  is  brick.  It  contains  eleven  run  of  burrs,  with  a  capacity 
of  400  barrels  per  day.  Mr.  Tiedemann  intends  changing  the  mill 
to  the  Roller  process  this  spring,  which  will  enable  him  to  compete 
with  the  best  mills  in  the  country.  He  also  has  in  connection  with 
the  mill  an  elevator  with  a  capacity  of  60,000  bushels  storage. 
The  cooper-shop  is  24x140  feet,  frame.  He  employs  in  all  about 
forty  men.  The  mill  is  connected  with  two  railroads,  and  with 
Belleville  by  telephone. 

Brick  Yards. — There  are  two  of  these  in  the  village,  which  man- 
ufacture a  good  article.  They  are  operated  by  M.  Wachter,  and 
Jacob  Brewer. 

Physicians.— G.  Hixson,  H.  Bechthold,  0.  C.  Bates,  D.  C.  Dunn, 
Ed.  Oatman,  B.  Krause,  James  McGeehan, 

Dentist— K  H.  Mace. 

General  Stores. — B.  W.  Muelhausen,  Ernst  Tiedemann,  Charles 
Hofi'maun. 

Grocery. — D.  D.  Gartside. 

Drug  Stores. — L.  Hibbard,  B.  Krause. 

Stoves,  Tin-ware  and  Agricultural  Implements. — Rudolph  Kamp- 
meyer. 

Agricultural  Implements  and  Hardware. — Richard  Remelius. 

Millinery. — Miss  Annie  Schneider. 

Bakery  and  Confectionery.— YieA.  Kunzmann,  Jacob  Hammer. 

Furniture  Store.— C  Ruedlin. 

Lumber  Yard. — C  Huelsman  &  Co. 

Lime,  Cement  and  Tile. — C.  F.  Fischer. 

Blacksmith  Shops.—  Herman  Gross,  A.  Bequeret,  August  Behrens, 
S  8.  Kirger,  Christ.  Jacobs. 

Shoe  Shops.— Christ  Obst,  P.  Yungblut. 

Harness  Shops. — Henry  Schildknecht,  David  McFarland. 

Livery  Stables. — John  Gibson,  Charles  F.  Fischer. 

Wagon  Shops. — Andrew  Molles,  John  Bernum. 

Butcher  Shops. — John  Hofimann,  Reinhard  Strub,  Arnold  Simon. 

Hotels. — "  O'Fallon  House,"  Charles  F.  Fischer,  proprietor.  It 
is  a  neat  frame  building,  near  the  depot,  and  is  well  conducted. 
"St.  Clair  House,"  Michael  Bernhard,  proprietor.  "Farmer's 
Home,"  C.  Link,  proprietor. 

Saloons. — Charles  F.  Fischer,  Tom  Mackin,  George  Daumling, 
George  Poignee,  Charles  Link,  Henry  Ruester,  Michael  Wachter, 
Jack  Shinton,  Levi  Beaumont,  Michael  Bernhard,  Joseph  Land- 
graf. 

ALMA 

Is  a  coalmining  village,  situated  in  section  25,  T.  2  N.,  R.  8  W.,  on 
the  line  of  the  O.  &  M.  railroad,and  contains  about  100  houses  belong- 
ing to  the  Gartside  Coal  Company.  The  first  shaft  was  sunk  here  by 
the  above  company  in  1851.  They  now  have  three  shafts.  The 
average  depth  of  the  mines  is  a  little  over  two  hundred  feet,  and 
the  vein  is  full  seven  feet.  The  coal  is  of  an  excellent  quality. 
They  employ  in  the  operation  of  the  mines  about  two  hundred  men. 
The  company  have  a  machine  shop,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  car- 
penter's shop,  and  there  is  one  general  store,  kept  by  Joseph  Taylor, 
which  constitutes  the  business.  Ridge  Prairie  post-office  is  also 
located  here. 

forman's 

Is  a  flag  station  on  the  0.  &  M.  railroad,  only  a  short  distance  west 
of  Alma. 

There  are  also  two  more  coal  mines  in  this  precinct,  east  of 
O'Fallon,  the  Van  Court  mine,  and  the  Nicholas  mine.  The  former 
was  sunk  in  1863  by  Sharp  and  Thompson.  It  is  now  owned  by  B. 
J.  Van  Court,  and  operated  by  Savitz  Brothers,  of  St.  Louis.  The 
mine  is  207  feet  deep,  with  a  seven  foot  vein.  The  Nicholas  mine 
was  sunk  about  1870,  by  Nicholas  and  McCoy.  It  is  now  owned 
and  operated  by  Joseph  Morris.  The  shaft  is  212  feet  deep,  and 
the  vein  the  same  thickness  of  the  above. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


r-^w^i^^sfl/Wf- 


JOSEPH  B.  LEMEIf. 

Joseph  B.  Lemen,  sixth  son  and  tenth  child  of  Rev.  James 
Lemen  and  Mary  nee  PuUiam,  was  born  at  the  residence  of  his 
"parents  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  August  6th,  1836.  His  father's 
parents,  Rev.  James  Lemen,  Sen.,  and  Catharine  nee  Ogle,  in  1786 
moved  from  Berkeley  county  Virginia,  and  settled  in  Illinois-  They 
■were  among  the  first  settlers  at  New  Design,  Monroe  county.  Catha- 
rine Lemen  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  Joseph  Ogle,  who,  with  his 
•wife  and  some  members  of  his  family,  had  moved  from  Virginia  to 
Illinois  in  1785.  Mr.  Lemen  and  Mr.  Ogle  were  both  soldiers 
under  Washington  in  the  war  for  Independence.  Joseph  B.  Le- 
men's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  John  Pulliam  and  Margaret  nee 
Stockton.  They  moved  from  near  Richmond,  Virginia,  aad  settled 
in  Illinois  in  1795. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  up  to  the  occupation  of  farming ; 
and  received  a  common  school  education,  and  studied  some  of  the 
higher  branches  when  a  boy.  He  taught  school  at  eighteen  years 
of  age ;  and  afterward  attended  school  at  Shurtleff  College,  where 
he  graduated  in  June,  1857.  During  the  vacation  following  his 
first  year  at  College  he  completed  the  studies  included  in  the  next 
year's  course  of  study,  and,  after  examination  by  the  faculty,  was 
promoted  accordingly.  While  at  Shurtlefi"  College  he  assisted  to 
organize  one  of  the  present  literary  societies  of  that  school ;  it  was 
called  the  Philomathean  Society  at  its  organization.  After  com- 
pleting his  course  at  College  he  studied  medicine,  but  only  with  the 
view  to  his  own  instruction,  and  not  with  a  design  to  practice  that 
profession.  He  also  completed  a  course  in  the  law  with  the  view 
to  practice  that  profession ;  but  circumstances  eventually  prevented 
him  from  pursuing  the  profession  of  his  choice. 

When  the  war  for  the  Union  began,  he  enlisted  some  two  hun- 
dred soldiers,  and  purposed  to  enter  the  service  himself,  but  his 
aged  and  afflicted  parents,  whose  care  fortune  or  Providence 
seemed  to  have  devolved  upon  him  in  an  especial  manner,  were 
objects  of  affection  which  made  it  difficult  for  a  dutiful  child 
to  choose  between  duty  to  aged  and  infirm  parents,  and  devotion  to 
the  demands  of  the  country  and  flag.  From  this  cause  Mr.  Lemen 
did  not  enlist  in  the  service.  He  was,  however,  the  soldiers'  friend  ; 
and  on  several  occasions  when  young  men,  who  wished  to  enlist  in 
the  army,  but  were  owing  small  debts  which  they  did  not  wish 
to  leave  unpaid,  he  settle!  these  debts  out  of  his  own  funds,  and 
never  demanded  any  remuneration  from  these  defenders  of  the  old 
flag.  This  outlay  amounted  to  several  hundred  dollars ;  and  in 
various  ways,  in  contributions  to  our  soldiers'  needs,  in  the  way  of 
sending  them  special  articles  of  food  and  comfort,  he  always  gave 
.freely. 

286 


The  same  causes  which  prevented  Mr.  Lemen  from  entering  the 
army  during  the  war — namely,  the  care  of  his  aged  and  infirm 
parents — were  also  those  which  prevented  him  from  practicing  the 
profession  of  the  law,  after  he  had  qualified  himself  for  that  calling. 
They  were  living  on  their  farm  in  the  country,  and  desired  that  he 
should  remain  with  them— a  request  he  cheerfully  complied  with 
until  their  death.  During  this  period  he  conducted  the  farm,  and 
at  intervals  devoted  some  time  to  writing  for  newspapers  and 
periodicals,  and  in  other  literary  pursuits. 

On  November  23d,  1864,  Mr.  Lemen  was  married  to  Miss  Nancie 
C.  Scott,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Scott,  who  then  resided  on  his  farm 
5  J  miles  north-east  of  Belleville.  This  union  resulted  in  one  child, 
Elmer  S.,  an  interesting  bright  boy,  who  died  at  a  little  past  two 
years  of  age.  For  ten  years  Mr.  Lemen  has  suflTered  at  brief  inter- 
vals from  malarial  fever  and  its  effects ;  and  for  some  years  has 
experienced  considerable  trouble  from  a  disordered  condition  of  the 
stomach ;  the  combined  effects  of  which  confine  him  at  home  the 
most  of  the  time-  He  has  had  the  best  medical  aid,  and  while  the 
treatment  has  been  beneficial,  he  is  yet  laboring  under  a  condition 
which  causes  any  exposure  or  any  degree  of  physical  exercise  to 
give  much  suffering.  He  has  experienced  large  losses,  to  the 
extent  of  several  thousand  dollars,  by  becoming  security  for 
friends,  and  in  other  ways  endeavoring  to  accommodate  them : 
but  from  the  rents  from  his  farm  and  proceeds  of  his  pen,  together 
with  the  income  from  his  wife's  lands,  he  and  his  wife  live  in  com- 
forta,ble  circumstances. 

Mr.  Lemen  possesses  studious  habits ;  and  when  able,  he  spends 
his  time  mostly  at  his  library,  or  in  writing  for  the  papers  and  pe- 
riodicals. His  contributions  are  generally  editorial  matter.  He  is 
a  republican,  and  in  the  election  campaigns  always  assists  his 
party  and  candidates  through  the  press.  He  sometimes  contributes 
a  few  articles  on  general  topics  to  the  newspapers  of  his  personal 
democratic  friends ;  and  among  tlie  newspapers  he  takes  are  always 
two  or  three  Democratic  journals.  In  1872  some  of  his  wealthy 
republican  friends  who  endorsed  the  Greeley  movement,  tendered 
him  a  large  salary  to  conduct  a  newspaper  devoted  to  that  cause, 
but  he  preferred  the  service  of  the  party  he  had  always  supported ; 
and  he  has  since  been  offered  liberal  salaries  by  some  of  the  larger 
newspapers,  to  take  control  of  their  editorial  departments,  but  de- 
clined on  account  of  ill  health. 

From  testimonials  from  some  of  the  leading  republicans  of  the 
state,  his  services  as  a  writer,  pending  political  campaigns,  have 
been  acknowledged  as  largely  advantageous  to  the  cause,  as  it  is 
not  unusual  for  these  contributions  to  be  copied  from  the  papers 
in  which  they  first  appear  into  many  other  papers  throughout  the 


Resioenceof  Mrs. ELIZABETH    SCOTT j  0  E^llon, St. Clair  Co.  Illinois 


Hesidence&Mines  OF  B.J.  VAN    COURT    Esq.-I^  Mile  east  of  0  Eallon,0.  d:  M.Hi  \/. 


HISTORY  01  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


287 


state,  and  to  thus  reach  a  large  number  of  readers.  For  these  ser- 
vices the  leaders  of  his  party  ia  St.  Clair  county,  as  well  as  many 
of  his  democratic  friends,  have  several  times  tendered  their  support 
for  local  and  legislative  offices,  but  he  prefers  the  disinterested  po- 
sition of  a  private  citizen,  where  he  can  employ  his  time  in  more 
congenial  pursuits  ;  and  his  pen,  if  necessary,  in  measures  of  public 
concern,  untrammeled  by  the  responsibilities  of  office.  He  is  now, 
■with  a  few  others,  working  through  the  press  in  the  interest  of  leg. 
islative  reform — to  discourage  the  practice  of  too  much  law-making 
— with  the  view  that  if  our  laws  could  obtain  permanency,  the  body 
of  the  people  would  soon  come  to  understand  them,  and  that  causes 
for  litigation  would  eventually  become  less  frequent,  which  would 
give  the  courts  more  leisure  for  thought  and  accuracy  in  their  de- 
cisions. 

In  the  preliminary  presidential  contest  of  1880,  Mr.  Lemen's 
editorial  articles  in  the  newspapers  favored  Gen.  Grant  for  the  re- 
publican candidate ;  and  his  friends  rallied  at  Chicago  with  "  the 
guard  for  the  old  commander,"  but  when  Gen.  Garfield  was  nomi- 
nated, he  supported  him  quite  as  loyally  as  he  should  have  done 
had  Gen.  Grant  been  the  nominee.  He  also  supported  every  nomi- 
nee on  the  state,  congressional,  legislative  and  county  tickets  ;  and 
eirnestly  urged  the  cause  of  each  in  the  press,  as  worthy  men  to 
fill  their  several  proposed  offices  :  and  this  without  personal  dero- 
gation or  a  single  ill-remark  towards  any  of  the  opposition  candi- 
dates.- In  the  local  offices  he  frequently  supports  worthy  demo- 
cratic candidates,  but  on  the  occasion  referred  to,  he  supported  the 
full  tickets  of  his  several  party  conventions  from  consistency,  hav. 
ing  urged  that,  as  it  was  the  presidential  year,  his  party,  for  good 
efiect  in  organization  and  moral  force,  should  make  a  full  list  of 
nominations.  As  to  the  general  ticket  of  the  opposition,  Mr.  Lem- 
en  held  that  the  democrats  committed  a  mistake  in  nominating  a 
purely  military  candidate — Gen.  Hancock — and  that  Hon.  W.  R. 
Morrison  would  have  been  a  better  selection  for  that  party's  stan- 
dard-bearer. He  had  predicted  in  several  of  the  journals  of  Illi- 
nois and  elsewhere,  that  Mr.  Morrison  would  be  the  democratic 
nominee;  and,  while  that  gentleman  had  a  very  respectable  in- 
dorsement at  Cincinnati,  he  is  still  of  the  opinion  that  if  some  of 
the  opposition  leaders  of  the  west-had  not  made  some  very  palpa- 
ble mistakes  in  the  preliminary  canvass,  that  Mr.  Morrison  would 
have  received  the  Cincinnati  nomination. 

On  the  question  of  labor  and  capital,  Mr.  Lemen  holds  there  is  no 
real  conflict,  and  that  there  should  be  no  friction.  He  always,  in 
his  own  department  of  business,  endeavors  to  pay  his  laboring  men 
the  best  wages  customary  in  such  vocations,  as  he  wishes  to  see  the 
workingmen  well  rewarded  for  their  toil.  He  also  holds  it  as  fal- 
lacious reasoning  to  assume  that  there-  is  ultimately  any  conflict  be- 
tween the  intelligent  labor  of  our  hands;  because  such  assumptions 
pre-suppose  that  the  Creator  made  the  brain  the  enemy  of  the  hand, 
instead  of  its  faithful  ally— a  theory  evidently  hostile  to  the  unity 
and  harmony  of  nature.  On  the  question  of  temperance,  he  be- 
lieve* this  noble  virtue  must  be  enforced  by  self-government,  and 
he  does  not  favor  sumptuary  legislation  as  calculated  to  reach  the 
evil  it  proposes  to  cure.  He  believes  there  is  nothing  lost  by  the 
practice  of  systematic  benevolence;,  and,  since  he  commenced  busi- 
ness, his  contributions  for  eleemosynary  and  religious  uses,  including 
what  assistance  he  gave  to  some  of  the  soldiers,  who  were  poor  and 
in  debt,  amount  to  something  over  two  thousand  dollars.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Bethel  Baptist  church,  to  maintain  the  expenses  of 
which,  he  contributes  in  proportion  to  his  means.  He  has,  on  va- 
rious occasions,  been  elected  as  trustee  in  colleges  and  director  in 
corporations;  but  has  uniformly  declined  serving,  as  he  was  un- 
willing to  assume  the  responsibilities  which  such  trusts  imply  before 


the  public,  when  he  had  neither  the  time  nor  inclination  to  look  af- 
ter the  internal  management  of  these  enterprises. 

Usually,  in  addition  to  his  literary  pursuits,  he  has  looked  after 
the  management  of  his  farm  in  Ridge  Prairie,  some  four  miles  north- 
of  Alma,  where  he  and  his  wife  now  reside. 


BENJAMIN  J.  VAN  COURT 
Was  born  in  Mifflin  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  19,  1820.' 
The  ancestors  of  his  father,  Benjamin  Van  Court,  came  from  Hol- 
land. His  mother,  Mary  Lindsey,  belonged  to  an  Irish  family. 
In  the  spring  of  1839  the  family  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
the  West.  A  boat  was  constructed  at  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania,'^ 
in  which  they  journeyed  by  canal  to  the  Ohio  river,  and  thence 
down  that  stream  to  the  Mississippi.  At  Cairo  a  contract  was  made 
with  a  steamer  to  tow  their  boat  to  St.  Louis.  Having  mide  their 
boat  fast  the  steamer  started  up  stream.  Unfortunately,  it  proved 
too  frail  a  structure  for  the  strong  current  of  the  Mississippi,  which 
it  had  but  fairly  struck,  when  it  began  to  sink,  the  family  barely 
escaping  with  their  lives.  All  on  board  was  gone  in  less  than 
twenty  minutes,  the  loss  not  being  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars 
and  no  insurance.  One  trunk,  containing  three  thousand  dollars, 
in  gold  and  silver  went  down  with  the  wreck,  and  also  a  stock  of 
groceries  and  liquors  purchased  six  weeks  previously  in  Philadel- 
phia, at  a  cost  of  thirty-flve  hundred  dollars. 

From  St.  Louis  they  proceeded  to  Rock  Island  and  from  that 
place  to  Prophetstown  where  their  father  had  previously  purchased 
a  claim,  and  was  there  living.  Finding  no  opportunity  for  busi- 
ness in  that  frontier  town  he  returned  to  Rock  Island,  and  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother,  in  July,  1839,  with  scant  capital,  took; 
charge  of  the  Rock  Island  House.  By  the  succeeding  first  of 
January  their  business  had  netted  them  three  thousand  dollars. 
Quitting  Rock  Island,  from  1841  to  1843,  they  carried  on  the 
America  House  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio ;  and  in  November,  1843, 
coming  to  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Van  Court  opened  the  National  Hotel  at 
the  corner  of  Third  and  Market  Streets.  Finding  this  house  too- 
small  he,  with  his  brother,  leased  the  Missouri  Hotel.  The  hotel 
business  becoming  unprofitable  on  account  of  the  prevalence  of  the 
cholera,  in  1850  he  sold  out  the  hotel  and  for  the  next  two  years 
was  engaged,  with  great  profit  to  himself,  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. 

In  18-32  he  undertook,  with  his  brother,  the  business  of  trans-, 
porting  passengers,  bound  for  California,  across  the  plains.  They 
proposed,  on  reaching  California,  to  put  in  about  five  hundred 
acres  of  wheat.  A  McCormick  reaper,  seed  drills,  plows,  harrows,; 
a  threshing  machine,  and  machinery  necessary  to  complete  a 
flouring  mill  of  two  run  of  stones,  were  shipped  from  New  York, 
via  Cape  Horn.  On  the  17th  of  January,  1853,  he  married  Miss 
Amelia  Midtnacht  of  Baltimore,  and  immediately  afterward  sailed, 
for  California.  He  was  one  of  nine  hundred  passengers  on  the 
steamer  Winfield  Scott,  from  Panama.  Cholera  and  ship  fever 
broke  out,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  deaths  occurred  before  arriv- 
ing at  San  Franciso.  He  purchased  a  saw  mill  and  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business,  while  his  brother  attended  to  their  stock  and 
ranch.  They  had  only  been  able  to  get  in  two  hundred  acres  of 
wheat  and  barley  which  was  cut  with  their  McCormick  reaper  (the 
first  in  that  part  of  Calfornia).  Nine  Indians  formed  the  force  for 
binding  the  grain.  They  worked  for  one  dollar  per  day,  while 
white  laborers  commanded  four  or  five  dollars.  Their  crop,  which 
yielded  thirty-five  bushels  to  the  acre,  was  hauled  to  Nevada,  28 
miles,  and  the  wheat  sold  for  three  dollars  and  a  half  and  the  barley 
for  two  dollars  and  a  half  a  bushel. 


288 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


He  returned  to  St.  Louis  in  1855,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
City  Council.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Lumber- 
man's and  Mechanics'  Insurance  Company,  and  of  the  Merchants 
and  Manufacturers'  Saving  Institution.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Masonic  Order,  and  in  1850'  when  the  various  Masonic 
bodies  of  the  city  became  incorporated  in  a  Board  of  Trustees,  he 
was  elected  the  first  president. 

In  1856  or  57  he  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Illinois.  He 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  O'Fallon  Masonic  Lodge,  of  which 
he  was  master  for  the  first  seven  years  of  its  existence. 

He  served  as  District  Deputy  Grand  Master  for  five  years,  and 
at  the  present  writing  is  one  of  the  ofiicers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Illinois,  and  Master  of  O'Fallon  Lodge. 

He  is  now  engaged  in  farming  and  the  business  of  mining  coal. 
He  has  three  children  living,  all  daughters.  A  view  of  his  resi- 
dence, east  of  O'Fallon,  appears  on  another  page. 


BENJAMIN  SCOTT  (deceased).. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Ridge  Prairie  was  Benjamin  Scott 
who  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1828  took  up  his  residence  in  section 
thirty-two  of  township  two  north,  range  seven  west,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death.  He  belonged  to  one  of  the  pioneer  American  families 
to  settle  in  Illinois,  his  father,  Jehu  Scott,  having  made  an  early 
settlement  in  the  American  Bottom,  within  the  limits  of  what  was 
then  St.  Clair,  but  is  now  Monroe  County. 

Jehu  Scott  was  born  in  Maryland,  and  was  raised  at  the  town  of 
Washington,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade  in  Pennsylvania,  and  afterward  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  settled  near  Licking  on  the  Ohio  River.  He  there 
married  a  Miss  Wilson.  From  Kentucky  he  came  to  Illinois. 
He  reached  Kaskaskia  about  the  year  1797.  He  afterward  settled 
near  the  farm  of  Judge  Bond  in  the  American  Bottom,  in  the  pre- 
sent county  of  Monroe,  and  there  married  in  the  year  1798  t^his 
first  wife  having  died)  Polly  Kinkead,  who  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. She  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1786,  then  ten 
years  of  age.  They  came  in  company  with  the  Ogles  and  Lemens, 
and  other  pioneer  families.  They  descended  the  Ohio  to  Fort 
Massacre,  and  from  there  struck  across  by  land  to  Kaskaskia,  driv- 
ing their  stock  with  them.  On  this  journey  her  father,  James 
Kinkead,  became  separated  from  the  company  and  was  lost. 
Reaching  Kaskaskia,  and  he  not  having  made  an  appearance,  his 
comrades  started  back  to  look  for  him.  He  was  discovered  on 
what  was  named  from  this  circumstance,  Kinkead's  creek.  He 
had  been  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  days  without  any  food  except 
roots,  leaves,  and  bark.  He  was  in  a  famished  and  emaciated 
condition,  and  never  recovered  from  the  efiects  of  the  exposure  and 
lack  of  food.  The  Kinkead  family  first  settled  at  the  New  Design 
and  then  located  at  Piggot's  fort,  in  the  American  Bottom,  a  mile 
and  a  half  west  of  the  present  town  of  Columbia,  and  lived  within 
that  fort  seven  years. 

Jehu  Scott  moved  afterward  to  the  Teeger  prairie  in  the  Bottom, 
four  miles  north  of  Judge  Bond's,  and  there  established  a  black- 
smith shop.  He  carried  on  that  business  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  his  services  were  brought  into  requisition  for  a  considerable 
distance.  It  is  said  that  he  made  the  nails  for  all  the  cofiias  in 
which  the  dead  were  buried  for  fifteen  miles  around.  From  Teeger 
prairie  he  moved  to  Harrisonville,  and  for  seven  years  carried  on 
his  trade  at  that  place.    From  Harrisonville  he  moved  to  a  farm 


four  miles  and  a  half  north  of  that  town  and  lived  there  about 
twenty  years.  He  subsequently  lived  with  his  children  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  residing  at  Alton,  near  Freeburg,  on  the  Ridge 
prairie,  and  died  at  the  house  of  his  son,  Harrison  Scott,  in 
January,  1840.  He  was  in  the  ranging  service  in  the  war  of 
1812-14. 

Benjamin  Scott  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children. 
He  was  born  in  the  Teeger  prairie,  Monroe  county,  on  the  23d  of 
January,  1799.  He  was  raised  in  the  same  neighborhood.  He 
only  had  ordinary  advantages  for  obtaining  an  education.  The 
school  facilities  of  that  day  were  not  of  the  best  description.  The 
schools  were  subscription  schools,  held  for  three  months  during  the 
winter  season  in  log  school-houses  with  puncheon  floors  and  slab 
benches.  Greased  paper  pasted  over  an  aperture  made  by  leaving 
out  a  couple  of  logs,  furnished  the  only  excuse  for  a  window.  On 
the  27th  of  September,  1824,  he  married  Clarissa  Garretson,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Garretson,  one  of  the  pioneer  American  settlers  of 
Illinois. 

James  Garretson  came  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1781  and  settled 
within  the  present  limits  of  Monroe  county.  He  came  with  the 
first  American  immigration  to  the  Far  West,  and  is  one  of  the  men 
to  whom  credit  should  be  given  for  founding  the  present  great 
commonwealth  of  Illinois.  Samuel  Garretson,  a  brother  of  James 
Garretson,  wa^  killed  by  the  Indians  during  the  border  troubles  in 
the  early  history  of  the  territory.  The  family,  for  several  years, 
lived  near  Piggot's  fort,  to  which  they  were  often  obliged  to  resort 
to  protect  themselves  against  the  savages.  John  Moredock,  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Illinois  who  was  noted  as  an  Indian  fighter, 
married  a  sister  of  Jacob  Garretson.  Mrs.  Scott's  mother's  name 
was  Mary  Carr,  daughter  of  Joseph  Carr.  The  Carrs  came  from 
Virginia,  first  settled  at  the  New  Design,  and  from  there  removed 
to  the  American  Bottom.  Mrs.  Scott  was  the  fourth  of  a  family  of 
nine  children.  She  was  born  on  the  16th  of  February,  1806,  in  the 
American  Bottom,  seven  (7)  miles  north  of  Harrisonville,  in  which 
locality  she  lived  till  her  marriage. 

After  Benjamin  Scott  was  married  he  settled  in  the  American 
Bottom,  on  Moredock  Lake.  His  farm  sufiering  much  damage 
from  high  water  during  the  years  1824,  1825,  and  1826,  he  de- 
termined to  abandon  the  Bottom  and  settle  in  a  safer  locality.  In 
company  with  his  brother,  William  Henry  Harrison  Scott,  he  came 
to  Ridge  Prairie,  and  purchased  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land,  for  which  twelve  hundred  dollars  was  paid.  In  the 
year  1828  he  settled  on  this  land.  He  improved  a  valuable  farm, 
and  lived  there  till  his  death.  He  was  a  man  held  in  high  estima- 
tion as  a  neighbor  and  a  citizen,  and  he  commanded  the  respect  of 
the  entire  community.  In  his  political  opinions  he  was  first  a  whig, 
and  in  the  later  years  of  his  life,  after  the  dissolution  of  the  whig 
party,  he  acted  with  the  democrats.  He  united  with  the  old  Bethel 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  member  for  many  years.  He 
died  on  the  1st  of  September,  1877,  at  the  age  of  nearly  seventy- 
nine. 

He  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living. 
The  oldest  daughter,  Dilyou,  married  David  Moore,  and  lives  at 
Knob  Knoster,  Missouri ;  the  next  child  is  Mary ;  Sallie  died  in 
January,  1842,  at  the  age  of  twelve ;  John  is  now  farming  in 
Fayette  county  of  this  state;  William  S.  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead ;  James  Wilson  resides  on  a  farm  near  O'Fallon ;  Micha  Ann 
died  October  20,  1875,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two;  Lyman,  the 
youngest,  died  in  1851,  in  infancy. 


.;:;-Vffl 


Old  Home  Farm  or  EU AS  8c  ELIZA  HOUdERfRoPERjy  now  or  ELIAS  HOUSER,Jr. 

ZMILES  S.E.pr  o'rALLON^ST.CLAJH   CO.ILL.  ^ 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


289 


(Q/hLo^     //^-(yvujJly'Kr  (1/L 


Elias  Housee  was  boru  in  Washington  county,  Maryland,  eight 
miles  from   Hagerstown,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1810.     His  father, 
Isaac  Houser,  was,  on  his  father's  side,  of  German  descent,  and  was 
born    in   Washington  county,   Maryland,    and    married    Barbara 
Mumma.     Elias   Houser  was  raised  in  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, on  a  farm.     He  had  ordinary  advantages  for  obtaining  an 
education.     His  father  carried  on  the  distilling  business,  a  highly 
respectable  occupation  in  those  days,  and  also  owned  a  large  mill, 
which  may  still  be  seen  standing  south-west  of  Hagerstown,  not  far 
from  the  battle-field  of  Antietam.     Elias  Houser  learned  both  the 
milling  business  and  that  of  a  distiller,  which  he  followed  for  some 
time  previous  to   his    marriage.     He  was  married  on    the   12th  of 
November,  18o3,  to  Eliza  Malott,  daughter  of  Col.  Daniel  Malott, 
who  lived   on  an  adjoining  farm  in   the  same   neighborhood,  eight 
miles  south-west  of  Hagerstown.     Col.  Malott  was    of  French  de- 
scent.    He   derved    in   the  war  of  1812-14,  and    there  gained  his 
military  title.    He  was  a  man  of  superior  education,  and  occupied 
a  prominent  and  influential  position  in  the   community.     In  early 
life  he  became  profieient  in  surveying,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
employed  in  surveying  government  lands   in    Ohio.     He  surveyed 
the  lands  on  which  now  stand  the  cities  of  Chillicothe  and  Colum- 
bus in  that  state.     He  took  an   active  part  in    public   life,  was   a 
whig  in  politics,  and  held  several  public  positions.     He  was  twice 
sheriff  of  Washington    county,  Maryland,  and    held   that   office  at 
the  time  of  his  death.     He 'was  a  prominent  Mason,  and  an  officer 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons  of  Maryland. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Houser  lived  in  Maryland,  following  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  till  1839,  when  he  removed  to  the  west.  He 
37 


first  settled  in  Clark  county,  in  north-we.st  Missouri,  making  his 
home  there  when  it  was  a  rough,  wild  country,  and  the  settlors  were 
few  in  number.  The  conveuiencjs  of  civilization  were  scarce.  The 
nearest  mill  was  twenty-five  miles  distant.  After  living  seven  years 
in  Clark  county,  in  December,  1846,  the  family  became  residents 
of  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Houser  was  there  employed  most  of  the  time  in 
dealing  iu  wood,  having  a  wood  yard  on  Cass  avenue.  In  1854  he 
moved  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  two  miles  south-east  of 
O'Fallon.  He  has  since  lived  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  in  1872 
became  a  resident  of  the  town  of  O'Fallon.  Mrs.  Houser  died  on 
the  12th  of  September,  1880,  at  the  house  of  her  son,  in  St.  Louis, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  seven  months  and  one  day.  She  was 
a  woman  of  good  education  and  of  an  energetic  and  persevering  dis- 
position. She  exercised  more  than  usual  care  over  her  children, 
and  was  anxious  that  they  should  succeed  well  iu  the  world  and 
reach  positions  of  respectability  and  usefulness  in  society.  At, 
however,  much  inconvenience  and  trouble  to  herself,  she  saw  that 
they  attended  school  and  had  opportunities  for  obtaining  an  edu- 
cation. She  possessed  many  praiseworthy  womanly  qualities  and 
Christian  virtues.  In  early  life  she  had  united  with  the  Lutheran 
church,  but  after  coming  to  St.  Louis  became  a  member  of  the  Me- 
thodist church,  with  which  she  was  connected  till  her  death. 

There  are  now  eight  children  living.  The  oldest,  Daniel  Malott 
Houser,  is  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  St.  Louis  Glohe  Democrat ; 
B.  Cornelia,  the  oldest  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Alfred  C.  Jones,  of 
O'Fallon  ;  Sarah  A.  is  the  wdfe  of  Levi  Simmons,  who  formerly 
lived  iu  ,0'Fallon,  but  now  resides  in  St.  Louis  ;  Claggett  L.  Houser 
is  engaged  in  farming  near  Carlyle.  in  Clinton  county  ;    Angelica 


290 


EI8T0BY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COVNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


E.,  is  the  wife  of  John  M.  Houser,  formerly  of  Bloomington,  in  this 
state,  and  now  residing  near  Russell,  Kansas ;  Caroline  M.  marrried 
James  M.  McFarland,  now  a  resident  of  Butler,  Bates  county 
Missouri ;  Elias  Houser,  Jr.,  is  engaged  in  farming  near  O'Fallon, 
and  the  youngest  of  the  family.  Ida  Houser  lives  in  St.  Louis. 
Four  besides  are  dead ;  two  died  in  infancy,  one  of  whom,  Medora 
M.  was  two  years  and  a  half  of  age.  Franklin  "Wesley,  the  sixth 
of  the  family,  died  in  December,  1858,  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Isaac 
Calvin,  the  third  child,  was  a  young  man  of  energetic  disposition. 
He  served  nine  months  with  the  30th  Illinois  regiment  during  part 
of  the  years  1862  and  1863  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 

ICLIAS  HOUSER,   JR., 

an  illustration  of  whose  farm,  two  miles  south-east  of  O'Fallon,  ap- 
pears on  another  page,  and  whose  portrait  heads  this  sketch,  is  one 
of  the  enterprising  young  men  of  St.  Clair  county.  He  was  born 
in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  on  the  12th  of  February,  1853,  and  was 
next  to  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  He  was  a 
year  old  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  his  parents  from  St.  Louis 
to  the  neighborhood  of  O'Fallon.  He  was  raised  in  this  county 
and  obtai.ied  his  education  in  the  public  schools  in  the  vicinity  of 
his  home,  attending  school  at  the  old  town  of  Shiloh  and  afterward 
at  O'Fallon.  For  a  short  time  also  he  was  a  student  in  McKen- 
dree  college.  After  leaving  school  he  went  to  work  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  This  farm,  of  which  he  is  now  the  owner,  is 
composed  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  the  valuable  land 
characteiistic  of  that  portion  of  the  county.  Mr.  Houser  is  a  gentle- 
man of  liberal  ideas  and  progressive  disposition,  and  though  young 
in  years  is  still  known  to  many  of  the  citizens  of  the  county.  He 
possesses  an  active  mind  and  good  business  capacity,  and  in  the 
opinion  of  his  friends  has  those  qualities  which  fit  him  to  make  his 
way  successfully  through  the  world.  In  his  political  viewls  he  is  an 
earnest  republican. 


JAMES  NEAREN 

Was  born  in  Monroe  county,  January  31,  1805.     When  two  years 
old  he  came  with  his  step-father,  Isaac  Basey,  to  the  Ogle  settle- 
ment on  the  Ridge  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county.    The  first  school  he 
attended  was  on  Ridge  Prairie,  in  section  eleven  of  township  two 
north,  range  eight  west,  when  he  was  about  ten  years  old.     The 
teacher  was  Isaac  Enochs.    At  eighteen  he  hired  out,  receiving  ten 
dollars  a  month  wages,  and  getting  his  pay  in  State  paper  worth 
fifty  cents  on  the  dollar.    He  then  learned  the  cooper's  trade.    Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1826-7  he  was  at  Vandalia,  where  the  last  session 
of  the  legislature  met,  previous  to  the  removal  of  the  capital  to 
Springfield.     March  13,  1827,  he  married    Nicene  Gaskili,  who 
was  born  near  Owego,  New  York,  Sept.  12,  1807,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Gaskili  and  Elizabeth  Allen.     Her  parents 
settled  in  this  county,  a  mile  and  a-half  from  Mascoutah,  in-  October 
1810.     In  May,  1827,  Mr.  Nearen  went  to  Galena,  where  he  worked 
six  months  as  a  carpenter.     He  came  home  with  one  hundred  and 
thirty  dollars  in  money,  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section 
eleven  of  township  two  north,  range  eight  west,  where  he  now  lives. 
The  price  was  two  dollars  and  a-half  an  acre,  and  he  had  to  resort 
to  the  courts  to  get  a  good  title.     He  paid  fifty  dollars  on  the  land. 
The  first  crop  of  corn  he  raised  he  hauled  to  St.  Louis  with  an  ox 
cart,  and  sold  for  eighteen  cents  a  bushel.     It  was  fifteen  years — 
though  he  worked  hard  and  was  as  economical  as  possible — before 
the  land  was  all  paid  for.    He  paid  eight  dollars  an  acre  for  the  next 
forty  acres  he  purchased.   He  now  owns  five  hundred  acres.    He  has 
had  twelve  children.    The  three  living  are  Allen  Alonzo  Nearen, 
Caroline,  the  wife  of  B.  G.  Markham,  and  John  C.  Nearen.     He 


voted  for  Andrew  Jackson  in  1824,  and  has  been  a  democrat  ever 
since.  In  1832  he  served  in  the  "Black  Hawk"  war.  His  com- 
pany was  commanded  by  Capt.  Simpson,  and  his  regiment  by  Col. 
Thomas.  After  sixty  days  service  he  was  discharged  at  Ottawa,  on 
the  Illinois  river.  He  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  the 
county,  and,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  has  lived  on  his  pres- 
ent farm  since  1828.  He  owns  the  old  place  on  which  his  step- 
father, Isaac  Basey,  settled  in  1807.  He  and  his  wife  have  lived 
together  a  longer  period  than  usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  married 
couples.     It  is  now  fifty-four  years  since  their  marriage. 


JOSHUA  BEGOLE,  (deceased.) 

Joshua  Begole,  formerly  one  of  the  old  residents  of  St.  Clair 
county,  was  born  near  Hagerstown,  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
on  the  25th  of  March,  1792.  The  family  was  of  French  origin 
and  belonged  to  the  Huguenots,  who  were  driven  from  France  by 
the  edict  of  Nantes,  in  1685,  and  from  that  country  emigrated  to 
America.  In  the  year  1805,  Mr.  Begole's  father  removed  with  the 
family  from  Maryland  to  New  York,  and  in  the  latter  state  he  re- 
sided till  the  spring  of  1819,  when  he  went  to  Detroit,  Michigan, 
where,  for  a  time,  he  was  in  the  employment  of  Gen.  Lewis  Cass. 
In  1820  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  and  from  there  came  down  the 
Ohio  to  Shawneetown,  from  which  place  he  made  his  way  to  Kas- 
kaskia.  He  found  work  on  a  flat-boat  which  navigated  the  Okaw 
river.  He  was  at  Carlyle  when  the  company  who  owned  the  boat 
failed  and  suspended  payment,  leaving  him  entirely  without  means. 
He  went  to  St.  Louis  in  the  hope  of  collecting  the  debt,  and,  while 
there,  was  employed  by  Gov.  William  Kinney,  and  came  with  him 
to  St.  Clair  county.  He  worked  on  Kinney's  farm  one  season,  and 
afterward  leased  land  and  raised  crops  on  shares.  In  1826  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  twenty-two  of  township  two 
north,  range  eight  west,  paying  for  the  improved  land  fifteen  dollars 
an  acre,  and  ten  dollars  for  the  unimproved,  and  having  ten  years' 
time  in  which  to  make  the  payment.  He  was  married  on  the  2d  of 
March,  1824,  to  Mary  Terry.  The  marriage  ceremony  was  per- 
formed by  the  Rev.  John  M.  Peck.  Mrs.  Begole's  father,  George 
Terry,  was  born  in  Virginia.  Her  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Sallie  Linton,  was  also  born  in  "Virginia,  on  the  south  branch 
of  the  Potomac.  Her  parents  started  for  Illinois  immediately  after 
their  marriage,  and  settled  in  the  American  Bottom.  Mrs.  Begole 
was  born  in  May,  1808.  When  she  was  three  years  old,  her 
mother,  who,  after  her  first  husband's  death,  married  Elder  Joseph 
Chance,  moved  to  Ridge  Prairie,  (section  fifteen  of  township  two 
north,  range  eight  west)  where  Mrs.  Begole  was  raised. 

Mr.  Begole  served  eight  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  made 
a  good  magistrate  and  married  over  forty  couples.  In  1857  he 
bought  land  in  sections  two  and  three  of  township  two  north,  range 
eight  west,  and  moved  to  that  locality,  where  he  lived  till  his  death, 
which  took  place  on  the  2d  of  March,  1874,  just  fifty  years  from 
the  date  of  his  marriage.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Bethel  Baptist 
church,  and  was  baptized  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lemen,  on  the  first 
Saturday  in  August,  1827.  In  politics  he  was,  for  many  years, 
a  member  of  the  old  Whig  party,  with  which  he  acted  till  its  disso- 
lution. He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  republican  party, 
in  St.  Clair  county.  During  the  war  he  was  a  strong  Union  man, 
and  did  all  in  his  power  to  support  the  government  in  its  efforts  to 
destroy  the  rebellion.  He  was  industrious  and  energetic,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  comfortable  portion  of  this  world's  goods.  He 
was  a  useful  citizen,  a  good  neighbor,  and  a  man  whose  private  life 
was  adorned  with  many  Christian  virtues.  He  had  twelve  children , 
of  whom  eight  are  now  living. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


291 


B.   F.   BEGOLE, 

The  third  child  of  Joshua  and  Mary  Begole,  was  born  in  the 
Ridge  Prairie,  November  30th,  1828.  He  secured  his  education 
in  the  ordinary  district  schools,  and  lived  with  his  father  till  his 
marriage,  which  occurred  January  18th,  1859,  to  Huldah  Price, 
who  was  born  in  Johnson  county,  Missouri,  October  18th,  1838,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Price  and  Miriam  Lemen.  Her  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Lemen,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county.  After  his  marriage  he  went  to  farming  for  himself.  Af- 
ter living  on  the  old  homestead  a  couple  of  years,  he  moved  to  his 
present  farm,  in  section  twenty-six  of  township  two  north,  range 
eight.  He  has  six  children  :  Mary  Theodosia,  Ida  Cornelia,  John 
Franklin,  Cyrus  Edgar,  Bessie  and  Ford.  Mr.  Begole  voted  for 
Scott,  the  whig  candidate  for  president,  in  1852,  and  has  been  a  re- 
publican since  the  formation  of  that  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Bethel  Baptist  church. 

CYRUS   8.    BEGOLE, 

The  youngest  son  now  living  of  Joshua  Begole,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 28th,  1842.  He  attended  the  district  schools  in  Ridge  Prai- 
rie, and  in  1863  and  1864,  was  a  student  at  Shurtleff  College,  Up- 
per Alton.  He  was  married  May  12th,  1875,  to  Laura  Begole,  who 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  Her  father,  Bradley  Begole,  was 
descended  from  the  old  French  Huguenot  stock,  and  was  a  native 
of  Mt.  Morris,  Livingston  county.  New  York,  and  in  1849,  became 
a  resident  of  Chicago.  Mrs.  Begole's  mother  was  Mary  A.  Cassidy. 
She  was  born  at  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania.  In  1836,  when  she 
was  sixteen,  her  father,  James  Cassidy,  settled  where  the  city  of 
Chicago  now  stands.  That  place  was  then  inhabited  by  Indians 
only,  and  a  few  white  settlers,  and  no  one  then  supposed  that  it  would 
become  the  site  of  a  great  commercial  city,  and  thus  Mr.  Begole's 
father  and  grandfather  lost  the  opportunity  of  making  investments 
which  would  now  return  fabulous  amounts  of  money.  After  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Begole  went  to  farming  on  his  father's  old  place,  in 
section  twenty-two,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  has  two  children, 
named  Lemuel-  Theodore  and  Archie  Roland.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Bethel  Baptist  church ;  cast  his  first  vote  for  President  for 
Lincoln  in  1864,  and  has  since  been  a  staunch  republican. 


ISAAC  FORMAN,  (deceased). 

Isaac  Fokman,  who  died  on  the  29th  of  October,  1878,  was  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  Ridge  Prairie.  He  settled  there  at 
an  early  day,  and  by  industry  and  good  business  management, 
secured  an  ample  fortune.  Like  many  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Illinois,  he  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  He  was  born  near  Paris, 
Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  on  the  2d  day  of  November,  1800. 
His  father,  Joseph  Forman,  was  born  in  the  year  1775,  and  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Landers,  was  born  on  the 
12th  of  February,  1782.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  oldest 
of  a  family  of  several  children.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Ken- 
tucky. The  locality  in  which  he  was  raised,  ofiered  not  the  best 
advantages  for  obtaining  an  education.  The  schools  were  usually 
of  an  inferior  character,  held  in  log  school-houses,  with  puncheon 
flioors  and  slab  benches,  while  a  strip  of  greased  paper  pasted  over 
an  aperture  made  by  leaving  out  a  log  on  the  side  of  the  building 
furnished  the  only  substitute  for  a  window.  In  these  rude  schools 
the  boys  of  that  day  acquired  the  elements  of  an  education,  and 
fitted  themselves  for  the  future  duties  of  life.  Mr.  Forman  suc- 
ceeded in  acquiring  a  good  English  education,  and  after  coming  to 
Illinois,  for  some  time  previous  to  his  marriage,  taught  school. 


In  the  year  1819,  his  father  moved  with  the  family  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Illinois,  and  settled  on  Ridge  Prairie,  on  section  fifteen 
of  township  two  north,  range  eight  west.  This  is  the  location 
where  Mr.  Forman  afterwards  lived,  and  where  his  widow,  Mrs. 
Rebecca  Forman,  now  resides.  At  the  time  the  family  settled  here, 
the  land  was  wild  and  uncultivated.  The  older  settlers  had  mostly 
confined  their  improvements  to  the  edges  of  the  timber,  thinking 
the  open  prairie  to  be  an  undesirable  place  of  residence.  A  num- 
ber of  negroes  were  brought  along  from  Kentucky,  and  the  work 
of  improving  a  farm  was  vigorously  commenced.  After  living 
here  a  year  or  two,  Mr.  Forman's  father  died,  and  the  rest  of  the 
family,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  life  on  an  Illinois  prairie,  moved 
back  to  Kentucky.  Mr.  Forman  was  about  nineteen  when  he  first 
came  to  this  state.  He  returned  with  the  other  members  of  the 
family  to  Kentucky.  After  remaining  there  for  some  time,  he  went 
to  Missouri  and  purchased  a  farm,  on  which  he  lived  some  years. 
He  then  purchased  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  laud  on 
Ridge  Prairie,  on  which  he,  with  a  younger  brother,  settled,  and 
where  he  afterwards  lived  till  his  death. 

He  was  married  on  the  22d  of  Dec.  1836,  to  Mrs.  Rebecca  Har- 
desty.  Her  maiden  name  was  Beedle,  and  she  was  the  daughter  of 
Samuel  Beedle,  and  Sarah  Benham.  She  was  born  near  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1812.  Her  father  was  an  early  settler  of  that 
part  of  Ohio.  She  was  five  or  six  years  of  age  when  her  father 
moved  from  Ohio  to  Illinois.  The  family  settled  in  this  county  on 
section  twenty-eight  of  township  two  north,  range  eight  west,  and 
Mrs.  Forman  was  raised  in  that  vicinity.  When  she  was  twenty- 
one  she  married  Richard  Hardesty,  who  was  also  born  in  Ohio, 
and  who  died  within  a  few  years  after  their  marriage. 

Mr.  Forman  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  industry,  and  of  a 
persevering  disposition,  which-  enabled  him  to  carry  out  his  plans, 
and  overcome  all  ordinary  obstacles.  He  threw  his  energy  into 
the  work  of  improving  a  farm,  and  soon  had  a  fine  body  of  land 
under  cultivation.  He  hadgiod  bujiuess  qualifications,  and  stead- 
ily accumulated  property.  He  had  been  brought  up  on  a  large 
farm  in  Kentucky,  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  stock  country,  and  was 
early  accustomed  to  the  care  and  management  of  stock.  As  soon 
as  he  got  his  farm  into  the  proper  condition,  and  had  sufficient 
means  he  turned  his  attention  toward  raising  cattle  and  sheep,  and 
up  to  a  late  period  of  his  life ;  when  he  became  too  feeble  to  give 
his  active  attention  to  the  business,  he  was  engaged,  more  or  less, 
in  raising  and  fattening  stock.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned 
large  quantities  of  valuable  land,  and  was  one  of  the  wealthiest 
farmers  of  that  part  of  St.  Clair  county.  On  part  of  his  farm  he 
laid  out  the  town  of  Forman,  on  the  line  of  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi railroad,  though  on  account  of  the  proximity  of  other  towns, 
the  place  never  secured  a  vigorous  growth.  His  death  in  Octo- 
ber, 1878,  was  caused  by  a  cold  caught  while  in  attendance  at  a 
camp-meeting. 

Previous  to  his  marriage  he  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church ;  first  uniting  with  old  Shiloh  church,  and 
afterward  joining  the  Methodist  church  at  O'Fallon,  when  one 
came  to  be  established  in  that  town.  He  was  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  church,  and  was  licensed  as  a  local  preacher.  He  was 
a  man  of  earnest  piety,  and  was  a  warm  friend  of  the  different 
evangelizing  institutions  of  his  denomination,  especially  the  Mis- 
sionary and  Church  Extension  Societies.  He  recognized  the  im- 
portance of  Sabbath-school  work,  and  taught  and  superintended  a 
school  on  the  Sabbath  in  the  school-house  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
home.  Throughout  life  bis  habits  were  temperate,  and  he  did  all 
he  could  to  encourage  the  principles  of  temperance  in  others  One 
of  his  peculiar  characteristics  was  his  strong  opposition  to  secret 


292 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


societies,  which  he  believed  often  interfered  with  the  interests  of 
the  church,  and  hindered  the  advancement  of  religion.  He  believed 
that  nothing  good  should  be  kept  secret,  and  that  the  spirit  of  the 
Bible  was  opposed  to  secret  organizations. 

In  his  politics  he  was  a  republican.  Though  raised  in  a  slave 
state,  he  had  no  sympathy  with  slave  institutions.  He  considered 
that  the  slave  system  was  both  unjust  to  those  so  unfortunate  as  to 
be  held  in  slavery,  and  hurtful  to  the  white  population.  These 
sentiments  were  imbibed  in  his  early  youth.  His  father  entertained 
the  same  opinions,  and  this  was  one  of  the  sources  of  the  removal  of 
the  family  from  a  slave  to  a  free  state.  In  his  early  life  Mr.  For- 
man  owned  slaves,  but  gave  them  their  liberty.  He  thought  it  best 
for  both  the  white  and  black  race,  that  the  negroes  should  be  colo- 
nized in  Liberia,  or  some  other  country  where  the  climate  suited 
their  physical  characteristics,  and  ample  opportunity  might  be 
afforded  for  their  education  and  development.  He  was  a  strong 
supporter  of  the  republican  party  from  its  first  organization  till 
his  death.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  he  was  an  ardent 
Union  man,  and  his  sympathies  were  warmly  enlisted  in  the  work 
of  destroying  the  rebellion,  and  securing  the  perpetuation  of  free 
institutions. 

He  had  three  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows :  Mrs.  Mary 
Price ;  Eliza  J.,  who  was,  born  on  the  2d  of  April,  1840,  married 
Eobert  James,  and  died  on  the  17th  of  April,  1867  ;  and  Catha- 
rine, who  was  born  on  the  16th  of  February,  1848,  was  married'*to 
Cornelius  Colgan,  and  died  on  the  6th  of  April,  1870.  A  grand- 
daughter, Ida  May  Price,  also  makes  her  home  with  Mrs.  Forman. 
Mrs.  Forman  had  three  children  by  her  first  marriage.  The  oldest, 
Sarah  Hardesty,  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen.  The  next,  Lucy  Har- 
desty,  lived  till  the  age  of  seven ;  and  the  third,  John  Hardesty, 
was  one  year  and  six  months  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

A  picture  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Forman  appears  among  our 
illustrations.  The  farm  is  one  of  the  best  to  be  found  in  that  favored 
portion  of  the  county  known  as  the  Eidge  Prairie,  and  does  credit 
to  Mr.  Forman's  judgment  in  selecting  such  a  locality  as  the  place 
of  bis  fiiture  residence,  and  to  his  industry  and  taste  in  bringing  it 
into  a  state  of  superior  cultivation.  As  one  of  the  old  residents  of 
the  county,  and  a  man  whose  energies  were  devoted  to_  the  develop- 
ment of  its  agricultural  resources,  his  name  well  deserves  mention 
in  this  work.  In  some  respects  he  was  a  man  of  decided  and  in- 
flexible traits  of  mind,  but  no  man  questioned  his  honesty  or  sin- 
cerity. He  possessed  a  strong  mind,  a  determined  will,  and  a  firm 
perseverance  which  well  fitted  him  for  life  in  a  new  country,  and 
the  labors  of  the  hardy  pioneer. 


CHARLES  B.  DARROW,  (deceased.) 

Chaeles  B.  Daeeow  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
September  19th,  1806.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Zadok  Darrow,  a 
Baptist  preacher,  who  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  date,  and  settled 
east  of  the  present  town  of  O'Fallon,  where  he  had  a  farm,  and 
also  followed  his  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  was  zealously  devoted 
to  the  interests  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  preached  somewhere 
every  Sabbath.  He  frequently  held  service  at  the  Rock  Spring 
Seminary,  founded  by  the  Rev.  John  M.  Peck,  and  also  at  the 
Richland  Baptist  church.  He  was  pastor  for  one  year  of  a  Baptist 
church  on  the  Horse  Prairie  in  Randolph  county.  After  becom- 
ing incapacitated  from  labor,  and  unable  to  preach,  he  moved  to 
Collinsville,  where  his  daughter  lived,  and  died  there  of  the  cholera 
in  the  year  1849. 

Charles  B-  Darrow  was  married  on  the  12th  of  February,  1826, 


to  Sarah  Peach,  daughter  of  William  Peach.  She  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Vermont,  on  the  27th  of  December,  1804.  Her  father 
moved  with  the  family  to  Ohio  when  she  was  ten  years  old,  and 
four  years  afterwards,  about  the  year  1818,  settled  on  the  Horse 
Prairie,  about  four  miles  from  the  town  of  Red  Bud,  Randolph' 
county.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Darrow  settled  a  mile  and  a  half 
east  of  O'Fallon.  He  died  from  a  fever  on  the  28th  of  October, 
1839.  For  a  number  of  years  he  had  been  connected  with  the 
Baptist  church,  first  with  the  Bethel  church,  and  afterwards  with 
the  Rock  Spring  church,  in  which  he  was  deacon.  He  was  a  whig 
in  politics  and  a  good  citizen  of  the  county,  who  lived  a  peaceful  and 
honest  life.  He  had  six  children.  Lucinda,  the  oldest,  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Bridges.  George  Washington  Darrow  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  O'Fallon  precinct.  Lucy  Lord  married  Daniel  Duna- 
vant,  and  is  now  decea3ed.  Mary  Amanda  died  in  1853,  in  the 
twentieth  year  of  her  age.  William  Augustus  Darrow  is  farming 
in  Lebanon  precinct,  and  the  youngest,  Charles  Brown  Darrow,  is 
farming  east  of  O'Fallon.  Mrs.  Darrow  is  still  living,  and  in  the 
enjoyment  of  good  health,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven. 


DR.  O.  C.  BATES, 

O.VE  of  the  enterprising  physicians  of  St.  Clair  county,  is  a  native 
of  Belleville,  and  was  born  April,  1844.  His  father,  Henry  Bates, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  When  a  boy  he  went  to  Ohio,  and, 
after  reaching  manhood,  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  from  that  place, 
about  the  year  1835,  came  to  Belleville.  He  bought  land 
and  settled  east  of  the  town,  where  Jacob  Brosius  now  lives.  He 
secured  considerable  property  and  laid  out  an  addition  to  Belle- 
ville, which  bears  his  name.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
assisted  in  the  erection  of  many  buildings  in  Belleville,  among 
which  was  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  married  about 
the  year  1840  to  Catharine  Heckber,  daughter  of  John  Heckber, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio.  Her  mother  was  connected  with  a  family  by  the 
name  of  Young,  who  resided  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Philadelphia. 
Henry  Bates  was  among  the  active  business  men  of  Belleville  till 
1849,  when  his  death  occurred  from  the  cholera,  which  that  year 
carried  off  many  of  the  inhabitants.  During  its  prevalence  he  had 
been  very  energetic  in  caring  for  the  sick,  and  was  much  exposed 
to  the  disease.  After  its  ravages  were  nearly  spent,  he  was  seized 
with  the  epidemic,  and  his  weakened  constitution  rendered  him  an 
easy  victim.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  was  a  deacon  in  the  church  at  Belleville.  He 
started  the  first  nursery  in  Belleville,  the  cuttings  for  which  he 
brought  from  New  Jersey,  Delaware,  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio. 
From  this  nursery  many  of  the  orchards  of  the  county  had  their 
origin.  His  widow  resided  in  Belleville  till  1856,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  she  died  in  October,  1862. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  second  of  three  children.  He 
has  one  older  brother  and  a  sister  now  living  in  Ohio.  He  was 
five  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  The  first  twelve 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Belleville,  during  which  time  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools.  After  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
Ohio  he  went  to  school  at  Dayton,  and  was  a  student  at  Antioch 
College,  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  after  some  experience  in  the  army  during  the 
war,  he  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  from  which  he  gra- 
duated in  1864.  In  1865  he  began  practice  at  O'Fallon.  He  was 
married  in  October,  1867,  to  Anna  Stuart,  daughter  of  William  H. 
Stuart,  an  old  resident  of  Belleville.  By  this  marriage  he  lias  five 
children.     He  is  a  democrat,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 


-i 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


293 


local  politics  of  St.  Clair  county.     He  has  achieved  much  success 
as  a  physician.     He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  St.  Clair 
County  Medical  Society,  founded  in  1866,  is  a  member  of  the 
Illinois  Southern  Medical  Association,  and  an  associate  member  of 
the  St.  Louis  Academy  of  Science.    He  opened  the  first  prescrip- 
tion drug  store  in  O'Fallon  ;  he  is  a  physician  of  liberal  ideas,  and 
has  been  among  the  first  to  take  advantage  of  the  latest  develop- 
ments of  medical  science.     Although  his  time  has  been  closely 
taken  up  by  his  professional  labors,  he  has  given  his  attention  to 
scientific   research   and   outside  study,  and   has  collected  a   fine 
archaeological  cabinet  from  the  mounds  of  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
counties.     He  has  given  much  attention  to  surgical  operations,  and 
is  recognized  as  the  foremost  physician  in  this  department  of  medi- 
cine in  that  portion  of  St.  Clair  county. 


JAMES  WARD. 

James  Ward,  who  is  now  filling  the  office  of  inspector  of  coal 
mines  for  St.  Clair  county,  was  born  at  Poynton,  near  Stockport, 
in  Cheshire,  England,  on  the  20th  of  October,  1848.  His  parents 
were  James  Ward  and  Margaret  Swan.  His  father  was  brought 
up  as  a  miner,  and  followed  that  occupation  for  a  period  of  fifty 
years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  fourteenth  of  a  family  of 
seventeen  children,  of  whom  twelve  were  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Of  these,  thirteen  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  The  others 
died  in  infancy.  When  Mr.  Ward  was  seven  years  old,  the  family 
removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  Barnsley  in  Yorkshire.  He  went 
to  school  there  three  years,  and  then,  at  the  age  of  ten,  began  work- 
ing in  the  mines.  He  never  went  to  school  subsequently  except  to 
night  school.  When  he  was  fifteen,  his  father  emigrated  with  the 
family  to  America.  After  living  a  year  at  Washington,  Indiana, 
the  family  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  the  father  and  all  the 
sons  entered  the  employment  of  the  Gartside  Coal  Company,  with 
which  Mr.  Ward  was  connected  up  to  the  time  he  was  appointed 
coal  inspector. 

From  the  time  he  came  to  the  county  in  1866,  he  has  been  living 
near  Alma.  He  procured  books  on  the  subject  of  coal  mining,  and 
acquired  a  thorough  knowledge,  both  theoretical  and  practical,  of 
the  business.  He  was  appointed  by  the  county  commissioners  in- 
spector of  coal  mines  for  St.  Clair  county,  March,  1880.  He  was 
married  in  August,  1873,  to  Jane  Hunter.  His  residence  is  Alma. 
He  has  had  five  children,  of  whom  two  are  now  living.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  first  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias  in  St.  Clair  county. 


DR.  B.  KRAUSE. 

Dr.  B.  Kbause,  now  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  at  O'Fallon, 
was  born  in  Wuertemberg,  Germany,  August  29th,  1834.  His  pa- 
rents were  Joseph  and  Mary  (Maurer)  Krause.  After  attending 
the  public  schools  he  was  a  student  in  the  gymnasium  of  Gmuend, 
from  1847  to  1851.  From  1851  to  1854,  he  was  an  apprentice  in 
the  pharmacie  at  Lorch.  He  passed  an  examination  as  druggist, 
and  was  subsequently  assistant  in  drug  stores  at  Eeuthingen,  Geis- 
lingen,  Threngen  and  Freiburg.  He  studied  medicine  and  phar_ 
macy  in  the  University  of  Tuebingen,  and  graduated  in  August^ 
1859.  He  came  to  this  country  in  October,  1859,  and  in  1860,  lo- 
cated at  Lebanon,  where,  on  the  20th  of  April,  1861,  he  married 
Henrietta  Blank.  He  moved  to  Centerville  in  1862,  and  from 
there  to  O'Fallon,  in  May,  1863.    In  these  places  he  followed  hig 


profession  as  a  physician.  When  the  Dr.  came  to  O'Fallon,  he  had 
to  keep  a  supply  of  medicines  on  hand  to  make  his  own  prescrip- 
tions. The  town  was  growing  fast,  a  drug  store  soon  became  a  ne- 
cessity, and  he  accordingly  started  one,  increasing  his  stock  as  cir- 
cumstances demanded.  Till  1878  he  practiced  medicine  in  town 
and  country.  That  year  he  visited  Europe,  and  after  his  return 
quit  country  practice,  and  now  spends  most  of  his  time  in  tiis  large 
drug  store,  which  is  as  well  stocked  with  first-class  drugs,  medicines, 
and  chemicals  as  any  drug  store  of  any  town  of  the  same  size. 
He  was  admitted  a  member  of  the  St.  Clair  County  Medical  Socie- 
ty in  1867,  and  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Association,  of  Illinois,  in 
1880.  He  is  P.  G.  of  O'Fallon  Lodge,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  and  P.  C.  P.  of 
the  Encampment.  His  first  wife  having  died,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Henkel,  of  St.  Louis,  on  the  20th  of  April,  1880.  He 
has  a  son  aged  twelve  years,  and  a  daughter  six,  by  his  first  wife. 


FRANK  POIGNEfi, 

Who  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  county  commissioner,  is — 
although  born  in  Germany — partly  of  French  descent.  His  great- 
grandfather, Iguatz  Poignee,  was  a  native  of  France,  and  a  soldier 
in  the  French  army.  During  one  of  the  wars  waged  by  France  he 
was  stationed  at  Oggersheim,  in  Bavaria,  and,  while  there — being  a 
landscape  gardener  by  occupation — had  charge  of  a  fine  garden  at 
that  place.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Bavaria,  settled  at  Og- 
gersheim, married,  and  died  there.  Both  the  father  and  grand- 
father of  Mr.  Poignee  were  born  at  Oggersheim.  His  grandfather 
was  named  Ignatz  Poignee,  and  his  father  Frank  Poignee.  His 
mother's  name  before  marriage  was  Anna  Maria  Kempf.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  He 
was  born  at  Oggersheim,  Bavaria,  on  the  27th  of  March,  1831.  He 
was  raised  in  his  native  town,  where  he  lived  till  sixteen,  when  his 
father  emigrated  with  the  family  to  America.  After  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  had  no  opportunity  to  attend  school.  He,  however, 
made  the  best  use  of  his  opportunities ;  obtained  a  good  German 
education,  and,  after  coming  to  this  country,  became  well  acquainted 
with  the  English.  The  family  left  Germany  in  April,  1847,  and, 
landing  at  New  Orleans,  came  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  and, 
after  remaining  in  that  city  about  a  week,  came  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  O'Fallon,  where  his  father  purchased  a  small  farm,  on 
which  he  died  in  February,  1855.  Mr.  Poignee's  mother  died  in 
April,  1868  After  coming  to  St.  Clair  county,  Mr.  Poignee  was 
employed  by  the  month  on  a  farm.  Part  of  his  earnings  were  ap- 
plied to  the  support  of  the  family,  who  had  settled  on  a  farm,  of 
which  only  five  or  six  acres  were  under  cultivation.  His  father 
afterward  bought  more  land,  and,  when  twenty-one,  Mr.  PoigneS 
went  home  and  assisted  in  improving  it.  He  lived  at  home  till  his 
marriage,  which  occurred  on  the  14th  of  August,  1854,  to  Salome 
Daehn,  who  was  born  of  French  descent,  at  Hattmatt,  in  Alsace, 
then  in  France,  now  a  part  of  the  German  empire.  Her  father, 
Jacob  Daehn,  still  resides  at  Alsace.  Her  mother  having  died,  she 
came  to  America  with  her  grandmother  when  she  was  nine  years 
old.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Poignee  went  to  farming  for  himself 
three  miles  north-east  of  O'Fallon.  He  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  till  1869,  and  then  became  a  resident  of  O'Fallon,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  He  has  had  eight  children,  of  whom  four  are 
now  living.  The  names  of  those  living  are  John  C.  Poigne^,  Mary 
Poio'ne^,  George  Poigne6,  and  Frank  P.  Poigne6.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  PoigneS  has  always  been  a  member  of  the  democratic 
party,  which  he  has  supported  with  consistency  ever  since  he  was 
capable  of  exercising  the  right  of  sufirage.     He  cast  his  first  vote 


294 


EISTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


for  president  for  Franklin  Pierce  in  1852,  and  has  voted  for  every 
democratic  candidate  for  president  since.  He  has  enjoyed  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people  of  his  part  of  the  county,  and  has  creditably 
filled  several  public  positions.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  deputy 
assessor,  and  re-appointed  every  year,  until  elected  county  commis- 
fioner.  On  his  removal  to  O'Fallon  he  was  elected  constable.  In 
1871  he  was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  February,  1874,  was 
elected  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  village  of  O'Fallon,  and  made 
president  of  the  board.  In  April,  1874,  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  police  magistrate.  In  1878  he  was  again  elected  village  trustee 
of  O'Fallon  and  served  as  president  of  the  board.  In  1875  he  was 
elected  county  commissioner,  and  was  re-elected  to  this  position  in 
1879.  At  his  first  election  he  ran  as  an  independent  candidate,  ob- 
taining a  thousand  majority.  At  his  second  election,  in  1879,  he 
vras  made  the  democratic  nominee,  but,  receiving  a  number  of  re- 
publican votes,  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  seventeen  hundred. 
This  record  abundantly  testifies  to  his  popularity  among  the  citizens 
of  St.  Clair  county. 


A.  J.  WASTFIELD,  (deceased.) 

A.  J.  Wastfield,  whose  death  occurred  on  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1866,  was  one  of  the  representative  men  in  the  neighborhood 
of  O'Fallon.  His  father,  Walter  "Wastfield,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Bath,  England.  Part  of  his  early  life  was  spent  in  Ireland 
and  he  was  married  at  Fermoy,  to  Mary  Ann  Shannon,  a  young 
lady  of  much  intelligence,  who  belonged  to  an  Irish  family. 
Walter  Wastfield  emigrated  to  America  in  the  year  1819,  and, 
after  spending  a  few  weeks  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  came  to  St. 
Clair  county  and  settled  in  section  thirty-three  of  township  two 
north,  range  seven,  about  two  miles  south-east  of  O'Fallon.  The 
journey  from  Baltimore  to  St.  Louis  was  made  by  wagon.  He  was 
in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  he  and  his  wife  brought  with 
them  to  this  country  ample  supplies  of  money,  and  every  con. 
venience  that  could  make  their  life  in  the  new  country  comfortable. 
Walter  Wastfield  died  on  the  26th  of  November,  1866.  His  wife 
died  four  days  afterwards,  on  the  30th  of  November,  Their 
deaths  undoubtedly  resulted  from  the  shock  occasioned  by  the 
sudden  death  of  their  son,  A.  J.  Wastfield.  They  were  advanced 
in  years,  and  after  the  sad  accident  they  sank  into  a  nervous  fever, 
from  which  they  never  recovered. 

A.  J.  Wastfield  was  born  on  the  old  place,  north-east  of  O'Fallon, 
where  his  father  settled  on  coming  to  the  county,  on  the  6th  of 
September,  1829.  He  was  the  youngest  son,  and  the  next  to  the 
youngest  child,  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  composed  of  five 
daughters  and  four  sons.  He  was  raised  in  the  same  part  of  the 
county.  He  attended  the  public  schools  at  Belleville,  and  also  for 
a  time  was  a  student  at  the  old  Bock  Spring  Seminary.  He  was 
married  on  the  12th  of  June,  1860,  to  Miss  Elisie  Osburn,  who 
was  born  at  Lebanon.  Her  father,  Daniel  S.  Osburn,  was  of 
Scotch  descent,  and  was  born  and  raised  in  Fredericktown, 
Frederick  county,  Maryland.  He  came  to  St.  Clair  county,  and 
settled  at  Lebanon  in  1833  or  1834.  He  married  Emily  J.  Pierce, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Pierce,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
county  in  the  neighborhood  of  Shiloh,  a  sketch  of  whose  history 
is  given  in  another  part  of  this  work.  Mrs.  Wastfield's  parents, 
alter  their  marriage,  (which  took  place  on  the  8th  of  October, 
1835;)  took  up  their  residence  at  Lebanon,  in  a  house  in  which 
they  lived  till  their  deaths,  and  in  which  also  their  nine  children 
were  born.  Mr.  Osburn  died  on  the  24th  of  December,  1864,  and 
his  wife  on  the  26th  of  March,  1857. 


Previous  to  his    marriage,  Mr.  Wastfield  had  been  engaged  for 
some  time  in  dealing  in   wheat  in  O'Fallon,  and  subsequently  he 
followed  farming.    His ,  death  was  caused  by  an  accident  in  a 
threshing  machine.     He  was  then  thirty-seven  years  of  age,  and 
in  the  prime  of  life.     He  was  a  man  of  many  strong  traits  of 
character.    He  was  energetic  and  ambitious,  and  possessed  good 
business  capacity.     He  had  been  a  strong  and  active  republican  in 
politics  from  the  first  organization  of  that  party.     He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Shiloh  Methodist  Episcopal  church.    Had  he  lived  he 
would  doubtless  have  reached  a  position  of  prominence  and  in- 
fluence in  the  community.     He  left  two  children,  Walter  Daniel 
and  Julia  Emily  Wastfield.     Mrs.  Wastfield  has  since  resided  on 
the  farm  south-east  of  O'Fallon,  in  the  -house  which  her  husband 
built  just  previous  to  their   marriage,  and  in  which  they  began 
their  wedded  life. 


CHARLES  F.  FISCHER. 

Charles  F.  Fischer,  proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  O'Fallon,  is  a 
native  of  Holstein  am  Loerrach,  B«den,  Germany,  and  was  born 
March  20th,  1824.  He  was  raised  in  that  part  of  Germany.  He 
attended  the  ordinary  schools  and  was  then  a  student  at  a  college 
at  Dawance,  in  French  Switzerland.  After  leaving  school  he  was 
apprenticed  to  the  mercantile  business,  at  Steinau,  Baden,  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  as  long  as  he  lived  in  Germany.  He  was 
married  in  Germany  to  Maria  Magdalena  Gutmuller.  She  died  in 
Germany  in  1865.  He  had  by  her  five  children.  In  1865  became 
to  America,  and  from  New  York  city  came  at  once  to  Belleville, 
where  he  had  some  friends  living.  For  two  years  he  was  a  clerk 
in  a  store  at  that  place.  December,  1867,  he  came  to  O'Fallon,  of 
which  place  he  has  since  been  a  resident.  He  was  clerk  in  Mr. 
Tiedemann's  store,  at  OTallon,  for  two  years,  and  in  December, 

1869,  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business.  In  1870  he  purchased  the 
hotel  property.  He  is  also  the  proprietor  of  a  livery  stable,  and  a 
dealer  in  lime,  cement  and  sand,  and  is  well-known  as  an  active 
and  energetic  business  man.  His  present  wife,  whom  he  married  in 
1871,  was  Ernestine  Hirschfeld,  who  was  born  at  BoUstadt,  Prussia, 
and  came  to  America  in  1845,  when  twelve  years  of  age.  He  has 
two  children  by  hia  second  marriage.  The  oldest  of  his  children  is 
Mrs.  Luia  Kraft,  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  B.  W. 
Muehlhausen,  who  is  a  merchant  and  postmaster  at  O'Fallon.  The 
other  children  are  Mrs.  Emilie  Schmitt,  of  Columbus,  Ohio ;  Mrs. 
Rosalie  Ruester,  of  O'Fallon  ;  Otto  Fischer  and  Carolina  Ch 
lotte  Fischer.     Another  son,  Charles  Fischer,  died  in  Belleville  __ 

1870,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  In  politics  Mr.  Fischer  has  al 
ways  been  a  republican.  He  was  in  favor  of  free  institutions  in 
Germany,  and  coming  to  this  country,  joined  the  party  which  he 
thought  best  represented  his  views. 


ar- 
in 


CHARLE3  A.  TIEDEMANN. 

Charles  A.  Tiedemann  was  born  at  Bremervoerde,  Hanover, 
Geroiany,  on  the  8th  of  D.ceinbsr,  1833.  His  parents  were  Henry 
Tiedemann  and  Louisa  Von  Hartz.  His  grandfather,  Dietrich 
liedemann,  was  professor  of  philosophy  at  Marburg  in  Hessen. 
Of  his  three  sons,  one,  Dr.  Frederick  D.  Tiedemann.  became  pro- 
fessor of  anatomy  and  physiology  in  the  Heidelberg  Medical  Col- 
lege. Another,  Justus  Tiedemann,  was  a  wholesale  merchant  and 
importer  in  the  free  city  of  Bremen.  The  remaining  son,  Henry 
Tiedemann,  father  of  Charles  A.,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  au  officer  in  the  array  of  Jerome  Bonaparte,  King  of  West- 


Hotel, Residence  &  Property  of  CHA§  r.nSGHEP,Ea9,oYALLON  St  Clair  Co  III. 


""^"^^'^^F^^^YW 


Richland  Mi  ll,(  with  proposed  alterations,)  the  Property  of  CM  A?  AT/ ED  EM  ANN, 

ON  THE  0.8c  M.&.  BELLEVILLE  &  O'FALLON.R.R.AT o'fALLON,! LLINOIS. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


295 


phalia,  in  the  war  against  Russia,  in  1812,  and  received  from  Na- 
poleon I,  the  cross  of  the  legion  of  honor.  At  the  battle  of 
Leipzig,  in  1813,  he  fought  against  Napoleon.  He  held  a  financial 
office  in  the  town  of  Bremervoerde  for  fifty  years  in  succession.  In 
1860  he  came- to  America,  settled  at  O'Fallon,  and  died  September 
5th,  1875,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight.  Charles  A.  Tiedemann, 
when  fifteen,  came  to  America  in  company  with  his  cousin,  Freder- 
ick Tiedemann.  He  reached  Belleville  in  October,  1849.  He  was 
employed  in  farming  one  year,  and  then  apprenticed  himself  to 
Capt.  Julius  Raith,  then  a  wheelwright  in  Belleville.  After  serv- 
ing an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  he  went  into  partnership  with 
his  employer.  They  erected  a  number  of  mills,  breweries,  and  dis- 
tilleries in  St.  Louis  and  vicinity. 

In  1859  Mr.  Tiedemann  visited  his  native  country,  and  travelled 
through  Switzerland,  France,  and  England,  studying  the  latest  im- 
provements in  mills  and  manufacturing  establishments  of  a  similar 
character.  Returning  to  America  he  resumed  his  business  with 
his  partner,  and  in  1860  they  began  the  erection  at  O'Fallon  of  the 
mill  at  present  owned  by  Mr.  Tiedemann.  This  mill  was  finished 
in  1861,  about  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion. His  partner  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  43d  Illinois 
regiment,  and  died  in  1862,  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of 
Pittsburg  Landing.  After  his  death  Mr.  Tiedemann  settled  the  af- 
fairs of  the  firm,  and  in  1863  associated  with  himself  Philip  Postel, 
of  Mascoutah.  In  1873  the  mill  was  remodeled  and  enlarged. 
Since  1876  the  business  has  been  in  his  own  hands.  A  large  ad- 
dition to  the  mill  was  made  in  1881,  and  machinery  procured  of 
the  latest  and  most  improved  description.  Flour  is  now  manu- 
factured by  the  roller  process,  and  the  products  of  the  mill,  the 
Richland  Mills  and  Shiloh  Valley  Mills  brands,  have  a  deserved 
reputation  for  excellence,  and  are  well-known  in  Glasgow  and 
Liverpool.  -The  mill  turns  out  about  sixty  thousand  barrels  each 
year,  and  is  run  by  a  Wheelock  engine  of  two  hundred  horse 
power. 

Mr.  Tiedemann  commenced  his  career  in  this  county  without 
means.  The  mill  at  O'Fallon  was  built  under  considerable  diffi- 
culties, and  after  Capt.  Raith 's  death  he  was  obliged  to  see  it  sold. 
He  bought  it  back  again,  and  by  successful  business  management 


was  soon  out  of  debt  and  established  on  a  sound  financial  basis. 
He  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  prosperity  and  growth  of 
the  town  of  O'Fallon.  In  1860,  when  he  began  building  the  mill, 
there  were  only  a  few  houses  in  the  place.  He  is  independent  in 
his  political  views. 


ERNST  J.  TIEDEMANN. 

This  gentleman  who  has  been  a  resident  of  O'Fallon  since 
1865,  is  a  native  of  Bremervoerde,  Hanover,  and  was  born  Septem- 
ber 7th,  1831.  He  was  the  sixth  of  a  family  of  eight  children. 
'His  father  was  Henry  Tiedemann,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name 
Louisa  von  Hortz.  In  the  biographical  sketch  of  Charles  A.  Tie- 
demann will  be  found  an  account  of  the  early  history  of  the  family 
in  Germany.  The  first  twenty-one  years  of  Mr.  Tiedemann's  life 
were  spent  in  Germany.  He  went  to  school  till  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Bremen.  He  then  went  to  Hamburg,  where  he  at- 
tended a  commercial  institute,  and  thoroughly  prepared  himself  for 
a  business  career.  He  came  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1852, 
landing  at  New  Orleans.  He  came  at  once  to  St.  Louis  and  St. 
Clair  county.  He  made  his  home  in  Belleville,  and  in  1853,  was 
appointed  by  William  L.  Deneen,  then  surveyor  of  the  county,  de- 
puty surveyor,  in  which  capacity  he  served  about  two  years.  He 
was  subsequently  employed  by  the  government  in  subdividing  town- 
ships of  land  in  Nebraska.  He  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Ne- 
braska, and  was  farming  there  till  1859,  when  gold  having  been 
discovered  at  Pike's  Peak,  he  went  to  Colorado.  He  traveled 
over  all  the  then  explored  parts  of  Colorado,  and  for  some  years 
lived  at  a  ranch  on  the  Platte  river,  twenty  miles  below  Denver. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  which  proved  profitable.  He 
came  back  to  Illinois  in  1865,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  O'Fallon.  He  was  married  at  Belle  vue,  Nebraska,  in  1863, 
to  Mary  Baumann.  He  has  five  children .  He  has  been  a  re- 
publican from  the  first  organization  of  that  party.  He  has  served 
several  times  as  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  town  qf 
O'Fallon,  and  is  a  business  man  of  enterprise  and  liberality. 


PRAIRIE   DU    PONT    PRECINCT. 


^RAIEIE  DU  PONT  was,  untU  1871,  a  part  of 
Caliokia,  but  at  that  time  the  county  commis- 
sioners cut  it  off  into  a  separate  precinct.  It  is 
nearly  enclosed  ■within  the  boundaries  of  Caho- 
kia  outlined  on  the  east,  and  the  Mississippi  on 
the  west.  Monroe  county  and  Centerville  pre. 
cinct  bound  a  small  portion  of  the  southern 
border.  It  is  the  extreme  western  point  of  St. 
Clair  county,  and  contains  about  15,000  acres. 
It  is  wholly  situated  in  the  Bottom,  extending  from  the  river 
to  the  bluff.  It  received  its  name  from  the  ancient  village 
which  is  situated  in  this  precinct.  The  soil  is  the  same  as  the 
rest  of  the  American  Bottom,  unexcelled  for  fertility  and  pro- 
ductiveness. It  is  drained-  by  Prairie  du  Pont  creek,  which, 
enters  the  extreme  eastern  portion  of  the  precinct,  and  flows 
west  and  south,  when  it  empties  into  the  Mississippi  a  little  south 
and  west  of  East  Carondelet.  The  southern  portion  of  the  precinct 
is  drained  by  the  "  big  ditch,"  or  canal,  that  extends  from  Bluff 
and  Fish  lakes  to  the  river. 

The  East  St.  Louis  &  East  Carondelet,  or,  what  is  better  known, 
as  the  Conlogue  Railway,  and  the  Narrow  Gauge  road,  pass  through 
the  precinct  on  the  west  side  from  north  to  south.  The  Conlogue 
has  a  branch  track  extending  south-east  across  the  precinct  to  the 
quarries,  situated  at  Falling  Spring. 

The  general  history,  customs,  etc.,  of  the  people  of  Prairie  du 
Pont,  are  similar  to  those  of  Cahokia.  They  have  their  common 
fields,  containing  their  farms  or  arpents  of  land,  and  adjacent  to 
these  the  open  territory,  called  commons.  The  arpents,  with  few 
exceptions,  extended  from  the  river  to  the  bluff.  In  early  times, 
spring  wheat  was  the  principal  product,  but,  for  many  years,  fall  or 
winter  wheat  has  been  the  staple.  The  main  history  of  this  pre- 
cinct lies  in 

THE  VILLAGE   OF   PRAIRIE   DU   PONT. 

The  village  received  its  name  from  the  following  circumstance : 
The  first  settlement  was  made  on  the  present  site,  which  is  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  creek,  and  about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  of 
Cahokia.  At  this  point  a  rude  bridge,  constructed  of  logs,  was 
built  across  the  stream.  An  open  prairie  extended  from  the  bridge 
south  to  the  bluff.  Pont  is  a  French  word,  and  means  bridge  in 
English.  Hence  the  name,  Prairie  du  Pont,  or,  Prairie  Bridge. 
It  was  settled  about  1750,  by  people  from  Cahokia.  The  origin. of 
its  settlement  is  undoubtedly  due  to  the  inundations  to  which  the 
bottom  .was  subject  during  high  waters.  Prairie  du  Pont  is  about 
ten  or  twelve  feet  higher  than  Cahokia,  aud  in  the  time  of  the 
296 


floods,  the  people  of  the  latter  village  were  obliged  to  flee  to  the 
bluffs  and  higher  grouads  for  sifety.  Traditioa,  itt  Prairie  du  Poat, 
substantiates  the  above  theory. 

According  to  Reynolds,  the  village  contained  fourteen  families  in 
1765.  Among  the  early  settlers  was  Jean  Francois  Perry,  who  was 
a  native  of  France,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1792.  He 
was  a  classical  scholar,  and  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  first 
families  in  France.  He  and  a  Frenchman  by  the  name  of  Clau- 
dius, first  established  themsalves  as  partners  in  a  small  store  in  Ca- 
hokia, but  soon  after  removed  to  Prairie  du  Pont,  where  they  con- 
tinued in  the  mercantile  business.  Claudius  was  killed  a  few  years 
afterwards  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse.  Perry  coi  tinned  the 
business,  also  purchased  the  old  mill  site  oa  the  creek,  where  the 
Mission  of  St.  Sulpice  first  erected  a  mill.  Here  he  built  a  new 
mill  of  considerable  pretensions  for  those  days,  and  conducted  it  in 
conjunction  with  his  store  until  his  death,  which  occurred  ia  1812. 
He  amassed  quite  a  fortune,  and  died  regretted  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

Philip  Creamer,  a  native  of  Maryland,  cime  to  the  American 
Bottom  in  1805,  and  settled  a  little  east  of  the  village.  He  was 
skilled  in  mechanics,  but  his  special  forte  was  the  manufacture  of 
fire-arms.  He  was  employed  by  the  government  ia  1812,  to  make 
and  repair  the  guns  of  the  troops  stationed  on  the  frontier.  He 
lived  to  an  old  age,  and  died  about  1845.  J.  B.  Chartrand,  John 
Baptiste  AUary  and  Joseph  Deloge,  were  also  pioneers  of  the  vil- 
lage. 

The  First  Water  Mill  erected  in  this  part  of  the  country,  was  built 
on  the  creek,  close  to  the  village,  by  the  Mission  of  St.  Sulpice,  in 
the  year  1754  or  '55.  This  mill  really  formed  the  nucleus  from 
which  Prairie  du  Pout  finally  developed. 

The  oldest  house  now  standing  in  the  village,  is  owned  by  John 
B.  Lapage,  and  is  situated  on  lot  No.  58.  It  is  a  small,  one  story 
log  house,  and  was  one  of  the  first  built  in  the  village.  A  red  ce- 
dar, two  feet  in  diameter,  and  about  thirty  iu  height,  stands  ia  the 
rear  of  the  house,  and  ante-dates  the  building.  Locust  trees,  three 
feet  in  diameter,  also  adorn  the  premises. 

The  First  School  taught  in  Prairie  du  Pont  was  in  1861,  by  Wm. 
Williamson  ;  and  the  school-house  was  erected  the  same  year,  at  a 
cost  of  1500.  It  is  a  small  frame  building,  1 8x30  feet,  and  is  supplied 
with  the  improved  style  of  furniture.  The  village  was  incor- 
porated for  school  purposes  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  February 
20,  1847  ;  but  no  school  was  taught  for  twenty  years,  for  the  reason 
that  the  revenue  from  the  leases  of  the  commons  was  not  able  to 
support  one.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  1875,  the  commis- 
sioner of  the  commons  is  authorized  to  convey  the  lands  of  the 


M ETHOPI3T    Episcopal    Church,Shhoh,  St.  Clair   Co. Ill 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


297 


commons,  in  fee  simple,  and  place  the  proceeds  at  interest.  The 
principal  is  to  be  perpetual,  while  the  interest  is  to  be  devoted  en- 
tirely to  a  common  school  fund  for  the  use  of  the  villagers. 

The  first  and  only  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  precinct,  or  village, 
was  J.  B.  Vien,  who  at  this  writing  is  serving  in  the  same  office. 
He  was  elected  in  1869,  and  has  served  now  twelve  years.  Mr. 
Vien  informed  us  that  in  all  that  time  he  had  not  issued  to  exceed 
half-a-dozen  warrants  against  the  native  French  citizens  of  Prairie 
du  Pont. 

One  of  the  oldest  roads  in  the  state  of  Illinois  passes  through 
the  village,  being  the  old  highway  between  Kaskaskia  and 
Cahokia. 

There  are  standing  in  the  village  four  pear-trees,  the  largest  of 
which  is  upwards  of  three  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base.  It  is  said 
that  they  are  as  old  as  the  village,  and  are  still  in  good  bearing 
order.  The  largest  has  borne  as  high  as  sixty  bushel  of  fruit  in 
one  year.  Tiie  casual  observer,  in  passing  Mr.  Peter  Coding's 
premises,  where  these  trees  are  situated,  would  at  once  conclude 
they  were  forest  trees.  The  writer  was  shown  an  elm  that  took 
root  and  grew  under  the  following  circumstances:  On  lot  No.  14^ 
many  years  ago,  a  log  house  was  built,  which  had  for  a  chimney 
one  of  the  old-fashioned  mud  and  stick  contrivances,  which  was 
constructed  entirely  on  the  exterior  of  the  building.  In  order  to 
keep  this  ungainly  flue  from  toppling  over,  green  elm  poles  were 
thrust  into  the  ground  at  the  corners  of  the  chimney.  One  of  these, 
from  the  fresh  buds  of  the  stick,  took  root,  lived  and  grew,  and  is 
at  this  writing  live  feet  in  diameter.  Esquire  Vien  has  in  his  pos- 
session what  is  undoubtedly  the  stump  of  the  flag-pole  that  floated 
to  the  breeze  the  French  flag  when  Prairie  du  Pont  was  under  the 
dominion  of  France.  It  was  excavated  on  the  ground  where  the 
old  fort  ■  stood,  on  a  rise  overlooking  the  creek.  The  stump  is  of 
red  cedar,  about  six  inches  in  diameter,  and  in  a  good  state  of  pre- 
servation. 

In  the  south-western  part  of  the  precinct  there  are  several  Indian 
mounds.  In  1874  John  Eisentrout,  when  plowing  over  one  of 
these,  near  Falling  Spring,  struck  a  pile  of  stones,  and  on  exca- 
vating, came  across  a  peculiar  relic.  It  is  constructed  of  a  hard 
cement,  and  is  about  eighteen  inches  in  height.  The  upper  portion 
represents  the  head  of  a  baboon,  and  the  body  or  base  is  in  the 
form  of  an  ordinary  bust.  The  vessel  is  hollow,  with  an  aperture 
at  the  top  the  size  of  a  silver  dollar.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been 
constructed  for  a  drinking  jug  in  the  days  of  of  the  mound-builders. 
A  photograph  of  it  was  put  on  exhibition  at  the  Centennial  in 
Philadelphia  in  1876.  The  relic  is  now  in  the  possession  of  a  party 
at  Belleville. 

Within  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant  the  village  of  Prairie 
du  Pont  never  had  a  resident  physician  or  lawyer,  nor  has  it  con- 
tained a  post-office.  It  now  comprises  about  fifty  inhabitants— one- 
fifth  colored  population.  The  present  business — Groceries,  Provi- 
sions and  Saloon,  Peter  Godin;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  J.  B.  Vien; 
Treasurer  and  ex-offido- Commissioner,  Peter  Godln;  Trustees,  J oha 
Touranjon,  J.  B.  Lapage  and  Joseph  Chartrand. 

EAST   CAEONDELET. 

The  village  of  East  Carondelet  is  situated  in  the  central  western 

part  of  Prairie  du  Pont  precinct,  on  the  line  of  the  narrow  guage 

and  the  East  St.  Louis  and  East  Carondelet  railoads,  and  about  a 

quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Mississippi.     The  plat  is  in  the  form 

of  a  rectangle,  and  lies  on  both  sides  of  Prairie  du  Pont  creek.     It 

was  established  on  the  Prairie  du  Pont  common  fields,  in  the  year 

1872.    Andrew  Donnan  platted  the  first  village  lots.    The  same 

year  (1872)  two  additions  were  made  to  the  town,  onp  by  Donnan 
38  .  .,   .        . 


and  Henderson,  the  other  by  Christian  Keoln.     In  1876  another 
addition  was  made  by  Frank  Ricker. 

The  first  house  was  built  by  J.  L.  Strider  in  1872.  It  was  a 
frame  building,  story  and  a  half,  and  used  for  a  dwelling.  The 
first  store  was  kept  by  Messrs.  Green  &  Jackson,  and  was  situated 
on  State  Avenue,  south-east  of  the  Narrow  Gauge  railroad.  L.  G. 
Cross  was  the  first  to  establish  a  wagon  manufactory  and  black- 
smith shop.  It  was  built  in  1873,  and  is  situated  on  State  street, 
near  Prairie  du  Pont  creek.  Mr.  Cross  is  still  doing  business  on 
the  old  site.  The  first  hotel  was  built  by  Volantine  Eustch,  in 
1872,  and  was  conducted  by  him  with  satisfaction  to  the  public 
until  1875,  when,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  F.  S.  Mack  &  Co. 
erected  the  first  flouring  mill  in  1876.  It  was  a  steam  mill,  four 
story  frame  with  stone  foundation,  and  cost  $10,000.  It  had  three 
run  of  burrs,  and  a  capacity  for  grinding  seventy-five  barrels  per 
day.  It  was  situated  on  State  avenue,  near  the  Narrow  Gauge 
railroad  depot,  and  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1880.  The  first  post- 
office  was  kept  by  S.  H.  Parker,  in  the  Narrow  Gauge  railroad  de- 
pot. The  first  church  was  built  by  the  Catholics  in  1873.  It  was 
a  frame  building,  40x60,  and  cost  $3000.  It  was  completely 
destroyed  by  a  wind  storm,  which  occurred  in  1876.  The  school- 
house  was  built  in  1876,  at^  a  cost  of  upwards  of  $1200.  It  is  a 
frame  house,  and  seated  with  the  latest  improved  furniture.  Prior 
to  the  building  of  this  house,  the  school  was  taught  in  the  colored 
log  church,  north  of  the  creek,  not  far  from  the  Conlogue  railroad  ; 
J.  W.  McCormic  was  the  first  teacher.  James  N.  Carlton  was  elect- 
ed first  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  heard  his  first  case  in  the  de^jot 
of  the  Narrow  Gauge  railway. 

MEIER  &  CO.'S  BLAST  FURNACES. 

The  village  of  East  Carondelet  can  boast  of  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  complete  Blast  Furnaces  in  the  West,  and  is  owned  by  Meier 
&  Co.  of  St.  Louis.  It  is  situated  a  little  north  of  the  village,  and  oc- 
cupies one  hundred  acres  of  ground,  including  buildings,  railway,  and 
switches.  The  works  contain  three  engiues  of  one  hundred  tons  weight 
each  ;  two  furnaces  with  four  large  Whitehall  hot-air  blasts  to  each 
furnace.  The  chimney  is  two  hundred  and  three  and  a  half  feet 
high,  and  is  said  to  be  the  tallest  chimney  in  the  United  States. 
It  is  twenty-eight  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and  octagonal  in 
foim  to  the  height  of  about  twenty-five  feet,  where  it  assumes  a 
rotund  shape,  and  gently  tapers  to  the  summit.  It  took  nearly  one 
million  bricks  to  complete  it.  The  works  cost  upwards  of  two  mil- 
lion dollars,  and  give  employment  to  more  than  three  hundred 
hands.  Several  car-loads  of  pigs  are  cast  daily,  and  shipped  to  St. 
L  mis  and  other  cities.  The  company  has  constructed  its  own  stock 
railroads  to  connect  the  works  with  the  Mississippi  river,  on  the 
one  side,  and  the  C.  &  St.  L.  Narrow  Gauge,  and  the  E.  St.  L.  & 
E.  Carondelet  railways  on  the  other. 

smith's  ice  HOUSES. 

These  houses  were  constructed  in  1880-1,  and  are  situated  on  the 
river  bank,  about  half  a  mile  north-west  of  the  village.  The  build- 
ing is  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  square,  covered  with  a  double 
roof,  and  is  thirty-six  feet  in  height.  It  cost  $25,000,  and  will  Jiold 
twenty-five  thousand  tons  of  ice. 

PRESENT  BUSINESS. 

General  Merchandise.— Mchael  &  Son ;  Henry  Sopp.  Clothing. 
— Victor  Sherman. 

Bakery— K.  Wenkler.  Merchant  Tailor— A.  S.  Jordi.  Wagon 
Maker  and  Blacksmith— h.  G.  Cross.  Butcher—Fred  Schwartztrau-r 
ber.     J^ysioiati—Iir.  W.  M,  Carter. 


293 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Besides  the  above,  there  is  a  boarding  house  and  seven  saloons. 
The  village  was  incorporated  in  1876,  and  the  following  are  the 
first  officers  elected  : — President— Walter  Murray ;  Trudees — J.  C. 
Sinclair,  S.  H.  Parker,  E.  D.  Ankeny,  J.  J.  Schumaker,  and  John 
Ortgier.  Thomas  Jamison  was  appointed  clerk.  The  present  offi- 
cers are — L.  G.  Cross,  pres. ;  Fred  Luce,  John  Simons,  A.  Murphy, 
B.  H.  Parker,  and  John  Schumaker,  trustees.  J.  W.  McCormic, 
clerk  and  police  magistrate,  and  Samuel  McGregor,  marshal. 

The  present  population  of  the  village  is  about  400,  and  bids  fair 
some  day  to  be  one  among  the  busy  towns  that  shall  dot  the  banks 
of  the  Misssissippi. 

FALLING    SPRING. 

This  is  one  of  the  romantic  spots  in  Illinois.  It  is  situated  at  the 
bluff,  one  mile  south-east  of  Prairie  du  Pont  village.  It  derives  its 
name  from  a  spring  that  gushes  out  of  a  perpendicular  rock  of  the 
bluif,  with  a  fall  of  sixty  or  seventy  feet.  The  bluif  at  this  point  is 
a  solid  wall  of  limestone,  about  one  hundred  and  .thirty  feet  in 
height.    The  spring  flows  from  an  orifice  situated  midway  between 


the  top  of  the  blufi"  and  the  rocky  bottom  beneath.  Many  years 
ago  a  grist  mill  was  constructed  at  this  point,  and  the  water  utilized 
for  a  power,  but  no  trace  of  it  remains  at  this  time  to  be  seen. 
Several  years  ago  a  hotel  was  built  near  the  spring,  and  the  place 
was  made  a  summer  resort  by  the  people  of  East  St.  Louis  and 
other  towns.  The  hotel  is  yet  standing,  and  is  now  converted  into 
a  saloon.  There  are  three  fctone  quariics  in  full  blast  not  far 
from  the  spring,  and  owned  by  the  following  companies:— Otto  & 
Parent,  William  Richards,  and  Henry  Deering.  They  employ  in 
all  about  seventy-five  men,  and  load  on  an  average  twenty  cars  per 
day.  A  branch  of  the  Conlogue  railway  runs  to  the  quarries.  A 
stone-crusher  dump  is  in  process  of  erection  here  by  the  Vandalia 
railroad  company.  We  were  informed  by  the  foreman  that  it 
would  take  about  200,000  feet  of  lumber  to  construct  it,  and  will 
cost,  including  machinery,  upwards  of  $50,000.  When  in  running 
order  it  will  employ  about  fifty  hands,  and  will  have  the  capacity  to 
crush  fifty  car-loads  of  stone  per  day.  Although  there  is  no  town 
here — ^nothing  but  boarding  houses  for  the  men — yet  it  presents  the 
appearance  of  life  and  business. 


-tJ-B!^- 


PRECINCT    AND    CITY    OF    EAST    ST.    LOUIS. 


AST  ST.  LOUIS,  precinct,  formerly  called  Illi- 
uoistown,  occupies  the  extreme  north-western 
corner  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  was  organized 
as  a  township  the  6th  day  of  June,  1820,  the 
boundaries  being  as  follows :  Beginning  at  the 
bluff  on  the  Madison  county  line ;  thence  west 
on  said  line  to  the  Mississippi  river :  thence  with 
the  Mississippi  to  the  Cahokialineon  the  same ; 
thence  with  said  line  eastward  to  the  bluff; 
thence  along  the  bluff  northward  to  the  place  of  beginning.  By 
order  of  the  county  commissioners'  court,  September  14th,  1821, 
Illinoistown  and  Cahokia  were  made  one  election  precinct,  with  the 
voting  place  at  Augustus  Pensoneau's  residence  in  Cahokia.  In 
1851,  Illinoistown  became  a  separate  voting  precinct,  and  French 
Village  was  named  as  the  place  of  holding  the  election.  Again,  in 
1857,  it  was  divided  into  two  separate  parts,  rtspectively  called 
Illinoistown  and  French  Village  precincts,  the  division  line  running 
due  west  from  south-west  corner  of  section  15,  in  township  No.  2, 
north  range.  No.  9  west,  to  the  north-west  corner  of  section  21, 
same  township,  thence  south  on  the  west  line  of  section  21,  to  the 
south  west  corner  thereof,  thence  west  on  the  section  line  to  the 
Mississippi  through  Cahokia  precinct,  from  which  a  strip  of  about 
one-half  a  mile  in  breadth  is  taken  from  the  northern  part  and 
annexed  to  Illinoistown  precinct.  The  foregoing  are  the  boundaries 
that  the  precinct  embraces  at  this  time.  In  1866,  the  precinct  ap- 
pears under  the  name  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  that  of  Illinoistown 


dropped.  This  change  of  name  is  not  made  a  matter  of  record, 
and  the  presumption  is  that  by  common  consent,  or  usage,  it  as- 
sumed the  name  of  its  leading  town,  East  St.  Louis,  which  by  a 
vote  of  the  people  of  the  corporation  in  1861,  gave  it  its  present 
title  At  the  time  of  its  organization,  a  strip  of  heavy  timber  about 
half  a  mile  wide,  extended  south  from  the  present  town  of  Brook- 
lyn to  the  village  of  Cahokia.  What  is  now  the  city  of  East  St. 
Louis  was  mainly  covered  with  heavy  timbers  of  oak,  walnut,  elm, 
etc.,  and  was  a  favorite  stamping  ground  for  the  hunter  and  the 
trapper. 

The  first  blow  struck  toward  civilization  in  this  vast  solitude,  was 
in  the  year  1770,  by  one  Richard  MuCarty,  familiary  known  in 
those  days  as  English  McCarty.  He  obtained  an  improvement 
right  or  title,  to  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  extending  on  both 
sides  of  Cahokia  creek,  and  now  included  within  the  present  limits 
of  East  St.  Louis.  Here  he  erected  a  grist  mill  on  the  bank  of  the 
creek,  and  for  a  time  it  did  quite  a  fiourishing  business,  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  banks  being  so  easily  washed  away,  a  permanent  dam 
could  not  be  constructed.  He  left  the  country  for  Canada  in  1787, 
where  he  died,  leaving  heirs  to  this  property.  The  United  States 
Commissioners  appointed  by  Congress  in  1805,  to  pass  upon  claims 
to  ancient  titles  in  Cahokia  and  other  French  villages,  confirmed 
this  tract  to  the  hoirs  of  McCarty.  No  vestige  of  the  old  mill  site 
exists  at  this  time.  Another  mill  was  constructed  in  1805,  by 
Nicholas  Jarrot  on  the  creek  not  far  from  where  McCarty'a 
mill  was  located.     It  has    long  since  disappeared     As  late  as 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


299 


1855,  the  machinery  was  utilized  in  a  mill  at  Brooklyn  by  Morris 
&Son. 

The  oldest  house,  now  standing  in  the  precinct,  was  built  by 
Nicholas  Boismeuue  in  1817,  and  is  situated  about  one  mile  south 
of  the  city  limits,  on  the  road  leading  from  what  was  formerly 
called  Papstown,  to  the  village  of  Cahokia.  It  is  built  after  the 
old  French  style,  with  upright  hewed  walnut  logs,  and  weather- 
boarded,  with  porch  extending  around  the  entire  building.  It  is 
occupied  by  Joseph  Boismenue,  and  is  the  oldest  house  in  St.  Clair 
county,  outside  the  village  of  Cahokia  and  Prairie  du  Pont. 

The  founding  of  the  present  city  of  East  St.  Louis,  is  due  to  the 
foresight  of  the  pioneer,  Capt.  James  Piggott.  He  was  an  officer 
under  General  Clark,  who  had  command  of  the  Virginia  militia 
stationed  on  the  frontier.  Capt.  Piggott  was  one  of  those  who 
remained  after  the  treaty  was  made  in  178.3,  and  cast  his  lot  with 
the  hardy  pioneers  of  the  west.  At  this  time  St.  Louis  was  but  a 
small  trading  port,  and  Cahokia  the  metropolis. 

No  doubt  Capt.  Piggott's  keen  business  perceptions  led  him  to 
believe,  from  the  natural  surroundings,  and  other  advantages,  that 
in  future  time  the  little  village  of  St.  Louis  would  some  day  take 
the  lead  among  the  few  towns  then  settled  along  the  Mississippi. 
Accordingly  he  located  a  militia  claim  of  a  hundred  acres  on  the 
east  sideof  the  river  opposite  the  village  of  St.  Louis,  and  by  his  own 
exertions  succeeded  in  constructing  a  bridge  across  Cahokia  creek, 
near  the  road  leading  to  that  village.  This  was  in  1795.  In  1797, 
he  had  erected  two  small  log  cabins  near  the  shore,  where  he  had 
established  a  rude  ferry  system  across  the  river,  by  the  consent  of 
the  Spanish  Commandant  at  St.  Louis.  Thus  the  firot  ferry  was 
established,  out  of  which  grew  one  of  the  wealthiest  monopolies  of 
the  west.  Capt.  Piggott  died  in  1799,  scarcely  dreaming  of  the 
magnitude  his  enterprise  in  after  years  would  assume. 

The  first  house  of  any  pretensions  built  on  the  present  site  of 
East  St.  Liuis,  was  erected  by  Etienne  Pensoneau,  in  the  year 
1810.  It  was  a  two-story  brick  building,  and  situated  on  what  is 
now  the  corner  of  Main  and  Menard  streets,  in  the  first  ward.  It 
was  constructed  for  a  dwelling,  but  was  afterwards  utilized  for  a 
hotel,  to  afford  accommodations  to  the  immigrants,  who  were  then 
rapidly  pushing  to  the  frontier.  It  has  long  since  passed  away  with 
the  things  that  were. 

The  oldest  house  now  standing  within  the  city  limits  is  situated 
in  the  First  ward,  near  the  corner  of  Second  and  Market  streets, 
and  was  built  about  1818,  by  the  "  Old  Man  "  Rail,  for  a  dwell- 
ing, and  is  still  used  as  such.  Its  structure  is  of  the  primitive 
style,  with  hewed  logs  placed  upright  a  few  inches  apart,  and  filled 
between  with  cement  or  mortar.  The  outside  is  weather-boarded 
for  the  better  protection  from  the  winter  blasts. 

The  following,  relating  to  the  first  laid-out  town  in  East  St. 
Louis,  we  gleau  from  Reavis'  history  of"  The  Future  Great  City:" 

"  In  1816,  Etienne  Pinconeau  (now  spelled  Pensoneau),  ventured 
to  lay  out  a  town  on  his  adjoining  land,  with  his  brick  tavern  on 
the  road  to  the  ferry,  thence  occupied  by  one  Simon  Vanorsdal,  as 
a  nucleus.  He  called  it  'Jacksonville.'  The  plat  of  the  town 
cannot  be  found  ;  but  there  is  a  deed  of  record  for  a  lot  in  it.  It 
bears  the  date  17th  of  March,  1815.  Etienne  Pinconeau  and  Eliza- 
beth, his  wife,  by  it  convey  to  Moses  Scott,  merchant  of  St.  Louis, 
in  the  Missouri  territory,  for  $150,  'all  that  certain  tract,  parcel, 
or  lot  of  land,  being,  lying,  and  situated  in  the  said  county  of  St. 
Clair,  at  a  place,  or  new  town  called  Jacksonville,  containing  in 
depth  one  hundred  feet,  and  in  breadth  sixty  feet,  joining  north- 
wardly to  Carroll  street,  facing  the  public  square,  and  southwardly 
to  Coffee  street.' 

"Later  conveyances  by  McKnight  &  Brady,  merchants  and  land 


operators  at  that  time  in  St.  Louis,  referring  to  this  lot  of  Moses 
Scott,  locate  it  as  lot  5,  in  block  8,  of  the  town  of  Illinois,  at  the 
south-east  corner  of  Market  and  Main  streets.  Scott  at  once  erected 
a  store  upon  the  lot,  and  at  that  corner  conducted  the  first  mercan- 
tile establishment  in  this  city.  This  was  the  only  sale  made  of  lots 
in  this  '  Jacksonville.'  On  the  20th  of  January,  1816,  Pinconeau 
sold  the  entire  tract  of  land  he  had  on  Cahokia  creek  (including 
Jacksonville),  extending  in  breadth  from  near  Railroad  street  to 
Piggott  street,  to  McKnight  &  Brady. 

"The  immediate  result  was  the  consummation,  by  McKnight  & 
Brady,  of  Pinconeau's  project  of  a  new  town.  They  platted  the 
'  Town  of  Illinois'  upon  the  site  of  Pinconeau' s  Jacksonville.  They 
re-located  the  public  square,  widened  the  streets  and  enlarged  the 
lots,  and  put  the  plat  on  record.  They  advertised  and  held  a  great 
sale  of  lots  in  the  town  of  Illinois.  The  sale  took  place  at  the  auc- 
tion-room of  Thomas  T.  Reddick,  in  St.  Louis,  November  3d,  1817. 
Thus  was  made  the  first  record  evidence  of  a  town-plat  in  East 
St.  Louis." 

The  first  railroad  constructed  in  the  state  was  built  from  Illinois- 
town  to  the  bluff,  a  distance  of  about  six  miles.  It  was  constructed 
in  1836,  under  the  personal  supervision  and  efforts  of  Governor 
Reynolds,  Vital  Jarrot  and  a  few  others.  It  was  expressly  built 
for  the  purpose  of  transporting  coal  from  where  it  cropped  out  at 
the  bluff  (now  Pittsburg)  to  the  St.  Louis  market.  This  was  an 
enterprise  of  no  small  dimensions  at  that  day.  They  were  obliged 
to  bridge  over  two  thousand  feet  across  Big  Lake,  which  was  per- 
formed by  driving  down  piles  spliced  together  to  the  length  of 
eighty  feet,  upon  which  the  track  rested.  At  times  they  employed 
one  hundred  hands,  and  so  vigorously  was  the  undertaking  prose- 
cuted that  it  was  completed  in  one  year.  Thomas  Winstanley  was 
the  first  engineer  and  conductor  of  the  road  ;  that  is,  he  drove  the 
mules  that  hauled  the  cars  over  the  route.  It  proved  a  non-paying 
investment,  and  in  1841  they  sold  out  the  concern  to  the  St.  Clair 
Railroad  Company. 

Captain  Trendley  built  the  first  school-house  in  1840,  and  the  cost 
was  $240.  It  was  a  small  frame  building,  14x16,  and  was  situated 
on  the  public  square.'  William  Singleton  established  the  first 
church  in  1845.  It  was  of  the  Methodist  denomination,  and  located 
on  Brundy  street,  between  Second  and  Third.  It  is  yet  standing, 
and  is  owned  by  the  colored  Baptists.  The  first  blacksmith-shop 
was  built  by  Francis  Delorem  in  1826,  and  was  situated  on  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Rock  road.  It  was  a  very  meagre  and  unpre- 
tentious affair,  but  answered  the  wants  of  the  people  at  that  time. 

BLOODY   ISLAND. 

This  island  was  made  in  about  1800.  Its  first  appearance  was  a 
small  sand-barj  below  Bissel's  Point,  near  the  Illinois  shore.  At 
this  angle  in  the  course  of  the  Mississippi,  the  force  of  the  current 
gradually  wore  into  the  mainland,  and  left  a  corresponding  deposit 
upon  the  bar  extending  southward.  In  course  of  time  this  bar 
developed  into  a  considerable  island,  with  half  the  river  flowing 
between  it  and  the  Illinois  shore.  The  first  to  inhabit  it  was  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Duncan,  who  built  a  small  log  house  within  its  soli- 
tude, and  lived  there  for  some  time  afterwards.  The  exact  date  of 
his  location  is  not  known.  The  next  to  settle  here  was  a  Mr. 
Lindsey,  in  1842,-  who  built  two  or  three  little  shanties,  and  kept  a 
small  dairy  and  garden.  He  named  his  place  "  Hoboken  Garden." 
The  island  now  constitutes  the  Third  ward  of  the  city.  The  early 
history  of  the  island  is  stained  with  human  blood  ;  hence  the  name. 
Bloody  Island.  I^or  several  years  it  was  not  definitely  established 
to  which  shore  the  island  belonged.  It  was  therefore  considered 
neutral  gtoundj  and  was  the  favorite  resort  for  settling  differences 


300 


HISTORY  OF   ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


by  mortal  combat,  according  to  the  then  prevailing  code  of  honor. 
The  first  duel  fought  here  was  in  1817,  between  Col.  Thomas  H. 
Benton  and  Judge  Charles  Lucas.  Col.  Benton  was  the  challeng- 
ing party.  Their  differences  grew  out  of  harsh  invectives  employed 
by  them  in  the  trial  of  a  case  in  which  they  were  opposing  attorneys. 
This  challenge  Judge  Lucas  declined,  on  the  plea  that  he  would 
not  respond  in  deadly  combat  for  words  uttered  in  a  professional 
capacity.  They,  however,  met  afterwards,  in  the  same  year,  when 
the  duel  was  fought,  and  Lucas  was  the  unfortunate  victim. 

In  1823,  another  duel  occurred,  between  Thomas  C.  Rector  and 
Joshua  Barton,  United  States  District  Attorney.  The  trouble 
grew  out  of  a  newspaper  attack  made  by  Barton  against  Gen.  Wm. 
E-ector,  brother  of  Thomas  C.  Rector.  They  met  June  30th,  in  the 
above-named  year,  when  Barton  fell  and  died  shortly  afterward. 
The  most  disastrous  meeting  was  between  Maj.  Thomas  Biddle  and 
Hon.  Spencer  Pettis,  both  of  St.  Louis,  and  ^occurred  the  27th  of 
Aug.,  1830.  The  trouble  was  engendered  in  the  heated  political  can- 
vass of  that  year.  Maj.  Biddle  was  the  challenged  party,  and  hav- 
ing the  choice  of  distance,  named  five  paces,  on  account  of  his  being 
shortsighted.  At  the  giving  of  the  word,  they  wheeled  and  fired 
simultaneously.  They  both  fell  mortally  wounded.  Capt.  Trendley 
was  an  eye-witness  to  this  sad  affair,  and  helped  to  convey  the  body 
of  Pettis  to  St.  Charles  county.  Mo.,  where  it  was  buried.  The 
name.  Bloody  Island,  having  many  unpleasant  recollections  con- 
nected with  its  memory,  has  long  since  been  dropped,  and  is  now 
simply  known  as  "The  Island." 

THE    FLOODS. 

No  place  in  the  United  States  has  had  more  to  contend  with  to 
prevent  its  growth  and  prosperity  than  the  city  of  East  St.  Louis. 
Nothing  but  the  natural  advantages  of  being  situated  opposite  the 
great  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  the  indomitable  perseverance  of  its  inha- 
bitants, have  kept  it  from  perishing  from  the  earth  long  ago.  What 
with  numerous  floods  and  the  encroachment  of  the  river  upon  the 
banks,  it  has  nearly  yielded  up  its  existence  several  times  to  the 
fates  that  be.  The  first  flood  that  did  damage  to  the  little  hamlet 
of  Illinoistown  occurred  in  1826.  The  town  was  inundated  to  the 
depth  of  several  feet,  and  the  malarial  fevers  that  followed  nearly 
depopulated  the  village.  It,  however,  struggled  ibr  txisteiice,  and 
up  to  1844  had  gradually  increased  to  a  town  of  cons'derable 
thrift  and  importance,  when  the  most  vital  stroke  it  ever  received 
almost  blotted  it  from  existence.  The  flood  which  occurred  in 
June  of  that  year  inundated  the  American  Bottoms  so  that  large 
steamers  plied  from  bluff  to  bluff.  But  few  of  the  houses  of  Illi- 
noistown were  to  be  seen  above  the  water,  while  no  dry  land  was 
observable  for  miles  toward  the  eastern  bluff,  except  a  few  mounds 
and  high  knolls  to  the  east  and  south  of  the  village.  So  complete 
was  the  destruction  that  the  town  never  recoverd  from  it  until  the 
general  centralizing  of  the  railroads  at  this  point  about  fifteen  years 
ago.  It  is  said  at  the  time  of  this  flood  that  the  fcteanier,  called 
"  Little  Bee,"  plied  between  the  city  of  St.  Louis  and  the  coal  mines 
on  the  bluffs  at  Pittsburg,  the  captain  of  which,  if  living  at  this 
time,  would  be  presented  with  a  medal  from  the  "  Humane  Society," 
for  being  the  most  tender-hearted  man  on  the  continent.  When 
the  rush  of  waters  came,  a  sow  and  her  brood  took  refuge  on  the 
top  of  a  mound,  situated  not  far  from  the  farm  now  owned  by  Abra- 
ham Jones,  south-east  of  the  city.  The  captain  of  the  Little  Bee 
stopped  his  steamer  at  this  point  every  day,  and  gave  the  refugees 
a  bountiful  supply  of  food  for  their  wants.  Thus  were  the  lives  of 
the  porkers  preserved  until  the  flood  receded.  Mr  Abraham  Jones 
tells  us  of  keeping  a  dairy  at  this  time  of  eighty  cows  on  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds* farm,  near  the  bluff,  and  marketing  the  milk  in  the  city  of 


St.  Louis.  The  flood  came  and  he  was  cut  off  from  his  customers. 
He  remedied  this,  however,  by  loading  his  cows  on  a  flat  boat,  and 
conveying  them  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  until  the  river  was 
again  witliin  its  banks.  The  floods  of  1851-8,  and  1862,  did  much 
demage  to  the  town,  and  for  a  time  nearly  disheartened  the  people, 
the  details  of  which  would  fill  a  volume.  The  erection  of  the  dikes, 
which  will  be  noticed  in  the  proper  place,  have  been  auxiliary  in 
protecting  the  city  from  subsequent  overflows. 

The  outline  of  the  city  of  East  St.  Louis  is  in  the  form  of  an  ir- 
regular pentagon,  and  acquired  its  present  limits  in  time  and  man- 
ner as  follows :  Illinoistown  was  laid  out  by  McKnight  and  Brady, 
May  14,  1818.  Rsavis,  in  his  history  of  "The  Future  Great 
City,"  places  the  date  as  1817  ;  but  the  records  at  Belleville  show 
that  the  former  is  the  correct  date.  Illinois  City  was  formerly  a 
part  of  the  Cahokia  Commons,  and  was  laid  out  by  the  Cahokians 
in  the  fall  of  1818.  John  Hays,  John  Hay,  and  Francois  Turcott 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  plat  and  name  the  new  town  by 
the  inhabitants  of  Cahokia,  which  proceedings  were  legalized  and 
confirmed  by  a  special  act  of  Congress  in  1820.  It  became  a  part 
ofthecity  in  May,  1875.  The  towns  of  St.  Clair  and  East  St. 
Louis,  the  Ferry  divisions,  the  Oebike  and  Kase  addition,  are  also 
included  within  the  city  limits.  The  city  obtained  its  charter  by  a 
special  act  of  the  Legislature  in  the  spring  of  1865.  The  charter 
was  prepared  by  J.  B.  Bowman  and  S.  M.  Lount,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  committee  of  the  town  council.  At  the  first  election  Hon. 
J.  B.  Bowman  was  elected  Mayor.  The  following  named  officers 
were  elected  aldermen :  First  ward,  Michael  Murphy  and  John 
O'Connell ;  Second  ward,  James  S.  Hazen  and  Henry  Schall ; 
Third  ward,  Capt.  John  Trendley  and  J.  B-  Lovingston.  Wm.  G. 
Kase  was  elected  City  judge. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  above,  the  city  was  divided  into  three 
wards.  It  is  now  divided  into  four  wards,  bounded  as  follows :  The 
first  ward  includes  all  the  territory  extending  east  from  Cahokia 
creek  to  the  city  limits,  and  south  of  Broadway.  TheSecf^nd  ward 
lies  between  Broadway  and  Illinois  avenue,  and  extends  from  Ca- 
hokia creek  east  to  Tenth  street.  The  Third  ward  includes  all  the 
territory  lying  between  Cahokia  creek  and  the  middle  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  the  city  limits  north  and  south.  The  Fourth  ward  em- 
braces all  the  territory  lying  north  of  Illinois  avenue  and  east  of 
Cahokia  creek  to  the  city  limits  including  Illinois  City. 

At  this  writing,  March  21,  1881,  the  following  are  the  city 
officers : 

Maurice  Joyce,  mayor ;  James  Shanon,  clerk  ;  John  W.  Ren- 
shaw,  marshal.  Aldermen  :  First  Ward — John  C.  Prottsraan  and 
Earnest  W.  Wider.  Second  Ward— Thomas  Hanifan  and  John  J. 
McLean.  Third  Ward— Patrick  H.  O'Brien  and  Henry  Sackmann. 
Fourth  Ward— Levi  Baugh,  Jr.,  and  James  J.  Rafter.  These 
constitute  the  officers  and  members  of  the  sixteenth  Board  of  Al- 
dermen of  the  city  since  its  incorporation. 

There  is  no  city  of  its  size  in  the  United  States  that  has  the  rail- 
road facilities  of  East  St.  Louis.  No  less  than  eleven  roads,  by 
the  conditions  of  their  charters,  terminate  here,  which  are  as 
follows:  The  Chicago  and  Alton;  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis; 
Wabash,  St.  Louis  and  Pacific ;  Rockford,  Rock  Island  and  St. 
Louis,  now  known  as  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  road: 
St.  Louis.  Vandalia  and  Terre  Haute  (Vandalia  Line)  ;  Ohio  and 
Mississippi;  St.  Louis,  Alton  and  Terre  Haute;  (Cairo  Short  Line)  ; 
Louisville  and  Nashville,  f  rmerly  St.  Louis  and  South  Eastern 
railway;  Cairo  and  St.  Louis;  East  St.  Louis  and  Carondelet; 
Illinois  and  St.  Louis;  Union  Railway  and  Transit  Company. 
The  latter  was  organized  in  East  St.  Louis  in  1874,  and  a  like 
organization  was  also  effected  in  St.  Louis  under  the  laws  of  Mis- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


301 


souri.  These,  united,  act  as  agents  for  the  Illinois  and  St.  Louis 
Bridge  Company  in  transferring  cars  and  merchandise  from  city  to 
city.  All  of  the  above  roads  centre  at  the  Relay  depot,  except  the 
Cairo  and  St.  Louis  railway. 

The  city  contains  several  miles  of  excellent  paved  streets;  the 
following  are  macadamized  entire:  Dyke  avenue,  Front  street, 
Broadway  and  Main  streets,  CoUinsville,  Missouri  and  Illi- 
nois avenues,  and  Market  street.  Fourth  and  Summit  streets  and 
St.  Clair  avenue  are  partly  graded  and  macadamized.  There 
has  been  some  agitation  upon  the  question  of  adopting  a 
high-grade  system  of  building  and  paving  the  city.  The  cost 
would  necessarily  place  a  heavy  indebtedness  upon  the  people,  but 
the  reward  would  undoubtedly  more  than  recompense  them  for  the 
outlay.  The  health  and  future  prosperity  of  the  city  hang  upon 
this  improvement.  We  predict  that  it  is  only  a  question  of  time 
when  the  people  will  with  one  accord  act  upon  this  line  of  policy. 

WIGGINS*   FERRY  AND  THE   BRIDGE. 

Believing  that  no  more  complete  history  of  the  above  could 
be  given  than  that  rendered  by  Dr.  Isaac  N.  Piggott  before  the 
Literary  and  Historical  Society  of  East  St.  Louis,  in  August,  1871, 
■we  take  the  liberty  to  give  our  readers  an  extract : 

"  From  the  commencement  of  the  ferry,  it  was  carried  on  under 
the  immediate  supervision  of  Piggott,  until  the  20th  of  February, 
1799,  when  he  died,  leaving  his  wife  the  executrix  of  his  will.  She 
first  rented  the  ferry  to  Dr.  Wallis  for  the  year  1801-2 ;  then  to 

Adams  for  the  year  1803-4.     This  Adams  was  the  husband 

of  the  distinguished  Sarah  Adams,  of  Duncan's  Island  notoriety. 
About  this  time  the  widow  of  Piggott  married  Jacob  Collard,  and 
removed  from  Illinois  to  St.  Louis.  Before  leaving  she  leased  the 
ferry  to  John  Campbell,  for  ten  years.  This  Campbell  proved 
treacherous,  and  procured  a  license  for  a  ferry  in  his  own  name 
during  the  time  of  the  lease ;  and  hence,  for  a  short,  time,  it  was 
called  "  Campbell's  Ferry."  But  after  a  lawsuit,  Campbell  and 
confederates  were  beaten,  and  the  ferry  re-established  to  the  Piggott 
heirs,  one  of  whom,  assisted  by  men  named  Solomon,  Blundy  and 
Porter,  operated  the  ferry  until  part  of  the  heirs  sold  out  to 
McKnight  &  Brady.  The  other  heirs  of  Piggott  conveyed  to 
Samuel  Wiggins  their  share  of  the  ferry.  He  soon  succeeded  in 
buying  out  his  competitors,  and  thus  obtained  the  whole  ferry,  which 
he  afterwards  superintended  in  person." 

This  was  in  1818.  The  following  spring  Mr.  Wiggins  was 
authorized  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  to  establish  a  ferry  on  the 
Mississippi  adjacent  to  his  lands,  near  the  town  of  Illinois.  This 
act  also  provided  that  Samuel  Wiggins  should  have  the  right  to 
one  mile  of  the  shore  extending  along  the  river  bank  at  this  point. 
Capt.  Piggott's  means  of  transportation  was  a  rude  aifair,  com- 
posed of  canoes  or  "  dug-outs,"  lashed  together,  over  which  was 
constructed  a  platform  convenient  for  storage.  The  propelling 
power  was  by  means  of  paddles  or  sweeps.  Wiggins,  however, 
soon  improved  upon  this  mode  of  conveyance,  by  building  a  fair- 
sized  ferry-boat,  and  propelling  it  by  horse-power,  until  1828,  when 
the  first  steam  terry-boat  was  launched  upon  the  river,  and  called 
the  "St.  Clair."  In  1832  another  boat,  the  "Ibex,"  was  put  on 
the  line,"  and  on  account  of  the  increase  of  business,  and  therefore 
a  demand  for  capital,  Mr.  Wiggins  sold  an  interest  in  the  ferry  to 
several  parties,  thus  forming  a  joint-stock  company.  In  1853  they 
obtained  further  privileges  by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  and  the 
business  grew  and  prospered  beyond  the  most  sanguine  expectation. 
To  this  enterprise  is  largely  due  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  East 
St.  Louis.  Since  the  completion  of  the  St.  Louis  and  Illinois 
bridges  the  business  of  the  ferry  has  necessarily  diminished  to  some 


extent,  but  at  this  time  the  possession  of  ferry  stock  is  by  no  means 
a  poor  investment. 

The  construction  of  the  bridge  was  commenced  in  the  spring  of 
1869,  and  was  completed  in  June,  1874.  It  was  formally  dedi- 
cated to  the  public  on  the  4th  of  July  following.  Its  total  length, 
including  arches  and  abutments,  is  2,046  feet,  and  is  connected  with 
the  Union  depot  in  St.  Louis  by  means  of  a  tunnel,  4,866  feet  in 
length.  The  cost  of  the  bridge  and  tunnel  was  nearly  $13,000,000. 
The  sura  total  of  the  weight  of  metal  in  its  construction  is  upwards 
of  5,000  tons.  On  the  top  of  the  arches  is  a  roadway  for  the  con- 
venience of  vehicles  and  foot-passengers,  while  underneath  rolls 
the  merchandise  and  human  freight  from  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coasts.  For  a  more  complete  history  of  the  bridge  and  the  railroads 
see  chapter  on  Internal  improvements. 

We  glean  the  following  history  relating  to  the  construction  of 

THE   DIKES 

from  Reavis'  History  of  East  St.  Louis  :  Before  the  advent  of  the 
great  flood  of  1844,  the  channel  of  the  Mississippi  opposite  the 
city  of  St.  Louis,  though  uncertain  and  troubled  with  shifting  bars, 
was  never  seriously  threatened  with  destruction.  Thereafter  bars 
formed  from  the  head  of  Bloody  Island,  then  a  little  further  north 
than  now,  to  the  Missouri  shore,  almost  entirely  closing  the  channel 
washing  the  St.  Louis  shore.  The  whole  current  of  the  river,  and 
the  only  available  and  safe  channel  betvveen  St.  Louis  and  the 
town  of  Illinois,  was  between  the  Island  and  the  town  of  Illinois, 
Under  the  greatest  of  difficulties  only,  and  by  circuitous  routes, 
could  boats  at  all  land  at  the  St.  Louis  levee.  Navigation  then 
being  the  chief,  if  not  the  only  means  of  communication  between 
commercial  points  and  from  a  common  centre,  as  St.  Louis  then 
was  growing  to  be,  was  the  mainstay  of  the  importance,  present 
and  prospective,  of  that  city.  Realizing  this  fact,  public  meetings 
were  held,  at  which  the  terrible  fate  of  St.  Louis  was  the  subject  of 
consideration. 

In  1847  ordinances  were  passed  by  the  city  council  of  St.  Louis, 
appropriating  money,  and  directing  work  to  be  undertaken  on  the 
Illinois  shore,  as  the  only  means  of  salvation.  Nothing  less  than  a 
permanent  dike  across  the  then  principal  channel  of  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  east  of  Bloody  Island,  promised  sure  relief.  This,  of 
course,  meant  destruction  to  the  harbor  of  the  town  of  Illinois,  and 
its  ferry  landings  on  the  main  shore.  Alton,  then  a  rival  of  St. 
Louis,  calculated  that  what  was  to  the  disadvantage  of  St.  Louis 
was  ipso  facto  a  benefit  to  Alton.  The  feeble  complaints  of  the 
Town  of  Illinois  were  fanned  into  a  flame  of  fearful  excitemeut. 
The  laborers  upon  the  dike  about  being  built  by  St.  Louis  across  the 
eastern  channel  of  the  river,  were  driven  away  by  force.  Cannons 
were  planted  upon  the  banks,  the  state  militia  turued  out,  and  thus 
state  sovereignty  and  Alton  policy  were  victorious,  for  a  time, 
at  least. 

In  1848,  an  injunction  was  sworn  out  in  the  St.  Clair  Circuit 
Court,  enjoining  the  authorities  of  St.  Louis  against  any  attempt  to 
re-open  like  projects.  Early  in  1849,  the  legislature  of  Illinois 
was  waited  upon  by  a  large  delegation  from  St.  Louis,  and  after 
due  consideration,  becoming  a  question  of  such  magnitude  and  im- 
portance, by  a  joint  resolution,  it  granted  to  the  city  of  St.  Louis 
for  the  fullest  possible  relief,  all  the  authority  necessary  for  the 
construction  of  cross  and  wing-dikes  upon  the  Illinois  shore  oppo- 
site, so  as  to  thoroughly  protect  and  secure  its  harbor,  with  this 
provise,  that  St.  Louis  should  construct  upan  some  of  these  dikes, 
roadways,  especially  upon  the  main  dike  aero  s  to  the  to-be-closed 
channel  of  the  Mississippi  from  the  Illinois  main  shore  to  and  across 
Bloody  Island. 


302 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLII^OIS. 


Under  this  enactmeat,  the  work  pushed  rapidly  to  completion, 
so  that  in  the  spring  of  1851,  the  main  dike  was  finished  except 
the  road  upon  the  embankment.  It  was  built  of  rock  throughout, 
and  for  a  large  part  of  the  way,  in  the  channel  to  be  closed,  in 
more  than  forty  feet  of  water ;  but  strong  as  it  was,  the  fearful 
flood  of  that  year  swept  the  most  of  it  away  In  the  fall,  however, 
another  dike  was  projected  which  was  situated  a  fourth  of  a  mile 
north  and  nearly  parallel  with  the  former  dike.  This  was  finished 
in  1856,  and  cost  $175,000.  It  is  still  standing  as  a  monument  to 
the  perseverance  and  genius  of  its  builders.  Thus  the  channel  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river  was  diverted  from  it  course,  and  the  pier 
of  St.  Louis  re-established.  Other  dikes  have  since  been  con- 
structed, and  the  city  is  now  comparatively  safe  from  future  inun- 
dations. 

FIEE   DEPARTMENT. 

The  Ead  St.  Louis  Fire  Company,  No.  1,  was  organized  in 
December  1872.  Its  first  oiBcers  were  as  follows  :  William  O'Neill, 
president ;  Charles  Hauss,  vice-president ;  James  W.  Kirk,  secre- 
tary ;  John  V.  Tefft,  treasurer ;  Benedict  Franz,  captain  ;  Adolphe 
Donard,  first  engineer ;  John  Easton,  second  engineer.  The  com- 
pany was  furnished  with  the  largest  kind  of  Babcock  engine,  on 
trucks,  and  was  supplied  with  500  feet  of  hose. 

Island  Fire  Company,  No.  1,  was  organized  November  25th, 
1874.  The  officers  elected  in  1875  were :  Nicolas  Colgan,  presi- 
dent ;  Wm.  L.  Johnson,  vice-president ;  Maurice  F.  Tissier,  secre- 
tary ;  Geo.  W.  Shields,  assistant-secretary ;  Adolphus  Lovingston, 
treasurer ;  Henry  Sackmann,  captain  ;  John  Keiflin,  lieutenant. 
We  are  informed  that  since  1878,  these  companies  have  partially 
disbanded. 

PEIZE-FIGHTING. 

This  was  quelled  in  1873,  through  the  united  efforts  of  the  city 
and  county  authorities.  Much  is  due  to  the  prompt  efforts  of 
Captain  Kenshaw,  chief  of  police,  Ex-Mayor  Bowman,  Michael 
Walsh,  and  the  then  sheriff  of  the  county.  The  warrants  were 
sworn  out  by  Captain  Renshaw,  the  ringleaders  were  arrested,  and 
the  whole  gang  bound  over  to  await  the  action  of  the  Grand  Jury. 
This  wholesale  onslaught  and  determined  action  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities,  had  the  effect  of  breaking  up  the  clan,  since  which 
time  there  have  been  no  attempts  to  revive  the  prize-ring  once  so 
formidable  in  this  part  of  the  West. 

STREET   RAILWAY. 

The  permit  for  the  construction  of  this  railway  was  obtained  by 
city  ordinance  in  1872.  The  company  was  duly  organized  with 
Harry  Elliott  as  president,  and  Thomas  AVinstanley,  manager. 
By  the  conditions  of  the  charter  the  company  was  authorized  to 
build  the  road  with  single  or  double  tracks,  and  all  necessary 
switches  for  the  convenience  of  the  road.  The  first  line  of  rail 
extended  from  Bowman's  Dike,  near  the  levee,  to  the  corner  of 
Missouri  and  Collinsville  Avenues.  Its  terminus  is  now  at  the 
approach  of  the  National  Stock  Yards  on  St.  Clair  Avenue.  It 
contains  upwards  of  two  miles  of  track,  and  cost,  including  rolling 
stock,  etc ,  about  $20,000.  It  is  at  this  writing  under  the  special 
management  of  Mr.  Winstanley,  who,  by  giving  the  enterprise  his 
main  attention,  is  labouring  to  make  it  a  convenience  to  the  public 
and  a  profit  to  the  company. 

EAST  ST.    LOUIS   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

This  noble  enterprise  was  created  under  a  city  ordinance.  July 
16,  1872.  It  was  organized  August  13, 1872,  and  opened  to  the 
public  February  5,  1874. 

The  following  is  gleaned  from  the  publithed  report,  made  by 


R.  Lee  Barrowman  in  1876:  The  total  number  of  persons  enrolled 
and  furnished  with  cards  is  495,  which  are  in  constant  daily  use. 
The  total  number  of  volumes  on  hands  are  4,437  ;  of  this  number 
433  are  in  the  German  language,  3  in  the  French,  9  in  the  Spanish, 
and  1  in  the  Hebrew.  The  number  purchased  was  1,409.  The 
number  of  books  donated  was  67,  pamphlets,  37.  The  percentage 
of  the  circulation  is  as  follows  :  Novels,  69  ;  historical  and  miscel- 
laneous, 20 ;  juveniles,  11. 

The  library  also  contains  eighty-nine  American  newspapers  and  pe- 
riodicals, among  which  are  (dailies)  Philadelphia,  Times,  Baltimore 
Sun,  [Boston  Post,  Chicago  Times,  St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat, 
New  York  Herald,  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  etc. ;  (weeklies)  Apple- 
ton's  Journal,  Irish  World,  Danbury  News,  and  many  others ; 
(monthlies)  Aldine,  Atlantic  Monthly,  Harper's  and  Scribner's 
Magazines,  and  twenty-seven  other  first-class  journals. 

There  are  fourteen  British  publications,  and  nine  German, 
among  which  we  find  the  following  :  London  Times  (daily),  Dublin 
Nation,  Blackwood's  Magazine,  London  Quarterly  Review,  Edin- 
burgh Review,  St.  Louis  Westliche  Daily  Post,  Berliner 
Kladderadatsch,  and  the  Ueber  Land  und  Meer. 

The  whole  number  of  visitors  attending  the  rooms  were  30,954, 
making  an  average  daily  attendance  of  86.  The  attendance  on 
Sunday  was  upon  an  average  twenty-five  per  cent,  more  than 
upon  other  days  of  the  week,  although  open  only  from  2  p.m. 
to  10  P.M.  The  number  of  books  loaned  out  in  the  time  was 
12,924  volumes,  making  a  daily  average  of  36  volumes. 

Mr.  Barrowman  in  the  closing  of  his  report  gives  the  following 
gratifying  information  :  "  An  extra  and  successful  effort  has  been 
made  to  bring  within  the  influence  of  the  Library,  the  many  boys 
and  youth  who  stroll  about  our  streets  during  evening  hours.  Let 
me  here  state  the  result.  They  were  first  kindly  invited  to  come  to 
the  Library,  and  by  supplying  them  with  such  books  and  papers  as 
they  took  an  interest  in,  they  were  thus  induced  to  continue  and 
renew  their  visits.  There  were  some  unruly  ones  among  them,  but 
by  reproof,  and  expelling  some  of  the  worst,  the  others  have  re- 
mained, and  at  present  are  as  well  behaved  as  any  that  attend  the 
library  and  give  promise  of  becoming  useful  and  bright  members 
of  society."  And  we  will  add,  may  the  Reading  Rooms  of  East 
St.  Louis  ever  exist  and  grow  in  importance  and  influence  to  the 
last  generation. 

CEMETERIES. 

The  first  interment  made  within  what  is  now  the  city  limits,  was 
on  survey  No.  116,  in  the  First  ward,  where  the  Pittsburg  railway 
crosses  said  survey.  This  was  abandoned  after  the  flood  of  1844, 
on  account  of  the  liability  to  overflow.  Many  a  ghastly  skeleton, 
by  that  flood,  was  washed  from  its  resting  place,  to  meet  the  gaze, 
perhaps,  of  the  friends  that  had  but  a  short  time  ago  followed  it  to 
its  lonely  abode.  To  make  secure  from  further  disasters  of  the  kind 
the  inhabitants  selected  for  their  burial  place  the  old  Indian  mound, 
then  situated  between  what  is  now  Collinsville  avenue  and  Fourth 
street,  and  at  the  foot  of  Ohio  avenue.  It  is  said  that  the  Indians 
had  used  it  for  centuries,  so  far  as  any  one  knew  to  the  contrary,  for 
a  place  of  burying  their  dead.  The  mound  was  about  four  hundred 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and  forty  feet  in  altitude  from  summit 
to  base.  At  that  time  (1844)  and  for  years  afterward  it  was  covered 
mostly  with  heavy  oak  timber.  In  1871-2,  it  was  removed  and  the 
earth  utilized  to  fill  up  a  slough  in  the  Second  ward,  and  to  make 
the  ground  at  the  south-east  round-house.  Nothing  but  a  vacant 
lot  now  marks  the  spot.  When  the  earth  was  removed,  human 
bones  and  many  kinds  of  shells  were  found  to  the  depth  of  thirty 
feet.  These  were  no  doubt  the  remains  and  trinkets  ofapre-historic 


HISTORY  01  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


303 


race,  called  mound  builders.  The  most  of  the  remains  of  those  who 
had  beeu  buried  in  our  own  times,  were  cared  for  by  their  friends 
and  conveyed  to  the  new  cemetery.  For  mouths,  however,  a  grin- 
ning sliull  might  have  been  seen  peering  from  the  fresh  cut  bank  of 
the  mound  at  the  passer-by,  and  so  close  to  the  street  that  the  iiand 
of  the  pedestrian  could  touch  it  as  he  passed. 

The  city  at  this  time  contains  two  cemeteries,  both  situated  in 
Fourth  ward,  not  far  from  the  National  Stock  Yards.  These  were 
laid  off  for  grave-yard?,  when  the  Cahokians  first  established  Illinois 
city ;  but  were  not  used  as  such  until  about  fifteen  years  ago. 

THE  NATIONAL  STOCK  YARDS. 

Prior  to  1845,  the  live  stock  trade  of  St.  Louis  was  carried  on  at 
what  was  formerly  known  as  Papstown  or  New  Brighton,  and  sit- 
uated in  the  south-eastern  portion  of  the  present  city  of  East  St. 
Louis.  About  this  time  yards  were  established  on  the  west  bide  of 
the  river  at  St.  Louis.  Here  the  business  was  conducted  until  the 
opening  of  the  National  Stock  Yards  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  in  1873.  The  subject  of  constructing  these  yards  was  mooted  as 
early  as  1871.  The  agitation  of  the  question  culminated  by  the  united 
efiTorts  of  several  prominent  Eastern  and  Western  capitalists,  who 
proceeded  at  once  to  purchase  six  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river  near  the  city  limits  of  East  St.  Louis. 
In  July,  1872,  mutual  covenants  were  entered  into  between  the 
company  and  the  city  authorities.  The  former  were  to  construct  a 
hotel  to  cost  not  less  than  $100,000,  and  to  contain  commission 
offices,  brokers'  offices,  telegraph  and  post-offices,  with  all  modern 
conveniences  for  transacting  business.  The  stock  yards  were  to  ex- 
ceed in  completeness  and  magnitude  any  institution  of  the  kind  in 
the  United  States. 

The  city  on  its  part  covenanted  to  refrain  from  infringing,  by 
constructing  streets,  or  any  city  improvements  whatsoever  upon  the 
survey,  No.  627,  and  owned  by  said  company.  To  all  of  which 
was  attached  the  city  seal  and  signature  of  A.  M.  Allerton, 
manager  and  attorney  of  the  company.  The  yards  were 
opened  for  business- in  the  fall  of  1873.  One  hundred  out  of  six 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  purchased,  are  enclosed  and  laid  out  with 
all  the  convenient  appurtenances  of  a  first-class  live  stock  market. 
The  form  of  the  enclosure  is  a  rectangle  and  describes  nearly  a 
square.  It  is  laid  by  avenues  which  intersect  each  other  at  right 
angles.  Four  of  these  avenues  extend  entirely  through  the  enclo- 
sure from  east  to  west.  The  floors  of  the  yard  are  paved  with  stone, 
and  the  sheds  are  comfortable  and  well  arranged  for  the  conve- 
nience of  stock.  The  arrangements  for  receiving  and  shipping  the 
same  are  complete.  No  less  than  seventy  cars  can  be  loaded  and  un- 
loaded at  the  same  time.  It  contains  one  mile  of  cattle  pens,  which 
can  accommodate  upwards  of  10,000  head  of  cattle.  The  hog  and 
sheep  houses  are  models  of  convenience  and  cleanliness.  Over  the 
entrance  to  the  hog-house  is  inscribed  the  words,  "  Hotel  de  Hog,'' 
and  of  the  sheep  house,  "  Hotel  de  Sheep."  The  hog-house  is  eleven 
hundred  and  twenty-two  feet  in  length,  and  capable  of  accommo- 
dating upwards  of  20,000  head.  The  sheep-house  is  upwards  of 
five  hundred  feet  in  length,  by  a  hundred  in  width,  and  has  the  ca- 
pacity of  holding,  if  necessary,  10,000  head.  The  stable  is  a  fine 
building,  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  feet  long,  by  eighty  wide, 
and  fitted  with  stalls  for  the  accommodation  of  three  hundred  head 
of  horses.  The  racks  and  mangers  are  constructed  of  iron  ;  the 
former  are  supplied  with  hay  by  wooden  cylinders,  and  the  stalls 
are  well  arranged  for  drainage.  There  are  two  hog  barns,  and  each 
has  a  capacity  to  hold  eleven  hundred  tons  of  hay  and  fifteen 
thousand  bushels  of  corn.  At  the  approach  of  the  yards  from  the 
south-east,  on  St.  Clair  avenue,  is  situated  the  "  Allerton  House," 


a  magnificent  building  of  brick  with  free-stone  facings,  and  all  the 
belongings  of  first-class  material.  It  is  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
in  length,  by  one  hundred  and  forty  in  breadth,  and  has  one  hundred 
rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  guests.  Tliere  is  a  telegraph  com- 
munication with  the  exchange  building,  and  every  other  conve- 
nience to  the  drovers  or  traders.  Itscost,  including  furniture,  was 
upwards  of  $150,000. 

The  Exchange  Building  is  centrally  situated,  and  conveniently 
arranged  for  the  transaction  of  all  business  connected  with  the 
yards.  It  is  a  large  brick  building,  plain  in  architecture,  and  three 
stories  in  height,  including  basement.  In  the  north  wing  of  the 
latter  are  the  offices  of  the  railroad  stock  agents,  and  in  the  center 
and  south  wing  are  a  bar,  billiard  hall  and  refreshment  room. 
The  first  floor  is  occupied  by  the  officers  of  the  yard  company, 
bank  and  commission  firms.  On  the  second  floor  is  situated  the 
telegraph  office,  printing  office,  etc. 

The  Stock  Yards  Bank,  situated  in  this  building,  is  one  of  the 
important  features  of  the  concern.  It  materially  facilitates  the 
business  of  all  who  have  transactions  at  the  yards,  its  daily  business 
aggregating  upwards  of  $300,000. 

The  water-works  of  the  yards  are  situated  on  the  east  bank  of 
Cahokia  creek,  near  the  packing  houses.  Along  the  avenues  are 
placed  watch-boxes,  each  containing  a  hydrant  and  fire-hose,  and  so 
arranged  as  to  cover  any  fire  with  one  or  two  hydrants.  The  tank- 
house  is  a  substantial  building  seventy  feet  in  height,  and  contains 
three  tubs,  each  thirty-two  feet  in  diameter  by  thirty  feet  deep,  and 
capable  of  holding  600,000  gallons  of  water.  The  total  expendi- 
ture in  establishing  the  yards,  including  lands,  buildings,  etc.,  is 
upwards  of  a  million  and  a  half  dollars.  They  are  complete  in 
every  arrangement,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  stock  can  be  trans- 
ferred from  the  Missouri  side  to  the  yards,  or  from  point  to  point,  is 
a  matter  that  every  shipper  is  interested  in,  as  "time  is  money  * 
to  the  live  business  men.  Hon.  Isaac  H.  Knox,  vice-president  and 
manager  for  the  company,  is  the  right  man  in  the  right  place.  He 
is  a  clear-headed  business  man,  combined  with  affableness  and  rare 
executive  ability.  Under  his  management  the  business  has  mate- 
rially increased,  and  become  one  of  the  most  important  stock  mark- 
ets in  the  country.  The  following  is  a  table  showing  the  receipts  of 
the  yards  since  their  opening : 


Cars. 

Cattle. 

Hogs. 

Sheep. 

Horses. 

1874- 

-17,264 

234,002 

498,840 

41,407 

2,235 

1875- 

-13,938 

232,183 

181,708 

46,316 

2,385 

1876- 

-18,052 

234,671 

333,560 

84,034 

2,616 

1877- 

-24,342 

322,571 

425,389 

119,165 

2,366 

1878- 

-31,003 

317,830 

833,446 

82,549 

2,534 

1879- 

-85,641 

333,155 

1,163,748 

99,951 

4,338 

1880- 

-38,294 

346,533 

1,262,234 

129,611 

5,963 

OTHER   BUSINESS   AT  THE   YARDS. 

St.  Louis  Beef  Canning  Company.— Th\s  company  was  organized 
in  the  fall  of  1876,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  and  promises  to  be 
in  time  the  largest  establishment  of  the  kind  on  either  continent. 
It  is  situated  on  St.  Clair  avenue,  and  occupies  eight  acres  of  ground. 
The  main  building  is  324x100  feet,  and  four  stories  high.  The 
slaughter  house  is  240x76  feet,  two  stories  high,  and  is  adjoined  to 
the  main  building.  The  warehouse  is  also  two  stories  in  height, 
and  176x100  feet  on  the  ground.  In  addition  to  these  there  is  an 
engine  room  60x61,  tank-house  76x.30,  and  smoke-house  24x60. 
The  establishment  furnishes  employment  to  nearly  one  thousand 
persons,  two-fifths  of  whom  are  boys  and  girls.  One  thousand  head 
of  cattle  are  slaughtered  daily,  and  the  annual  value  of  manufac- 
tured products  is  between  four  and  five  millions  of  dollars.  Hon. 
Isaac  H.  Knox  is  president  of  the  company,  but  the  establishment 


304 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


is  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  Mr.  Patterson,  secretary  and 
treasurer. 

Eiist  St.  Louis  Packing  and  Provigion  Company. — This  enterprise 
■was  established  in  1873,  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  E.  Richardson 
&  Co  ,  and  merged  into  a  stock  company  in  1875.  The  grounds, 
on  which  this  packing  house  stands,  contain  ten  acres,  seven  of 
which  are  covered  with  the  buildings.  They  are  mainly  three 
stories  in  height,  and  all  of  them  are  constructed  of  brick.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  extensive  packing  houses  in  the  West,  and  when 
worked  to  its  full  capacity,  gives  employment  to  seven  hundred 
men.  The  nominal  capacity  of  the  works  is  8,000  hogs  per  day, 
and  the  value  of  its  annual  shipments  is  from  three  to  five  millions 
of  dollars.  It  is  under  the  efficient  management  of  D.  L.  Quirk, 
president,  and  VV.  E.  Richardson,  vice-president. 

FrawAs  Whitaker  &  Sons. — This  packing  house  was  erected  in 
1877,  at  the  expense  of  upwards  of  $100,000.  The  main  building 
is  185x185  feet,  and  is  three  and  a  half  stories  high,  with  a  cellar 
under  the  entire  building.  A  tank-house  80x90  feet  joins  the  main 
building,  and  adjacent  to  the  former  is  the  slaughter-house,  30x60 
feet.  Beijides  these  there  are  eight  pen-houses,  all  under  one  roof, 
120x120  feet,  and  a  platform  packing  apartment  40x185  feet  The 
average  capacity  of  the  house  is  3,000  hogs  per  day,  and  employs 
about  three  hundred  hands. 

North- Western  Fertilizing  Company. — This  is  a  branch  establish- 
ment of  a  well-known  Chicago  firm.  The  works  commenced  ope- 
rations here  in  the  fall  of  1877.  The  building  is  a  frame  structure, 
and  covers  one  acre  of  ground.  The  machinery  of  the  factory  is 
run  by  a  one  hundred-horse  power  engine.  Fifty  hands  are  em- 
ployed daily  to  conduct  the  works.  It  has  the  capacity  of  manu- 
iacturing,  annually,  15,000  tons  of  fertilizer,  which,  when  thrown 
upon  the  market,  will  bring  upwards  of  $400,000.  Within  the 
last  year  the  company  has  added  machinery  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  "  Plant-Food,"  specially  adapted  for  house  plants 
and  lawn  use,  on  account  of  its  being  entirely  odorless.  Large 
quantities  of  both  the  Fertilizer  and  Plant- Food  find  a  demand  in 
the  eastern  markets- 

McCarthy  Live  Stock  and  Packing  Company,  situated  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Provision  street  and  the  plank  road.  The  building  was 
erected  in  1877-8,  by  Arch.  Allen,  but  is  now  owned  by  F.  G. 
Rowe,  and  the  business  is  conducted  by  John  McCarthy.  The 
building  is  a  snug  two-story  brick,  and  with  the  attachments,  covers 
nearly  an  acre  of  ground.  It  has  the  capacity  of  slaughtering  and 
packing  daily  1000  head  of  hogs  and  fifty  head  of  cattle.  It  gives 
employment  to  twenty  men. 

St.  Louis  Carbon  Works. — These  works  were  established  in  1875 
at  a  cost  of  $40,000,  and  are  situated  on  the  National  Stock  Yards 
railroad.  They  were  first  known  as  the  "  Western  Fertilizing  and 
Chemical  Works,"  and  in  1878  again  changed  the  name  to 
"  Keeler's  Carbon  Works."  They  afterwards  assumed  the  former 
title,  and  are  so-called  at  this  time.  The  company  owns  three  acres 
of  ground,  upon  which  the  factory  is  situated.  The  building  is  a 
frame,  150  by  300  feet,  the  main  portion  of  which  is  two  stories 
high.  The  machinery  consists  of  a  fifty  horse  power  engine,  a  bone 
mill  and  bone  kiln.  It  manufactures  from  five  to  six  thousand  tons 
of  bone  yearly,  and  employs  from  thirty  to  forty  hands.  The  an- 
nual manufactured  product  is  upwards  of  $600,000.  Max  Dittrich 
is  the  superintendent  of  the  works. 

Carey's  Beef  and  Pork  Packing  House  is  situated  on  Provision 
street,  and  north  of  McCarthy's  packing  house.  It  was  established 
by  Richard  Carey,  sole  owner  and  proprietor,  in  the  year  1880,  at 
a  cost  of  $10,000.    The  building  is  a  snug  two-story  house,  with 


stone  basement,  the  upper  portion  being  bailt  of  brick,  and  in  size 
is  48  by  55  feet.  There  is  also  a  boiler  and  tank-house,  30  by  40 
feet,  which  is  detached  from  the  main  building.  This  is  also  built 
of  brick,  and  is  two  stories  in  height.  When  worked  to  its  full  ca- 
pacity, it  can  pack  600  hogs  and  100  beeves  daily,  and  gives  em- 
ployment to  forty  persons. 

St.  Lo.is  Rendering  Works.  Levi  Baugh,  jr.,  proprietor.  These 
were  established  in  1872,  and  located  on  the  east  side  of  Provision 
street  and  the  Stock  Yards  railway.  The  building  is  a  frame  two- 
story  strucfure,  68  by  80  feet  on  the  ground  floor,  with  a  side  room 
for  cooling  purposes  16  by  30  feet.  The  engine-room,  attached  to 
the  main  building  on  the  north,  is  30  by  30  feet.  The  cost  of  the 
works  was  $2,500,  and  they  give  employment  to  about  twelve  men. 
The  establishment,  under  the  eflScient  management  of  Mr.  Baugh, 
is  capable  of  rendering  150  hogs  and  50  beeves  per  day. 

George  Mulrow  &  Company,  Pork  Packers. — This  institution  is 
situated  between  the  East  St.  Louis  Packing  House  and  the  Na- 
tional Stock  Yards  enclosure,  and  was  established  in  1880.  The 
building  is  a  frame,  two  stories,  and  50  by  150  feet  in  size,  and  cost, 
including  machinery,  etc.,  $3,000.  It  has  the  capacity  of  slaughter- 
ing and  packing  303  hogs  per  day,  and  employs  on  an  average 
fourteen  hands.     James  Lillay,  foreman. 

Baugh's  Catch  Basin,  is  situated  just  across  Cahokia  creek,  out- 
side of  the  limits  of  the  Stock  Yards.  It  was  constructed  in  1880, 
at  an  expense  of  about  $600,  and  is  utilized  to  catch  the  superfluous 
grease  that  escapes  through  the  sewer  from  the  packing  houses. 
Formerly  the  sewer  opened  into  Cahokia  creek,  but  the  city  authori- 
ties made  complaint ;  hence  at  this  point  a  flume  was  built  across 
the  creek,  and  Mr.  Baugh  erected  this  basin.  It  is  30  by  40  feet  in 
size,  and  contains  eight  vats,  four  on  each  side.  Here  the  water  is 
retained  and  cooled,  when  the  grease  floats,  it  is  skimmed  from 
the  surface  and  deposited  in  barrels  arranged  for  that  purpose. 
When  the  packing  houses  are  all  in  full  blast,  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  barrels  of  grease  are  caught  daily. 

St.  Clair  Rendering  Company. — This  institution  is  owned  and 
operated  by  M.  E.  Richardson  and  Capt.  Clubb,  and  is  situated  on 
St.  Clair  avenue,  between  the  National  Stock  Yards  and  the  town 
of  Brooklyn.  It  was  established  in  the  spring  of  1880  by  Rogers 
&  MuUholl,  and  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present  proprietors 
the  fall  following.  The  main  building  is  two  stories  high,  frame, 
and  in  size  76  by  76  feet,  and  cost,  including  necessary  machinery, 
$5,000.  It  has  the  capacity  of  pressing  ten  tons  of  tank  stuflT,  and 
drying  one  ton  of  blood  daily,  besides  rendering  three  hundred  and 
fifty  hogs  per  week.  It  employs  on  an  average  fifteen  hands,  and 
manufactures  $100,000  worth  of  products  annually.  Foreman, 
Wm.  H.  Courtney. 

CITY   MANUFACTURES. 

St.  Louis  Bolt  and  Iron  Company. — This  is  the  largest  manufac- 
turing establishment  in  the  city,  and  is  situated  near  the  Cairo 
Short  Line  railroad.  The  oflScers  of  the  company  are  T.  A.  Mey.-en- 
burg,  president;  O.  W.  Meysenburg,  superintendent;  Geo.  S.  Ed- 
gell,  treasurer.  The  works  contain  six  puddling  furnaces,  three 
heating,  six  spike,  and  two  bolt  furnaces.  Besides  all  the  necessary 
machinery  peculiar  to  the  works,  such  as  planers,  lathes,  etc. 
Street  rails,  T  rails,  bolts  and  spikes  are  made  a  specialty  of  manu- 
facture by  the  company.  The  works  are  in  operation  day  and 
night,  the  laborers  being  divided  into  two  sets  or  watches.  These 
works  employ  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  have  the  ca- 
pacity of  manufacturing  daily  forty  tons  of  finished  iron,  ten  tons  of 
railroad  spikes,  and  several  thousand  strap  or  trace  bolts.  From 
three  to  four  thousand  dollars  are  paid  to  the  employees  every  two 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


305 


weeks.  The  company  own  two  and-a-half  acres  of  ground  and  two 
railroad  switches  where  the  works  are  situated.  The  products  are 
shipped  to  points  both  east  and  west. 

Grape,  Sugar,  and  Glucose  Works,  0.  W.  Heyer  &  Co.,  proprie- 
tors. These  works  are  situated  in  the  Third  ward,  on  the  river 
front,  and  were  erected  in  1869  by  Brotherton  &  Morse  for  milling 
purposes.  The  present  company  purchased  the  property  and  re- 
modelled the  building  suitable  to  their  wants.  They  commenced 
operations  of  manufacture  in  the  spring  of  1875.  The  present  fac- 
tory, as  remodelled,  is  made  up  of  three  departments  or  buildings. 
The  main  building,  or  manufactory  proper,  is  four  stories  high,  and 
45  feet  square.  The  engine  house  is  20  by  36  feet,  besides  a  starch 
room,  used  exclusively  for  the  manufacture  of  starch.  The  whole 
structure  on  the  ground  covers  50,000  square  feet.  The  cost  of  the 
building  and  appurtenances  thereto  was  $150,000.  It  has  the  ca- 
pacity of  grinding  3,000  bushels  of  corn  daily,  and  can  manufac- 
ture in  the  same  time  one  hundred  and  fifty  barrels  of  syrup.  From 
seventy-five  to  one  hundred  persons  are  constantly  employed  in  the 
works.  The  approximate  value  of  manufactured  product  is 
$100,000  annually.  The  business  is  under  the  immediate  super- 
vision of  Louis  Strehl. 

Bailroad  Frog  Works. — This  establishment  dates  from  1874,  then 
under  the  sole  supervision  and  management  of  George  and  Henry 
Elliot.  In  1875, Mr.  George  Elliot  died,  and  the  institution  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  present  owners,  H.  &  H.  Elliot.  The  works 
were  established  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  railway  cross- 
ings, frogs,  switches,  and  track  tools,  and  are  located  on  Main  and 
Broad  streets,  near  the  East  St.  Louis  and  Carondelet  railway. 
The  main  building,  or  machine  shop,  is  '69  by  90  feet,  with  other 
convenient  attachments.  The  works  were  constructed  at  a  cost  of 
$10,000,  and  give  employment  to  about  sixty  men,  who  receive  for 
their  labor  from  $1.75  to  $3  per  day.  The  capacity  of  manufacture 
is  about  4,500  frogs  and  100  crossings  per  annum.  Value  of  pro- 
ducts, $150,000. 

Heim's  Brewing  Company. — This  is  the  only  Brewing  Company  in 
East  St.  Louis.  It  was  established  by  Nick  Spannagel  in  1856,  and 
was  afterwards  purchased  by  the  present  company.  It  is  situated 
on  the  corner  of  Tenth  street  and  Belleville  Turnpike.  The  build- 
ings occupy  the  identical  site  of  the  old  hotel,  built  and  kept  in 
an  early  day  by  Mr.  Condit,  and  the  place  known  as  Paps- 
town.  The  main  building  is  a  splendid  three  story  brick  struc- 
ture, and  with  the  attachments  covers  nearly  an  acre  of  ground. 
The  coat  of  the  building  and  machinery  aggregates  $150,000.  Its 
capacity  is  from  fifty  to  sixty  thousand  barrels  annually,  and  gives 
employment  to  about  forty  persons.  The  annual  value  of  manufac- 
tured goods  is  over  $500,000.  The  company  is  attaching  an  ice 
machine  for  the  purpose  of  cooling  the  cellars,  which  is  an  entirely 
new  departure  in  the  brewing  business. 

East  St.  Louis  Gaslight  Company  was  established  in  1874,  and 
situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Illinois  and  St.  Louis  railroad,  near 
Cahokia  creek.  The  size  of  the  tank  is  sixty  feet  in  diameter  and 
twenty  feet  in  depth.  It  has  the  capacity  of  supplying  58,000  feet 
of  gas,  and  is  supplied  with  seven-and  a-half  miles  of  pipe.  The 
capital  invested  is  about  $125,000,  and  at  present  receives  an  in- 
come of  upwards  of  $7,000  from  the  annual  manufactured  material. 
Wm.  H.  Watts  is  the  efficient  superintendent  of  the  works,  and  has 
under  his  supervision  the  employment  of  eleven  men. 

East  St.  Louis  Flouring  Mills.— St.  Louis  has  been  one  of  the  most 
unfortunate  cities  in  the  country  with  regard  to  the  destruction  by 
fire  of  her  flouring  mills.  Many  have  been  built,  and  but  one  is 
now  standing.    This  was  first  constructed  in  1855,  by  F.  H.  Krite 


and  A.  De  Clansel  for  a  saw-mill  near  the  old  Belleville  depot.  In 
1861  it  was  sold  to  a  company  who  transformed  it  into  a  grist-mill  ; 
this  was  torn  down  in  1865,  and  a  large  four-story  brick  erected 
in  its  place.  The  latter  was  a  first-class  mill  in  every  respect,  and 
was  built  and  operated  by  Notley,  Krite  &  Co.  In  the  fall  of 
1866,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  involving  a  heavy  loss  to  the  owners. 
The  present  building  was  erected  in  1868-69,  on  the  old  site,  and 
is  the  only  flouring  mill  in  the  city.  It  is  a  four-story  brick  build- 
ing with  basement,  and  in  size  40x80  feet.  The  cost  of  construc- 
tion exceeded  $80,000,  having  all  the  modern  machinery  and 
improvements  for  manufacturing  flour.  The  mill  has  the  capacity 
of  making  four  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per  day,  containiug  seven 
run  of  stones,  three  for  meal  and  four  for  flour.  It  employs  about 
twenty-five  hands,  and  handles  annually  nearly  $500,000  of  manu- 
factured material.  Mr.  F.  H.  Krite  is  the  secretary  of  the  firjn, 
and  has  the  general  supervision  of  the  mill. 

City  Planing  Mill. — This  factory  was  originally  located  at  Litch- 
field, 111.,  and  was  removed  to  this  city  in  1877.  It  is  now  owned 
by  Theodore  Wiegrefie,  and  situated  on  Fourth  street,  between  Mis- 
souri and  St.  Louis  avenues.  It  is  a  frame  building,  mainly  two 
stories  high,  and  86x112  feet,  on  the  ground.  The  cost  of  the 
factory,  including  all  the  appurtenances,  was  upwards  of  $6,000. 
From  twelve  to  fifteen  hands  are  constantly  employed,  and 
manufacture  over  8,000  pork-packing  boxes  annually,  beside  mak- 
ing a  large  quantity  of  doors,  sash,  blinds,  etc.  The  amount  of 
manufactured  goods  is  $15,000. 

East  St.  Louis  Elevator  Company. — This  institution  is  one  of  the 
leading  industries  of  the  city,  and  was  established  in  1867,  by  an 
act  of  the  legislature,  approved  March  6th  of  that  year.  It  is  situa- 
ted on  the  river  front  below  the  bridge,  and  occupies  the  ground  on 
the  line  of  the  dike,  which  was  built  to  improve  the  harbor  in 
1842,  by  Capt.  Eobert  E.  Lee,  then  Chief  Engineer  of  the  United 
States  army.  The  company  owns  five  hundred  feet  front  on  the 
river,  by  four  hundred  feet  deep,  and  by  the  conditions  of  the 
charter  it  may  extend  these  boundaries  to  one  thousand  feet  front 
by  the  same  in  depth,  and  occupy  by  purchase  any  other  lands 
within  three  miles  of  Bloody  Island.  The  capacity  for  storing 
grain  is  upwards  of  one  million  bushels.  The  cost  of  the  grounds, 
building,  machinery,  etc.,  was  nearly  $1,000,000. 

The  Advance  Elevator  and  Warehouse  is  situated  on  the  island, 
near  Front  street,  between  the  Chicago  and  Alton,  and  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  railways.  It  was  established  in  1872,  by  Messrs.  Mc- 
Cormic,  Adams  and  Armington,  at  a  cost  of  $125,000.  In  1880 
it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present  company.  The  elevator  and 
warerooms  covered  20,400  square  feet  of  ground.  The  elevator 
proper  is  50x60  feet,  130  feet  high,  and  has  convenient  connections 
with  the  river  and  all  the  roads  leading  into  East  St.  Louis.  It  has 
an  engine  of  eighty  horse-power,  and  all  necessary  machinery  for 
handling  grain.  From  twelve  to  fifteen  men  are  employed  daily, 
and  seventy  car-loads  of  grain  can  be  elevated  in  one  day.  Three 
tracks  pass  through  the  entire  building.  It  has  the  capacity  of 
storing  400,000  bushels  of  grain.  The  present  company  are  R.  S. 
McCormic,  C.  W.  Isaacs,  D.  P.  Slatery,  Jno.  Jackson,  and  H. 
Rogers. 

Pioneer  Warehouse. — This  was  established  by  Benj.  F.  Horn  in 
the  spring  of  1880,  and  is  situated  east  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Flour- 
ing Mills,  and  south  of  the  Illinois  and  St.  Louis  railway  track. 
The  building  is  a  frame,  one-story,  and  20x60  feet.  It  has  the 
capacity  of  manufacturing  270  flour  barrels  per  day,  and  gives 
employment  to  twenty  men.     Richard  Zimmerman,  foreman. 


50(3 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COVNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


hall's  patent  dry  peecious  metal  separator,  east  st.  Loris,  ill. 


Hall  &  Cos.  Manujadmy  was  established  in  the  spring  of  1880,  with  the  following  officers  repre- 
scntioo- the  company  :  Giles  Hall,  President ;  J.  M.  Macdonald,  Vice-President;  Ferdinand  Helm, 
Treasurer;  Wni.  P.  Launtz,  Secretary.  The  machines  manufiictured  by  this  company  are  for  the 
purpose  of  separating  or  extracting  gold  and  other  precious  metal  from  auriferous  deposits.  This 
process  is  inceniously  effected  by  means  of  corajiressed  air  in  connection  with  chemicals  (see  cut 
above).  It  is  entirely  a  new  invention,  and  if  it  succeeds  in  perf)rming  what  the  inventor  claims  for  it, 
the  company  has  certainly  struck  a  bonanza.  The  capital  stock  is  $12,000.  The  factory  is  situated 
on    Collinsville  avenue,  between  15roadway  and  Missoui'i  aveunes. 


C.  B.  &  Q  Elevator  Compaiuj.— Tins  is  a  new  enteri)rise,  and  the 
elevator  is  now  in  process  of  construction.  It  is  owned  by,  and  will 
be  conducted  in  the  interest  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Ciuiu- 
cy  Kailway  Company.  It  is  situated  at  the  terndnus  of  the  road, 
and  a  little  north  of  the  company's  freight-house.  The  foundation 
is  composed  of  seventeen  piers  besides  the  outer  walls,  and  the  size  of 
the  main  building  is  to  be  87x177  feet,  and  118  feet  in  height.  The 
cost  of  its  construction,  machinery,  etc.,  will  exceed  half  a  million 
dollars,  and  it  will  have  the  capacity  of  storing  750,000  bushels  of 
grain.  '  Four  tracks  are  to  be  laid  through  the  building. 

Tiirning  Factory,  Henry  Sternkopf,  proprietor.  This  factory  was 
established  in  1876,  and  is  located  on  Brady  street,  between  Main 
street   and   Cairo  Short   Line   railway  track.     The   building  is  a 


frame  structure  24x.']0  feet,  and  cost,  including  machinery,  $1,500. 
Mr.  Sternkopf  has  in  his  employ  from  four  to  six  men,  and  manu- 
factures all  articles  in  wood  work.  Wooden  faucets  are  made  a 
specialty,  turning  out  from  fifteen  to  twenty  gross  per  week.  The 
annual  sales  of  manufactured  goods  are  from  two  to  three  thousand 
dollars. 

Sola  Factor  I/. — This  enterprise  was  established  in  1870,  by  C. 
Lutt  &  Co.  The  business  is  carried  on  in  a  fine  two-story  brick 
building,  40x80  feet  in  diineniions,  and  it  is  located  on  Main  street, 
between  Broadway  and  Railroad  street.  The  cost  of  construction, 
with  the  necessary  appliances,  was  $4,500.  The  factory  is  capable 
of  manufacturing  three  hundred  boxes  of  soda-water  per  day.  It 
gives   employment  to   four   persons,  and    handles  a  manufactured 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


307 


product  of  $25,000  per  annum.  Seltzer-water  is  also  mauufactured 
to  some  extent  by  this  firm. 

Lumber  Mill  IS  situated  south  of  the  Cairo  Short  Liue  Round- 
house, and  was  built  in  1878,  by  J.  H.  Modrell,  owner  and  pro- 
prietor. It  is  driven  by  an  engine  of  thirty  horse-power,  and  is 
capable  of  sawing  $75,000  worth  of  lumber  annually.  Its  construc- 
tion cost  the  proprietor  $3,000.  Six  hands  are  kept  in  employ- 
ment the  greater  portion  of  the  year.  There  are  two  circular  saws, 
one  arranged  above  the  other,  for  the  purpose  of  handling,  properly, 
the  largest  sized  logs.  The  timber  for  sawing  is  mostly  shipped 
frcm  Tennessee,  and  is  macufactuicd  into  lumber  suitable  for 
bridge  building. 

Schroeders  Soda  Factory.— Ihese  works  were  established  by 
John  Kerns  in  1862,  and  became  the  property  of  Edward  Schroeder 
in  1864.  It  was  the  first  establishment  of  the  kind  built  in  East 
St.  Louis,  and  is  located  on  Illinois  avenue,  between  Ninth  and 
Tenth  streets,  and  west  of  Heim's  Brewery.  Both  soda  and  Seltzer 
are  manufactured,  having  the  capacity  of  n;akirg  daily  upwards  of 
four  hundrtd  boxes  of  the  former.  The  building  is  a  substantial 
brick  structure,  and  is  supplied  with  all  the  necessary  machinery 
and  apparatus  peculiar  to  the  business. 

Ice  Bouses.— Smith  &  Sons  own  three  of  the  largest  houses  in  the 
city.  They  are  situated  just  south  of  the  river  bridge.  They  each 
have  room  to  stow  upwards  of  7,000  tons  of  ice. 

C.  Lutt  &  Co.,  have  four  ice  houses  near  the  Eelay  Depot.  They 
have  the  capacity  of  4,000  tons  each. 

BANKS. 

There  are  two  banking  institutions  in  the  city,  besides  the  one  in 
the  Exchange  building  at  the  Stock  Yards,  which  has  already  been 
mentio&ed. 

Working  Men's  Banking  Company. — This  Bank  was  organized 
August  15th,  1870,  by  John  McMullin,  George  W.  Davis,  Henry 
Schell,  E.  W.  Wider  and  others,  and  has  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000. 
It  is  located  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Fourth  street,  and  is 
one  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  city,  and  is  the  only  house  in 
East  St.  Louis  built  above  high-water  mark.  President,  E.  J. 
Whitney;  Cashier,  Geo.  W.  Dausch. 

East  St.  Louis  Bank  was  established  iu  1865,  and  has  a  capital 
stock  of  $100,000  ;  surplus,  $26,000.  The  bank  is  situated  on  the 
corner  of  Missouri  and  Collinsville  avtLues.  Thcn:as  Witstanley, 
President ;  Henry  Jackiesch,  Vice-President ;  Theodore  Meumann, 
Cashier, 

Besides  the  foregoing,  the  city  contains  nine  round-houses,  some 
of  which  are  equal  to  any  institutions  of  the  kind  in  the  state ;  five 
large  warehouses,  with  several  others  of  smaller  dimensions.  The 
following  is  a  condensed  showing  of  other  industries  represented  in 
the  city :  Bakeries,  6  ;  cigar  manufactories,  5 ;  harness,  2 ;  wagons, 
1 ;  blacksmiths,  5 ;  tinners,  4 ;  tailors,  2 ;  jewelers,  2 ;  carpenters, 
44 ;  printing  offices,  2 ;  shoemakers,  15 ;  butchers,  9  ;  undertakers, 
1  ;  dentists,  1 ;  painters  and  glazers,  2.  There  are  upwards  of 
thirty  hotels,  and  over  seventy-five  places  where  liquors  are  sold. 
There  are  three  wholesale  grocery  houses,  two  dry-goods,  two 
hardware  establishments,  and  one  wholesale  liquor  house.  The  re- 
tail business  of  every  kind  is  well  represented.  The  various 
churches  are  also  numerous,  there  being  two  Catholic  (Irish,  and 
German),  one  Methodist,  one  Presbyterian,  one  Lutheran,  and  two 
Colored  churches.  There  are  eight  distinct  schools  in  the  city  as 
follows :  First  ward,  two ;  Second  ward,  three ;  Third  ward,  one  ; 
Fourth  ward,  two.  For  further  information  on  schools,  churches, 
ai)d  printing  offices,  see  special  chapters  relating  to  the  same. 


The  following  is  a  tabular  showing  of  the  number  of  inhabitants, 
families,  and  buildings  that  the  city  contained  (with  a  slight  dis- 
crepancy) in  1880 : 

Inhabitants.  Familiee.        Building?. 

1st  Ward  2,047 451   ...    .    880. 

2d  Ward  2,930 .... 

3d  Ward  1,959 380   ...    .   350. 

4th  Ward  2,263  .       ...  457   ...    .   383. 

SECEET  SOCIETIES. 

East  St.  Louis  Lodge,  No.  504,  A.  F.  &  A.  M-,  was  organized  in 
October,  1866,  with  28  charter  members.  Its  place  of  meeting  is 
in  Masonic  Hall,  over  Schaub's  hardware  store,  and  meets  the  first 
and  third  Thursday  evenings  in  each  month.  The  Lodge  has  a 
fine  hall  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

East  St.  Louis  Chapter  M.  156,  R.  A.  M.,  was  chartered  in  Octo- 
ber, 1873,  with  a  membership  of  31,  since  which  time  it  has  m&ie- 
rially  increased.  Meets  in  Masonic  Hall  every  second  Thursday 
night  in  each  month. 

Golden  Rule  Lodge,  No.  374  /.  0.  0.  J'.— This  Lodge  was  in- 
stituted June  16th,  1868,  and  chartered  October  13th,  1868.  The 
number  of  charter  members  were  8,  and  the  present  membership  is 
55.  Meets  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  every  Thursday  evening  in  each 
week.  The  Lodge  is  in  a  prosperous  condition  and  good  working 
order. 

Pride  of  the  Valley  Lodge,  No.  435,  I.  0.  0.  F,  was  chartered 
the  1 1th  of  October,  1870.  Number  of  charter  members,  10,  present 
membership,  51.     Meets  every  Monday  night. 

Harmony  Encampment,  No.  102.— This  institution  was  chartered 
the  12th  of  October,  1869,  with  a  membership  of  12.  It  meets  in 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall  the  second  and  fourth  Thursday  nights  in  each 
month. 

Helvetia  Lodge  {German'),  No.  480,  L  0.  0.  F,  was  instituted 
February  22d,'1872,  and  chartered  October  8th,  1872.  Charter 
membership,  11 ;  present  number  of  members,  55.  Meets  every 
Friday  night. 

Naomi  Rebecca  Degree  Lodge,  No.  5.— Chartered  October  11th, 
1870,  with  a  membership  of  27,  since  which  time  it  has  largely  in- 
creased. Meets  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  the  first  and  third  Thursday 
evenings  in  each  month. 

Eureka  Lodge,  No.  81,  If.  of  F,  was  organized  December  26, 
1878,  and  chartered  October  23d,  1879.  Number  of  charter  mem- 
bers, 24 ;  present  membership,  55.  The  Lodge  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition.     Meets  in  Schaub's  Hall  every  Monday  evening. 

Illinois  Lodge,  No.  268,  K  of  ^.— This  Lodge  received  its  char- 
ter Dec.  5th,  1876,  with  the  names  of  nineteen  members.  It  has 
had  an  unprecedented  growth,  having  a  present  membership  of  160. 
Convenes  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  every  Wednesday  evening. 

Catholic  Knights  of  America.— This  institution  was  organized 
March  19th,  1880,  with  a  membership  of  8  Knights;  present  mem- 
bership, 53.  They  meet  the  first  and  third  Sundays  of  each  month 
in  St.  Patrick's  Church  Hall.  This  is  a  wide-awake  and  prosperous 
organization. 

Olive  Branch  Lodge,  No.  335,  K.  &  L.  of  H,  is  under  dispensation, 
granted  May  28th,  1880.  Charter  membership,  46;  present  mem- 
bership, 54.  The  Lodge  meets  at  Fink's  Hall  the  first  and  third 
Mondays  in  each  month. 

F.  W.  Arnold,  No.  44,  B.  of  L.  &  F,  was  chartered  May  2d,  1880. 
Number  of  charter  members,  18  ;  present  membership,  23.  Meets 
the  first  and  third  Tuesday  nights  of  each  month  in  ^'^k's  Hall. 

East  St.  Louis  Scengerbund  was  instituted  March  23d,  187^,  witU 
25  members ;  present  membership,  50.  The  organization  meets  at 
Jackiesh  Hall  every  Wednesday  night. 


308 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


There  have  also  been  organized  in  times  past  the  following  orders : 
Knights  of  St.  Patrick,  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  Brother- 
hood of  Locomotive  Engineers,  St.  Clair  Gun  Club,  and  Working- 
men's  Party. 

First  Land  Entries. — Joseph  Pepin  entered  the  south-east  quar- 
ter of  sec.  4, 160  acres,  Sept.  16th,  1814.  Joseph  Gonville  entered, 
September  28th,  1814,  320  acres  of  the  west  half  of  the  same  sec- 
tion. Dec.  15th,  1814,  William  Russell  entered  131.92  acres  on 
section  6. 

The  city  of  East  St.  Louis  has  made  an  eventful  history.  From 
its  infancy  it  has  withstood  many  reverses  that  would  have  totally 
discouraged  a  less  enterprising  and  plucky  people.  Five  times  has 
it  been  washed  by  the  floods  and  barely  escaped  annihilation.  The 
fire  fiend  has  likewise  been  a  frequent  and  destructive  visitor,  hav- 
ing once — 1872 — wiped  out  a  considerable  portion  of  the  business 
part  of  the  city.  Political  convulsions  have  also  swept  through  its 
midst  and  shaken  the  municipal  fabric  to  its  foundation.  Yet,  with 
all  these  misfortunes  to  retard  its  progress,  it  lives  and  grows  and 
prospers.  The  manufacturing  facilities  of  the  city  are  unsur- 
passed ;  it  has  the  coal,  the  water,  the  advantages  of  cheap  labor, 
and  last,  but  not  least,  the  ready  capitalist,  who  is  shrewd  enough 
to  comprehend  the  advantages  of  the  situation  and  to  invest  ac- 
cordingly. With  future  peace  and  harmony  among  the  citizens 
of  East  St.  Louis,  it  can  be  but  a  question  of  time  when  it  will  take 
rank  among  the  first  cities  of  the  west. 

TOWN  OF   BROOKLYN. 

This  village  is  situated  in  the  extreme  north-western  part  of  East 
St.  Louis  precinct;  the  northern  boundary  being  the,  Madison 
county  line,  and  the  Mississippi  river  forming  the  western  limits. 
It  was  laid  out  March  17th,  1837,  by  the  following  parties  :    Thos. 


Osburn,  James  P.  Morris,  Charles  Collins,  Joseph  Tabor,  and  W. 
J.  Austin.  The  town  plat  was  placed  on  record  the  1st  day  of  May 
following.  July  14th,  1874,  it  was  incorporated  under  the  general 
law,  when  it  established  village  ordinances  and  prepared  to  govern 
its  own  municipal  affairs.  The  first  house  built  within  the  limits 
was  a  small  log  dwelling,  but  has  long  since  given  place  to  later 
improvements.  Among  the  first  inhabitants  were  J.  R.  Stites,  Thos. 
Osburn,  Daniel  Wilson,  Geo.  H.  Lewis,  John  Baltimore,  Charles 
Woodworth,  Hardy  Roberts,  Alfred  Sparks,  Nicholas  Carper,  Mrs. 
Newell,  and  Mrs.  Wyatt,  some  of  whom  are  still  residents  of  the 
village. 

The  town,  at  this  writing,  contains  between  five  and  six  hundred 
inhabitants,  seven-eighths  of  whom  are  colored  people.  There  are 
four  small  grocery  stores,  the  most  extensive  of  which  is  kept  by 
Frederick  Archer.  This  store  is  a  snug  two  story  frame  building, 
and  is  situated  on  Fourth  street.  The  village  contains  a  fine  two- 
story  brick  school-house,  so  arranged  as  to  employ  two  teachers, 
and  is  thus  partially  graded.  It  was  built  in  1879,  at  an  expense 
of  three  thousand  dollars.  It  is  exclusively  a  colored  school. 
There  are  also  two  churches,  both  colored,  one  Methodist,  the  other 
Baptist.  The  former  was  built  in  1879,  and  cost  $2,500;  the  latter 
was  constructed  at  an  earlier  period,  and  cost  $1,500. 

Brooklyn  is  so  closely  situated  to  the  city  of  East  St.  Louis,  on 
the  south,  with  Venice  almost  touching  it  on  the  north,  that  it  has 
but  little  chance  for  its  life,  so  far  as  a  trading  point  is  concerned. 
Indeed  it  might  be  considered  as  a  suburb  of  East  St.  Louis  ;  and 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  it  will  be  such  in  fact. 

The  following  are  the  present  officers  of  the  village :  President, 
J.  R.  Stites ;  Trustees,  James  Maffit,  William  Weyh,  George  Bache- 
lor, Charles  Jennings  and  Frederick  Archer.  Clerk,  Henry  Roun- 
tree;  Treasurer,  Joseph  Archer;  Marshal,  James  A.  Pettiford. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 


— ->-^g;^^ 


The  present  mayor  of  the  city  of  East  St.  Louis,  was  born  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Oliio,  January  4tli,  1841.  His  fatlier,  Milton  M.  McLean, 
a  lawyer  by  profession,  had  acquired  considerable  property  interests 
in  the  west,  especially  in  and  around  East  St.  Louis,  among  others, 
a  distillery  in  1840.  After  ten  years'  management  of  this  property 
he  concluded  on  changing  his  residence  from  his  Cincinnati  home, 
to  enable  him  to  personally  care  for  his  rapidly  growing  interests 
here.  Hence,  in  1850  he  took  up  his  abode  in  East  St.  Louis.  In 
1851  he  disposed  of  the  distillery  and  moved  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
July  4th,  1855.  He  was  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  on  this  side 
of  the  river.  For  a  time  he  was  a  partner  of  Church  Blackburn, 
one  of  the  most  eminent  criminal  lawyers  of  his  day.  He  had  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  Miami  University.  He  ranked  with 
the  first  young  men  of  the  west  in  point  of  talent,  integrity,  and 
309 


all  the  virtues  that  tend  to  constitute  the  highest  degree  of  moral 
worth.  At  the  time  of  his  death  the  members  of  the  St.  Louis  bar 
paid  the  highest  honors  to  his  memory,  and  he  was  followed  to  his 
grave  by  hundreds  of  true  and  sincere  friends  as  mourners.  He 
was  a  nephew  of  Justice  McLean,  whose  worth  is  known  to  all. 

The  mother  of  John  J.  McLean  was  Mary  W.  Johnson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  first  Indian  Agent  ever  appointed  in  Ohio. 

A  brief  and  interesting  sketch  of  his  life  is  retained  by  the  fam- 
ily, from  which  we  glean  the  following :— He  was  born  near  Bally- 
shannon,  Ireland,  March  3d,  1775.  At  an  early  age,  soon  after  the 
termination  of  the  revolutionary  war,  he  was  brought  to  the  Uni- 
ted States,  locating  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
with  Gen.  Wayne  on  the  Ohio,  in  1793-4  ;  was  a  captain  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1798  ;  clerk  in  the  War  Department  and  Indian  Bureau, 
in  all  thirtv-one  years.     In  the  war  of  1812  he   was  a  pay-master 


310 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  'CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


and  quartermaster  ty  turns.  In  1841-2  he  was  "U.  S.  Ccmmis- 
sioner  for  treating  with  the  Indians.  In  all  these  positions  he 
acquitted  himself  honorably.  In  a  letter  yet  extant  written  by  him 
in  his  old  age,  he  said  "  he  had  suffered  political  martyrdom  thrice 
for  adherence  to  Whig  principles  ;  once  by  the  tyrant  Jackscn 
once  by  the  nondescript  Tyler,  and  on<^e  by  the  democratic  legisla- 
ture of  Ohio." 

Of  these  families  came  John  J.  McLean,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  a  man  who  has  inherited  many  of  their  good  qualities  ;  a 
man  of  energy,  of  generous  impulses,  and  who  is  held  in  high  es- 
teem. He  received  a  common  school  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  subsequently  attended  the  Meth- 
odist College  at  St.  Charles,  in  the  same  state  about  a  year.  As  a 
youth  in  school  he  exhibited  those  traits  of  character, — that  same 
restlessness  of  disposition  that  has  prompted  him  to  dare  and  to  do 
whatever  he  conceived  to  be  right. 

He  was  married  to  Eliza  Griffith,  a  most  estimable  lady,  in  June, 
18 — .  By  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  the  following  chil- 
dren :  John  Joseph,  Clara  Belle, Nathaniel  Charles,  Eliza  Laurence, 
Ealph  Edwin,  Gertrude  Bertha,  and  Estelle  May ;  all  living,  and 
constituting  a  happy  family. 

His  mother  died  in  Shiloh,  this  county,  Feb.  9th,  1877,  in  the 
sixty-third  year  of  her  life.  To  resume  his  personal  history  :  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  telegraphy  possessed  for  him  its  charms.  He  ra- 
pidly acquired  a  knowledge  of  its  mysteries,  and  for  a  year 
remained  at  this  work  as  operator  in  the  employ  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  railroad.  He  next  learned  the  trade  of  machinist,  at 
which  he  worked  for  a  period  of  nine  years,  in  the  locomotive  shops 
of  the  same  railway  company  for  which  he  had  served  as  telegraph 
operator.  In  1870  he  took  charge  of  one  of  the  boats  of  the  Wig- 
gins Ferry  Company,  as  captain,  which  position  he  held  for  about 
ten  years.  From  1867  to  1870  he  served  as  chief  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police  force  of  East  St.  Louis.  His  quickness  of  perception 
and  promptness  of  action  served  him  well  here,  and  doubtless  at 
different  times  saved  bloodshed  and  riot.  Possessed  of  a  clear  in- 
sight into  the  motives  of  men,  coupled  with  the  nerve  to  do  what  he 
deemed  to  be  right,  he  never  halted  until  proposed  mischief  was 
effected,  but  before  it  got  under  full  headway  lie  was  on  hand  to 
check  its  tide.  This  promptitude  together  with  his  generous  treat- 
ment of  associates,  gave  him  a  strong  hold  upon  the  affections  of 
his  fellows,  and  rendered  him  personally  popular  with  all.  He 
served  his  constituency  in  the  ward  for  two  terms,  of  two  years  each, 
as  member  of  the  City  Council,  with  credit  to  himself  and  honor 
to  his  supporters.  In  April,  1881,  as  a  just  recognition  of  his 
worth,  he  was  elected  mayor  without  opposition ;  this  too,  in  the  face 
of  the  fact  that  he  is  an  ardent  republican,  whilst  his  city  is  strong- 
ly democratic.  His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  Possessed  of  sound  judgment,  of  excellent  social  quali- 
ties, of  fine  executive  ability,  he  is  filling  his  position  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  citizens. 


JOHN  0.  BUTLER 

Was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  March  10th,  1827.  His  father 
was  Armstead  0.  Butler,  a  physician  of  large  reputation  and  ex- 
tensive practice,  was  born  in  Mecklenburg  county,  Virginia,  studied 
medicine  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  located  in  Cahokia.  His  circle 
of  practice  embraced  a  radius  of  forty  miles,  throughout  which  he 
was  recognized  as  a  skilled  and  erudite  physician.  The  memory 
of  few  men  is  treasured  up  by  the  old  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the 
county  more  sacredly  than  that  of  their  old   family  physician.  Dr. 


Butler.     The  mother  of  the  subject  cf  this  sketch  was  Jane  Tour- 
not,  of  the  old  family  of  that  name  known  to  Cahokia  records  for 
perhaps  a  century.     When  he  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  years  bis 
father  died.     His   widowed  mother  subsequently  became  the  wife 
of  Dr.  A.  H.  Illinski.     He  received  a  fair  business  education,  at- 
tending the  schools  of  the  day  in  Caho  liia  ard  ft.  Lcuis,  and  after 
wards  St.    Vincent's  College  at  St.    Mary's.     This  institution  of 
learning  was  moved,  whilst  he  was  a   student,  to  Cape   Girardeau ; 
thither  he  went,  but  did  not  complete  the  prescribed  course  of  study. 
For  a  time  he  pursued  farming  near  Cahokia.     He  was   united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Julia  C.  Brackett,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Brack- 
ett,  April  25lh,  1853.     He  commenced  mercantile  pursuits  as  a 
clerk  in  a  dry  goods  establishment  in  St.  Louis.  In  1849  he  went  to 
California,  making  it   a  trans-continental  trip,  as   he   was  visiting 
friends  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard  immediately  before  starting  for  the 
land  of  gold.    In  California  he  was  engaged  in  a  variety  of  pur- 
suits; as  mining,  keeping  a  hotel  and   livery.     Returned  in   1853, 
farmed  for  a  time,  and  then   commenced   merchandizing  in  1856 
in  Warren,  Hancock  county,  where  he  was  made  post-master.     In 
1863  he  went  to  Montana,  where  for  about  eight  months  he  sold 
goods.     He  bought  out   the  lumber  yards  of  General   Jarrot,  in 
May,  1876,  in  which  business  he  is  yet  engaged,  in  connection  with 
Nicholas  McCracken.     Last  year  their   sales   amounted   to  over 
4,000,000  feet  of  lumber. 


GEORGE  W.  DAUSCH. 
The  hope  of  the  country  is  vested  in  her  young  men.  If  they 
be  possessed  of  energy,  good  practical  business  ideas,  and  are 
.directed  by  strong  common  sense  then  all  is  well.  Belonging  to 
this  class  no  better  representative  can  be  found  in  East  St.  Louis 
than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  here  Oct.  2d,  1855, 
hence  is  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  although  occupying  various 
positions  of  profit  and  trust.  His  parents,  George  and  Julia  Ann 
Dausch,-  came  from  Germany  to  this  county  during  the  revolution 
of  1848.  His  father  was  by  trade  a  broker.  He  died  here  in 
1846,  leaving  a  widow,  a  son  and  daughter.  His  wife,  who  is  yet 
living,  subsequently  married  Louis  Weris,  by  whom  she  has  a  large 
family  of  children.  George  W.  Dausch  attended  the  East  St. 
Louis  public  schools,  and  afterwards,  desirous  of  perfecting  himself 
in  a  business  education,  attended  Jones'  Commercial  College,  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  graduated  in  1869,  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years,  among,  if  not,  the  youngest  graduate  ever  sent  forth  from 
that  institution.  He  also  attended  a  German  institution,  acquiring 
there  a  fair  education.  In  1846  he  engaged  in  the  service  of  the 
"Workingmen's  Banking  company  as  a  messenger.  Step  by  step  he 
has  worked  his  way  up,  filling  the  various  positions  of  book-keeper, 
teller  and  cashier,  to  which  position  he  was  chosen  in  1878,  and 
which  he  fills  with  great  credit  to  himself.  In  1880  he  was  appointed 
by  the  City  Council  of  East  St.  Louis  as  City  Treasurer,  a  just 
recognition  of  his  genuine  business  worth  and  compliment  to  his 
attainments  and  integrity.  He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Knights 
of  Pythias,  in  whose  working  and  advancement  he  takes  deep 
interest.  Politically,  he  is  an  avowed  Republican,  having  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  and  last  for  James  A.  Garfield. 
He  allies  himself  with  the  stalwarts,  finding  in  their  leader  his  beau 
ideal  of  manhood.  Generous  almost  to  a  fault;  of  an  eminently 
social  turn  of  mind,  he  is  recognized  as  a  hale  fellow,  well  met  by 
all  who  know  him.  Guided  by  strict  business  principles  in  all  his 
transactions,  his  future  is  full  of  promise.  Few  men  have  battled 
more  successfully  for  position  than  he,  and  few  are  more  esteemed 
by  their  fellows. 


fouRTH  Ward  House, CoR.CoLLiNsviLL£  &  Summit  Ave:.  East  St.LouisJll  .  M.M. STEPHENS,  Proprietor. 


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HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


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ERNEST  W.  WIDER,  (deceased). 

Few  men  have  been  more  prominently  before  the  attention  of 
the  public  in  East  St.  Louis  than  he  whose  portrait  and  autograph 
appear  on  this  page.  Fewer  yet  have  contributed  more  to  pro- 
mote the  general  good  than  he.  He  may  have  made  mistakes, 
doubtless  did,  but  they  were  errors  of  the  head,  not  of  the  heart. 
Many  of  his  public  acts  may  have  been  prom[)ted  by  a  spirit  of 
rivalry,  but  most  were  certainly  intended  for  the  promotion  of 
local  enterprises.  Ernest  W.  Wider  was  born  on  the  7th  of  May, 
1835,  at  Beerfelden,  Hessen-Darmstadt,  Germany.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  University  of  Heidelberg,  served  his  apprenticeship  as 
a  druggist  at  Erbach,  emigrated  to  America  in  1851,  and  settled  in 
East  St.  Louis  in  1855.  His  father,  Carl  Frederick  Wider,  was 
born  March  23d,  1792.  Was  for  a  time  chaplain  at  Reicthclden- 
heim  von  Kahn.  In  1812  was  installed  as  Lutheran  preacher  at 
Beerfelden,  and  in  1820  was  installed  as  Oberpfarrer  (orchief  priest.) 
He  was  married  to  Louisa  Maria  Flach,  May  24th,  1832.  Of  this 
union  came  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  In  1856  Ernest  W.  Wider 
engaged  in  the  drug  business  here,  for  which  his  education  and 
pronounced  ability  as  a  chemist  pre-eminently  fitted  him.  In  fact 
he  was  regarded  as  among  the  best  in  the  state.  His  working 
laboratory  was  one  of  interest,  and  betokened  his  enthusiasm  in 
chemical  pursuits. 

In  1858  he  received  the  appointment  as  Postmaster  for  East  St. 
Louis,  under  Buchanan's  administration.  The  f  illowing  year  he 
was  removed  for  political  reasons,  he  having  identified  himself 
with  the  republican  party,  in  the  advocacy  of  whose   principles  he 


was  earnest  and  enthusiastic.  In  1861  those  principles  having 
been  sustained  in  the  election  of  Abraham  Lineolu  t)  the  Presi- 
dency, he  was  again  appointed  in  April  of  that  year,  and  held  the 
office  for  a  period  of  eight  years.  Ever  since  his  advent  in  East 
St  Louis  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics.  Few  republican 
conventions  have  been  held  in  which  he  has  not  been  a  conspicuous 
figure.  In  state,  congressional,  district  and  county  conventions 
he  has  represented  his  fellow  citizens,  and  been  most  persistent  in 
advancing  men  and  measures  pleasing  to  himself.  In  national 
politico  he  was  a  republican  of  the  most  pronounced  type — one 
who  delighted  in  the  name  of  Radical  with  all  the  party  zeal  that 
the  name  implied.  Every  city  election  found  him  a  worker, 
usually  in  the  interest  of  others.  The  only  elective  office  he  ev^er 
h  Id  was  that  of  member  of  the  city  council,  to  which  he  was 
chosen  from  the  first  ward,  first  in  1876,  and  re-elected  in  1878 
and  1880.  He  was  a  member  of  this  body  during  the  excited 
times  that  East  St.  Louis  politics  passed  through,  and  was,  by 
common  consent,  the  recognized  leader  of  the  anti-Bowman  party. 
For  a  time  the  city  had  two  sets  of  officers,  or,  in  other  words,  a 
dual  government,  growing  out  of  what  was  popularly  denominated 
the  metropolitan  police  fight.  Since  1867  Mr.  Wider  had  been 
the  champion  of  the  metropolitan  police  system,  deeming  it  to  be 
the  interest  of  the  city  to  have  such  a  system.  Throughout  it  all 
Mr.  Wider  acted  the  part  of  a  man,  sincere  in  his  convictions,  and 
determined  in  carrying  out  his  policy.  He  was  several  times 
honored  by  appointments,  such  as  being  a  delegate  to  the  third 
annual  meeting  of  the  Araericau   Board  of  Trau-sportation   and 


312 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Commerce  at  Chicago  in   1875,  as  Notary  Public,  by  Governor 
Richard  J.  Oglesby,  and  as  member  of  the  State  Central  Republi- 
can Committee  in  1876.     It  was  his  nature  to  be  active,  and  what- 
ever he  took  hold  of  he  did  it  with  his  might.    True  to  his  friends, 
a  man  of  broad   culture,  of  goodness  of  heart ;  his  demise  was 
mourned  by  many.    A  friend  of  the  poor;  he  never  turned  them 
from  his  door,  but  attended   to  their  wants   with   cheerfulness. 
Many  prescriptions  were  filled  by  him,  free  of  charge,  when  brought 
to  him  by  those  who  were  needy.     He  was  married  to  Dora  Sik- 
king,  March  21st,  1859,  by  whom  he  has  had  four  children,  only 
one  of  whom  is  living,  Miss  Emma,  a  beautiful  and  accomplished 
young  lady  of  fifteen.     His  death,  which  occurred  July  7th,  1881, 
was  a  shock  to  his  family  and  fellow-citizens.     In  the  full  vigor  of 
health  but  a  few  short  hours  before,  doing  business  with  his  accus- 
tomed energy,  its  suddenness  created  excitement  and  surprise.    He 
had  returned,  the  night  before,  from  his  farm  near  Pevely,  Mis- 
souri, quite  exhausted.     The  morning  found  him  asleep  in  death. 
The  coroner  was  summoned,  and  pronounced  tlie  cause  to  have 
been  congestion  of  the  brain.     Thus  passed  from  earth  one  of  East 
St.  Louis'  most  active  citizens,  when  apparently  in  the  full  vigor 
of  manhood. 

THOMAS  GRANEY 

Was  born  in  the  county  of  Kerry,  Ireland,  September  29,  1839. 
His  father,  Edward  Graney,  a  farmer,  died  when  he  was  but  six 
months  of  age.    He  was  taken  care  of  by  an  uncle,  Patrick  McElli- 
gott,  also  a  farmer.     During  the  prevalence  of  the  famine  of  1848 
throughout  Ireland,  his  uncle  and  mother,  Ellen  McElligott,  deter- 
mined on  leaving  the  ill-fated  island,  and  moved  to  Canada,  locating 
in  Guelph,  Wellington  county,  Canada  West.    Here  they  remained 
until  1858,  when  Thomas  Graney  enlisted  in  the  100th,  or,  as  it  was 
popularly  known,  the  Prince  of  Wales  Royal  Canadian  Regiment, 
organized  for  the  purpose  of  going  to  the  East  Indies  to  suppress  the 
war  being  waged  by  Nena  Sahib.     The  regiment  remained  under 
instruction  and  drill  in  England  neariy  a  year,  when  they  were 
ordered  out,  and  went  as  far  as  the  heights  of  Gibraltar,  whence 
they  returned  to  England.     As  a  soldier  he  stood  high  in  favor, 
having  been  one  of  the  thirty  chosen  from  his  regiment  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Guard  of  Honor  to  the  Queen,  when  she  reviewed  the 
troops  in  Aldershot  Camp ;  was  also  lance  corporal  nine  months,  and 
lance  sergeant  eighteen  months.     He  received  a  good-conduct  badge 
which  entitled  him  to  a  small  pittance  extra  pay,  and  a  badgt  for 
superior  sharp-shooting.    After  three  and  a-half  years'  service,  he 
bought  his  discharge,  and  in  1865  returned  to  Canada.    In  May  of 
the  same  year  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  United  Stales,  locating 
first  in  Chicago,  where  he  helped  in  the  erection  of  the  Soldiers' 
Home,  thence  to  Oil  City,  Pennsylvania,  and  thence  to  East  St. 
Louis,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  O.  &  M.  railway  compa- 
ny as  blacksmith  helper.    In  this  employ  he  remained  until  1874, 
when  he  was  elected  Constable.    In  1877  he  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  an  office  for  which  he  is  well  fitted,  and   which  he  has 
since  held.    But  one  decision  made  by  him  among  the  many  cases 
carried  to  higher  courts  has  been  reversed,  and  that  was  on  techni- 
cal grounds.    Politically  he  is  a  pronounced  democrat.     He  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Sheridan,  July  4,  1866,  by  whom  he  has 
two   children   living,  Edward  John  and  Ellen.     In  1866  a  compa- 
ny of  Fenians  was  organized  in  East  St.  Louis  for  the  invasion  of 
Canada,  in  which  he  was  a  sergeant.     They  went  as  far  as  Chicago, 
remained  two  weeks,  and  were  ordered  home.     He  is  at  present  As- 
sistant Coroner  for  St.  Clair  county. 


A.  M.  MEINTS. 
When  we  trace  the  history  of  our  successful  men,  and  search  for 
the  secret  of  that  success,  we  find  as  a  rule  that  they  were  men  who 
were  early  thrown  upon  their  own  resources.     A.  M.  Meints  fur- 
nishes an  apt  illustiation  of  this  rule.     He  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  March  8th,  1844.     His  father,  J.  R.  Meints,  came  to 
America  in  1847,  leaving  his  family  behind.     They  followed  in 
1848,  and  the  same  year  Mrs.  Meints  died  of  cholera  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  so  that  Mr.  Meints  was  left  with  two  motherless  children. 
Sickness  overtook  him,  and  distress  to  self  and  family  with  it.    A. 
M.  Meints,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  when  but  eight  years  of  age, 
together  with  his  sister,  gathered  drift  wood  from  the  river  to  sell, 
and  thus  aid  in  the  family  support.    At  the  age  of  nine  he  obtained 
employment  as  a  boy  in  the  grocery  of  H.  Household,  known  as 
the  three  mile  house  on  Broadway.     Here  he  remained  a  year  and 
a  half;  then  was  engaged  by  Edward  Beckmann  &  Bro.two  years; 
next  by  Rabenbury,  with  whom  he  remained  a  year  and  a  half. 
During  all  this  time  Albert  gave  his  earnings  to  his  father.    For 
two  seasons  he  attended  the  public  night  school  where  he  received 
all  the  education  he  ever  acquired.     In  the  mean  time  his  father, 
who  was  a  man  of  great  energy,  had  saved  suflBcient  means  with 
which  to  purchase  a  stock  of  groceries,  which  he  did  by  opening  a 
store  on  Market,  between  9th  and  10th  streets,  in  the  year  1861, 
taking  Albert  with  him.     For  five  years  he  remained  with  his 
father,  during  which  time  he  formed  habits  of  industry,  economy 
and  honesty,  that  have  ever  characterized  him,  and  which  have  • 
crowned  his  labors  with  success.     His  father  taught  him  the  value 
of  money,  and  counseled  him  to  save  the  quarters  which  he  now 
and  then  gave  him.     With  the  first  twenty  dollars  he  succeeded  in 
saving  he  purchased  a  gun.     Hunting  and  fishing  were  his  means  of 
recreation. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  left  St.  Louis,  for  the  first  time  since 
his  advent  there,  for  a  journey  any  distance  from  home.     Went  as 
far  as  Fayette,  Missouri,  where  he  passed  two  pleasant  weeks  in  the 
society  of  S.  Baumann,  a  former  playmate,  and  returned  home,  but 
not  to  re-engage  his  services  to  his  father,  who  although  kind,  he 
thought  too  rigorous  in  his  dealings  with  him.     Seeing  an  adver- 
tisement. Grocery  clerk  wanted  by  H.  Jackeisch,  East  St.  Louis  ; 
he  responded  and  his  services  were  accepted.     He  entered  this  ser- 
vice June  30th,  1866 ;  remained  in  this  employ  until  April  Itt, 
1868,  when  having  accumulated  about  sixteen  hundred  dollars,  he 
commenced  business  for  himself,  first  in  a  building  owned  by  Daniel 
McGowen,  a  place  quite  out  of  the  way  of  trade,  yet  the  only  avail- 
able place  he  could  secure.     In  1869  he  purchased  the  lot  he  now 
occupies,  and  built  a  store-room  22  x  50,  which  he  opened  to  the 
trade  in  September,  1869.    His  business  has  constantly  increased, 
compelling  him  to  erect  additional  buildings,  until  now  he  occupies 
a  building  with  a  frontage  of  seventy-five  feet,  and  even  that  does 
not  accommodate  his  trade.   Since  commencing  business  for  himself 
he  has  been  fortunate  in  every  step.     His  real  estate  speculations 
have  added  largely  to  his  wealth,  and  now  he  is  the  possessor  of 
over  twenty  tenement  houses,  and  three  fine  farms  in  St.  Louis 
county,   Missouri.     August  30th,  1870,  he   married   a  most  esti- 
mable lady.  Miss  Sophia  E.  Hauss,  of  Louisville,  Kentuckj'.    Mr. 
Meints  owes  his  success  to  strict  attention  to  business.    For  eight 
years,  whilst  he  was  laboring  earnestly  to  gain  a  footing  in  the 
world,  he  availed  himself  of  no  species  of  enjoyment.     Once  com- 
paratively independent  he  re-engaged  with  genuine  boyish  zest  in 
his  old  sport  of  hunting,  and  is  known  to-day  as  one  of  the  Nim- 
rods  of  East  St.  Louis.     In  his  career  we  have  exemplified,  in  the 
truest  sense,  a  self-made  man. 


HISTORY  01  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  IILINOIS 


01  0 


^^^r^-^^-y 


/^-?^ 


Among  physicians  and  surgeons  of  this  part  of  the  state,  who 
have  attained  distinction  in  their  profession,  Dr.  T.  C.  Jennings 
takes  rank  with  the  foremost.  He  was  born  in  Bloomfield,  Cha- 
tauqua  county,  New  York,  May  8th,  1836.  His  father,  Rev.  Tho- 
mas J.  Jennings,  was  a  Methodist  preacher.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Catharine  Ditraars.  "When  he  was  about  six  years  of 
age,  his  father  removed  to  Ohio,  and  because  of  failing  health 
changed  his  vocation  to  that  of  farming.  After  living  about  four 
years  in  the  Buckeye  state,  he  removed  to  Wisconsin.  Here,  avail- 
ing himself  of  the  facilities  afforded  by  the  state,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  attended  West  Bend  Academy,  a  school  in  charge  of 
Dr.  A-  H.  Hayes,  a  physician  and  teacher  of  rare  abilities  and  high 
attainments.  To  him,  more  than  any  one  else,  is  the  doctor  in- 
debted for  his  aspirations  in  life,  and  for  his  determination  to  be- 
come a  physician.  Taking  him  as  his  model,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  his  instruction  after  he  had  acquired  con- 
siderable proficiency  in  the  classics,  mathematics  and  natural 
sciences,  preparatory  to  admission  into  Rush  Medical  College  at 
Chicago.  In  1856,  he  entered  this  institution,  from  \\hich  he  gra- 
duated February  17,  1858.  Returning  to  Wisconsin,  he  located  in 
Mayville,  where  he  prosecuted  the  practice  of  his  profession  a  year, 
and  in  1860  determined  on  finding  a  southern  home,  he  came  as  far 
as  St.  Louis  ;  at  the  time  mutterings  were  heard  all  over  the  south 
which  grew  into  threats  of  rebellion.  He  concluded  to  wait  until 
the  state  of  affairs  had  become  more  settled,  and  not  desiring  to  re- 
sume the  practice  of  medicine  until  he  had  found  a  congenial  home, 

he  enlisted  himself  among  the  pedagogues  of  St.  Clair   county  by 
40 


taking  charge  of  the  school  at  French  Village,  where  for  two  years 
he  successfully  engaged  in  this  work.  The  threatenings  of  seces- 
sion had  become  a  dread  reality ;  red  battle  had  stamped 
her  thundering  feet  all  along  Mason  and  Dixon's  line;  his  country 
had  become  involved  in  the  mighty  throes  of  fratricidal  strife :  his 
patriotic  heart  beat  responsive  to  his  country's  call  for  aid,  and  for- 
saking the  school-room,  he  promptly  offered  his  services  and  was 
accepted  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  117tli  regiment,  Illinois  Volun- 
teers, November  15th,  1862.  With  this  command  he  remaioed  un- 
til August  5th,  1865,  when  with  the  regiment  he  was  discharged 
with  honors.  He  took  part  in  the  Meridian,  (Mississippi)  the  Red 
River,  the  Tupelo  and  Oxford  campaigns,  (Mississippi)  the  Price 
campaign  in  Missouri,  the  campaign  after  General  Hood  in  Middle 
Tennessee,  and  in  the  years  1864  and  1865,  in  the  Mobile  campaign. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Fort  De  Russey  and  Pleasant  Hill, 
Louisiana,  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  Fort 
Blakely,  Alabama.  It  is  related  of  him,  by  his  comrades,  that  his 
impatience  was  often  such  as  to  impel  him  to  the  very  front  of 
battle  with  patriotic  cheer  to  urge  on  his  fellows,  when  officers  in 
his  position  were  expected  to  take  position  in  the  rear,  ready  to  re- 
ceire  any  wounded  that  might  have  to  be  borne  from  the  field  of 
battle.  Immediately  after  the  war  he  located  in  East  St.  Louis, 
Avhere  he  has  ever  since  prosecuted  bis  life  work  of  jwacticing  his 
profession.  He  v/as  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clementine  Illins- 
ki,  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  X.  Illinski,  June  24th,  1867.  By  this  union 
there  have  been  born  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living, 
Anna  Belle,  Clementine  and  Dio   Illinski.     Thomas  Francis,  the 


314 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIECOUNTY,  ILLINOIS.. 


third  in  order  of  birth,  died  in  childhood.  The  doctor's  pre-emi- 
nent fitness  for  the  position  caused  his  friends  to  single  him  out  as  the 
republican  candidate  for  the  legislature  from  the  49th  district  in  1878, 
and  most  gallantly  did  he  lead  on  to  victory.  As  a  representative,  he 
was  active,  fearless  in  his  advocacy  of  the  right,  gave  close  and  constant 
attention  to  the  business  before  the  legislature  and  made  an  efficient 
member.  In  manners  and  deportment  Dr.  Jennings  is  a  sociable 
and  agreeable  gentleman  ;  as  a  physician  prompt  and  methodical : 
and  as  a  man  his  reputation  for  integrity  of  character,  and  for 
earnestness  of  purpose  is  as  -vside  as  the  circle  of  his  acquaintance. 


D.  D.  ANTHCmY. 

Among  the  promising  young  men  of  East  St.  Louis  few  are  more 
deserving  of  honorable  mention  than  D.  D.  Anthony,  who  was  born 
in  Ripley  county,  Indiana,  November  18,  1843.  His  father,  Philip 
Anthony,  was  of  the  good  old  Puritan  stuck  of  New  England,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  for  fifteen  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
his  adopted  state.  His  mother,  Mary  Ann  Anthony,  was  an  Ohioan 
by  birth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  followed  farming  until  the 
year  1859,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Kankakee  county. 
He  received  a  common  school  education.  At  the  time  of  the  break 
ing  out  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Indiana,  and  on  June  16,  1861 
volunteered  in  Co.  I,  13th  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteers.  Served 
in  the  campaign  in  "West  Virginia,  under  General  McClellan  ;  then 
under  his  successor.  General  Rosecrans.  Was  in  the  various  battles 
and  skirmishes  throughout  West  Virginia,  among  them  that  at 
Rich  Mountain,  Cheat  Mountain,  Summit  and  Green  Briar.  With 
his  command  he  went  to  the  valley  of  Virginia  and  took  part  in  the 
fight  at  Winchester,  under  General  Shields  In  1862  his  regiment 
was  transferred  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  with  quarters  at  Suf- 
folk, whose  siege — at  the  hands  of  Longstreet — they  gallantly  with- 
stood; left  Suifolk  for  Charleston,  with  General  Gillmore,  where 
they  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Sumter;  thence  to  Florida; 
they  were  then  ordered  north,  to  join  Butler's  fleet  at  Yorktown, 
preparatory  to  ascending  James  river;  took  part  in  the  Petersburg 
fight,  where,  on  the  10th  of  May,  1863,  he  was  taken  prisoner.  His 
prison  life,  extended  as  it  was  over  a  space  of  nine  months  and 
eighteen  days,  and  divided  between  various  Southern  prison  pens, 
is  of  great  interest.  First  he  was  taken  to  Libby  prison,  at  Rich- 
mond, where  he  was  kept  about  a  month  ;  thence  taken  to  Ander- 
sonville,  where  he  was  subjected  to  the  gross  neglect  and  hard  usage 
for  which  that  prison  is  so  noted.  He  was  an  eyewitness  to  the 
bursting  forth  of  the  spring  of  water  in  the  beaten  path  within  the 
pen,  spoken  of  by  many  prisoners,  who-famishing  with  thirst-looked 
upon  it  as  God's  deliverance.  After  three  months  he  was  taken  to 
Savannah,  thence  to  Charleston,  under  guns  he  had  himself  helped 
to  set  months  before  ;Jhence  to  Florence,  where  he  suffered  terribly. 
During  his  four  months'  imprisonment  here  he  had  not  to  exceed 
four  ounces  of  salt  with  his  ration  of  one  pint  of  corn  meal  per  diem, 
perhaps  a  half-dozen  rations  of  meat,  and  a  spoonful  of  molasses 
per  week,  during  the  time.  At  Goldsborough,  North  Carolina,  he 
was  exchanged  for  a  well-fed  Southern  soldier,  February  28,  1864 
Being  sick— scarcely  able,  in  fact,  to  walk  at  all— he  was  taken  to 
the  hospital  on  David's  Island,  New  York  harbor,  where  for  months 
he  was  treated  with  all  the  skill  of  army  surgeons.  His  eyesight 
.  was  almost  gone— so  far  that  its  recovery  was  long  thought  doubt- 
ful.    He  was  discharged  from  the  TJ.  S.  service  June  14,  1865  ;  re- 


turned to  Indiana,  where  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Belle  Payton, 
April,  1866,  by  whom  he  has  one  child.  After  marriage  he  went 
South  to  Choctaw  county,  Alabama,  where  his  wife  was  engaged  in 
teaching  a  Freedmen's  school  for  one  year.  During  this  time  he 
was  appointed  by  General  Pope,  commanding  the  Southern  division, 
as  re-constructing  officer  for  registration  of  voters,  administering 
the  so-called  "  iron-clad  oath,"  &c.  Was  taken  sick,  and  returned 
to  Indiana,  where  he  remained  only  six  months,  returning  to  Ala- 
bama to  engage  in  general  merchandizing.  In  1870  he  was  appoint- 
ed assistant  U.  S.  marshal  in  the  Alabama  district,  during  which 
service  he  enumerated  the  census  of  Choctaw  county.  When  Ala- 
bama became  democratic,  and  it  was  no  longer  safe  for  Northern 
men  to  express  their  sentiments  in  the  South,  he  returned  to  In- 
diana, where  he  was  employed  by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad 
company.  After  remaining  a  year  in  their  employ  he  went  to  Kan- 
sas, where  he  invested  in  a  stock  ranche,  which  he  still  owns. 
After  a  few  months  "  roughing  it,"  he  returned  to  East  St.  Louis, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  erection  of  water  works  at  the  National 
Stock  Yards.  Here  he  remained  several  years  as  an  engineer  and 
water  supply  superintendent.  In  December,  1880,  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sherifi"  of  St.  Clair  county  by  Frederick  Ropiequet,  a  just 
recognition  of  his  public  services  in  behalf  of  the  success  of  the  re- 
publican party  and  of  his  worth  as  a  man.  Mr.  Anthony  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  being  a  P.  G  ,  Golden  Rule  Lodge  of  E.  St. 
Louis.  Politically  he  is  a  stalwart,  out-spoken,  fearless  republican. 
During  the  last  campaign  he  made  some  very  eflTective  speeches  in 
behalf  of  republican  principles,  reciting — as  his  experience  enabled 
him  to  do — many  instances  of  cruelty  in  the  South.  His  republic- 
anism was  learned  in  very  early  years  when  his  father  kept  an 
underground  railway  station  on  the  Polar  Star  route  from  Slavery 
to  Freedom.  Efficient  as  an  oflScer,  true  to  all  trusts  reposed  in 
him,  genuine  by  nature — Mr.  Anthony  deserves  well  of  his  fellow- 


men. 


JOHN  B.  SIKKING, 

The  present  efficient  post-master  of  the  city  of  East  St.  Louis,  was 
born  in  Wenterswyke,  Holland,  August  16th,  1836.  His  father, 
John  B.  Sikking,  was  a  carpenter,  and  emigrated  from  the  land  be- 
yond the  sea  to  America  in  1844,  locating  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  There  were  in  all  seven  children  in  the  family,  of  whom 
John  B.  Sikking  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  He  received  a 
common  school  education,  and  became  a  machinist.  For  thirteen 
years  he  engaged  his  services  to  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railway 
company.  He  was  appointed  post-master  under  Gen.  Grant's  ad- 
ministration, in  1869.  Had  officiated  in  this  capacity  for  about 
two  years  prior,  during  Johnson's  administration,  as  he  served  out 
the  term  of  his  predecessor  and  brother-in-law,  .E.  W.  Wider.  As 
post-master  he  has  proved  faithful  and  capable,  and  has  won  uni- 
versal esteem.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Cunningham,  a  most 
estimable  lady  from  Ohio,  on  the  24th  of  December,  1863.  By 
this  union  there  are  six  children.  In  politics  Mr.  Sikking  is  an 
ardent,  outspoken  republican,  who  has  the  honor  of  having°always 
been  true  to  his  party,  and  party  friends.  Takes  an  active  part  in 
both  local  and  national  affiilrs.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  quiet,  unassuming,  straightforward,  and  one  that  can- 
not be  swerved  from  the  path  of  duty. 


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Pesioence  or  Capt.  JOHN  TREND  LEY,  EastSt  Lnuis ,  III. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


315 


-h'^^^  Of-^lM^ 


Identified  with  the  interests  of  East  St.  Louis  for  the  last  fifty- 
five  years,  during  which  time  nothicg  of  public  moment  has  been 
started  but  that  has  had  a  share  of  his  attention,  Capt.  John 
Trendley  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  city.  To  adopt 
his  language,  "  he  wore  out  in  the  service  as  ferryman  five  horse- 
boats,"  and  the  company  are  now  using  the  twenty-fifth  steam  ferry 
boat,  whilst  he  yet  lives  to  take  an  active  interest  in  the  work.  He 
was  born  in  the  Black  Forest,  Germany,  June  20,  1804.  Came  to 
America  in  1817,  landing  first  at  Alexandria,  Virginia.  Two  years 
after  he  came  up  the  Mississippi  from  New  Orleans,  and  located 


here.  He  was  married  to  Harriett  Aberle,  a  Swiss  lady,  March  28, 
1828,  who  died  March  21,  1869.  Capt.  Trendley  preserves  his 
faculties  in  a  remarkable  degree,  and  delights  in  living  in  the  past, 
recounting  the  incidents  of  an  active  and  well-spent  life.  His  con- 
tributions to  the  upbuilding  of  his  adopted  city  have  perhaps  been 
more  notable  than  those  of  any  other  one  man.  He  is  prepared  to 
spend  the  evening  of  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  comforts,  the  fruitage 
of  a  life  of  economy  and  industry.  As  one  of  the  pioneers,  a  sketch 
of  his  life's  work  will  be  found  in  its  appropriate  place  in  this 
work. 


316 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


'^-    ^"t^\fl 


The  Messiok  family,  as  the  name  indicates,  ivere  of  GermaD  ori- 
gin. When  they  first  came  to  Aroerica  is  unknown.  That  they 
first  settled  in  Virginia  has  been  fairly  established.  Joseph  W. 
Mesfick,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  tketch,  ami  his  wife,  Sa- 
rah Me.-sick,  nee  Kittinger,  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  an- 
cestors of  the  Kitlingers  were  Pennsylvanians.  Joseph  B.  Messick 
was  born  in  Macoupin  county,  in  this  state,  January  29tb,1847.  As 
a  youth  he  followed  the  plow,  cared  for  &tock,  and  such  other  work 
as  is  incident  to  the  life  of  a  farmer  lad.  Here  he  formed  habits  of 
industry  and  honesty  that  have  ever  prompted  him  in  his  associa- 
tions with  his  fellow-men.  Full  of  hop)e,  he  has  ever  looked  on  the 
bright  tide  of  life  ;  fond  of  jokej  and  joking,  his  eompuiiioiiship  has 
always  been  sought.  His  elementary  education,  ac(]uircd  in  the 
rural  district  school,  was  su])plementcd  by  attendance,  during  the 
years  18G6  and  18G7,  at  Shuitlcff  College,  Upper  Alton.  ] laving 
thus  fitted  himself  for  the  work,  he  engaged  in  teaching,  that  uni- 
versal stepping-stone  to  the  higher  profci-sional  life — and,  as  he 
taught,  he  studied  law.  As  a  teacher,  he  succeeded,  and  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar  in  1871,  continued  iu  the  work.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  Carlinville,  and,  at  first,  thought  to  locate  at 
that  point,  but,  after  his  school  closed,  determined  on  seeking  a  new 
field,  and  did  so,  locating  in  East  St.  Louis.  Here  he  rapidly 
gained  friends,  acquired  practice,  and  received  recognition  as  a 
lawyer  of  promise.  In  1875  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  city  court 
of  East  St.  Louis.  As  a  judge  he  presided  with  dignity,  and  with 
satisfaction  to  the  bar.  Political  life  possesses  a  strong  attrwction 
for  hin],  hence  with  each  campaign  he  is  found  an  ardent  advocate 


for  his  political  preferences,  both  upon  the  stump  and  in  social  con- 
ver  e.     A  pronounced  and  uncompromising  republican,  his  voice 
and  vote  were  employed  to  aid  in  the  election  of  the  captain  of  the 
age,  General  Grant,  to  the  Presidency.     During  the  campaigns  of 
1876  and  1880,  he  made  telling  speeches  iu   behalf  of  republican 
princi])lcs.     His  patriotism  wa^  taught  him  at  his    father's  fireside 
When  hut  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  volunteered  as  a  private   iu 
company  "'I,"  144th   Pegiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  end  of  the  war.     On  February  1st,   1881,  he  was 
appointed  U.  S.  Deputy  Collector  Internal   Revenue,  for  the  4th 
Division,  13th  District  Illinois.     A  posititui  for  which   his  attain- 
ments well    adaj)!   him.     The   annual    collections   for   the   division 
amount  to  an  aggregate  of  about  a  million  dollars.     As  a  speaker, 
Judge  Messick  is  earnest  and  impressive.     Varying  his  eflTorts  with 
ilaslus  of  wit  anil  sarcasm,  he  does  not  fail  to  impress  the  minds  of 
his  hearers.     His  language,  wdiile  it  is  chaste  and  appropriate,  de- 
rives additional  force  from   his  tall  and  commandins;  figure.     He 
has  admirable  conversational  powers,  and,  with   his  inexhaustible 
fund  of  anecdotes  and  large  amount  of  good  humor,  he  never  fails 
to  amuse  and  entertain  his  friends.     Physically,  he  is  six  feet  two 
inches  iu  height,  erect  and  well-proportioned.     Personally,  he  has 
fine  <iualities ;  generous  and  frank  ;    he  is  strongly  attached  to  his 
friends  and  preserves  that  same  familiarity  that  characterized  his 
youth.     Tender-hearted  and  benevolent,  he  is  always  ready  to  assk-t 
the  needy.     In  his  character  he  combines  those  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart  that  render  him  deservedly  popular,  and  secure  to  him 
the  warm  friendship  of  all  who  know  hiiu. 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


317 


MAURICE  E.  TISSIER. 


The  able  editor  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Herald,  was  born  in  Florisant, 
St.  Louis  county,  Missouri,  December  25,  1853.  His  parents  are 
both  living.  His  father  is  a  grocer  by  occupation.  His  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Formaz.  The  Tissiers  came  to  America  in 
1849,  from  Switzerland.  They  located  first  in  Wisconsin,  thence 
went  to  Chicago,  and  last  to  St.  Louis.  Maurice  F.  Tissier 
attended  the  college  of  the  Christian  Brothers  in  1865  and 
1866 ;  then  St.  Vincent's  College,  at  Cape  Girardeau  three  years, 
and  last  St.  Vincent's  Seminary,  in  Germantown,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  graduated  in  1873,  after  which  he  returned  to  St.  Louis 
and  commenced  commercial  life,  clerking  for  his  father,  who  was 
then  in  the  clothier's  trade.  On  the  18th  of  August,  1875,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Catharine  Myers,  of  Carondelet.  This  was  notable 
as  having  been  the  first  solemn  nuptial  High  Mass  wedding  in  East 
St.  Louis.  By  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  three  children  ; 
Louis,  who  was  born  on  the  first  anniversary  of  the  wedding  day, 
Mary,  and  Maurice  Nicholas.  In  1875  Mr.  Tissier  went  into  the 
grocery  business  on  the  Island,  where  he  remained  two  years,  vaca- 
ting in  favor  of  his  father,  whose  store  had  been  destroyed  by  the 
bridge  fire  in  February.     In  May,   1877,  he  was  appointed  city 


clerk  by  Mayor  Bowman,  which  position  he  held  until  discharged 
in  December.  In  March  of  the  following  year  he  was  reinstated  in 
this  position  by  vote  of  the  city  council,  and  held  it  two  years.  His 
first  writing  for  the  press  was  in  1874,  at  which  time  he  averred  the 
time  would  come  when  he  would  own  and  edit  a  newspaper.  In 
1878  he  started  the  East  St.  Louis  Herald  as  an  opposition  paper — 
that  is,  opposition  to  the  Bowman  rule  in  the  city.  This  paper  has 
met  the  approval  of  the  people,  and,  being  well  conducted,  is  a 
recognized  power  in  local  jiolitics.  Mr.  Tissier  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  in  whose  work  he  takes  a  lively  interest.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Catholic  Knights  of  America,  and  is  at 
present  the  recording  secretary  of  his  branch,  and  was  a  delegate  to 
their  last  national  convention.  He  was  appointed  a  Notary  Public 
July  4,  1877,  by  Gov.  Cullom,  to  which  position  he  was  re-appoint- 
ed in  1881.  As  a  business  man  he  is  prompt  and  energetic  ;  as  a 
citizen,  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  his  community.  A  true  friend 
himself,  he  lacks  not  for  friendship ;  gentlemanly  and  courteous  in 
manner,  he  and  his  paper,  which  reflects  his  sentiments,  are  grow- 
ing in  popular  favor. 


318 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLIAOIS. 


Sir"  ^W^^^-" 


Few  firms  are  bolder  in  the  execution  of  their  plans  or  are  pos- 
sessed of  greater  courage  in  experimenting  where  grand  aims  are 
to  be  attained  or  much  means  lost  than  the  Heim  Brothers,  an  en- 
graving of  whose  buildings  adorn  this  work.  Ferdinand  Heim, 
the  elder  of  the  brothers,  was  born  in  Wolfert,  Austria,  February 
27th,  1830,  and  came  to  America  in  1851.  His  fiithcr,  Wuunibalil 
Heim,  a  rope-maker  and  farmer,  died  in  Austria,  in  1857.  Fi'rdi- 
nand,  after  reaching  this  country,  located  in  Utica,  New  Y(u-k, 
where  he  engaged  in  his  father's  occupation  of  rope-iiiaking,  in 
which  industry  he  continued  for  two  years.  The  great  west  was  at 
that  time  the  magnet  of  attraction,  so  he  moved  to  ])ul)U(|ue,  Iowa, 
where  after  a  short  sojourn  he  again  moved  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  pursued  his  trade  until  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  his 
brother,  Michael  Heim,  whereupon  they  embarked  in  the  dairying 
industry,  which  they  successfully  prosecuted  for  about  five  years. 


They  next  engaged  in  the  cattle  trade,  an  easy  transition  from  their 
former  pursuit,  which  they  followed  about  six  years.  In  1869  they 
commenced  operations  as  brewers,  in  which  industry  they  have 
been  eminently  successful,  having  perhaps  the  best  equipped  estab- 
lishment in  the  state  of  Illinois.  Every  modern  improvement,  calcu- 
lated to  advance  their  industry,  is  at  once  adopted.  At  great 
expense,  they  have  introduced  an  ice  manufacturing  machine, 
which  works  like  a  charm.  By  its  aid  the  pillars  and  walls  of  their 
cellars— if  cellars,  a  large  building  might  be  termed — are  enc«sed 
in  jierpctual  ice.  A  full  description  of  their  brewery  may  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  As  illustrative  of  the  magnitude  of  their 
trade,  it  may  be  cited  that  they  purchase  about  $3000  worth  of 
revenue  stamps  per  month,  and  the  business  is  rapidly  increasing. 
Ferdinand  Heim  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Beil,  Feb.  15th,  1855, 
by  whom  he  has  three  sons,  Joseph  J.,  Ferdinand  F.,  and  Michael. 


FERDINAND    H  EIM  ,PRES?T  M ICHAEL  H  El  M  ,S  ECY.  &  TR  EAS  .  J  OS.  J .  H  E I  M  ,\/ICE  PRES  ?T 

he/m's    brewing    company, east     ST.  lo  U  /  S  .  I  l  l  . 


EISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


no 


'Coao^^  ^^^e^^^T-^^i^^ 


So  closely  interwoven  is  the  history  of  Michael  Heim  with  that  of 
his  elder  brother,  Ferdinand — whose  biography  appears  on  the  oppo- 
site page — that  it  is  difficult  to  write  of  them  separately.  He  was 
born  in  Wolfert,  Austria,  February  12th,  1839,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1854  to  join  his  brother,  which  he  did  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
embarking  in  different  enterprises  with  him.  He  was  married  to 
Anna  Beil  in  October,  1862,  by  whom  he  has  two  children,  Ferdi- 
nand and  John  George  by  name.  His  wife  is  a  niece  of  the  wife 
of  his  brother,  so  that  the  relationship  between  their  children  is  a 


pleasant  conundrum  of  his  joking  brother.  Fie  is  a  member  of  the 
order  of  I.  0.  0.  F.,  also  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  The  firm  of 
which  he  is  a  member  have  been  successful  in  the  prosecution  of 
their  business,  and  far-sighted  in  its  management.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  pop)ular  in  East  St.  Louis,  as  it  deserves  to  be.  Never  dis- 
couraged, ever  hopeful,  they  press  on  with  energy  to  accomplish 
their  ends.  The  destruction  of  their  brewery  by  fire,  a  few  years 
ago,  daunted  them  not,  but  pha?nix-like,  it  was  caused  to  spring 
from  the  flames  better  and  larger  than  before. 


320 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


A  MEMBER  of  the  City  Council  of  East  St.  Louis,  was  born  in 
Staffordshire,  England,  October  22d,  184G.  His  father,  who  bore 
the  same  name,  was  a  worker  in  iron.  lie  made  the  first  wrought 
iron  twine  for  blasting  purposes  ever  invented.  He  came  to  America 
in  1858,  and  at  once  made  his  way  to  East  St.  Louis  via  Siiringfield 
and  Alton,  Illinois.  It  was  during  the  prevalence  of  higli  waters 
of  that  year.  Several  bridges  had  been  washed  away,  so  tliat  pas- 
sengers on  the  C.  and  A.  railroad  had  to  be  transferred  to  waiting 
cars  across  streams  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  swam  in  making 
his  way  here.  As  a  result  the  family  lost  all  their  baggage  and 
found  themselves  on  the  dyke  at  East  St.  Louis  quite  destitute.  They 
next  went  to  Urbana  or  Freeburg,  as  it  is  now  called,  where  they 


pursued  the  work  of  blacksmithing.  Returning  to  East  St.  Louis 
they  engaged  their  services  to  the  rolling  mills.  At  present  Levi 
Baugh,  Jr.,  is  Superintendent  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Rendering 
Works,  in  which  he  is  a  stockholder,  and  which  position  he  has 
held  since  1873.  Tolitically  he  is  a  conservative  democrat.  Is  not 
active  in  politics,  caring  more  for  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  order  he  is  a  charter  member,  and  at 
present  Master  of  Exchequer  ;  also  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  He 
was  married  to  Margaret  M.  Mayerhofer,  July  26,  1866,  by  whom 
he  has  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  He  is  a  man 
of  excellent  social  qualities,  fine  business  tact,  and  sound  judgment. 


HISTOBY  01  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


321 


The  present  efficient  Police  Magistrate  of  the  city  of  East  St. 
Louis,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Indiana,  August  24tb,  1836. 
His  father,  John  Renshaw,  was  a  farmer.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Malinda  Cissna.  They  were  married  in  Chillicothe, 
Ohio,  in  1820.  In  the  family  were  two  sons  and  four  daughters. 
When  John  was  about  eight  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to 
Belleville,  this  county.  His  earlier  years  were  passed  in  discharg- 
ing the  duties  of  a  farmer  lad  and  attending  school.  At  about  the 
age  of  ten  years  his  father  took  him  iri  company,  on  a  trip  to  Nau- 
voo,  which  at  the  time  was  in  the  height  of  Mormon  glory.  The 
trip  was  made  by  ox-team.  The  stone  oxen  which  supported  an 
altar  in  the  temple  struck  his  boyish  fancy,  and  left  an  impression 
upon  his  memory  not  to  be  effaced.  At  Belleville  his  school-fellows 
were  Charles  P.  Johnson,  Wesley  Merritt,  John  B.  Hay,  James 
Hay  and  William  Orr,  several  of  whom  have  attained  to  consider- 
able distinction  in  life.  In  1856  the  Captain  left  Belleville  to  make 
his  home  iu  Warrenton,  Mississippi,  where  he  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits,  in  partnership  with  a  cousin.  Here  he  remained  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  Warrenton  was  in  Jefferson  Davis' 
precinct,  and  in  1860  the  Captain  served  as  a  judge  in  the  presi- 
dential election.  Being  a  northern  or  union  democrat,  his  first  vote 
for  President,  which  was  cast  at  this  election,  was  given  for  the 
"Little  Giant,"  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  When  war-clouds  grew 
threatening,  and  the  call  for  troops  in  behalf  of  southern  independ- 
ence was  sent  forth  in  the  spring  of  1861,  he  quietly  took  his  de- 
parture for  his  old  home  at  Belleville,  where  he  worked  for  a  time 
at  his  trade,  that  of  a  plasterer.  In  1864  he  volunteered  in  the 
41 


149th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  at  once  elected  Cap- 
tain of  Co.  C.  This  regiment  was  marched  through  Georgia  in  the 
wake  of  Sherman's  armj',  in  their  memorable  march  to  the  sea,  en- 
gaged in  garrisoning  railroads.  Halts  were  made  at  Atlanta, 
Chattanooga,  Dal  ton  and  Cleveland,  where  supplies  were  to  be 
guarded.  After  the  war  was  practically  ended,  the  Captain's  com- 
pany was  detailed  to  aid  in  enforcing  measures  of  reconstruction, 
in  which  service  they  continued  until  discharged,  June  27th,  1866, 
at  Alton. 

He  returned  home  to  Belleville,  but  soon  after  concluded  to 
locate  in  East  St.  Louis,  which  he  did  in  1868.  Here  he  went 
into  the  coal  business,  in  which  he  was  quite  successful.  In  1872 
he  was  appointed  Chief  of  Police,  which  position  he  has  retained 
ever  since.  As  Chief  of  Police  he  has  had  much  to  contend  with — 
has  witnessed  threatened  riots,  which,  but  for  his  courage  and 
promptitude,  might  have  resulted  in  much  bloodshed.  His  name 
is  a  terror  to  evil-doers.  Perhaj^s  no  man  deserves  as  much  credit 
for  breaking  up  prize-fighting  in  this  vicinity  as  he.  In  the  face  of 
great  opposition,  and  when  begged  by  friends  not  to  take  the  step, 
he  swore  out  the  first  warrants  against  prize-fighters,  boarded  the 
boat  Continental,  on  which  the  roughs  were  taking  passage  to  the 
head  of  the  island,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  few  friends  checked  the  fray. 
The  step  was  a  bold  one,  and  boldly  was  it  executed.  Prosecutions 
followed,  which  were  successful.  He  was  married  to  Caroline 
Trendley,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Trendley  of  the  Wiggins'  Ferry 
Company,  May  13,  1873.  By  this  marriage  there  have  been  born 
three  children  :  Henry  T.,  John  W.,  and  Eugene.     Politically,  the 


322 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Captain  is  a  democrat.  Has  held  the  position  of  school  treasurer 
for  a  term  of  three  years,  during  which  service  he  had  to  give  a 
bond  for  $100,000.  So  faithfully  has  he  discharged  his  duties  as 
Chief  of  Police ;  so  unrelenting  has  been  his  warfare  against  crooks 
and  evil-doers;  so  earnest  his  endeavors  to  maintain  the  peace,  that 
he  is  continued  in  the  position  for  which  nature  seems  especially  to 
have  fitted  him. 


P.  H.  STACK. 

East  St.  Louis  is  eminently  a  cosmopolitan  city.    Here  are 
gathered  representatives  of  all  nationalities.    Unlike  many  cities  of 
like  size,  no  one  nation  is  represented  among  her  people  in  numerical 
strength  sufficient  to   control   her   polities  or   local  government. 
Among  those  hailing  from  the  Emerald  Isle  no  one  deserves  more 
prominent  mention,  or  is  held  in  higher  esteem  for  his  talents  and 
worth  as  a  citizen  and  man,  than  he  whose  name  heads  this  article. 
A  recognized  leader  among  not  only  his  people,  but  among  the 
people   generally,   P.    H.  Stack  is   an  honored  name.     He  was 
born  in  Tullihinell,  Barrylongford  parish",  Kerry  county,  Ireland, 
May  11,  1828.     His  father  was  a  farmer  of  the  better  class,  being 
a  landed  proprietor ;  but  reverses  came,  as  come  they  will,  in  this 
instance,  growing  out  of  the  famine  which  visited  his  native  island 
in  1849,  by  which  he  lost  much  property.     Gathering  together  the 
fragments  of  his  wealth,  he  determined  on  seeking  a  new  home 
across  the  ocean,  and  accordingly  landed  in  New  York  in  February, 
1849.     He  brought  with  him  a  large  family, — eleven  in  all,  to 
■  which  one  was  added  here,  and  one  was  left  behind  in  Ireland,  a 
daughter  who  had  married  there.     Of  this  family,  six  were  boys, 
and  eight  were  girls.     Garrett  Stack,  for  that  was  bis  name,  bought 
a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Canada.    A  few  years 
after,  he   returned  to  the  United  States,  and  died  in  New  York  in 
1857.    P.  H.  Stack  did  not  remain  with  his  father,  but  struck  out  for 
himself,  locating  first  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  a  liberal  education  with  which  he  is  blessed.   From  here  he 
went  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  he  became  the  student  of  Bishop 
Miles,  then  to  Carondelet,  where  he  studied  with  Bishop  Kendrick. 
His  wanderings  were  those  of  a  student ;  his  ambition  was  to  pre- 
pare himself  for  the  priesthood.     During  intermissions  from  study 
he  engaged  his  services  in  several  capacities  to  railroad  companies 
at   times,  as  foreman  on  works  or  as   sub-contractor.     He  built 
three  miles  of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  railroad.     This  business  car- 
ried him  from  place  to  place ;  thus  we  find  him  at  Chicago,  Natchez, 
Memphis  and  at  other  places.    At  Chicago  he  was  married  to  Mar- 
garet Sellis,  on  the  4th  of  November,  1855.     By  this  marriage  he 
has  four  children— Johanna,  now  the  wife  of  Frank  Healey,  bridge 
collector ;    Garrett  J.,  assistant  cashier  0.  &  M.  E.  K. ;  John  J. 
student  in  Jones'  commercial  college,  St.  Louis,  and  Margaret  F. 
The  breaking  out  of  the  war  found  him  located  in  Natchez,  Missis- 
sipi,  where  he  was  foreman   and  paymaster  on  leveeing.    From 
thence  he  came  north,  and  was  employed  by  the  Missouri  <fe  Pacific 
railroad  company,  but  bushwhackers  along  the  route  determined 
him  on  finding  a  safer  place ;  hence  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis, 


where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  has  kept  a  boarding-house,  and 
attended  to  his  growing  real  estate  interests.  He  owns  ten  or 
twelve  residences  here  and  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  near  Carlyle,  Clinton  county,  Illinois,  together  with  much 
other  property,  the  accumulation  of  a  life  of  energy  and  pluck. 
He  has  held  various  positions  to  which  his  fellow  citizens  have 
chosen  ,him,  as  justice  of  the  peace,  for  a  period  of  eight  years  ; 
school  director,  one  term ;  member  of  the  board  of  health,  one 
term.  He  was  at  one  {ime  a  defeated  candidate  for  the  mayoralty ; 
he  is  politically  a  democtat,  opposed  to  monopolies  and  all  grabbing 
schemes,  and  refuses  to  become  the  tool  of  corporations.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Koman  Catholic  church. 


HENRY  D.  O'BRIEN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Calais,  Maine,  on  the  21st 
day  of  January,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Wetmore  O'Brien  and 
Sarah  M.,  nee  Smith. 

When  seven  years  of  age  his  parents  rnoved  to  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan, where  he  attended  school.  In  1855  they  moved  to  Min- 
neapolis, Mianesjta.  After  remaining  here  a  short  time,  he 
returned  to  Detroit,  where  he  learned  the  watch-making  and 
jeweler's  trade.  Thence  he  went  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  to  attend 
school,  then  to  his  home  in  Minneapolis. 

•  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  1st  regiment, 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  Was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg'in  the  head,  hand  and  side,  and  while  carrying  the 
regimental  flag,  the  staff  was  shot  from  his  hands.  At  the  battle  of 
Deep  Bottom,  or  Strawberry  plains,  which  was  fought  on  Sunday, 
August  14th,  1864,  he  was,  whilst  making  a  charge,  shot  through 
the  right  shoulder  and  lung.  After  being  absent  a  short  time  he 
returned  to  the  regiment,  and  was  present  on  the  field  when  Lse 
surrendered.  He  passed  through  nearly  all  the  battles  in  which 
the  army  of  the  Potomac  was  engaged,  and  served  in  every  posi- 
tion from  that  of  private  to  Lieut.  Colonel.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  Major  of  the  regiment,  and  Adjutant  General  of  Mor- 
row's Division,  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

Returning  to  Minnesota,  he  received  the  appointment  as  post- 
master of  East  Minneapolis  from  President  Johnson,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  his  commission  was  re-appointed  by  President  Grant, 
and  held  the  position  for  nearly  seven  years.  Through  the  advice 
of  physicians  he  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1873,  for  treatment  of  the 
wound  in  his  shoulder,  but  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  the  best 
surgeons  in  the  city,  is  still  troubled  with  it.  Mr.  O'Brien  has  been 
editor  and  publisher  of  the  Gazette  for  the  past  four  years,  and 
previous  to  that  served  in  a  similar  capacity  on  the  Press.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  a  liberal  in  his  religious  views,  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythian,  having  been  Past 
Chancellor  in  the  latter  order,  and  for  several  years  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  G.  A-  R-  He  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Emma  S.  Sin- 
clair.    She  died  in  February,  1873.     He  is  still  a  widower. 


Farm  Residence  or  CLEMENT  BEVELOT,  Esq.  Centreville  Road,  East  st.louis,  ill  . 


OLDHoMEScPRESEtrrFARMREsmENCEOF  AMBROSE  J0NES,SRiSecJ7J.Z^R.aW/ASTSrLouiaPR.STGLM^ 


FRENCH   VILLAGE    PRECINCT. 


[his  precinct  was  settled  by  CahokiaDs  about  th® 
year  1800,  and  the  first  settlement  was  known 
as  Little  French  Village.  In  1837  it  contained 
only  fifteen  or  twenty  families,  but  it  now  com- 
prises at  least  one  hundred  and  twenty  fami- 
lies, nearly  all  of  whom  are  of  French  descent. 
It  lies  in  the  north-western  part  of  the  county, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  precincts  of 
East  St.  Louis  and  Casey  ville  ;  on  the  east  by 
Casey  ville  and  O'Fallon  ;  on  the  south  by  Belle- 
ville and  Cahokia ;  on  the  west  by  Cahokia 
and  East  St.  Louis,  and  contains  about  7,700  acres.  It  extends 
nearly  a  mile  into  the  bluflf,  which  comprises  about  one-fifth  of  the 
precinct.  There  are  nearly  seven  hundred  acres  of  the  bottom  land 
that  are  included  in  the  ponds  or  lakes.  In  extreme  dry  seasons,  a 
portion  of  this  is  susceptible  of  cultivation,  and  is  the  best  land  for 
corn  that  the  Bottoms  contain.  These  lakes  are  fed,  during  high 
water,  from  the  Mississippi  through  the  bayous,  and  are,  therefore, 
well  supplied  with  an  abundance  of  the  finny  tribe,  such  as  buffalo, 
cat,  bass,  etc.  It  Ls  said  that  in  an  early  day  the  wild  swans,  ducks, 
and  geese  were  so  numerous  on  these  lakes,  that  it  was  almost  im- 
possible for  the  people  living  near  them  to  sleep  nights,  on  account 
of  the  quacking  and  confubion  caused  by  the  wild  fowls.  One  old 
gentleman  gives  an  account  of  killing  twenty-two  ducks  at  one  shot, 
and  that  it  was  no  uncommon  occurrence  for  a  good  sportsman  to 
kill  and  bring  home  in  one  day,  a  French  cart-load  of  wild 
game. 

Like  the  rest  of  the  American  Bottom,  the  most  of  the  precinct 
has  very  meagre  drainage.  An  attempt  was  made  about  ten  years 
ago  to  drain  it  by  means  of  a  big  ditch  cut  through  from  Spring 
Lake  to  Big  Lake,  and  thence  into  Prairie  du  Pont  creek.  The 
ditch  was  dug,  but  it  proved  of  little  or  no  value  on  account  of  a 
lack  of  fall.  Schoenberger  creek  heads  in  the  bluff  and  winds 
around  for  several  miles  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  precinct, 
but  the  people  here  say  that  it  is  so  contrary  that  it  runs  up  stream 
instead  of  down. 

The  first  farm  was  improved  by  Laurence  Schoenberger,  who  had 
come  to  this  country  in  the  year  1789.  He  settled  here  about  the 
year  1800,  and  entered  his  first  land  on  section  twenty-five  in  1814. 
He  became  the  largest  land-owner  in  this  part  of  the  county  ;  his 
possessions  extended  from  section  twenty-five  east,  to  some  distance 
into  the  bluff.  Laurence  Pensoneau  settled  here  about  the  same 
time  as  the  above,  and  located  oa  section  twenty-three.  His  wife's 
name  was  Odele  Galliot.  They  brought  up  quite  a  family  of  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom,  Stephen,  is  now  living  near  the  old  homestead, 


and  is  one  of  the  oldest  citizens.  He  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife's  name  was  Adeline  Belange,  who  died  in  1848,  leaving 
two  children.  Mr.  Pensoneau  afterwards  married  Miss  Barbara 
Eckman,  who  is  still  living.  There  have  been  six  children  born 
from  this  union,  the  most  of  whom  are  of  mature  age.  Among 
other  old  settlers  are,  August  Trotier,  settled  on  section  twenty-,-ix; 
Nicholas  Tourjeant,  located  on  the  same  section  ;  Joseph  Boneau, 
settled  on  the  Surveys ;  Baptiste  Chartr^nd,  located  on  section 
twenty-six ;  Laurence  Gunville,  same  section  ;  Louis  Roulard,  Pe- 
ter Garah,  Baptiste  Graundine,  Baptiste  Gainard  and  Jerry  Sulli- 
van, all  located  on  section  twenty-three;  Joseph  Lepage  and  Jo- 
seph Valentine,  on  the  Surveys.  The  above  persons  settled  in  the 
precinct  about  the  same  time,  to  wit :  1800. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  John  Derosch,  about  1820,  and  was 
owned  by  Joseph  Boneau.  It  was  situated  on  the  old  Vincennes 
stite  road,  now  rock-road,  and  opposite  Mrs.  Amelia  Boneau's  pres- 
ent brick  residence.  It  was  a  two-story  frame  building,  with  one 
run  of  stone,  and  was  propelled  by  oxen  on  the  old  tread-wheel 
principle  of  action.  The  mill  has  long  since  disappeared,  and  a 
flourishing  orchard  is  now  growing  on  the  old  site.  The  first  store 
was  built  in  1838,  and  was  situated  oa  what  is  now  the  rock-road, 
not  far  from  ihe  mill.  It  was  a  frame  building,  two  stories,  and 
owned  and  operated  by  Glode  C.  Belange. 

Joseph  Boneau  established  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  1838. 
It  was  a  log  structure,  14x14,  and  situated  on  Mr.  Boneau's  land 
in  the  Surveys,  on  the  Belleville  rock-road.  The  first  post-office 
was  establi-hed  in  1849,  on  the  rock-road,  and  was  called  French 
Village.  The  first  postmaster  was  John  Penn.  Glode  C.  Belange 
kept  the  first  hotel,  and  run  it  in  coaneciion  with  his  store. 

For  the  benefit  of  future  generations,  we  will  state  here  that  all 
there  is,  or  ever  haa  been,  of  what  is  known  as  French  Village,  (not 
referring  to  the  precinct)  is,  in  fact,  no  village  at  all,  but  a  few 
houses  scattered  along  for  some  distance  on  the  Belleville  rock-road, 
and  has  been,  for  euphony  or  convenience,  called  a  village.  The 
most  of  these  are  farm  houses,  interspersed  with  two  or  three  small 
shops  or  country  business  houses. 

The  first  church  was  built  by  the  Catholic  denomination  in  1842, 
and  situated  on  section  twenty-six.  It  is  a  fram  e  building,  and  was 
constructed  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  Peter  Deturlin,  who  was 
its  first  pastor.  The  cemetery  is  situated  on  the  same  lot,  just  east 
of  the  church.  It  is  kept  in  excellent  order,  as  everything  in  or 
about  it  show  the  marks  of  thoughtful  and  careful  attention. 
The  first  school-house  was  built  in  1829,  and  situated  on  the  old 
Vinceunes  state  road,  in  section  twenty-five.  John  Robinson  was 
the  first  teacher.    A  fine  brick  school-house  was  built  in  1869,  and 

323 


324 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


situated  in  section  twenty-six,  near  the  Catholic  church.  The  cost 
of  construction  was  $2500,  and  it  is  so  arranged  that  two  teachers 
are  employed,  and  is  conveniently  operated  as  a  semi-graded 
school. 

There  are  two  coal  mines  in  operation  in  the  precinct  at  this 
writing.  The  first  was  owned  and  operated  by  Joseph  Boneau,  in 
an  early  day,  and  was  situated  about  a  half  mile  south  of  French 
Village.  Mr.  Boneau  was  also  the  first  to  introduce  blooded  stock 
into  this  part  of  the  county,  which  was  in  1832.  Among  the  early 
justices  of  the  peace,  we  find  the  names  of  Lambert  Boneau,  Ama- 
nial  Trotier  and  Deno  Pellitier.  The  former  was  probably  the  first 
justice  in  the  precinct. 

In  early  days  the  people  underwent  many  privations  and  hard- 
shipsi  but  were  contented  and  happy ;  indeed,  to  converse  with  the 
old  settlers,  one  would  feel  convinced  that  their  pleasures  of  long 
ago,  exceeded  those  of  to-day.  They  manufactured  everything 
they  wore  from  cap  to  shoes.  The  women  wore  home-made  dresses, 
colored  with  sumac  bark,  and  the  bonnet  was  simj)ly  a  blue  hand- 
kerchief wrapped  carelessly  around  the  head.  Before  the  church 
was  built  in  this  precinct,  the  people  attended  church  services  in 
Cahokia.  Their  mode  of  conveyance  was  the  French  cart,  usually 
drawn  by  oxen,  but  a  few  of  the  more  aristocratic  were  supplied 
with  horses.  The  cart  would  take  the  premium  as  a  first-class  cu- 
riosity, if  placed  on  exhibition  at  the  present  time.  It  was  wholly 
constructed  of  wood,  the  wheels  not  even  being  bound  with  a  tire. 
The  axle,  where  it  entered  the  hub,  was  six  inches  in  diameter, 
while  the  hub  was  about  six  feet  in  circumference.  The  body  or 
bed  was  a  frame  resting  on  the  axle  and  pole,  with  six  standards 
placed  upright  in  the  frame,  and  interwoven,  wicker  fashion,  with 
hazel  brush  or  willows.  The  horses  were  harnessed  to  pull  from 
the  haunches  instead  of  the  shoulders  ;  while  the  oxen  were  yoked 
at  the  head  as  we  see  in  pictures  of  the  olden  times.  The  greasing 
process  was  as  unique  as  the  vehicle  itself.  This  was  done  with  a 
bountiful  supply  of  soft-soap. 

Land  Entries. — The  first  land  entered  was  by  Furgeson  &  Trot- 
ier, September  27th,  1814,  in  section  26,  south-east  quarter,  contain- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Gabriel  Marlot  entered  Septem- 
ber 29th,  1814,  all  of  section  24,  being  six  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
October  1st,  1814,  John  Hendricks  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  the  north-east  quarter  of  section  36.  J.  L.  Schoneberger, 
December  23d,  1814,  entered  the  north-west  quarter  in  section  25, 
being  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  One  hundred  and  fifty-five 
acres  in  the  north-east  quarter  of  section  21,  was  entered  by  Louis 
Jarvis  the  24th  of  December,  1814. 


Transportation  Facilities. — One  of  the  best  wagon  roads  in  the 
state  passes  through  this  precinct,  and  is  known  as  the  rock  road. 
It  extends  from  Belleville  to  East  St.  Louis,  and  is  in  excellent 
condition,  being  macadamized  with  lime  stone.  The  Illinois  and  St. 
Louis  railroad  cuts  across  the  south-western  part  of  the  precinct, 
and  takes  a  north-westerly  direction,  extending  along  near  the  line  to 
East  St.  Louis.  The  South  Eastern  railway  passes  entirely 
through  the  precinct  from  the  north-west  to  the  south-east,  entering 
on  section  21,  and  passes  out  near  the  south-east  corner  of  sec- 
tion 36. 

Situated  on  the  rock  road,  after  leaving  the  blufi"  going  west,  for 
perhaps  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  is  what  is  called  French  Village 
proper,  and  has  already  been  described.  At  this  writing  there  are 
the  following  business  houses  scattered  along  the  road :  A  frame 
two-story  hotel,  kept  by  John  Borgmeyr ;  one  general  store,  with 
H.  Kaune  as  proprietor ;  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  of  which  car- 
ries on  carriage  making  in  connection  with  the  shop,  and  is  con- 
ducted by  Louis  Fetterer.  The  other  is  owned  and  operated  by 
Augustus  Kehr.  George  Hollinger  keeps  a  boot  and  shoe  shop, 
and  there  are  also  three  saloons  sprinkled  along  the  line.  About 
half  a  mile  north  of  the  rock  road,  and  situated  on  what  is  known 
as  the  Blufi"  road,  is  quite  an  extensive  malt  house.  It  was  erected 
in  1867,  by  Thomas  Frick,  who  conducted  it  for  about  three  years, 
when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  H.  A.  Steinnecke,  the  present  pro- 
prietor. It  is  three  stories,  including  basement,  and  is  constructed 
of  brick  with  stone  foundation.  Its  size  on  the  ground  is  40x100 
feet,  and  cost  $8000.  It  is  supplied  with  two  tanks,  the  larger  of 
which  is  capable  of  holding  three  hundred  bushels  of  barley,  and 
the  smaller,  one  hundred  and  fifty  bushels.  Its  capacity  is  15,000 
bushels  of  malt  per  annum,  and  gives  employment  to  four  hands. 
The  annual  value  of  manufactured  material  is  $15,000.  The  bu- 
siness is  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  August  Frank,  fore- 
man. An  ice  house  belongs  to  the  same  firm,  and  is  constructed 
in  the  blufi"  near  the  malt-building.  It  is  about  ten  feet  high  by 
ten  in  width,  and  extends  into  the  blufi"  upwards  of  twenty  feet,  and 
will  store  thirty  tons  of  ice.  A  small  saloon  is  situated  a  little  north 
of  the  malt  house.  There  is  but  one  physician  in  the  precinct,  Dr. 
Chas.  H.  Christoflfe.  James  Lepage  and  Nicholas  Boul  are  the  pre- 
sent justices  of  the  peace. 

The  people  of  French  Village  are  an  industrious  and  hard-work- 
ing class,  and  if  they  could  succeed  in  obtaining  adequate  drainage 
to  their  farms,  they  have  lands  so  fertile  that  they  could  challenge 
the  world  to  compete  with  them  in  their  productions. 


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CAHOKIA    PRECINCT. 


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[HIS  is  indeed  historic  ground,  its  settlement  be- 
ginning just  about  midway  between  the  land 
ing  of  Columbus  upon  American  shores  and 
the  present  time.  It  is  situated  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county,  and  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  precincts  of  East  St.  Louis  and  French 
Village,  on  the  east  by  French  Village  and 
Belleville,  on  the  south  by  Centerville,  and  west 
by  Prairie  du  Pont  and  Mississippi  river,  and 
contains  upwards  of  22,000  acres  of  rich  alluvial  soil  of  the 
American  Bottom,  except  a  portion  of  the  south  and  south-east, 
which  extends  into  the  bluff  for  some  distance.  The  drainage 
of  the  bottom  land  is  necessarily  poor,  on  account  of  being  so 
nearly  on  a  plane  with  the  Mississippi.  The  few  streams  empty 
into  the  sloughs  or  Big  Lake,  and  thence  through  a  large  artificial 
ditch  to  Prairie  du  Pont  creek,  and  into  the  Mississippi.  It  is  said, 
and  is  probably  true,  that  the  American  Bottoms  can  never  have 
an  adequate  system  of  drainage  without  lowering  the  bed  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  drainage  question  of  the  Bottoms  has  for  many 
years  been  an  unsolved  problem,  and  will  probably  remain  so  until 
some  freak  of  nature  shall  settle  the  vexed  questio  n . 

The  soil  of  the  Bottoms  is  not  surpassed  in  fertility  anywhere  on 
the  globe.  That  it  is  inexhaustible  has  been  proved  by  over  a  cen- 
tury and  a  half's  tillage.  This  is  largely  due  to  the  deposits  of  silt 
left  after  the  overflowing  of  the  Bottoms  by  the  river.  There  have 
been  several  of  these  inundations  within  the  last  century,  some  of 
which  have  proved  very  disastrous  to  the  villages  and  productions 
of  the  farmers.  These  occur  usually  in  June,  when  the  snow  and 
ice  of  the  mountain  regions  melt  and  flow  back  to  the  gulf.  The 
first  great  rise  in  the  river  of  which  history  gives  any  account, 
occurred  in  1770 ;  and  in  1772  the  whole  bottom  was  under  water. 
Again,  in  1784,  a  deep  inundation  took  place.  Cahokia  was  several 
feet  under  water,  and  the  inhabitants  fled  to  the  bluff  south-east  of 
the  village  for  safety  during  the  flood.  A  considerable  inundation 
occurred  in  1826,  but  no  very  great  damage  was  done.  The  deepest 
and  most  destructive  overflow  was  in  1844.  Large  steamers  plied 
from  bluff"  to  bluff".  Villages,  orchards,  fences  and  nearly  every 
improvement  made  was  swallowed  up  and  swept  away  by  this  flood. 
The  villages  of  Cahokia,  Prairie  du  Pont  and  Illinoistown  (now 
East  St.  Louis),  were  almost  destroyed,  from  the  effects  of  which 
the  former  two  have  never  recovered.  In  1851  and  1858  there  were 
very  destructive  floods,  doing  much  damage  to  real  and  personal 
property.  The  dikes  at  East  St.  Louis  and  the  government  dil!;es 
midway  between  the  above  city  and  East  Carondelet  have  been 
auxiliary  in  preserving  what  is  left  of  Cahokia  village. 


Many  years  ago,  Cahokia  creek  emptied  into  the  river  just  north 
of  the  village ;  its  old  bed  is  plainly  visible  to  this  day.  Peck  says, 
in  his  Gazetteer,  that  "  Cahokia  creek  formerly  passed  the  village  of 
Cahokia  and  entered  the  Mississippi  further  down,  but  a  mischievous 
Frenchman,  having  a  pique  against  the  village,  cut  a  channel  from 
the  creek  to  the  river,  and  formed  its  present  outlet."  But  there  is 
no  evidence  to  sustain  the  theory  that  the  creek  ever  emptied  into 
the  river  below  the  village.  No  sign  of  a  channel  or  creek-bed  can 
be  discovered  south  of  the  village,  and  the  oldest  inhabitants 
informed  us  that  there  had  been  no  history  or  tradition  among 
them  to  sustain  Mr.  Peck's  theory.  It  is  true  that  a  Frenchman 
turned  the  course  of  the  stream  at  a  point  about  midway  between 
Cahokia  and  East  St.  Louis.  This  was  done  by  cutting  a  ditch 
through  a  rise  of  ground  that  lay  between  the  creek  and  a  slough 
not  far  from  the  river.  The  stream  wore  its  way  through  the  high 
ground  into  the  depression  or  slough,  and  thence  into  the  river. 
This  was  its  course  until  the  construction  of  the  Pittsburg  dike  at 
East  St.  Louis,  when  its  course  was  diverted  to  its  present  mouth, 
just  north  of  the  dike. 

Portions  of  the  Bottom,  especially  along  the  creeks,  Cahokia  and 
Prairie  du  Pont,  were  formerly  covered  with  heavy  timber,  such  as 
black  walnut,  Cottonwood,  elm,  oak  and  other  varieties;  but  the 
most  of  it  has  been  cleared  away  to  give  room  to  civilization.  Many 
■  ancient  mounds  were,  and  a  few  may  yet  be  seen  near  the  borders 
of  these  craeks.  In  these  as  in  all  others,  when  excavated,  arefound 
human  bones,  shells  and  pottery  that  were  deposited  at  some  period 
by  a  pre-historic  race. 

Wheat  is  the  chief  product  of  the  farmers,  though  much  corn  is 
cultivated,  and  with  excellent  success.  There  are  many  fine  or- 
chards, but  mainly  confined  to  apples.  Cabbage  and  other  vegeta- 
bles are  cultivated  quite  extensively  and  marketed  at  St.  Louis. 

The  exact  date  of  the  first  settlement  at  Cahokia  seems  to  be  an 
unsettled  question  among  historians.  According  to  Peck,  the  vil- 
lage of  Cahokia  was  founded  in  1683,  by  members  of  La  [Salle's 
party  who  were  left  behind  on  his  return  to  France.  Reynolds 
says,  "  That  in  the  year  1686,  Tonti,  then  chief  and  captain-general, 
in  conducting  the  war  against  the  British  and  Iroquois,  heard  of  his 
friend  La  Salle  being  in  the  West  Indies,  and  descended  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi  in  search  of  him,  but  returned  without 
him.-  On  the  route  he  established  the  post  of  Arkansas,  and  I  pre- 
sume the  settlements  of  Illinois,  Peoria,  Cahokia,  and  Kaskaskia 
may  date  their  existence  from  the  same  period,  1686,  or  before." 
Another  author  s^ys,  "  Cahokia,  first  called  Notre  Dame  des  Kaho- 
Uas,  from  good  authority  appears  to  have  been  a  trading  post  and 
mission  station  earlier  than  Kaskaskia,  and  that  both  were  settled 

325 


32G 


EISTOBT  OF  ST.  CLAIE  COV^'TY,  ILLINOIS. 


by  missionaries  as  early  and  perhaps  before  1690."  He  further 
says,  "  That  it  is  stated  on  good  authority  that  a  missionary  known 
as  Father  Pinnet,  founded  Cahokia,  and  was  successful  in  convert- 
ing many  of  the  Indians  to  Christianity."  Let  it  be  as  it  may,  not 
far  from  two  centuries  ago  a  few  zealous  French  missionaries  estab- 
lished themselves  among  the  savage  Kahokians  for  the  pure  pur- 
pose of  teaching  them  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  These  formed 
the  nucleus  from  which  Cahokia  grew  and  became  the  first  settle- 
ment on  the  Mississippi. 

The  Indian  traders  soon  followed  the  missionaries,  and  built 
stone  houses,  and  commenced  traffic  with  the  natives.  The  emigra- 
tion excitement  grew  in  intensity,  and  in  a  few  years  Cahokia  be- 
came a  place  of  thrift  and  civilization  Jby  a  white  population  mostly 
emigrants  from  Canada.  Their  style  of  living  at  that  early  period 
was  but  little  better  than  that  of  the  natives ;  but  about  1700  they 
commenced  to  cultivate  the  rich  bottom  land  around  the  village, 
and  to  erect  buildings  suitable  for  white  habitation.  A  church 
was  built  by  the  missionaries,  and  located  on  the  very  spot  where 
the  church  now  stands  ;  indeed,  it  is  said  that  a  part  of  the  old 
structure  composes  a  portion  of  the  frame  of  the  present  house. 
They  had  no  organized  government  until  the  establishment  of  the 
Company  of  the  West.  Reynolds  in  his  pioneer  history  says  "that 
the  small  number  of  inhabitants,  and  their  destitution  of  wealth, 
made  a  government  entirely-  useless.  The  leaders  of  the  first 
French  settlements  of  Illinois  were  men  of  talent,  and  for  the  most 
part  of  classic  education,  while  the  common  classes  were  innocent, 
honest  and  kind,  and  obedient  to  their  commanders  or  leaders. 
They  had  no  itching  for  wealth,  and  if  provided  with  a  scanty  sup- 
ply of  clothes,  corn  and  deer's  tallow,  or  meat  to  eat,  they  would 
sing  and  dance,  and  were  in  fact  happy,  whether  they  were  in  the 
snows  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  or  in  the  dancing  saloons  of  Quebec. 
"  The  community  thus  constituted  needed  little  or  no  government: 
in  fact  they  had  none  until  the  Company  of  the  West  was  estab- 
lished in  the  country." 

The  early  settlements  of  these  people  were  usually  in  the  form  of 
small,  compact,  patriarchal  villages,  living  as  one  great  family  as- 
sembled around  their  old  men  and  patriarchs.  The  houses  were 
plain  and  uniform  in  style.  Usually  each  homestead  was  surrounded 
by  its  own  separate  inclosure  of  a  rude  picket  fence.  The  lots  of 
Cahokia  were  laid  out  uniform  in  size,  being  300  feet  square.  For 
many  years,  on  account  of  mutual  protection  from  the  Indians,  the  • 
people  did  not  live  on  the  lands  they  cultivated,  but  had  their  abode 
in  the  village,  and  went  forth  from  day  to  day  to  perform  their 
farm  labor.  In  order  that  the  reader  may  more  fully  understand 
the  customs  and  rights  of  the  early  settlers  of  Cahokia,  we  quote 
from  Judge  Breese's  decision,  found  in  the  Report  of  27  Illinois, 
which  relates  to  the  inhabitanti  of  Cahokia  and  the  Cahokia  Com- 
mons : 

"  The  villagers  were  granted  two  tracts  of  land  at  convenient  dis- 
tances, for  'common  fields'  and  'commons.'  The  former  was  a 
tract  of  laud  containing  several  huudr  ed  acres,  enclosed  under  one 
fence,  each  family  possessing  an  individual  interest  in  a  portion  of 
the  field  bounded  from  the  rest.  These  lands  were  owned  in  fee 
simple,  and  could  be  conveyed  like  any  other  landed  property. 
The  'commons'  was  situated  outside  and  around  the  'common 
fields.'  It  was  a  tract  of  land  granted  to  the  town  for  wood,  pastur- 
age, etc.  In  this  each  had  a  right  in  common,  not  an  individual 
right."     This  tract  sometimes  embraced  several  thousand  acres. 

By  an  Act  of  Congress  dated  March  3d,  1791,  a  tract  of  land  in- 
cluding the  villages  of  Cahokia  and  Prairie  du  Pont,  and  used  by 
the  inhabitants  as  a  common,  was  appropriated  to  their  use  as  such, 
until  otherwise  disposed  of  by  law.     It  will  be  seen  from  the  above, 


that  the  limits  of  the  commons  were  left  undefined  by  the  Act  of 
Congress  of  1791.  This,  and  subsequent  questions  relating  thereto, 
induced  congress  to  appoint  commissioners  to  inquire  into  and  ad- 
just the  same.  The  following  is  a  synopsis  of  their  report,  which 
was  made  Dec.  3,  1809: 

On  examination,  they  find  that  a  tract  of  land  four  leagues 
square  was  granted  to  said  villagers  with  title,  etc.,  as  above  de- 
scribed ;  but  as  the  limits  of  the  commons  were  left  undefined  by 
the  act  of  1791,  it  became  a  subject  of  compromise  between  the  vil- 
lagers and  the  acting  governor  (St.  Clair)  of  the  territory,  about 
1797,  and  by  their  consent  two  tracts,  in  all  5,400  acres,  were  or- 
dered to  be  laid  oif  for  this  purpose.  Accordingly,  Gov.  St.  Clair 
appointed  a  surveyor,  and  the  land  was  located. 

On  examination  the  commissioners  discovered  that  the  surveys 
were  inaccurately  made,  that  of  Cahokia  in  particular.  Instead  of 
4,000  acres,  it  ought  to  have  contained  20,000  acres.  An  account 
of  the  situation  and  circumstances  of  the  said  tracts  not  accommo- 
dating the  inhabitants,  the  board  thought  it  best  to  permit  a  new 
location-  to  be  made  for  commons  for  each  of  the  said  villages,  on 
lands  more  conveniently  situated  for  them.  The  action  of  the 
commissioners  was  acceptable  both  to  the  people  and  congress. 
Accordingly  congress,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1810,  passed  an  act 
confirming  the  decisions  made  by  the  board  of  commissioners.  The 
lands  included  in  the  common  fields  retain  their  former  boundaries, 
the  board  not  having  them  under  consideration.  And  thus  stands 
the  status  of  the  commons  at  this  time. 

Prior  to  1841  the  commons  of  Cahokia  were  used  by  the  inhabi- 
tants only  for  the  coumon  purpose  of  pasturage,  fuel,  etc.  Here 
was  a  large  and  valuable  tract  of  land,  from  which  the  villagers 
were  reaping  but  a  small  advantage.  Accordingly  they  appealed 
to  the  state  to  legalize  by  act  of  the  legislature  the  leasing  of  the 
common,  or  so  much  as  should  be  deemed  expedient,  the  proceeds 
to  be  devoted  to  a  common  school  fund  for  the  use  of  the 
villagers. 

An  act  was  passed,  in  accordance  with  their  expressed  desire, 
dated  Feb.  17th,  1841.  This  act  empowers  the  supervisor  elected 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  village,  to  cause  lots  to  be  surveyed  out  of 
the  commons,  and  to  lease  the  same  for  a  term  not  to  exceed  one 
hundred  years.  From  this  fund  school-houses  have  been  built,  • 
teachers  employed,  and  all  other  expenses  defrayed  appertaining  to 
a  free  school  system.  They  do  not  draw  any  of  the  state  fund,  nor 
do  they  need  it,  as  the  income  from  the  commons  is  more  than  ade- 
quate to  their  wants. 

Families  moving  from  the  village  to  the  common  fields,  or  else- 
where, forfeit  their  rights  to  this  common  fund.  On  the  other  hand., 
parties  moving  into  the  village,  and  becoming  citizens,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  customs  of  the  inhabitants,  acquire  an  equal  right  to  the 
benefits  of  said  fund,  the  same  as  those  who  may  have  always  Taeen 
natives  of  the  village. 

The  first  house  built  in  the  precinct  outside  of  Cahokia  village 
was  erected  about  1834,  by  Louis  Pensoueau.  It  was  a  small  log 
structure,  a  story  and  a  half  in  height,  and  situated  near  where  the 
Illinois  and  St.  Louis  railroad  crosses  the  highway  leading  to  Paps- 
town  ;  and  a  mile  and  a  half  south-east  of  Jarrot's  station.  The 
old  stone  chimney  still  stands  as  a  landmark  to  inform  the  passer- 
by that  this  is  the  oldest  relic  of  its  kind  belonging  to  the  common 
fields  of  Cahokia. 

From  the  date  of  the  foregoing,  and  what  has  already  been  stated 
with  regard  to  the  customs  of  the  first  settlers,  relative  to  their 
clustering  together  in  villages  for  mutual  protection,  etc.,  it  will 
readily  be  seen  that  this  chapter's  history  is  confined  almost  entirely 
to  the  ancient. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


327 


VILLAGE  OF   CAHOKIA. 

That  it  is  nearly  two  centuries  old,  and  the  first  built  on  the  banks 
of  the  Father  of  Waters,  as  well  as  the  first  in  the  Mississippi  valley, 
has  already  been  established.  The  village  lies  entirely  within  what  is 
known  as  survey  No.  759,  which  was  originally  a  part  of  the  com- 
mons. The  plat  is  very  nearly  in  the  form  of  the  outline  of  the 
boundaries  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  larger  portion  of  the 
site  of  the  old  village  is  now  contained  in  the  river  slough,  west  of 
the  present  village.  At  the  time  of  its  settlement  it  was  a  perfect 
wilderness.  Heavy  timber  of  oak,  elm,  sycamore,  and  walnut 
covered  the  entire  tract.  New-comers  were  hailed  with  warmth,  and 
the  custom  was  to  measure  them  off  300  feet  square  for  a  house, 
garden  and  stable-lot.  This  of  course  had  to  be  cleared  of  the  tim- 
ber before  it  could  be  occupied.  Parties  were  appointed  by  the 
citizens  to  perform  the  work  of  laying  off  the  lots.  The  chain  was 
constructed  from  strips  of  paw-paw  bark,  knotted  together  to  the  de- 
sired length.  Early  deeds  were  made  by  giving  boundaries  from  point 
to  point,  naming  the  persons  who  lived  adjacent  to  the  property  sur- 
veyed. In  fact,  lots  were  not  numbered  until  about  1850,  when 
the  people  of  the  village,  for  the  convenience  of  making  deeds  and 
recording  the  same,  employed  the  county  surveyor  to  make  a  plat 
of  the  town  and  number  the  lots!  No  changes,  however,  were  made 
in  the  former  location  and  direction  of  the  streets.  The  deeds  all 
read :  "  Three  hundred  feet  square,  more  or  less."  Prior  to  1850, 
but  few  deeds  were  made,  and  then  rarely  ever  put  on  record.  The 
villagers  frequently  bought  or  traded  property,  but  it  was  merely 
a  verbal  swap,  after  the  manner  of  trading  chattels.  The  custom 
was  the  same  relative  to  exchanging,  or  selling  arpents  of  land  in 
the  common  fields.  At  that  time  there  was  no  bickering,  no  feel- 
ings of  distrust  between  neighbors,  their  word  was  equivalent  to 
their  bond.  The  same  spirit  prevailed  toward  one  another  in  their 
farm  labors.  Their  arpents  or  farms  lay  side  by  side,  and  any  friend- 
ly assistance  that  was  needed  by  a  neighbor,  was  always  cheerfully 
given.  This  spirit  of  unselfishness  will  be  better  understood  when  it 
is  explained  that  these  farms  were,  in  the  main,  but  eleven  and 
sixty-seven  hundredths  rods  wide,  and  from  three  to  four  miles  in 
length.  No  division  fence  separated  them,  they  lay  side  by  side, 
enclosed  by  one  fence,  in  one  common  field ;  and  yet,  for  more  than 
a  hundred  years,  they  cultiva  ted  their  arpents  in  harmony,  and  with- 
out the  aid  of  the  courts  to  settle  any  difficulties.  For  several 
years,  however,  they  have  been  pretty  well  Americanized,  and  suits 
at  law  are  no  rarity  among  the  Cahokians. 

In  speaking  of  Cahokia  as  it  was  in  1765,  Captain  Pitman,  who 
was  officially  employed  by  Great  Britain  to  survey  the  forts  and 
villages  in  the  English  territories,  after  it  had  passed  from  the 
French  dominion,  says :  "  It  is  long  and  straggling,  being  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  one  end  to  the  other.  It  contains  forty-five 
dwellings,  and  a  church  near  its  centre.  The  situation  is  not  well 
chosen,  as  in  the  floods  it  is  generally  overflowed  two  or  three  feet. 
This  was  the  first  settlement  on  the  Mississippi.  ThtJ  land  was 
purchased  of  the  savages  by  a  few  Canadians,  some  of  whom  married 
women,  of  the  Kaoquias  nation,  and  others  brought  wives  from 
Canada,  and  then  resided  there,  leaving  their  children  to  succeed 
them.  The  inhabitants  of  the  place  depend  more  on  hunting  and 
their  Indian  trade,  than  on  agriculture.  They  have  plenty  of  poultry 
and  good  stocks  of  horned  cattle.  What  is  called  the  fort  is  a  small 
house  standing  in  the  centre  of  the  village.  It  differs  nothing 
from  the  other  houses,  exeept  being  one  of  the  poorest.  It  was  for- 
merly closed  with  high  palisades,  but  these  were  torn  down  and 
burnt." 

The  old  fort  has  long  since  disappeared ;  no  vestige  of  it  can  now 


be  seen.  The  church  still  stands,  and  is  probably  the  oldest  house 
of  worship  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  The  village,  instead 
of  being  "  near  the  side  of  the  Mississippi,"  is  nearly  a  mile  to  the 
east  of  it.  This  change  was  mainly  wrought  by  the  general  flood 
of  18 14. 

Early  Settl-rs.—Ftom  the  fact  of  the  antiquity  of  Cahokia,  but 
few  of  the  names  of  the  earliest  settlers  have  been  preserved.  From 
the  early  marriage  records,  we  are  able  to  glean  a  few  names,  but 
nothing  relating  to  their  character  or  calling  ;  they  could  be  of  but 
little  interest  to  the  reader.  We  shall,  therefore,  only  mention 
those  who  have  figured  more  prominently  in  the  history  of  the  vil- 
lage. 

Among  the  early  immigrants  was  the  famous  Mrs.  La  Compt, 
who  came  to  Cahokia  about  the  year  1770.  She  was  of  French 
birth,  the  family  name  being  La  Flamme.  She  was  born  at  St. 
Joseph,  on  Lake  Michigan,  in  1734.  She  was  a  widow  when  she 
married  M.  La  Compt  of  Cahokia,  from  which  marriage  proceeded 
one  of  the  largest  French  families  in  the  state.  She  was  a  great 
favorite  among  the  friendly  Indians,  and  through  their  aid  and  in- 
formation, she  succeeded  in  saving  the  early  settlers  from  many  a 
bloody  massacre  at  the  hands  of  the  hostile  savages.  After  the 
death  of  her  second  husband.  La  Compt,  she  married  the  celebrated 
Thomas  Brady,  who  was  also  a  citizen  of  Cahokia.  She  outlived 
Brady,  and  died  in  Cahokia  in  1843,  at  the  advanced  age  of  one 
hundred  and  nine  years. 

Thomas  Brady,  third  husband  of  Mrs.  La  Compt,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Cahokia  in  a  very  early  day.  He 
was  a  brave  and  daring  man,  as  many  of  his  exploits  in  history  at- 
test. He  was  among  the  first  to  offer  his  services  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  As  early  as  1777  he  raised  a  small  company  of  men 
from  the  villages  of  Cahokia  and  Prairie  du  Pont,  marched  through 
the  wilderness  to  the  fort  at  St.  Joseph,  Michigan,  then  called  the 
Cow  Pens,  and  captured  the  fort  with  the  loss  of  but  one  man. 
After  the  organization  of  St.  Clair  county  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  in 
1790,  known  as  a  partof  the  Northwest  Territory,  he  was  appointed 
the  first  sheriff  of  the  county.  He  died  in  Cahokia  several  years 
afterward,  lamented  by  many  warm  friends. 

Another  pioneer  and  patriot  was  Charles  Gratiot,  who  established 
an  Indian  trading  store  in  Cahokia  as  early  as  1774.  He  carried 
on  an  extensive  trade  with  the  Indians,  so  that  hij  business  opera- 
tions embraced  several  of  the  present  western  States,  but  his  grand 
depot  for  supplies  was  located  at  Cahokia  for  many  years.  AU 
though  educated  in  England,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu- 
tion he  embarked  his  all  in  the  cause.  He  lived  to  see  his  country 
free,  when  he  retired  to  private  life.  In  1781  he  married  a  M'^ 
Cheauteau,  a  sister  of  Pierre  Cheauteau,  of  St.  Louis.  Members  of 
this  family  were  the  founders  of  St.  Louis,  which  occurred  in  1764. 
Mr.  Gratiot  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  died  in  St.  Louis  iji 
1817. 

Capt.  McCarty  was  one  of  the  old  pioneers  of  the  village.  He 
headed  a  company  of  the  French  in  the  Revolution,  and  did  good 
service  at  the  conquest  of  Fort  Sackville  and  Vincennes,  and  per- 
formed his  duty  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  commanders.  History 
does  not  give  any  account  of  when  he  died. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  settlers  of  Cahokia  was  Nicholas  Jar- 
rot.  He  probably  did  more  to  build  up  and  perpetuate  the  village 
than  any  of  his  day.  He  was  a  native  of  France,  but  the  troubles 
of  that  country  in  1790  induced  him  to  emigrate  to  this  country. 
He  reached  Cahokia  in  1794,  and  prepared  to  make  it  his  residence 
for  life.  His  means  were  limited  when  he  came  to  this  country, 
but  through  his  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance  he  soon  ac- 
quired a  large  fortune.    At  an  early  day  he  was  elected  major  in  a 


328 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS.' 


battalion  of  the  St.  Clair  militia,  and  was  known  until  his  death 
as  Major  Jarrot.  His  first  operations  were  as  a  partial  Indian 
trader ;  he  also  kept  a  retail  store  of  goods  suitable  to  the  market 
of  the  village.  He  afterwards  became  possessed  of  a  large  landed 
estate,  wrought  out  by  his  own  energy  and  foresight ;  also,  at  one 
time,  owned  the  greater  portion  of  the  Wiggin's  Ferry  Landing,  op- 
posite St.  Louis.  His  life  was  an  eventful  one,  the  history  of  which 
would  fill  a  large  volume.  Major  Jarrot  brought  up  a  large  and 
respectable  family,  one  of  whom  is  still  living  in  the  village  of  Ca- 
hokia— Mrs.  Ortance  Brackett,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
three  years.  Mrs.  Brackett  is  a  native  of  the  village,  and  the  old- 
est person  in  Cahokia.  She  is  very  active,  notwithstanding  her 
extreme  age.  Two  of  her  sons  are  living  at  the  old  homestead  with 
her,  Nicholas  McCracken  and  James  Brackett.  Another  son, 
George  Brackett,  attorney-at-Jaw,  resides  in  St.  Louis,  and  a  daugh- 
ter, wife  of  Jno.  0.  Butler,  lives  in  East  St.  Louis. 

Major  Jarrot  died  in  Cahokia  in  1823,  lamented  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends.  His  remains  repose  in  the  old  cemetary,  just  under  the 
shadow  of  the  ancient  church  building. 

Among  other  pioneers  are  Jean  Francais  Perry,  who  settled  in 
the  village  in  1792 ;  John  de  Moulin,  in  1790 ;  John  Hays,  in  1793 ; 
John  Hay,  same  date ;  Julien  Dubuque,  founder  of  Dubuque,  Iowa, 
in  1783 ;  William  Arundel,  the  same  date ;  and  William  Morrison, 
in  1800.  Isaac  Darnielle  was  the  first  resident  lawyer,  and  came 
to  Cahokia  in  1794.  He  was  the  second  profess  ed  lawyer  that  emi- 
grated to  Illinois,  John  Rice  Jones  being  the  first.  Jones  also 
practiced  law  in  Cahokia,  but  resided  at  Kaskaskia. 

Dr.  Lyle  was  probably  the  first  regular  physician  who  practiced 
medicine  in  the  village.  He  came  to  Cahokia  in  an  early  day,  and 
was  considered  a  very  good  physician,  but  was  unpopular  on  account 
of  his  exceeding  ill-nature. 

Gov.  Reynolds  first  tried  the  mettle  of  his  legal  bow  and  spear 
in  Cahokia  in  1814.  How  well  he  succeeded  every  citizen  of  Illi- 
nois is  abundantly  able  to  answer. 

In  1809  Samuel  D.  Davidson,  a  lawyer,  and  native  of  Kentucky, 
settled  in  the  village.  His  talent  did  not  run  in  the  direction  of 
the  law,  and  he  abandoned  the  practice  and  taught  school.  He 
was  the  first  teacher,  and  taught  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  Maj.  Jar- 
rot's  house,  and  was  paid  $400  a  year.  This  salary  was  paid  from 
the  private  purse  of  Maj.  Jarrot.  Davidson  entered  the  military 
service  in  1812.  Some  time  after  the  war  he  left  the  village,  and 
drifted  to  parts  unknown. 

Among  other  historic  events  of  this  ancient  village  was  the  assas- 
sination of  the  Napoleonic  Indian  chief,  Pontiac.  He  was  stabbed 
by  a  Peoria  Indian  in  the  streets  of  Cahokia  in  the  year  1765,  and 
was  buried  within  the  limits  of  the  village.  The  spot  where  tradi- 
tion says  he  was  buried  is  still  pointed  out  by  the  oldest  citizens. 
The  place  indicated  is  about  sixty  feet  south-east  of  the  lots  owned 
and  occupied  by  Dr.  Illinski,  upon  which  is  situated  the  oldest 
house  in  the  village.  His  body  was  subsequently  buried  in  St. 
Louis  by  St.  Auge,  then  commandant  of  that  place,  who  had  been 
a  warm  friend  of  the  Indian  chieftain. 

The  following  inventory  gives  some  interesting  information  rela- 
tive to  the  articles  in  use  among  the  early  French  at  Cahokia  and  the 
prices  which  they  commanded.  It  will  be  seen  that  tliey  are  pos- 
sessed of  many  of  the  conveniences,  and  even  the  luxuries,  of  life  ; 
while  the  sums  obtained  for  the  goods,  at  a  forced  sale,  show  that 
there  must  have  been  considerable  ready  money  in  the  com- 
munity. 

Inventory  of  the  goods  and  chattels  of  J.  J.  R.  Hanson,  sold  in 
pursuance  of  an  order  of  the  court  of  committees  of  Cah6s,  made  on 
the  20th  of  November,  1778,  for  the  sum  of  2,232  livres  in  silver. 


due  to  the  minor  children  Panerasse,  payable  in  May  next,  and  to 
satisfy  a  judgment  in  favor  of  Jean  B.  De  Corte,  payable  in  March 
next.  Sale  took  place  at  Cahds,  November  23, 1778,  three  days 
after  the  order  was  given  : 

A  tract  of  land,  2  arpents  front  (this  may  have  been 

200  acres) 400  livres    ?30  00 

1  plow  with  a  plow  share ,-41     "  8  20      . 

1  oxcart 101     "  20  20 

1  milch  cow  and  calf 148     "  29  60 

1  cow  apd  yearling  calf 133     "  26  60 

2  yearling  calves '  ^^ 

9  tablecloths 1^  00 

6  napkins ^  ^0 

1  pair  of  boots  of  Eussia  leather 8  00 

1  feather  bed 34  10 

8  earthen  pots 1  60 

9tin  plates 5  40 

1  dozen  hens  and  a  cock 6  80 

2  china  dishes - 1  80 

1  dozen  small  china  plates 2  80 

1  table  deal 1  00 

5  cups 1  40 

2  copper  chandeliers 9  40 

1  fryingpan j 1  20 

1  large  iron  kettle  5  20 

1  small  iron  kettle 2  80 

1  set  of  shovel,  tongs  and  poker 7  00 

2  old  cauldrons 1  10 

1  old  harness 16  20 

1  cupboard 42  25 

13spoonsand2  ladles 1  85 

13  forks 2  00 

6  knives 1  20 

1  couch,  featherbed  and  2  straw  pillows 27  60 

3  bed  sheets  of  Russia  linen 8  80 

1  bed  spread,  5ft.  wide,  and  1,  2\  ft.  wide 7  10 

1  coffeemill 6  20 

3  tubs 1  80 

1  tablecloth 1  20 

1  horse  cart 4  80 

Igun „ 4  40 

1  silver  mounted  pistol 5  60 

1  saddle  6  20 

65  empty  bottles 2  80 

1  empty  barrel gO 

2  cotton  shirts 3  gg 

1  pair  cotton  pants x  50 

1  pair  of  velveteen  pants 6  15 

1  red  silk  handkerchief 3  00 

1  scarlet  waistcoat 9  qo 

1  cocked  hat y  qq 

Gunpowder,  per  lb \  40 

1  yoke  of  steers,  3  years  old 5g  oq 

1  carrot  of  tobacco, 100 

4  sailing  crafts 428  00 


$928  40 


The  above  is  a  translation  of  one  of  the  1,300  French  salebills 
which  were  turned  over  to  W.  St.  Clair,  and  are  now  on  file  in  the 
court  house.  The  Hanson  sale  was,  however  a  forced  one  and  may 
therefore,  not  be  a  proper  criterion  of  prices.  We  shall  quote  now, 
prices  obtained  at  an  administrator's  sale  held  in  February,  1791. 

Household  and  kitchen  articles:— China  plates,  $6.40  per  dozen;  cream 
pots,  80c.  ;  soap  dish  and  cover,  $7.20  ;  30  picture  frames  at  8O0.  each ;  coflFee 
kettle,  $2.20 ;  common  cupboard,  (larder)  $9.60;  milk-board,  $14.50;  pewter 
plates,  80c.  each;  tin  pans,  60c.  each;  silver  candlesticks,  $9.00  each;  coffee 
mill,  $4.40;  sad  irons,  90c.  each;  iron  stove,  $4.20;  a  fine  mirror,  $28.50;  1 
clock,  $55.00  ;  1  complete  bed  and  bedstead,  $76.00  ;  1  folding  table,  $4.00 ; 
chairs,  common,  $1.40;  1  candle  mould,  50c. ;  1  grand  sideboard,  $151.00. 


CityHallScCentral  MARf<E:T,£:AsrSrLou/s.  Old  Court  HousE^ArCAHOKiA  St.Clair  Co.Ill. 


■>wj*» 


f^AYo  R3  0  rF  I  c£8c  Police:  HEAD  (puARrERa,EA3TST.Lou/s-Ornc£:  or  Doctor  O.CBATES .OTallonStClairCoJ  ll 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


329 


Tools:— An  axe,  new,  |2.95  ;  old  axe,  used,  70c.;  pickaxes,  |1.90; 
hatchets,  $2.10;  iron  to  toast  bread  on,  |l-90  ;  a  scythe,  $2.95  ;  a,  saw,  $1.90  ; 
1  hammer,  85c. ;  1  faucet,  |1.40. 

Farming  articles  and  stock  : — 1  plow,  complete,  |14,80 ;  saddle  and  bi  idle, 
$17.40;  horse  cart,  $10.00 ;  ox  cart,  $19.00;  1  chain  and  rigging,  $31.90;  1 
set  of  harness,  ^18.40 ;  a  IJ  bushel  measure,  iron  hoops,  $1.60;  1  wheat  fan, 
$22.00  ;  17  large  hogs,  averaging  $10.10 ;  27  small  hogs,  averaging  $2.00  each; 
30  head  of  cattle  of  various  ages  brought  $644,55  ;  prices  of  cows  (10  were  sold) 
range  between  $23.00  and  $38.00  each ;  bulls,  and  there  were  18  of  them, 
brought  frcm  $6.00  to  26.00  each  ;  steers  broken  to  the  yoke,  were  sold  for 
$79.00  per  pair  ;  there  was  only  one  horse  sold,  it  brought  $54.00  ;  chickens 
sold  for  $5.00  and  $6.00  per  dozen  ;  corn  brought  19c.  per  bushel  ;  corn  meal, 
3c.  per  lb. ;  wheat  brought  42c. ;  lard,  of  which  95  lbs.  were  sold,  is  quoted  at 
19c.  per  lb.,  an  enormous  price;  9  bushels  of  peas  are  sold  at  98c.  per  bushel  ; 
and  47J  bushels  of  wheat,  sown  in  autumn  previous,  bringing  $1 .  30  per  bushel, 
or  $1.65  per  acre. 

Louison,  Etienne  and  Louie  Pensoneau,  three  brothers,  emigrated 
from  Canada,  and  settled  in  Cahokia  in  1798.  They  all  married  in 
the  village,  and  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  their  neighbors. 
Louis  conducted  the  first  ferry  established  between  Cahokia  and 
St.  Louis.  The  landing  was  situated  west  of  the  village,  and  a  lit- 
tle below  where  Cahokia  creek  formerly  emptied  into  the  river.  It 
nr.ust  be  remembered  that  at  that  time,  Cahokia  was  the  metropolis 
aud  that  St.  Louis  was  but  a  young  and  sparsely  settled  village. 
The  oldest  person  now  living  in  Cahokia,  Mrs.  Brackett,  informed 
us  that  she  can  remember  well  when  the  village  of  Cahokia  con- 
tained twenty-four  stores,  and  upwards  of  three  thousand  inhabi- 
tants, and  that  the  people  of  St.  Louis  made  it  their  principal  trad- 
mg  place.  Verily,  time  works  wonders  in  this  wodd  of  ours;  only 
little  more  than  half  a  century  has  passed,  and  St  Louis  is  the  sixth 
city  in  the  United  States,  while  Cahokia  contains  not  more  than 
three  hundred  inhabitants. 

The  first  mill  constructed  in  Cahokia  was  built  by  Nicholas 
Boismei.ue  about  177L  It  was  a  horse  grist  mill,  of  the  primi- 
tive style,  and  located  on  the  village  lot  now  owned  by  Dr.  Illinski, 
just  south  of  his  dwelling.  Some  years  after  the  construction  of  the 
mill,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Peyrot  was  engaged  in  building  a  fence 
close  by  the  mill.  In  sinking  a  post  hole  he  struck  a  bucket  that 
had  been  buried  there.  On  examining  it,  what  was  his  surprise  to 
find  it  contained  $800  in  Spanish  gold  sovereigns.  There  were  none 
to  claim  it,  neither  could  the  oldest  inhabitant  throw  any  light  upon 
the  circumstance  of  the  hidden  treasure. 

There  are  three  houses  yet  standing  in  the  village,  that  are  built 
after  the  old,  primitive  French  style :  Dr.  Illinski's  dwelling,  the 
church,  and  the  old  court-house.  These  are  the  oldest  houses  in 
the  village,  and  probably  the  oldest  in  the  west.  They  are  con- 
structed from  cedar  and  walnut  logs,  placed  upright  with  a  space 
of  a  few  inches  between,  which  is  filled  in  with  a  kind  of  cement 
or  mortar.  The  inside  is  plastered  with  cement,  and  the  outside  is 
weather-boarded.  The  dwelling-houses  are  supplied  with  a  veran- 
dah, extending  around  the  entire  building.  It  is  said  among  the 
villagers  that  Dr.  Illinski's  house  is  the  oldest,  and  was  built  about 
the  year  1700.  The  church  is  not  far  from  the  above  in  antiquity. 
It  has  a  small  cupola  and  bell.  The  earthquake  of  1811  so  rocked 
the  church  that  the  bell  gave  forth  several  distinct  taps. 

The.  old  court-house  was  built  in  1795,  or  thereabouts  in  that 
year  Bandolph  County  was  formed  by  taking  off  the  southern  por- 
tion of  St.  Clair,  and  at  which  time  Cahokia  became  the  county 
seat.  In  1814,  the  county  seat  was  removed  to  Belleville.  Many 
years  ago,  the  village  extended  more  than  half  a  mile  west  of  the 
court-house ;  but  at  this  time,  the  '  old  court,"  as  it  is  called,  occu. 
pies  the  extreme  north-western  part  of  the  village  proper.  For 
several  years  past,  it  has  been  utilized  for  a  saloon. 
42 


The  first  marriage  on  record  in  Cahokia,  was  performed  by  L. 
Gibault,  missionary,  on  the  10th  of  June,  1790.  The  contracting 
parties  were  Jean  Baptiste  Chartran,  and  Marie  Eocheleau,  widow 
of  Michael  Girardin. 

The  first  brick  house  built  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  except  one 
at  Kaskaskia,  was  constructed  by  Nicholas  Jarrot,  and  situated  in 
the  eastern  limits  of  Cahokia  village.  We  are  informed  that  it  was 
commenced  prior  to  1800,  and  completed  in  1805.  It  is  a  two-story 
building  with  attic,  and  38  by  50  feet  on  the  ground.  It  rests  on 
timbers  of  black  walnut  with  about  two  feet  face,  imbedded  several 
feet  under  ground.  These  timbers  rest  on  beds  of  charcoal,  which 
are  separated  from  the  earth  beneath  by  a  layer  of  sand  and  gravel. 
The  partition  walls  of  the  house  are  sixteen  inches  thick,  and  com- 
posed t)f  solid  brick  masonry.  The  outer  walls  are  eighteen  inches 
in  thickness,  and  are  also  solid  brick.  The  hall  of  this  mansion  is 
sixteen  feet  in  width,  and  all  of  the  belongings  are  of  the  quaint, 
aristocratic  style  of  long  ago.  It  has  withstood  the  elements  of 
three-quarters  of  a  century.  The  earthquake  of  1811,  only  shook 
down  two  of  the  chimneys,  and  produced  two  small  seams  in  the 
rear  wall.  In  the  flood  of  1844,  water  stood  ten  feet  in  depth 
around  the  house ;  ingress  to  the  building  could  only  be  efiected 
through  the  upper  portion  of  the  high  door  by  means  of  a  canoe. 
It  has  withstood  four  other  floods  besides  the  one  mentioned,  but 
none  were  so  disastrous  to  the  country  and  village  as  this. 

It  may  sound  strange,  but  this  house  was  completed  sometime 
before  a  brick  building  was  constructed  in  St.  Louis.  It  is  to-day 
a  good  house,  and  looks  as  though  it  might  last  for  centuries; 

The  first  school-house  in  the  village  was  built  in  1841,  and  was 
situated  on  the  site  of  the  present  brick  school-house,  near  the 
center  of  the  village.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  some  years  ago,  and 
the  present  house  erected  in  its  place. 

There  are  two  schools  in  the  village,  the  white  and  the  colored. 
The  former  is  a  fine  brick  house,  and  cost  about  $5000.  But  one 
teacher  is  employed,  and  there  is  an  attendance  of  from  25  to  30 
pupils.  The  latter  is  a  small  frame,  and  cost  $800.  The  average 
.attendance  is  about  12  pupils. 

Cemeteries. — Cahokia  has  two  cemeteries,  but  only  one  of  them 
is  now  used  for  burial  purposes,  as  the  old  one  has  been  full  these 
many  years.  Indeed,  it  is  said  that  the  bodies  were  buried  one 
above  another,  until  the  villagers  were  obliged  to  abandon  it  for 
lack  of  depth.  With  the  exception  of  the  one  at  Kaskaskia,  it  is 
the  oldest  in  the  West.  It  is  situated  around  and  in  the  rear  of 
the  old  church,  after  the  custom  of  the  Catholics.  The  new  cemetery 
is  situated  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  village,  and  contains  nearly 
two  acres  ;  or,  in  French  parlance,  is  one  arpent  wide,  and  two  in 
length.     It  has  been  occupied  about  thirty-seven  years. 

The  ground  was  donated  to  the  Cahokians  for  burial  purposes, 
by  Colonel  Vital  Jarrot,  son  of  Nicholas  Jarrot.  Mr.  Nicholas  Mc- 
Cracken  has  in  his  possession  a  head-stone  that  he  ploughed  to  the 
surface,  in  his  field  a  little  south  of  the  Jarrot  homestead,  that  bore 
the  date  of  1770.  It  was  cut  from  a  soft  lime-stone,  and  was  in  size 
about  twenty  inches  in  length,  by  eight  in  width,  and  two  in  thick- 
ness.    The  following  is  a  fac-simile  of  the  inscription  : 


330 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


It  is  said  that  the  "  Aut"  is  the  French  abbreviation  for  August. 
We  present  it,  and  will  leave  it  for  future  generations  to  decipher.* 

The  present  business  of  Cahokia  is  almost  a  dead  letter.  That 
which  was  once  the  metropolis  of  the  West,  now  contains  scarcely 
three  hundred  inhabit  ints,  about  one-fourth  of  whom  are  negroes. 
Not  even  a  post-office  exists  in  the  village.  The  following  is  the 
extent  of  the  business : — 

Groceries. — Peter  Godin  ;  Mrs.  Melina  Ebermann. 

Wagon-maher  and  Blacksmith. — Peter  Nadeau. 

Saloon. — Peter  Godin. 

Physicians. — A.  X.  Illinski ;  W.  H.  Eenois. 

Supervisor.— Q\ov\s  Saucey. 

2Vu«<ees.— Christian  Gerber  ;  W.  H.  Esnois ;  Louis  Lobenhofer. 

Land  Entries.— The  following  is  a  list  of  the  first  land  entered  in 
the  Precinct :— Adelaid  Perry,  March  22, 1815,  entered  85.15  acres 
in  sec.  19.  Josiah  Blakely  entered  April  26th  1815,  the  south 
half  of  sec.  3,  containing  320  acres.  On  the  27th  of  April,  1815 
Nicholas  Jairrot  entered  140.38  acres  on  sec.  3.  TKe  heirs  of  J.  B-' 
Jourdin  and  F.  Langloise  entered  May  1st,  1815,  36.81  acres  on 
sec.  18  ;  December  23d,  1816,  George  Blair  entered  the  north-east 
quarter  of  see.  15,  containing  160  acres.  Philip  Creamer,  Nov.  15, 
1817,  entered  83.91  acres  in  sec.  24. 

Cahokia  Precinct  is  well  supplied  with  railroads.      Four  roads 

*  Many  other  interesting  facts,  pertaining  to  the  early  history  of  Cahokia' 
may  be  found  in  the  Pioneer  and  Civil  chapters  and  history  of  the  Catholic 
church  in  the  former  pages  of  this  volume. 


pass  through  a  portion  of  its  territory.  The  Illinois  and  St.  Louis, 
and  the  Cairo  Short  Line  on  the  north  and  east,  and  the  East  St. 
Louis  and  East  Carondelet,  and  the  Narrow  Gauge  on  the  west. 

The  Narrow  Gauge  runs  for  some  distance  beyond  Cahokia  with 
a  third  rail,  on  the  track  of  the  East  St.  Louis  and  East  Carondelet 
railway. 

CENTEEVILLE   STATION. 

This  is  a  small  way  station,  situated  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line 
railroad,  and  about  midway  between  the  northern  and  southern 
boundaries  of  Cahokia  Precinct.  It  contains  but  six  houses,  all 
farm  houses  except  two,  one  of  which  is  a  small  country  store  kept 
by  Louis  Plouder,  who  is  also  justice  of  the  peace,  and  county  com- 
missioner. It  has  a  post-office  with  Andrew  Touchette  as  post- 
master. The  French  Catholic  church  stands  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  north  of  the  station.  It  was  built  in  1863,  and  cost  about 
$4000.    The  first  officiating  priest  was  Father  Douterligne. 

PITTSBUEG. 

Pittsburg  is  situated  on  the  blufF,  in  the  extreme  eastern  portion 
of  the  precinct,  in  sec.  3.  It  was  established  in  1836,  and  at  one 
time  had  a  population  of  upwards  of  200  inhabitants,  mostly  coal 
miners.  Coal  was  obtained  here  by  drifting  into  the  blufij  where 
in  places  it  cropped  out  to  the  surface.  As  many  as  seven  drifts 
have  been  in  operation  at  one  time,  and  from  twenty  to  thirty  cars 
of  coal  mined  in  one  day ;  but  for  several  years  the  mines  have  been 
exhausted  and  abandoned.  At  this  writing  the  place  contains  about 
seventy  persons,  all  miners,  who  are  now  employed  in  adjacent 
mines. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 


— J«3-ffi-Si-<— 


BAPTISTE  TOUCHETTE 

Was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  November  15th,  1843,  near  what  was 
ca,lled  Big  Lake  by  Americans,  the  Grand  Mare  by  the  more  po- 
etic French,  and  which,  since  the  introduction  of  railroads  and  drain- 
age of  many  lakes,  has  taken  the  name  of  Centerville  Station.  His 
father,  Andrew  Touchette,  was  born  in  Cahokia  in  the  year  1812. 
His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sophia  Dashney,  was  born  at 
Portage,  Missouri,  The  father  was  in  his  time  a  great  hunter  and 
trapper,  and  a,lso  followed  farming.  Baptiste  Touchette  was  married 
to  Judith  Besson,  March  1st,  1861,  by  Squire  Edward  Ploudre. 
He  followed  shipping  produce  from  East  St.  Louis  to  Chicago  and 
•New  Orleans,  during  the  years  1864,  '65  and  '66,  then  farmed  until 
1874,  when  he  opened  a  stock  of  merchandize  adapted  to  rural 


wants  at  Centerville  Station,  which  business  he  followed  for  three 
years,  whereupon  he  resumed  farming,  in  which  he  is  still  en- 
gaged. In  1878  he  was  chosen  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  by  his  fel- 
low-citizens,  a  position  he  yet  holds.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  for  President. 
He  IS  the  father  of  five  children:  Ursula,  Baptiste,  Jr.,  CamiUe, 
Judith  and  Mary.  In  his  father's  family  were  five  brothers,  chiefly 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  American  Bottom.  Squire 
Touchette  is  progressive  in  spirit,  determined  in  the  prosecution  of 
his  aims,  and  possessed  of  excellent  qualities  of  head  and  heart. 
Was  raised  a  Catholic  in  faith.  He  is  devoted  to  his  family,  and 
labors  faithfully  in  their  interest.  Few  men  are  more  respected  in 
the  commupity  in  which  he  lives,  and  the  judgment  of  few  is 
oftener  appealed  to  by  neighbors  than  that  of  Baptiste  Touchette. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


331 


^/ryjH^n^o,c^Mt^ 


<yr\,c^     ^tj^^ai 


Perhaps  there  are  no  families  having  representatives  yet  living 
in  Cahokia,  deserving  more  honorable  historical  mention  than  the 
ancestors  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.     Among  the  early  settlers 
they  were  foremost  in  every  enterprise,  and   contributed  no  little 
to  making  the  Cahokia  of  old  a  center  of  trade,  a  village  of  attrac- 
tion.    Kobert  McCracken,  the  father,  came  here  from  Kaskaskia, 
where  he  had  been  a  distiller,  in  1826      Here  he  followed  the 
peaceful  avocation  of  a  farmer,  and  married  Ortance  Jarrot,  who 
was  born  in  Cahokia  May  29th,  1799,  and  now  at  the  age  of  more 
than  fourscore  years  can  read  large  print  and  sew  without  spectacles. 
Her  portrait  adorns  the  head  of  this  page.     Her  family  history  is 
largely  interwoven  with  that  of  the  village  in  which   she  lives,  and 
may  be  found  in  its  appropriate  place.    Her  mother,  in  turn,  Julia 
Jarrot,  wife  of  Nicholas  Jarrot,  a   prominent  character  in  early 
days,  died  in  1875,  having  attained  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety- 
seven  years.     Nicholas  McCracken,  named  for  his  grandfather, 
attended  school  in  company  with  Judge  William   H.  Snyder,  in 
Belleville,  during  the  years  1837  and  1838.     Thence  he  sought 
employment  in  Edwardsville,  Madison  county,  and  found  it  at  the 
hands  of  E.  M.  West,  for  whom  he  clerked  in  a  store.     In  1834  he 
changed  his  location   by  going  to  what  was  then  known  as  Illinois- 
town,  which  was,  at  the  time,  the  name  of  the  post-office  as  well, 
(now  East  St.  Louis,)  where  he  engaged  his  services  to  Jarrot  & 


Carr,  who  kept  a  stock  of  merchandise  near  the  landing  of  the 
Wiggins'  ferry  company.  Changed  places  again  shortly  thereafter, 
entering  the  employ  of  David  F.  Brigham,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  the  year  1844,  the  year  remarkable  for  the  big  flood,  which 
completely  destroyed  the  store  by  washing  it  away.  He  thereupon 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Cahokia,  where  he  followed  farming 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  gold  fever  in  1850,  when,  in  company 
with  seven  others,  he  made  his  way  to  the  western  slopes,  which 
they  reached  in  ninety-four  days'  travel  after  leaving  the  Missouri 
river.  After  three  years'  life  in  the  gold  fields  he  returned  via  the 
Nicaragua  route  to  New  York  city.  What  is  remarkable,  is  the 
fact,  that  although  there  were  eight  hundred  persons  aboard  the 
vessel  which  carried  them,  and  absolutely  hundreds  were  losing 
their  lives  by  other  vessels,  not  a  life  was  lost  en  route  Returning 
to  Cahokia  he  followed  farming  until  1857,  when  he  opened  a 
mercantile  establishment,  which  business  he  followed  until  1876, 
when  he  retired  from  active  pursuits,  although  his  nature  scarce 
permits  him  to  live  in  idleness.  He  pays  more  or  less  attention  to 
the  lumber  interests  of  the  firm,  McCracken  &  Butler.  He  has 
one  full  and  two  half  sisters  and  three  half  brothers,  his  mother 
having  married  Mr.  Brackett.  Politically  he  afiiliates  with  the 
democratic  party.     Is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 


332 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Was  born  February  3d,  1817,  in  Wollhynia,  apart  of  Poland  that 
was  annexed  to  Russia  during  the  tripartite  theft  made  by  Russia, 
Austria  and  Prussia,  iu  1833.  He  received  a  classical  education 
in  the  Gymnasium  at  Krzensieuiec,  where  he  remained  five  years. 
At  this  institution  the  study  of  the  Latin,  Greek,  French,  Russian, 
German  and  Polish  languages,  mathematics,  and  the  natural 
sciences  were  obligatory.  The  school  was  maintained  on  the  high 
pressure  principle — studies  were  crowded  too  rapidly  one  after  the 
other — youths  were  expected  to  accomplisli  the  work  of  adults. 
Those  who  possessed  strong  constitutions  stood  the  ordeal,  whilst 
others  failed.  The  doctor  stood  well  in  his  classes.  Prompted  by 
patriotism,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  joined  the  insurgent  army  as 
a  lancer.  After  the  capture  of  Warsaw  the  command  to  which  he 
was  attached  retreated  to  Galicia,  a  part  of  Austria,  for  refuge, 
where  they  remained  abr)ut  a  year,  when  in  1834  a  peremptory 
order  was  issued  exiling  all  insurgents  either  to  Russia  or  France. 
After  a  start  was  made,  each  one  selecting  one  or  the  other  of  tlieso 
countries  to  be  his  future  abode — the  order  was  changed,  Anu'rica 
being  substituted  for  France.  At  the  time  of  the  issuance  of  the 
order  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  confined  in  a  prison  at  Olmutz, 
where  he  lay  for  six  weeks  without  knowing  why  or  wheref  ire.  lie 
believes  that  a  mistake  had  been  made,  tlie  authorities  intending 
the  incarceration  and  punishment  of  an  older  brother  Anthony 
Illinski,  who  was  a  leader  amongst  the  insurgent  soldiers,  and  as 
such  was  thought  to  merit  greater  punishment  than  sim|ilytol)e 
exiled.  UpDii  being  liberated  he  chose  Am 'rica  as  his  future 
home,  and  reached  Castle  Garden,  New  York  city,  March  28tli, 
1834.  His  brother,  for  whom  he  was  made  to  sufi^er  a  brief  im- 
l)risoument,  made  good  his  escape,  and  true  to  his  military  instincts 
joined  the  French  in  the  Algerian  war,  then  served  as  a  Turk, 
joining  the  regular  army  of  that  people.  The  love  of  Poland,  as  a 
dear  dream  yet  lingered  with  him,  hence  he  obtained  leave  of  ab- 
sence from  his  command  and  joined  Kossuth  in  his  vain  endeavor 
to  redeem  his  fiiir  land.     He    was   every  inch  a  soldiei-;    and  life 


presented  no  charm  for  him,  so  that  no  s  )oner  were  Kossuth's  hopes 
crushed,  and  his  armies  disbanded,  than  he  joined  the  Turks  again, 
bscoming  a  general  in  their  armies.  In  the  memorable  charge  of 
Balaklava  he  received  a  wound  from  which  he  soon  after  died  in 
18-36.  The  doctor,  once  in  America,  cast  about  him  for  something 
to  do,  and  after  a  year's  wanderings  brought  up  in  Hivana,  the 
capital  city  of  the  (^ueen  of  the  Antilles,  where  he  obtained  em- 
ployment in  the  government  hospital.  This  employment  engen- 
dered in  him  a  taste  for  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and 
eagerly  did  he  pursue  its  study.  From  Havana  he  came  to  St. 
Louis,  INIissouri,  where  he  eutered  the  newly  opaned  medical  school 
known  as  IMcDj.vell's  College,  and  graduated  in  the  first 
class  sent  forth  from  that  famed  institution.  It  is  believed  that  but 
one  other  member  of  the  class  (T)r.  Frazier)  now  survives.  Imme- 
diately after  gra  luation  the  doctor  c  imaienced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  the  then  thriving  village  of  Cahokia,  where  he  has 
since  remained  with  the  exception  of  a  three  years'  sojourn  in  Cali- 
f  )rnia,  from  1849  to  18o2.  Here  he  combined  with  the  practice  of 
his  profession  merchan  lizing  and  keeping  a  public  house.  At  Ca- 
ll nkia  his  practice  lias  always  been  extensive,  reaching  over  a  wide 
seop3  of  cmmtry,  embracing  that  part  of  St.  Clair  cjunty 
known  as  the  American  Bottom.  His  professional  skill  has  re- 
ceived full  recognition,  and  his  services  have  been  much  sought.  He 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Jane  Butler  in  August,  1843,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children — daughters.  She  died  in  18-52  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Virginia  Black  in  August  19th,  1870,  by  whom  he  has  three 
children  living.  Politically  the  doctor  is  a  democrat.  He  voted 
fjr  every  democratic  }u-esidential  candidate  since  the  time  of  Har- 
rison. He  is  much  interested  in  bee  culture,  in  which  business  he 
excels.  Active,  energetic,  possessed  of  a  strong  constitution  and 
great  will  power,  he  hesitates  in  no  undertaking  calculated  to 
benefit  himself  or  his  fellows.  Social,  generous-hearted,  scholarly 
in  his  attainments,  his  society  is  courted  by  men  of  letters,  aud  en- 
joyed by  all. 


HISTOB  V  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


LOUIS  PLOUDRE, 


At  present  a  member  of  the  boanl  of  county  commissioners,  was 
born  ia  Cahokia,  Sept^  2'2d,  1846.  His  ancestry  are  of  Canadian 
French  extraction,  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  St.  Clair 
county.  His  father,  Calvert  Ploudre,  was  bora  in  the  St.  Francis 
district  of  the  Three  Rivers,  Canada,  came  to  this  county  about 
1840,  where  he  died  April  7th,  1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 
His  father's  brothers,  Edward  and  Peter,  both  came  with  him  here. 
One  of  them  is  now  living  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  whilst  the  other  is 
among  the  dead.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Catharine 
Paridy,  was  a  daughter  of  Julia  Paridy,  nee  Lepance,  who  was  born 
in  Cahokia  in  1783,  and  died  there  Sept.  25th,  1809,  at  the  age  of 
(ighty-six  years.  When  her  people  came  to  Cahokia  we  have  no 
means  of  knowing.  The  Paridys,  of  whom  there  are  numerous  rep- 
resentatives in  this  county,  came  about  the  year  1812,  ju,=t  preced- 
ing the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  They  too  were  Canadians.  His 
parents  were  married  during  the  year  1839.  His  mother  died, 
October  11th,  1866.  He  received  a  common  school  education,  such 
as  was  afforded  thirty  years  ago  in  the  rural  districts.  Althougli 
meagre  he  has  made  the  best  possible  use  of  it,  having  read  liber- 
ally and  built  well  upon  the  foundation  laid  in  the  old  school-room. 
On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  1865,  he  was  united  in  the  bonds  of 
wedlock,  to  Elmira  Geurard,  the  Rev.  Father  Azbell  officiating. 
By  this  union  there  have  been  six  children  born,  five  of  whom  are 
living.  His  wife  was  born  in  St  Joseph,  Mo.  Her  parents  were 
likewise  Canadian  French,  her  father  having  lived  in  Montreal, 
where  he  followed  carpentering  and  building  for  a  livelihood.  Their 
children  are  named  respectively,  Mary  Elmira,  Clementine  Jo.se- 
phine,  Louis  Theodore,  Esther  Elizabeth,  Loviua  Curtis  and  Emily 
Lothe.     Louis  Ploudre  followed  farming,  but  his  talents  have  led 


his  fellow-citizens  to  repeatedly  place  him  in  office.  Was  chcseu 
road  supervisor  in  1868-9  and  70;  constable  in  1869,  which  office 
he  held  but  eight  months,  upon  being  elected  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
which  position  he  has  held  continuously  since.  He  has  been  chosen 
as  deputy  Assessor  for  nine  years  in  succession.  Was  elected  in 
1879  as  County  Commissioner.  Owing  to  some  irregularities  in  the 
count  his  competitor  was  at  first  declared  elected  by  a  majority  of 
fourteen,  and  served  f  jr  several  months  until  a  recount  established 
Louis'  rights  to  the  position  by  a  majority  of  forty  votes,  this  too 
when  his  politics  were  at  variance  to  those  of  a  majority  through- 
out the  county.  He  has  served  his  neighbors,  too,  as  township 
Trustee  for  a  period  of  six  years.  In  each  and  every  office  he  has 
held,  he  has  sjiared  no  pains  to  do  the  work  set  before  him  to  the 
best  of  his  ability.  His  eff()rts  in  behalf  of  a  thorough  drainage 
of  the  American  Bottom  which  he  believes  ought,  and  will  be,  the 
garden  spot  of  the  great  city  of  St.  Louis,  have  been  cordially 
seconded,  and  he  entertains  strimg  hopes  of  aecomplifhiug,  by  the 
co-uperatiun  of  cntcr])rising  men,  his  aim  in  this  direction.  As,  & 
commissioner  he  has  proved  himself,  prudent,  painstaking  and  com- 
petent. Politically  he  is  an  active  republican,  and  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  republican  ciiitral  county  committee  for  a  period  of 
ei'dit  years.  His  fir^t  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  the  suhliir 
General,  U.  S.  Grant.  As  a  business  man  he  has  been  active  and 
persevering.  He  engaged  in  merchandizing  in  1879,  followed  it  for 
a  year,  and  sold  out  to  re-engage  in  the  same  calling  again  in  1878. 
At  present  he  is  the  proprietor  of  the  store  and  gardens  at  Centerville 
station.  He  adheres  to  the  Catholic  faith.  Esteemed  of  all  his 
neighbor,-,  tliort)Ughly  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  his  county,  his  is 
a  future  bright  with  promise. 


LEBANON    PRECINT 


S  indicated  on  the  map,  the  main  body  of  the  pre- 
cinct of  Lebanon  is  nearly  square,  being  five  miles 
■wide  and  six  miles  long,  with  a  strip  one  and  one- 
half  miles  in  width,  from  the  east  line,  west  to 
Silver  creek,  and  contains  in  all  about  thirty-four 
sections.  It  occupies  portions  of  four 'congressional 
townships,  the  greater  part  lying  in  Town  2  N., 
Ranges  6  and  7  W.  It  is  situated  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  county;  to  the  north  Madison  county,  to  the 
east  Sun^merfield  precinct,  to  the  south  Mascoutah  and  Shiloh, 
and  to  the  west  O'Fallon.  Silver  creek  enters  near  the  north- 
eastern corner  of  the  precinct,  and  meandering  in  a  southerly 
direction  it  passes  through  the  whole  territory.  This  stream  and 
its  tributaries  drain  the  lands  and  furnish  an  abundant  supply  of 
water  fcr  other  purposes.  The  general  surface  is  a  rolling  prairie. 
The  bottom  lands  along  Silver  creek,  in  many  places,  are  very  low, 
and  in  the  rainy  seasons  it  overflows  and  thus  prevents  the  culti- 
vation of  this  rich  soil.  In  the  bottoms  and  along  the  various 
water  courses  there  are  narrow  belts  of  timber,  embracing  the 
varieties  that  grow  in  this  latitude.  The  soil  compares  well  with 
the  richest  and  most  productive  of  the  uplands  in  this  county,  and 
is  particularly  adapted  to  the  growing  of  wheat,  vegetables,  and 
Iruits  of  all  kinds,  which  yield  abundantly.  The  cultivation  of 
fruits  and  vegetables  is  being  rapidly  introduced,  and  its  proximity 
to  St.  Louis  markets,  renders  this  a  very  desirable  location  for 
those  wishing  to  engage  in  this  delightful  pursuit. 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 

There  will  always  attach  an  interest  to  the  history  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  the  west,  which  can  never  properly  belong  to  others 
who  came  at  a  later  date,  as  they  have  laid  the  foundation  of  our 
social  and  material  status,  and  coming  generations  can  only  modify 
and  develop  that  which  was  by  their  bravery,  energy  and  perse- 
verance at  first  established.  By  their  strong  arms  the  forests  were 
felled,  the  tangled  undergrowth  cleared  away,  the  stubborn  glebe 
broken,  and  the  primitive  cabin,  school-house  and  church  erected. 
To  this  class  of  pioneers  the  Bradsby  family  belonged,  and  to  them 
is  properly  due  the  honor  of  making  the  first  settlement  in  what  is 
now  Lebanon  precinct.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1804,  William  H. 
Bradsby,  the  oldest  son,  and  two  other  young  men  came  from  Ken- 
tucky, and  located  on  Silver  creek,  about  three  miles  north  of  the 
present  site  of  Lebanon,  where  they  made  an  improvement  and 
raised  a  crop.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  elder  Bradsby 
brought  the  balance  of  the  family  from  Kentucky  and  located  them 
on  the  farm,  where  he  continued  to  reside.  This  settlement  was 
334 


seven  or  eight  miles  in  advance  of  the  other  inhabitants.  Rey- 
nolds, in  his  Pioneer  history,  says:  "The  Bradsby  family  were 
brave  and  energetic  pioneers.  They  possessed  good  talents,  and 
were  fearless  and  intrepid.  They  were  firm  and  decisive  when  they 
took  a  stand ;  and  were  also  moral  and  correct,  and  made  good 
citizens.  The  old  sire  taught  school  in  various  neighborhoods.  He 
had  a  school,  in  the  year  1806,  in  the  American  Bottom,  almost 
west  of  the  present  Collinsville,  and  the  year  after  he  taught 
another  in  the  Turkey  Hill  settlement "  His  sons,  William  H.,  and 
James,  were  in  the  ranging  service  and  made  good  soldiers.  Wm. 
H.  Bradsby  became  a  physician,  and  practiced  in  this  locality  for 
some  time.  In  1814,  he  was  elected  from  St.  Clair  county,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  territorial  legislature.  He  subsequently  became  a 
resident  of  Washington  county,  Illinois,  and  first  resided  at  Old 
Covington.  Here  he  held  a  number  of  offices,  in  the  early  history 
of  the  county,  and  when  the  county  seat  was  moved  to  Nashville, 
he  changed  his  residence  to  that  place,  where  he  soon  afterwards 
died.  Some  of  the  descendants  of  this  family  are  still  living  in  St. 
Clair  county. 

Thomas  Higgins  was  a  native  of  Barren  county,  Ky.  He  was 
a  relative  of  the  Bradsbys,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1807,  and  set- 
tled near  them  in  this  precinct.  Higgins  was  of  a  muscular  and 
compact  build,  medium  in  height,  strong  and  active.  He  possessed 
a  quick  and  discerning  judgment,  and  was  without  fear.  In  1814 
he  was  one  of  the  party  of  eleven  men,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  John  Journey,  stationed  at  Hill's  Fort,  about  eight 
niile3  south-west  of  the  present  Greenville.  Early  on  the  morning 
of  the  21st  of  August,  signs  of  Indians  were  discovered  near  the 
fort,  and  the  company  started  on  the  trail.  They  had  proceeded 
but  a  short  distance  when  they  were  in  an  ambuscade  of  a  large 
party.  At  the  first  fire  their  commander.  Journey,  and  three  men 
fell,  and  the  remainder,  all  but  Higgins,  retreated  to  the  fort.  He 
fctopped  as  he  said,  "  to  have  another  pull  at  the  red  skins, '  and, 
taking  deliberate  aim,  he  brought  one  of  their  number  to  the 
ground,  and  wheeled  his  horse  to  leave  the  scene,  when  the  familiar 
voice  of  Burgess  hailed  him,  "  Tom,  don't  leave  me."  He  halted, 
dismounted  and  attempted  to  raise  him  on  his  horse,  when  the 
animal  took  fright  and  ran  away.  Higgins  then  directed  Burgess 
to  limp  oft'  as  best  he  could,  and  by  crawling  through  the  grass  he 
reached  the  fort  in  safety,  while'  the  former  loaded  his  gun  and 
remained  behind  to  protect  him  against  the  pursuing  Indians. 
When  Burgess  had  crawled  beyond  the  reach  of  the  enemy,  Hig- 
gins took  another  route,  which  led  by  a  clump  of  timber.  At  this 
point  he  was  confronted  by  three  savages,  when  he  changed  his 
course  in  the  direction  of  a  small  ravine,  for  shelter,  and  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


effort  discovered,  for  the  first  time,  that  he  was  wounded  ia  the  leg. 
The  largest  and  most  powerful  of  the  Indians  pursued  him  closely, 
and  lodged  a  ball  in  his  thigh.  He  fell,  but  as  quickly  arose,  only 
to  draw  the  fire  of  the  other  two,  and  again  fell  wounded.  The 
savages  now  advanced  upon  him  with  upraised  tomahawks  and 
scalping  knives,  but  as  he  presented  his  gun  first  at  one,  then  at 
another,  from  his  place  in  the  ravine,  each  wavered  in  his  purpose. 
Finally,  supposing  that  Hlggins'  gun  was  empty,  neither  party 
having  had  time  to  reload,  they  rushed  forward  with  a  yell,  and 
one  of  their  number  was  shot  down.  At  this  the  others  raised  a 
war-whoop  and  rushed  upon  the  wounded  Higgins,  and  a  hand  to 
hand  conflict  ensued.  Darting  at  him  with  their  knives  time  and 
again  they  inflicted  many  ghastly  flesh  wounds,  which  bled  profusely. 
One  of  the  savages  threw  his  tomahawk  with  such  precision  as  to 
sever  his  ear  and  lay  bare  his  skull,  knocking  him  down.  They 
now  rushed  upon  him,  but  he  kicked  them  off,  and  grasping  one  of 
their  spears  thrust  at  him,  was  raised  up  by  it,  and  quickly  seizing 
his  gun,  by  a  powerful  blow  crushed  the  skull  of  one,  but  broke 
his  rifle.  His  remaining  antagonist  still  kept  up  the  fight,  making 
thrusts  with  his  knife  at  the  bleeding  and  exhausted  Higgins, 
which  he  warded  off  with  his  broken  gun.  This  desperate  engage- 
ment was  in  plain  view  of  the  fort,  and  the  cowardly  rangers  re- 
frained from  giving  him  aid,  until  a  Mrs.  Pursely,  residing  at  the 
fort,  no  longer  able  to  see  so  brave  a  man  contend  unaided  for  his 
life,  seized  a  gun,  and  mounting  a  brave  horse,  started  to  his  res- 
cue. At  this  the  men  took  courage  and  hastened  along.  The  In- 
dian observing  them,  fled.  Higgins,  being  nearly  hacked  to  pieces, 
fainted  from  loss  of  blood,  and  was  carried  to  the  fort,  where  his 
comrades  cut  two  balls  from  his  flesh ;  others  remaining.  For 
weeks  his  life  was  despaired  of,  but  by  tender  nursing  he  recovered, 
badly  crippled.  This  was  undoubtedly  the  most  desperate  single- 
handed  combat  with  Indians  ever  fought  on  the  soil  of  Illinois. 
Mr.  Higgins  received  a  full  pension,  and  pursued  farming  in  Fay- 
ette county,  whence  he  moved,  and  at  one  time  was  door-keeper  of 
one  of  the  houses  of  the  General  Assembly  at  Vaudalia.  He 
raised  a  large  family,  and  died  in  1829.* 

It  is  said  by  the  oldest  residents  that  the  Journeys  lived  in  this 
vicinity  at  an  early  date.  They  were  genuine,  resolute  pioneers. 
They  were  active  men  in  the  ranging  service  and  great  Indian 
fighters.  Among  this  class  also  belongs  the  Sheltons, — Thomas 
and  Josiah  Shelton.  They  were  brothers,  and  lived  here  prior  to 
1810.  Julius  and  Pleasant  Nichols,  brothers,  from  Kentucky, 
settled  one  and  a  half  miles  south-east  of  the  present  Lebanon,  as 
early  as  1807.  They  had  large  families.  Samuel  and  George 
M'Donald,  settled  just  south  of  Lebanon  about  the  same  date.  It 
was  not  far  from  this  date  that  Wiley  Lovings,  David,  Ezekiel, 
Isaac  and  William  Smith,  brothers ;  the  Downings  and  Dunna- 
vans  located  along  Silver  creek,  near  the  Bradsby  settle- 
ment. 

Austin  Lyons,  John  Titus  and  John  Shaves,  negro  slaves,  who 
had  been  brought  here  and  freed  by  Governor  Edwards,  settled 
and  made  improvements  in  the  same  neighborhood.  Robert 
McMahon  located  about  two  miles  north-east  of  the  present  site  of 
Lebanon,  probably  as  early  as  1810,  where  he  cultivated  a  large 
plantation,  and  subsequently  moved  near  Troy  in  Madison  county, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  emigrated  from  Kentucky 
and  settled  at  New  Design  the  spring  of  1 795.  In  December  of 
the  same  year,  his  family  was  attacked  by  four  Indians,  in  the  day 
time,  and  his  wife  and  four  children  were  killed,  and  he  'and  his 
two  small  daughters  taken  prisoners.  The  weather  was  cold  and 
severe,  and  the  prisoners  being  on  foot,  suffered  much  from  cold. 
*  This  story  is  told  by  Reynolds,  in  his  Pioneer  History,  p.  321. 


The  second  night  the  party  encamped  above  the  present  site  of 
Lebanon,  on  a  small  branch  of  Silver  creek.  McMahon  was  tied 
down  on  his  back,  and  most  of  his  clothing  taken  off  and  placed 
under  the  Indians  to  prevent  him  from  escaping.  That  night  it 
snowed  and  was  vefy  cold,  but  McMahon  had  resolved  to  escape, 
rather  than  be  carried  to  the  Indian  town  and,  perhaps,  burntd  at 
the  stake.  In  the  night  when  all  were  asleep,  he  quietly  loosened 
the  cords  that  bound  his  hands  and  feet.  As  he  was  about  to  rise, 
one  of  the  large  Indians  raised  his  head  and  looked  around,  but  not 
noticing  him,  again  laid  down,  when  McMahon  arose  and  walked 
quietly  from  the  camp.  Without  shoes  and  scarcely  any  clothing, 
he  traveled  through  the  snow,  in  the  direction  of  New  Design. 
He  reached  there  after  the  settlers  had  buried  his  wife  and  child- 
ren, and  while  they  were  assembled  at  the  fort  of  James  Lemen, 
sen.,  holding  a  religious  meeting.  All  were  surprised  at  the  return 
of  McMahon,  and  as  he  sat  by  the  fireside  and  related  the  story  of 
the  murder,  to  which  he  was  an  eye-witness,  and  his  escape,  the  scene 
was  at  once  affecting  and  sorrowful.  His  friends  informed  him 
that  all  his  family  that  were  killed,  had  been  buried  in  one  grave, 
to  which  he  answered — "  They  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their 
lives,  and  in  their  death  they  were  not  separated."  His  daughters 
were  afterwards  ransomed,  and  McMahon  was  again  married,  and 
lived  a  long  and  eventful  life. 

There  were  no  doubt  several  other  families  within  the  limits  now 
embracing  Lebanon  precinct,  prior  to  1812,  but  at  this  late  period 
we  are  unabld  to  give  their  names.  All  of  their  number  have  gone 
to  the  narrow  house  appointed  for  all  the  living,  and  the  tomb 
which  received  their  worn  frames,  received  also  the  host  of  recollec- 
tions, anecdotes,  and  reminiscences  which  was  of  almost  priceless 
value.  Hence  we  can  give  only  a  few  of  the  more  prominent  set- 
tlers of  that  early  day. 

Just  after  the  war  of  1812,  Simon  Lindley  settled  on  the  west 
side  of  Silver  creek,  near  the  Madison  county  line.  He  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  and  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  this 
state,  and  first  settled  in  what  is  now  Bond  county.  He  had  a 
family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz.,  John,  Joseph,  Simon, 
Mary,  Sarah,  Anna,  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Lindley  and  his  wife  were 
nearly  fifty  years  old  when  they  located  here,  and  their  children 
were  well  grown.  He  was  a  well-educated  man,  and  a  pioneer  Bap- 
tist preacher,  and  surveyor.  About  1820  he  moved  north  and  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Sangamon  county,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  His  son  John  was  a  ranger  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  Lind- 
leys  of  this  family  were  also  early  residents  of  Madison  county, 
where  they  left  a  large  posterity. 

In  the  fall  of  1814,  Edmond  and  Whitfield  Townsend,  natives  of 
North  Carolina,  came  from  Tennessee,  and  located  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  precinct.  Edmond  reared  three  children — Thoma.", 
John  and  Nancy,  but  they  have  left  no  descendants.  Whitfield 
had  eight  children  born  to  him,  seven  of  whom  grew  up,  viz., 
Alfred,  Adeline,  Elizabeth,  Edmond,  Nancy,  Whitfield,  and 
William.  Elizabeth,  Edmond,  Whitfield  and  William  are 
living. 

Here  it  is  proper  to  mention  the  names  of  those  who  entered  land 
within  the  boundaries  of  this  precinct  in  1814,  as  taken  from  the 
county  records.  This  may  also  show  the  names  of  some  who  were 
early  settlers  here  In  town,  2  N.,  E.  6  W.,  we  find  the  following : 
Jesse  B.  Thomas,  N.  i  sec.  6,  320  acres,  Dec.  26 ;  William  Brazel, 
S.  E.  i  sec.  6,  160  acrep,  Sept.  10 ;  William  H.  Bradsby,  N.  W.  i 
sec.  7,  192  acres,  Dec.  7  ;  Jacob  Tetrick,  S.  W.  i  sec  7, 190  ^  acres, 
Sept.  9;  Abraham  Baker,  S.  E.  i  and  S.  W.  i  sec.  19,  350  acres, 
Sept.  15;  Henry  White,  S.  E.  i  sec.  19, 160  acres,  Sept.  24;  Joseph 
Penn,  N.  W.  i  sec  10,  160  acres,  Sept.  22 ;  Richard  Vanosdall, 


336 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


N.  E.  i  sec.  29, 160  acres,  Oct.  1  ;  Gillis  Maddeaux,  689  S)  acres, 
sec.  30,  Sept.  30 ;  William  Biggs,  S.  W.  \  sec.  31, 184  acres,  Dec. 
24;  Heirs  of  J.  Lunceford,  S.  E.  J  sec.  31,  160  acres,  Dec.  24; 
Charles  Wakefitld,  S.  W.  \  sec.  32, 160  acres,  Sept.  15.    Town  2 
N.  E.  7  W.,  Zachariah  Hays,  S.  W.  i  sec.  23, 160  acres,  Sept.  17  ; 
Abraham  Balder,  S.  E.  \  sec.  24,  160  acres,  Sept.  15;  Leaven  Mad- 
deaux, N.  E.  }  sec.  25,  IGO  acres,  Sept.  10;  Wingate  Maddeaux, 
S.  E.  \  sec.  25, 160  acres,  Sept.  10;  David  S.  White,  S.  W.  \  sec. 
11,  160  acres,  Sept.  8;  Robert  Moore,  S.  E.  \  sec.  5,  160  acres, 
Sept.  10,  and  Miles  Abernathy,  N.  E.  J  sec  7, 160  acres,  Sept.  10, 
are  in  that  part  of  T.  1  N  ,  R.  6  W.,  that  belongs  to  Lebanon.  The 
above  lands  were  all  entered  in  1814,  as  stated,  and  in  the  list  are 
recognized  the  names  of  parties  who  settled  here  prior  to  that  date, 
and  no  doubt  but  that  many  of  ihem  lived  at  tlie  time,  on  the  land 
they  entered,  while  others  perhaps,  never  resided  in  the  precinct. 
John  Thomas,  a  Virginian,  emigrated  here  with  his  family,  April  9, 
1817,  and  settled  on  sec.  35,  T.  2  N.,  R.  7  W.    He  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  as  follows :  Mary,  John,  James,  Catherine,  Jacob, 
Elizabeth,  Abraham,  Calvin  W.,  and  Emeline.  *  They  all  married 
and  had  families  and  resided  for  a  time  in  this  county.    Col.  John 
Thomas,  has  held  several  oiEces,  and  is  now  a  representative  from 
this  county  in  ihe  State  Legislature.     James  Thomas  is  living  at  a 
good  old  age  in  Lebanon.     These  two  are  the  only  members  of  this 
family  now  living  in  St.  Clair.     There  was  also  another  family  of 
Thomases  who  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood — Robert,  James 
D.,  John  D.,  Anthony  and  David  all  brothers. 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  1817,  Nicholas  Horner,  a  native 
of  Maryland,  came  with  his  family  and  settled  one  and  a  half 
miles  north  of  Lebanon.  He  had  two  daughters  and  -three  sons — 
Rachel,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Ray :  Sarah,  who  married  Rev.  David 
Chamberlain ;  and  Nathan,  John  and  Charles-.  Daniel  Murry, 
from  Boston,  with  a  large  family  and  his  sonin-law,  Thomas  Ray, 
came  with  him  to  this  country,  and  settled  in  this  vicinity.  Mr. 
Horner  was  a  wealthy  and  enterprising  gentleman,  and  resided 
here  until  his  dtath.  All  his  children  left  descendants.  Nathan 
Homer  became  an  early  resident  of  Lebanon.  He  was  an  active, 
energetic  man,  an  early  merchant,  and  did  much  to  build  up  and 
advance  the  interests  of  the  young  place.  He  died  in  Lebanon,  in 
1869. 

John  M  Peck,  D.  D.,  the  distinguished  Baptist  divine,  pioneer 
and  historian  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  Oct.  31st 
1789,  and  emigrated  to  this  country,  as  a  missionary,  in  November, 
1817.  Until  1822  he  resided  in  St.  Louis  and  St.  Charles,  Mo., 
from  whence  he  traveled  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  established 
many  churches  in  both  Missouri  and  Illinois.  In  the  spring  of  that 
year,  1822,  he  settled  at  his  celebrated  site.  Rock  Spring,  on  section 
27,  T.  2  N.,  R.  7,  W.,  in  this  precinct.  The  name  was  suggested 
from  the  fact  of  a  stream  of  pure  water  gushing  from  the  rocks 
near  where  he  erected  his  first  double  log-house,  in  the  same  year_ 
In  February,  1825,  he  went  east  and  arranged  for  establishing  a 
Baptist  Seminary  in  Illinois,  and  this  site  was  selectt-d  for  the  loca- 
tion of  the  school.  A  two-story  frame  building,  with  two  wings, 
was  completed  in  1 827,  and  the  "  Rock  Spring  Theological  Semi- 
nary and  High  School "  was  opened.  Rev.  Joshua  Bradly  was 
principal.  Rev.  John  M.  Peck  Professor  of  Theology,  and  Rev. 
John  Messinger  Professor  of  Mathematics.  It  opened  with  one 
hundred  students.  This  was  the  first  literary  institution  in  the 
state  higher  than  a  common  or  primary  school.  In  1831  it  was 
transferred  to  Alton,  and  became  the  foundation  for  Shurlleff  Col. 
lege. 

In  the  winter  of  1828-9,  the  Rev.  Peck  established  a  printing 
office  and  paper  called  The  Pioneer.     It  was  a  religious  paper.     A 


post  office  was  also  established  at  this  place  in  1829,  and  Rev.  Peck 
was  post-master.  He  was  a  prolific  writer.  Among  his  works  we 
mention,  without  order,  "The  Emigrant's  Guide,"  "Illinois  Gazet- 
teer, maps,  etc ,"  "  Life  of  Rev.  John  Clark,  the  Indian  Captive," 
"  Life  of  Rev.  John  Tanner,"  "  Moral  Progress  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley,"  "  Life  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  Vardeman,"  "  The  Memoirs  of 
Rev.  John  M.  Peck,"  compiled  by  Rufus  Babcock,  "  The  Annals 
of  the  West,"  etc. 

Before  his  death  John  Reynolds  wrote  of  him  :  "  Nature  has  en- 
dowed Mr.  Peck  with  her  choicest  gifts,  and  he  himself  has  been 
indefatigable  and  energetic  in  his  scientific  and  literary  labors.  He 
possesses  a  strong,  vigorous  and  discriminating  intellect.  He  is  also 
blessed  with  an  activity  and  energy  that  shrinks  from  no  labor  and 
research  that  is  within  the  compass  of  his  power.  With  his  effi- 
ciency and  energy  of  character  he  has  accomplished  much  in  the 
west.  Education  has  been  a  favorite  pursuit  with  him  during  his 
whole  life  in  the  western  country." 

He  died  at  his  Rock  Spring  residence,  March  14th,  1857,  and  his 
remains  repose  in  the  Bellefontaine  cemeteryj  at  St.  Louis,  where  a 
fine  monument  is  ere  ted  to  his  memory. 

Rev.  Peck  raised  a  family  of  seven  children,  viz. — Hannah  F., 
the  widow  of  Ashford  Smith,  resides  in  Iowa  ;  Harvey  J.,  died  in 
Iowa ;  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  G.  Smith,  resides  on  the  old 
homestead ;  William  S.,  in  Iowa ;  John  Q.  A.,  deceased  ;  James  A. 
and  Henry  M.  both  reside  in  California. 

William  Nichols  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to  this  county 
and  located  a  short  distance  south-east  of  Lebanon,  in  1825.  He 
raised  a  large  family,  and  several  of  his  descendants  are  living 
here. 

Rev.  William  L.  Deneen  was  a  native  of  Penn.  Born  in  1798, 
and  settled  in  this  county,  about  midway  between  Lebanon  and 
Belleville,  in  1828,  and  subsequently  became  a  resident  of  Lebanon. 
He  had  but  three  children, — Sarah,  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Metcalf,  a 
prominent  lawyer  of  Edwardsville,  III. ;  Risdon,  who  died  in  1864, 
and  Samuel  H.,  a  professor  in  McKendree  College.  Rev.  Deneen 
was  a  Methodist  minister,  and  surveyor.  He  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable talent,  and  as  a  civil  engineer  and  mathematician  he 
ranked  among  the  best  He  died,  after  a  long  and  valuable  life,  at 
Lebanon,  in  July,  1879. 

Thus  we  have  sketched  some  of  the  earliest  and  most  prominent 
settlers  in  Lebanon  precinct.  We  have  not  mentioned  all  of  them, 
and  if  it  were  possible,  it  would  not  be  necessary,  nor  perhaps  in- 
teresting. From  the  time  the  fear  of  Indian  depredations  ceased, 
the  settlements  and  population  gradually  increased.  Schools  and 
churches  were  early  established,  and  have  been  liberally  maintained. 
Fine  steam  flouring  mills  replace  the  rude  ox  and  horse-mills  of  pi- 
oneer days.  Seventy  years  ago,  this  was  comparatively  an  unin- 
habited waste ;  only  here  and  there  stood  the  lone  cabin,  as  an 
evidence  of  the  more  advanced  pioneer  of  civilization ;  while  to-day 
its  broad  acres  are  subdued  and  made  to  yield,  and  on  every  hand 
may  be  seen  well-made  farms  and  houses  teeming  with  life  and  ac- 
tivity. The  population  of  the  precinct,  including  the  city  of  Le- 
banon, was  3,674,  as  taken  from  the  census  report  of  1880. 

We  append  the  names  of  a  few  of  the  oldest  citizens  now  resid- 
ing in  this  precinct,  who  have  not  already  been  mentioned  :  H.  H. 
Horner  was  born  in  Lebanon  in  1821 ;  Joseph  Hypes,  a  native  of 
Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  came  here  in  1821 ;  Dr.  R.  F.  Cun- 
ningham, born  in  Maryland,  located  here  in  1834 ;  J.  L.  Sar- 
gent, nativity  New  York,  settled  in  1821  ;  Thomas  Moore,  a  native 
of  St.  Clair  county,  born  in  1825 ;  W.  E.  Willoughby,  of  Kent 
county,  Delaware,  settled  here  in  1835 ;  Isaac  Nichols,  born  in  the 
county,  in  1816  ;   A.   G.   Moore,  who  was  born  in  the  county  in 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


337 


the  same  year ;  N.  Perrin,  nativity  France,  located  here 
in  1834 ;  H.  P.  Miiuie,  also  a  native  of  France,  came  in  1831 ;  Wm. 
A.  Darrow,  a  native  of  St.  Clair,  born  in  1837 ;  Jeremiah  Ben- 
nett; a  North  Carolinian,  came  in  1835  ;  and  Edward  Luckner,  a 
native  of  Germany,  located  here  in  1838. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  the  pioneer  and  ecclesiastical  chapters 
for  further  information  on  the  early  history  of  this  locality. 

In  section  27,  T.  2  N,  R.  7  W.  is  located  the  nursery  of  George 
Crosby.  It  contains  thirty  acres  of  fruit,  shade,  ornamental  trees, 
evergreens,  berries,  etc.  They  furnish  stock  in  this  neighborhood 
and  adjoining  counties.  The  business  was  established  by  his  father, 
Thomas  Crosby,  deceased,  about  thirty  years  ago,  and  has  been  very 
successfully  managed. 

Bennett's  Coal  Mine  is  also  located  in  this  precinct,  two  miles 
west  of  Lebanon,  on  the  O.  and  M.  Railroad.  The  shaft  was 
sunk  in  1873  by  Jeremiah  Bennett,  and  a  five  and  one-half  feet 
vein  was  reached  at  a  depth  of  180  feet.  It  is  now  leased  and 
operated  by  Donnawold  &  Herring,  who  employ  about  thirty  men. 

The  Lebanon  Distillery  was  erected  in  1856  by  Gen.  J.  B.  Oster- 
haus,  at  a  cost  of  about  forty  thousand  dollars.  It  passed  through 
several  hands,  and  was  purchased  in  1 873  by  C.  Pfeffer,  who  en- 
larged and  remodeled  the  building  and  apparatus.  The  capacity 
is  one  thousand  bushels  per  day,  twenty  four  hours'  run.  High 
Wines,  Bourbon,  French  and  Cologne  Spirits,  Whiskey,  etc,  are 
principally  made.  The  distillery  is  finely  located  on  the  banks  of 
Silver  creek,  near  the  O.  and  M.  railroad,  about  one  mile  from 

Lebanon.    There  are  seventy-five  acres  of  land  in  connection  with 
the  property. 

CITY  OP   LEBANON. 

This  beautiful  and  thriving  little  city  is  located  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  railroad,  twenty-two  miles  east  of  St.  Louis,  and  about 
eleven  miles  north-east  from  Belleville,  the  county-seat.     It  is  eli- 
gibly situated,  on  a  gracefully  sloping   hill,  and  commands  a  fine 
view  of  the  surrounding  country.     The  city  is  nicely  laid  out,  and 
contains  many  elegant  residences.     The  streets  are  broad,  with  good 
side-walks,  and  well  shaded.     The  south-east  quarter  of  section 
nineteen,  upon  which  the  original  town  was  laid  out,  was  entered  by 
Henry  White,  September  24,  1814.     Thri  first  house  was  erected  by 
Gillis  Maddeaux.     It  was  constructed  of  logs,  and  was  situated  in 
the  south-eastern  part  of  the  town,  but  has  long  since  disappeared. 
The  next  was  erected  by  Joseph  Akin,  and  stood  just  south-east  of 
the  present  public  square,  on  the  lot  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Flint. 
Joseph  Hathaway  built  a  two-story  log  cabin  on  west  Main  street 
where  Neuman's  saloon  now  stands.     Thomas  Ray,  the  proprietor 
of  the  west  end  of  the  town,  built  the  next,  a  little  west  on  the  same 
block.    Another  log  house  was  built  just  opposite  these,  on  the  sam  3 
street  by  Nathan  Horner.    Adam  Vinyard  also  built  a  house  in  the 
east  part  of  town.     The  first  store  was  established  as  early  as  1818, 
by  Gov.  Kinney,  and  kept  by  his  nephew,   Abraham   Kinney. 
Thomas   Ray,  Nathan  Horner,  Mulligan  &  Sublett,  Samuel  and 
Andrew  Christy  and  James  Riggin  opened  stores  soon  afterwards. 
These  and  perhaps  a  few  more  log  buildings  were  erected  on  the 
present  site  of  Lebanon  prior  to  1820-     In  that  year  Gov.  Kinney 
erected  the  hotel  «  Veranda,"  which  is  still  standing  and  forms  a 
part  of  the  Bishop  House.     It  is  brick,  and  in  those  days  it  was 
considered  a  very  handsome  building.     This,  then,  became  a  stage 
stand,  being  located  on  the  line  of  the  Vincennes  and  St.  Louis 
stage  route.    A  post-office  was  established  and  mails  were  received 
by  stage  twice  a  day.    About  this  time  Gov.  Kinney  built  an  ox- 
mill  for  grinding  flour.    In  1821  Col.  E.  B.  Clempson  erected  the 
first  frame  house.     This  now  forms  a  part  of  H.  H.  Horner's  resi- 
43  ' 


deuce.     Dr.  Addison  Filleo  erected  a  building  in  connection  with  a 
Mr.  Morse,  and  kept  the  first  drug  store. 

The  town  was  laid  out  by  Gov.  William   Kinney  and  Thomas 
Ray.    It  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  Aaron  Reed,  Jr.,  and  filed  in 
the  office  of  county  Recorder  July  27,  1825.    Since  then  there  have 
been  twenty-one  additions  made  to  the  original  plat.     In  1828  there 
were  not  more  than  thirty  cabins  and  houses  in  the  place.     There 
were  two  stores,  one  kept  by  Nathan  Horner  and  the  other  by  James 
Riggin,  a  grocery,  or  saloon,  kept  by  Josiah   Crocker,  and  a  log 
school-house  with  oiled  paper  for  windows,  where  school  and  reli- 
gious  meetings   were  held.     The  Lebanon  Seminary  (McKendree 
College)  was  also  partially  completed  and  the  school  established. 
In  the  fall  of  1832  a  large  store-house  was  erected  and  a  complete 
stock  of  general  goods  was  opened  by  Horner  and  Hypes.     Benja- 
min Hypes,  of  this  firm,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1810,  and  came 
here  from  Ohio,  and  was  an  early  and  prominent  business  man  from 
1828  to  1863,  and  is  still  living  here  much  esteemed  by  the  commu- 
nity.    Joseph  Hypes,  his  brother,  was  also  born  in  Virginia,  in 
1798.     He  came  here  as  early  as  1821,  and  engaged  in  the  milling 
business,  and   subsequently  in  the   manufacture  of  carriages  and 
wagons.     He  is  yet  living,  hale  and  hearty,  at  his  residence  in  this 
city.     James  Riggin,  a  Tennesseean,  was  an  early  and  enterprising 
merchant,  and  died  here  in  1858.     His  excellent  wife  survived  him 
until  a  few  years  ago.     Esquire  Thomas  Williams  built  a  tannery 
establishment  here  in  1829,  and  operated  it  successfully  and  profit- 
ably for  many  years-.     He  died  about  1865,  and  left  a  handsome 
estate.     Lyman  Adams,  an  old  sea  captain,  built  a  hotel  here  in 
1830,  known  as  the  "Mermaid  House."     He  was  also  an  early 
merchant,  and  an  active  business-man     He  died  here  in  the  decade 
of  1850.     The  hotel  "  Veranda,"  mentioned  above,  was  first  occupied 
by  Jeremiah  Johnson,  a  noted  hotel-keeper.     He  was  for  many  years 
proprietor  of  the  old  Missouri  Hotel  in  St.  Louis,  and  opened  the 
"  Veranda  "  in  1820,  which  he  occupied  until  his  death,  about  1836. 
Theodore  W.  Gray,  a  native  of  Maryland,  located  in  Lebanon  in 
1824  and  engaged  in  the  tailoring  business,  at  which  he  acquired  a 
competency,  and  is  now  enjoying  a  retired  life,  much  respected  by 
the  citizens.     These  are  a  few  of  the  very  earliest  and  most  success- 
ful business-men  of  the  place. 

The  first  steam  flouring  mill  was  erected  in  the  north-east  corner 
of  the  place,  in  18;J2,  by  Capt.  Elbridge  Potter  &  Sons.  There  was 
also  a  distillery  built  in  connection  with  the  mill. 

From  the  Illinois  Oazeteer,  published  by  Rev.  John  M.  Peck 
in  1837,  we  copy  the  following:  "Lebanon  has  a  steam-mill  for 
manufacturing  grain,  and  an  ox-mill  for  flouring,  on  an  inclined 
plane  ;  a  post-office,  two  public  houses,  seven  stores,  one  grocery ; 
three  physicians ;  mechanics'  shops  of  various  kinds,  and  about  sixty 
families.  The  Methodist  college  is  located  in  the  immediate  vicinity." 
From  this  the  town  has  grown,  and  now  contains  a  population  of 
about  two  thousand,  with  fine  residences,  handsome  business  blocks, 
good  schools,  churches,  and  various  manufacturing  institutions. 

Incorporation. — Lebanon  was  incorporated  as  a  town,  under  spcr 
cial  charter,  in  May,  1857.  The  first  officers  were :  Joseph  Ifypes, 
president;  Charles  Blanck,  register;  Samuel  Hypes,  Treasurer; 
H.  H.  Horner,  assessor ;  Adam  H.  Wise,  constable  ;  J.  L.  Sargept 
street  inspector.  Town  Trustees  were:  Hugo  Wangeljn,  R.  F. 
Cunningham,  James  Radon  and  Thomas  Jordan. 

It  was  organized  as  a  city,  under  the  general  law,  August  18, 
I874,  and  the  following  were  elected  the  first  officers:  H.  H. 
Horner,  Mayor ;  Louis  Zerweck,  clerk ;  D.  R.  Lasley,  treasurer ; 
J.  F.  Webb,  attorney ;  A-  Pyle,  street  commissioner  and  city  mar- 
shal. The  council  is  composed  of  nine  aldermen,  three  elected  \a 
pach  of  the  three  city  wards, 


338 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


The  present  city  officers  are:  J.  Eaiikin, mayor;  Louis Zerweck, 
clerk  ;  C.  H.  Sager,  treasurer ;  J.  Eckert,  attorney ;  Peter  Brue- 
cher,  city  marshal ;  George  Eiddle  commissioner  of  streets. 

Schools. — The  first  school  was  taught  in  a  log  cabin  about  18x20 
feet,  that  was  erected  just  south-east  of  the  square  as  early  as  1818. 
In  this  building  Kev.  John  M.  Peck  organized  the  first  Sunday- 
school,  in  the  summer  of  1821.  School  was  held  in  this  cabin  for 
a  period  of  three  or  four  years,  when  a  small  frame  school-house 
was  erected  by  the  public,  which  was  also  used  for  religious  meet- 
ings by  all  denominations.  The  public  schools  were  mostly  held 
in  churches  and  halls,  rented  for  that  purpose,  until  1866,  when  a 
fine  brick  school-house  was  erected,  that  cost  upwards  of  $40,000. 
It  stood  on  the  same  lot  occupied  by  the  present  beautiful  struc- 
ture. February  28, 1873,  this  building  was  burned,  and  in  the 
same  year  the  new  one  was  completed,  at  about  the  same  cost.  It 
is  constructed  of  brick,  three  stories  high,  and  contains  ten 
rooms,  all  furnished  with  the  latest  improved  school  furniture.  The 
school  is  graded  and  employs  eight  teachers. 

MeKendree  College  was  founded  as  an  institution  of  learning 
February  20, 1828.  It  received  its  first  charter  from  the  state  in 
1834.  and  a  new  charter  was  granted  June  26,  1839.  It  is  a 
Methodist  institution,  and  has  always  been  largely  patronized  by 
the  Missouri  and  Illinois  Conferences.  On  the  roll  of  Alumni 
there  are  the  names  of  nearly  four  hundred  persons,  many  of  whom 
are  in  high  offices  of  trust  both  in  church  and  state.* 

Illinois  Literary  and  Commercial  Institute  and  School  of  Art  was 
founded  September  20,  1880,  by  Prof.  J.  W.  Whittlesey.  This  is 
a  new  school,  and  judging  from  the  patronage  it  has  received,  it  will 
be  a  successful  one.  Prof.  Whittlesey  is  an  energetic,  enterprising 
gentleman,  and  has  an  able  faculty  associated  with  hira. 

Churches.  —There  are  eight  churches  in  the  city,  all  neat  and 
comfortable  buildings. — Presbyterian,  Methodist  Episcopal,  Free 
Methodist,  German  Methodist,  and  Colored  Methodist,  German 
Lutheran,  Baptist  and  Eoman  Catholic, 

Manufacturing  Industries — The  Veranda  Flouring  Mill  was 
erected  in  1856.  It  is  built  of  brick,  50x60  feet,  and  four  stories 
high.  It  contains  six  run  of  burrs,  with  a  capacity  of  200  barrels 
per  day,  and  is  now  owned  by  Joseph  Mueller  &  Co.  It  manu- 
factures several  brands  of  excellent  flour,  most  of  which  is  shipped 
to  eastern  markets.  The  mill  is  valued  at  $50,000,  and  employs 
thirteen  men. 

The  St.  Clair  Flouring  Mill  was  built  by  W.  V.  Keese  &  Son, 
in  1880,  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000.  It  is  a  frame  building,  three 
stories  high,  and  contains  three  run  of  burrs,  with  a  capacity  of  50 
barrels  per  day.  The  Star  Fancy  brand  of  flour  of  their  manufac- 
ture is  equal  to  that  made  by  any  of  the  larger  mills,  and  finds 
ready  market  at  home  and  in  St.  Louis. 

Hoyt's  Steam  Saw  and  Grist  mill,  has  one  set  of  burrs  and  a 
circular  saw. 

The  Carriage,  Wagon  and  Agricultural  Implement  Manufactory 
of  J.  H.  Lehman's,  was  established  in  1861.  He  has  large  and 
commodious  buildings,  steam  power,  and  all  the  modern  improved 
machinery  for  making  the  best  class  of  work.  Employs  about  ten  men 
The  Lebanon  Brewery  was  purchased  by  J.  Hammel,  in  1860, 
who  remodeled  the  building,  and  enlarged  the  capacity.  This 
brewery  has  all  the  most  modern  improvements  for  brewing,  and 
manufactures  about  six  thousand  barrels  a  year.  It  is  sold  at  home 
and  in  all  the  neighboring  towns.  Hammel's  bottle  beer  is  a  good 
article,  and  is  gaining  reputation.  Mr.  Hammel  has  a  vineyard  of 
several  acres,  and  manufactures  considerable  wine.  He  is  also 
engaged  in  the  ice  business. 

*  Amore  extended  history  may  be  seen  in  the  chapter  on  Schools. 


Lebanon  Soda  and  Mineral  Water  Factory  was  erected  by 
Charles  J.  Renter,  in  1868.  It  is  a  frame  building;  steam  power. 
Soda  and  all  the  various  kinds  of  mineral  waters  are  made  and  sold 
at  home  and  in  all  the  adjacent  towns.  Mr.  Beuter  has  been 
very  successful  in  this  enterprise. 

The  Great  American  Cigar  Manufactory  was  established  by 
Julius  Hofllnann  in  1866.  He  employs  about  fifteen  men  in  the 
manufacture  of  cigars.  They  are  tine  brands,  and  he  has  a  large 
trade. 

There  are  also  two  brick-yards — the  Sager  Brothers, — is  located 
in  the  east  side  of  the  city,  and  that  of  William  Boyce's  in  the 
northern  part,  both  of  which  burn  a  good  quality  of  brick. 

Concord  Park — is  situated  in  the  southern  suburbs,  and  is  the 
property  of  F.  Keitel.  It  contains  several  acres,  with  nicely  ar- 
ranged walks,  well  shaded  with  forest  and  ornamental  trees.  There 
are  music  and  speakers'  stands,  dancing  hall  and  bar,  on  the 
grounds.  This  is  quite  a  popular  resort  for  summer  excursions 
from  St.  Louis. 

The  Lebanon  Journal  is  a  weekly  newspaper  edited  and  published 
by  Jones  &  Metzgar,  and  is  the  i  nly  one  in  the  city. 

Bank. — The  Banking  House  of  Baker  &  Schaefer  was  commenced 
in  1873,  by  Seiter  &  Ramsay.  In  1876  it  was  changed  to  H.  Sei- 
ter  &  Co.,  and  September  1st,  1880,  to  the  present  firm  name.  The 
capital  is  upwards  of  $200,000,  and  it  is  considered  a  safe  and  re- 
liable institution. 

Lodges. — The  secret  societies  are  as  follows : 

Adelphic  Lodge,  No.  1 509,  Knights  of  Honor  ;  Lebanon  Lodge, 
No.  108,  J.  O.  M.  A.  ;  Lebanon  Lodge,  No.  127,  A.  O.  U.  W. 
Lebanon  Lodge,  No.  110,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. ;  Lebanon  Chapter,  No. 
62,  R.  A.  M.  ;  St.  Clair,'  No.  119,  I.  0.  O.  F.  ;  Lebanon  Limmon 
of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  No.  262. 

BUSINESS   HOUSES,   TRADE  OF   1881. 

General    Stores. — Atwood   &   Chamberlain,   Louis    Niemeyer. 

Dry  Goods  and  Groceries — H.  J.  Blanck,  H.  W.  Blanck,  L. 
Gerne,  John   W.    Weigle,   Mrs.   Krause. 

Groceries. — John  Meinhardt. 

Hardware,  Stoves  and  Agricultural  Implements. — C.  H.  Sager, 
Henry  Baum. 

Drugs. — Lindley  &  Bridges,  C.  Fehringer,  J.  B.  Benson. 

Clothing  and  Tailoring.— ChsLilea  Reinhardt,  Thomas  Wolf,  Ja- 
cob Schaefer,  Jacob  Buhr. 

Jewelry. — F.  Resold,  Gus.  HnflTmann. 

Confectionery  and  Bakery. — ^August  Deitz,  August  Kassebaum, 
F.  Campe. 

Shoe  Stores  and  Shops. — C.  Haenel,  George  Breiding,  Paul  Der- 
leth,  J.  Hausmano. 

Furniture. — Henry  Bachmann,  Louis  Reichenbecher,  Jr. 

Books  and  News. — ^Mbs  Frank  Risley. 

Harness  Store.— J.  W.  Hypes,  William  Scheibe. 

Segar  Stores.— J.  Hofimann,  Adam  Traband. 

Millinery  and  Dress  Making.— E.  Haase  and  M.  Zerweck,  Mis3 
Lizzie  Parker. 

Hotels —Bishop  House,  Edward  Ganunn,  proprietor;  Lebanon 
House,  Henry  Heuer,  proprietor ;  aty  Hotel,  Mrs.  T.  Williams, 
proprietress ;  St.  James  House,  Mrs.  Smith,  proprietress. 

Livery  Stables.-S.  R.  Morris,  John  Wallace. 

Blacksmith  and  Wagon  Shops.— Ad&m  Blume,  Robert  Blume, 
Martin  Baum,  F.  Thome. 

Barber  Shops.— G.  Graul,  A.  Doll,  E.  Graul  &  Son,  Noblitt  & 
Lofiee. 

Lumber  Yard. — Gustavo  Weisberger. 
Marble  Works.— August  Kassebaum. 

Physicians— F.  A.  Hamilton,  R.  F.  Cunningham,  F.  W.  Lytle, 
A.  Berger,  C.  N.  Andrews,  A.  S.  Griffith. 
Dentists.— R.  H.  Mace,  L.  Ottofey. 

Insurance  Agents.— W.  H.  Hypes,  Lewis  Zerweck,  A.  Sanspeur, 
J.  N.  Lindley,  D.  Hightower. 

Photographer. — John  Lupton. 

Real  Estate  Agent.— M.  A.  Shepard. 

Saloons  and  Billiard  Halls.— John  Rahner,  Charles  Neuman, 
Gus.  Hofimann,  Cyrus  Culver,  Jule  Gorla,  Thomas  Wakemann,  E. 
Krause,  John  Meinhardt,  John  Michel. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


— j=sS-Sss5_^— =s3g-gas^ 


/f'  A^^  /^ ^-^-M^^-p-- 


Who  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  St.  Clair  cc.unty  bar, 
is  a  native  of  the  county,  and  was  born  at  Lebanon  on  the  22il  of 
February,  1821.  His  great-grandfather  emigrated  from  England, 
and  settled  near  Baltimore.  His  grandfather,  Nicholas  Horner,  in 
the  year  1812  removed  from  the  neighborhood  of  Baltimore  to  the 
State  of  Ohio,  and,  after  living  five  years  near  Cincinnati,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  two  miles  north  of  Lebanon,  where  he  made 
a  purchase  of  five  hundred  acres  of  land.  For  the  improved  part 
te  paid  ten  dollars  an  acre,  a  price  which  was  made  high  by  the 
cost  of  labor  and  material.  On  this  farm  Nicholas  Horner  lived 
till  his  death. 

Nathan  Horner,  fiUher  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Maryland  in  the  year  1790  He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Ohio  to 
Nancy  Hypes,  who  was  born  near  the  James  river,  in  Bottetourt 
county,  Virginia,  within  seven  miles  of  Fincastle,  the  county  seat. 


Her  father  was  Henry  Hypes.  She  was  a  woman  of  much  intelli- 
gence and  remarkable  energy.  After  coming  to  Illiuoii  Nathan 
Horner  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1818  or  1819  undertook  the 
mercantile  business,  and  opened  the  first  store  in  the  town  of  Le- 
banon He  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  for  many  years,  till 
prevented  from  f)llowing  it  by  the  infirmities  of  old  age.  For  a 
long  time  he  was  in  partnership  with  Benjamin  Hypes.  He  died 
in  1867.  He  had  enjoyed  only  ordinary  advantages  for  obtaining 
an  education,  but  was  fond  of  reading,  and  by  this  means  aci]uired 
much  valuable  information.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  education, 
and  was  one  of  those  interested  in  establishing  the  seminary  which 
was  the  foundation  of  the  present  McKendree  college.  At  a  time 
when  this  institution  was  involved  in  serious  difficulties  he  expended 
considerable  means  in  assisting  to  place  the  college  on  a  sound  finan- 
cial basis.     He  was  one  of  the  leading  members  and  supporters  of 


340 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  GLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


the  Methodist  church.    His  views  coincided  with  those  of  the  Whig 
party,  and  he  was  especially  a  warm  admirer  of  Henry  Clay,  but  he 
took  no  active  or  conspicuous  part  in  politics.     The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  oldest  son  and  second  child.     He  was  brought  up  in 
his  native  town  of  Lebanon,  and  obtained  his  education  in  McKen- 
dree  college,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1841.     Having  designed 
to  enter  the  legal  profession,  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
William  H.  Underwood  at  Belleville,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  in  1847.     He  began  practice  at 
Belleville,  but,  after  residing  a  short  time  in  that  place,  returned, 
on  account  of  his  private  interests,  to  Lebanon,  where  he  has  since 
been  occupied  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession.     Few  mem- 
bers of  the  legal  profession  have  been  longer  connected  with  the  St. 
Clair  county  bar,  and  he  has  lived  in  the  county  longer  than  any 
other  lawyer.    Mr.  Horner  succeeded  ex-governor  A.  C.  French  in 
1865  as  dean  of  the  law  department  of  McKendree  college,  which 
position  he  now  holds.     He  was  married  on  the  19th  of  November, 
1857,  to  Helen  M.  Danforth,  who  was  born  at  St.  Albans,  Vermont. 
By  this  marriage  he  has  had  six  children,  of  whom  four  are  now 
living.     Of  these  the  oldest,  Henry  Koland  Horner,  now  resides  in 
Colorado.     Wilbur  N.  is  fitting  himself  for  the  legal  profession. 
The  two  daughters  are  named  Hattie  H.  and  Bertha  A.  Horner. 
Li  his  political  views  he  was  in  early  life  connected  with  the  demo- 
cratic party.    Like  many  in  that  organization,  he  was,  however,  op- 
posed to  slavery  ;  and,  when  the  question  of  the  extension  of  slavery 
into  the  territories  came  to  be  conspicuously  agitated,  in  common 
with  the  free-soil  democrats,  he  assisted  to  form  the  republican 
party,  cast  his  vote  for  president  for  Fremont  in  1856,  and  has  been 
a  republican  from  that  date  to  the  present.    His  time  has  been  de- 
voted to  his  profession  and  the  management  of  his  private  business 
affairs.     He  was  the  first  mayor  of  Lebanon,  on  its  organization 
under  a  city  charter,  and  held  that  office  two  terms.    His  portrait 
appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch. 


HERMANN  J.  BLANCK. 
This  gentleman  was  born  at  Malchow,  Mecklenburg  Schwerin, 
Germany,  November  24th,  1835.  The  names  of  his  parents  were 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  Blanck.  He  was  the  second  of  a  family  of 
six  children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living.  His  father  was  a  wea- 
ver and  manufacturer  of  cloths.  In  1847  the  family  emigrated  to 
America,  and  after  stopping  a  few  weeks  came  to  Lebanon  late  in 
the  fall  of  that  year.  His  father  purchased  the  woolen  mill  at  Leba- 
non, which  had  been  standing  idle  for  some  time,  and  which  he  ran 
successfully  for  twelve  or  thirteen  years.  He  died  at  Lebanon  in 
1876.  Hermann  J  Blanck,  when  about  twenty,  became  clerk  in 
his  brother's  store.  On  the  17th  of  April,  1861,  he  enlisted  for  ser- 
vice in  the  war  of  the  rebaliiou,  in  Cj.  B,  of  the  Ninth  Illinois 
reo'iment.  Djring  the  greater  part  of  his  three  months'  service  he 
was  stationed  at  Cilro,  aid  from  thare  hU  regimant  made  some  ex- 
cursions into  Missouri.  He  was  mastered  out  July  25th,  1861. 
Shortly  after  his  return  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count. He  now  has  the  largest  store  in  Lebanon,  and  carries  on  a 
general  merchandizing  business.  He  Was  married  on  the  23d  of 
November,  1865,  to  Mary  E.  Rankin.  He  has  one  child,  Katie  H 
Blanck.  In  his  political  opinions  he  is  a  democrat,  and  has  always 
voted  that  ticket,  except  in  1864,  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
when  he  supported  Lincoln  for  the  presidency.  His  time  has  been 
closely  devoted  to  his  business,  and  he  has  filled  no  public  position 
with  the  exception  of  acting  as  alderman.  He  is  a  member  of 
Lebanon  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  110,  and  of  St.  Clair  Lodge  of  Odd 
Fellows,  No.  119. 


BENJAMIN  HYPES. 

Among  those  who  have  been  intimately  and  honorably  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  Lebanon  is  Benjamin  Hypes,  who  was 
born  near  Fincastle,  Bottetourt  county,  Virginia,  February  10, 
1805.  His  grandfather,  Nicholas  Hypes,  emigrated  from  Ger- 
many, lived  for  a  time  in  Philadelphia,  and  from  there  moved  to 
Winchester,  in  the  valley  of  Virginia,  where  be  purchased  seven  or 
eight  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  which  the  town  of  Winchester  is 
built.  His  land  was  lo3t  t  >  tUs  heirs  of  the  family  by  reason  of  the 
failure  to  make  the  fin.^1  payment  of  a  few  pounds.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  management  of  a  large  iron  works  in  Virginia,  and 
afterward  purchased  a  tract  of  a  couple  of  thousand  acres  of  land 
in  Bottetourt  county.  Henry  Hypes,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Bottetout  county,  and  married  Patience,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Reynolds.  In  1811  he  removed  from  Virginia  to  Xenia, 
Greene  county,  Ohio.  Part  of  his  farm  is  now  covered  by  the 
town  of  Xenia.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1818,  with  a  view  of 
securing  a  location  for  settlement  in  this  state,  but  concluded  to 
remain  in  Ohio.  His  first  wife  died  in  that  state  in  1823.  He  died 
in  Ohio  in  1851. 

Benjamin  Hypes  was  nearly  six  years  old  when  the  family  made 
their  home  in  Ohio.  School  advantages  were  scarce  in  those  days. 
His  mother  was  his  only  instructor  till  he  was  seventeen,  when  a 
school  was  established  at  Xenia,  which  he  attended  nine  months 
previous  to  his  reaching  the  age  of  twenty-one.  In  1828  he  became 
a  resident  of  Lebanon.  For  two  years  he  carried  on  an  ox-mill, 
which  was  then  the  only  means  at  Lebanon  for  grinding  grain. 
This  mill  had  two  run  of  burrs,  and  was  considered  a  superior 
mill,  and  manufactured  considerable  quantities  of  flour.  In  the 
fall  of  1831  he  became  a  partner  in  the  mercantile  business 
with  Nathan  Horner,  with  whom  he  was  associated  till  1840 ;  from 
1835  to  1837  H.  K.  Ashley  also  being  a  member  of  the  firm. 
After  farming  three  years,  in  1843  he  opened  a  store  of  his  own, 
which  he  carried  on  till  1863.  Soon  after  the  inauguration  of 
President  Lincoln  he  was  appointed  post-master  at  Lebanon,  and 
retained  that  ofiice  during  Lincoln's  administration.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  November,  1834,  to  Caroline,  daughter  of  Daniel  Murray. 
She  was  born  in  Baltimore  in  1814.  Her  father  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county,  becoming  a  resident  of  Belleville  in 
1812.  His  children  are,  Cornelia  Maria  ;  Adelaide  Victoria,  wife 
of  Thomas  Essex,  of  Little  Rock,  Arkansas;  William  Henry; 
Mary  Julia,  wife  of  A.  S.  Maguire,  a  lawyer,  of  Chicago  ;  Benjamin 
Murray,  now  practicing  mtdicine  in  St.  Louis,  and  Caroline  Vir- 
ginia, who  married  the  Rev.  William  F.  Swahlen,  Professor  in 
McKendree  college. 

He  formerly  was  a  whig  in  politics,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for 
president  for  Henry  Clay.  He  has  acted  with  the  republican  party 
since  its  organization.  Since  1831  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Lebanon  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  has  been  one  of  the  pil- 
lars of  that  denomination  at  Lebanon,  and  has  contributed  freely  to 
the  support  both  of  the  church  and  the  McKendree  college.  His 
house  has  always  been  the  home  for  the  ministers,  and  nowhere 
have  they  met  with  a  heartier  welcome  or  a  more  generous  hospi- 
tality. He  was  a  class-leader  in  the  church  from  1834  to  1879.  He 
was  a  member  in  the  first  lay  conference  held  at  Cairo  in  1871, 
and  a  delegate  to  the  general  conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  held  at  Brooklyn  in  1872.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the 
charter  trustees  of  McKendree  college  now  living.  He  was 
auditor  of  the  college  in  1835  and  1836,  treasurer  from  1836  to 
1873 ;  for  two  years  he  was  president  of  the  joint  board  of  trustees 
and  visitors,  and  has  always  been  among  its  warmest  friends  and 
wisest  supporters. 


HISTORY  OF  SI.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


341 


M.cLoa 


William  Nichols,  one  of  the  old  residents  of  St.  Clair  county, 
was  born  in  Hardin  county,, Kentucky,  on  the  27th  of  August  1805. 
His  father,  George  Nichols,  came  to  Kentucky  from  Georgia.  He 
married  Mary  Beard,  whose  birth-place  was  on  the  Eastern  Shore 
of  Maryland.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  next  to  the  oldest 
of  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  was  raised  in  Kentucky.  When 
he  was  six  months  old  his  father  moved  from  Hardin  to  Christian 
county,' and  there  Mr.  Nichols  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life.  He 
had  only  ordinary  advantages  for  obtaining  an  education,  going  to 
Fchool  in  the  winter  season  and  on  rainy  days,  when  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  do  any  labor  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twt  nty-one  he  came 
to  this  state,  and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lebanon.  For 
several'years  after  coming  to  St.  Clair  county  he  employed  part  of 
his  time  in  making  rails,  and  made  as  many  as  a  hundred  thousand 
at  the  customary  price  of  fifty  cents  a  hundred.  St.  Louis  was 
then  a  place  of  small  size  and  importance  ;  and  where  now  is  built 
a  portion  of  East  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Nichols  w  hen  a  young  man  split 
rails  and  made  hay.  By  means  like  these  he  secured  enough  money 
to  enter  eighty  acres  of  land  south-east  of  Lebanon,  on  which  he 
lived  till  he  removed  to  that  town.  He  built  on  this  farm  a  brick 
house  of  small  dimensions,  which  at  the  time  of  its  erection, 
was  considered  one  of  the  handsomest  residences  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  His  father  had  previously  given  him  a  quarter  section  of 
land,  unimproved  and  covered  with  brush,  which  was  of  no  benefit 
to  him  for  many  years.  This  land  is  still  in  his  possession.  He 
paid  taxes  on  it  for  fifty  years  before  it  brought  him  any  return. 

In  the  spring  of  1831  he  volunteered  his  services,  and  was  engaged 
m  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  enlisted  in  a  company  commanded 
by  Capt.  William  Moore.  He  went  through  the  campaign  without 
taking  part  in  any  engagement  with  the  Indians.  He  was  man  led 
on  the  25th  of  March,  1833,  to  Delilah  Moore,  daughter  of  Robert 
Moore,  who  was  horn  in  St.  Clair  county,  at  the  old  settlement 
known  as  Union  Grove,  three  miles  south  of  Lebanon.  Her  father 
resided  in  the  county  during  the  war  of  1812-14,  when  many  of 
the  inhabitants  were  obliged  to  live  in  forts  for  protection  against 
the  Indians.    His  first  wife  died  on  the  6th  of  February,  1849.    His 


second  marriage  occurred  October  1st,  1854,  to  Caroline  Virginia 
Lingenfelter,  who  was  born  at  Winchester,  Clark  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1822.  Her  father  was  David  Lingenfelter,  a  Pennsylvania.  Her 
mother  was  Rebecca  Hutchinson.  In  the  year  1852  he  became  a 
resident  of  Lebanon,  and  for  some  years  was  employed  in  the  mer- 
cantile business.  After  quitting  the  store  he  was  engaged  for  a 
time  in  land  speculations  whiili  he  made  profitable  to  himself. 
Various  business  enterprises  at  different  times  occupied  his  attention. 
Till  within  a  recent  peiiod  he  has  always  been  engaged,  more  or 
less,  in  handling  stock.  In  1859  he  purchased  a  saw  mill  on  a 
tract  of  laud  west  of  the  town  of  Lebanon,  and  was  in  the  lumber 
business  until  the  close  of  the  war.  lu  1861  he  ran  a  grist  mill  at 
Lebanon.  He  owned  at  one  time  abnut  twenty-two  hundred  acres 
of  land,  a  considerable  part  of  which  he  has  given  to  his  children. 
He  had  seven  children  by  his  first  marriage,  of  whom  three  are 
now  living  :  Mary  J.,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Moore,  of  Lebanon ; 
Mrs.  Nancy  C.  Hendrickson  ;  and  William  Lee  Nichols,  of  Leba- 
non. Of  the  four  children  by  his  second  marriage,  three  are  now 
living :  Orrin  Nichols,  Julia  Belle  Nichols,  and  Louis  H.  Nichols. 
In  early  life  he  was  a  member  of  the  whig  party.  His  first  vote 
for  president  was  cast  for  Henry  Clay,  for  whom  he  voted  every 
subsequent  time  he  was  a  candidate  as  he  did  also  for  Harrison 
and  the  other  whig  nominees.  He  was  an  early  member  of  the 
republican  organization,  and  has  been  one  of  its  warmest  and 
strongest  supporters.  He  came  to  this  county  without  any  means, 
and  by  his  activity  and  industry,  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  men 
in  the  vicinity  of  Lebanon.  He  was  of  an  energetic  and  active 
temperament ;  in  the  early  part  of  his  life  he  worked  hard ;  and 
was  always  a  successful  business  man.  His  wealth  has  been  secured 
by  economy  and  wise  accumulation,  and  is  not  the  result  of  any 
sudden,  successful  stroke  of  speculation.  He  has  always  been 
straightforward  and  honorable  in  his  business  dealings.  He  has 
filled  no  political  office  with  the  exception  of  eight  years  as  con- 
stable, at  a  time  when  he  was  the  only  constable  in  the  county 
east  of  Silver  Creek,  and  was  also  in  1849  elected  justice  of  the 
peace. 


342 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  GLAIR  GOUNLY,  ILLINOIS. 


Michael  Seiter,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
bom  in  Baden,  Germany,  September  17th,  1809,  In  1817  the 
family  emigrated  to  America,  and  on  the  passage  across  the  ocean 
both  his  father  and  mother  died,  leaving  him  an  orphan  at  the  age 
of  eight  years.  This  voyage  was  made  in  a  sailing  vessel,  and  oc- 
cupied three  months'  time.  The  masters  of  the  ship  were  hard- 
hearted men,  and  furnished  the  passengers  with  insufficient  food,  so 
that  some  of  them  landed  in  an  almost  famished  condition.  On 
reaching  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Seiter  went  to  live  with  a  farmer  in 
Lancaster  county,  and  was  raised  by  him.  Though  he  had  an  op- 
portunity to  go  to  school  to  some  extent,  it  was  not  nearly  as  much 
as  had  been  promised.  He  would  be  sent  to  school  one  day,  and 
the  next  two  or  three  kept  at  home  to  do  some  work  on  the  farm. 
After  reaching  the  age  of  twenty  one,  he  had  better  educational 
advantages,  working  on  a  farm  during  the  summer  months,  and  in 
the  winter  attending  school.  He  was  naturally  ready  with  tools, 
and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  a  man  by  whom  he  was  em- 
ployed in  Pennsylvania. 

Thinking  he  could  get  better  wages  in  the  west,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  year  1839.  At  Lebanon  he  found  work  with  John 
Stewart,  and  helped  build  a  house  in  that  town.  In  the  year  1841 
he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  married  Elizabeth  Knott,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Knott.  She  was  born  on  the  22d  of  September, 
1804.  In  1846  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  north-east  of 
Lebanon,  on  which  he  lived  till  he  removed  to  the  farm  on  which 
he  died.  He  was  a  man  of  energy  and  industry,  and  his  indus- 
trious and  economical  habits  brought  him  success  and  enabled  him 
to  accumulate  a  competence.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the 
owner  of  a  large  body  of  land,  and  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  men 
in  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  county.  His  farm,  which  was  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  locations  in  the  state,  consisted  of  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  acres,  and  he  owned  beside  in  the  county  six 
hundred  acres.  He  was  a  democrat  in  politics.  He  was  a  man  of 
temperate  habits,  and  in  the  whole  course  of  his  life  was  never 
known  to  be  under  the  influence  of  intoxicating  liquors.  He  pos- 
sessed a  candid  mind,  and  never  hesitated  to  speak  his  opinion. 
His  wealth  was  the  result  of  honest  labor,  in  which  he  was  assisted 


by  a  persevering  and  sympathetic  wife.  The  suspicion  of  dishonesly 
never  rested  on  his  business-  transactions,  but  he  was  in  all  things 
an  upright  and  honorable  man  and  a  good  citizen.  He  had  origi- 
nally a  good  constitution,  but  through  life  performed  much  hard 
labor  and  underwent  much  exposure.  After  a  week's  illness,  he 
died  of  pneumonia  on  the  8th  of  March,  1879.  His  remains  now 
repose  in  the  College  Hill  cemetery  at  Lebanon.  His  two  children 
were  both  sons.  The  oldest,  Hervey  Seiter,  was  born  Jan.  30, 1843, 
and  died  on  the  10th  of  August,  la45. 

Henry  Seiter  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lebanon,  Sept.  22d,  1845. 
After  attending  the  district  school  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
father's  farm,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  entered  McKendree  Col- 
lege, from  wnich  he  graduated  in  1870.  He  also  attended  a  com- 
mercial college  in  Chicago.  In  March  of  the  ^ame  year  in  which 
he  graduated  at  McKendree,  he  also  graduated  at  the  law  school 
connected  with  the  University  of  Michigan,  the  sessions  of  which  he 
had  attended.  In  September,  1871,  in  partnership  with  Rufus 
Ramsay,  he  engaged  in  the  banking  business  at  Carlyle.  In  Au- 
gust, 1873,  under  the  firm  name  of  Seiter  &  Ramsay,  he  entered 
also  into  the  banking  business  at  Lebanon.  This  bank  was  the 
first  ever  started  in  that  town.  After  dissolving  his  partnership 
with  Mr.  Ramsay  in  1877,  he  carried  on  the  banking  business  at 
Lebanon  till  1880,  when  he  disposed  of  the  bank  to  the  present 
firm  of  Baker,  Schaeffer  &  Co.  In  his  politics  Mr.  Seiter  is  a  warm 
and  active  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  democratic  party.  He 
was  elected  a  representative  in  the  state  legislature  from  St.  Clair 
county  in  1878,  and  was  one  of  that  body  serving  on  several  impor- 
tant committees.  In  1873  he  married  Alice  Radefelt  of  Lebanon, 
who  died  May  9th,  1877.  He  had  two  children  by  this  marriage, 
of  whom  one,  Victor  M.  Seiter,  is  living  at  the  agOi^of  five.  His 
present  wife,  whom  he  married  Nov.  22d,  1879,  was  Mamie  Badley 
of  Alton.  Her  father,  William  Badley,  was  a  native  of  Dudley, 
England.  He  has  one  child,  Orval  Roc  Seiter,  by  this  marriage. 
A  view  of  Mr.  Seiter's  residence.  Emerald  Mound,  appears  among 
our  illustrations.  His  name  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  this  work,  as 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  the  county. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


345 


PROF.  SAMUEL  H.  DENEEN. 
Samuel  H.  Deneen,  Professor  of  Latin  and  History  in  McKen- 
dree  College,  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  was  born  near  Belle- 
ville, December  20th,  1835.  His  father,  the  Eev.  William  L. 
Deneen,  was  born  near  Bedford,  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  30th  of  October,  1798.  One  of  his  ancestors  was  captain  of  a 
ship  which  traded  from  a  French  port.  The  family  name  is  of 
French  origin,  and  was  originally  spelled  Denesne.  When  he  was 
two  years  and  a  half  old  the  parents  of  the  Rev.  William  L.  De- 
neen moved  to  Liberty  township,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  Here  he 
grew  to  manhood.  His  opportunities  for  obtaining  an  education 
were  limited,  but  being  gifted  with  a  rare  natural  aptitude  for  math- 
ematical studies  he  mastered  all  branches  of  the  science  of  mathe- 
matics from  arithmetic  to  calculus,  with  but  little  help  from  others. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  to  Vevay,  Indiana,  where  he  learned 
the  hatting  business,  at  which  he  worked  for  the  four  following  years. 
Subsequently  he  taught  school.  In  1827  he  was  converted  under 
the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  George  Locke,  and  in  October,  1828,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  conference.  His  jSrst  appointment  was 
Shoal  Creek  circuit  which  included  the  counties  of  St.  Clair,  Monroe, 
Clinton,  Marion,  Madison,  Bond,  Jersey,  Fayette  and  Green.  His 
other  appointments  were  Salt  Creek  circuit,  Lebanon  circuit,  Kas- 
kaskia  circuit,  Brownsville  mission,  Waterloo  circuit,  Edwardsville, 
Belleville,  Upper  Alton,  Alton,  again  at  Belleville,  Waterloo,  and 
Lebanon. 

For  nineteen  years  his  cares  and  labors  were  those  of  an  itiner- 
ant minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  had  well  nigh  rounded  out 
his  half  century  of  years,  when,  in  1847,  a  severe  and  prolonged 
attack  upon  his  lungs  compelled  him  to  abandon  public  speaking 
and  to  take  a  superannuated  relation  as  a  minister.  As  soon  as  his 
health  permitted  he  engaged  in  the  business  of  surveying  lands,  into 
which  he  was  led  by  his  strong  predilection  for  the  science  of  math- 
ematics, which  had  grown  with  his  advancing  years.  He  was  county 
surveyor  of  St.  Clair  county  from  1849  to  1851,  and  again  from 
1853  to  1855.  His  unusual  proficiency  in  mathematics  and  the  re- 
markable accuracy  of  his  work  as  a  surveyor  received  the  highest 
testimonials  from  those  most  conversant  with  the  business  in  which 
he  was  employed.  In  repeated  instances  the  decisions  of  the  courts 
were  determined  by  the  weight  of  his  testimony  and  the  reputation 
of  his  work.  His  services  were  constantly  in  demand  until  he  had 
completed  his  four  score  years.  He  died  in  Lebanon,  Illinois,  July 
11th,  1879.  Mr.  Deneen  was  an  able  preacher,  a  profound  theolo- 
gian, a  true  Christian.  As  a  minister  and  as  a  surveyor  he  was 
strictly  conscientious  in  all  his  labors.  His  long  life  was  char- 
acterized by  active  service,  eminent  usefulness,  and  spotless  integ- 
rity. He  was  married  in  1831  to  Verlinder  B.  Moore,  daughter  of 
Eisdon  Moore.  She  was  born  on  the  30th  of  June,  1802,  and  died 
June  30th,  1855.  Her  father  came  to  Illinois  from  Georgia.  Refer- 
ence to  his  history  is  made  elsewhere*.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage were  Eisdon  Moore  Deneen,  bom  July  25th,  1833 ;  and  died 
December  25th,  1864 ;  Samuel  H.  Deneen,  and  Sarah  A,  the  wife 
of  the  Hon.  A.  W.  Metcalf,  of  Edwardsville. 

The  birthplace  of  Samuel  H.  Deneen  was  six  miles  east  of  Belle- 
ville. He  entered  McKendree  College  in  1850,  and  graduated  in 
1854.  The  following  year  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school  and 
in  prosecuting  the  study  of  the  ancient  languages.  In  1855  he  was 
elected  tutor  in  the  classics  in  McKendree  College,  and  in  1858  was 
made  Adjunct  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages.  His  studies  now 
took  a  wide  range  over  the  field  of  ancient,  and  more  especially,  of 
Roman  literature  and  he  read  carefully  and  critically  the  entire  re- 

*  See  the  sketch  of  Bisdon  A.  Moore. 


maining  works  of  the  principal  Latin  authors.  In  1862  he  was 
elected  Professor  of  the  Latin  language  and  literature.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  and  was  commissioned 
adjutant  of  the  117th  regiment,  Illinois  volunteers.  When  his 
regiment  entered  the  field  he  was  appointed  Acting  Assistant  Ad- 
jutant-General of  the  third  brigade,  third  division,  sixteenth  army 
corps.  This  portion  of  the  Union  army  saw  service  in  the  States 
of  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and  Ala- 
bama. He  participated  in  the  marches,  skirmishes,  and  battles  of 
his  brigade  until  thelatter  part  of  November,  1864,  when  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge  from  the  service  on  account  of  sickness. 

In  1865  he  resumed  his  labors  in  the  college  as  Professor  of  Latin, 
the  duties  of  which  position  had  been  divided  among  other  teachers 
during  his  absence  in  the  war.  He  engaged  in  his  tasks  with  new 
vigor.  Through  his  agency  another  year  of  Latin  was  added  to  the 
studies  required  in  the  classical  course.  He  had  sought  in  every 
way  to  render  this  department  of  collegiate  instruction  as  ample 
and  thorough  as  that  found  in  the  best  American  colleges.  He  has 
shared  in  the  interest  awakened  among  scholars  in  the  department 
of  comparative  philology  and  has  made  a  study  of  the  modern 
tongues  yet  derived  from  the  Latin,  viz  :  the  French,  Italian, 
Spanish,  and  Portuguese.  In  recognition  of  his  scholarly  attain- 
ments the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  was  conferred  upon  him 
in  1876  by  the  Indiana  Asbury  University. 

He  was  married  in  1859  to  Mary  F.  Ashley,  daughter  of  Hiram 
K.  Ashley,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  April  12th,  1802,  and  died 
at  Lebanon,  April  20th,  1865.  Her  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Sarah  A.  Horner,  was  born  at  Lebanon,  May  17th,  1819,  and 
died  September  5th,  1846,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Nathan  Horner,f 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lebanon.  Mrs.  Deneen  was  educated 
at  the  Illinois  Female  College,  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  and  the  Wes- 
leyan  Female  College,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the 
latter  institution.  The  children  of  Prof  and  Mrs.  Deneen  now  liv- 
ing are  Edward  Ashley,  Charles  Samuel,  Sarah  Alice,  and  Florence. 


CAPT.  LYMAN  ADAMS,  (ueceased) 

Formerly  a  resident  of  Lebanon,  was  born  at  Hartf  )rd,  Con- 
necticut, in  February,  1779  He  was  connected  with  the  celebra- 
ted Adams  family  of  New  England.  His  father  was  a  Presbyte- 
rian minister.  At  the  age  of  eleven  Capt.  Adams  left  home  and 
went  on  board  a  ship  and  became  a  sailor.  He  followed  a  sea -faring 
life  for  many  years,  and  became  captain  of  a  yessel.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  the  merchant  trade.  After  quitting  the  sea  he  settled  in 
Baliimore,  and,  for  a  number  of  years,  was  recorder  in  the  police 
court  of  that  city.  During  the  war  of  1S12-14,  he  commanded  a 
company  of  militia,  raised  for  the  defence  of  Baltimore,  and  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Bladensburg.  From  Baltimore  he  went  to 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  was  there  employed  in  the  merchandiz- 
ing and  rectifying  business. 

He  left  Louisville  in  the  year  1829,  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Lebanon.  He  opened  a  dry  goods  store,  and  also  a  hotel.  He 
carried  on  this  hotel,  which  was  called  the  "Mermaid,"  for  some 
years.  The  travel  at  that  time  through  Lebanon  was  quite  heavy, 
the  town  being  situated  on  the  main  stage  line  between  Cincinnati  and 
St.  Louis.  His  house  was  well  known  from  Vincennes  to  St.  Louis, 
and  many  eminent  men  were  entertained  within  its  walls.  At  the 
time  Charles  Dickens  made  his  journey  from  St.  Louis  to  the 
Looking  Glass  prairie,  he  stopped  over  night  at  this  hotel.  Ben- 
ton, and  many  other  public  men,  were  frequent  guests.     With 

t  See  sketch  of  Henry  H.  Horner. 


344 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  GLAIR  CODNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


many  of  the  prominent  state  politicians  of  that  day,  especially 
those  of  the  democratic  school,  Capt.  Adam?  was  well  acquainted. 
He  was  himself  an  active  politician,  and  a  strong  supporter  of  the 
democratic  faith.  He  served  as  post-master  at  Lebanon  for  many 
years,  was,  for  a  long  time,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  also  acted  as 
Notary  Public.  He  was  a  man  of  good  business  habits,  was  popu- 
lar in  the  community,  and  well  known  throughout  the  county.  He 
died  on  the  second  of  July,  1851. 

His  last  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  was 
Matilda  Glover.  She  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Her  mother, 
Mrs.  Prudence  Glover,  who  formerly  resided  in  Lebanon,  is  now 
living  in  Cincinnati,  and  was  one  hundred  and  one  years  old  on  the 
twenty-first  of  June,  1881.  Capt.  Adams  had  eleven  children,  all 
by  his  last  marriage.  Of  these  three  are  now  living  The  oldest, 
Cecelia,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Adolph  Berger,  of  Lebanon.  The  two 
sons,  Albert  and  Chester  Adams,  live  at  Moberly,  Missouri,  the 
former  a  farmer  and  the  latter  a  physician  and  druggist. 


CHARLES  H.  SAGER. 

Charles  H.  Sagee,  dealer  in  hardware  and  agricultural  im- 
plements at  Lebanon,  is  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  on  the  5th  of  November,  1838.  His  father,  Col.  Charles 
Sager,  was  born  in  Hamburg,  then  belonging  to  Denmark,  on  the 
10th  of  June,  1800.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  left  home,  for  six  years 
was  in  the  AVest  Indies,  and  when  sixteen  came  to  America. 
From  New  York  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsj  Ivania,  and  was 
there  employed  as  clerk  in  a  store,  working  in  the  day,  and  at 
night  attending  school.  He  thus  secured  a  good  education,  and 
subsequently  taught  school.  From  Pittsburg  he  went  to  Mount 
Vernon,  Ohio,  and  at  that  place,  on  the  23d  of  September,  1823, 
married  Jane  H,  Smith.  He  afterwards  lived  in  Lancaster,  Ohio, 
where  he  kept  a  hotel ;  then  moved  to  a  little  town  named  Oak- 
land, twelve  miles  from  Lancaster.  In  1854  went  to  Washington, 
Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of  1858  came  to  Lebanon,  to  which  place  he 
brought  his  family  the  next  year.  He  established  the  business  at 
Lebanon,  which  is  still  carried  on  by  his  son,  C.  H.  Sager.  He 
died  at  Lebanon  on  the  2d  of  July,  1877.  While  a  resident  of 
Mount  Vernon,  Ohio,  he  com  manded  a  regiment  of  home  guards, 
and  thus  acquired  the  title  of  Colonel,  which  he  carried  through 
life.  As  a  business  man  he  was  exact,  accommodating,  honest  and 
reliable,  and  had  the  entire  confidence  of  the  community.  He 
was  first  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  but  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lebanon,  in  which 
he  was  made  a  ruling  elder,  and  of  which  he  was  a  strong  sup- 
porter.    He  was  active  in  Sunday-school  work. 

C.  H.  Sager,  the  fifth  of  seven  children,  of  whom  four,  two 
brothers  and  two  sisters,  are  now  living,  resided  in  Ohio  till  twenty 
years  of  age.  He  then  came  to  Lebanon  with  his  father,  with 
whom  he  engaged  in  business.  After  his  father's  death  he  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  the  store,  and  is  known  as  an  enterprising  and 
successful  business  man.  He  carries  a  full  stock  of  hardware,  and 
deals  largely  in  the  latest  and  most  improved  kinds  of  agricultural 
machinery.  He  was  married  in  March,  1859,  to  Amelia  Starkel, 
daughter  of  Charles  Starkel.  His  children  by  this  marriage  are — 
Emile,  C.  M  Sager,  Francis,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year, 
Edgar  Grant,  James  Richard  and  Jesse  Blanche.  He  has  been  a 
republican  in  politics.  He  served  one  term  as  treasurer  of  the  City 
of  Lebanon.  He  is  connected  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  order  of 
United  Workmen,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 


SAMUEL  G.  SMITH 
Was  born  at  Wilmington,  Delaware,  August  30th,  1809.  His 
father,  John  Smith,  was  born  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  learned  the 
trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier,  and  at  Wilmington  married  Gertrude 
Gilpin,  daughter  of  Abigail  and  Vincent  Gilpin.  The  Gilpin  fa- 
mily were  Quakers,  and  lived  in  Wilmington  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Mr.  Smith's  mother  was  accustomed  to  relate  how  at 
the  approach  of  the  British  the  Quaker  families  of  Wilmington 
buried  their  silver.  After  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine  several 
wounded  British  officers  were  brought  to  their  house  for  treatment. 
Mr.  Smith's  father  had  a  large  tannery  in  Wilmington,  and  built 
the  first  steamboat  (called  the  ^tna)  which  ran  on  the  Delaware 
as  a  packet  between  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia.  He  also 
operated  a  large  rolling  mill,  five  miles  from  Wilmington.  Having 
lost  a  considerable  part  of  his  means  by  speculation  in  hides  during 
the  war  of  1812-14,  he  removed  to  the  West  in  1819,  reaching 
Carlyle  in  Clinton  county  July  5th.  He  built  two  large  hewn  log 
•houses  on  the  old  Vincennes  and  St.  Louis  road,  two  miles  east  of 
Shoal  creek,  and  there  kept  a  hotel  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
1831,  he  settled  in  this  county,  near  where  the  Pittsburg  railroad 
descends  the  blufi",  opened  two  coal  pits,  and  hauled  the  coal  to  St. 
Louis.  He  subsequently  moved  to  a  farm  in  the  Looking  Glass 
prairie,  and  afterward  to  Lebanon,  where  he  died. 

Samuel  G.  Smith  was  married  in  January,  1835,  to  Orinda  Bank- 
son.  Her  father.  Col.  Andrew  Bankson,  was  in  the  ranging  ser- 
vice during  the  war  of  1812-14.  He  was  an  old  settler  of  St. 
Clair  county,  and  afterward  removed  to  Clinton  county,  where  he 
died.  Mr.  Smith  after  his  marriage  was  farming  in  Clinton  county 
till  1846,  and  then  moved  to  Iowa  and  settled  on  the  Mississippi, 
fifteen  miles  below  Dubuque.  He  there  operated  a  ferry  across  the 
river  for  about  twelve  years.  His  first  wife  died  in  1848, 
On  the  2d  of  May,  1849,  he  married  Mary  Ann  Peck,  the  fifth 
child  of  Rev.  John  M.  Peck,  whose  history  is  referred  to  elsewhere. 
In  1858,  Mr.  Smith  purchased  the  old  place,  known  as  Rock  Spring, 
on  which  Mr.  Peck  settled  in  coming  to  St.  Clair  county,  and  has 
resided  there  since.  Three  or  four  remarkably  fine  springs  on  the 
farm  gave  the  place  its  name.  Mr.  Peck's  house  is  still  us^d  by 
Mr.  Smith  as  a  residence,  and  a  building  is  also  still  standing,  in 
which  was  published  the  Western  Pioneer,  the  first  religious  news- 
paper in  the  West.  This  was  one  of  the  first  printing  offices  in  Il- 
linois. Mr.  Smith  has  eight  children  living  :  Mary,  wife  of  Benja- 
min Moore,  now  living  in  Kansas  ;  John  F.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five ;  Gertrude  G.,  wife  of  Thomas  Oliver  of  Chicago ; 
Andrew  Clark  Smith,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight;  George 
W.  Smith  of  Chicago ;  William,  James  0.,  De  Witt  Clinton,  and 
Chester  P.  Smith,  who  live  in  this  county ;  Sarah  Ann,  the  next  to 
the  youngest  child,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven.  Mr.  Smith  was  first 
a  Whig  in  politics,  voted  for  Clay  in  1832,  became  a  republican 
when  the  party  was  first  organized,  and  has  belonged  to  that  party 
ever  since. 


OLIVER  V.  JONES. 
This  gentleman,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Lebanon  Journal, 
is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  Caldwell  county,  in  that 
state,  on  the  28th  of  December,  1824.  Both  his  paternal  and  ma- 
ternal ancestors  were  from  England.  His  grandfather,  William 
Jones,  was  a  resident  of  North  Carolina,  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  His  father.  Fountain  W.  Jones,  was  born  in  Sum- 
ner county,  Tennessee,  and  at  an  early  age  accompanied  his  father 
to  Kentucky,  and  was  raised  in  the  latter  state.  He  was  married 
at  Dover,  Tennessee,  to  Mary  Ann  Vanlandingham,  who  was  a  native 


HISTORY  01  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


345 


of  Kentucky.  Fountain  W.  Jones  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Illi- 
nois in  1830,  and  settled  in  Gallatin  county,  near  Shawneetown. 
He  volunteered  under  Gen.  Posey  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and 
served  in  the  campaign  of  1832.  His  company  was  commanded  by 
Capt.  Harrison  Wilson,  father  of  Gen.  James  H-  Wilson. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  was  the  oldest  of  a  family 
of  nine  children.  He  was  six  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  this  state.  He  was  raised  in  Gallatin  county,  attend- 
ing the  ordinary  common  schools^  and  having  such  opportunities  for 
instruction  as  were  common  at  that  day.  He  had  determined, 
however,  to  secure  a  good  education,  and  by  making  rails  obtained 
sufficient  means  to  enable  him  to  enter  McKendree  College  in  the 
spring  of  1847.  His  studies  were  interrupted  by  his  being  obliged 
to  teach  school  to  secure  the  necessary  means  to  allow  him  to  prose- 
cute his  studies,  but  he  completed  the  course,  and  graduated  in 
1853.  After  his  graduation  he  was  made  tutor  in  mathematics, 
and  was  subsequently  elected  adjunct  professor  of  mathematics  and 
English  literature.  Afterward,  in  1866,  he  was  made  professor  of 
mathematics  and  astronomy.  At  the  time  of  his  resignation,  in 
1879,  he  had  been  connected  with  the  college  twenty-six  years. 
During  part  of  the  year  1880  he  was  engaged  as  a  Methodist  minis- 
ter on  the  Wisetown  circuit,  in  Clinton  and  Bond  counties.  For 
some  months  subsequently  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  Illinois  Literary  • 
and  Commercial  Institute,  at  Lebanon. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1881,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  the 
Lebanon  Journal,  which  he  is  now  publishing.  A  newspaper  of 
this  name  had  previously  been  published  in  Lebanon.  He  was 
married  in  1858  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Crocker,  a  native  of  Lee,  Massa- 
chusetts. By  this  marriage  he  had  two  children  living,  one  son  and 
one  daughter.  Since  1846  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  since  1867  has  been  an  ordained  minister  of  that  de- 
nomination. He  was  first  a  democrat  in  politics,  though  in  common 
with  a  great  portion  of  that  party  he  entertained  free-soil  sentiments, , 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  republican  party  he  became  a  repub- 
lican. 


Kev.  WILLIAM  FLETCHER  SWAHLEN,  Ph.  D. 

Prop.  William  F.  Swahlen,  Ph.  D.  who  occupies  the  chair  of 
the  Greek  and  German  Languages  and  Literature  in  McKen- 
dree College,  Lebanon,  Illinois,  was  born  at  Wheeling,  West  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  19th  of  April,  1839.  His  father,  the  Rev.  John 
Swahlen,  was  a  pioneer  minister  of  the  German  Methodist  Church, 
and  was  born  in  Canton  Berne,  Switzerland,  December  25th,  1808. 
The  family  name  is  spelled  in  Switzerland,  Zwahlen.  John  Swahlen 
came  to  America  in  1832,  and  the  succeeding  year  made  his  home 
in  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  was  the  first  member  of  the  German  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Society  of  Cincinnati — the  first  organization  of  the 
kind  in  the  world.  In  1838  he  was  sent  to  Wheeling,  West  Vir- 
ginia, as  a  missionary  among  the  Germans,  and  established  the  first 
German  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  in  Wheeling.  In  1839  he 
built  a  substantial  brick  church  for  his  congregation,  which  was 
the  first  German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  edifice  ever  erected 
in  the  world. 

From  that  time  the  active  years  of  his  life  were  devoted  to 
missionary  efibrts  among  the  German  population.  He  founded 
many  churches,  and  was  the  means  of  doing  much  good.  He  was 
subsequently  stationed  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania ;  was  at  War- 
renton,  Missouri,  in  1842-43 ;  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  1843-44 ; 
44 


Sidney,  Ohio,  1844-6 ;  Baltimore,  Maryland,  1846-8  ;  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  1848-9;  New  York  city,  1849-51;  BuflTalo,  New 
York,  1861-3;  Albany,  New  York,  1853-4;  Baltimore,  1854-6; 
Brooklyn,  1855-7  ;  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  1857-8  ;  Troy,  New 
York,  1858-60;  Philadelphia,  1860-2;  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey, 
1862-4;  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  1864-66;  was  presiding  elder 
of  the  Philadelphia  district,  1866-70,  and  was  stationed  in  Balti- 
more in  1870-2.  He  has  since  occupied  a  superannuated  relation, 
except  in  the  year  1876,  when  he  was  pastor  of  a  churcli  in  Phila- 
delphia. He  is  now  living  at  Evansville,  Indiana.  His  efibrts 
were  of  great  service  to  the  cause  of  German  Methodism.  '  A  cor- 
rect estimate  of  his  character  and  labors  can,  perhaps,  be  formed 
from  a  remark  of  Bishop  Simpson,  in  his  Encyclopedia  of  Metho- 
dism, that  "  long  before  the  organization  of  the  Church  Extension 
Si)ciety,  John  Swahlen  was  virtually  such  an  organization  in  him- 
self." 

He  was  married  in  the  year  1838  to  Ann  Taylor  Gibbons,  a  na- 
tive of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  was  descended  from  one 
of  the  early  Quaker  families,  which  made  their  home  in  Pennsyl- 
vania shortly  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  colony  by  Penn.  Her 
father  was  named  John  Gibbons.  Her  mother  belonged  to  the 
Cope  family,  also  connected  with  the  early  Quaker  settlement  of 
Pennsylvania. 

William  Fletcher  Swahlen  was  the  oldest  of  two  children.  He 
has  a  sister  who  resides  at  Evansville,  Indiana.  During  his  early 
life  his  changes  of  residence  were  frequent  on  account  of  the  itine- 
rant labors  of  his  father,  but  in  several  eastern  cities  he  had  most 
excellent  educational  advantages.  At  Buffalo  his  instructor  was 
N.  P.  Stanton,  Jr.,  afterward  Secretary  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
At  Albany  he  attended  the  Albany  Academy,  under  the  principal- 
ship  of  George  H.  Cook  and  David  Murray.  At  Baltimore  he  was 
a  student  at  the  Light  Street  Institute,  where  he  had  the  benefit  of 
two  years'  thorough  instruction  by  Asbury  J.  Morgan.  In  1856 
and  1857,  his  teacher  was  Prof.  Charles  Anthon,  of  the  Columbia 
College  Grammar  School.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  entered  the 
Freshman  class  of  the  Troy  University,  of  which  the  Rev.  John 
McClintock,  D.  D.,  was  then  president.  In  1860  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Sophomore  class  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  pursued  the  regular  classical  course,  graduating  in  July, 
1863. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  was  elected  Adjunct  Pro- 
fessor of  Greek  and  German  in  McKendree  College,  and  took  his 
place  among  the  regular  corps  of  instructors,  in  October,  1863. 
From  that  date  to  the  present  time,  he  has  been  uninterruptedly 
connected  with  the  college  faculty.  In  1867  he  was  elected  to  a 
full  professorship.  '  He  was  married  on  the  29th  of  June,  1873,  to 
Miss  Carrie  V.  Hypes,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Hypes,  one  of  the 
oldest  residents  of  the  town  of  Lebanon.  There  have  been  four 
children  by  this  marriage;  Ella  Blanche,  Walter  Gibbons,  (now 
deceased) ;  Percy  Hypes,  and  Arthur  Essex.  Prof.  Swahlen,  with 
one  exception,  is  now  the  oldest  member  of  the  college  faculty, 
and  has  assisted  in  giving  McKendree  its  reputation  for  thorough- 
ness of  instruction.  In  1870,  at  the  annual  session  of  the  Southern 
Illinois  Conference  held  at  Lebanon,  he  was  ordained  a  deacon  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  ministry,  by  Bishop  Simpson,  and  in  1877 
was  ordained  elder  by  Bishop  Thomas  Bowman.  In  1866  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.  M.,  both  from  the  McKendree  College  and 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  his  alma  mater ;  anti  in  1877,  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.,  from  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  University. 


34G 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


CHARLES  BLANCK,  (i>eceased). 

Among  the  former  prominent  business  men  of  Lebanon  the  name 
of  Charles  Blanck  deserves  to  be  perpetuated  in  the  history  of  St. 
Clair  county.  He  was  born  at  Mai  chow,  in  Mecklenburg  Schwerin, 
on  the  14th  of  December,  1833.  The  family  had  lived  in  the  town 
of  Malchow  for  several  generations,  and  there  was  born  Henry 
Blanck,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  carried  on  the 
business  of  a  cloth  manufacturer.  The  first  thirteen  years  of  Mr. 
Blanck's  life  were  spent  in  Germany.  At  the  age  of  six  he  began 
attending  a  school  connected  with  the  Lutheran  church,  the  studies 
in  which  he  completed  before  leaving  the  old  country.  In  1846 
the  family  emigrated  from  Germany  to  America,  landing  at  New 
Orleans  on  the  loth  of  October,  1846.  From  that  place  they  came 
immediately  to  St.  Louis,  and  after  living  two  months  in  that  city, 
became  residents  of  Lebanon.  Here,  in  the  spring  of  1847,  Henry 
Blanck  established  a  wool-carding  machine,  which  he  carried  on  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  died  on  the  8th  of  April,  1876.  His 
widow,  whose  name  before  marriage  was  Elizabeth  Profke,  is  still 
living  at  Lebanon,  and  was  seventy  years  of  age  in  April,  1881. 

Soon  after  coming  to  Lebanon,  Mr.  Blanck  went  to  live  with 
James  M.  Whittaker,  with  the  object  of  learning  the  English  lan- 
guage. He  made  rapid  progress,  and  in  after  life  spoke  the  English 
with  so  much  correctness,  and  freedom  from  foreign  accent,  that  it 
could  not  be  told  that  he  was  not  a  native  of  this  country.  After 
remaining  a  few  months  at  Judge  Whittaker's  he  entered  the  store 
of  Col.  Hugo  Wangelin,  then  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Leba- 
non, and  was  employed  by  him  two  years.  When  sixteen  he  went 
to  St.  Louis  with  a  view  of  obtaining  a  situation  in  that  city.  He 
was  without  friends,  and  remained  at  the  hotel  four  weeks,  some- 
times lonesome  and  despondent,  before  he  was  able  to  secure  any- 
thing to  do.  He  was  then  given  employment  in  a  dry  goods  store, 
and  remained  four  years  in  the  same  establishment.  He  was  active 
and  industrious,  and  pleased  his  employers  so  well  that  they  regret- 
ted to  dispense  with  his  services,  and  offered  him  an  increase  of 
salary  if  he  would  remain.  He  had  made  up  his  mind,  however, 
to  go  into  business  for  himself,  and  in  the  spring  of  1854  came  to 
Lebanon,  and  purchased,  partly  on  time,  a  small  stock  of  goods 
from  the  firm  of  Sargeant  &  Wangelin,  and  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  account.  His  only  capital  at  that  time  was  some  money 
which  he  had  saved  while  in  St.  Louis.  He  kept  this  store  in  a 
frame  building  at  the  corner  of  St.  Louis  and  Mill  streets,  and  was 
afterward  in  business  uninterruptedly  at  this  location  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

He  went  into  business  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  Ohio 


and  Mississippi  railroad  through  St.  Clair  county.  When  he  came 
to  Lebanon  from  St.  Louis  he  was  a  passenger  on  the  locomotive 
which  made  the  first  trip  over  the  road  from  East  St.  Louis  to 
Lebanon,  then  the  eastern  terminus.  The  building  of  the  railroad, 
and  other  circumstances,  made  business  active  in  Lebanon,  and  Mr. 
Blanck  prospered  from  the  start.  He  made  the  best  of  his  oppor- 
tunities, and  rapidly  accumulated  money.  In  1858  the  old  frame 
structure  in  which  he  made  his  first  attempt  at  a  business  career, 
was  supplanted  by  a  substantial  brick  building,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing, though  it  was  partly  destroyed  by  fire  after  Mr.  Blanck's  death, 
and  has  since  been  rebuilt.  He  was  married  at  Lebanon  on  the 
1st  day  of  January,  1855,  to  Miss  Jennie  Cape,  who  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Missouri.  Her  father,  William  B.  Cape,  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  died  in  Washington  county,  Missouri. 
Her  mother,  Amy  Carty,  was  bom  in  Kentucky,  and  is  still  living 
at  Carrollton,  in  this  state.  The  death  of  Mr.  Blanck  occurred  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1878.  He  was' then  in  the  forty-fifth  year  of  his 
age,  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  business  career 
which  up  to  that  time  had  been  more  than  usually  successful. 

He  was  well  known  as  an  enterprising  and  active  business  man. 
Though,  with  the  exception  of  attending  night-school  in  St.  Louis, 
he  had  no  advantages  for  instruction  in  this  country,  yet  he  had 
acquired  by  wide  reading,  a  valuable  stock  of  information,  and  was 
a  good  English  scholar.  While  living  in  St.  Louis  he  had  acquired 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  French  language.  He  possessed  re- 
fined tastes,  and  was  a  lover  of  music  and  works  of  art.  He  was 
identified  in  some  capacity  with  the  government  of  Lebanon  for 
many  years ;  first  as  city  register,  then  as  treasurer,  and  afterwards 
as  member  of  the  board  of  aldermen,  in  which  he  served  as  chairr 
man  of  the  finance  committee.  He  was  especially  interested  in 
the  public  schools,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  active 
members  of  the  board  of  education.  He  was  an  honest,  upright, 
and  useful  citizen,  and  a  man  who  attached  to  himself  many  warm 
personal  friends.  His  death  was  a  loss  not  only  to  his  immediate 
family,  but  to  the  community  at  large.  He  was  generous  in  his 
disposition,  charitable  to  the  poor,  and  will  long  be  remembered  for 
his  many  good  deeds.  His  grave  in  the  cemetery  at  Lebanon  is 
marked  by  a  handsome  monument,  erected  to  his  memory  by  Mrs. 
Blanck.  He  was  a  democrat,  but  took  no  active  or  conspicuous 
part  in  politics.  He  had  been  brought  up  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  but  in  Lebanon  attended,  with  his  family,  the 
Methodist  church,  from  which  he  was  buried.  His  oldest  child, 
Ida  Belle,  is  now  the  wife  of  James  D.  Baker,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  banking  business  at  Lebanon.  The  youngest,  Amy  Elizabeth, 
married  Charles  W.  Harrison,  of  Belleville. 


SUMMERFIELD    PRECINCT. 


-^ea-^®-Ss^ 


I  HIS  precinct  lies  in  the  extreme  north-east  corner 
of  the  county,  the  greater  part  being  in  T.  2  N., 
R,  6  W.,  with  a  strip  one  and  a  half  miles 
wide  and  four  long,  from  the  north  of  T.  1  N., 
R.  6  W.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Madi- 
son county,  east  by  Clinton  county,  south  by 
Mascoutah,  and  west  by  Lebanon  precints.  The 
surface  is  a  pleasantly  undulating  prairie,  con- 
taining numerous  high  and  beautiful  building 
sites.  The  soil  is  rich  and  productive,  and  many  fine,  highly-im- 
proved farms  may  be  seen  within  its  borders.  Several  small 
streams,  tributaries  of  Silver  Creek,  flow  westwardly  through  the 
precinct,  and  furnish  drainage  to  the  lands  and  a  supply  of  water 
for  other  purposes.  There  are  several  small  patches  of  timber  scat- 
tered over  the  territory,  which  supply  the  demand  for  fencing,  etc. 
The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad  runs  from  east  to  west  through 
the  precinct,  entering  it  on  section  24  and  leaving  on  section  28. 
The  first  settlements  in  this  precinct  were  made  prior  to  1810, 
one  mile  south  of  the  present  site  of  Summerfield,  in  what  is  known 
as  the  Union  Grove  settlement.  The  earliest  settler  was  Nathan 
Chambers,  who  located  on  section  33,  near  a  small  branch  of  Silver 
Creek,  as  early  as  1806.  Chambers  was  a  man  of  some  talent,  and 
well  adapted  for  the  hardships  incident  to  a  frontier  life.  In  1811- 
12  he  built  a  fort  on  his  place,  which  was  known  as  "  Chambers' 
Fort,"  where  the  neighboring  families  gathered  for  protection 
against  Indian  depredations.  Mr.  Chambers  held  several  minor 
county  offices  in  early  times.  We  will  mention  the  names  of  some 
of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  vicinity  : — Robert  and  James  Moore, 
John  Broom,  William  Padfield,  Robert  Farar,  Samuel  and  Alfred 
Ryle,  Henry  Button,  John  Dew,  a  Methodist  minister ;  Thornton 
Peeples,  also  a  Methodist  minister ;  Dr.  Anthony  W.  Casad,  Ed- 
mond  Randle,  Malcom  Johnson,  Peter  Wright,  Wm.  Lunceford  and 
Samuel  H.  Thompson — a  noted  Methodist  minister.  William  Pad- 
field  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  settled  here  in  1815.  He  had 
quite  a  large  family,  mott  of  whom  married  and  left  descendants. 
The  sons  were — Thomas,  William  R.  (who  lived  in  a  fine  residence 
in  the  suburbs  of  Summerfield) ;  Henry,  James  R.,  a  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  34;  Joseph,  Hiram,  and  several  daughters.  Wm  R. 
and  James  R.  are  the  only  sons  now  living.  Mr.  Padfield  was  a 
zealous  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
had  a  camp-meeting  ground  on  his  farm.  Joshua  Barnes  was  an 
early  settler,  and  also  an  early  Methodist  preacher  and  school 
teacher.  Among  the  earliest  settlers  north  of  Union  Grove  may  be 
mentioned  W.  W.  Roman,  Wm.  Frazier,  Michael  Keith,  J.  McKeg, 
John  Lord,  Mr.  Anderson,  Joseph  Schrougham,  John  Marney, 
Capt.  Morris,  Preston  Utley,  James  Paydon,  and  others.     The  fol- 


lowing are  the  land  entries  in  this  precinct  in  1814,  as  taken  from 
the  county  records :  Daniel  Simons,  S.  W.  i  sec.  33,  160  acres, 
Sept.  26;  George  Nichols,  N.  E.  i  sec.  34, 160  acres,  Sept.  15; 
Pleasant  Nichols,  N.  W.  i  sec.  34,  160  acres,  Sept.  15 ;  Nathan 
Chambers,  S.  W.  i  sec.  34,  160  acres,  Sept.  15;  Francis  Swan, 
S.  E.  i  sec.  34,  160  acres,  Sept.  16.  The  above  are  in  T.  2  N.  R. 
6  W.  Francis  Swan,  N.  E.  i  sec.  3,  153  im  acres,  Sept.  16 ;  Nathan 
Chambers,  N.  W.  i  sec.  3,  154  acres,  Sept.  15 ;  Robert  Frazier, 
N.  E.  i  sec.  9,  160  acres,  Sept.  10;  John  Brown,  N.  W.  i  sec.  10, 
160  acres,  Nov.  24;  John  Nichols,  N.  E.  i  sec.  4,  154 /oo  acres, 
Sept.  26;  Henry  Hutton,  8.  W.  i  sec.  4,  160  acres,  Sept.  10,  are  in 
T.  1  N.  R.  6  W.  John  Wordsworth,  who  resides  on  section  16,  is 
a  native  of  Clinton  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  in  1830. 
G  H.  Appel,  a  farmer  on  section  35,  was  born  in  Germany,  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1834.  John  H.  Calbreath,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 11,  is  a  son  of  William  Calbreath,  who  settled  in  this  county 
about  1804^5.  He  was  born  here  in  1825.  Judge  James  Whitta- 
ker,  an  honorable  citizen  who  resides  in  the  northern  part  of  this 
precinct,  was  an  early  associate  judge,  and  has  held  other  minor 
offices. 

The  first  school-house  was  erected  of  logs  in  Union  Grove  at  a 
very  early  date,  and  schools  were  held  there  for  some  time  before 
other  school-houses  were  built  in  this  precinct.  A  church  was  also 
built  in  this  settlement  by  the  Methodist  denomination  about  1820 ; 
but  soon  after  it  was  completed  it  was  set  on  fire  by  some  evil-dis- 
posed parties,  and  completely  destroyed.  It  was  soon  replaced  by 
another,  even  larger  and  better  than  the  one  before.  The  first  mill 
was  built  by  William  Padfield  in  section  2  of  T.  1  N.,  R.  6  W., 
about  1826.  It  was  an  ox  mill,  and  the  largest  of  the  kind  at  that 
time  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  building  was  about  60  x  80 
feet,  and  five  stories  high.  It  was  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  propelled 
by  ten  oxen.  Padfield's  mill  was  known  and  patronized  by  the  set- 
tlers for  thirty  miles  around.  Mr.  Padfield  also  had  a  blacksmith's 
shop  and  store  at  this  point,  and  at  that  early  day  there  was  con- 
siderable trading  done  here.  The  store  was  kept  by  Thomas  Pad- 
field,  and  was  opened  as  early  as  1818. 

Frederick  Hecker  arrived  in  the  United  States  in  autumn,  1848, 
a  voluntary  exile.  Hecker  was  born  in  Eichtersheim,  Baden,  Sep- 
tember 28th,  1811,  had  received  a  splendid  education,  became  a 
most  distinguished  jurisprudent  and  ardent  politician.  Hecker 
was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  republicanism  in  south  Germany, 
organized  as  such,  an  insurrection  against  the  existing  monarchy, 
in  the  spring  of  1848,  was  defeated  at  Kandern,  and  fled  into 
Switzerland.  After  a  brief  stay,  he  emigrated  t )  America. 
Another  revolutionary  attempt,  promising  a  better  success,  re-called 
Hecker  to  Europe,  where  he  arrived  in  July,  1849,  just  in  tinie  to 

347 


348 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIB  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


learn  that  his  most  cherished  dreams  of  freedom  and  popular  sov- 
ereignty would  have  to  remain  dreams  for  ages  yet.  Hecker  re- 
turned the  same  year  and  settled  in  this  township,  near  Summer- 
field.  His  home  was  known  as  the  most  hospitable  one  far  or  near, 
and  of  the  thousands  that  came  in  the  course  of  years  to  pay  their 
respects  to  the  revolutionist  and  philosopher,  not  one  departed  but 
was  most  favorably  impressed  with  the  amiability  of  host  and  hostess. 
Hecker  died  on  the  24th  of  March,  1881,  and  was  buried  on  the 
28th.  His  funeral  was  the  largest  ever  witnessed  in  St.  Clair 
county.  A  dozen  states  sent  delegations,  and  the  friends  that 
participated  in  the  solemnizing  of  the  day,  are  to  be  numbered  by 
thousands. 

VILLAGE   OF  SUMMERFIELD. 

This  place,  like  many  others  in  the  west,  sprang  into  existence 
with  the  building  of  the  railroad  through  this  part  of  the  county. 
It  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of  1854,  by  Thomas  Casad  and  B.  T. 
Kavanaugh.  At  the  time  it  was  laid  out,  the  site  was  covered  with 
a  gr  >wth  of  small  timber  and  underbrush  ;  not  a  house  was  within 
its  limits.  The  first  building  was  erected  by  Samuel  S.  Casad,  soon 
after  the  survey  was  made,  in  the  spring  of  1854.  It  was  a  small 
one-story  frame  dwelling,  situated  on  block  eight,  lot  four,  and  is 
still  standing,  and  forms  a  part  of.  Peter  KuUmann's  store-house. 
In  one  room  of  this  building,  Mr.  Casad  kept  a  small  stock  of 
general  store  goods,  and  it  was  only  a  few  months  until  a  post-office 
was  ^tablished,  and  Mr.  Casad  was  appointed  post-master. 

Samuel  S.  Casad  was  not  only  the  first  resident  of  the  village, 
but  also  the  first  merchant,  and  did  much  toward  building  up  the 
place.  He  soon  erected  a  second  house,  on  the  lot  just  north  of 
the  first,  and  the  following  fall,  John  Wakefield,  Eev.  Thornton 
Peeples  and  Dr.  Walker,  each  erected  dwellings  about  the  same 
time.  Dr.  Walker  was  the  first  resident  physician.  The  present 
large  steam  flouring  mill  was  being  built  in  1854,  and  a  blacksmith 
shop  was  also  opened  in  the  same  year.  In  the  spring  of  1855, 
Andrew  Hall  and  Thomas  Casad  erected  sevej-al  tenement  houses, 
and  this  y&ir  the  population  was  considerably  increased.  A  two- 
story  frime  building  was  erected  by  H.  Beetle,  who  opened  a  hotel, 
the  first  in  the  place.  Mr.  Casad  continued  the  only  merchant  un- 
til the  completion  of  a  store-house  by  Rev.  Thornton  Peeples,  in  the 
summer  of  1856,  when  Bradford  &  Brother,  of  St  Louis,  laid  in  a 
stock  of  clothing.  The  next  store-house  was  built  by  John  Wake- 
field, early  in  1857,  and  that  spring  Wakefield  &  Phillips  opened 
a  general  stock  of  goods.  In  the  same  year  Eev.  Thornton  Peeples 
erected  another  store,  and  a  general  stock  of  goods  was  opened  in 
it  by  the  firm,  Peeples  &  Dew.'  This  year  a  broom  factory  was 
erected  by  a  stock  company,  composed  of  enterprising  men,  and 
operated  successfully  by  Haven  &  White  for  several  years.  In  a 
severe  storm  the  building  was  blown  down,  and  was  never  rebuilt. 
There  were  several  stores  and  minor  enterprises  establi  hed  in  1 857 
and  '58,  and  since  then  the  village  has  grown  gradually,  and  like 
all  places,  there  have  been  numerous  changes  in  the  business  circle. 
S.  P.  Dew,  Joseph  R.  Padfield,  John  M.  Casad,  Charles  Wakefield, 
Henry  Ruth,  George  Bumb,  John  Schupp,  Dr.  A.  W.  Casad,  Gar- 
ret and  Jacob  Vogt,  Charles  L.  Dew,  Julius- Winkler,  Joseph 
Trenz,  George  Peters  and  Jacob  Schuster,  were  among  the  early 
residents,  and  business  men  not  above  mentioned. 

The  first  school  was  a  private  one,  taught  in  the  rear  of  Rev. 
Peeples'  store-house,  in  the  summer  of  1856,  by  Miss  Lucy  E  Dew. 
It  was  a  three-months'  subscription  school.  ,  The  first  public  school 
building  was  erected  in  1860.  It  is  still  standing  near  the  new  one, 
and  is  now  being  used  by  the  German  parochial  school.  It  is  a 
brick,  one  story  high,  36x40  feet,  with  two  rooms,  and  cost,  when 


built,  $4,000.  The  present  fine  brick  structure  was  erected  in  1874, 
at  a  cost  of  $10,500,  including  furniture.  It  is  40x60  feet,  and 
two  stories  high.  The  entrance  projects  from  the  main  building 
and  runs  above  the  roof,  forming  a  tower,  in  which  swings  a  bell. 
It  has  four  school-rooms  and  employs  four  teachers. 

The  Methodist  denomination  built  the  first  church,  which  was 
completed  in  1857.  It  was  constructed  of  brick,  in  size  about 
40x60  feet,  with  basement,  where  the  public  schools  were  first  held. 
This  building  was  torn  down  in  1874,  and  their  present  fine  brick 
church  was  built  on  the  same  spot. 

The  Mennonite  church  is  a  one-story  brick  structure,  about 
30x45  feet,  and  was  erected  in  1858. 

The  German  Methodist  church  was  erected  in  1864.  It  is  a  brick 
building,  about  24x36  feet.  The  Evangelical  Lutherans  have  a 
brick  church  about  30x40  feet,  which  was  erected  in  1865. 

Summerfield  was  incorporated  under  the  general  law  as  a  village 
in  1866. 

A  coal-shaft  was  sunk  at  this  point  several  years  ago,  but  was  never 
successfully  worked.  Coal  was  discovered  at  a  depth  of  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty  feet ;  the  vein,  however,  was  but  three  and  a  half 
feet  in  thickness,  which  was  too  small  to  be  profitably  worked, 
Summerfield,  situated  as  it  is  in  the  heart  of  a  rich  and  populous 
farming  district,  makes  it  a  good  point  for  shipping  and  general 
mercantile  business.  The  precinct  and  village  together  have  a 
population  of  1 ,676,  both  well  supplied  with  churches  and  schools, 
which  are  liberally  maintained.  Summerfield  has  two  secret  socie- 
ties ;  the  Summerfield  Lodge,  No.  342,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered 
in  1860,  and  has  a  membership  of  twenty-four.  The  Summerfield 
Lodge,  No.  163,  A.  O.  W.  M.,  was  chartered  March  12,  1880,  and 
has  twenty-eight  members.  Both  societies  are  in  good  working  order. 

The  Summerfield  Mills  as  stated  above,  was  built  in  1854,  by 
Casad,  Wakefield  &  Co.  In  1859  it  was  purchased  by  C.  Eisen- 
mayer,  the  present  owner,  who  enlarged  the  building  and  capacity. 
It  is  an  excellent  mill,  and  contains  seven  run  of  burrs  and  six 
pairs  of  rolls,  with  a  capacity  of  manufacturing  two  hundred  and 
fifty  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  Several  fine  brands  of  flour  are 
manufactured,  most  of  which  is  shipped  to  the  eastern  states  and 
to  various  parts  of  Europe.  The  building  is  about  half  brick  and 
half  frame,  five  stories  high.  Everything  is  well  arranged,  and  it 
is  among  the  best  mills  in  the  county.  A  large  cooper  shop  is  car- 
ried on  in  connection  with  the  business.  Employs  in  all  about 
thirty-five  men 

In  1880  Ruth  &  Whitaker  erected  an  elevator  on  the  railroad, 
just  east  of  the  depot.  It  is  constructed  for  handling  all  kinds  of 
grain,  and  haa  a  capacity  of  5,000  bushels  storage. 

PRESENT   BUSINESS   FIRMS — TRABE   OF   1881  : 

General  Stores— J  Winkler,  S  R.  Whitaker,  E.  Pauseh  &  Bro., 
J.  E.  Kreihbiel  and  P.  Kullman. 

Drug  Store— W.  B.  Taggert. 

Physicians— J.  H.  Hewitt,  J.  A.  Close. 

.Baier^/— William  Bloch. 

Hardware  and  Stoves— Jacoh  Braundel. 

HotelsSewell  House ;  Prairie  House,  Joseph  Trenz,  proprietor ; 
Tremont  House,  John  Miller,  proprietor. 

Shoe  Shops--Loms  Tecklenburg,  Jacob  Seitz,  Charles  Antoine. 

Blacksmith  Shops  -  George  Bumb,  Frank  Grimm,  Sen.,  Frank 
Grimm,  Jr. 

Wagon  S^qps— Phillip  Bauhenz,  Louis  Landwehr. 
Larber  Shop — Jacob  Schuster,  Jr. 
Harness  ^S/iop— Christian  Trost. 

FiSer^"^'  ^^'*''''  ^'  ^^^^'"'  '^°*'°  ^^^^^'  '^'  ^•'^onald,  Phillip 


'4  ^  f  .^^^ 


■d^ 


Farm  Residence  of  JOSEPH  P  WHITAKER,S€cl6J2,  R  6,(SuMMERFiELoPHmHCTjST  QlairCoJll 


Besidence  of  Wm.R.PADFIELD,  Mof  a  Mile  West  of  Sumnierfield,  III. 


,'i 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 


-Tss-'^-ejM- 


<^^^c^.^M. 


Mrs.  W.  R.  PADFIELD, 


One  of  the  oldest  residents  of  St.  Clair  county,  was  born  two  miles 
and  a  half  south  of  Summerfield,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1821. 
His  ancestors  formerly  lived  in  Maryland,  and  from  there  moved 
to  Kentucky.  His  great  grandfather  emigrated  from  England 
and  settled  in  Maryland.  His  grandfather,  whose  name  was  Wm. 
Padfield,  was  born  in  Maryland,  and  during  the  Revolutionary  war 
served  in  the  American  army  as  the  driver  of  a  provision  wagon. 
His  father,  Thomas  Padfield,  was  born  in  Maryland,  in  the  year 
1792.  In  1793,  when  he  was  not  yet  a  year  old,  the  family  moved 
to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  Christian  county,  near  Hopkinsville. 
They  were  among  the  early  residents  of  that  part  of  the  state.  Thos. 
Padfield  was  one  of  the  Kentucky  soldiers  under  Gen.  Hopkins,  in  the 
war  of  1812-14.  He  took  part  in  Harrison's  campaign  against  the 
Indians,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  He  came 
through  Illinois  as  early  as  1811,  and  that  year  also  visited  St. 
Louis. 


In  1815  Mr.  Padfield's  grandfather  moved  with  the  family  from 
Kentucky  to  Illinois,  and  settled  about  three  miles  south  of  the 
present  town  of  Summerfield,  on  the  place  which  was  afterwards 
the  residence  of  Col.  Fred.  Hecker.  Mr.  Padfield's  grandfather 
made  the  first  improvements  on  the  Hecker  farm.  He  died  at  this 
place  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  The  settlement  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, called  Union  Grove,  was  one  of  the  earliest  in  that  part  of 
the  county.  Mr.  Padfield's  father  was  twenty-three  years  old  when 
the  family  made  their  home  in  Illinois.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he 
opened  a  store  at  Carlyle — the  first  one  ever  in  existence  in  that  town. 
After  carrying  on  this  store  for  three  or  four  years,  the  goods  were 
moved  to  Union  Grove,  where  Mr.  Padfield's  father  continued  the 
business.  Thomas  Padfield  was  married  at  Carlyle  to  Temperance 
Hill,  daughter  of  Major  Isaac  Hill.  She  was  born  in  Georgia. 
Her  father,  Major  Hill,  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  during  that 
campaign   commanded   a   fort  near  Greenville,  in  Bond  county. 

349 


350 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLmOIS. 


This  is  the  fort  near  which  Tom.  Higgins  had  his  celebrated  fight 
with  the  Indians,  and  Mr.  Padfield's  mother  was  in  the  fort  at  the 
time  of  the  encounter,  which  was  in  plairf  view  of  the  garrison. 
Major  Hill  also  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

After  his  marriage,  Thomas  Padfield  settled  two  miles  and  a  half 
south  of  Summerfield,  on  a  farm  now  owned  by  W.  R.  Padfield. 
He  moved  to  Summerfield  in  1869,  and  died  in  November,  1873. 
His  wife  had  died  previously  in  1863.  He  was  a  man  of  indus- 
trious habits,  and  his  time  was  constantly  spent  in  some  useful  em- 
ployment. He  was  first  a  member  of  the  Whig  party  and  after- 
wards a  Republican. 

W.  R.  Padfield  was  raised  in  the  country,  and  attended  the  old- 
fashioned  subscription  schools,  held  in  log  school-houses  with  punch- 
eon floors  and  slab  benches.  He  went  to  school  as  much  as  he  had  op- 
portunity, but  most  of  his  education  was  obtained  at  home,  nights, 
without  instruction,  by  the  light  of  a  brushwood  fire  He  was 
married  in  June,  1853,  to  Miss  Caroline  Alexander,  daughter  of 
John  Alexander.  The  Alexander  family  came  to  Illinois  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  settled  near  Shiloh.  She  died  of  consumption 
within  a  few  months  after  her  marriage.  Mr.  Padfield  engaged  in 
farming  on  his  father's  old  farm,  two  miles  and  a  half  south  of 
Summerfield,  and  lived  there  till  he  moved  to  his  present  residence 
just  west  of  Summerfield  in  1880.  A  view  of  this  place  appears  on 
another  page.  He  owns  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  south 
of  Summerfield.  Beside  his  residence  adjoining  Summerfield,  he 
is  the  owner  of  considerable  property  in  that  town.  His  second 
marriage  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1863,  to  Anna  Kleiu,  a  native 
of  Manheim,  Germany.  She  died  in  the  spring  of  1874.  His 
present  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1875,  was 
Elizabeth  Klein,  a  sister  of  his  second  wife.  She  was  born  on  the 
ocean  while  her  parents  were  coming  to  this  country.  Her  father 
is  Powell  Klein,  of  Mascoutah.  He  has  two  children  by  his  last 
marriage,  whose  names  are  Damon  and  Sideros,  the  former  now 
five  and  the  latter  less  than  a  year  old.  Mr.  Padfield  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Republican  party  ever  since  it  first  started,  and 
voted  for  Fremont  in  1856,  the  first  Republican  presidential  candi- 
date. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Summerfield.  He 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1874,  and  has  filled  that  posi- 
tion with  satisfaction  to  the  people.  One  of  the  characteristics  of 
his  administration  of  this  ofiice  has  been  his  desire  to  have  parties 
to  a  suit  settle  their  disputes  without  litigation,  and  in  this  he  has 
been  generally  successful. 


DR.  EDWARD  PARKS  BLAND 
Is  a  resident  of  Summerfield  precinct,  and  was  born  in  Amelia 
county  of  the  Old  Dominion,  on  the  13th  of  December,  1813.  The 
family  to  which  he  belongs  was  of  English  origin,  and  occupied  a 
good  position  in  that  part  of  Virginia  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  raised  in  Virginia.  He  acquired  a  liberal  education,  and  for 
a  time  was  a  student  in  William  and  Mary  College.  Soon  after 
leaving  college  he  came  west,  and  reaching  the  neighborhood  of  St. 
Louis,  took  charge  of  a  school  at  Bridgeton,  St  Louis  county,  Mis- 
souri. He  was  only  temporarily  engaged  in  this  occupation.  Hav- 
ing made  up  his  mind  to  enter  the  medical  profession,  he  entered 
the  old  McDowell  College  in  St.  Louis,  and  attended  lectures  dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1846-7.  He  began  practice  in  St.  Louis  county, 
Missouri,  but  in  1848  became  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  county;  and 
undertook  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Fayetteville.  He  was  a 
resident  of  that  place  for  seven  years,  and  then  in  the  year  1855, 
removed  to  Mascoutah,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
■medicine  till  1861. 


While  living  at  Mascoutah  he  married  (on  the  9th  of  April, 
1856,)  Julia  Ann  Padfield,  daughter  of  Thomas  Padfield.  The 
Padfield  family  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  settle  in  the  north-eastern 
part  of  St.  Clair  county.  Mrs.  Padfield's  great-grandfather  was 
born  in  England,  and  on  coming  to  America  settled  in  Maryland. 
In  1793  her  grandfather,  whose  name  was  William  Padfield,  moved 
from  Maryland  and  settled  in  Christian  county,  Kentucky.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Maryland,  and  was  not  a  year  old  when  the  family 
moved  to  Kentucky.  He  was  in  the  war  of  1812-14,  served  in 
General  Harrison's  campaign  against  the  Indians,  and  was  present 
at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  He  is  said  to  have  opened  the  first 
store  that  was  ever  in  the  town  of  Carlyle.  He  married  Temper- 
ance Hill,  daughter  of  Major  Isaac  Hill,  who  was  one  of  the  fir.-t 
settlers  of  Carlyle,  and  a  soldier  both  in  the  war  of  1812-14  and  the 
Black  Hawk  war. 

Dr.  Bland,  in  1861,  became  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Summer- 
field,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1870 
he  moved  to  his  present  residence  in  section  35,  T.  2  N.,  R.  6  W. 

He  has  since  retired  from  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  farming.  Dr.  Bland  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  politics.  He  was  warmly  attached  to  the  democratic  party.  His 
views  have  been  thoroughly  honest  and  sincere,  and  of  that  ad- 
vanced and  positive  type  which  characterized  all  his  mental  con- 
victions. During  his  active  life  he  was  a  man  of  much  mental 
activity,  and  formed  his  views  regardless  of  the  opinions  of  others. 
He  possessed  a  mind  of  great  candor,  and  was  free,  outspoken  and 
fearless  in  the  expression  of  his  sentiments.  He  cared  little  for 
papular  favor.  As  a  physician,  he  had  a  good  reputation,  and  was 
regarded  as  a  man  of  broad  and  liberal  education. 

His  two  children  are — Edward  Parks  Bland,  Jr.,  and  Richard 
Lee  Bland,  who  are  now  living  at  home  and  employed  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  farm.  The  former  received  his  early  education 
from  his  father,  was  for  a  time  a  student  in  McKendree  College, 
and  graduated  from  a  commercial  institute  in  St.  Louis. 


JAMES  M.  WHITTAKER 

Who  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  county  since  1838,  is  a  native 
of  Delaware,  and  was  born  November  20,  1816.  The  family  is  of 
English  descent.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry  Whittaker,  emi- 
grated from  England  to  Delaware  in  1640.  His  grandfather, 
James  Whittaker,  and  his  father,  Henry  Whittaker,  were  born  and 
raised  in  Kent  county,  Delaware,  near  Dover.  The  Subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  six  children.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Sallie  Miller,  was  a  daughter  of  Conrad 
Miller,  and  belonged  to  a  German  family  which  had  lived  in  Dela- 
ware for  several  genera  tions.  Judge  Whittaker  was  raised  in  Dele- 
ware.  For  a  short  time  he  attended  school  at  Dover,  the  capital 
of  the  state.  In  1838,  then  in  his  twenty-second  year,  he  came 
West.  In  the  winter  of  1838-9  he  taught  school  on  Ridge  Prairie. 
In  March,  1839,  he  married  Mary  Penn,  daughter  of  William  and 
Rhuma  Penn.  He  soon  afterward  went  to  farming  on  Ridge 
prairie  and  in  1844  moved  north-east  of  Lebanon.  Since  1853  he 
has  resided  on  his  present  farm  in  section  two  of  township  two 
north,  range  six  west.  He  is  the  owner  of  about  a  thousand  acres 
of  land,  part  of  which  lies  in  Madison  county.  He  has  eight  child- 
ren, six  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  has  always  been  a  democrat 
in  politics.  In  1858,  under  the'  old  system  of  couuty  judges,  he  was 
elected  associate  judge,  and  filled  that  office  four  years.  He  was 
elected  as  representative  from  St.  Clair  county  in  the  Thirtieth 
General  Assembly  in  1876,  and  served  during  the  session  of  the 
legislature  in  the  winter  of  1876-7. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


351 


JOSEPH  K   PADFIELD. 

One  of  the  old  citizens  of  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  county, 
is  Joseph  R.  Padfield,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois, 
four  miles  and  a  half  south  of  Summerfield,  on  the  24th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1820.  The  Padfield  family  is  of  English  descent,  and  at 
an  early  date  emigrated  from  England  and  settled  in  Maryland. 
Particulars  of  the  early  family  history  may  be  found  elsewhere  in 
the  biographical  sketch  of  W.  R.  Padfield.  In  1793  Mr.  Padfield's 
grandfather  moved  from  Maryland  to  Kentucky.  William  Pad- 
field,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  the  year  1796,  was  raised  in  that  state,  and  obtained  an 
ordinary  education  in  the  common  schools.  In  1815  the  family 
moved  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Union  Grove,  four  miles  and  a  half 
south  of  Summerfield.  William  Padfield  in  1818  married  Mahala 
Barnes,  who  was  born  in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  whose 
family  came  to  Illinois  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  Padfields. 
He  lived  on  a  farm  south  of  Summerfield  till  his  death  in 
1849,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three.  He  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
only  three  are  now  living.  Of  those  living,  Joseph  R.  Padfield  is 
the  oldest.  James  R.  Padfield,  another  son,  r^ides  in  Mascoutah, 
and  John  B.  Padfield  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead  farm.  Joseph 
R.  Padfield,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  was 
raised  in  the  same  part  of  the  county  in  which  he  was  born,  and 


obtained  his  education  in  the  early  schools  of  the  neighborhood, 
which,  like  all  the  country  schools  in  the  county  at  that  time| 
oflTered  inferior  educational  advantages. 

He  was  married  on  the  23d  of  April,  1844,  to  Susan  Tipton,  who 
was  born  in  Carter  county,  East  Tennessee,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  James  I.  Tipton.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Padfield  went  to 
farming  for  himself  three  miles  north-east  of  Mascoutah,  and  then 
moved  to  a  farm  two  miles  and  a  half  south  of  Summerfield.  From 
1857  to  1864  he  lived  in  the  town  of  Summerfield,  and  while  living 
there  filled  the  oiBce  of  constable.  In  1864  he  moved  to  his  present 
farm,  a  mile  south  of  Summerfield.  He  is  the  owner  of  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  has  four  children,  whose  names 
are  as  follows :  Martha,  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Utly ;  Matilda, 
who  married  Nathan  Fyke,  and  two  sons,  Crittenden  and  Lee,  who 
reside  at  home.  He  was  first  a  whig  in  politics,  but  after  the 
breaking  up  of  the  whig  party  voted  for  Douglas  for  president  in 
1860,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  democratic  party  ever  since. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  a  member  of 
Summerfield  lodge,  No.  342.  He  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  residents 
of  the  county,  and  has  always  sustained  the  reputation  of  a  peace- 
able and  law-abiding  citizen,  and  a  useful  member  of  the  commu- 
nity. His  name  appropriately  finds  a  place  in  this  book  as  one  of 
the  old  settlers  of  the  county. 


MASCOUTAH    PRECINCT. 


»-»'^'»^g^^t/"^'-»-» 


JHIS  precinct  is  situated  on  the  east  side  of 'the 
county,  and  contains  nearly  seventy  sections, 
mostly  fine  agricultural  lands,  originally  about 
one  third   timber,   but   at    present    not  over 
one  fifth  of  the  area  is  timber.     The  land  lays 
rolling,  and  is  considered  the  best  of  wheat 
land,  and  that  staple  is  the  principal  produc'C'. 
The  precinct  is  made  out  of  part  of  four  con- 
gressional townships  as  follows  :  Town  one  south 
SIX  west,  one  south  seven  west,  one  north  six  west,  and  one  north 
seven  west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Summerfield,  Lebanon, 
and  Shiloh,  on  the  west  by  Shiloh,  Belleville,  and  Fayetteville,  on 
the  south  by  Fayetteville  and  St.  Clair  precincts,  and  on  the  east 
by  Clinton  county.     Silver  Creek  passes  through  the  western  part, 
from  north  to  south.    The  Kaskaskia  river  touches  four  sections,  in 
the  south- east  part.    Jackson  and  Rayhill  Sloughs  drain  the  east 
part  of  the  precinct  and  empty  into  the  Kaskaskia.       Loup  creek 
is  in  the  west  part  of  the  precinct,  and  empties  into  Silver  C  reek.  The 
first  settlement's  here  were  made  along  the  timber  edges  near  Silver 
Creek,  by  settlers  from  Kentucky,  North  Carolina,  and  Virginia, 
as  early  as  1810.     It  is  said  several  of  the  first  families  came  here 
on   horseback,  and  brought  what  little  furniture  and  hoasehold 


goods  they  possessed  on  pack  horses,  a  few  used  the  wagon  of  that 
day,  a  description  of  which  can  be  found  in  another  part  of  this 
work.  On  the  east  bank  of  Silver  Creek,  in  the  north-east  quarter 
of  section  24  stood  Fort  Petersburg.  It  was  here  near  the  site  of 
this  old  Fort,  where  James  Anderson,  Sr.,  built  his  first  cabin  upon 
coming  to  the  territory  of  Illinois  in  1810.  Two  years  later  he  re- 
moved upon  the  section  east,  being  nineteen,  where  he  lived  a  num- 
ber of  years ;  his  death  occurred  about  forty -five  years  ago.  He  left 
three  sons  :  James,  Martin,  and  Abraham  ;  the  latter  lived  the  life 
of  a  bachelor.  James  and  Martin  improved  farms  in  this  vicinity. 
James  Anderson,  Jr.,  was  quite  a  prominent  citizen  in  the  county 
for  a  number  of  years,  filling  the  office  of  County  Commissioner, 
and  for  some  time  was  a  captain  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  re- 
moved to  Bates  county,  Missouri,  a  number  of  years  ago,  where  he 
died.  Robert  Abernathy  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  precinct 
on  section  nine,  about  1810.  Sept.  10,  1814,  he  entered  320 
acres  of  land  in  this  section.  Miles  Abernathy,  son  of  Robert, 
settled  in  the  south-east  part  of  section  seven,  one  mile  east  of  his 
fathers  in  1815.  He  put  up  a  cotton  gin  here  the  following  year, 
the  first  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  the  settlers  for  many  miles 
around  came  here  to  get  their  cottons  ginned.  It  is  said  that  some 
of  the  larger  farmers  here  raised  as  much  as  four  and  five  acres  of 


362 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


cotton  every  year.  Job  Vanwinkle  settled  in  this  neighborhood 
about  1810  or  12.  He  entered  the  south-east  quarter  of  section 
eight,  September  10,  1814.  Jas.  Bankson  and  Thomas  Crocker 
settled  here  about  the  same  time.  They  entered  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  each,  September  10,  1814.  Bankson's  was  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  twelve,  and  his  cabin  stood  near  the  bank  of 
Silver  creek.  Crocker  entered  the  south-east  quarter  of  section 
eighteen.  Thomas  Kinghton  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  on  Sil- 
ver Creek,  he  entered  the  north-east  quarter  of  section  twenty-five, 
September  29th,  1814. 

Jonathan  Gaskill  settled  one-half  mile  east  of  Kinghton's,  and 
December  24,  1814,  entered  the  north-east  quarter  of  section 
thirty.  James  Gilbreath  settled  one-half  mile  south  of  Kinghton's, 
on  Silver  Creek,  and  December  29,  1814,  he  entered  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  thirty-six.  William  Rittenhouse  settled  on  the 
west  bank  of  Silver  Creek,  as  early  as  1810 ;  he  settled  on  section 
twelve,  in  the  south-western  part  of  this  precinct,  September  12, 

1814,  and  entered  the  south-west  quarter  in  the  above  section.  Rit- 
tenhouse improved  a  farm  here,  where  he  resideS  until  his  death. 
His  son.  Darby  Rittenhouse,  well  known  to  the  old  settlers  of  this 
county,  resided  on  this  tract  until  about  1852,  when  he  died.  Isaac 
Quick  entered  the  north-west  quarter  of  section  seven,  January  2, 

1815,  one-half  mile  north-east  of  where  Rittenhouse  settled.  As 
early  as  1825  Moses  Hering  bought  this  tract  of  land,  where  he 
lived  until  about  1837.  He  then  joined  the  Mormons,  and  went  to 
Missouri.  He  afterwards  returned  to  this  precinct,  where  he  died. 
Paul  Zugweiler  bought  out  Hering  about  1837,  and  settled  on 
the  place.  Joshua  Clark  entered  eighty  acres  on  the  east  side  of 
Silver  creek,  section  twenty-four,  extreme  south-western  part  of  the 
precinct,  September  17,  1814,  where  he  improved  a  farm.  John 
Steel  started  an  improvement  near  where  Joshua  Clark  settled, 
about  the  same  time.  Brice  Virgin,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  settled 
on  section  six,  a  short  distance  south-west  of  the  present  town  of 
Mascoutah,  in  1810.  He  resided  here  until  his  death.  His  sons, 
William,  Hiram  and  Brice,  settled  in  the  same  vicinity,  and  raised 
families.  William  Virgin  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  in 
the  government  employ  as  a  ranger  until  1815,  and  was  also  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  He  died  on  the  same  section  where  his  father 
first  settled,  in  1855.  He  left  his  family  in  very  good  circum- 
stances. Green  Baker  settled  on  section  nine,  west  side  of  the 
Jackson  Slough,  prior  to  1824,  where  he  resided  until  his  death- 
William  McNail  settled  on  the  west  side  of  Loup  Creek,  section 
thirty-five,  as  early  as  1818.  He  was  a  ranger  here  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  lived  here  until  after  1847,  and  then  moved  to  Wash- 
ington county,  Illinois.  His  son,  Washington  McNail,  settled  on 
section  eight,  south  of  Mascoutah,  about  1832;  he  left  the  county 
the  same  year  his  father  did.  James  Reed  and  John  Ward  settled 
on  the  north  side  of  Hazel  Creek,  section  two,  as  early  as  1818. 
Lemuel  Dupuy  located  on  section  twelve,  south-east  part  of  the 
precinct  in  1817  or  '18.  He  here  improved  a  good  farm,  and  was 
one  of  the  prominent  farmers  in  this  part  of  the  county  in  the  early 
times.  He  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  the 
itinerant  preachers  of  that  denomination  held  meetings  at  his  house. 
Before  1820  he  fitted  up  a  camp-ground  here,  and  for  many  years 
there  were  regular  meetings  held  near  his  residence  every  year. 
He  was  an  honest  and  very  conscientious  man.  It  is  said  of  him 
that,  in  the  early  settlement  of  Illinois,  the  corn  crop  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state  was  an  entire  failure ;  and  the  settlers  for  sev- 
enty and  a  hundred  miles  north  came  down  into  "  Egypt "  to  buy 
corn  for  seed,  and  while  old  man  Dupuy  could  have  received  40 
and  50  cents  per  bushel  for  his  corn  on  hand,  he  would  not  take 
more  than  25  cents  per  bushel,  and  would  not  sell  to  one  man  more 


than  four  or  or  five  bushels.  Speculators  could  not  buy  corn  of  him 
at  any  price.  He  died  on  the  place  he  improved,  and  left  many 
friends  and  no  enemies.  Three  sons  of  his,  George,  William  and 
Lemuel,  improved  farms  in  the  same  neighborhood  as  early  as  1825. 
Simeon  Wakefield  settled  where  F.  Perring  now  lives,  near  Strass- 
burg,  as  early  as  1810.  He  moved  to  Iowa  about  twenty-five  years 
ago. 

John  Jackson,  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county,  settled  on  section 
seventeen,  south  of  Mascoutah,  about  1828,  where  he  lived  until 
1835  ;  he  then  moved  to  Missouri. 

Major  H.  G.  Brown,  Jarvis  Jackson,  and  George  Rayhil)  were 
the  only  settlers  on  the  Shawneetown  road  between  Middleton's 
ferry  on  the  Kaskaskia  and  Silver  Creek  in  1830.  Major  Brown 
served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

Joseph  Land  settled  on  section  18,  south-west  of  Mascoutah,  as 
early  as  1825.  He  improved  a  farm  here  and  afterwards  moved 
to  Mascoutah,  where  he  died.  His  father,  Moses  Land,  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  and  pensioned ;  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  made  a  trip  to  Kentucky  once  a  year  to  draw  his  pension.  He 
always  made  this  trip  in  a  one-horse  wagon. 

William  Padfield,  jun.,  settled  on  section  9,  in  the  north  part  of 
the  precinct  where  John  B.  Padfield  now  lives.  In  1812  he  came 
from  Kentucky  with  his  father,  who  settled  two  miles  south  of 
Summerfield.  William  Padfield  resided  on  this  place  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  August,  1849.  He  left  a  family  of  twelve 
children  to  mourn  his  loss,  seven  sons  and  five  daughters.  Only 
three  of  the  children  still  survive,  and  they  are  residents  of  the 
county. 

Henry  Hutton  settled  on  the  same  section,  just  north  of  Pad- 
fields,  about  1810,  and  died  on  the  old  place.  None  of  his  de- 
scendants now  reside  in  the  county. 

There  were  no  settlements  made  in  the  north-east  part  of 
Mascoutah  Precinct  until  after  1830.  It  is  a  fine  rolling  prairie, 
and  in  the  early  times  (so  say  the  old  settlers)  could  be  seen  deer, 
fifty  and  seventy-five  in  a  drove. 

George  Swaggard,  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county,  was  born  at  East 
St.  Louis  in  1821.  Has  lived  in  this  precinct  since  1833,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  for  the  past  twenty  years.  He  has  lived  in  the 
village  of  Mascoutah. 

Elisha  Bagby  came  to  Mascoutah  precinct  in  1831  with  his 
widowed  mother,  Nancy  Bagby,  who  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  one  Samuel  Crane,  situated  three  miles  west  of 
Mascoutah.     This  tract  of  land  is  now  owned  by  Henry  Staub. 

Among  the  first  Germans  that  came  to  this  precinct  was  John 
Knobeloch  now  living  on  section  27,  in  the  west  part  of  the  pre- 
cinct. He  came  here  in  1831,  returned  to  Germany  the  same  year, 
and  the  year  following  came  out  with  his  father  and  father's  family, 
and  settled  on  the  above  section.  Balthasar  Knobeloch,  a  brother 
to  John,  lives  in  the  same  section.  Thomas,  another  brother,  who 
came  out  in  1832,  lives  two  miles  west  of  the  old  homestead  in 
Belleville  precinct. 

Peter  Fries,  now  keeping  a  hotel  in  Mascoutah,  has  lived  in  the 
county  since  1833,  and  was  a  great  hunter  in  the  early  settlement 
of  this  county,  and  now  in  the  bar  of  his  hotel  can  be  seen  nailed 
to  the  wall,  many  deer  heads  that  Peter,  in  his  young  days,  laid 
low.  He  is  jovial  and  talkative,  and  loves  to  relate  his  experience 
of  the  early  times  in  this  county,  and  of  the  exciting  deer  and  wolf 
chases. 

John  Barth,  jun.,  came  from  Germany  to  this  county  in  1835. 
He  was  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  family  of  five  children.  He 
settled  two  and  a  half  miles  south-west  of  the  present  town  of  Mas- 
coutah.    His  son,  John  Barth,  jun.,  now  owns  the  old  homestead. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


353 


In  1837,  Philip  H.  Eisenmayer  came  to  Mechanicsburg,  and  in 
1839  he  returned  to  Germany,  and  in  the  same  year  returned  with 
his  two  brothers,  Conrad  and  George  C.  Fritz  Hilgard,  Chris. 
Heinberger  Conradi,  and  the  three  Eisenmayer  brothers  were  the 
first  Germans  to  settle  in  the  village  of  Mascoutah.  George  C. 
Eisenmayer;  in  1839,  bought  sixty  acres  of  land  what  now  consti- 
tutes his  additions  to  Mascoutah,  at  six  dollars  per  acre,  and  is  now 
the  part  of  town  that  lies  between  the  depot  and  the  business  part 
of  the  place.  The  Eisenmayers  have  contributed  their  share  to- 
ward making  Mascoutah  what  it  is  to-day,  and  are  prominent  in 
the  community.    Philip  H.  is  the  present  Mayor  of  the  town. 

MASCOUTAH. 

The  town  was  laid  out  by  T.  J.  Krafft  and  John  Flanagan 
on  the  6th  of  April,  1837,  and  under  the  name  of  Mechanicsburg. 
It  contained  then  two  blocks  of  six  lots  each,  and  three  blocks  of 
twelve  lots  each,  and  one -block  not  laid  out  in  lots.  It  was  called 
then  the  mill  lot.  Samuel  Dixon  lived  directly  south  of  Postel's 
mills,  and  built  the  first  house  or  hut  in  the  present  limits  of 
Mascoutah.     Dixon  was  a  hunter. 

After  the  town  was  laid  out,  Samuel  Mitchell  built  the  first  house 
a  log  cabin,  and  erected  a  saw  mill  here.  F.  Hilgard,  T.  J.  Krafi't, 
and  Benjamin  J.  West  laid  out  an  addition  to  Mascoutah  contain- 
ing seventy-two  lots  March  29,  1839  ;  here  the  name  of  Mascoutah 
is  made  a  matter  of  record,  and  is  perhaps  the  date  the  name  of  the 
town  was  changed.  Other  additions  to  the  village  are  too  numer- 
ous to  mention.  West  Mascoutah  was  laid  out  by  H.  F.  Teichman, 
36  lots  January  28th,  1857.  Dr.  Brewington  was  first  trader  or 
merchant  at  Mascoutah  ;  remained  but  a  few  months.  Lewis  Hauk, 
a  son  of  Hauk  of  the  Belleville  Zeitung,  was  the  first  child  born  in 
Mascoutah.  Hauk  published  a  work  on  chancery  and  dedicated  it 
to  Judge  Sidney  Breeze,  at  present  a  member  of  the  bar  at  Cape 
Girardeau,  Missouri. 

Dr.  Smith,  son-in-law  of  Major  Brown,  was  the  first  practicing 
physician  in  the  precinct.  First  school-house  and  church  was 
erected  at  the  site  of  the  present  town-hall,  north  of  Postels  mills. 
Nathan  Fike  was  the  first  postmaster :  Brewington's  store  was  pur- 
chased by  Fike  &  Crownover.  E.  Bagby  took  charge  of  said  store 
in  1842,  and  succeeded  N.  Fike  as  postmaster.  Bagby  was  an  ap- 
pointee of  President  Harrison,  and  this  accounts  for  the  fact  that 
he  remained  in  office  but  a  few  months.  Hilgard,  Couradi  &  Heini-i 
berger  bought  the  old  Mitchell  mill  about  the  year  1835  ;  they  added 
a  flour  bolt  that  was  run  by  hand  power  and  ground  wheat  on  the 
same  stone  they  ground  corn  meal.  They  built  a  a^ond  store 
building  corner  of  Main  and  Jefierson  streets,  some  few  years  after- 
wards. Conrad  and  Philip  Eisenmayer  purchased  the  mill  property 
in  1839.  They  soon  afterwards  took  in  as  partner,  Philip  H.  Postel, 
and  enlarged  the  mill  to  a  great  extent  and  became  exporters  of 
flour  ;  this,  mill  stood  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  south-east  of 
where  the  Postel  mills  now  stand.  The  old  mill  in  about  1850  was 
moved  to  Clinton  county.  The  second  mill  erected  near  the  old  site 
now  known  as  the  Postel  mills  was  built  by  Andrew  Eisenmayer 
and  Philip  H  Postel,  in  1848  and  49 ;  since  then  at  different  times 
it  has  been  added  to  and  improved  until  now  it  is  one  of  the  largest 

mills  in  this  section  of  country,  with  a  capacity  of  three  hundred 
45 


and  fifty  barrels  per  day,  now  owned  and  run  by  Philip  H.  Postel. 
There  are  two  other  large  mills  in  Mascoutah  with  a  capacity  of 
two  hundred  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  barrels  per  day  ;  one  run  by 
Sehlinger  &  Schubkegel,  and  the  other  by  Kleekamp  &  Hussman. 
August  George  has  a  small  custom  mill  here,  and  Philip  J.  Postel 
has  a  corn  mill  with  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  barrels 
per  day,  he  makes  corn  meal  exclusively  of  an  extra  quality.  The 
shipments  of  flour  from  Mascoutah  amount  to  fifty  car  loads  per 
week,  a  greater  part  of  this  flour  is  exported  to  Europe,  different 
parts  of  England,  Germany  and  France.  The  growth  of  Mascou- 
tah was  slow  until  the  German  emigrants  began  to  come  in  after 
1840,  from  that  time  until  1860  its  growth  was  steady  ;  the  town  is 
substantially  built,  mostly  of  brick,  the  principal  business  being  on 
one  long  street ;  it  is  the  third  town  in  size  in  the  county,  now  hav- 
ing a  population  of  2,576,  with  several  first-class  stores,  a  German 
weekly  paper,  hotels,  livery,  with  every  convenience  of  a  first-class 
trading  point,  good  schools,  and  six  churches,  some  of  which  would 
be  a  credit  to  a  much  larger  place ;  the  denominations  are  as  follows, 
that  have  buildings :  German  Catholic,  German  Methodist,  German 
Lutheran,  German  Evangelical,  Christian  and  Methodist. 

The  Masonic  Douglas  Lodge,  No.  361,  received  its  charter  Octo- 
ber 1st,  1861,  and  has  a  membership  of  fifty-five. 

Humboldt  Lodge,  No.  286,  The  Independent  order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
received  their  charter  October  11th,  1860,  membership  seventy. 

Mascoutah  Encampment,  No.  90,  received  their  charter  October 
13th,  1868,  membership  thirty-six. 

Knights  of  Honor,  Mascoutah  Lodge,  No.  1927,  received  its 
charter  August  25th,  1880,  and  has  a  membership  of  forty-two.  The 
four  lodges  meet  in  one  hall,  a  large,  well  arranged  and  well  venti- 
lated, and  nicely  furnished  room,  45x50  feet.  Mascoutah  has  one 
railroad,  the  Louisville  and  Nashville,  this  road  passes  through 
the  center  of  the  precinct,  from  east  to  west,  and  Mascoutah  is  situ- 
ated in  the  exact  center  of  the  precinct,  surrounded  by  a  fine  agri- 
cultural country,  and  may  be  put  down  as  one  of  the  enterprising 
towns  of  St.  Clair  county. 

STRASSBUEG 

Was  laid  out  by  Joseph  Moll  and  others,  March  19th,  1857, 
and  contains  ten  lots ;  it  is  situated  two  and  a  half  miles  north 
of  Mascoutah,  on  sections  eighteen  and  nineteen,  on  a  small  tribu- 
tary of  the  Silver  Creek ;  its  location  was  too  near  Mascoutah  to  ever 
grow  to  much  of  a  village  without  any  railroad  facilities. 

Pensoneau  is  a  flag  station  on  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
railroad,  four  miles  south-east  of  Mascoutah. 

High  Bank  was  a  paper  town,  laid  ofi",  by  Edward  Pensoneau, 
June  3d,  1857,  and  embraces  the  south-west  quarter  of  section 
twenty-two,  town  one  south,  range  six  west ;  it  was  beautifully  situ- 
ated on  the  north  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  and  it  is  said  by 
some  eastern  capitalist  to  have  looked  well  on  paper,  as  Pensoneau 
had  a  fine  plat  drawn  oS"  with  steamboats  plying  on  the  river,  and 
the  town  shown  up  as  one  of  much  business  and  commercial  impor- 
tance'; with  this  plat  and  good  talk  it  is  said  that  NarcisseTensoneau 
and  George  W.  Pulliam,  of  this  county,  efiected  the  sale  of  many 
lots  in  the  east.  The  purchasers  have  never  realized  much  on  their 
investment. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


!=33-®1-SeM- 


Q, 


r/ii/fk  ^aot^ 


Is  a  lineal  descendant  of  a  long  line  of  derman  farnicr.s,  who  i'or 
several  generations  lived  in  the  village  of  Hasshjcii,  Kiiein  Pl'altz 
■where  he  was  born  July  11,  1818,  and  which  ground  is  distin- 
guished as  having  been  the  scene  of  many  battles  waged  lictween 
the  French  and  German  people,  dating  as  far  back  as  14G0.  On 
the  old  home  place  his  father,  Jacob  Postel,  killed  a  wolf  in  the 
harvest  field,  with  a  grubbing  hoe — a  singular  fact  treasured 
with  other  scraps  of  family  recollections.  His  father,  George 
Postel,  died  June  10,  1836,  so  that  much  of  the  care  of  the  family 
devolved  upon  Philip  H.  In  1841  he  determined  on  a  visit  to  his 
relatives,  the  Eisenmayers,  who  had  several  years  before  located  in 
Mascoutah,  St.  Clair  county,  111  He  landed  in  New  York  in 
the  latter  part  of  June  of  that  year,  and  made  his  way  to  Philadel- 
phia, thence  to  Pittsburg,  by  canal  and  railroad,  which  place  he 
reached  in  July.    Whilst  on  the  way,  a  dam  in  the  canal  broke,  and 


tlius  a  holiday  was  given  the  passengers.  Mr.  Postel  availed  himself 
of  an  opportunity  oHLired  of  cutting  clover,  which  he  did  on  the  4th 
of  duly,  receiving  as  pay  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents.  From 
I'ittsburg  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  by  boat,  theuce  to  the  home  of  his 
relatives.  For  a  time  he  gave  himself  up  to  the  enjoyment  of 
friendship,  and  on  November  20,  1841,  in  connection  with  the 
]']iseumayers,  he  bought  a  saw-mill  on  Richland  creek,  two  and  a 
half  miles  north-east  of  Red  Bud.  At  the  time  the  Eisenmayers 
were  owners  of  a  saw- mill  in  Mascoutah.  In  the  division  of  labor 
which  followed  Mr.  Postel  was  to  take  charge  of  the  new  acquisi- 
tion, whilst  the  three  parties,  Conrad  and  Philip  Eiseumayer  and 
himself,  were  to  jointly  own  both  mills  This  mill  was  patronized 
by  people  from  a  distance  of  seventy-five  miles.  This  arrangement 
was  soon  changed  by  Conrad  Eisenmayer  taking  full  ownership  of 
the  Richland  creek  property,  whilst  Philip  Eisenmayer  and  Postel 


ViewoftheMASCOUTAH  STAR  FLOURING  MILLS  ano    oTi^TTK^ 


MASCOUTAH      STAR     MILLS      CAPACI  TV  350  BAH  RELS    DAI  LY 


oP^mr   BELONaiNCr  TO     PHI  UP    H   POST  EL,       Mascout/\h,    Illinois, 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


355 


took  hold  of  the  Magcoutah  mills,  with  Postel  in  charge  of  the 
corn-mill.  He  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness, sometimes  alone,  at  others,  with  different  parties.  From  1846 
to  1850  he  was  in  partnership  with  Philip  and  Andrew  Eisenmayer, 
as  equal  partners,  under  the  firm  name  of  Postel  &  Eisenmayer- 
The  corn-cracker  was  unequal  to  the  demand  made  by  an  increasing 
population ;  so  in  1850  this  firm  concluded  to  erect  a  more  com- 
modious and  better  mill,  and  at  once  set  about  the  enterprise  by 
opening  a  brick -yard-  on  the  site  of  the  present  home  of  Mr.  Postel. 
The  mill  was  built  during  this  and  the  following  year.  A  year 
after,  the  firm  dissolved  partnership,  Philip  Eisenmayer  retiring 
from  the  same.  In  1856  the  owners  sold  out  to  Fike,  Land  &  Co., 
because  of  the  illness  of  Conrad  Eisenmayer.  Mr.  Postel  had  ac- 
quired a  great  taste  for  the  business  of  milling,  besides  having  been 
in  its  pursuit  quite  successful ;  hence  in  1857  he  built  another  mill 
in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  which  was  at  the  time  of  its  com- 
pletion justly  styled  the  "  Pride  of  Southern  Illinois."  Unluckily 
for  him,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  consequent  upon  an  explosion  of 
the  middlings,  August  21,  1862  In  October  following  he  formed  a 
co-partnership  with  Mr.  Tiedemann  atO'Fallon,  in  the  ownership  of 
the  O  Fallon  mills,  under  the  firm  name  of  Tiedemann  &  Co.,  and 
which  arrangement  existed  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned for  a  period  of  thirteen  years.  In  1867  Mr.  Postel  bought 
the  Mascoutah  Star  mills  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Jacob  Eisenmayer,  who  died  August  19,  1873,  thus  leaving  the 
property  to  him.  Since  then  he  has,  by  aid  of  his  sons,  managed 
these  mammoth  mills  successfully.  Thus,  step  by  step,  from  humble 
beginnings  he  has  gained  a  firm  financial  footing  and  amassed  a 
reasonable  share  of  property.  Much  of  his  success  in  life,  after  his 
parents,  he  attributes  to  the  salutary  influence  of  a  teacher,  Jacob 
Reither,  whose  school  he  attended  in  early  youth.  Reither  was 
quite  distinguished  in.  his  profession,  and  by  the  force  of  a  strong 
moral  character,  left  his  impress  for  good  on  many  who  attended 
his  instruction.  His  memory  is  revered  by  many  who  owe  him 
much  for  the  measure  of  success  which  has  attended  them  through 
life.  Mr.  Postel's  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Eisenmayer,  which  took 
place  September  4,  1842,  was  not  without  its  attendant  romance. 
He  and  his  intended  bride  rode  horseback  from  Mascoutah  to  the  Rich- 
land Creek  mills,  where  the  bride's  brother  lived,  a  distance  of  thirty 
miles,  to  be  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock.  In  preparing  himself 
for  the  wedding,  he  took  temporary  possession  of  a  black  broad- 
cloth cap  of  George  Grasser's  and  a  pair  of  boots  of  Andrew  Eisen- 
mayer's.  His  intended  bride  wore  a  fifty  cent  hickory  bonnet,  the 
nicest  he  had  ever  seen.  Thus  attired,  they  crossed  the  inter- 
vening valleys  and  prairies  to  her  brother's,  where  the  wedding 
ceremony  was  performed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Done.  On  their 
return,  Mrs.  Postel  fell  from  her  horse,  greatly  alarming  her ;  but 
fortunately  she  was  not  injured.  Thus,  their  journey  through  life 
together  was  commenced  in  a  primitive  way.  In  1848,  Mr.  Postel, 
attended  by  his  wife,  returned  on  a  visit  to  Germany.  They  left 
home  February  4,  1848,  attended  by  a  brother-in-law,  Lorenz 
Leibroch,  by  wagon  from  St.  Louis,  thence  by  river  to  New  Or- 
leans, thence  by  a  cotton  ship,  leaving  New  Orleans  on  St.  Patrick's 
day,  for  Germany.     They  reached  their  home,  on  the  14th  of  May, 


quite  unexpectedly  to  their  parents,  who  hailed  them  gladly.    Mrs. 
Postel  was  looked  upon  as  the  first  woman  to  re-cross  the  ocean  from 
among  all  those  who  had  come  to  this  country  from  the  Rhein  Pfaltz. 
They  returned  here  the  same  year,  coming  up  the  Mississippi  by 
the  last  boat  to  make  the  trip  before  the  close  of  navigation  for  the 
winter,  December  16th.     Fortunately,  too,  they  left  New  Orleans, 
just  in  time  to  escape  the  cholera  which  visited  its  ravages  upon 
that  city.    The  year  following  Mascoutah  was  visited  by  the  terrible 
scourge  of  cholera,  and  amidst  it  all  Mr.  Postel  kept  on  at  his 
work,  only  leaving  it  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  the  dead  and  dying. 
Of  his  relatives  six  succumbed  to  the  fell  destroyer,  and  were  borne 
to  their  last  resting-place.     He  was  taken  down  himself  at  last ; 
but,  thanks  to  a  strong  constitution,  and,  he  thinks,  to  an  exchange 
of  remedial  agents   largely  employed  at  the  time,  he  survived. 
These  were  trying  times  in  the  vicinity  of  Mascoutah.      There 
were  six  funerals  the  first  day  of  the  scourge.     The  next  year  emi- 
gration set  in  afresh,  new  industries  were  opened  and  a  brighter 
future  opened  her  generous  doors.     Mr.  Postel  took  out  his  na- 
turalization papers  in  Belleville  in  1846,  when  Theodore  Engelmann 
was  clerk.     He  says  he  enjoyed  the  blessing  of  an  American  pass- 
port to  the  fullest  extent  upon  the   occasion  of  his  European  visit 
during  which  time  the  revolution  was  threatening  trouble  in  Ger- 
many.    As  he  passed  certain  police  ofiicers,  he  simply  showed  them 
a  note-book  in  which  were  American  entries,  and  on  the  last  page 
of  which  was  the  signature  of  an  American  consul.     His  thought 
was  "  How  good  it  is  to  be  an  American  citizen."     Politically,  Mr. 
Postel  is  an  ardent  and  representative  republican ;  he  has  affiliated 
with  the  party  constantly  since  its  organization,  with  Gen.  John  C. 
Fremont  as  its  standard-bearer,  in  1856.     In  1880  he  was  elected 
by  a  handsome  vote  as  a  representative  in  the  32d  General  As- 
sembly, from  the  49th  or  St.  Clair  county  District.    As  a  repre- 
sentative he  has  proved  himself  worthy  the  votes  given  him,  and 
thoroughly  competent  to  discharge  the  duties  devolving  upon  the 
position.     He  is  an  active  and  faithful  member  of  the  German 
Methodist  church.     The  credit  of  erecting  the  first  altar  in  the 
state  of  Illinois  for  that  faith  belongs  to  the  Eisenmayer  family 
with  himself     A  kind  and  indulgent  father,  a  man  of  generous  im- 
pulses, he  has  the  respect  of  all.     Of  his  family  seven  children  are 
living — Elizabeth,  Mary,  Philip  H.,  Jr.,  George,  Anna,  Louisa  and 
Julius.     Philip  H.,  the  first,  as  he  is  called  for  distinction,  and 
Andrew,  are  numbered  among  the  dead.     Andrew  died  of  small- 
pox at  the  age  of  three  years. 

Having  now  passed  the  age  of  sixty-three,  he  has  no  desire  for 
public  emoluments,  and  although  surrounded  by  many  of  the  luxu- 
ries of  life,  he  looks  back  on  the  years  that  were  full  of  struggles 
and  hardships  as  the  happiest  in  his  life.  The  same  cheerfulness  of 
disposition,  which  he  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree,  has  always 
sustained  him,  and  he  says  he  felt  quite  as  contented  when  riding  a 
mule  up  the  streets  of  Mascoutah,  years  ago,  which  had  just  been 
attached  by  a  creditor,  (a  wealthy  citizen  of  Belleville)  as  he  does 
now  when  driving  a  fine  carriage.  A  man  of  great  integrity  of 
character,  of  marked  executive  ability,  of  generous  impulses,  Mr. 
Postel  has  concributed  much  to  the  upbuilding  of  Mascoutah. 


356 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


About  a  mile  east  of  Mascoutah,  in  the  enjoymeut  of  a  most 
elegant  country  home,  lives  one  whose  life's  labors  have  been 
crowned  with  a  success  deserving  more  than  a  mere  mention.  One 
who  illustrates,  in  an  eminent  degree,  what  can  be  accomplished 
by  perseverance  and  an  aim  in  life.  James  H.  Richardson  was 
born  in  Staffordshire,  in  sunny  England,  on  the  25th  of  June,  1825. 
When  about  one  year  old,  he  was  brought  by  a  widowed  mother 
to  America,  who  located  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  where  she 
married  and  remainsd  until  James  was  about  six  years  of  age, 
when  she  removed  to  Westchester,  a  village  in  Cliester  county,  I'a. 
Here  it  was  that  he  gained  a  rudimentary  education  in  a  private 
school,  such  as  abounded  in  those  days.  His  stepfather,  a  teaclicr 
and  surveyor  by  profession,  after  locating  here  liecame  a  merchant 
in  china  and  glassware.  At  the  age  of  twelve  bo  engaged  his  ser- 
vices to  a  farmer  relative,  who  lived  near  the  vilhigc  This  opciied 
to  his  young  mind  a  new  field  of  usefulness,  and  determined  liim 
to  become  an  agriculturist.  He  labored  faitlifuliy,  attended  school 
during  the  winter,  and  spent  his  .summers  in  the  usual  labor  of  a 
farmer  boy.  He  did  not  see  that  it  would  be  possible  to  ever  own  a 
farm  if  its  purchase  depended  ujion  such  labor,  hence  he  determined 
on  learning  a  trade,  and  apprenticed  himself  at  eighteen  years  of 
age  to  a  carriage  maker  at  Marshalltou,  some  four  miles  distant, 
where  he  remained  four  years.  v\.fter  which  he  obtained  em- 
ployment in  the  machine  shops  of  Pennock  Brothers,  Kennett 
Square,  where  he  aided  in  the  construction  of  the  first  grain- 
drill  ever  made  in  America.  From  here  he  went  to  Bridesburg,  to 
work  in  the  machine  shops,  devoted  chiefly  to  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  and  woolen  mill  machinery.     Was  attracted  thither  by  an 


increase  of  wages  offered.     The  work  too  required  greater  skill 
than  that  in  ordinary  machine  shops,  and  to  it  Mr.  Richardson 
proved  himself  fully  equal.     He  remained  here  one  year,  and  re- 
turned again  to  his  former  place  in  the  shops  at  Kennett  square,  at 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  proprietors.     Having  laid   by  some 
money,  and  thinking  to  secure  a  farm,  he   made  his  way  west  in 
18-18,  wliere  he  purchased   a  beautiful   tract  of  land  about  three 
miles  east  of  Mascoutah,  which  he   yet  owns.     Nature  has  done 
much  for  the  place,  and   in   its  selection  Mr.  Richardson's  love  of 
the  beautiful  is  strikingly  displayed.     In  1849  golden  visions  came 
from  tlie  Pacilic  slope,  the  begira  had  set  in,  and  Mr.  Richardson, 
in  company  with   a  party  of  about  eighty  persons,  started  on  the 
overland   route  to  the   fields  of  gold.     The  trip  was  replete  with 
interesting  incidents.    After  keeping  together  for  some  time,  twenty 
of  tlic  number,  more  pushing  than  the  rest,  Richardson  among 
tliem,)  left  the  larger  party  behind,  and  reached  California  a  full 
month   in  advance  of  their  more  plodding  friends.     They  called 
tlieir  little  company  "  Ben,"  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
Captain  of  "the  Bens;"  in   this  capacity  it  was  his   place  to  ride 
ahead  and  make  selection  of  suitable  camping  grounds.     Once, 
when  thus  in  advance  of  his  companions,  he  came  to  Scott's  bluffs, 
great  massive  walls  of  rock,  with  a  passage  between,  so  narrow  as 
to  prevent  a  horse,  once  started  through,  from  turning  around  to 
retrace   his  steps.     Prompted   by  curiosity  he  determined  to  see 
what  was  beyond,  and  rode  through  to   an   opening  be  could  see 
ahead  of  him.     Here  he  found  an  encapment  of  .Pawnee  Indians. 
Some  of  their  number,  who  were  guarding  their  horses,  scowled 
ujiun  him.     With  great  presence  of  mind  he  boldly  rode  by  them 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


35/ 


to  the  tent  of  the  chief,  bade  him  "  good  cheer,"  but  the  chief 
deigaed  no  reply  to  the  salutation.  He  dismounted,  and  passed 
into  the  tent  where  the  chief's  daughter  was  engaged  upon  some 
bead-work  She  at  once  took  an  interest  in  him,  and  motioned  to 
him  to  follow,  while  she  showed  him  trinkets  of  various  kinds.  On 
the  fire  was  a  kettle,  in  which  a  dog  was  being  prepared  for  dinner. 
Richardson  thought  that  should  the  chief  conclude  to  treat  him  as 
a  friend  he  would  ask  him  to  dinner,  and  the  prospect  of  having 
to  eat  dog  was  n9  ways  pleasing.  The  invitation  was  extended, 
and  Richardson  bethought  himself  of  some  crackers  he  had  with 
him,  which  he  shared  with  the  daughter,  and  motioned  his  com- 
pany was  waiting  for  him,  and  left,  greatly  relieved.  The  long, 
tedious  trip  ended,  the  party  reached  the  El  Dorado,  and  com- 
menced mining  operations.  Here  his  skill  as  a  mechanic  was 
illustrated  in  the  mines  by  his  making  the  first  cradle  for  the  wash- 
ing of  gold  ever  invented.  This  expedited  the  business  of  gold- 
washing,  enabling  one  man  to  do  the  work  of  ten  as  done  by  the 
process  then  in  vogue  in  the  mines.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
did  well,  but  after  getting  cleverly  started  he  concluded  to  return 
to  Illinois  on  a  visic,  fully  determined  that  it  should  be  only  a  visit. 
At  San  Francisco,  the  company  with  which  he  started  found  pas- 
sage by  steamer  risky,  owing  to  the  prevalence  of  cholera  on  board, 
hence  they  took  passage  on  a  sail  vessel,  the  "  Powhatan."  The 
vessel  was  without  sufficient  ballast,  and  when  a  few  days  out  was 
at  the  mercy  of  trade  winds,  which  drove  her  to  sea  a  distance  of  a 
thousand  miles.  Provisions  grew  scatce.  The  daily  allowance 
was  made  a  biscuit  and  a  pint  of  water.  These  failed,  and  the 
passengers,  in  their  extremity,  determined  on  casting  lots  the  fol. 
lowing  day  as  to  which  should  become  a  sacrifice  to  satisfy  the 
hunger  of  the  others,  but  before  the  plan  was  carried  into  execu- 
tion land  was  espied.  Once  landed,  they  constructed  rude  carts, 
on  which  to  transport  their  eflfects  across  Central  America,  which 
they  accomplished  after  four  weeks  of  suffering,  reaching  Gray- 
town,  where  they  took  ship  for  Panama,  thence  across  the  gulf  to 
New  Orleans.  He  reached  St.  Clair  county  in  mid-winter,  1850. 
Not  wanting  a  repetition  of  his  late  experience,  he  engaged  his 
services  to  Jacob  Rentchler,  who  was  making  drills,  having  bought 
the  right  for  the  State  of  Illinois  for  the  manufacture  of  the  "  Pen- 
nock  drill."  On  the  14th  of  February,  1851,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Maria  Rentchler,  daughter  of  hid  employer  Jacob  and  wife, 
Elizabeth  Rentchler.  By  this  union  there  have  been  eleven 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living.  In  the  spring  after  marriage 
he  moved  to  the  farm,  where  he  yet  resides,  and  commenced  those 
improvements  which  have  made  it  one  of  the  best  in  St.  Clair 
county.  His  family  are  interesting  and  accomplished.  All  the 
advantages  of  school,  music,  etc.,  have  been  bestowed  upon  them. 
In  politics  Mr.  Richardson  has  always  been  an  uncompromising 
democrat..  He  makes  no  profession  of  religion,  but  in  his  daily 
walk  strives  to  live  up  to  the  golden  rule  of  doing  unto  others  as 
he  would  be  done  by.  His  home,  a  view  of  which  is  elsewhere 
given,  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  in  the  county,  and  is  a  full  realiza- 
tion of  his  fond  dreams  of  boyhood  days,  when  he  determined  on 
the  life  of  an  agriculturist.  He  is  fond  of  agricultural  literature, 
and  avails  himself  of  every  means  for  enhancing  farming  interests. 
A  kind  and  indulgent  father,  a  loving  husband,  his  home  is  one 
filled  with  evidences  of  happiness. 


CHARLES  KARCH. 

Living  about  five  miles  south  of  Mascoutah,  in  the  centre  of  an 
elegant  and  highly  improved  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  is  Charles 
Karch.     He  was  born  about  two  miles  west  of  Mascoutah,  June  2d, 


1843.  His  parents,  Ernst  and  Catharine  Karch  nee  Catharine 
Seip,  came  to  America  from  Germany  in  1833,  among  the  early 
emigrants  who  have  done  so  much  in  behalf  of  the  development  of 
St.  Clair  county's  resources.  They  located  on  Dutch  Hill ;  thence 
to  what  is  now  Shiloh  precinct,  where  Charles  was  born ;  thence 
to  the  place  where  he  now  lives  in  1850.  His  education  was  ac- 
quired chiefly  in  private  schools,  having  attended  the  public  schools 
in  his  neighborhood  but  six  months.  He  was  united  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony  to  Mary  Heberer,  October  17th,  1867,  by  Squire 
Lischer.  By  this  union  there  have  been  three  children.  H.  Gus- 
tavo, born  Sept.  24th,  1868  ;  Mary  Laura  C,  born  Aug.  6th,  1871 ; 
and  Charles  Adam,  born  March  17th,  1875.  Mr.  Karch  has  always 
followed  his  avocation  of  farming,  in  which  he  has  met  with  de- 
served success.  His  fellow-citizens  have  repeatedly  made  him 
school  director,  a  just  recognition  of  his  services  in  behalf  of  the 
cause  of  popular  education.  He  has  also  been  elected  township 
treasurer,  a  position  he  now  holds.  Politically,  he  has  always  been 
an  ardent,  uncompromising  republican,  having  cast  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  the  martyred  Lincoln,  and  his  last  for 
Gen.  James  A.  Garfield.  Whatever  Mr.  Karch  takes  hold  of,  he 
prosecutes  with  all  his  might.  This  earnestness  and  perseverance 
compels  success.  A  model  farmer,  he  is  surrounding  himself  with 
all  the  comforts  of  rural  life.  A  live,  wide  awake  citizen,  he  is 
respected  of  all,  and  deserving  of  all  the  honors  they  may  confer 
upon  him. 

J.  J.  RAYHILL. 

In  1818  George  Rayhill  and  wife  Sarah,  Virginians,  the  one  a 
native  of  Botetourt  and  theother  of  Hampshire  county,  Va.,  located 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  of  east  Mascoutah,  on  an  eminence  over- 
looking an  extensive  and  beautiful  prairie.  Here  it  was  that  J.  J. 
Rayhill,  who  yet  lives  within  a  mile  of  the  old  homestead,  was  born 
March  4,  1824.  He  had  witnessed  the  tranformation  of  a  wild  prai- 
rie into  cultivated  farming  lands ;  the  influx  of  people,  until  neigh- 
bors,once  at  great  distances,  are  on  every  hand.  The  departure 
of  the  Indians,  the  disappearance  of  deer  and  other  game  are  things 
within  his  recollection.  His  earlier  education  was  limited,  as  was 
the  opportunity  for  acquiring  an  education.  William  B.  Davis 
was  his  first  teacher.  In  1850  his  farm  life  was  broken  up  by  his 
determination  to  try  that  of  a  miner  in  California.  He  left  home 
in  company  with  about  thirty  others,  April  9,  1850,  and  by  ox 
teams  they  made  their  way  across  the  plains  and  Rocky  Mountains 
to  the  land  of  gold,  consuming  six  months  in  making  the  trip; 
here  he  remained  for  nearly  four  years.  He  returned  home,  by  the 
Nicaragua  route  taking  passage  on  the  steamer  Pacific  at  San 
Francisco  and  the  Northern  Light,  after  crossing  the  isthmus  for 
New  York,  thence  to  the  old  homestead,  when  he  purchased,  partly 
with  his  earnings  while  absent,  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home. 
He  was  married  to  Adeline  Pitts,  May  7th,  1856,  by  Rev.  Wm.  W. 
Mitchell.  By  this  union  there  have  been  four  childen  born,  as  fol- 
lows :  Charles  Edward,  April  18, 1857  ;  Virginia  M  ,  Jan.  5,  1859  ; 
George,  Aug.,  9,  1861 ;  Sarah  Adeline,  Nov.  21st,  1864,  Of  these 
two  are  living  and  two  are  dead.  George,  a  young  man  of  much 
promise  was  accidentally  killed  by  the  discharge  of  his  gun  while 
crossing  a  fence  when  out  huuting„March  19,  1880  ;  Sarah  A.  died 
Nov.  6,  1866.     Mrs.  Rayhill  died  Nov.  29,  1865. 

Mr.  Rayhill  is  a  thrifty,  industrious  farmer,  who  has,  by  econo- 
mical habit  and  energy,  amassed  considerable  property.  Politically 
he  is  a  republican.  Although  active  in  politics  he  uniformly  re- 
fuses to  hold  office,  and  beyond  having  been  trustee  for  his  home 
school  district,  has  held  none.  He  has  so  arranged  his  affairs  that 
be  can  now  spend  the  evening  of  his  life  in  ease  and  comfort. 


358 


HISTORY  OF  SI.  CLAIR  COVNIY,  ILLINOIS. 


'^dy/id 


Amonc  the  represcutative  men  of  Mafccoiitali  is  I'^redcrirk  Dil.i,', 
who  was  tie  fourth  of  a  f;inii]y  of  oiglit  chililiTii,  liorn  to  Joliii 
Nicolaus  Dilg  and  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  ]\alhariiie  Ilaiicn- 
stein.  His  parents  lived  in  J5olauden,  Oerniany,  where  liis  mother 
was  born,  June  24,  180G.  In  1845  they  moved  to  America,  reach- 
ing St.  Louis  the  same  year.  His  father  selected  a  farm  a  mile  and 
a  half  south  of  Mascoutah,  on  which  lie  lived  nnlil  \^W1,  when  ho 
moved  to  Mascoutah.  Here  Frederick  ]Jilg  attended  school  until 
1857,  when  he  went  to  clerk  in  a  drug-store  iu  Belleville,  where  he 
remained  until  1859.  In  January,  18G0,  he  entered  the  office  of 
the  "  News  Letter,"  a  paper  established  in  Mascoutah,  which  in 
1861  was  consolidated  with  the  "Belleville  Advocate."  Here  he 
remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  whereupon  he  enlisted 
with  the  three  months'  men,  as  a  private  in  company  D,9th  Illinois 
regiment.  Before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  he  re- 
enlisted  in  June  at  Cairo  tor  three  years  or  during  the  war.  Was 
made  corporal,  soon  after  4th  sergeant.  He  vertcranized  at  Deca- 
tur, Alabama,  in   INIarch,  18G4.     In  front  of  Atlanta  he  was  pro- 


moted for  bravery  to  the  1st  lieutenancy  of  his  company.  In  1865 
he  marched  through  South  Carolina  towards  Richmond  in  command 
ol'  the  company,  the  captain  having  been  killed  in  February  of  that 
year.  Was  commissioned  captain  the  same  year.  Upon  the  close 
of  the  war,  the  high  esteem  of  his  company  for  him  was  mani- 
fested in  the  presentation  of  an  elegant  sword  at  Louisville,  Ky. 
Cn  the  IGth  of  June,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sophia  Hauser. 
By  this  marriage  there  have  been  five  children  born,  four  of  whom 
are  living.  They  are  Eugene  H.  Dilg,  born  July  10th,  1871  ; 
Lillio  L.,l\rarch  19th,  1873;  Alfred,  December  8th,  1877,  died 
July  23d,  1878  ;  Theodore,  born  January  16th,  1879,  and  Irwin 
F.,  March  24th,  1880.  Captain  Dilg  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Mascoutah,  April  10th,  18G9,  which  position  he  has  held  continu- 
ously since.  At  the  time  of  this  appointment  he  was  a  dealer  in 
books  and  stationery,  to  which  business  he  added  a  job  printing 
office  in  1870.  In  1875  he  commenced  the  publication  of  the  "  An- 
zeigcr,"  which  he  still  continues.  His  father  was  born  in  Gellen- 
heini,  Cermany,  October  8th,  1807,  and  now  resides  in  New  York. 


-.fr  -,.-■■■  ■,-,v--,v;!."'rt>".a: 


■****&■%*  ^■*^^>'^^ 


The  German  M.E.  Church  Mascoutah    Illinois. 


"S^ef'i-'"''- 


vrew  LOOHiNS  north   from   the    road. 


GffANERY  OPPOSfTE  «£S/D£7VE£;''*W* 


I 


Farm  Residence  or  JOSEPH  GRIFFEN.  Esq,  Sec.  23J:iR7.  W(Masdoutah  Precinct  st.Clair  CoJll 


mSTOBY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


359 


JOSEPH  GRIFFEN. 

Among  the  residents  of  Shiloh  valley  is  Joseph  Griffin,  a 
view  of  whose  farm  and  residence  appears  on  another  page.  He  is 
a  native  of  the  county,  and  was  born  in  township  one  north,  range 
seven  west,  within  a  short  distance  of  where  he  now  resides,  on  the 
17th  of  February,  1832.  His  father  was  Joseph  Griffen,  and  his 
mother's  name  before  marriage  was  Mary  Foulks.  A  biographical 
sketch  of  his  father,  Joseph  Griffen,  may  be  found  elsewhere.  His 
father  settled  in  that  part  of  the  county  in  1828,  was  an  industrious 
man  and  a  good  citizen,  filled  for  a  time  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  died  in  October,  1873.  The  subject  of  the  sketch  was 
raised  in  the  same  locality  where  he  was  born.  When  he  was  five 
years  old  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Isaac  Grif- 
fen, who  resided  at  Greeneville,  in  Greene  county,  of  that  state. 
The  principal  reason  of  his  going  to  New  York  was  the  state  of  his 
health,  which  in  his  boyhood  was  very  delicate.  It  was  hoped  the 
change  of  air  and  climate  would  strengthen  his  constitution.  Re- 
turning to  St.  Clair  county  at  the  age  of  nine.  He  attended  the 
common-  schools,  in  which  he  secured  the  elementary  part  of  his 
education,  and  when  nineteen  years  old  entered  McKeudree  Col- 
lege, at  Lebanon,  in  which  institution  he  was  a  student  about  a 
year. 

After  leaving  college  he  had  his  home  with  his  father,  and  was 
employed  on  the  farm  until  his  marriage,  which  took  place  on  the 
3d  of  August,  1860,  to  Margaret  M.  Shaw,  who  was  born  at  Castle- 
ton,  Vermont,  and  was  a  resident  of  Lebanon  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage.  After  his  marriage  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself 
on  section  twenty-three  of  township  one  north,  range  seven  west. 
The  death  of  his  first  wife  took  place  on  the  5th  of  August,  1861, 
one  year  and  two  days  after  their  marriage.  She  left  one  child, 
^  Margaret  Rebecca,  which  died  at  the  age  of  five  weeks.  His 
second  marriage  took  place  on  the  27th  of  February,  1866,  to  Belle 
Murdaugh,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Ogle's  station,  five  miles  west  of  Belleville.  Since  1860  Mr. 
Griffin  has  been  living  on  his  present  farm,  engaged  in  the  honor- 
able pursuit  of  agriculture.  He  has  six  children  by  his  second 
marria,ge.  Their  names  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  Mary  Alice, 
Clara  Addie,  Henry  Boon,  Madgie  Belle,  Walter  Joseph,  and 
Charles  Hamilton. 

In  his  political  sympathies  he  was  in  early  life,  like  his  father,  a 
member  of  the  Whig  party,  but  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  ques- 
tion made  him  a  Republican,  to  which  organization  he  has  belonged 
from  a  time  previous  to  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He  has  taken  no  ac- 
tive part  in  politics,  nor  has  he  ever  been  a  candidate  for  any  public 
office,  being  content  to  live  the  life  of  a  quiet  and  peaceful  private 
citizen.  As  a  representative  of  the  old  American  population  of 
the  Shiloh  valley,  one  of  the  fairest  portions  of  St.  Clair  county, 
which  has  now  well-nigh  been  crowded  out  by  the  incoming  of  later 
settlers,  his  name  deserves  a  place  in  this  book. 


JOHN  BARTH. 

In  the  year  1834  there  came  to  this  country,  from  Nassau,  Ger- 
many, John  Barth,  Sr.,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
had  fought  under  the  elder  Napoleon  for  eleven  years,  stood  before 
Moscow  when  that  city  was  in  flames,  gathered  from  the  ruins  all 
the  molten  gold,  he  could  carry,  but  reached  his  home  with  none  of 
the  spoils.  ■  In  reaching  it  he  encountered  great  difficulty,  his  horse 
having  to  swim  the  Lome  in  advance  of  pursuing  Cossacks.  He 
was  a  man  of  remarkable  strength,  and  great  determination.  After 
coming  to  this  country  he  was  noted  as  being  a  useful  member  qf 


society,  aiding  and  encouraging  public  improvements.  To  him  be- 
longs the  credit  of  the  first  donation  of  land  for  a  church  and 
school  in  Mascoutah.  A  man  of  fine  character,  his  death,  which 
occurred  May  8th,  1877,  was  regretted  by  all.  John  Barth  the 
second,  as  he  is  called  by  way  of  distinction,  received  a  common 
school  education.  He  was  married  to  Catharine  Koob  June  7th 
1849,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living 
She  died  Dec.  13th,  1874.  He  was  afterwards  married  to  Catha- 
rine Lines,  June  23d,  1875.  Her  maiden  name  was  M.  K.  Beither. 
Mr.  Barth  has  been  eminently  successful  in  his  vocation  of  farming, 
and  has  by  his  energy  added  farm  to  farm  until  now  he  has  twelve 
farms,  all  within  a  radius  of  twelve  miles,  and  readily  accessible 
from  his  home  place.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church, 
also  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  holding  his  membership  with 
Humboldt  Lodge,  No.  282,  and  of  the  Encampment.  Politically 
he  is  a  democrat.  Office  he  does  not  desire,  preferring  the  quiet 
enjoyment  of  farm  life.  He  takes  rank  as  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  St.  Clair  county. 


PETER  SEIBERT 
Was  born  April  24th,.  1844,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Hesse  Darm- 
stadt, Germany.  His  parents,  Balthaser  and  Catharine  Seibert, 
came  to  America  in  1852,  and  made  their  way  directly  to  St.  Clair 
county,  where  in  1853,  they  bought  land  three  miles  east  of  Belle- 
ville. Peter,  who  was  then  but  eight  years  old,  remembers  distinct- 
ly a  battle  during  the  revolution  in  Germany,  occuring  four  or  five 
years  before.  He  was  sent  to  the  common  school  in  the  home  di- 
strict, and  afterwards  to  Belleville,  whtre  he  acquired  sufficient 
education  to  successfully  prosecute  his  chosen  business  that  of  farm- 
ing. He"  was  married  to  Catharine  Eidmann,  Sept.  6th,  1868, 
by  whom  he  had  five  children.  Five  years  ago  he  bought  the 
farm  about  four  miles  south  of  Mascoutah,  where  he  now  lives,  and 
which  he  has  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Politically  he 
is  an  ardent  republican.  It  is  his  boast  that  every  president,  for 
whom  he  has  cast  a  ballot,  has  been  elected.  His  first  presidential 
ballot  was  cast  for  General  Grant.  Although  active  in  political 
affairs,  he  prefers  a  quiet  life  to  office.  He  has  been  (and  now  is) 
a  school  director  for  the  past  four  years.  In  agriculture  he  takes 
great  pride,  and  has  done  much  for  the  promotion  of  agricultural 
industries,  especially  in  the  way  of  improved  horses  for  all  purposes. 
In  all  home  afiairs  he  takes  great  interest,  and  is  always  to  the 
front  in  all  matters  calculated  to  benefit  the  public.  Energetic 
and  pushing,  he  is  meeting  a  full  share  of  success.  Mr.  Seibert  is 
yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  he  has  made  his  influence  felt  for  good  in 
his  neighborhood,  and  with  his  practical  views  of  life  and  determi- 
nation, he  is  destined  yet  to  accomplish  greater  results. 


ANTON  SEHLINGER. 

Among  the  leading  industries  of  Mascoutah  are  the  Emerald  Isle 
Mills,  elsewhere  shown  in  this  work,  and  of  which  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  and  Philip  Schubkegel  are  proprietors.  Anton  Sehlinger 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  Feb.  13th,  1837.  He  was  brought  to 
America  by  an  uncle,  Joseph  Schlndler,  in  1852,  with  whom  he 
lived  on  a  farm  for  nearly  thirteen  years.  The  farm  was  located 
about  three  miles  east  of  Belleville.  In  1863  his  uncle,  in  com- 
pany with  Clement  Schindler,  built  the  Emerald  Isle  Mills,  and 
in  1864  he  was  made  manager  and  clerk.  This  occupation  suited 
his  tastes  better  than  farming,  and  in  1866  he  became  a  partner. 
He  was  married  to  Louisa  Faust,  Jan,  23d,  1866.  By  this  union 
there  have  been  sevfsn  children,  fiye  of  whom  are  living,  namely; 


360 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Anton  Joseph,  born  Oct.  23d,  1866 ;  Mary  Clara,  born  July  12th, 
1873  ;  Lena  Sophia,  born  May  15,  1875  ;  Anna  Louisa,  born  May 
12th,  1877  ;  and  George  Nicholas,  born  May  12th,  1880.  Two  are 
dead:  Louisa  Eva,  born  Aug.  11,  1868,  died  Jan.  25, 1875;  and 
William  Charles,  born  March  2d,  1870,  and  accidentally  killed  by 
being  run  over  by  a  wagon,  July  6th,  1872. 

Mr.  Sehlinger  is  a  highly-respected  citizen,  a  successful  business 
man,  ever  ready  to  encourage  any  enterprize  calculated  to  add  to 
the  prosperity  of  his  adopted  village.  In  politics  he  is  an  unwaver- 
ing republican.  Although  politically  active,  he  works  for  the 
general,  not  for  his  personal,  advancement.  He  has  served  his 
fellow-citizens  as  member  of  the  town  board  acceptably.  In  reli- 
gion he  is  a  Catholic,  and  in  its  advocacy  he  is  zealous  and  earnest. 
A  description  of  the  mills,  of  which  he  and  Mr,  Schubkegel  are  pro- 
prietors, together  with  view,  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

A  third  interest,  held  by  heirs  of  Joseph  Schindler,  the  former 
proprietor,  was  sold  on  the  11th  of  June,  1881,  under  orders  of  the 
court,  himself  and  partner  being  the  purchasers,  on  a  basis  of  $36,- 
000  for  the  mill. 


FRANCIS  PERRIN. 

All  countries  of  the  civilized  globe  have  made  their  contribu- 
tions to  free  America,  and  representatives  from  many  of  them  are 
found  in  St.  Clair  county.  The  first  to  seek  and  find  homes 
were  of  French  extraction,  and  at  intervals  ever  since  the  location 
of  Cahokia,  representatives  of  this  nationality  have  followed.  In 
the  year  1833  George  and  Susan  Perrin,  from  Lorraine,  France, 
crossed  the  sea,  bringing  with  them  their  six  children,  landing  at 
New  Orleans,  after  a  voyage  of  sixty-three  days,  thence  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  to  St.  Louis,  which  point  they  reached  March  20, 
1833.  Soon  after  they  located  in  Dutch  Hollow,  about  four  miles 
north-west  of  Belleville,  where  Francis  hired  out  to  Elijah 
Badgley,  to  work  in  a  brick-yard,  which  he  did  for  three  months,  at 
three  dollars  per  month.  The  following  summer,  1834,  he 
again  engaged  in  the  same  service,  this  time  serving  only  two 
months,  at  five  dollars  per  month.  He  then  apprenticed  himself  to 
Anthony  Marslofi",  a  cooper,  with  whom  he  remained  eighteen 
months,  receiving  at  the  end  of  that  time  eighty  dollars.  This 
eighty  dollars  was  the  foundation  for  what  has  become  a  handsome 
fortune.  With  it  he  rented  land  of  the  Badgleys,  and,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  brother,  Nicholas  Perrin,  senior,  farmed  it.  At  the 
same  time,  his  love  for  trading  found  play  in  the  purchase,  sale,  and 
exchange  of  stock.  This  arrangement  with  his  brother  was  contin- 
ued for  fourteen  years,  during  which  time  they  passed  from  the 
position  of  tenants  to  that  of  land-holders.  He  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Catharine  Pfeiffer,  a  widow  lady,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1831. 
The  ceremony  took  place  on  the  25th  day  of  November,  1844.  By 
this  union  there  has  been  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing— Nicholas,  Terisa,  Rosalie,  and  Franklin.  Of  these  Franklin 
is  a  young  and  promising  member  of  the  Belleville  bar.  Francis 
Perrin  moved  from  Dutch  Hollow  to  Ridge  Prairie;  thence 
in  1853  to  Looking  Glass  Prairie,  where  he  now  lives.  Here  he 
has  a  farm  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  most  excellent  and 
well-improved  land.  Mr.  Perrin  is  an  excellent  example  of  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  perseverance  and  the  exercise  of  tact. 
Born  in  France,  May  19,  1820;  brought  to  this  country  when  yet 
but  a  lad  ;  working  for  wages ; — he  has  gradually,  step  by  step,  ac- 
quired a  competency  in  life.  He  takes  great  pride  in  his  family, 
and  in  their  education.  Sent  Franklin  to  McKendree  college,  Le- 
banon, and  afterwards  to  Washington  University,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  to 


fit  him  for  his  profession.  Politically  he  is  a  straight-out  republi- 
can, always  ardent  in  his  support  of  friends  who  may  chance  to  be 
candidates.  He  has  been  kept  in  office  as  school  trustee  for  the  last 
fourteen  years.  He  was  raised  a  Catholic,  and  adheres  to  the  faith. 
He  says  his  patriotism  is  inherited.  His  father  was  a  soldier  under 
Napoleon,  because  he  loved  his  country.  He  believes  in  teaching 
his  children  the  principles  of  patriotism  as  well  as  mathematics  or 
the  sciences.  He  is  locally  noted  for  quaint  sayings,  often  advisory 
in  character,  which  have  struck  home  with  many  a  hearer.  His 
father  died,  full  of  years,  after  having  seen  his  sons  raised  from 
hardest  struggles  to  gain  a  livelihood  to  independent  positions. 
His  death  occurred  in  the  month  of  March,  1876 ;  his  mother  had 
preceded  the  father  to  the  grave  nearly  two  years,  having  died  July 
28,  1874.  Mr.  Perrin  has  the  respect  of  all  his  associates  and 
neighbors.  He  loves  to  talk  of  the  rough  times  when  men  like  him- 
self were  engaged  in  hewing  out  fortunes  for  themselves. 


DR.  BOYD  CORNICK. 

Among  the  professional  men  of  Mascoutah  whose  names  are  de 
serving  a  place  on  the  pages  of  formative  history  is  that  of  Dr. 
Boyd    Cornick,    who     came    here     but   little    more    than    two 
years  ago,  and  is  rapidly  acquiring  an  extensive  practice  in  his 
chosen  profession,  that  of  Medicine  and  Surgery.     He  was  born  in 
Lincoln   county,   Missouri,  June  1,  1856.     His  father,  Tully  R. 
Cornick,  an   attorney-at-law,  is  living,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  large 
practice,  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  at  which  place  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  principally,  educated,  having  received  his  academical  and 
collegiate  instruction  in  the  University  of  Tennessee.     After  leaving 
college  he  was  a  year  and  a-half  in  the  office  of  the  State  Superin- 
tendent of  Public  Schools  of  that  state  as  assistant.    Provision  had 
been  made  for  such  office  by  Mr.  Sears,  agent  of  the  Peabody  fund, 
upon  request  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association.     Of  his  services  in 
this  capacity  State  Superintendent  Fleming  said,  in  annual  report 
of  1875 :  "  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to  the  in- 
telligent, prompt  and  laborious  attention  paid  the  duties  of  the 
office  by  my  assistant,  Mr.  Cornick."     Although  successful  in  this 
field  of  labor,  his  tastes  led  him  to  prepare  himself  for  a  new  sphere 
of  usefulness,  that  of  a  practitioner  of  medicine.     The  resolution 
formed,  he  entered  the  office  of  a  brother-in-law.  Dr.  Hutt,  of  Troy, 
Mo.,  thence  went  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  he  attended  the 
Hospital  Medical  College,  and  graduated  with  honor  in  1877.    He 
was  awarded  the  medal  for  best  general  standing  in  his  class  by  the 
Curators  of  the  Central  University  of  which  the  Hospital  Medical 
College  is  a  branch.     Of  this  distinction  he  is  justly  proud.    The 
medal,  a  unique  gold  one,  bears  on  its  face  the  inscription :  "  To 
Boyd  Cornick,  for  best  standing,  class  1876-7."     On  the  reverse  : 
"From    the    Curators,   Central   University."     Immediately  after 
graduation  he  was,  upon  competitive  examination,  in  which  thirteen 
contestants  appeared,  appointed  one  of  the  city  hospital  physicians 
for  one  year.     At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  was  appointed 
a  delegate  by  the  State  Medical  Society  of  Kentucky  to  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Hygiene  at  Paris,  which  he  attended  in  August, 
1878.     Still  eager  in  the  pursuit  of  medical  knowledge  he  visited 
the  hospitals  of  London  and  Paris,  where  he  could  witness  exhibi- 
tions of  European  medical  skill,  by  which  to  profit.     Returning  to 
America  he  first  located  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  whence  he  came  to  Mas- 
coutah, May  1, 1879.     An  ardent  lover  for  his  calling,  coupled  with 
great  pains-taking  and  skill  in  its  practice,  is  rapidly  gaining  for 
him  patrons  and  friends. 


LooKiNa  QlassVineyard"  Residence  or    THEODORE  ENQELMANN,Sec.20,T  I S.  R.SW. 

Mascqutah   Precinct    St    Cla/r    Co   /ll. 


SJST 


;L!J,-i''w\i'V '  't'^j^TJ^    ^'^^ 


/?rs/orA/C£  OF  PHILIP  H.  El  SEN  MAYER ,  Masgoutah.  Illinois 


^ 


.■*■;■  x¥??>4i:.^^-'V»fe„-t%.  „.#,^. 


Residence  OF  Dfi  F.X.FISCHER, Darmstadt,  St  Clair  Co  Illinois 


"EMERALDlsLEMiLLs"wEPnoPER7Y or  A.SEHLI NGER  dz  Pf  SCHUBKEGEL^MascoutahJll. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


361 


PHILIP  SCHUBKEGEL, 
Of  the  firm,  Sehlinger  and  Schubkegel,  proprietors  Emerald  Isle 
Mills,  was  born  in  Darmstadt,  Germany,  August  7th,  1829.  His 
parents  emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  Boston  in  the  winter  of 
1836  ;  proceeding  to  St.  Clair  county  in  1837,  where  they  followed 
the  vocation  of  farming.  Philip  Schubkegel  continued  farming  until 
the  year  1852,  when  attracted  by  the  stories  of  golden  wealth  from 
California,  he  made  his  way  thither,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
His  labors  were  crowned  with  success,  and  with  ample  means  to 
purchase  an  elegant  farm,  he  returned  to  this  county,  and  resumed 
farming  operations.  In  1864  he  opened  a  livery  stable  in  Mascou- 
tah,  and  run  a  hack  between  here  and  Belleville,  which  business  he 
prosecute^  two  years,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  which  is  yet  his 
home.  In  1867  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  Emerald  Isle  Mills, 
which  he  still  retains.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Liebig,  April 
15,  1858,  by  whom  he  has  four  children  living,  Mary,  born  Aug. 


10th,  1859;  Henry,  born  Aug.  2,  1862;  Eliza,  born  May  13th, 
1866;  John  Philip,  born  Juae  11th,  1876,  and  George, 
born  October  1st,  1863,  died  March,  1865.  Mr.  Schubkegel  has 
been  successful  in  life,  which  is  due  to  his  great  energy  and  business 
tact.  Farming  proving  too  slow  for  his  restless  spirit,  he  followed 
mining,  then  other  pursuits,  until  now  he  fills  the  place  for  which 
nature  seems  to  have  fitted  him,  that  of  miller.  He  has  been  hon- 
ored by  being  repeatedly  elected  a  member  of  the  school  board,  also 
of^the  board  of  town  trustees.  Here  he  has  exercised  the  same 
tact  that  has  ever  characterized  his  actions.  Thoroughly  alive  to 
every  improvement  proposed  which  will  inure  to  the  benefit  of 
Mascoutah,  he  enjoys  the  cordial  friendship  of  neighbors.  The 
mills  of  which  he  and  Mr.  Sehlinger  are  proprietors,  are  among  the 
best  in  the  county.  The  conveniences  for  handling  grain  and  pro- 
ducts are  unexcelled.  Capable,  earnest  and  straightforward  in  all 
matters  of  business,  success  follows  him. 


RICHLAND    PREC1:NCT. 


-fv- 


I  HE  Precinct  of  Eichland  is  in  the  south  central 
part  of  the  county :  Is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Centerville  and  Belleville,  on  the  east  by 
Fayetteville  precinct,  on  the  south  by  Monroe 
county,  and  on  the  west  by  Monroe  county  and 
Centerville  precinct.  In  shape  it  is  a  regular 
rectangle,  with  a  triangular  addition  on  the 
west.  It  contains  about  75J  square  miles,  or 
48,280  acres.  It  is  well  drained  by  Richland  and 
Prairie  du  Long  creeks,  and  their  numerous  tributaries.  Richland 
enters  on  section  15,  on  its  northern  boundary,  flows  a  southerly 
course,  and  makes  its  exit  near  the  western  line  of  survey  607. 
Prairie  du  Long  rises  in  the  north-western  part  of  the  precinct, 
flows  a  south-easterly  course,  and  leaves  the  precinct  on  section  25, 
same  township.  Much  of  the  land  is  level  and  low,  some  of  it  re- 
quiring artificial  draining  to  render  it  tillable.  The  population  is 
largely  German ;  they  are  thrifty  and  prosperous,  and  are  princi- 
pally engaged  in  farming.  Its  population,  by  the  census  of/  1880, 
was  3,338  inhabitants. 

Early  Settlers. — The  first  settlements  were  made  in  the  north- 
eastern part  on  the  prairies  overlooked  by  and  contiguous  to  Tur- 
key Hill.  The  sound  of  the  woodman's  axe  first  sent  forth  its 
cheer,  felling  timber  preparatory  to  the  erection  of  a  cabin  in  1802. 
The  axeman  was  Joseph  Carr,  who  with  his  family  came  from 
Virginia  to  find  homes  in  the  west.  They  came  by  raft  down  the 
Ohio  to  Fort  Massac,  where  they  forsook  their  "broad  wagon,"  as 
such  means  of  transportation  was  called,  and  made  their  way  via 
Kaskaskia,  following  an  old  trail  on  horseback  and  on  foot,  to 
section  13,  which  Carr  selected  as  an  abiding  place.  With  him 
46 


■\»  d. 


were  his  sons  Conrad,  Abner,  Jacob,  and  Henry,  strong  armed, 
stalwart  pioneers,  ready  to  meet  and  defeat  hardship  in  whatever 
guise  it  came.  Joseph  Carr  made  yet  merrier  music  in  the  ears  of 
other  pioneers  than  that  of  a  hastily  swung  axe,  by  the  changes  he 
rung  upon  his  anvil.  He  thought  a  blacksmith's  kit  of  tools  a  good 
thing  for  a  backwoods  country,  and  brought  a  set  with  him.  An 
aged  pioneer,  whose  fourscore  years  have  been  numbered,  says 
that  Carr  was  as  good  a  man  as  ever  lived,  although  he  had 
a  disregard  for  religious  services,  as  illustrated  by  his  taking  a 
hunt  along  the  Okaw  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  whenever  his  son- 
in-law,  James  Garrison,  a  preacher  from  Monroe  county,  held  ser- 
vices at  his  house,  which  he  often  did. 

In  the  following  year,  1803,  David  Phillips  located  near  by, 
bringing  with  him  a  family  of  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  leaving 
one  son  behind.  His  daughters  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  young 
backwoods  gentry,  and  two  sisters  were  married  shortly  after  their 
arrival  to  the  brothers,  Conrad  and  Abner  Carr.  As  though  that 
were  not  matrimonial  duality  sufficient,  two  others  married  two 
brothers,  Henry  and  Crisley  Stout.  David  Philips  was  originally 
from  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  in  1755.  He  served  with 
honor  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  having  aided  in  wresting  the 
colonies  from  British  tyranny,  he  sought  a  fair  spot  whereon  to  rear 
his  family,  moved  to  Tennessee,  thence  to  Kentucky,  and  when  in 
the  full  vigor  of  manhood,  he  heard  praises  of  Illinois,  he  once 
again  took  up  his  line  of  march,  led  his  family  through  the  wilder- 
ness— found  the  Mecca  of  his  hopes,  and  spent  the  evening  of  his 
life  in  happy  repose. 

The  same  year  came  Jacob  Short  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  in 
the  same  vicinity,  a  little  to  the  south.     He   was  a  "  six-footer," 


362 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIM  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


heavily  built,  athletic  and  defiant.  Once  he  shot  at,  and  wounded 
a  deer,  which  went  bounding  away,  the  blood  spurting  from  its 
side  at  every  jump.  Short  followed  up  his  game,  and  came  upon 
an  Indian  leisurely  "  skinning  his  meat."  What  followed  is  a 
matter  of  conjecture.  Short  got  his  venison,  and  said  "  he  made 
one  Indian  promise  he  would  never  take  another  deer  from  a  white 
man."  It  was  generally  believed  he  killed  the  red  skin.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  Legislative  body  elected  in  Illinois.  This 
Assembly  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  November  25th,  1812. 

Children  of  these  pioneers  had  the  advantage  of  a  school  taught 
by  John  Bradsby  on  Turkey  Hill,  a  little  north  of  this  precinct,  as 
early  as  1808.  Then  for  a  series  of  years  no  such  facilities  were 
ofiered.  Indeed,  it  was  not  until  1824,  that  a  school  was  regularly 
opened  in  this  precinct.  In  the  mean  time  additions  had  been 
made  to  the  population  by  the  arrival  of  the  families  of  Higgins, 
1818,  Smiths,  1819,  and  Lamb,  1818.  Timothy  Higgins  staked  his 
claim  to  the  west  of  the  settlements  already  made,  on  Prairie  du 
Long  prairie,  not  far  from  the  present  site  of  Georgetown.  He,  as 
well  as  the  Smiths,  were  regular  down-easters,  from  far  away  Maine. 
Sturdy  and  vigorous  as  the  old  pine  trees  of  their  native  state,  they 
were  well  calculated  to  endure  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  Samuel 
Smith  was  a  Baptist  preacher  and  blacksmith.  "  He  worked  at 
blacksmithing  for  a  living,  and  preached  for  a  good  conscience." 
Preaching  brought  him  nothing — not  even  yellow-legged  chickens 
for  dinner— they  hadn't  come  into  fashion  yet,  nor  did  officiating 
at  weddings  replenish  his  exchequer  extensively,  as  on  one  occasion 
a  candidate  for  matrimonial  honors  proposed  payment  in  coon 
skins  for  his  services — and  the  coons  had  yet  to  be  caught. 

"  Uncle  "  Billy  McClintock  (a  name  familiar  to  the  old  settlers) 
taught  the  first  school  in  the  precinct  in  1824,  or  rather  commenced 
doing  so.  Christmas  time  he  found  himself  barred  out,  because  he 
wouldn't  treat  to  whiskey.  He  climbed  upon  the  roof,  displaced 
two  or  three  clap-boards,  with  which  it  was  covered,  dropped  down 
among  the  scholars,  and  offered  to  compromise  by  treating  to  cider. 
Robert  and  Benjamin  Higgins  (both  larger  than  McClintock)  stood 
out  for  whiskey,  saying  it  had  never  been  denied  them  in  Maine. 
McClintock  still  pressed  his  compromise,  whereupon  the  Higgins' 
boy  picked  him  up  and  carried  him  out  of  the  house.  McClintock 
plead  to  be  released  to  join  his  brothers  and  sisters,  disclaiming 
his  intention  of  going  home,  and  of  quitting  the  school, 
which  he  did.  Benjamin  Higgins  often  declared  the  breaking  up 
of  the  school  the  sorriest  day's  work  he  had  ever  been  guilty  of. 

The  first  marriages  we  have  already  mentioned.  The  first  births 
were  of  girls,  double  cousins,  both  named  Sarah  Carr,  and  born  re- 
spectively in  the  winters  of  1803  and  1804.  Sallie  Carr,  now  Miller, 
born  in  1803  is  still  living  in  the  precinct.  Joseph  Chance,  as 
early  as  1806,  preached  the  Baptist  faith  in  this  vicinity.  His 
preaching  places  were  at  "  every  man's  house,"  as  he  was  always 
welcome. 

The  Kickapoo  Indians  made  friendly  visits  now  and  then,  and 
yet  under  the  guise  of  friendship  still  lurked  the  savage  nature, 
and  many  petty  depredations  were  committed  by  them. 

South  from  the  settlement  already  mentioned  in  T.  2  S.,  R  8W., 
there  lived,  as  early  as  1814,  one  Thomas  W.  Talbot,  who  was 
married  to  Hetty  Scott  the  same  year.  To  them  Wm.  S.  Talbot 
was  born,  June  19,  1815,  and  Hillery  S.  Talbot,  who  yet  resided 
there  in  1816. 

■-  At  this  time  two  saw-mills  were  in  operation,  yet  further  south  and 
west,  one  by  James  M.  Davidson  on  Prairie  du  Long  creek,  and  the 
other  by  Moses  Quick,  en  Eichland.  Neither  of  these  mills  were 
run  a  great  length  of  time.     Moses  Quick  was  of  a  speculative  turn 


of  mind,  and  preferred  dealing  in  stock  to  sawing  lumber.  He  and 
his  brother  Aaron  were  probably  the  earliest  settlers  in  their  vicini- 
ty, which  was  on  the  outskirts  of  the  region  of  country  protected 
by  Whiteside's  station.  The  early  pioneers  frequently  had  occasion 
to  fiee  to  this  station  as  a  safeguard  against  the  Indians. 

As  early  as  September,  1815,  a  road  was  projected  from  Belle- 
ville to  Quick's  mill,  and  in  February  of  the  following  year  one 
from  Belleville,  via  Davidson's  mill  to  the  county  line,  was  viewed 
and  ordered  by  Moses  Short,  Joseph  Carr  and  James  M.  Davidson. 
An  open  roadway  caused  wagons  and  carts  to  come  into  vogue  as  a 
means  of  transportation  of  "  plunder,"  as  household  goods  were 
universally  called.  Usiially  these  carts  were  provided  with  solid 
wooden  wheels,  without  a  vestige  of  iron.  Their  creaking  could  be 
heard  across  a  section  of  land. 

The  early  settlers  showed  great  enterprise  by  repudiating  the 
stick  and  mud  chimneys  and  substituting  therefor  brick,  which  the 
opening  of  a  brick-yard  by  the  Carrs,  Higgins  and  others  in  1820, 
enabled  them  to  do.  The  first  brick  burned  for  house  building  was 
at  a  much  later  date,  by  Ben.  Smith,  on  land  of  Thouvernot,  west 
of  Georgetown,  perhaps  1830. 

A  saw  mill  was  built  by  Timothy  Higgins,  on  the  west  fork  of 
Eichland  creek  in  1 833.  It  had  an  upright  saw  run  by  water 
power.  The  first  circular  saw  was  used  in  a  mill  on  Forcade  field, 
about  1850. 

John  Smith,  during  a  great  scarcity  of  water  which  prevailed 
in  the  hot  summer  of  1821,  whilst  engaged  in  carrying  it,  fell 
dead.  This  was  the  first  death  of  an  adult  of  which  we  have  any 
account. 

A  water-mill  for  grinding  corn  was  built  on  Eichland  creek  in 
T.  1  S.,  E.  9  W,  by  Billings  and  Taylor,  in  1833. 

Many  of  the  descendents  of  these  pioneers  are  yet  living  ia  this 
precinct  surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  life,  the  rightful  inheritance 
of  industry  and  earnest  efibrt.  Schools  and  churches  abound  ;  for 
fuller  accounts  of  which  see  educational  and  ecclesiastical  chapters 
of  this  work.  The  precinct  was  organized  June  5th,  1839.  The 
first  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Eobert  Higgins.  Nathan 
Arnott,  Edward  Tate,  and  John  McCully  were  elected  as  judges. 

FIRST   LAND   ENPEIES, 

The  first  land  entries  were  by  Samuel  Scott,  Sr.,  of  213.93  acres, 
in  Sees.  22  and  14  ;  by  heirs  of  J.  H.  Moore  160  acres  S.  W.  i  Sec. 
2,  and  160  acres  S.  E.  i  Sec.  3,  December  3,  1814;  by  Hugh 
McClintock  the  S.  E.  i  of  Sec.  10,  the  N.  E.  of  Sec.  11,  and  S.  W., 
i  of  Sec.  11,  in  all  480  acres,  Sept.  17,  1817  ;  by  Henry  Carr,  160 
acres,  being  the  N.  E.  i  Sec.  10,  Sept.  11,  1817;  by  Balser  Null, 
80  acres,  being  the  W.  i  N.  W.  }  Sec.  14,  Jan.  10, 1817,  and  by 
Thomas  B.  Talbot,  80  acres,  being  the  E.  i,  S.  E.  i  Sec.  15,  Sept. 
15,  1817,  all  the  above  being  in  T.  2,  E.  8  W.  and  by  John  Rey- 
nolds, Senior,  160  acres,  being  the  S.  W.  i  Sec.  24,  Dec.  21,  1818; 
by  James  B.  Moore,  80  acres,  being  theE.  i  N.  W.  },  Sec.  23,  Dec. 
22,  1818,  and  John  Dunlap,  80  acres,  being  the  E.  i  of  N.  E.  i, 
Sec.  12,  July  26,  1830,  all  in  T.  2  S.  E.  9  W.  Before  any  govern- 
mental surveys  had  been  made,  J.  Edgar,  the  largest  land  owner 
in  his  day  in  Illinois,  located  claim  No.  2209,  and  under  his  direc- 
tion survey  No.  607  was  made,  including  5968  acres  (found  by  sub- 
sequent and  more  accurate  surveys  to  contain  6325  acres)  Nov.  20, 
1798.  Of  this  tract  5825  acres  lay  in  this  precinct,  and  is  known 
as  the  Tamaroas  prairie  tract.  Edgar  obtained  the  claim  by 
buying  upheadright3of400  acres  each  and  militia  rights  of  men  serv- 
ing in  1790,  by  virtue  of  which  they  were  entitled  to  100  acres  of  land 
each.  In  all  it  is  claimed  that  Edgar  obtained  near  40,000  acres 
of  such  lands,  which  were  among  the  best  in  Illinois.  In  the  north- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


363 


eastern  part  of  the  township  there  are  located  several  claims  of  like 
character,  either  wholly  or  in  part  in  this  precinct.  They  are 
claims  992,  survey  390 ;  claim  350,  survey  382  ;  and  survey  772. 
These  were  selected  in  the  years  1798  and  1799,  and  afterwards 
confirmed. 

There  are  in  this  precinct  several  villages,  named  respectively, 
Georgetown,  Smithtoa  (which  to  all  intents  are  one  and  the  same, 
a  street  simply  separating  them).  Flora,  Paderborn,  and  Douglas. 
Georgetown  was  platted  November  25th,  1853,  by  George  Fischer. 
It  comprised  four  blocks,  one  of  which  had  already  been  purchased 
by  Christian  Meliuda,  John  Drasur  and  George  Storger.  The  two 
Georges,  Fischer  and  Storger,  being  interiested  in  the  plat,  con- 
cluded to  name  the  village  for  themselves,  and  bestowed  upon  it 
their  common  given  name,  hence  it  was  called  Georgetown.  To 
the  original  town  Fischer  made  an  addition  of  seventy-six  lots.  It 
being  the  east  half  north-east  quarter  section  33,  T.  1,  R.  8,  October 
4th,  1859. 

Smithton  (the  post-office  name)  was  laid  off  by  Benjamin  I.  Smith, 
April  29th,  1854,  in  fourteen  lots.  It  lies  to  the  east  of  George- 
town. Several  additio  s  have  been  made,  notably  by  the  Frank- 
lin Mill  Company,  of  the  north-west  quarter  of  the  north-east  quar- 
ter section  33,  May  27,  1859  ;  by  Amos  T.  Barker,  of  48  lots  north 
of  the  above,  July  29th,  1859  ;  and  by  B.  I.  Smith,  his  fourth  addi- 
tion of  thirty-two  lots,  April  27th,  1865 ;  and  by  Christ.  Gauch, 
of  forty-eight  lots,  March  15,  1867.  The  population  of  the  com- 
bined village  is  about  550. 

The  first  house  was  built  and  used  as  a  tavern  by  George  Storger 
in  1853.  Christian  Melinda  built  the  second,  and  used  part  of  it 
as  a  shoe  shop.  The  first  store  was  kept  by  Ben.  Smith,  who  also 
held  the  first  appointment  as  post-master  in  1853. 

A  reading  club,  organized  in  1860,  has  a  library  of  choice  works 
numbering  about  five  hundred  volumes.  Present  officers  are :  Dr. 
W.  H.  Laeuffert,  president,  and  Henry  Henn,  librarian.  It  is 
kept  up  by  monthly  contributions  of  ten  cents  each  from  its 
members. 

A  brewery,  built  in  1858  by  George  Schmidt,  was  operated  until 
1869,  when  it  was  converted  into  Farmers'  Hall,  which  it  still  con- 
tinues to  be. 

In  1868  a  company  was  formed  numbering  sixteen  or  seventeen 
stockholders,  to  buiJd  a  mill,  which  was  done  the  same  year  at  a 
cost  of  $17,000.  Stock  rapidly  changed  hands,  and  finally  the  mill 
passed  into  the  hands  of  those  enterprising  millers,  F.  A.  Reuss  & 
Co.  Its  manufacture  of  flour,  which  is  held  in  high  esteem,  is 
shipped  direct  to  Europe  in  sacks  of  two  hundred  pounds  each.  It 
has  the  best  improved  machinery,  and  despite  remoteness  from  mar- 
ket, does  a  large  business.  It  has  four  run  of  stone,  having  a  ca- 
pacity for  the  production  of  about  a  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per 
day. 

A  society  called  the  High  Prairie  Debating  and  Literary  Society 
was  organized  in  1835,  and,  singular  to  relate,  it  has  held  regular 
sessions  ever  since.  There  is  in  possession  of  its  officers  a  written 
record  reaching  from  January  29th,  1 842,  to  the  present  time.  At 
first  the  society  held  its  weekly  sessions,  alternating  between  three 
school-houses,  the  Potter,  the  Nat.  Smith,  and  the  Thompson. 


The  first  question  debated  after  the  adoption  of  a  constitution  in 
1842  (it  seems  to  have  been  kept  up  without  such  an  instrument 
prior  to  that  date),  was :  "  Resolved,  That  the  present  tariff  is 
oppressive  to  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the  United  States."  Of 
the  members  of  this  society  several  have  filled  honorable  positions 
iu  life— among  them,  Amos  Thompson  and  B.  J.  Smith,  members 
of  the  state  legislature ;  Jacob  Eyman,  county  treasurer ;  John 
McCuUey,  member  of  the  state  constitutional  convention  of  1847 ; 
Harbert  Patterson,  a  leading  Methodist  preacher,  and  others. 

Several  coal  mines  have  been  operated  in  the  vicinity  of  George- 
town, mostly  from  hill-sides,  thus  becoming  banks  in  contradis- 
tinction to  shafts. 

A  saw  mill,  three  quarters  of  a  mile  south-east  of  town,  built  by 
Henry  Sipperl?  in  1878,  employs  five  men.  It  is  operated  by  steam 
power;  it  is  provided  with  a  circular  saw  of  sixty  inches  diameter. 

The  business  industries  of  the  combined  villages  are  as  follows : 

General  Merchants. — Press  and  Daesch,  George  Stoerger,  George 
Seibert. 

Druggists. — George  J.  Eimer,  J.  C.  Bock. 

Physieians. — W.  H.  Laeuffert,  J.  C.  Bock. 

Hotek. — Franklin  tavern  by  H.  Keim,  a  stone  building  erect- 
ed in  1853,  by  Geo.  Stoerger,  Adam  Herold,  Paul  Boll. 

Blacksmiths- — Leonard  Schanz,  Charles  Frank,  Jacob  Sieben. 

Wagon  Maker. — John  Brendel,  Fred.  Germann. 

Books  and  Stationery  and  P.  M. — Jacob  Thress. 

Agricultural  Implements. — Eimer  and  Crossmann. 

Saddler  and  Harness- — Daniel  Klein. 

Churches. — Catholic,  built  in  1868,  cost  $6000 ;  Protestant 
Lutheran,  built  same  year,  cost  $5000. 

There  are  seven  saloons  in  the  villages. 

FLOEA 

was  laid  off  by  Frederick  Horn,  May  28th,  18 — ,  being  part  of  the 
S.  J  of  N.  E.  i  of  section  11,  T.  2  S.,  R.  9  W.  in  fifty  lots.  To  the 
original  village  two  additions  have  been  made  by  the  founder, 
April  23d,  1859,  and  August  30th,  1864. 

Its  business  is  as  follows ; 

Stores. — Christ.  Horn,  Henry  Sensel. 

Blacksmiths. — Andrew  Franke,  Henry  Schneider. 

Post-master. — C.  Horn. 

Saloons. — John  Dill,  Christ.  Lindauer. 

A  Protestant  (free)  church  is  located  here, ,  Building  is  frame. 
Erected  1848. 

PADERBOEif 

was  laid  off  by  Valentine  Berg,  August  18th,  1862,  on  the  N.  E. 
corner  of  the  W.  i  of  section  13,  T.  2,  S.,  R.  9  W.  It  is  a  small 
village,  having  a  Catholic  church,  a  general  store  by  Broess,  and  a 
half  dozen  dwelling  houses. 

Richland  precinct  was  established  June  5th,  1837  ;  the  first  elec- 
tion was  held  at  the  residence  of  Robert  Higgins.  Nathan  Arndt, 
Edward  Tate,  and  Philip  Creamer  acted  as  Judges.  It  derived  its 
name  from  the  creek  which  passes  through  it,  and  this  in  turn  fronj 
the  richness  of  the  soil  which  l^.y  upon  either  side  of  it. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES, 


.C^i-U 


'-V 


The  Higgins  family  are  among  the  old  settlers  of  Bt.  Clair 
county.  Timothy  Higgins,  the  grandfather  of  the  ])resent  family, 
was  a  native  of  Maine.  In  181G  he  came  west  to  Ohio,  and  settled 
north  of  Cincinnati,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles.  In  1H18  he  came 
to  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  and  located  a  I'arm  near  where.  IJcnja- 
min  Higgins,  his  grandson  now  lives.  He  built  a  log  house,  and 
then  sent  for  his  family.  They  came  down  the  river  to  Sliawnee- 
town,  where  Mr.  Higgins  went  to  meet  them.  He  broiiglit  Ihem  to 
the  place  which  he  had  selecied,  and  there  the  old  pioneer  remain- 
ed until  his  death  in  1845.  He  married  Susan  Smith,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Maine.  She  died  in  August,  1847.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  four  children,  all  of  wliom  are  dead.  Itohert  Hig- 
gins, his  son,  was  liorn  in  Maine,  in  18(J5.  He  was  in  his  thirteenth 
year  when  the  family  settled  in  St.  Clair  county.  Here  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  September  9th,  1871).  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  enlisted  three  times.  He  went 
out  first  in  Capt.  Miller's  company,  and  remained  in  the  service 
until  the  power  of  Black  Hawk  was  broken  in  the  west.  He  was 
o64 


f  )nd  of  hunting  and  spent  much  of  his  time  in  the  chase,  when 
deer  was  ]>lcnty  in  Ihe  early  times.  Altogether  he  was  a  man  who 
was  calculated  to  help  settle  the  country  in  the  pioneer  era  of  the 
state.  He  had  many  friends  among  the  old  settlers  of  St.  Clair 
county.  He  married  Sarah  Carr,  who  was  born  on  Turkey  Hill, 
St.  Clair  county,  Oct.  11th,  1804.  Her  parents  were  also  among  the 
iirst  settlers  of  the  county  and  state.  She  is  yet  living  with  her 
son,  Benjamin,  and  is  a  hale  hearty  woman  of  nearly  four-score 
years.  By  this  marriage  there  were  six  children,  one  sou  and  five 
(laughters.  Benjamin,  the  son,  was  born  near  where  he  now  resides, 
January  .Ith,  18'28.  In  1851  he  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Jere- 
miah rhillips.  She  died  in  July  of  the  same  year,  five  months 
later.  Mary,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  Amos  Phillips  ;  they  have 
four  children.  Rosolva  married  Jacod  Phillips,  and  also  have  four 
children.  Deborah  is  the  wife  of  Nathan  Robinson,  and  have 
three  children.  Clarissa  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  McGuire,  and  Lave 
two  children.  Anna,  the  youngest,  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Eitten- 
house,  and  have  one  child. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   GLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


365 


^^/^ 


0-^^^^  ^^C^^^^ 


Mrs.  L0UI8A  GROSSMANN. 


The  subject  of  this  liUtory  was  borii  in  Hessen  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, November  7tli,  1824.  Carl  Grossmanu,  his  father,  was  a 
farmer,  and  an  officer  under  the  government.  In  1832  he  emigra- 
ted to  America,  lauding  in  Baltimore,  and  then  by  land  went  to 
Pittsburg,  and  from  there  came  down  to  Cincinnati,  and  to  St. 
Louis,  and  from  thereto  Belleville,  where  he  remained  several  days. 
He  there  pre-empted  forty  acres  of  land  near  where  Squire  Gross- 
manu now  lives,  and  put  up  a  log  cabin,  and  opened  a  farm 
There  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1866,  except  the  time  when  he 
was  on  a  trip  to  his  native  land.  He  married  Elizabeth  Barbara 
Dehu,  in  Germany.  She  died  in  1861.  He  had  been  married  be- 
fore, by  which  marriage  there  ^\as  one  child.  By  the  last  marriage 
there  are  five  children  living.  He  was  eight  years  of  age  when  his 
father  came  to  St.  Clair  county.  Here  he  grew  to  manhood.  In 
his  youth  he  received  but  four  and  a  half  months'  schooling.  The 
family  was  poor,  and  the  children  had  to  help  support  themselves 
and  lamily.  Schools  were  also  scarce  in  those  days.  George  re- 
mained at  home  until  his  twenty-second  year.  He  then  married 
Mary  Hilger,  a  native  of  Hessen  Darmstadt.  Her  father  was  a 
soldier  for  fourteen  years  under  the  first  Napoleon,  and  was  the 
largest  and  most  powerful  man  in  Hessen  Darmstadt;  he   came  to 


Monroe  county,  Illinois,  in  1841.  Mrs.  Grossmann  died  in  October 
1870.  By  this  union  there  were  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  living  except  George  the  eldest  son.  He  married 
Louisa  Forgade,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  Louisa  the  eldest 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  Leonard  Schanz.  Jacob,  the  next  son  mar- 
ried Mary  Mitchell.  Carl,  married  Mary  Dear  Throthers ;  William, 
Henry,  ]Mary  and  Frederick  are  still  at  home.  In  1872  Mr.  Gross- 
mann married  Mrs.  Louisa  Houting  nee  Deobald,  widow  of  Bern- 
hard  Houting.  She  had  one  child  by  her  first  husband,  whose  name 
is  Bernhard  Houting.  By  the  last  marriage  of  Mr  Grossmann, 
there  are  two  children  living,  named  Louis  and  Ida  Grossmanu. 

Mr.  Grossmann  has  always  been  a  staunch  democrat.  He  is  a 
popular  man  in  his  locality,  aud  has  held  many  offices  of  local  trust. 
In  1865  he  was  first  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  third  term.  He  has  been  Deputy  Assessor  for  the  past  eight 
years,  and  has  been  school  director  since  the  present  school  system 
was  commenced.  He  has  held  as  many  as  a  half  dozen  offices  at 
one  time,  and  in  all  of  them  he  has  given  good  satisfaction  and 
never  betrayed  any  trust  reposed  in  him.  He  has  been  an  active 
business  man  for  many  years,  and  altogether  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative Germans  of  St.  Clair  county. 


366 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  GLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


HON.  JOSEPH  VEILE 
Was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  Nov.  2d,  1831.  In  his 
yout,h  he  received  a  good  education  in  the  excellent  schools  of  his 
native  town.  He  was  the  eldest  of  the  children.  In  1853  he  de- 
termined to  come  to  America.  He  was  attracted  here  by  the  hope 
of  improving  his  condition,  and  also  to  escape  military  duty,  so  re- 
pugnant to  nearly  all  German  youths.  He  came  to  St.  Clair  in 
December,  1853,  and  here  found  general  work  on  a  farm.  In 
1857,  on  the  7th  of  March,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  MrtJ.  Anna 
Barbary,  widow  of  Leonard  Keeler.  Her  maiden  name  was  Koch. 
She  had  four  children  by  her  former  marriage.  By  the  latter  there 
are  two  living.  The  same  year  that  he  was  married,  he  commenced 
farming  on  the  land  belonging  to  his  wife's  children.  In  1859  he 
bought  the  farm  on  which  he  still  lives.  It  was  raw,  unimproved 
land,  and  there  Mr.  Veile  has  lived,  improved  the  farm  and  re- 
mained to  the  present  time.  In  politics  Mr.  Veile  has  been  an  ac- 
tive and  reliable  republican  since  1858,  when  he  cast  his  vote  for 
the  members  of  the  Legislature  who  were  pledged  to  vote  for 
Abraham  Linciln  for  the  United  States  Senate.  From  that  time 
to  the  present,  he  has  remained  a  firm'  and  consistent  member  of 
that  political  organization.  He  has  frequently  held  offices  of  local 
trust.  In  1869  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  commissioner, 
which  position  he  occupied  until  1874.  In  1878  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  to  represent  St.  Clair  county  in  the  state  Legislature, 
and  in  1880,  was  re-elected.  While  a  member  the  first  time,  he 
served  on  the  committees  on  Warehouses,  Claims,  Pish  and  Game 
and  License.  In  the  last  legislature  he  was  chairma^.  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Mines  and  Mining,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  License  and  Drainage,  He  was  a  useful  member  and 
practical  legislator,  and  his  entire  course  was  endorsed  by  his 
constituents.  He  has  been,  for  a  number  of  years,  Notary 
Public. 

His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Barbary  Koch,  was 
twice  married  before  marrying  JVfr.  Veile.  Her  second  husband 
was  a  Mr.  Wallbaum,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  who  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Veile's  daughter,  Louisa,  is  the  wife  of  Louis 
Mueller,  Jr.     Charles,  the  son,  is  still  at  home. 


WILLIAM  H  LAEUFFERT,  M.  D., 

Was  born  in  Belleville,  St,  Clair  county,  Ills.,  Jan.  13th,  1855. 
His  father,  Jacob  Laeufiert,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  May 
12th,  1811.  He  came  to  America  in  1833,  landing  at  New  Orleans, 
He  came  up  the  river  to  St.  Louis,  then  to  Belleville,  and  remained 
here  until  1838,  then  returned  to  Germany,  and  in  1839  came  back 
to  Belleville,  and  there  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  in  March  1875.  -When  he  first  came  to  Belleville  he  traded 
in  cattle  ;  afterwards,  clerked.  After  returning  from  Europe  he 
went  into  the  hotel  business,  in  which  he  continued  until  1859, 
when  he  erected  a  building,  now  the  one  occupied  by  Mr.  Lebkue- 
cher  as  a  tin  store,  and  started  a  saloon,  in  which  he  continued  un- 
til 1865.  In  1867  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  and  run  that 
business  for  a  short  time,  then  operated  in  real  estate  and  building. 
A  few  years  before  his  death  he  practically  retired  from  business. 
He  married  Susaua  Hemmighoefer,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany. 
She  was  born  in  1823,  and  died  in  Sept.,  1876.  There  were  nine 
children  by  this  union,  three  of  whom  are  living.     William  H.  is 


the  eldest ;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Henry  Strassinger,  of  Marissa,  is  the 
next;  and  Charles  G.,  of  Belleville,  is  the  youngest.    Dr.  LauefFert 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Belleville,  and  received  private  in- 
struction in  the  Latin  language.       At  the  age  of  nineteen  &e  com- 
menced reading  medicine  in  the   office   of  Dr.    Berchalmann   of 
Belleville,  and  afterwards  entered  the  St.   Louis  Medical  College 
and  took  three  c  )urse9,  and  graduated  in  1876  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D. ;  then  went  to  Europe,  and  entered  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Heidelberg,  afterward  went  to  Strasburg,  and 
Frieburg,  and  took  a  course  in  the  medical  institutions  of  those 
places.     He  remained  in  the  medical  schools  of  Germany  for  six- 
teen months,  then  returned  home  to  Belleville,   and  in  November, 
1879,  came  to  Georgetown,  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  commenced 
to  practice,  and  where  he  has  continued  with  great  success  to  the. 
present.     When  he  returned  from  Europe  he  assisted  Dr.  Kubach 
of  Belleville  in  his  practice,  and  had  charge  of  the  county  hospital, 
and  did  the  surgical  work  required  there  for  nearly  two  years.    He 
is   now   Asst.   Surgeon   of  the   11th   regiment,   Illinois  National 
Guards.     He  is  an  active  member  of  the  St.  Clair  county  Medical 
Society.    In  politics  he  is  a  republican.    0.p  the  11th  of  November, 
1879,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura  Metzgar,  of'  St. 
Louis.     She  is  the  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Mimi  Metzgar,  who 
were  born  in  Darmstadt,  Germany. 

Dr.  Laeuffert  has  built  up  a  good,  lucrative  practice  in  George- 
town and  vicinity,  and  much  of  it  is  owing  to  his  skill  as  a  physi- 
cian, and  the  great  interest  he  takes  in  his  cases.  In  manner  he  is 
a  pleasant,  agreeable  gentleman,  and  possesses,  fine  social  quali- 
ties. 


DR.  G.  C.  BOCK 

Was  born  in  the  province  of  the  Khine,  Prussia,  February  20, 1816. 
His  father,  Charles  August  Bock,  was  an  eminent  physician,  and 
held  the  position  of  Medical  Doctor  under  the  government.  The 
subject  of  this  biography  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Germany,  and  was  trained  for  the  profession  of  medicine.  He 
studied  under  his  father,  and  attended  the  medical  schools  at  Ber- 
lin and  Leipsic,  and  graduated  at  Giesen  in  1844.  He  then  en- 
tered the  military  service  as  surgeon,  and  during  that  time  passed 
through  the  Schleswig-Holstein  war  of  1848-49.  He  remained  in 
the  service  until  1852,  when  he  was  sent  by  the  German  govern- 
ment to  the  German  hospital  in  London,  England,  as  assistant  sur- 
geon. He  remained  there  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  America, 
and  settled  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  until  1858, 
practising  his  profession.  He  then  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Smithton,  St.  Clair  county,  and  there  he  has  remained  to  the  pres- 
ent. He  was  twice  married.  First  in  Ohio,  by  which  union  there 
are  two  children,  named  Charlotte  and  Augustus.  The  son  is  now 
studying  medicine  under  his  father,  and  has  taken  two  courses  at  the 
St.  Louis  Medical  College,  and  will  take  the  third  one  this  coming 
year,  and  graduate.  On  the  13th  of  November,  1860,  Dr.  Bock 
married  Elizabeth  Schlaefer,  a  native  of  Germany,  by  which  mar- 
riage there  have  been  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Their 
names  are— Amelia,  Augusta,  Frederick,  and  William  Bock.  Dr. 
Bock  has  been  regularly  in  the  practice  of  medicine  since  1844,  and 
in  that  time  has  had  a  wide  field  and  much  experience,  and  is  con- 
sequently well  posted  in  the  healing  art.  He  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  his  practice. 


■M;rf^^''''M 


REmENce,STX3CKS,CRAtNFARM  OF  JOHN  NEHRING,Sec23JJS.R8W.(R,cHiANDPREciNT)ST.CLAmCa.lLL. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 


367 


HEINRECK  KEIM 

Is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany.  He  was  born  June  1st,  1834. 
When  he  was  in  his  thirtieth  year  he  emigrated  to  America,  in 
company  with  his  uncle.  He  landed  in  New  Orleans,  December 
31st,  1847,  and  came  up  the  river  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  found  work 
on  a  steamboat  plying  on  the  river.  He  remained  engaged  in  that 
business  for  six  months,  when  he  procured  a  situation  as  clerk  in  a 
wholesale  hardware  store,  in  which  business  he  continued  for  three 
years.  He  then  went  into  the  saloon  business  in  St.  Louis,  where 
he  remained  until  1856;  then  came  toSmithton,  and  there  engaged 


in  the  same  business  and  hotel  keeping,  and  has  remained  in  that 
business  to  the  present.  On  the  22d  of  February,  1855,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Mary  Buechel,  a  native  of  the 
province  of  the  Rhine  Prussia.  She  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1848, 
and  was  there  married.  By  this  marriage  there  are  six  children 
living,  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Anna,  the  eldest  daughter,  is 
the  wife  of  John  Daab,  of  this  precinct ;  the  rest  of  the  children 
are  at  home.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  but  votes  for  men  often- 
times regardless  of  their  politics.  He  is  a  straightforward,  honor- 
able man,  a  good,  law-abiding  citizen,  and  has  many  friends  in  his 
neighborhood. 


ST.    CLAIR    PRECINCT 


-t-v- 


-w- 


JHIS  precinct  is  situated  in  the  south-eastern  part 
of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Mascoutah,  east  by  Washington  county,  south 
by  Athens,  and  west  by  Fayetteville  precincts. 
Its  entire  northern,  western  and  southern 
boundaries  are  formed  by  the  Kaskaskia  river 
and  Mud  creek.  The  Kaskaskia  river.  Mud 
creek,  and  Little  Mud  creek,  which  enters  the 
township  from  the  east,  in  section  13,  flow  in 
a  westerly  course,  emptying  into  the  Kaskaskia  in  section  16,  and 
together  with  their  small  tributaries,  water  and  drain  the  entire  pre- 
cinct. The  timbered  lands  bordering  on  these  streams  furnished 
the  attraction  which  impelled  the  first  hardy  pioneers  to  the  crea- 
tion of  homes  in  what  was  indeed  a  dreary  wilderness.  The  broad 
prairies,  luxuriant  in  their  growth  of  wild  grasses  and  flowers,  and 
which  form  the  greater  part  of  the  township,  were  passed  over  by 
these  pioneers  as  unfit  for  the  habitation  of  men.  Deeply  studded 
woodlands  with  rippling  waters  hard  by,  were  looked  upon  as  oases 
in  the  vast  prairie  stretches  of  Illinois.  As  early  as  1816,  the  sav- 
age who  returned  to  the  loved  banks  of  the  Kaskask'a,  where  his 
wigwam  had  long  held  sentinel,  found  the  pale  face  in  possession, 
energetic  in  hewing  out  a  forest  home.  tTndiseouraged  by  the  ab- 
sence^of  neighbors  ;  eager  to  meet  and  conquer  the  hardships  inci- 
dent to,  pioneer  life,  Nathaniel  Hill,  who,  far  away  in  North  Caro- 
lina had  heard  of  the  fame  of  the  Illinois  country,  was  the  first  to 
erect  a  cabin  within  the  boundaries  of  this  precinct.  Soon  after, 
perhaps  the  same  year,  there  arrived  from  the  mountains  of  East 
Tennessee  one,  who  by  his  great  energy  and  successful  invi- 
tation to  others  to  come  also,  a  person  whose  name  is  yet  perpetua- 
ted as  that  given  to  the  locality,  Andrew  Free,  who  brought  with 
him  a  family  of  grown  sons  and  daughters.  In  1817,  Isaac  Rainey, 
then  living  in  Middle  Tennessee,  brought  with  him  his  family, 
essaying  to  cross  the  river  and  locate  in  what  is  now  Fayetteville 
precinct.  Owing  to  floods  he  was  deterred  from  this,  and  luckily, 
found  a  welcome  at  the  home  of  Nathaniel  Hill   with   whom  he 


passed  the  winter.  His  first  intentions  were  never  carried  out. 
With  willing  hands  he  aided  Hill  in  the  felling  of  timber,  in  hunt- 
ing and  trapping  until  spring,  when  he  erected  a  dwelling  close  by. 
In  1818,  the  population  of  what  was  already  the  name  of  the 
"Free "  settlement,  was  augmented  by  the  advent  of  Joshua  Pen- 
nington and  family  from  East  Tennessee,  and  Isaac  Allen  from 
Red  Bud,  Randolph  county,  a  young  bachelor,  drawn  thither  by 
the  irresistible  charms  of  Elizabeth  Free,  to  whom  he  was  married 
March  5th,  1818.  This  being  the  first  wedding  in  the  settlement 
entitles  it  to  more  than  a  passing  notice.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed by  Peter  Mitchell,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  living  at  the  time 
in  Fayetteville  precinct ;  that  it  attracted  great  attention,  and  fur- 
nished fresh  zest  to  gossip,  we  entertain  not  a  doubt. 

Richard  Beasley,  Sr.,  located  on  Mud  creek  in  1822.  During 
the  same  year,  or  the  year  following,  H.  Darter  settled  on  section 
J  3,  the  present  site  of  the  St.  Libory  Catholic  cemetery.  David 
Pulliam  erected  a  cabin  on  the  east  side  of  the  Kaskaskia,  nof  th  of 
the  mouth  of  Little  Mud  creek,  on  section  16,  in  1822.  Thus,  one 
by  one,  brave,  generous,  hardy  pioneers  gradually  redeemed  from 
the  wilds  of  nature  this  beautiful  country.  Schools  and  churches 
there  were  none.  Occasionally  a  traveling  preacher,  bearing  the 
"glad  tidings  of  great  joy,"  was  welcomed  to  their  firesides  and 
greeted  by  all  the  neighbors  who  assembled  to  hear  the  "  old,  old 
story."  Such  a  preacher  was  Washington  Ballard,  and  also  Na- 
thaniel Powers. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  John  Hill  in  1817,  the  second  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  that  of  Jefferson  Rainey,  April  20,  1820. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Beasley,  fir^t  wife  of  Richard 
Beasley,  Jr.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sallie  Curry.  They  were 
married  June  21st,  1824,  and  in  less  than  a  year  death  claimed 
her.  The  second  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Free  in  1827.  She  was 
buried  on  section  27,  three  quarters  of  a  mile  west  from  present  site 
of  Darmstadt.  Jack  Baggs  was  buried  about  the  same  time  on  sec- 
tion 14,  on  the  east  bank  of  Mud  creek. 

It  is  related  that  Absalom  P.  Free  stole  a  girl,  Patsey  Belsher, 


368 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  GLAIR  GOVNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


from  a  camp  of  emigrants  on  their  way  to  Missouri,  and  married 
her.  They  were  married  May  1st,  1818.  The  second  marriage  in 
the  vicinity. 

The  advent  of  a  blacksmith,  Jared  Wilkinson,  (colored)  was 
hailed  by  the  farming  community  gladly  in  1831.  For  several 
years  he  enjoyed  a  monopoly  at  his  trade,  the  next  nearest  smithy 
being  far  distant,  and,  at  seasons  of  the  year  when  most  in  demand, 
quite  inaccessible.  Jared  Wilkinson  was  brought,  a  slave,  from 
Virginia  by  his  master,  Washington  Ballard,  who  gave  him  his  pa- 
pers of  freedom.  As  illustrative  of  the  lack  of  educational  advan- 
tages those  living  in  the  Free  settlement,  who  would  master  the 
three  "  R's  "  were  compelled  to  go  to  Sparta.  Jared  Wilkinson, 
ambitious,  as  he  was,  to  become  more  proficient  in  his  calling  as  a 
preacher  (for  he  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  it  is  said  a  good 
one,  as  well  as  a  blacksmith)  in  company  with  Jefferson  Rainey  at- 
tended school  at  that  place.  It  was  not  until  1831,  that  a  school 
was  attempted  in  this  precinct,  then  several  neighbors,  each  contri- 
buting labor  or  material,  or  both,  put  up  a  primitive  school-house 
on  Little  Mud  creek,  about  two  miles  north-west  of  Darmstadt. 
John  Campbell  was  the  first  teacher.  He  recpived  $2.50  per  scho- 
lar per  quarter,  took  pot  luck  with  patrons,  or  boarded  around,  as 
it  was  called,  and  had  fourteen  or  fifteen  pupils. 

"  Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,"  so,  too,  necessity  drives 
to  the  use  of  her  inventions.  A  growing  community  presents 
growing  wants.  The  idea  of  going  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  to  mill 
especially  when  compelled  to  do  so  during  the  night-time,  because 
of  endangering  animals  to  the  attacks  of  myriads  of  insects  with 
which  the  prairies  swarmed,  was  repellant,  so,  when  Isaac  Rainey, 
who  had  returned  from  a  temporary  home  in  Randolph  county, 
built  a  horse-mill,  in  1 834,  it  was  regarded  as  an  answer  to  a  great 
existing  necessity.  It  was  a  primitive  band-mill.  Slow  but  sure. 
The  reader  is  not  asked  to  credit  the  story  that  a  hound  attracted 
the  attention  of  a  passer-by  by  his  moaning,  who  found  him  wait- 
ing, rather  impatiently,  until  the  grist,  slowly  accumulating,  would 
be  sufficient  to  make  a  "  bite."  The  dog  wanted  a  square  meal, 
and  here  was  his  opportunity. 

The  first  German  settlers  were  Bernard  Dingwerth,  William 
Harwerth  and  Joseph  Stempel,  who  located  here  in  1833.  Of  these 
Mr.  Harwerth  is  still  living.  Soon  after  coming,  Messrs.  Ding- 
werth and  Harwerth  built  a  raft  on  the  Kaskaskia,  and  furnished  a 
home  market  by  buying  up  country  produce,  chiefly  chickens,  corn 
and  potatoes,  and  leisurely  floating  down  with  the  current  into  the 
Mississippi,  thence  to  New  Orleans,  where  they  sold  boat  as  well  as 
provisions. 

In  1835  the  first  store  was  opened  by  Robert  G.  Shannon  and 
Samuel  Foster.  This  effort  was  followed  up  by  Conrad  Benner  in 
1844.  Benner  had  followed  peddling  for  several  years.  His  busi- 
ness grew  to  such  proportions  that  he  was  constrained  to  have  an 
abiding  place,  hence  the  store. 

Isaac  Rainey  kept  the  first  post-ofiice,  called  Mud  Creek,  at  his 
own  house,  about  \h  miles  from  Darmstadt.  It  was  afterwards 
moved  to  Hermanntown,  in  1856.  In  1878  the  name  was  changed 
to  St.  Libory. 

In  1842,  William  Waeltz  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  within  a 
mile  of  Darmstadt,  and  during  the  same  year,  Peter  Rodemeyer 
commenced  a  smithy  within  the  present  limits  of  the  same  vil- 
lage. 

The  Protestant  Lutheran,  on  section  27,  built  in  1842,  was  the 
first  house  for  public  worship.  It  was  a  small  log  building,  and,  in 
1866,  gave  place  to  a  more  commodious  brick  structure,  which  was 
destroyed  by  lightning  the  following  year.     A  cemetery,  first  used 


as  a  burial  place  in  1839,  marks  the  location  of  the  church.    George 
Heberer  was  the  first  to  be  buried  there. 

In  1837  the  German  population  had  many  accessions  to  their 
numbers.  John  C.  Eckert,  Nicholas  Petri,  Michael  Funch,  Wen- 
del  Eckert,  Nicholas  Worm,  among  them.  Wendel  Eckert  was 
married  to  Mary  Perschbacher,  March  1st,  1839,  by  John  Stuntz, 
J.  P.,  notable  as  being  the  first  wedding  among  the  German  popu- 
lation. 

J.  G.  Eckert  had  a  singular  experience  with  wheat  the  first  sea- 
son after  his  arrival.  He  prepared  the  ground,  as  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  do  in  the  old  country,  although  Jeff.  Rainey  expostulated 
with  him,  foretelling  the  result,  which  was  a  very  rank  growth  of 
straw,  so  rank  that  the  wheat  fell  of  its  own  weight.  It  only  took 
a  man  five  weeks,  using  a  sickle,  to  cut  twelve  acres  of  it. 

In  1836  a  proselyting  elder  from  the  Mormons,  drumming  up 
emigration  for  Mount  Zion,  Jackson  county,  Missouri,  came  into 
this  township.  His  urgent  appeals  and  fair  promises,  coupled  with 
great  religious  zeal,  resulted  in  numerous  converts  to  the  Mormon 
faith.  Many  laid  aside  their  Bibles  as  being  full  of  idle  tales,  and 
accepted  the  book  of  Mormon  as  God's  revealed  will.  Among  those 
to  travel  Zion  ward,  or,  Missouri- ward  rather,  were  George  Baggs 
Free  and  Thomas  Nelson.  Nelson  soon  after  returned  and  told  his 
friends  that  the  scales  had  fallen  from  his  eyes  upon  reaching  Mt. 
Zion;  he  had  seen  Mormon  life  in  all  its  hideousness  ;  fell  out  with 
the  leaders ;  had  a  free  fight,  out  of  which  he  came  first-best,  and 
struck  a  bee-line  for  his  old  home.  Some  never  gave  up  their  Mor- 
mon faith. 

Agriculturally,  this  is  an  excellent  body  of  land.  The  streams 
are  skirted  with  timber,  and  the  land  is  undulating ;  the  greater 
part  of  the  precinct  is  a  beautiful  prairie,  now  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  The  farm-buildings  are  good,  and  the  farmers  in- 
telligent and  enterprising.  Population  : — census  of  1880 — 1,639. 
The  acreage  is  23,895,  of  which  fully  five-sixths  is  prairie.  Gre3,t 
crops  of  the  cereals  gladden  the  hearts  of  farmers,  while  large  num- 
bers of  stock,  priocipally  hogs,  are  annually  fattened  for  the 
market. 

Lack  of  facilities,  furnished  'by  railroad  transportation,  is  the 
great  drawback.  At  one  time  it  was  thought  proposed  improve- 
ments along  the  Kaskaskia  would  obviate  this  difficulty  by  giving 
water  communication,  but  all  that  has  flitted  by,  as  a  thing  of  the 
past.  The  precinct  was  organized,  upon  petition  of  its  citizens, 
April  16th,  1870 ;  prior  to  that  time  it  was  a  part  of  Athens. 

THE   FIRST   LAND    ENTRIES 

Were  made  by  H.  Darter  et  al.  of  160  acres,  being  the  S.  W.  i  of 
sec  10,  April  19,  1815;  Daniel  Stookey,  of  119.12  acres,  being 
part  of  N.  W.  i  of  sec.  20,  July  31,  1817 ;  David  Pulliam,  of  80 
acres,  being]  the  east  half  of  the  N.  W.  i  sec.  11,  November,  17, 
1817 ;  William  Glasgow,  of  240  acres,  being  the  N.  W.  i  and  the 
west  half  of  the  N.  E.  }  sec.  10,  February  16,  1817 ;  and  John 
Walker,  of  160  acres,  it  being  the  8.  \V.  }  sec.  3,  December  8, 1817, 
all  lying  in  that  part  of  T.  2  S.,  R.  6  W.,  and  by  Henry  T.  Whit- 
man, of  480  acres,  in  sec.  14,  July  8,  1818,  in  T.  3  S.,  R.  6  W. 

THE  TOWN   OF   DARMSTADT 

Is  situated  in  the  north-west  quarter  of  section  35,  T.  2  S.,  R.  6  W. 
It  was  laid  off  by  Isaac  Rainey,  February  1,  1855,  who,  singular  to 
relate,  gave  it  the  German  name  of  Darmstadt.  His  ideas  of  a 
village  were  moderate,  extending  only  to  laying  off  thirty-six  lots, 
one  of  which  was  already  occupied  by  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Peter 
Rodemeyer,  and  another  by  a  tavern,  erected  in  1845  by  Henry 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


369 


Kaylor.  At  present  the  town  has  a  population  of  about  350. 
Prominent  among  its  industries  is  a  mill,  built  in  1863,  by  a  com- 
pany composed  of  George  M  Eckert,  Hermann  H.  Voskamp,  Leon- 
ard Kayser,  Henry  Koch,  William  Massmann,  and  Henry  Eckert. 
This  company  made,  May  11,  1864,  an  addition  to  the  town  of 
Darmstadt,  calling  it  "  The  Mill  Company's  addition."  The  mill 
is  now  owned  and  operated  by  Martin  Eckert.  It  has  four  run  of 
stone.  Its  capacity  is  200  barrels  of  flour  per  diem  ;  gives  employ- 
ment to  five  men ;  cost  about  $30,000.  Flour  is  hauled  by  wagon 
to  Marissa  station,  six  miles  distant,  thence  shipped  chiefly  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  and  Cairo,  111.  The  mill  has  contributed  much  to  the 
upbuilding  of  the  town. 

Pleasantly  located,  in  the  heart  of  a  large  agricultural  district, 
Darmstadt,  despite  its  inconvenience  for  railroad  facilities,  enjoys  a 
prosperous  trade.  It  is  well  supplied  with  schools,  having  a  public 
and  two  private  ones  supported  by  the  churches.  There  are  two 
churches — the  Lutheran,  built  in  1865,  and  the  Protestant  Lutheran, 
transferred,  after  its  destruction  by  lightning,  from  its  former  site  to 
a  desirable  location  in  the  village.    Built  in  1877. 

SECRET   SOCIETIES. 

True  Bund  No.  15  was  organized  November  9, 1871,  with  nine 
charter  members. 

A  lodge  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  organized  February  10, 1878, 
with  nineteen  charter  members.  Has  at  present  twenty-three  mem- 
bers.   Meets  in  hall  owned  by  John  Lehr. 

There  is  also  here  a  singing  society,  "  The  Concordia,"  with  four- 
teen members,  organized  October  25th,  1878.  Christian  Keim, 
leader. 

BUSINESS  HOUSES. 

(ieneial  Stores — Joseph  Eeith,  Bernhardt  Twenhaefel,  opened  in 
1854-5. 
Hoteb — John  Lehr,  John  Schlesinger. 
Blacksmiths — Hartmann  Koch,  William  Ludwig. 
Physician — Dr.  F.  X.  Fischer. 

Saloons — John  Lehr,  John  Schlesinger,  Bernhardt  Twenhafel. 
Wagon  Makers — Jacob  Theobald,  Henry  Steinheimer. 
Tailor — Henry  Koehler. 
Saddler — Philip  Koehler. 

Soda  Manufacturer— Christian   Gross.     Puts  up  for  the   trade 
47 


about  4,000  boxes  annually.  The  surrounding  villages  famish  a 
market. 

Hall — John  Lehr,  built  in  1864,  capable  of  seating  two  hundred 
people. 

Post-master — Martin  Eckert.  Was  appointed  when  the  office  wrs 
first  established,  which  was  on  petition  in  1864,  and  has  held  it  ever 
since. 

TOWN   OF   ST.    LIBOEY. 

October  18, 1866,  John  Wessels  laid  out  on  the  N.  E.  part  of  the 
S.  E.  quarter  of  the  N.  W.  quarter  of  section  18,  T.  2  S.,  E.  6  W. 
the  town  of  Hermanntown.  Close  by  was  a  Catholic  church,  erect- 
ed in  1846,  and  to  which  the  name  of  St.  Libory  was  given.  In  the 
village  was  the  general  store  of  H.  Euetter,  who  had  established  it 
in  1849.  In  1856  the  post-office,  called  "  Mud  Creek,"  was  moved 
to  this  store,  and  H.  Euetter  was  appointed  post-master — so  that, 
when  the  town  was  platted,  there  were  three  names  struggling  for 
the  supremacy.  Mills  were  built ;  business  prospered,  and,  although 
people  built  on  all  sides  of  the  platted  town,  no  additions  were  made 
thereto.  In  1874  the  name  of  the  post-office  was  changed  from 
Mud  Creek  to  St.  Libory,  and  by  common  consent  other  names  have 
been  dropped,  so  there  is  presented  the  anomaly  of  a  village  of  per- 
haps 250  inhabitants,  on  laud  not  regularly  platted  as  a  town  site» 
with  a  name  not  recognized  in  the  public  records,  save  by  common 
consent.  A  large  mill  has  stood  idle  for  several  years  past,  while  a 
small  custom  mill,  owned  by  Gustav  Hessler,  meets  the  demands  of 
the  community. 

BUSINESS   HOUSES. 

General  Stores  —  Barney  Euetter,  Pohlmann  Bros.,  Stephen 
Knuewe. 

Drug  Stores — Dr.  Dickinson,  Dr.  Fischer, 

Builders — Henry  Scheiper,  Conrad  Busse, 

Saddler  and  Justice  of  the  Peace — C.  D,  Hausmann. 

Wagon  Makers — Frank  Schroeder,  Bernhardt  Otten. 

Gunsmith — Arnold  Eudenfranz. 

Blacksmiths— Frank  Frischemeyer,  Joseph  Franke. 

Sotel — John  Biermann. 

A  coal  shaft,  operated  by  the  St.  Libory  Coal  company,  is  among 
its  industries.  It  has  a  depth  of  186  feet ;  is  operated  by  horse 
power ;  employs  three  men,  and  has  a  capacity  for  turning  out  300 
bushels  per  day. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


H-V- 


-V+-. 


CONRAD  D.  HAUSMANN 

Was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  December  8th,  1840.  His  father 
■was  for  many  years  a  teacher  in  Catholic  schools  in  his  native'land. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Catharine  Sutmiieller.  His  parents 
emigrated  to  America  when  he  was  a  mere  child,  so  youpg  {hat  he 
recollects  nothing  of  the  sea  voyage,  nor  does  he  distinctly  remem- 
ber his  parents,  as  his  mother  died  shortly  after  their  arrival  in  St. 
Louis,  and  his  father,  Matthias  Hausmann,  survived  her  bufa  year 
or  two.  Thus  he  was  left  an  orphan  and  through  the  kindness  of 
friends,  was  placed  in  the  Orphan  Asylum,  a  Catholic  institution  in 
St.  Louis.  After  remaining  there  two  or  three  years  he  ran  away 
and  took  up  his  home  with  Bennet  Somer,  who  ktpt  a  boarding 
house  and  store  opposite  south  market.-  Ecmained  with  Somer 
about  two  years,  when  he  was  bound  over  by  the  clergy  to  a -.Mr. 
Garretson,  a  saddle  tree  maker.  Mr.  Garretson  had  been  a  teacher 
in  Germany,  hence  he  found  himself  in  goodT»ha^s.„  Here. he  re- 
mained until  he  was  twenty  two  years  of  age. ..  During  this  time  he 
acquireli  a  good  practical  business  education,  and  a  knowledge,  of 
men  which  has  proved  of  great  service  to  him.  He,  mastered  the 
saddlery  and  harness  manufacturing  business,  and  for  a  time  in  its 
prosecution  was  associated  with  P.  J.  Peters,  subsequently  with,. 
Thornton  Grimsby.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  war  he  entered  into 
a  speculation  in  Arkansas,  purchasing  goods  in  St.  Louis  in  bulk, 
taking  them  to  the  front  where  he  disposed  of  his  wares  to  sutlers. 
He  next  became  an  agent  for  the  Great  Republic  Life  Insurance 
company  in  whose  employ  he  remained  but  about  four  months, 
whereupon  he  became  salesman  for  Shaefer  &  Co.,  corner  Main  and 
Chestnut  streets,  engaged  in  wholesale  saddlery.  Whilst  in  this 
employ  he  was  singled  out,  because  of  his  fitness  for  the  work,  as 
af  signee  of  Peter  Feltmen  &  Co.,  wholesale  liquor  merchants  which 
business  he  closed  to  the  complete  satisfaction  of  all  concerned, 
within  a  year.  In  1868  he  determined  on  a  change  of  location, 
with  a  view  to  pursuing  his  trade  of  saddlery  and  harness  making, 
and  located  in  St.  Libory,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Being  of  an 
active  temperament  he  has  combined  with  his  regular  trade  various 
pursuits.  Handled  agricultural  implements  for  four  years ;  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1873,  which  office  he  has  held  ever 
frince ;  was  appointed  ass-ignee  of  the  St.  Libory  mill  company  in 
1877;  was  treasurer  for  his  township  for  three  years.  So  that  he 
has  been  more  than  ordinarily  active  in  a  business  sense.  He  was 
one  of  the  projectors  of  the  St.  Libory  coal  mining  company  and 
was  for  a  time  its  president.  No  undertaking  in  his  vicinity  calcu- 
lated to  promote  its  welfare  has  ever  been  set  on  foot  whlph  has  not 
found  in  him  a  friend  and  abettor.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Catharine  Deirkcr,  October  7th,  1869,  by  whom  he  has  had  four 
370 


children,  two  of  whom,  Caroline  and  Ida,  are  living,  and  two  are 
deftd  Politically,  Mr.  Hausmann  is  a  sterling  democrat,  and  cast  his 
first  vgte;.fbr  General  McClellan,  for  President.  He  and  his  wife 
are  communicants  of  the  Catholic  church.  As  a  prompt,  energetic 
business  man  ;  as  a  fiiend  of  progress  no  man  in  the  vicinity  of  St. 
Libory  deserves  more  honorable  mention  than  Conrad  D.  Hausmann. 


*.  GEORGE  M.  ECKERT. 

No  citizen  of  Darmstadt  deserves  better  mention  than  George  M. 
Eckert.  He  was  born  in  Dietzenbach,  Germany,  Oct.  5th,  1827. 
JHia- parents,  John  George  and  Anna  M.  Eckert,  came  to  America 
and  located  in  St.  Clair  county  in  1837.  His  father  had  been  an 
inn  keeper  and  farmer  in  the  old  country,  and  still  pursued  the 
latter  calling  in  this. 

George  M.  Eckert  was-trained  in  the  common  schools,  enjoying 
for  a  brief , time  Ihe  advantages  of  better  schools  of  the  same  class 
at  Venedy."  He  was  "married  to  Regina- Voskamp,  June  7th,  1853, 
by  whom  he  has  six  children  living,  and  three  dead.  The  names 
of  the  living  are  Henry  G.,  Charlotte,  Hermann,  Regina,  Martin 

-and  Louis.  Mary,  George  and  Martin  are  dead.  He  commenced 
mining  jyhece  he  now  is  in  1864.  Had  ran  a  horse-power  saw  mill 
frohi  1854  to  1859,  then  a  steam  saw  mill  until  1864,  when  the  pre- 
sent grist  mill  was  built.  He  has  served  as  post-master  for  seven- 
teen years.  Is  a  consistent,  unswerving,  uncompromising  republican. 
Cast  his  first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont,  for  president,  in  1856.  His 
son,  Henry  G.,  was  secretary  of  the  Darmstadt  Garfield  club  last 
fall.  He  (Henry  G)  was  married  to  Clara  Schoen,  Nov.  14,  1879, 
near  Pierce  City,  Mo.  Mr.  Eckert  is  an  active  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church.  Bvery  improvement  conducive  to  the  upbuilding 
and  development  of  his  vicinity  finds  in  him  a  friend  and  advocate. 
No  man  stands  higher  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellows  than  he. 


J.  REITH. 

In  the  enjoyment  of  a  monopoly  in  his  line,  that  of  general  mer- 
chandise, in  the  village  of  Darmstadt,  is  J.  Reith.  His  business 
i»  quite  extensive  and  remunerative.  He  was  born  in  Nassau, 
Germany,  May  14th,  1835.  His  parents  were  J.  Reith,  Senior, 
and  Catharine.  His  father,  a  tailor  in  the  old  country,  came  to 
America,  landing  first  in  New  Orleans,  thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo. , 
where  he  pursued  his  business  in  1864.  In  1857  he  came  to  St. 
Clair  county.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  followed  the  same  busi- 
ness for  years,  and  still  takes  a  turn  upon  the  bench  when  occasion 
requires.    He  volunteered  in  company  B,  43d  Illinois  regiment,  as 


HENRY  RUTTER,  (deceased.) 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


371 


a  private,  in  the  early  days  of  the  war  in  1861,  in  the  three  month's 
service,  re-enlisted  in  the  service  at  Cairo  in  the  9th  Illinois,  then 
again  in  company  H,  149th  Illinois,  where  he  was  elected  2d  lieu- 
tenant. In  all  he  served  nearly  five  years  with  honor  to  himself. 
Although  in  many  hard  fought  battles  he  never  received  a  wound. 
He  was  married  to  Catharine  Massann  in  1868,  by  whom  he  has 
one  child,  a  daughter,  named  Elizabeth.  Politically  he  is  an 
ardent  republican.  His  first  ballot  was  cast  for  Lincoln  ;  he  has 
ever  remained  true  to  the  republican  faith.  In  business  he  is  cor- 
rect and  straightforward.  By  his  course  he  has  endeared  to  him- 
self his  numerous  patrons,  and  built  up  a  fine  custom  which  is 
constantly  increasing. 


DR.  F.  X.  FISCHER, 
"Was  born  in  Basle,  Switzerland,  March  29th,  1839.  His  parents 
were  Franz  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Fischer.  His  father  practiced 
law  for  about  forty  years  in  Basle.  An  earnest,  faithful  barrister, 
he  won  for  himself  great  esteem.  Dr.  Fischer  came  to  America  in 
1866, landing  in  New  York  city,  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  cast 
about  him  for  a  location,  and  found  it  at  Du  Quoin,  Ills.,  where 
he  practiced,  about  two  and  a  half  years.  From  there  he  went 
to  Lincoln,  Ills,  where  he  remained  a  year,  moving  again  to  St. 
Libory,  where  he  remained  until  1880,  when  he  removed  to 
Darmstadt,  where  he  still  resides.  A  view  of  his  residence 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  doctor  opened  a  drug 
store  in  St.  Libory  in  1876,  which  he  still  owns  and  manages- 
He  received  his  medical  education  in  the  Universities  of 
Basle  and  Zurich.  Graduated  at  Zurich  in  March,  1857.  Prac- 
tised his  profession  in  his  native  village  until  he  determined  on 


coming  to  America.  He  came  here  prompted  by  a  desire  to  en- 
large his  sphere  of  usefulnesss,  and  to  find  a  better  chance  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  profession.  In  the  practice  of  medicine  he 
belongs  to  that  large  class  of  progressive  physicians  who  believe 
that  too  many  drugs  are  administered— that  nature  instead  of  being 
aided— the  true  province  of  the  physician — is  hindered  in  her  work 
of  eliminating  disease  from  human  system?.  He  is  independent  in 
his  convictions,  and  equally  so  in  their  expression.  His  ability 
finds  recognition  in  a  widS-spread,  arduous  and  lucrative  practice. 
His  skill  is  unquestioned.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Helena 
Wagner,  in  the  Catholic  church  at  St.  Libory,  by  the  Rev.  Father 
Frederick  Chmelicek,  August  13th,  1873.  By  this  union  there  are 
three  bright  boys.  Otto,  Leo,  and  Louis.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Posen,  Prussia,  in  1857,  yet  her  nationality  is  Polish.  She  came  to 
America  in  1871.  Politically,  the  Doctor  has  identified  himself 
with  the  democratic  party,  believing  its  principles  to  be  right.  He 
was  naturalized  in  Belleville,  in  1874,  and  in  1876  cast  his  first  bal- 
lot for  President.  Contrasting  the  institutions  of  this  country  with 
those  of  his  native  land  (Switzerland),  he  says  there  is  no  great  su- 
periority in  America's  republicanism  over  that  of  his  native  land  ; 
that  in  the  adaptation  of  practice  to  principles,  Switzerland  is  in 
the  ascendant.  There  is  quite  a  similarity  in  form  of  government, 
but  greater  harmony  there  than  here.  Ofiice  he  never  wanted,  but 
his  say  in  politics  he  will  have.  He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church.  Although  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  large 
practice,  the  Doctor  finds  time  for  literature,  for  which  he  has  ex- 
cellent taste,  as  his  selections  of  authors  testify.  The  classics  of  ' 
University  days  are  not  laid  entirely  away,  but  serve  to  while  away 
a  happy  hour.  A  skilled  physician,  a  kind  neighbor,  a  man  of 
generous  impulse,  he  enjoys  a  wide,  and  constantly  widening  circle 
of  friends. 


PARTIAL  LIST  OF  PATEONS. 


CITY    OF    KELLKVILLE. 


KAME. 


Abend,  Edward 

Andel,  Adolph 

Andel,  C. 

Atzinger,  Melchior 

Affleck,  James 

Aberer,  Emil 

Ames,  Owen 

Anderson,  W.  M. 

Appel,  Ph. 
f  Andel,  C.  W. 
I  Lena  Burgdoflf 

Becker,  Charles 

Bosoh,  Theodore 

Brueck,  Anthony 

Barnickol,  John 

Badgley,  A.  G. 

Brockhaus,  George  "W- 

Bartel,  Louis 

Barnickol,  Peter 

Boucher,  L.  T. 

Bischof,  Jacob,  Jr. 

Beshore,  J.  Ed. 

Brenner,  John  A. 

Brosiu9,  Jacob 
f  Busiek,  Henry,  Jr. 
l  Rusiek,  Henry,  Sr. 

Boerner,  Franklin 

Beyer,  Joseph 

Brenner,  Jacob 

Benedick,  F.  A. 

Bethmann,  Robert 

Buesoh,  Mathias 

Bieser,  Adam 

Brackett,  George  W. 

Brunck,  Joseph 

Beshore,  Fred.  W. 

Brosius,  John 

Beatty,  J. 

Bode,  P.  J. 

Borrenkatt,  A. 

Brandt,  A.  R. 

Brduch,  William 
f  Bang,  Anna 
\  Bang,  William 

Baumann,  (t.  F. 

Challenor,  H.  K.  [eline 

Chandler,  nee  La^roix,  Ad 

Cam  field,  C.  H. 

Coerrer,  .lacnb 

Clancy,  P.  H. 

Corrington,  H.  K. 

Courar,  John 

Cochrane.  Thomas  M. 

Croiicli,  William  T. 
f  Clark,  Nanoy 
\  Clark,  David 

Dill,  James  M. 

Daab,  Frederick 

Datrson,  A.  L. 

Bavis,  Sarah  B.  nee  Harris 

DobsoluUz,  Moritz,  J, 

Davis,  Phil.  F. 

Dietz,  Joseph 

Dagne,  Adam 

Dorn,  Joseph 

{Denlinger,  William 
A   B.  Russell 
Dake,  C.  R. 
Dapprich,  E. 
Deidesheimer,  H. 
Eliret,  Henry 
Engler,  Geor3;e 
Kckert,  T.  W. 
Eckhardt,  William,  Jr. 
Fietaam,  Sebastian 
Fleisohbein,  T.  O. 
Pleischbein,  Adol  ph  G. 
Fleischbein,  C.  P. 
Fleming,  E.  H. 
Feickert,  William 
Fischer,  George 
Funk,  C.  .J. 
Fernau,  August 


PLACE  o»  BUSINESS 


Main  Street 
W.  8.  Pub.  Square 
S.  s.      " 

Cor.8thS.&  Abend 
Centerville  Road 
East  Main  Street 
Sycamore  Street 
Ist  South  Street 
Illinois  &R.B.  St. 
Belleville,  E.Main  St 

u  It 

Res. — Spring  St. 
Gor.Riclil'd&5thS 
Illinois  Street 
Main  street 
Academy  of  Music 
Thomas  House 
W.  Main  street 
Main  Street 
Academy  of  Music 
West  Main  street 
Illinois  street 
Cor.  1st  N.&  111.  St 
E.  Main  street 
Cr.2d  N.&  Charles 

Cr.3dN.&  Walnut 
Richland  street 

Cor.  Illin.  &  3d  N. 
Res.— Illinois  St 
East  Main  street 
E.  Main  street. 

No.  26LL  Oaiuble  Ave.,  St. 
Louis,  Mo. 

Main  street 
South  R  ice  street 
East  Main  street 
Race  street 
5th  South  street 
Main  street 
N.  s.  Pub.  Square 
Short  street 
National  Hotel 
Died  Oct.  27,  1880 
We-st  Main  .street 
S.W.Cor.  Pub.  Sq. 
I  Uinois  street 
Jack.son  street 
Illinois  street 
Ist  North 
Illinois  street 
West  Main  street 
Cor.  High  &  1st  S. 
Cor.  Main  &  High 
liit  S.jE.of  Masoontah 
Died  Feb.  18, 1870 
\cad.of  Mus.B'l'g 
Cairo  S.  L.  Office 
Res. — Jackson  st. 
High  street 
E.s.  Public  Square 
3d  South  street 
Richland  street 
Cor.  31  &  Race  st 
Illinois  street 


OCCUPATION. 


South  Illinois  st 

Souih  Jack-ion  st 

East  Main  street 

Oor.Ma^ooutah  &2d9 

1-it  Sjuth  Birset 

I  llinoi<  street 

West  Main  street 

■S.  W.  cor.  Pub.  Sq 

Court  House 
(I  It 

\cad.ofMns.B'J'g 
lackson  street 
y.s.Pu'ilio  Square 
S'inth  Rice  street 
Main  street 
West  Main  street 


Pres.  Belleville  Sav.Bank 

Prop.  National  Hotel 

Cash.  1st  National  Rank 

Foreman  Cooper  Shop 

Pattern  Maker 

Saloon 

Sewing  Machine  Agent 

Stock  Dealer 

Blacksmithing 

Wholesale  Liquor  Dealer 

WiteofCW.  Andel 

Ex.  Circuit  Clerk 

Proprietor  of  Saloon 

Prop.  Court  Hall  Saloon 

Proprietor  of  Saloon 

General  Insurance  Agent 

Attorney  at  Law 

Wholesale  Liquor  Dealer 

Saloon  and  Restaurant    , 

Attorney  at  Law 

Butcher 

Proprietor  Pearl  Saloon 

Prop.  City  Hall  Exchange 

Proprietor  Oil  Works 

Carpenter  and  Builder 

Carp'ter  4  Build'r  &  Alderm'n 

Grocer 

Carriage  &  Wagon  Maker 

Contractor  &  Brick  Mason 

Prop.  Benedick  House 

Agent  Star  Brewery 

Prop.  Hotel  and  Saloon 

Harness  and  Saddlery 

Attorney  at  Law 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Nailor 

Belleville  Oil  Works 

Farmer  and  Miner 

Machinist       [fiiq.  House 

Salesman  Barlell's  Whole. 

Prop.  Gents'  Furn.  House 

Market  Master 

Retired 

Late  husb.  of  Anna  Bang 

Baker  and  Confectioner 

Police  Mag.  &  Atty  at  Law 

Retired 

Cotton  Broker 

Policeman 

Engineer 

Telegraph  Operator  [Sil. 

Dlr.  in  Boots  &  Shoe-!  and 

General  .Manager  Fairbaaka'  dewing 
MachiaoB 

Photographer 

Retired 

Late  husb.  Nancy  Clark 

Attorney  at  Law 

Ticket  Agent 

County  Jailor 

Ratired 

R3al  Estate  Agent 

Harrison  M-tchine  Works 

Groceries,  Queans  ware,&c 

Carpenter  and  Builder 

Prop.  Hotel  and  Saloon 

Publisher  Djmocrat 


NATIVITY. 


Physician  and  S'lrgeon 
Principal  FranklinSchool 
General  Merchant 
Pioprieter  of  S.iloon 
Butcher  [publican 

pjlitor  and  Publisher  lie- 
Dry  Goods  and  Grocerie* 
Notary  Pahlii  and  Abstractor 
.\ssistant  Clerk 
Deputy  Sheritr 
Insurance  Agent 
Ex.  Sheriff 
Druggist 
Carpenter  and  Builder 

OroC'T,  OonfectlODOr  and  Sewing  .Ma- 
chine Agent 

Tobacconist 


Germany 

[Ger. 
Rhenish  Hesse, 
Switzerland 
Tenn. 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany 

Bavaria,  Ger. 

Germany 

Rhein  Prussia 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Hamilton  Co.  O 

Prussia 

Saxony.  Ger. 

Wash'gt'nCo.Il. 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 

Ohio  Co.W.Va 

steamer  Atlantic,  iHa$. 
River 

Nassau,  Germany 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Prussia,  Ger. 
Wisconsin 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany 
Lorraine,  Ger. 
Prussia 


XI 


.III, 


Germany 
St.  Clair  Co 
Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
Ireland 
Germany 
R!iein  Prussia 
Germany 
Baden,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany 

Randolph  Co.Il 

Peoria,  111. 

Riohmo'dCo.Ga 

Rhein,Bav.,Ger 

Nova  Scotia 

Marion  Co.  Ill 

Prussia 

New  Jersey 

Baltimore,  Md 

Alabama 

Ireland 

Preble  Co.  Ohio 

Hease  Darmatadt,  Qer 
many 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 

N.London  Co.Ct 

Prmsia 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Bavaria,  Ger. 

Germany 


Pa. 

Pa. 

Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Nassau.  Ger. 

lihein  Pfaltz.Gr 

Baden,  Ger. 

Missouri 

Monroe  Co.  111. 

Germany 

Nassau,  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 

Belleville,  111. 
tt  tt 

Kaskaakia,  111. 
Hamburg,  Ger. 
Rhein  PfaUz,Gr 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
II esse  Ca-isel,G 


33 

60 

59 

54 

17 

56 

41 

37 

50 

53 

53 

51 

55 

57 

42 

28 

64 

52 

43 

80 

55 

76 

50 

49 

54 

54I 

66 

45 

33 

51 

67 

72 

53 

33 

55 

70 

54 

55 

63 

68 

68 

54 

44' 

73 

51 

44 

11 

73 

53 

78 

68 

65 

78 

67 

36 

40 

65 

53 

52 

19 

55 

40 

53 

37' 

46 

63' 

62 

73 

75' 

5o: 

16 
60 
53 
60 
19 
55 
47 
10 
33 
50 
50 
51 
4G 


CUT    OF    BELLBVILLB.— [Continued.] 


Fuess,  Joseph 
Feickert,  Christian 
Gross,  John 
Guentz,  Henry 
Graner,  Louis 
Gundlach,  Henry 
Gaylord,  G.  W. 
Gooding,  Abram 
Griinewald,  Joseph 
Glaser,  Charles  M. 
Horack,  J.  W. 
Huhn,  Henry 
Hay,  John  B. 
Hughes,  James  W. 
Halbert,  B.  A. 
/  Hartnagel,  H.  A. 
\  Harrison,  C.  W. 
Heinfelden,  Curt 
Holder,  R.  D.  W. 

Huggins,  J.  N. 

Hill,  W.  G. 

Hance,  W.  F. 

Hamill,  J.  M./ 

Hilgard,  C.  Wf 

Hinssen,  Rev.  Louis 

Harrison,  Theophilus 

Hartman,  M.  R. 

Hartman,  B. 

Hilgard,  Ernst 

Huff,  William  B. 

Hinckley,  Russell 

Hughes,  Isab.  nee  Myers 

Hauck,  Julius 

Heidorn,  H.  W. 
(  Holdener,  W. 
\  J.  B.  Tenner 
(  Herzler,  J . 

Heinrich,  Oscar 

Hoerr,  Jacob 

Helfrich,  Jacob 

Hoffmann,  John 

Heinzelman,  John 

Helnzelman,  William 

Hilgard,  G.  F. 

Hughes,  R.  T. 

Hansin?,  Adolph 

Herr,  Franz 

Hrty,  .Tames  M. 

Hinneman,  H.  A. 

Ibbotsou,  Thomas 

Ibbotson,  S. 

Jseger,  Fred. 

Jerome,  Mary,  Sr. 

Jacobs,  V. 

{Johnson,  M.  Belle 
Johnson,  Benjamin 
Luoinda  Hahner 

Kueffner,  William  C. 

Koerner,  G. 

Kaercher,  Peter  J. 

Kraffl,  Theodore  J. 

Kempff,  William  W. 

Kersting,  Rjv.  A. 

Koska,  J,  C. 

Knoebel,  Fritz 

Kohl,  Julius 

Kircher,  Henrv  A. 

Klotzbach,  A.  T. 

Krisner,  Henry  N. 

Kretschmer,  Fred. 

King,  August 

Kissel,  Andreas 

Krisner,  Louis  P. 

Kissel,  John 

Knebeikamp,  Christ 

Kloess,  John 

Krebs,  Martin 

Kaiib,  B.  J. 

Kaysing,  Otto 

Koerner,  G.  A. 

Kaiser,  Theo. 
f  Karlesliud,  Barbara 
I  Karleslin  I,  D. 


PLAC.  OP  BUSINESS 


Belleville 

Cor.High&lstSo, 

Illinois  street 

Court  House 

Cr.Main  &  Jacks'n 

Res. — East  Main 

North  Richland 

West  Main  street 

Belleville,BeIlev'e 

S.  s.  Public  Square 

S.  8.  Illinois  street 

8  W.  cor.  Pub.  Sq. 

Charles  street 

Acad.of  Mus.B'd'g 

Cr.Main  &High  sts 
tt  1? 


OCCUPATION. 


1st  N.  &  Church  St  Dry  Goods  Merchant 


N.W.cor.Pub.Sq. 

Court  House 

Acad.ofMus.B'd'g 

Walnut  street 

Belleville  House 

Acad.of  Mus.B'd'g 

Cor.  High  &  Main 

3d  South  street 

3d  South  street 

N.E.cor.Pub.  Sq 

Belleville,  N.  Belleville 

East  Main  street 
tt  It 

N.  s.  Pub.  Square 

Res. — Jack.son  et. 

N.  s.  Pub.  Square 
it  \i 

Illinois  street 


Baker  and  Confectioner 

Proprietor  of  Livery 

J.  P.  &  Fire  Insurance  Agt, 

County  Surveyor 

Grocer 

Iron  Founder 

Tile  Manufacturer 

Gunsmith  and  Hardware 

HatB,    Caps,   and  Oenta'  t^urniaiiing 
Goods 

Proprietorof  Belleville  House 
Editor  Stern 
Attorney  at  Law 
Real  Estate 
Attorney  at  Law 
Druggist 


NATIVITY. 


Editor  Belleville  Zeitung 

Prosecuting  Attorney 

Attorney  at  Law 

City  Alderman 

Livery,  Feed  &  Sale  Stable 

Attorney  at  Law 

Insurance  Agent 

Pastor  St.  Peter's  Church 

Prop.  Harrison  Mach.  Works 

Dlr.  in  Agricultural  Imp. 

One  of  the  Props.  Star  Brewery 

Dry  Goods  &  Carpet  Dlr. 

Boot  and  Shoe  Dealer 

Banker 

lletired 

Printer 

Cl'k  with  West  &  Brandt 


South  Illinois  st. 
Illinois  street 
West  Main 
.^lascoutah  street 
Cor.  Jackson  &  2d  N 


Washington  Co.lll 
Germany 
Lorraine,Franc. 
Dresden,  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
tt        ,1 

Lee  Co.  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Germany 
Si.  Clair  Co.  III. 
Moscow,  Russia 
Bavaria,  Ger. 

Belleville,  111. 

«        tt 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 


Proprietor  Livery  and  UadertalEiiig 
Stables 


Prussia 

Jefferson  Co.  Ill 

St.  Clair  Co.  " 

II        II 

New  York 
Ireland 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Rheinish  Prns.,Gr 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
Berks  Co.  Pa. 
Hanover.  Ger. 
St.  Chair  Co.  III. 


J  Lumber  Dealer 
Tinsmith  &  Stove  Dealer 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Butcher 
Carriage  Manufacturer 


Jackson  street         Surveyor 
Charles  street  Painter 

Illinois  street         Commercial  Agent  Stern 
West  Main  street    Butcher 
1st  South  street       .'\^ltorney  at  Law 
Belleville,  Belleville  Butcher 
Race  &  7th  S.  st.   |Sec.  Pump  &  Skein  Works 
"  "         .\ccountant  "         Works 

Court  House  Dsputy  County  Clerk 

3d  South  street       Mother  Superior 
Charles  street         Architect  and  Builder 
Thomas  House        Retired 
Died  April  6, 1862  Fath'rofM  Belle  Johnson 


Died 

Illinois  sti-eet 

Main  street 
II        II 

N.  E.  cor.  Pub.  Sq. 

Main  street 

3d  South  street 

East  Main  street 

West  Main  street 

E.  s.  Pub.  Square 

West  Main  street 

Charles  street 

Cr.Richland&2dS 

Res.— N.  Richl'nd 

N.  s.  Pub.  Square 

Illinois  street 

Ist  S.  &  Race  sts. 
It  II 

.4.bend  street 
Richland  street 
City  Park 
Ea^'t  Main 
2d  North  street 
East  Main  street 
R»s.  Richl'd  &  2d  N. 
West  Main  street 


Wife  of  Benjamin  Johnson 
.Attorney  at  Law 

Saloon  and  Restaurant 
Attorney  at  Law 
Druggi.^t 

Past.  St.  Patrick's  Church 
General  Merchant 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Druggist 

Hardware  &  Agr'l  Imp'ts 
Lumber  Dealer 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
.\lderman,  3d  Ward 
Cl'k  with  We4  &  Brandt 
Blaclcsmith  &  Aid.  2a  W. 
Boot  and  Shoe  Dealer 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Contractor  and  Builder' 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
.\gent  Theater  and  Saloon 
Tin  and  Stoves 
Policeman 
Attorney  at  Law 
Teacher  of  Gymnastics 
Retired 


Died  Sept.  25, 1360  Iluib.  Barbara  Karleslind 


Missouri 
.St.  Clair  Co. 
Switzerland 


111, 


Rhein  Pfaltz.Gr 
Saxony,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
Germany 
II 

Cincinnati.Ohio 

■I        i( 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Wi.aconsin 

Germany 

II 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Germany 

New  York 
II 

Cologne,  Ger. 
.illegh'nyCo.Pa 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Bond  Co.  111. 
Kentucky 

M  •chlenb'rg.Gr 

Fr  tnkrort  on  ihe  Main, 
Germany  f  Ger. 

Hesse  Darmstadt, 
Bavaria,  Ger, 
Germany 
Westphalia,  Ger 
Prussia  [Ger. 
Rheinish  Bava., 
Nassau,  Ger. 
Cass  Co.  HI.  [G 
llesse  Darm.ot^dt 
.St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Hease  Darmstadt,  Ger 
nianv 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 

IlcBse  Darmstadt,  Ger 
manj 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  [Gr 
I-Ies.se  Darmsi'di 
Prussia 
Germany 
Berlin,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


44 
43 
61 
47 
53 
54 
73 
30 
60 
46 
72 
54 
34 
26 
41 
51 
54 
79 
57 

56 

43 

75 

53 

51, 

70 

31 

67 

64 

45 

52 

21 

13 

47 

58 

47 

54 

54 

53 

40 

64 

oS 

57 

57 

35 

78 

62 

52 

37 

64 

71 

77 

71 

59 

74 

78 


Germany 
II 

France 


61 
33 
59 
33 
48 
78 
52 
52 
.53 
48 
46 
56 
63 
46 
52 
48 
64 
52 
63 
76 
50 
40 
45 
78 
37 
32 


CITY    OF    BKLL-EVlLiIiE.— [Continued.] 


NAME. 


PLAC.  OF  BUSINESS 


Kissel,  Barth 
f  Krost,  M.  E. 
\  Anna,  Nebel 
Lunkel,  Fred. 
Lavaux,  Victor 
Lebkuecher,  L. 
Lengfelder,  B. 
Lind,  Charles 
Loelkes,  George 
Lougeay,  S.  M. 
Liese,  Julius 
f  Lorejr,  Philippina 
1  Lorey,  William, 
Metschan,  Franz  F. 
Millitzer,  Henry  A. 
McQuilkin,  James 

MeConaughy,  F.  A 

Moore,  L.  W. 

Miller,  A.  F. 

MoCullough,  J.  W. 

Morrison,  William  E. 

Monk,  C.  A. 

Merch,  Charles,  Jr. 

Maule,  John 

Mueller,  L. 

Moeher,  Wollrath 
f  Merz,  Philip 
■j  Catharine  Stein 
(  Catharine  Weithmann 

Meyer,  Jacob 

Merker,  G.  W. 

Morgenstejn,  Jacob 

Mueller,  Michael 

McCarthey, Timothy  J. 
f  Meyer,  Carl 
\  Lydia  Weibel 
(  Mueller,  Theresa  J. 
J  Sebastian  Hoefling 
(  Mueller,  John  J. 

Maus,  William 
f  Merz,  John 
\  Ann  Kleibacker 

Needles,  H.  M. 

Noetlin?,  C.  F. 

Neely,  Harrison 

Neighbors,  Cassius 

Neighborx,  Josephine 

Obst,  Fred. 

Opp,  Henry 

Pl'effer,  Sebastian 

Pannell,  A. 

Pieper,  F.  H. 

Ferryman,  James  L. 

Perrin,  J.  N. 

Prieatcr,  F.  M. 

Phillips,  Fred.  B. 

Pannier,  Ernst 

Pitthan,  Louis 

Primm,  A.  T. 

Puderer,  Frank  W. 

Quick,  Thomas 

Reinecke,  C. 

Bnbach,  Fenlinand 

Eopiequet,  Fred. 

Eutz,  Ed. 

Rhein,  Philip 

Rainey,  Jeff'. 

Runde,  Guptav  A. 

{Reis,  Michael 
Reia,  Henry 

Rentchler,  J.  B. 

Einck,  John 

Eenner,  Michael 

Eoediger,  H. 

Engers,  Robert 

Ribling,  Henrv 

Romeiser,  P.  M. 

Rogland,  John 

Reis.  Michael 

Raab,  Henry 

Reis,  Valentine 

Rhein,  Valentine 
r  Rudolph,  Eosine 
\  Rudolph,  Adolph 
j  Rayhill,  Charles 
t  Charita  J.  Fike 

Rodemeyer,  George 

Rider,  E.  H. 

Scheel,  Fred.  E. 

Stauder,  Peter 


West  Main  street 
Elmer's  Hall 


C.H.,cr.Ch.&5th 
High  street 
West  Main  street 
East  Main  street 


Marble  Works  Germany 

Reiired  Capitalist  Germany 

Wife  of  M.  E.  Krost 
Deputy  Asse.ssor 
Confectioner  &  Fruit  Dlr. 
Dlr  in  Stoves,  Tinware,  &c. 


Res.,  S.  Church  st. 
East  Main  street 
N.W.,cor.Piib.Sq 
Died  May  19, 1869 
South  Illinois  st, 
Post  Office 
Court  House 
Academy  of  Miisic 
Mascoutah  street 
Cr.Highst.&Main 
Illinois  street 
Waterloo,  Waterloo 
East  Main  street 
West  Main 
Richland  street 
Mascoutah  street 

S.  Illinois  street 

Died  Jan.  5, 1849 

S.  Illinois  St. 

West  Main  st. 

2d  North 

West  Main  st. 

Res.,  Church  st. 

7th  South  St. 

Abend  street 
<<  « 


OCCUPATION. 


NATIVITY. 


Ixt  South,  bet.  Spring  and 

Rlcbland  Bts. 
Died  March  7th,  1868 
Died  May  M,  '76 
North  High  street 

South  Illinois  st. 

it  ti 

Academy  of  Music 

Cairo  Short  Line  Dep 

High  street 

Belleville 

Illinois  street 

W.  Main  street 

■2d  South  street 

Cr.Walnut&4thN 

C.  H.,  High  street 

CriMain  &  Highsts 

Academy  of  Music 

High  street . 

Illinois  street 
<<  <( 

West  Main  " 
East  Main    '■ 
Ea,st  Main  street 
Illinois  street 
Belleville,  Belleville 
East  Main  street 
Court  House 
Springfield,  III. 
Court  House 
Res.,  Charles  St. 
West  Main  street 


2d  J^ortb  street 

3d  South  .street 

Wtst  Main  street 
i(  tt 

Or.ZdN.  &  Charles  ats! 
Richland  street 
East  Main 
Court  House 
West  Main 
Resl,  High  street 
Sonih  2J  street 
High  street 
West  Main  street 
Died  Nov.  5th  '75 

Mascoutah  street 
(1  << 

Res.,  Mascoutah  st 
Belleville 
Illinois  street 
Richland  street 


Dry  Good.<  Merchant 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Nailor 

Lumber  Dealer 

Retired  [Lorey 

Late  husband  Philippina 

Man.  Belleville  Print.  Co 

Post  Master 

Co.  School  Superintendent 

Attorney  at  Law 

D.  S.  Ganger      [Ins.  Agt 

Deputy  U.  S.  Col.  &  Gen. 

City  Clerk  [District 

Member  of  jCongress,  19th 

Dlr.  in  Agricultural  Impl 

Confectioner  and  Baker 

Proprietor  Coal  Mines 

Blacksmith 

"  [smith 

Wagon  Maker'and  Black- 
First  wife  of  Philip  Merz 
Present        "  ' 

Clothier  and  Gents'  Fur- 
Constable  [nishing  Goods 
Farmer  and  Saloon 
Retired  Farmer 
Heater 
Retired 

Wife  of  Carl  Meyer 
Retired 

First  husb.  of  T  J.  Mueller 
Late      "  " 

Retired 
Grocer 

Wife  of  John  Merz 
Attorney  at  Law 


llesseCassel,  Gr 
France 
Nassau,  Ger. 

HesHe  Dat'msliidt,  Ger- 
many 

Soaih  Germany 
Nassau,  Ger 
AUegh'nyCo.Pa 
Germanv 


Watchman 
Policeman  [House 

Proprietress   Hin  c  k  1  e  y 
Constable  and  Collector 
Plow  Manufacturer 
Sewing  Machine  Factory 
Grocer 

County  Judge 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Atty  at  Law  &  Repre'tive 
Merchant  Tailor 
Attorney  at  Law 
Merchant  Tailor 
Dlr.  in  Books  &  Stationerv 
"      [lin 
Clk  with  Koska  &  Wange- 
Attorney  at  Law 
Coal  Operator 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Sherifr 

State  Treasurer 
Deputy  County  Clerk 
Farmer 
Grocer 

Lumber  Dealer 
(I 

Manuf.  of  I.  X.  L.  Drills 
Foreman  Harrison  Ma- 
Barber  [chine  Shop 
Jeweler 

Proprietor  of  Foundry 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Clothier 
Deputy  Sheriff 
L;::iiber  Dealer 
Superintend't  City  Schools 
Contractor  and  Builder 
Merchant  Tailor 
Retired 

Late  husb.  of  E.  Eudolph 
Eetired  Farmer 
Wife  (,f  Charles  Rayhill 
Retired 
Farmer 

Master  in  Chancery 
Contractor  and  Builder 


CITY    OF    BELLEVILLE.— [Continued.] 


PLAC.  OP  BUSINESS 


Hesse  Cassel,  Gr 
Germany 
Philad'lphia,Pa 
Lancaster  Co.Pa 
Monroe  Co.  111. 
Wittemberg,  Gr 
Lincoln  Co.  Mo 
Monroe  Co.  III. 
Chenango,  N.Y. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 
Scotland 
Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Germany 

Elsass,  France 

Ireland 

Germany 

Pa. 

Saxony,  Ger. 


Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 


Germany 

Hanover,  Ger. 

Brown  Co.  111. 

Union  Co.  Pa. 

Mecklenb'g,N.C 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Belleville,  IlL 

Prussia 

Germany 
It 

Kent,  England 
Germany 
Claiborne  Co.  Ten 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 

Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

M.  Madrid  Co  Mo. 

Saxony,  Ger. 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 

Belleville,  111. 
Germany-  *   - 
Prussia  "5 

Bavaria,  Ger. 
Germany 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
Randolph  Co.IU 
Na-ssau,  Ger. 

He3.se  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

Union  Co.  Pa. 

France 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Bavaria,  Ger. 

Ireland 

Germany 
ti 

Clinton  Co.  Ky. 

Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

Prussia  [Ger. 

Hesse  Darmsta't 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  II. 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  II. 


66 
53 
53' 

59, 
72 
S8 
63, 
67 

68; 

70 
61 
34 
34 
59, 
63 
60 
61 
75 
68 
52 

64 
37 
54 
60 
65 
39 
42 
48 
61 
42 
44 
33 
62 
55 
58 
58 
49 
54 
40 
39 
39 
54 
56 
64 
45 
49 
58 
50 


Germany 
St.  Clair  Co. 


n. 


Snyder,  William  H. 
Stookey,  M.  T. 

Starkel,  Louis  C. 

St  Iberg,  George  H. 

Stookey,  L.  P. 

Spies,  William 

Seib,  Charles  F. 

Saflfold,  D. 
/  Sehanuel,  Henry  E. 
I  Sehanuel,  John  J. 

Siefert,  John  H. 

Schleth,  Ad. 

Staufenbiel,  F.  J. 

Schmidt,  John  Jo. 

Schaffer,  John 

Scheel,  A.  M. 

Sunkel,  Fred. 

Sunkel,  Louis 

Stevenson,  David 

Scheske,  A. 

Schiller,  Joseph 

Schmall,  Ernest 

Stoelzle,  Fidel 
/  Shellmann,  Catherine 
1  Shellmann,  Joseph 

Slander,  J.  A. 

Stolze,  Ignatius 

Schuck,  Ph. 

Siefert,  Capt.  Wm. 

Smith,  J.  W. 

Schaeffler,  F.  T. 

Schember,  August 

Scott,  Felix  _ 

Semmler,  Mich. 

Schmitt,  Henry 

Schuessler,  Geo.  W. 

Thomas,  James  H. 

Turner,  Don 

Thomas,  John 

Thiele,  William 

Tenner,  Antone 

Tiemann,  August 

Thome,  N. 
f  Taylor,  J.  T. 
\  Rachel  Forsythe 

Thiele,  August 

UnderWood,W.  J.  [Smith 

Underwood,  Mrs.  E.  H.  nee 

Vierheller,  Theodore 

Viehmann,  Henry 

Weber,  Hermann   G. 

Weir,  Marshall  W. 

Williams,  H.  C. 

Wilderman,  A.  S. 

Wilkinson,  M.  W. 

Wangelin,  E.  H. 

Wehrle,  Jo.seph 

Weidmann,  Christ 

Wangelin,  I.  II. 

Winkelman,  William 

Weisenbruch,  Rudolph 

Wangelin,  Charles 

Ward,  W.  E. 

Willoughbv,  J.  A. 

West,  B.  J.,  Jr. 

White,  William 

Wangelin,  Richard 

Waugh,  J. 

West,  Washington 

Wagner.  John  W. 

Wangelin,  E.  H. 

Ziehnert,  G.  F. 

Zahn,  Justus 


OCCUPATION. 


1st  North  street 

C.  H.,  Res  ,  Sec.  30 
ti  tt 

Court  House 

High  street 
tt  i( 

West  Main  street 

East  Main  street 

1st  S.)Uth  street 
*(  tt 

SW.cor.Pub.Sq. 
West  Main 
Court  House 
North  Spring  st. 
Cr.  48  &Springsts, 
N.  s.  Pub.  Square 
Cr.  8th  S.&  Abend 


2d  North 

West  Main 

East  Main  street 

West  Main  street 
((  (( 

Died  July  22, 1866 
Cor.  W.  Main  &  Race 
Main  street 
S.  E.  cr.  Public  Sq 
Re.^.,  Spring  street 
Ea.st  Main  street 
Belleville  House 
Main  &  High  sts 
Cor.  S.  &  Oak  sis 
Mascoutah  street 
West  Main  street 
First  North  street 
First  South  street 
Main  street 
High  street 
Main  street 
Illinois  st  [coutah 
Cor.  Main  &  Mas- 
West  Main 
Belleville 
i< 

"     Belleville 
Illinois  street 
Res.,  High  street 
West  Main  street 


S.  W.  cr.  Pub.  Sq 

1st  North  street 

Academy  of  Music 

West  Main  street 

East  Main  street 
((  tt 

West  Main  street 
((  ti 

Illinois  street 
Illinois  &  2d  N.  sts 
Main  street 
Jackson  street 
Court  House 
N.s.  Pub.  Square 
Res.,  South  Ch'rch 
Main  street 
1st  South  street 
Cr- High  &Main  sts 
National  Hotel 
East  Main  street 
Richland  street 
High  street 


Circuit  Judge 

Co.  Treasurer  and  Farmer 

County  Clerk 

(Jircuit  Clerk 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Painter 

Tobacconist 

Dentist 

Carriage  Manufacturer 
.(  tt 

Constable  and  Collector 

Grocer 

Deputy  Recorder 

Carpenter  and  Builder 

Boiler  Maker 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Star  Mills 
it 

Miller,  Star  Mills 
Butcher 

Manufacturer  of  Hats 
Agricultural  Imp't  Dealer 
Prop.  St.  Clair  Brewery 
Retired  [maun 

Late  husband  of  C-  Shell- 
Prop.  City  Hotel  [Works 
Chief  Eng.  Brosius  Heat'g 
Wholesale  Liquor  Dealer 
Retired         [Monk  Pump 
Pump  Dealer,  Specialty 
Hotel  and  Bar  Clerk 
Dealer  in  Boots  and  Shoes 
Retired  Farmer 
Florist,  German  Garden 
Boarding  and  Saloon 
Deputy  Circuit  Clerk 
Proprietor  Advocate 
Attorney  at  Law 
State  Senator,  49th  Distr't 
Dry  Goods  Merchant 
Clerk  Benedi(!t  House 
Prop.  Hotel  Tremain  and 
Prop,  of Siloon  [City  Park 
Coal  Miner 
Wife  of  J.  T.  Taylor  _ 
Groceries  and  Provisions, 
Editor  and  Reporter 
Retired  [Saloon 

Prop,  of  Wine  and  Beer 
Tobacconist 
Ex-Sherift 
Attorney  at  Law 
Proprietor  Livery  Stable 
Atlorney  at  Law 
Tobacconist 
General  Merchant 
Jeweler         [Notions,  &c 
Dry  and    Fancy  Goods, 
Grocer 

.Attorney  at  Law   [House 
Prop.   Heinrick's    Opera 
Merchant 
Attorney  at  Law 
Recorder  of  Deeds 
Prop.  Gents'   Furni-hing 
Nailor  [Hou.se 

Cash.  Belleville  Sav.  Bank 
Pres.  Belleville  Nail  Co. 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Clerk  National  Hotel 
General  Merchant 
Brick  and  Stone  Dealer 
Photographer 


NATIVITY.         S 


St.  Clair  Co.  11. 

it        tt 

Prague,  Bohem. 
Germany 
St  Clair  Co.  II. 
Na.ssau,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  II. 
Liverpool,  Eng. 

St.  Clair  Co.  II. 

It        it 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.  II. 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.  II. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

St.  Clair  Co.  II. 

Germany 

Edinburg,  Scot- 
Prussia 

Hanover,  Ger. 
Germany 

France 

it 

Germany 

Hanover,  Ger. 

Germany 
it 

Monroe  Co.  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  II. 
Baden,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Germany 

St.  Louis,  Mo- 
st. Clair  Co.  Ill 

'   tt 

Wythe  Co.  Va. 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Switzerland 
Germany 

''  [Pa. 

Schuylkill  Co' 
St.  Louis  Co.Mo 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
South  Carolina 
Clinton  Co.  III. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Germany 

it 

Miss. 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
tt 

S^  Louis,  Mo, 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Baden,  Ger. 
Nassau,  Ger 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Minden,  Prussia 
Prus.'^ia 
Ohio 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Addison  Co.  Vt. 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Ireland 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Germany 


25 
37 
60 
46 
45 
55 
56 
51 
54 
56 
40 
59 
56 
48 
74 
51 
59 
59 
72 
60 
77 
52 
50 
51 
51 
36 
56 
47 
40 
70 
58 
63 
07 
54 
53 
54 
48 
49 
18 
40 
67 
50 
64 
56 
61 
48 
72 
40 
51 
53 
54 
58 
44 
39 
65 
48 
45 
52 
56 
63 
70 
46 
51 
.55 
46 
70 
45 
68 
47 
57 
48 
54 
09 


WEST    BELLEVILLE. 


Biinsen,  George  C. 

Brandenberger,  Wm. 
f  Betts,  Joseph  E.,  Sr. 
1  Mary  M.  Jaques 
f  Betts,  Joseph  E.,  Jr. 
\  Florence  Crowson 
f  Beaird,  John 
I  .Tennette  Fyfe 
(  Beatty,  Jamis 
I  Elizabeth  Lard 
j  Emery,  Joseph 
\  Ann  Parfltt 


Main  street 
West  Belleville 


.Justice  of  the  Peace 

Coal  Mine  Operator 

Miner 

Wife  of  Jos.  E.  Betts,  Sr. 

Miner 

Wife  of  Jos.  E.  Betts,  Jr. 

Coal  Operator 

Wife  of  John  Baaird 

Coal  Operator 

Wife  of  James  Beatty 

(-■oal  Operator 

Wife  of  Joseph  Emery 


Frankford,  Ger. 
E'russia 
Warwick,  Eng. 


Madi.-(on  Co.  111. 
Ireland 
Scotland 
Ireland 

Yorkshire,  Eng. 
Somersetshire, " 


34 

49 
67 
67 
67 
79 
67 
67 
57 
57 
56 
56 


WEST   BELIiEVILLB.-CCoNTiNtJEn.] 


NAME. 


J  Emery,  Mark  P. 

VSiirah  Fropple 
Gintz,  Adam 
Groom,  Robert 
Harding  William 
Jones,  H.  E. 
Kloess,  John- 
Kohl,  Joseph 
Kircher,  Fred. 
Lorenzen,  John 
Listmayr,  Anton  F. 
Pointon,  George 
Huebel,  P. 
f  Bichard.s,  George 

\  "Margaret  James 
Schaefer,  Philip 
Thornbgrg,  John 
Weber,  Philippe 
Weissenborn,  E. 
Weissenborn,  F.  E. 
f  "Wild,  Thomas 

\  Mary  Ann  Johnson 


EESIDENCE. 


West  Belleville 


Main  street 

t( 

West  Belleville 
ii 

u 

ll 

f( 

Main  street 
(( 

It 

>i 

West  Belleville 


OCCUPATION. 


Coal  Miner 

Wife  of  Mark  P.  Emery 
Supt.  Western  Brewery  Co 
Eng.  Brandenberger  Min- 
Coal  Operator       [ing  Co 

KDgineer  Harding  ftEmvr;  tuaolog 
tompany 

Pres  Western  Brewery  Co. 
Sec.  &  Treas.     "  " 

Retired 

Grocer  and  Whnleinli  dealer  In  Ride 
and  Blaatlog  Powder 

Physician  and  tiiirgeoa 

Coal  Operator 

Butcher 

Coal  Operator 

Wife  of  George  Richards 

CI' k  Western  Brewery  Co. 

Proprietor  of  Saloon 

Prop.  Green  Mound  Mines 

Gen.  Merchant  [&  Saloon 

Mem.  Western  Mining  Co 

Coal  Miner 

Wife  of  Thomas  Wild 


NATIVITY. 


Somersetsh'ejEng  68 

72 

Rhein  Bava.,Gr  "" 


Staflfbrd,  Eng. 
England 
Wales 

Rhein  Prussia 
Rhein  Pfaltz.Gr 
Prussia,  Ger. 
Schleswig,  Ger. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
England 
Rhein  Pfallz,Gr 


liincolneh'e.Eng  64 

Pa. 

Prussia 

Carbondale,  Pa, 

Prussia 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 
Staffordsh'e,EDg 


TOWNSHIP    1    KORTH,    RANGE    8    WEST. 


NAME. 


Bornman,  L.  C. 
f  Biebel,  N.  J. 
I  Magdaline  Miller 
f  Bader,  George  S. 
\  Augusta  Hartnagel 
(  Badgley,  Alpheus 
-j  Emeline  Little 
(.  Nancy  Dixon 
f  Beaumont,  John 
\  Naomi  Tempest 
(  Becherer,  Anton 
\  Louise  M.  Fournie 
/  Bartlsmann,  Casper 
\  Burmann,  Mary 
f  Brichler,  John  L. 
\  Magdalena  Muenie 

Badgley,  Henry  L. 

Braun,  John 
f  Chenot,  Augustus 
I  Elizabeth  Boul 
(  Doussard,  J.  R. 
J  Doussard,  Lucien 
(  Martha  Bornman 
— j  Deana,  Henry 
\  Amelia  Jeffs 
f  Fournie,  Victor 
\  Magdelina  Boul 
f  Feder,  John 
\  Catherine  Frettman 
f  Fournie,  Svlvester 
I  Elizabeth  Cully 
/  Fournie,  Joseph 
\  Louisa  C.  Feder 

Puchs,  Gustav  E. 

{Fournie,  Jacob 
Mary  A.  Boul 
/Glenn,- William  M. 
\  Mary  S.  Leigh 
f  Hemmer,  Anthony 
\  Hattil  Burdux 
/  Ha-slam,  Joseph 
1,  Hir.-t,  Mary  A. 
J  Hirst,  Thomas 
\  Hannah  Bodden 
J  Herr,  Louis  J.     [lach 
1  Herr.Maggieif.neeGund 
f  Izatt,  William 
t  Mary  Mathews 

Kammerer,  Fritz 
f  Kurtz,  Jacob 
t  Catharine  Faust 
f  Kraus,  Joseph 
\  Lydia  Butz 
f  Kreilich,  Francois 
t  Mary  Schmisseur 

Koelle,  William 
f  Louis,  John  B. 
1  Catharine  Kern 
J  Louie,  Frank 
\  Josephine  Glouy 
J  Lenz,  August 
\  Amelia  Halbach 


Belleville 


Died 

Bel'eville 

Birkner 

Belleville 


I( 

3 

.t 

13 

" 

24 

ll 

24 

it 

31 

ll 

31 

ll 

31 

Birkner 

7 

<> 

Belleville 

9 

Belleville 


Birkner 


it 

6 

Belleville 

24 

u 

24 

Birkner 

Birkn'r 

Belleville 

Sec.    5 

<( 

14 

it 

14 

u 

14 

tt 

14 

W.  Belleville 

17 

it 

17 

Birkner 

6 

Ctenient.Cli&ton 

CllnfnOo 

Co.,  111. 

LakeSc.3 

Belleville 


Sur.  480 
Sec.  13 
13 
3ur.  373 
373 
Sec.    9 

Sec.  9 
7 
7 

16 
16 


15 
15 
15 
15 

Sec.  31 
31| 

10 
lO' 

31 
3, 

e! 

6 


OCCUPATION. 


Sec.    8 


Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
tt  If  ii 

Wife  of  N.J.  Biebel 
Farmer  &  Vet.  Surgeon 
Wife  of  Geo.  S.  Bader 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
First  wife  of  A .  Badgley 
Present  "  " 

Coal  Operator 
Wife  of  .John  Beaumont 
Farmer  &  Coal  Operator 
Wife  of  Anton  Becherer 
Farmer  &  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  C.  Bartlsmann 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  J.  L.  Brichler 
Farmer 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

U  ll  tt 

Wife  of  Augustus  Chenot 
Farmer  and  Slock  Raiser 
Father  of  J.  R.  Doussard 
-Mother         "  " 

Coal  Operator 
Wife  of  Henry  Deans 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Victor  Fournie 
Farmer 

Wife  of  John  Feder 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Sylv'ter  Fournie 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Joseph  Fournie 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Jacob  Fournie 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Wni.  M.  Glenn 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wifeof  Anth'y  Hemmer 
Prop.Sal.&CoalOper'tor 
Wife  of  Joseph  Haslara 
Coal  Operator 
Wife  of  Thomas  Hirst 
Farmer 

Wife  of  Louis  J.  Herr 
Part,  in  Pollock  Min.  Co 
Wife  of  William  Izatt 
Farmer  and  Carpenter 
Farmer  &  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  Jacob  Kurlz 
Farmer  &  Grape  Grower 
W  ife  of  Jo.seph  Kraus 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  F.  Kreilich  [ator 
Mch't.P.M.&CoalOper 
Farmer 

Wife  of  John  B.  Louis 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Frank  Louis 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  August  Lenz 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

PVance 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Bavaria,  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Tenn. 
England 

BufTalo,  N.  Y. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Hanover,  Ger. 

u  tt 

Lorraine,Fr'nce 
It        ii 

St.' Clair  Co.  111. 

"         ". 
France 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

ti        ll 

West  Indies 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Scotland 

England 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
((        ll 

Bavaria,  Ger. 
Switzerland 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
It        it 

Lincoln  Co.N.C 
Allen  Co.,  Ohio 
St.  Clair  Co,  111. 

li  It 

Lancashire,  Kng 

ti  ii 

England 

it 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

If        ii 

Scotland 
Wales 
Saxony,  Ger. 

Germany 

ti 

tt 

■I 
France 

Wurtemb'rg,  Gr 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

<<        II 

France 
Germany 
Prussia 
Allegheny 


TOWNSHIP  I    NORTH.  RANGE    8    WEST.— [Continued.] 


NAME. 


Louis,  Marie  B.  nee  Chris. 
Louix,  August     [lophe 
Letenipt,  Pa.<ichal 
Lucie  C.  Junod 
Lebert,  John 
Sophia  Louser 
McClintock,  William 
Nancy  Eyman 
Mason,  James 
Elizabeth  Archibald 
Meder,  John 
Fredrika  AUgeyer 
Miller,  B. 
Morrisey,  Thomas 
Margaret  Lotz 
Meder,  Peter 
Margarelta  Gahr 
Miller,  Joseph  E. 
Eva  Ammel 
Marinelli,  E. 
McFarland,  Amanda  J 
McFarland,  David 
Messinger,  May  M. 

Meaainger,  Ida  A.  nee    Klefho- 

ber 
Messinger  .John 
McBride,  ]F.  A. 
Ellen  Mason 
Neuhoff,  George  L. 
Mary  Knoebel 
Powell,  A.  J. 
Padfield,  H. 
Louisa  V.  Valentine 
Phillips,  G.  W. 
Pulliam,  W.  W. 
Eveline  Forster 
Ripley,  James  H. 
Susan  Merrill 
Bandle,  Jesse 
Eliza  Avery 
Stookey,  M.  M. 
Mahala  Little 
Schmisseur,  Louis 
Schmipseur,  Charles 
Emily  Phillips 
Snyder,  Philip 
Clarissa  Stout 
Sarah  Sample 
Stookey,  John  D. 
Mary  Carr 
Schilling,  John 
Madeline  Hoffman 
Stookey,  Edward  D. 
Clementine  Coop 
Tribout,  B. 
Elizabeth  Bronnely 
Margaret  Fournie 
Taylor,  Henry 
Voellinger,  Peter 
Hellen  M.  Schmisseur 
Wild,  John 
Hannah  Porter 
Wilson,  Richard 
Dortha  Mason 
Ward,  J.  T. 
Lucy  Lee  Ash 
Sarah  C.  Ash 
Yooli,  Joseph 
Catherine  E.  Isch 
Zink,  Nicholas 
Mary  Leimon 


p,  office 


Belleville 
Died  M'rch 
Belleville 


Died  M'rch 

W.  BelleTille 
It 

Belleville 
ti 

W.  Belleville 


Belleville 


Died  Feb. 
Birkner 
O' Fallon 
Died  May 
Belleville 

n 

Died  Oct. 

W.  Belleville 
ll 

Belleville 


Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
18  Wife  of  F.  A.  McBride 
Sur.  374'Retired  Farmer 

374  Wife  of  Geo.  L.  Neuhoff  Bavarrii,' Ger. 
368lFarmer  and  Stock  Raiser|  Warren  Co.  Ten 
Sec.  34!' pf^'sto'ii'  "'"^  '"''  ^"''^"  °'  St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


W.  BelleTille 

Belleville 

Died  M'rch 

Belleville 
ll 

Birkner 
(( 

Belleville 
ll 

(I 

W.  Belleville 
ll 

Belleville 

Died  Jan. 

Belleville 
It 

ti 

W.  Belleville 
ll 

Belleville 
tt 

Belleville 
Died  Feb. 
Belleville 

W.  Belleville 


Belleville 
Died  May 
Belleville 
W.  Belleville 


occupation. 


Sec.   8  Retired  Farmer 
25,  '60  Late  hus.  of  M.  B.  Louis 
Sec.    3  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser, 
3  Wife  of  Paschal  Letempt 

1 2  Farmer 

12  Wife  of  John  Lebert 
Sur.  380  Retired  Farmer 
.5, 1875  Late  wife  W.  McClintock 
Sec.  17  Prop.  Hotel  and  Saloon 

17  Wife  of  James  Mason 
1 6  Hos'l  Stew'rd  Poor  Farm 
16  Wife  of  John  Meder 

18  Jariner  and  Miner 
18  Engineer  Yoch  Mines 
18  Wife  of  Thomas  Morrisey 
16  Superintend'!  Poor  Farm 
16  Wife  of  Peter  Meder 

QO  fACiner.  Breeder  of  Shopiliire  Sheep 
„    .„„       and  Yorkihire  Swioe 

28,'80  Late  wife  of  Jos.  E.  Miller 
Sec.    5  Farmer  &  Coal  Operator 
lIFarming&Stock  Raining 
4, 1864'Late  hus.  of  AmandaMc- 


nativity. 


Sec.  2 
2 
17, '80 
Sec.  18 


Farming  [Farland 

Moth.  May  M.  Messinger 


France 
It 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Prussia 

Wurtemb'rg.Gr 

Nicholas  Co.  Ky 

8t.ClairCo.I117 

Scotland 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Germany 

England 

Fayette  Co.  Ill 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Saxony,  Ger. 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
tt  '     (( 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Knox  Co.  Ohio 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Sco'land 

Franlc  ort  on  the  Main, 
German/ 


Tioga  Co.  N.  Y. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Belleville,  111. 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 

England 
It 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


34:WifeofH.  Padflel.t 
18  General  Merchant 
Sur.  377  Retired  Farmer       [liam 
16,  '79  Late  wife  of  W.  W.  Pul- 
Sec.  34:Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
34  Wife  of  Jas.  H.  Ripley 
7  j  Coal  Operator 
7:  Wife  of  Jesse  Randle 
32|  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
32  Wife  of  M.  M.  Stookey 
12  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
7  Prop.  Custom  Mills 
7  Wifeof  Chas.  Schmis.seur 
30  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser, 
24,  '63  list  wife  of  Philip  Snyder  St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Sec.  SOJPrc-s.  "  " 

32  Farra.A  Fine  Stk  Breeder 
32  Wife  of  John  D.  Stookev 
181  Miner 

18  Wife  of  John  Schilling 
29  Farmer  and  Teacher 
29|VVifeof  E.  D.  Stookey 

16  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
2, 1835' First  wife  of  B.  Tribout 
Sec.  ]  6  Present  wife  of        " 

21  Coal  Operator 

19|  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

19  Wife  of  Peter  Voellinger 
18  Miner 

18  Wife  of  John  Wild 
18  Prop.  Wilson's  Grove 
18  Wife  of  Richard  Wilson 

17  Farmer  and  Slock  Raisei 
21, '75  First  wife  of  J.  T.  Ward 
Sec.  17  Present     "         "        " 

If  Farmer  &  Coal  Operatoi 
If  Wife  of  Joseph  Yoch 
If  .Vliner 
If  Wife  of  Nicliolas  Zink 


2 

X 

45 
33 
36 
61 
58 
63 
18 
99 
49 
57 
60 
52 
39 
65 
59 
33 
48 
42 
51 
57 
20 

65 
42 
39 
38 
49 
32 
32 
30 
29 
57 
48 
16 
18 
25 
34 
65 
65 
39 

54 
47 


37 
24 
21 
35 
39 
50 
54 
52 
80 
31 
31 
31 
58 
54 
56 
66 
66 
66 
56 
30 
30 
33 
Prussia  47 

St.  Clair  Co.  111.  51 
Germany  58 

59 


Bavaria,  Ger. 


France 
It 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 

Monroe  Co.  111. 

St.  Nicholas,  Fr, 

France 
If 

Lancashire,  Eng 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


England 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


CITF  OF  EAST  ST.  LOUIS. 


PLAc.  or  business 


Albrecht,  Henry 
Agleyre,  Fred. 
Anthony,  D.  D'. 
Abt,  Paul  W. 
Altewarth,  Charles 
Anderson,  George 
Beasiley,  .Tohn  W. 
Becker,  George  F. 
Brady,  J.  P. 
Baugh,  Levi,  Jr. 
Becker,  J.  P. 
Brown,  Quitman 
Baldwin,  John 
Bunyan,  Maurice 
Bennett,  W.  H. 


occupation. 


Broadway 
City  HI.,  Main  St. 
Cor.  8th  St.  &  Ohio  av 
CoUinsville  ave. 
St.  Clair  ave. 

Nation'l  Stk  Yds. 
Cr.  Col.&St.Lou.avs 
Front  street 
Near  St.  Clair  ave 
Cr.  M'n  &  Mo.  ave 
Main  street 
4th  St.  op.  Mar.  Hse 
near 


Broadway 


nativity. 


Proprietor  of  Saloon 
License  Inspector 
Deputy  Sheriff 
Wholesale  Liquor  Dealer 
Saloon 

Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Salesman  C.  M.  Keys  &  Co 
General  Dry  Goods 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Supt.  E.  St.Louis  Bdg.Co. 
Prop'r  New  York  Bazaar 
Attorney-at-Law 

ratnter,  Dealer  In   Palntcra'   fitook 
and  Wall  Paper. 

Justice  of  the  Peace 
Attorney-at-L»w 


Germany 
Switzerland 
Indiana 
Germany 

Ohio 

Champ'n  Co.  Ill 
St.  Charles,  Mo. 
Ireland 
England 
Germany 
Pike  Co.,  III. 
Pennsylvania 
Ireland 
Sumner  Co.,  Tn 


45 
77 
71 
73 
73 
70 
75 
73 
70 
58 
67 
78 
73 
64 
71 
I 


CITY    OF    EAST    ST.    IjOUIS.— [Continubd.] 


NAME. 


PLACE  OF  BUSINESS 


Baucheus,  Adam 
Biirmeyer,  Fred. 
Bruce,  "W.  C- 
Bruokeir,  William 
Busaon,  F.  P. 
Buckley,  C.  S. 
Burns,  John 
Bauer,  Henry- 
Bowman,  John  B. 
Bird,  J.  W. 
Bevelot,  Clement 
Crotty,  P.  J. 
Canby,  B.  H.  , 
Crotty,  George 
Clark,  W.  H.- 
Caldwell, S.  H. 
Chashin.  John 
Carey,  E.    . . 
Crumrael,  John 
Cleary,  W. 
CromweU,  D. 
Draggon,  J.  L. 
Dufl'y,  Thomas 
Dauach,  George  W. 
Davis,  E.  R. 
Dillon,  John 

Donigan,  F. 

Dooley,  Pat 

Efhart,  Henry 

Elliot,  FI.  and  H. 

EUinger,  Sebastian 

Eddy,  John 

Erfort,  Charles 

Edom,  William 

Freela,  J.  M. 

Fekete,  Thomas  L. 
•   Fitzmaurice,  Patrick 

Flannigen,  A. 

Friesentee=er,  Shnieder 

Frawley,  Con 

Fitzpatrick,  Patrick 

Fitzhenry,  Michael 

Galloway,  George  N 

Gamble,  William 

Grady,  J.  H. 

Oraney,  Thomas 

Green,  George  D. 
j  Goodnow,  Z. 
ID.  De Wolf 

Gulwald,  Frank 

Greer,  W.  H. 

Gorla,  Joseph 

Heims  Brewing  Co. 

Hamer  Stewart,  Edom 

Hamer.  J.  S.      [&  Co. 

Horn,  William 

Hennel,  Henry 

Hanifan,  Daniel 

Hanifan,  Thomas 

Healy,  Michael 

Hornal,  William 

Hall,  Giles 

Hargrave,  George 

HuHchle,  Wendlein 

Hauss,  Herman  C. 

Hempe,  John  F. 

Hankins,  A. 

Hamilton,  S.  A. 

Jones,  J.  W. 

Jennings,  Thomas  C. 

Joyce,  Maurice 

Jarvis,  John  F. 

Kelly,  James  H. 

Kurtz,  William 

Kresse,  Oscar  F. 

Kirk,  Jame<  W. 

Kennedy,  Thomas 

Kehoe,  George 

Ka-ie,  Spencer  M. 

Koenig,  Rev.  Christ'r 

Kempen,  Rev.  F.  J. 

Kleinsenn,  Georga 

Kilkery,  Patrick 

Keiflein,  J.  M. 

Koeeter,  Henry 

Kase,  William  G. 

Lanntz,  W.  P. 

Locke,  George  W. 

Loyingston,  John  B. 

Luecken,  Ed. 


Collinsville  ave. 

Cr.  7th  St.  &  Pa.  av 

Ohio'  &  Colls,  ave 

Missouri  ave. 

Broadway 

Cr.  2d  &  Bond  sts 


OCCUPATION. 


Fr'tst.  n.  Wiggins 
Dyke  ave. 
Main  st. 

p.  O.  TTorden.     R.  Wor'Q, 
"  UadlsoQ,  Co.,  Ill 

Mu.  av.  &  Rouk  Road 

Center  Market 

MeintsBrk,4thst 

4th  Mar.  House 

4th  Ward 

Mo.  av.be  t.  5th  &  6th 

Main  street, 


Retired 

CoDtractor,  Builder,  House-raiser  and 

Mover. 
Meat  Mkt.  and  Sausage  Mfr. 
Tobacco  Sir.  &  Bar.  Shop 
Gro.  Imp.  &  Dlr.  in  Liq. 
Dlr.in  Gro.  &  Liquor* 
Boarding  Hae  &  Saloon 
Boat  Yard  and  Saloon 
Attorney-at-Law 
Stock  Shipper 
Grocer  and  Miller 
Meat  Market 
Atlorney-at-Law:. 
Mar.  Mas.  <^  Com.  Mer. 
Retired  Merchant 
Carpenter  and  Builder 
Section  For  .man  [Casings 


NATIVITY. 


Germany 

Scotland 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

France 

Ireland 

(( 

Bavaria,  Ger. 

Germany 

Madi.son  Co.  Ill 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Ireland 

l.ogan  Co 

Ireland 

Maine 

Virginia 

Ireland 


,0. 


Nat.  Stock  Yards  Pork  Pkr.  &  Mfr.  of  Sausages        " 
Dyke  avenue  Boarding  House  &  Saloon  Prussia 

Meat  Market  Ireland 

Breeder  of  Fine  Horses     New  Jersey 
Agt.  St.  Clair  Mf'g  Co.      Canada 
Iron  Puddler  Ireland 

Cash'r  Workingmen's  Bk.  East  St.  Louis 
Attorney-at-Law.  New  York 

Condr.  St.  Lou.  Bridge  Co.  Ireland 
Liquor  Saloon  Trenton,  N.  J. 

Fore.  Black.  St.  Lou.  Bdg.  Co  Ireland 
Saloon  and  Pool  Room       Germany 
Mfr  Elliot  Pat.  Frgs  &Swtchs  Scotland 
Mfr.  &  Dealer  in  Cigars     Germany 
Prop.  S.  E.  Hotel  &  Sal'n  Wisconsin 
FLshers'  &  Hunters'  Hm.  Baden,  Ger. 
Live  Stock  Com.  Mercht.  Ohio 
Attorney-at-Law  Tennessee 

Ins.,  Real  Est.  &  Finan.  Agt.  Macoupin  Co.  II 
Janitor  of  City  Offices        Ireland 
Attorney-at  Law  Wash'n  Co.,  Ill 

General  Teaming.  Germany 

Proprietor  of  Saloon  Ireland 

Boarding  House  &  Saloon 
Capt.  Tr.  Bt.  "Jno.  Trendley" 
Railroad  Engineer 

St.    L,- 


Dyke  avenue 
St.  Clair  ave. 
4th  Ward  House 
Cr.6thst.&Ill.  av 
3dstreet 

Cr.  4th  &  Br'dway 
4th  St.  op.  Cr.'Mar. 
Cr.  2d  St.  &  Mo.  av 
Fr't  St.  &  Dyke  av 
Dyke  avenue 
Main  street . 
M'Qst.  R.St  Lou.  Mo 
Broadway 
Fr.  St.  &  Wiggins 
Or.  Br.  &  Stk  Yds  av 
Nat.  Stock  Yards 
Main  street 

Miasourt    ave..    Jackelsch 
iluUdlng. 

Or.  3d  St.  &  DIv.  av. 
4th  St.  Meints  blk 
2311  Mar.  St.  St.  Lou. 
Front  street 
St.  Clair  ave. 
3d  St.  3J  Ward 
Belleville  Pike 
Collinsville  av. 
Or.  7th  &  Ohio,  av 

Ciiy  Hall  4bll  St.    Bua.  6th 
St.  &  Mo.  ave. 

Cor.  Mo.  &  Collsv.  av 
Missouri  avenue 
<i  It 

Broadway 
Nat.  Stock  Yds. 
Fr.  St.  &  Christy  av 
111.  av.&  Bell.  Pk. 
Nat.  Stock  Yards 

Missouri  avenue 
Cr.  Short  st.  &  Div.  av 
Cr.  2d  &  Mo.  ave. 

CltT   H«ll.    Res.  cor.  6tli 

Mo.  ave. 
City  Hall 
Gulls,  avenue,  bet.  Summit 

and  St.  Clair  ave. 

Collinsville  avenue. 
Mullikenstbt2d43d 
Dyke  av.  nr.  Front 
Dyke  avenue 
St.  Clair  avenue 
Nat.  Stock  Yards 
>i  •< 

Mo.  av.  n.  Rel.  dpt 

Mo  av  Jaekeisch  bdg 
Cr.  Main  &  Brdwy 
Troy,  Mad.  Co.  Ill 
4th  St.  nr.  Cty  Crt. 
Missouri  avenue 
Cor.  Mo.lfe  St.  Lou.  av 
Collinsville  ave. 
Bea.  Missouri  ave. 
Cr.  3d  St.  &  Mo.  av 
Cr.  Mo.  &  Colls,  av 
Cr.  6th  &  Brdway 

tt  M  tl 

Collinsville  ar. 
Winter  st.  3d  Wrd 
Third  st.  3d  Ward 
Belleville  Pike 

Office  Mais  st.    Res.  cor. 

MaiQ  and  Growers 
Fourth  nr.  Broadw'y 
Brdwy.  Res.  6th  .st 
Fr.  &  Milliken  sts 
Broadway 


sat.   Yard  Master  Wabaali, 
Pie.  K.  R. 

Carpenter  and  Builder. 
Justice  of  the  Pea,ce 
Attorney-al-Law  • 
Proprietor  Relay  Retreat 


Mfr.  of  Saddles  &  Har. 
With  MuUlinll  Scanlan 
Hotel  and  Saloon 
Brewers 

Live  Slock  Com.  Merehts 
Stock  Dealer 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Contractor  and  Builder 

Hotel  and  SatoOD.    Passenger  Direc- 
tor at  Relav  Depot 

Clerk  of  City  Court. 
Deputy  Sheriff 

Foreman     Blacksmith     at     Elliott's 
Shoiis 

Mfr.  of  Gd.  4  Sil.  Amal.  Moh 
Contractor  and  Builder 
iVIsat  Market 
Dealer  in  Flour  and  Feed 
Groceries  and  Liquors 
Shipping  Master 
Stock  Dealer 
Supt.E.St.  L.&C.B.R 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Dlr.  in  Gro.,  Liq.  &  Gen.Mchd 
Farmer  &  Stock  Shipper 
Conatable 

Cigar  Manufacturer 
Variety  Store 

St.    Clair  Go.  Correspondent  for  the 
St.  Louis  "  Republican." 

Coal  Merchant. 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Attorney-at-Law 
Reo.  St.  Henry's  E.  C.  Chr. 

Rector  Immaculate  Conception  Rom, 
Oath.  Church  at  Ceuterville  Station. 

Tonsoriai  Artist 

License  Inspector 

Cpr.  TugBt"S.C.Clubb" 

Groceries  and  Liquors 

Attorney-at-Law 

Attorney-at-Law 

Lumber  and  Real  Estate 
Undertaker 


Ohio 

Canada 

Missouri 

Ireland 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Belgium 

.Austria 

Ohio 

Switzerland 

Austria 


Logan^  Co.,  O. 
Germany 
Ohio 
Ireland 


Scotland 

England 

Wayne  Co.  N.Y 

Germany 

Kentucky 

Germany 

Illinois 


Virginia 

Chautau.Co.,N.Y. 

Ireland 

Madison  Co.,  Ill 

Co.  Armaugh,  Ire, 

Germany 

Saxony,  Ger. 

New  York 

Ireland 

Gulf  of  Mexico 

Pennsylvania 

Prussia 

Germany 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Ireland 

E.  St.  Lou.,  111. 

Germany 

Pennsylvania 

Ohio 

Germany 


60 

70 
79, 
67 
641 
63 
70j 
40 
50, 
44 
55 
58 
T 
58 
64 
75 
57 
77 
64 
6 
67 
73 
73 
55 
69 
67 
65 
70 
59 

66 
50 
76 

74 
72 
51 
71 

57 
79 

72 
60 
63 
C4| 
65i 
7. 
72 
72 
79 
73 
71 
65 

7 
66 
68 
60 
65 
58 
70 
77 
68 
58 
72 
80 
73 
79 
73 
60 
67 


CITY    OF    EAST    ST.    LOUIS. -[Continued  ] 


PLACE  OF  BUSINESS 


Lohrer,  L. 
Loesch,  John 
f  Little,  Jarvis  &  Co. 
\  William  B.  Jarvis 
Leber,  Fritz 
Lynn,  R.  B. 
Moolz,  Albert 
Mauer,  Charles 
Mootz,  Herman 
Mehlig,J.  M. 
Melzler,  Charles 
Martell,  M. 
Mes-ick,  .1.  B. 
-Meumann,  Theodore 
Meints,  Albert  M. 
Mahoney,  John 
Mirhlfelt,  Conrad 
Millard,  M. 
Mead,  Mike 
McLean,  John  J. 
Mahoney,  John 
Mooney,  L.  F. 
Mitchell,  Lee  B. 
Mahoney,  Michael 
McGinnis,  John  H. 
Miller,  F. 
Meehan,  J.  H. 
McLaughlin,  Michael 
Merz,  John 
Myers,  John 
Niemes,  John 
Noton,  Isaac  [Co. 

/  National    Stock  Yard 
\  Isaac  H.  Knox 
Oit,  M.  C. 
O'Neill,  Frank 
Oebike,  Henry 
O'Halloran.VeryP.  J. 
O'Brien,  P.  H. 

O'Melveny,  Geo.  F. 

Payne,  diaries  H. 

Pahde,  Theodore 

Pracht,  Michael 

Parent,  Louis 

Pollard,  Hugh  F. 

(Juarney,  M. 

Qaarney,  Thomas 

Querney  Brothers 

Rechtern,  H.  C. 

Rafter,  James  J. 

Renshaw,  John  W. 

Roe,  Richard 

Roewe,  Henry 

Rohm,  Christ 

Reeb,  C. 

Reliford,  Charles 

Rhedemeyer,  B. 

Rodgers,  J.  A. 

Ricksher,  J.  H. 

Strecker,  C.  F. 

Strickler,  P.  J. 

Steiner,  Jacob 

Stnrner,  Fred. 

Stephens,  M.  M. 

Stephenson,  James 

Spremberg,  Adolph  R. 

Summers,  B.  J. 

Schmidt,  Sebastian 

Sickking,  J.  B. 

Shannon,  James 

Sickels,  John  M. 

Seibert,  John 

Schiereck,  Theodore  F. 

Scanlan,  P.  P. 

Sackmann,  Henry 

SutcliiFe,  John 

Sternkopf,  Henry 

Seibert,  George 

Sullivan,  P.  M. 

Schaub,  George 

Stack,  p.  H. 

Sullivan,  D. 

Schlenaker,  C. 

Surwald,  Caaper 

Snowball,  J.  J. 

Schneider,  Theodore 

Sheer,  J.  M. 

Thoene,  George 

Tissier,  Maurice  F. 

Trendley,  John 


OCCUPATION. 


Dyke  avenue 

Car  St.  Perry  liandiag,  St. 
Louia,  Uu. 

National  Stock  Yds. 

P.O.  Trov.Ill.    Res.  Troj 
ill. 

Collsv.  &  Summit  av 
Nat.  Stock  Yards 
Mitsouri  ave. 
Collinsville  ave. 
Cr.  Coll.  &  III.  av 

lollinsville  ave. 
Cr.  4th  &  Brdwy 
Missouri  avenue 

0.  av.  Jaclceisch  bg 
Collinsville  ave. 
Cr.  4th  &  Mo.  av. 
Cr.  2d  &  St.  Clair  av. 
Broadway 
4ih  nr.  Broadway 
Cr.Christy&  Bk'n.ave 
Cr.7thst.&Mo.av 
2d  St.  Xd  Ward 
F't  &  Wiggins  sts 
East  End  Bridge 
Christy  avenue 
St.  Louia,  Mo. 
National  Sik  Yds. 
Collinsville  ave. 
St.  Clair  ave. 
Fourth  street 
Chraty  av.  nr.3dsl 
Cr.  5th  &  Mo.  ave. 
4th  at.  &  Div.  ave. 
Nat.  Stock  Yards. 
Res.  St.  Louis,  Mi 

Ninth  St.  bet.  Summitaud 
Peun-Jlv  aoia  ave. 

Illinois  Cty,  4th  Wrd 
Bdwy  &  Collsv.  av 
Cr.  6th  &  Brdwy. 
3d  &  Christy  ave. 
Broadway. 
Cr.  3d  &  Mo.  ave 
4th  St.  n.  Mar.  Hae 
Main  street 

Oih    at.  bet.  Summit  and 
Penna.  ave. 

St  Clair  avenue 
5lh  St.  near  III.  ave 
Main  street 
Main  &  B.  B.  sts. 
Cr.  4th  &  Brdwy 
4th  St.  op.  Cty.  Ct 
Main  street 
Cr.  6th&Sum'tav 
Collinsville  ave. 
Center  Market 
Cor.  Main  &  Bdwy 
St.  Clair  avenue 
Front  street 
Cr.  Br.  &  Stk.  Yds.  av 
Dyke  avenue 
Collinsville  ave 
Cr.  Coll.  &  St.  Lou  av 
Collinsville  ave, 
Broadway 
Coll.  &  Summit  av 
Cr.5th  &Ohioav 
Collinsville  ar. 
Fourth  street 
Cr.  3d  St.  &  Mo.  av 
Bdwy.  Res  111.  av 
City  Hall,  Main  st 
Broadway 
Cr.  Bdwy  &  Mn  st 
Collinsville  ave. 
F't  &  Wiggina  sts. 
Third  at.  3d  Ward 
Broadway 
Brady  St.  nr.  Main 

Main    bet.   CJonverae    and 
Bond. 

Cr.  3d  &  Menard  sts. 

Broadway 

Cr.  3d  &'Dyke  av 

Nat.  Stock  Yards 

Kast  St.  Lou.  Lot  8,  Ca- 
hokia  Commoua. 

St  Clair  avenue 
Cr.  6th  &  Sum.  av. 
Nat.  Stock  Yarda 
O.  &  Miss.  Shops 
Cr.  Collinsv.  4111.  av, 
Cr.  4ih  &  Brdwv 


Groceries  anil  Liquors 
Proprietor  Saloon 
Live  Slock  Com.  Mchts. 

Meat  Market 

Live  Stk  dlr.  Hogsaaptly 

Druggist 

Hdwr.  Stoves  &  Tin  Wre. 

Druggist 

Mfr.  Boots  &  Shoes 

Oyster  House  &  Saloon 

Hotel  and  Saloon 

Attorney-at-Law 

Cashier  E.  St.  Lou.  Bank 

Whsle.  &  Eetl.  Gro.  &  Liq.  Dr 

Boarding  House  and  Bar 

Surgeon  and  Barber 

Attorney-at-Law 

Highland  House 

Capt.  Steamer  "  Cahokia" 

General  Teaming 

As.  Yd.  Mst.  W.  St.  L.  &  P.E.R 

Propr.  Lee's  Saloon 

l^re.  P.  H.  O'Brien,  Contr 

Cap.  Fer.  Stm.  "Springlield." 

ririu  Daily.  Miller  &  Co.,  Live  Stocl£ 
Comnii».-tlon  Merchants. 

.Stock  Dealer  and  Trader. 

Saloon 

Mgr.  Me.verStrattmann'sLiv, 

Mate     Steamer      ''Napulcon      Mli- 
llliln." 

Cont'r  Brick  &  Stone  Work 
Justice  of  the  Peace 

President  Nat.  Stk  Yards 

Contractor  and  Proprietor  or  Falling 
Springs  Stone  Quarry. 

Stneli  Dealer  &  Tiader 
Whole.  &  Ret.  Grocer 
Rec.  St.  Pat.  R  C.  Ch. 
Contractor 
Attorney-at-Law 
(Jroctries  and  Liquors 
Propr.  Rest,  and  Saloon 
Cigar  Manufacturer 
Br.  &  St.  Mas.  &  Builder 
Groceries  and  Liquors 
Teaming 

Groceries  and  Liquors 
Gro.,  Tobacco  &  Liquors. 
Dealer  in  Dry  Goods  Si  Clthg. 
Attorney-at-Law. 
Chief  of  Police 
Whole.  &  Ret.  Grocer 
Dealer  in  Flour  &  Feed 
.Vlt.  Mar.  &  Sau.  Manftr. 
Saloon  and  Pool  Room 
Hotel  and  Saloon 
Cigar  Manufacturer 
Nat.  Hotel  and  Saloon 
Carpenter  and  Builder 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Groceries  and  Liquors 
Stock  Dealer  and  Trader 
Cigar  Manufacturer 
Propr.  4th  Ward  House 
Groceries,  Milk  &  Coal 
Cigar  Manufacturer 
Carpenter  and  Builder 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Post  Master 
City  Clerk 

Mfi'.&Dlr.inSad.&IIar 
Meat  Market 
Paperhang.  &  Calciminer 
Fore.  P.  H.  O'Brien,  Con'r 
Ast.  Spt.  Wiggins  Fer.  Co. 
Fur.,  Stove.s  &  H.^sekeep'g  Gdf- 

Manufact'r  of  Wooden  Faucets,  Bungs. 
Mullets,  etc. 

Propr.  Meat  Market 
Groceries  and  Liquors 
Hdwr.  Stoves  &  Frm.  Imj 
Hotel  and  Saloon 
Stock  Dealer  and  Tradei 
Farmer  &  Mfr.  of  Broomh 
Boarding  House  &  Saloon 
Rd.  Mas.  C.&  A.  R.  B. 
With  Jacob  Bogel 
Master  Mechanic 
Sal.,  Mt.  Mar.  &  Sausage  Fa' 
Ed.  E.St.  Lou.  "Herald 


NATIVITY. 


Baden,  Ger. 
Germany 

Madison  Co.,  Ill 

Germany 

Ireland 

Germany 

Illinois 

Germany 

Saxony,  Ger. 

Germany 

N.  Orleans,  La. 

Macoupin  Co.  II 

Prussia 

Germany 

Ireland 

Germany 

Pennsylvania 

Ireland 

Cincinnati,  O. 

Ireland 

Indiana 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Ireland 

Pennsvlvania 

Michigan 

England 

Germany 

New  Orleans 

Germany 

England 

New  York 
Pennsylvania 
New  York 
Prussia 
Ireland 

Monroe  Co.,  Ill 
St.  Clias.  Co.  Mo 
Germany 

Quebec,  Can. 
Mason  Co.,  111. 
Ireland 


Germany 
Augusta,  Me. 
Madis'n  Co.  Ind 
England 
Germany 


Ohio 

Hanover,  Ger. 
Bourbon  Co.  Ky 
Germany 


50 


66 
69 
75 
71 
74 
56 
75 
67 
72 
66 
66 
70 
64 
64 
73 
.42 
55 
76 
45 
65 


Cr.  3d  &  Mulliken  sts  Loc.  Agt.  Wiggins  Fer.  Cc 


Virginia 
Germany 

Pennsylvania 

Kentucky 

Prussia 

Indiana 

Germany 

Holland 

Ireland 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Germany 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Xew  York  City 

Germany 

Yorkshire,  Eng. 

Geroiany 

Ireland 
Germany 

Ireland 

i( 

Prussia 

Gtrmany 

England 

Ohio 

New  York 

Prussia 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Germany 


69 
0 
70 
70 
61 
49 


71 
4. 
58 
73 
67 
73 
77 
78 
79 
65 
79 
59 
57 
56 
61 
69 
44 
54 
65 
56 
50 
68 
60 
70 
50 
77 
70 
76 
57 
68 
3 
68 
74 
62 
57 
70 
77 
71 
79 
74 
43 
70 
72 
57 
57 
37 
63 
75 
55 
73 
72 
80 
74 
62 
72 
25 


CITY    OF    BAST    ST.    IiOUlS.-[CoNTiNUED.] 


NAME. 


PLAC.  OF  BUSINESS 


Trendley,  H.  E. 
Vonuahme.  Joseph 
Voelker,  Henry 
"Wallace,  Edmund 
Walsh,  Micliael 
Ware,  Charles  T. 
Winstanley,  Thomas 
Wittich,  Josephine 
Weick,  Capt.  Joseph 
Wolf,  Philipp 


Belleville  Pike 
Cr.  5th  &  Mo.  av. 
St.  Clair  avenue 
Coilinsv.  Sc  Ohio  ave. 
4th  &  Mo.  ave. 
Cr.  Mo.  &  Coll.  av. 
9th  St.  bt.  111.  &  0.  av. 
Front  street 

Christy  av.  bet.  2d,  b  3d 

streets. 
East  St.  Louis 


OCCDPATION'. 


Cap.  Str."  E.C.Wiggins" 
Wholesl.  &  Retl.  Gro.  &  Liq'rs 
Family  Grocer 
Wholesl.  &  Ret.  Liq.  Dlr. 

.Judge  City  Court 
Pros.  E.  St.  Lo.  Bnk  &  Captl'st 
Propr.  Wine  &  Beer  Sal. 
Cp.  Str. '  Napoleon  Mulliken ' 
Farmer  and  Contractor 


NATIVITY. 


St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Ireland 

New  York 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Austria 

Germany 


CITY  OF  ST.  LOUIS,  3IO. 


Ahrens,  George 
Dngdell,  Wm.  T. 
Enters,  John  &  Co. 
Feickert,  Jacob 
Fritz,  Charles 
Guion,  James  A. 
Gay,  Edward 
Hoffman,  George 
Hilger,  E.  &  Co. 
Imbs,  J.  F. 
Lemp,  Wm.  J. 
McFall,  John 
Nien^tedt,  Henry  C. 
Priber,  E.  C. 
Schweiokhardt,  Henry 
Smart,  Thomas  K. 
Wardrop,  Charles  B. 
Wingate,  R.  F. 


Cr.  2d  &  Mar.  Sts. 
Un.&N'l.StkYds 
Cr.  2d  &  Wal.  sts. 
Cr.  2d  &  Markt  ste 
1312  Park  avenue 
318  Cedar  street 
121  Nth.  2d  street 
1715  Nth.  11th  8t. 
511  N.  Main  str. 
Cor.  Main  &  Elm 

2d  Caroudelct  av.  &  Ara'l 
street. 

Four  Coui'ta 
118  &  120  Vine  st 
407  Nth.  3d  street 
1019  Hickory  st. 
Cr.  4lh  &  Olive 

21SN.4th&3?GOI.  St. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 


With  Jacob  Peickert 

Live  Stk  Com.  Moht. 

Distr.  &  Wholesl.  Liq.  Dlr 

Saloon 

Retired 

Capt.  St'r  "  Edwardsville"' 

Sugar  Factor 

Capt.  St'r  "E.  St.  Louis  " 

Wholesale  Hardware 

Flour  Merchant 

Propr.  Western  Brewery 

Pres.  Riv.  Render'g  Co. 

Restaur.ant  and  Saloon 

Prop.  Napa  &  Sonoma  Wine  Co 

Retired 

Lupes  Saloon 

Cigars  and  Tobacco 

Attorney-at-Law 


Hanover,  Ger. 
Scott  Co.,  111. 

Germany 

Carondelet,  Mo. 
Virginia 
Philada.,  Pa. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Alsace,  France 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Pennsylvania 
Brunswick,  Ger. 
Germany 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
Fairfield  Co.,  0 
New  York  City 
Boone  Co.,  Ky. 


60 


33 


40 


49 


TOWNSHIP  3  NORTH,  RANGK  10  WEST. 


f  Archer,  Frederick 
\  Josephine  R.  Hall 
Gramer,  David 
Kennedy,  Lawrence 
Pettiford,  James  A. 
Pope,  Abram 
Richardson,  Felix 
Stiles,  John  R. 
West,  William 


p.  orricE. 

EESID. 

Venice 

Brkl'n 

(1 

i> 

„ 

See.  9  3-9 
Had.  Co. 

Brklyn. 
Sec.  9  3-9 
Mad.  Co. 

OCCUPATION. 


General  Merchant 
Wife  of  Fred.  Archer 
Proprietor  of  Saloon 
Butcher 
Marshal 

Saloon  Bagatelle 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Justice  of  the  Peace 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 


NATIVITY. 


Alabama 
Louisiana 
Tennessee 
New  Jersey 
Madison  Co.  Ill 
Mississippi 
Miss. 

New  Jersey 
Phillip  Co.  Ark 


CAHOKIA    COMMON    FIELDS. 


I  Boiirdeaux,Narcisso  Sr 
t  Mary  Pillette 
j  Bevelot,  Frank 
t  Margaret  Vizar 
j  Beasley,  J.  A. 
\  Josephine  Kelley 
(  Brouilette,  Oliver 
J  Margaret  Eunon 
(  Brouilette,  M. 
/  Chartrand,  David 
\  Mary  Trumble 
I  Chapman,  Louis 
t  Julia  Wilson 
j  Droit,  T.C._ 
\  Adeline  Lalimeire 
f  Dupnis,  Joe 
\  Cora  Lavalle 
f  Etienne,  Joseph  E. 
t  Mary  E.  Droit 
f  Etienne,  Celcstin 
t  Mary  Ploudre 
f  Fulchiron,  Claude 
\  Adalina  Joubard 

Gamlin,  Charles  A. 
I  Gerber,  Christ 
t  Adeline  Chatillion 
f  Godin,  Peter,  Jr. 
\  Adeline  Jarvey 
C  Herbert,  Edward 
i  Herbert,  John  B. 
I  Louisa  Allery 
f  Illinski,  A.  X. 
\  Jayne  Butler 

Isch,  Anthony 
f  Jarvis,  Jule 
\  Florine,  Simonew 
f  Jacquot,  August  _ ; 
t  Philomena  Antoine 


E,  St.  Louis 


C'ville  Sta. 


E.St.  Louis 


C'ville  Sta. 
It         it 

E.St.  Louis 


Died  Jan 
E.  St.  Louis 


C'ville  Sta, 


C'hokia 

Sur.  124' 
It 

C'hokia 
(I 

Sur.  108 
(( 

tt 

Sur.    90 
ti 

C'hokia 

n 

Sur.  72 

Cahokia 

Sur.  52 
It 

tt 

tt 

Sur.  130 
(1 

C'hokia 
tt 

tt 


Farmer 
Wife  of 
Farmer 
Wife  of 
Teacher 
Wife  of 
Farmer 
Wife  of 
Farmer 


and  Stock  Raiser 
N.  Bonrdeaux 
and  Stock  Raiser 
Frank  Bevelot 

J.  A.  Beasley 
and  Stock  Raiser 
Oliver  Brouilette 
and  Stock  Raiser 


Sur.  62 
23,  '63 
Sur.  62 

C'hokia 

Sur  125 
Sur.  123 

Sur.  60 


Wife  of  David  Chartrand 

Farmer 

Wife  of  Louis  Chapman 

Farmer  and  Slock  Raiser 

WifeofT.  C.  Droit 

Carpenter 

Wife  of  Joe  Dupnis 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  J.  E.  Etienne 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Celestin  Etienne 

Machinist  &  Saloon  Kpr 

Wife  of  ClaudQ Fulchiron 

Saloon  Keeper 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Christ  Gerber 

Saloon  Keeper 

Wife  of  Peter  Godin,  Jr. 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Father  of  E.  Herbert 

Mother    "  " 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Wife  of  A.  X.  Illinski 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

tt  t, 

Wife  of  Jule  Jarvis 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  A.  Jacquot 


Canada 
Cahokia 
France 
Switzerland 
Ripley  Co.,  Mo 
St.ClairCo..  Ill 
Knox  Co.,  Ind. 


St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
tt        tt 

East  St.  Louis 

Tennessee 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Canada 

Cahokia 

France 

St.  Louis  Mo. 

France    • 

St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

France 

tt 

St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

Switzerland 

Mo. 

St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 


Cahokia,  111 
Prairie  Du  Pont 
Poland 
Cahokia,  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 


France 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill, 


CAHOKIA    COSOION   FIBIiDS.— [Continued.] 


NAME. 


Letempt,  John  B. 
f  Letempt,  John  B. 
\  Elonore  Bouisonenne 
/  Lavalle,  Joseph,  Jr. 
\  Clementine  Valentine 
J  McCracken,  Nicholas 
\  Fiorina  Brackett 

Morisseau,  Louis  V. 
f  Marion  Peter  I.  C. 
\  Victorine  Klein 
f.  Ploudre,  Louis 
\  Elmire  Geurard 
(  Paridy,  Benjamin 
]  Louisa  Tillison,  Dec'd 
I  Mary  Silvey,  Dec'd 
/  Pfeiffer,  Anthony 
I  Mary  A.  Chinesseur 
f  Perio,  Alexander 
\  Gertrude  Smith 

Queiry,  Robert 
f  Bayot,  Auguste 
\  Julia  Cnenot 

Russel,  William  H. 
f  Recordon,  L.  B. 
i  Recordon,  Chas.  Jules 
(  Catherine  Pthiroh 
/  Soucy,  Clovis 
t  Mary  Toupen 
(  Simmons,  H.  B. 
\  Julia  Bowler 
f  Touche'te,  Andrew 
\  Nancy  Moorehouse 

Tojo,  Benito 
/  Touchette,  Baptiste 
\  Judith  Bisson 
f  Trumble,  Joseph 
\  Angeline  Letempt 
f  Voudrey,  Anthony 
t  Angeline  Rodgers 

{Von  Closter,  Evo 
Mary  A.  Patrie 
Julia  Polkia,  Dec'd 
/  Voudrie,  Joseph 
1  Rosa  Ann  Richard 
f  Werest,  Michael 
I  Mary  Beatrey 
/  Wachtel;  Frederick 
\  Catherine  Hertz 


p.  OFFICE. 


C'ville  Sta. 


C'ville  Sta 
tt        tt 

E.  St.  Louis 
tt        ft 

tt        tt 

C'ville  Sta. 
((        tt 

E.  St.  Louis 

tt        ii 

Died 

(I 

E.  St.  Louis 

tt  a 

C'ville  Sta 


RESID. 


E.  St.  Louis 
tt        It 

C'ville  Sta, 

E.  St.  Louis 
It        11 

C'ville  Sta. 
((        ti 

E.St.  Louis 


Cenfville 
Station 


3ur  128 


C'hokia 


Cenfvllle 
Station 

C'hokia 

K 

1861 

1868 

C'hokia 
tt 

Gent'ville 
Station 


OCCUPATION. 


nativity. 


Sur.  128 
67 

'  67 
'  61 
'  61 

Sur.  119 


Cent'ville 
Station 


Cakokia 

Madison  Co.,Ill 

Kaskaskia,  111. 

Cahokia        17 

France 

Calcutta 

France 

St.ClHirCo.,111. 

St.  Joseph  Mo. 

St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

Illinois 

France 

St.  Clair  Co.,  III. 

Cahokia 

Quincy,  III. 

Ray  Coi,  Mo. 

France 
tt 

Penn 

St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

Switzerland 

France 

Canada 

Cahokia,  111. 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


C'ville  Sta  Sur.  50  Farmer  and  Stock  R'liser  St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

50  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  J.  B.  Letempt 

E.St.  LouLK  C'hokia  Carpen'er 

Wife  of  Jo.'eph  Lavalle 
Retired  Merchant 
Mother  of  N.  McCracken 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Civil  Engineer 
Wife  of  P.  I    C.  Marion 
C'ty  Com.  &  Gen'l  Merh'f 
Wife  of  Louis  Ploudre 
Farmer  and  Constable 
First  wife  of  Benj.  Paridy 
Late         "  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Anthony  Pfeiffer 
Carpenter 

Wife  of  Alex.  Perio 
Sur.  62  Saloon  Keeper 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Auguste  Rayot 
Farmer 
Farming 

Father  of  L.  B.  Recordon 
Mother    " 

Farmer  &  Road  Super'sr  Canada  51 

Wife  of  Clovis  Soucy  Cahokia,  111.  54 
Physician  and  Surgeon  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.  51 
Wife  of  H.  B.  Simmon.-  "  "  57 
P.  M.  Station  Agt.  &  Sal.  Kpr  "         "  3S 

Wife  of  And.  Touchette  England  4'2 

General  Merchant  Spain  66 

Farmer,  Stock  Eaiser  &  J.  P.  St.  Clair  Co.,  III.  43 
Wifa  of  Baptist  Touchette  "  "  44 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  ''  ''  38  ' 
Wife  of  Joseph  Trumble  "  '•  41 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  "  "  42 
Wife  of  Anth'y  Voudrey  "  "  50 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  Belgium  50 

Pres't  wife  ofEvoVon  Closter  Germany  42 

First        "  "  France  47 

Sur.  98  "I™?';'  ^'°°''  ^'="  ""  "«  '^"'-  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.  29 
Wifeof  Joseph  Voudril  France  36 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  Ohio  49 

Wifeof  Michael  Werest  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.  48 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  Germany  56 

Wife  of  Fred.  Wachtel      France  55 


43 
43 
51 
48 
56 
22 
98 
56 
47 
52 
46 
48 
32 
49 
59 
54 
57 
45 
45 
80 
37 
57 
64 
56 


TOWNSHIP  2  SOUTH,  RANGE   9  WEST. 


f  Brandes, August 

1  Charlotta  Neubrath 

Frank  Andreas 
/  Ganter,  Henry 
\  Lena  Kemper 
r  Horn,  Charles  C. 
\  Dorotha  Daech 
/  Kenning,  Joseph  E. 
I  Mary  Hamer 
f  Sensel,  Henry 
1  Elizabeth  Skaer 
f  Vogel,  John 
1  Mary  F.  Hoffman 


Floraville 

Sec.  lO.Teacher  &  Notary  Public 

ii 

10 

Wife  of  August  Brandes 

u 

F'viUe 

Blacksmith  &  Wag'n  Mkr 

If 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Wife  of  Henrv  Ganter 

tt 

General  Merchant 

tt 

(I 

Wife  of  Charles  C.  Horn 

Padaborn 

Pada'n 

Teacher 

ii 

tt 

Wife  of  Jos.  E.  Kenning 

Floraville 

Fville 

General  Merchant 

i( 

<i 

Wife  of  Henry  Sensel 

Sec.    9 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

K 

9 

Wife  of  John  Vogel 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

Prussia 
(( 

Ohio 
Indiana^ 
Bosslach.  Prns' 
St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 
Penn. 
Pra.ssia 


59 
45 
50 
77 
59 
40 
48 
79 
79 
47 
39 
38 
51 


TOWNSHIP   1  SOUTH,  RANGE   10  WEST. 


f  Arras,  John 

\  Elizabeth  Mueller 

(.  Gustena  Cook 

f  Bange,  Frederick 

■<  Christiana  Hoffmann 

(.  Louisa  Mund 

r  Baus,  John 

\  Margt.  Shellenberger 

f  Dannahold,  John 

\  Caroline  Krupp 

|Gray,  C.C. 

\  (JatherineQuinlan 

/  Lippire,  Frederick 

1  Margaretta  Ganzner 

f  Schmiedt,  Margaretta 

j  Schmiedt,  Nicholas 

1  Schmiedt,  George 

[  Fannie  J.  Meyer 


Millstadt 

Sec.  13 

Died  Feb. 

26,  '71 

Millstadt 

Sec.  13 

ti 

1 

Died  Sept. 

20,  '64 

Millstadt 

Sec.    1 

Columbia 

2 

(( 

2 

Millstadt 

13 

tt 

13 

tt 

1 

II 

1 

Colnmbia 

1 
1 
1 

II 

Died    Aug. 

15,  '75 

Columbia 

Sec.    1 

II 

1 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
First  wife  of  John  Arras 
Pres'  wife  of  John  Arras 
Farmer  &  Road  Super'sr 
First  wife  of  Fred.  Bange 
Pres'        "  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Baur 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Dannahold 
Farmer  &  Sob.  Teacher 
Wife  of  C.  C.  Gray 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Fred.  Lippire 
Farming  &  Stock  Raising 
Late  husband  of  M.Soh  miedt 

Son    of    Margaretta    and    Nicllolas 

Schmiedt 
Wife  of  George  Schmiedt 


Chambersburg 

33 

Monroe  Co., 

ill. 

II              •! 

71 

Germany 
ti 

42 
39 
64 

fi 

France 

58 

II 

47 

St.  Clair  Co. 

111. 

38 

Germany 

46 

Ohio     . 

71 

St.  Clair  Co. 

111. 

51 

St.  Clair  Co. 

111. 

39 

Tenn. 

63 

France 

44 

If 

39 

St.  Clair  Co. 

,111. 

54 

France 

76 

TOWNSHIP   1,   SOUTH.     RANGE  9,  WEST. 


NAME. 


Millstadt 


P.  OFFICE. 


(  Askin,  Charles  T. 
t  Malinda  J.  Eiissel 
(  Altschuh,  George 
•]  Altschuli,  Jacob 
(  Mary  Keek 

I  Baltz,  Fred  rich 
\  Ragena  Eichert 

(  Backer,  Fred. 
\  Mary  Miller 

(  Brenfleck,  Valentine 
\  Barbara  Funsch 

(  Bangert,  William 

■!  Mary  A.  Mild 

(  Elvina  Schulze 

I  Briesaeher,  Henry 

\  Catharine  Diesel 

J  BruegKenjuergen.Herm'n 

\  Victoria  Besae 
^  J  Boemer,  Casper 
'  \  Catharine  Roderaicli 

(  Breidecker,  P.  Fr. 

<  Catharine  Justin 

I  Christiana  Herrmann 

J  Baur,  Franz     • 

\  Catharine  Weber 
(  Boemer,  Frederick 

t,  Catharine  Miller 

iBaird,  Edward 
Baird,  Evan 
Baird,  Mary 
J  Cajacob,  George 
\  Catharine  Greenowold 
J  Dohrmann,  Henry,  Sr. 
\  Mary  Blette 
J  Doerr,  John 
\  Catherine  Brenfleck 
j  Dtfhn,  J.  George 
\  Anna  B'lrbara  Grossmann 
j  Diddrich,  August 
\  Catharine  Baker 
/  Dehn,  John 
\  Barbara  Eesenberge 
J  Diesel,  John  M. 
\  Dorn,  Louisa 
(  Ernst,  Jacob 
{  Catharine  Loux 
f  Fischer,  Christian 
t  Augusta  Gust 
(  HoLs,  Rev.  F.  W. 
\  Estier  Fermenstein 
j  Huber,  Henry 
*  \  Sophia  E.  Krieger 
j  Hinton,  Henry 
\  Catharine  Buchholz 
J  Herrmann,  Wm.  C. 
\  Catharine  Werner 
f  Hoelrtcher,  Charles 
\  Hellena  Duthenhaus 
f  Henrici,  Jacob  E. 
\  Elizabeth  Lindenstruth 
f  Hoepfinger,  Jacob 
\  Catharine  Temptner 
J  Hartman,  Fred. 
I  MaryA.Eeidlinghaver 
/  Hertel,  George 
\  Magdalena  Huppert 
f  Jacobus,  Charles 
\  Margaretha  Kropp 

JoneB,  Edward 
I  Jacobi,  John 
\  Mary  Vogt 
f  Knocke,  Henry,  Jr. 
\  Elizabeth  Jung 
f  Kalbfleiach,  Peter 
\  Keller,  Mary 

Kring,  Eugene  C. 
f  Keck,  John 
\  Keck,  Mary 
J  Kinkel,  Philipp 
I  Mary  VoUer  (nee  Kinkel) 
(  Kern,  Henry  L. 
•(Catharine  Dewald 

i  Catharine  Peter  {nee  Engler) 
f  Lindauer,  William 
t  Lindauer,  Christine 
r  Little,  A.  J. 
]  Little,  John  M. 
I  Nancy  Atchison 
(  Lindauer,  Geo.  Jacob 
\  Lindauer,  Catharine 


BESID, 


Sec. 


Sec. 


Died  Feb. 
Millstadt 


Ditd  April 
Millstadt 


Deceased. 
Millstadt 


Died  Jan. 

Mill-itadt 


OCCUPATION. 


22, 1875 
MUUtarlb 

Sec.    3 
3 


Sec.   8 

8 

MilUtadt 

5,  18(58 

MilUtadt 


NATIVITY. 


Sec. 


28, 1871 

Sec.  24 
24 


it 
it 

Sec.    9 
9 

tt 

Millstadt 

ti 

ti 

Died  July 
Millstadt 

U,  1875 
Millstadt 

Died  April 

Millstadt 

.Smithtown 

Millstadt 
Died  Sept, 
Millstadt 


Sec.  8 
8 
18 
18 
18 
18 


^ec.  29 
29 


.29 
29 


Sec. 
9, 1863 
Sec. 


25 

25 

5 

4, 1865 

Sec.    5 

8 

8 


Farmer  and  Stock  Kaiser 
Wife  of  Chas.  T.  Askin 

ManuTr  of  Carriages  and  Wugoaa 

Father  of  Geo.  Alt«chuh 

Mother 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Fred  rich  Baltz 

Prop'j  or  Merctiant  aad  Oustom  Mill 

Wife  of  Fred.  Backer 
Prop'r  of  Saloon  and  Brewer 

Wife  of  V.  Brenfleck 

Butcher 

First  wife  of  Wm. Bangert 

Present  wife  of         " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Henrv  Briesaeher 

Gea'l  McrdiaDdise,  Winea  &  Liquors 
Wife  of  H.  Brueggenjuergen 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Casper  Boemer 

Manuf  r  of  Saddles  aod  Haraeaa 

First  wife  of  P.  Fr.  Breidecker 
Present    "        "  " 

Prop'r  Baur's  Mills 
Wile  of  Franz  Baur 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  F.  Boemer 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Father  of  Edward  Baird 
Mother  of        " 
Street  Inspector  and  Contractor 
Wife  of  George  Cajacob 
Carpenter  and  Builder 
Wife  of  H.  Dohrmann,  Sr. 
Prop.  Hotel  and  Saloon 
First  wife  of  John  Doerr 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  J.  George  Dehn 
Blacksmith 
Wife  of  A.  Diddrich 
Shoemaker  &  Postmaster 
Wife  of  John  Dehn 

Wagon  and  Buggy  Manufacturer 

Wife  of  J.  M.Diesel 

Gardener 

Wife  of  Jacob  Ernst 

Manuf  r  of  Soda  Water 

Wife  of  C.  Fisher 

Minister  Lutheran  Ch. 

Late  wife  of  Eev.  F.  W.  Holls 

Retired  Merchant 
Wife  of  Henry  Huber 
Manuf'r  Carriages  and  Wagons 
Wife  of  Henry  Hinton 
Undertaker  &  Carpenter 
Wife  of  W.  C.  Herrmann 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Chas.  Hoelscher 
Farmer  and  Teacher 
Wife  of  Jacob  E.  Henrici 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Jacob  Hoepfinger 
Wagon  Manufacturer 
Wife  of  Fred.  Hartman 
Farmer  and  Wine  Grower 
Wife  of  George  Hertel 
Clerk  and  Book-keeper 
Wife  of  Charles  Jacobus 
School  Teacher 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Jacobi 
Carpenter  and  Builder 
Wife  of  H.  Knocke,  Jr. 
Prop.  Hotel  and  Saloon 
Wife  of  Peter  Kalbfleisch 

Druggist  and  Medical  Student 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Keck 
Manurr  and  Dealer  in  Cigars 

Wife  of  Philipp  Kinkel 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Henry  L.  Kern 
Present  wife  of  "        " 
Engineer 

Mother  of  Wm.  Lindauer 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Father  of  A.  J.  Little 
Mother  of    "        " 


Grayson  Co.  Ky. 
Gallatin  Co.  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

tt  tt 

Germany 

Hillstadt.St.ClalrConi 

Baden,  Gerina'y 
Bavaria 
Germany 
Monroe  Co.  111. 
Rock  Island  Co. 
France 
Germany 
Prussia 


Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger, 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Germany 

St.  Clair  Cj.  111. 


TOWNSHIP    1    SOtrni,    BAXGK    9    WKSr.— [CoNTtNCED.] 


NAME. 


f  Laughlin,  Thomas 
\  Mary  Crowe 
f  Lark,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
\  Lark,  William 
f  Mueller,  Thomas 
\  Helena  Bruckert 
f  McBride,  W.  E. 
\  .lennie  L.  Thatcher 
[  McBride,  Mrs.  W.  J. 

Mar.^cer,  Alois 
f  Muskopf,  Henry 
\  Charlotte  A.  Ullrich 
f  Miller,  Louis 
\  Christina  Udech 
(  Miller,  Fred. 
\  Mary  Frank 
f  No!  te,  George 
\  Charlotta  Buchholz 
f  Oldendorph,  Geo,,  Jr. 
\  Mary  Briesacker 
/  Probstmeyer,  Charles 
\  Leonora  Wagner 

Pommer,  Rev.  Louis 
f  Petri,  Henry 
\  Mary  Momeger 
/  Preusher,  William 
\  Louisa  Henecke 


Millstadt 


Died  Dec, 

Millstadt 

It 

Belleville 


Millstadt 


48' I  /Roach,  R. 


Fleming  Co.Ky 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Nassau,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Germany 

it 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Darmstadt,  Ger. 

It  It 

Germany 

Darmstadt,  Ger. 

Bayern,  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Hancock  Co.  111. 

Nassau,  Ger. 
tt  ti 

Germany 
,St.  Clair  Go.  111. 
Germany 
Saxony,  Ger. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Germany 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Germany 


Parmer,  Wine  Grower  &  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  G.  J.  Lindauer 


111. 


Prussia 
St.  Clair  Co 
New  York 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Monroe  Co.  111. 
St.  Clair  Co,  III 


Germany 

tt 

tt 

St.  Clair  Co. 
Germany 


111 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Louisville,  Ky. 
Monroe  Co.  111. 
Germany 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


37 

27l 

07| 

47| 

37i 

56! 

56, 

58j 

54 

38 

32 

47 

53 

49 

47 

42 

69 

47 

47 

47 

43 

51 

36 

53 

44 

56 

58 

60 

62 

40 

65 

46 

35 

37 

61 

40 

61 

33 

47 

59 

45 

78 

47 

80 

53 

56 

46! 

47 

56 

46, 

49 

47 

50 

36 

35 

52 

53 

53 

54 

20 

29 

53 

43 


p.    OFFICE. 


1  A.  N.  Tarr 

f  Rudolf,  George 

\  Catharine  Schneider 

f  Roos,  Valentine 

1  Magd  ilina  Freardich 

/  Shoening,  Ed.  F. 

l  Lina  Brueker 

I  Schwinn,  L.  P. 

\  Klizabeth  Scherming 

(  Schneider,  Emil 

\  I  jzzie  Herr 

(  Schlernitzauer,  Adolph 

\  Mary  Ball 

i  Mary  H.  Palmer 

/  Sclineider,  George 

1  Mary  Euhl 

f  Schmahlenberger,D.C. 

1  Caroline  P.Ohlendorph 

f  Sieber.  William 

\  Mary  Dome 

/  Saltenberger,  John 

1  Louisa  Suemnicht 

Theobald,  Jacob 

Theobald,  Louis 
f  Theobald,  Nick 
\  Margaret  Mueller 
/  Tegtmeier,  Henry 
1  Christeno  Bodenhagen 
/  Vogel,  Fredrich 
1  Veildt,  Gustena 
/  Wagner,  Louis  J. 
I  Plliss  Diehl 
i  Weible,  Trumbull 
I  Weible,  John 
I  Jane  Townsler 
r  Wilkens  Franz 
\  Philipena  Hartman 
f  Werner,  John 
\  Mary  Eopp 


Died   June 

Millstadt 

(( 

Belleville 

tc 

Millstadt 


OCCUPATION. 


Sec.  20 
20 

Millstadt 
25, 1870 

Sec.  11 

11 

1 

1 

1 

Millstadt 

Sec.  22 
22 
17 
17 


30, 1880 


Died  Dec, 
Millstadt 


18, 1872 


Sec. 


11 

Sec.  13 

tt 

13 

Millstadt 

tt 

(( 

« 

Sec.  16 

Died 

1865 

Millstadt 

Sec.  16 

(( 

Millstadt 

it 

It 

it 

Sec.  16 

tt 

16 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Thos.  Laughlin 
Retired 

Late  husband  of  E.  A.  Lark 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Thomas  Mueller 
Farmer  and  Stock  Dealer 
Wife  of  W.  E.  McBride 
Mother  of  "  " 

Farmer  an.I  Thrasher 
Farmer  and  Stock  Rai-'er 
Wife  of  Henry  Muskopf 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Louis  Miller 
Blacksmith 
Wife  of  Fre.I.  Miller 
Stove  and  Tin  Store 
Wife  of  George  Nolte 
Blacksmith 

Wife  of  Q.Oldendorph,  Jr. 
•lustice  of  the  Peace 
Wife  of  C.  Probstmeyer 
Pastor  C  itholic  Church 
Boot  and  Shoe  Manufacturer 

Wife  of  Henry  Petri 

Manufacturer  of  Wagons 

Wife  of  Wm.  Preusher 

Prop.  Grist  and  Saw  Mill 

Wile  of  R.  Roach 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  George  Rudolf 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Valentine  Roos 

Miller 

Wife  of  Ed.  F.  Shoening 

Farmer 

Wife  of  L,  P.  Schwinn 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Emil  Schneider 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

First  wife  of  A.  Scljlernitzauer 

Present    "     "  " 

Engineer 

Wife  of  George  Schneider 

Blacksmith 

Wife  of  D.  C.  Schraahlenberger 

MTr of  Carriages, Wagons, Plow8,&c. 

Wife  of  William  Sieber 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Wife  of  J.  Saltenberaer 
Clerk  and  Book-keeper 
Harness  Maker 
General  Merchandise 
Wife  of  Nick  Theobald 
Manuf'r  and  Dealer  in  Clothing 

Wife  of  Henry  Tegtmeier 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Fredrich  Vogel 
Village  Clerk,  and  Restaui-ant 

Wife  of  Louis  J.  Wagner 
Farmer  and  Stock  Eaiser 
Father  of  T.  Weible 
Mother  of  " 

Prop.  Cigar  Factory  No.81 
Wife  of  Franz  Wilkens 
Farmer  and  Stock  Eaiser 
Wife  of  John  Werner 


NewOrleans,  La 

Ireland 

.St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

England 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Germany 


NATIVITY. 


St.  Clair  Co. 
Germany 


111. 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

it  it 

Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 


41 
69 
21 
40 
53 
53 
49 
52 
14 
57 
35 
.35 
42 
33 
43 
68 
50 
54 
42 
58 
59 
54 
71 
44 
49 
49 
52 
37 
Adams  Co.  III. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111.  46 
NewAil)any,Ind  54 
35 
36 
58 
58 
50 
56 
52 
53 
43 
42 


Germany 


Bellevill  •,  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


France 
Washington  Co.  111. 

Toledo,  Ohio 

France 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Hancock  Co.  Ill 

Germany 

it 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

it  tt 

Germany 


49 
54 
50 

57 
52 
80 
48 
57 
56 
55 
55 
55 
53 
56 
57 
59 

St.  Clair  Co.  111.  50 
Bavaria  |65 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI.  60 

Tuscarawas  Co.  0.     33 

New  York  21 

Germany  47 

St.  Clair  Co.  111.  43 
Germany  j43 

Monroe  Co.  111.  57 


TOWKSHIP   I  SOUTH,   RANGE  7  WEST. 


/Barthel,  Henry 

(.Gertrude,  Bum b 

f  Blinu,  Daniel 

\  Blinn,  Jacob 

f  Blattner.  Samuel 

t  Caroline  Blum 

f  Becker,  Charles 

t  Katie  Reich  ert 

C  Costello,  William 

I  Nancv  S.  Turner 

/  Dare," Phil.  C. 

\  Nancy  Irwin 

f  Fiedler,  Louis 

t  Rosa  Valentine 

J  Fietsam,  Charles 

1  Mary  Phil.  Zoeller 

/Griffin,  John 

1  Ellen  Wilderman 

/  Herman,  Peter  Jr. 

1  Margt.  E.  Reinheimer 


Freeburg 


Sec. 


Belleville 
Fayetteviir 


Freeburg 


F'hurg  General  Merchant 

Wife  of  Henry  Barthel 
Farmer  and  Stock  Eaiser 


Kerr  Heas«,  Ger. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Switzerland 
Columbia  Co.  O 

Hesse  Daroistadt,  Ger- 


man; 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Madison  Co.  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Nassau,  Ger. 


F'burg'Carpenter  and  Builder 

Wife  of  Samuel  Blattner 

Mill  Clerk 

Wife  of  Charles  Becker 

Book  Keeper 

Wife  of  William  Costello 

Druggist 

Wife  of  Phil  C.  Dare 
Sec.  17  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
17  Wife  of  Louis  Fiedler 
36  Farmer  and  Stock  Eaiser  . 

36  Wife  of  Charles  Fietsaml^t-  'f'."^  *^°,„   - 

Farmer  and  Stock  Eaiser  St  Uair  Co.  lU.  37 

Wife  of  John  Grifiin         I  .      '47 


40 
58 
48 
49 
50 
4) 
73 
57 
39 


52 
49 
54 

I50 
50 


25 

25 

F'burg 


rspn'l  Meroh'dise  A  Far.  Imp  ' 
Wife  of  P.  Herman,  Jr.! 


)  Darmstadt,  Oer- 


48 
54 


TOWNSHIP    1    SOUTH,    UANGK    7    WEST.-LContinued  ] 


KAME. 


P.  OFFICE. 


J  Held,  Jolin 
I  Caroline  Fleury 
(Hill,  Peter  G. 
iP^lizabeth  Tate 
J.Heizniann,  Oto 
1  Carrie  Harsch 
J  Hudson,  Oeorge  A. 
\  Mary  Dartnstaetter 
(  Lemen,  Robert  W. 
\  Barbara  E.  Stookey 
I  Lemen,  George  C. 
<  Lemen,  George  C.  Sen. 
'Maria  Griffin 
f  Miller,  W.  S. 
I  Ella  Hill 
I  Miller,  Jacob 
I  Matv  McGuire 
J  Maserang,  Nicholas 
I  Mary  Skaer 
(■Miller,  Peter 
\  Barbara  Poirot 
(  Phillips,  B   F. 
\  Elizabeth  J.  Hill 
f  R^ichert,  Joseph 
liMariah  Uauth 
(Reinheimer,  Frederick 
I  Mariah  E.  Balz 
(  Reinheimer,  George  J. 
ICath.  S.  Kohlhauff 
J  RiLtenhoiiS',  Ham'l  R 
\  Louisa  C.  Englaild 

Reichert,  Augusta 
f  Smith,  Joseph  P. 
\  Ruth,  M.  Cliesney 
j.Spitznass,  Herman 
\'Mary  Funck 
r  Spitznasa,  Richard 
I  Nancy  J.  Helems 
(  Doroihea  Helems 
f  Wilderman,  W.  H. 
\  Carrie  C.  Rauch 
f  Wolf,  Adam  Jr. 
\  Elizabeth  Guenlher 

Wilderman,  James 
f  Wilderman,  F.  A. 
\  Martha  Pitts 
f  Wilderman,  J.  C. 
\  M  irgaret  O.  McBride 
I  Winkler,  George 
\  Catharine  Hilsin? 
(  Wilderman,  H.  H. 
\  Rosella  Moore 
j  Wildeiman.  John  H. 
-j  Elizabeth  Rider 
I  Joseph  Wilderman 
J  Waellz,  William 
\  Barbara  Dressel 

Wirtschoreck,  Rev.  A. 


Fneburg 


F'burg 


Died  Nov. 

Freeburg 

u 

li 

Died  May 

Freeburg 

(( 

Belleville 
Freeburg 


Died  Nov. 
Kreebnrg 

Belleville 

(4 

Freeburg 

Belleville 
Freeburg 


Belleville 
Freeburg 


Fayettcville 
Died  Mar. 
rayetteville 


Sec.  31 


3, '57 

Sec.  31 
31 
31 

13.  '71 

F'burg 
i( 

3ur.  38!l 

389 
Sec. 

F'bura 


1,    '70 

Sec.  17 

17 

6 

6 

F'burg 

.Sec  19 

19 

6 

6 


F  burg 


Bee. 
Sur.  772 
772 
Sec 


OCCUPATION. 


J.  P.  &  Propr.  ( f  Saloon 
Wife  of  John  Heiil 
Propr.  of  Livery  &  Exp.  Agt. 
Wife  of  Peter  C.  Hill 
Si  loon  Keeper 
Wife  of  Otto  Heizmann 
Goal  Miner 
Wife  of  G.  A.  Hudson 
i'^armer  and  Stock  Raisei 
Wife  of  R.  W.  Lemen 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Father  of  Geo.  C.  Lemen 
Mother  of       "         " 
Farmer  and  Stock  Riisei 
WifeofW.S  Mille- 
Farmer  and  S  oi'k  R-.iisei 
Wife  of  Jacob  Miller 
Painter  &  Dlr.  in  Paint 
Wife  of  Nich.  Maseranfi 
Fanner  and  Stock  Raisei 
Wife  of  Peter  Miller 
Farmer  and  S  <ick  Raisei 
Wife  of  B.  F.  Phillips 
Propr.  of  Potter's  Mill 
Wife  of  Joaeph  Reicher; 
Retired 

Late  wife  of  F.  Reinbeimei 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raisei 
Wife  of  G.  J.  Reinheimer 
Firmer  and  Stock  Raisei 
Wife  of  S.  R.  Rittenhouse 
Propri  tor  of  Brewery 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Jos.  P.  Smith 
Farmer  and  Stock  Kaiser 
^yife  of  Her.  Spitznass 
Farmer  and  Stuck  Raise 
Wife  of  Rich.  Spilznass 
Mother  of  Nancy  Helems 
Propr.  of  Fredrick  Mill^ 
WifeofW.H.Wildermai 
Propr.  Fr<-eburg  Hotel 
Wife  of  Adam  Wolf,  Jr 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raisei 


Hesse  Darmsl'dt 
St.  Clair  Go.  111. 


Wife  of  F.  A.  Wilderman 
1  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  J.  C.  Wilderman 
29  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Geo.  Winkler 
6  Agent  for  gri'l  Imp. 
WifeofH.  H.Wilderman 
2-0  Farmer  and  Stook  Raisei 
15,  '76'Late  wife  of  J.  H.  Wildorman 
Sec.  15  S  m  of 


F'burg 


Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  Wm.  Waeltz 

I  Pastor  St.  ./nseph.  St.  .John 
X  the  Bapt.  &  St.  Augusta  Ch. 


NATIVITY. 


2 

5fi 
44 
30 
31 
57 

New  York  City  63 
77 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill  56 
3.5 
38 
58 
33 
38 
49 
50 
04 
18 
49 
58 
42 
55 
34 
53 
47 
3.5 
54 
54 
34 
43 
51 
75 
50 
41 
55 
52 
.50 
52 
54 
52 
51 
52 
54 
56 


rawford  Go.Pa. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Lorraine  France 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
i^        (( 

Baden,  Ger. 
Pennsylvania 

iHefiHe  Darnialadt,  Ger- 
many 

Darmstadt,  Ger. 
liheinbyer,  Ger 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
Washington  Oo.Ill. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Pru-isia 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 

Hanover,  Ger. 

it.  Clair  Co.  HI. 

Baden,  Ger. 
tCerr  Hessen 
it.  Clair  Co.  HI. 


32 
34 
27 
35 

HeBHe  Darmstadt,  Ocr-'4S 

miiny 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  60 

St.  Clair  Co.  III.  .5' 
Madison  Co.  III.  7. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111,26 
30 
58 

Germany  33 

Saxony,  Ger.       40 

Germany  73 


TOWNSHIP  2  SOUTH,  UANGK  8,  WE8T. 


{Birkner,  John 
Christina  B.  Schorr 
Anna  M.  Saubert 

/  Fleckenstein,  Joseph 

t  Mary  Ann  Wachtel 

(  Hill,  Josiah  P. 

t  Jane  Smith  Died 

/.  Horn,  Leonhard 

I.  Marg.  Gruber  (nee  Leffler) 

i  Hirst,  Ellen  (neeBara- 
<  Thos.  Parker,died  fber 

I  Hirst,  George      [Died 
J  Higgins,  Bt-nj.     [Carr 
t  Higgins,    Sarah    (nee 
j  McQuillan,  Edward 
t  Jane  Thompson 
/  Maeller,  Jacob 
\  Catharine  Darmstetter 
/  Parker,  James 
\  Anna  Carter 
f.Rettinghouse,  Benj  C. 


Hecker 
Died   Mch. 
Hecker 
Smithton 
Died   Dec. 
Smithton 
Detfr  23, 
Hecker 


Sec.  31  Farmer 

4,  1865,1st  Wife  John  Birkner 

Sec.  31  2d  Wife    " 

Sec.    7|  Farmer  &  Stfick  Ral'er 

2,  1872|Wifeof  Job.  Fleckenstein 

Sec.    2  Farmer  &  Stook  Raiser 


{Mary  Carr.  Died 

Susan  Quick 
J  Schwartz.  John  F. 
t  Hannah  Pefeffer 
J  Talbot,  Hilleary  S. 
t  ^lliouisa  I^abbermaif 


May  12 
June  26, 

Smithton, 

i( 

Hecker 
ti 

Nw  Athens 

u 

Hecker 
ti 

Smithton 
March  1, 
Smithton, 


1878      Late  Wife  of  J.  P.  Smith 

Sec.  30  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Sic  30  Wife  of  Leonhard  Horn 

Sec.  33  Retired 

1857      1st  Husband  of  E.  Hirst 

1880      Late       " 

Sec.    4  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

See.    4  Mother  Benj.  Higgins 

Sec.  31  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Sec.  31  Wife  of  E.  McQuillan 

S'y  607  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

■  607  Wife  of  Jacob  Mueller 
Sec.  33  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Sec.  33  Wife  of  James  Parker 
Sec.  16  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
1874     1st  wf  B.  C.  Rettinghouse 
Sec.  16  Pr.     "    " 
Sec.  14  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Sec.  14Wifeof  JohnF.Schwartz 
Sec.  14  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Sec.  14  Wife  Hilleary  S.  'falbot 


Bavaria,  Ger. 

II  u 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

ti  (( 

Saxony,  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

England 

Lancashi'e,  Enu 

St.  Clair  Co..  Ill 
ti        (t     If 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 
St.  Glair  Co.,  HI 


Preus  Minden,  G. 


TOWNSHIP  2,  NORTH,  EANGE  8,  WEbT. 


/  Ainsbrey,  Mary  R.  (jiceErliDKer.) 

I  Amsbrey,  John 
/  Begole,  B   F. 
t  Hulda  Price 
f  Begole,  William  R. 
t  Elizabeth  Porter 
(  Beedle,  S.  H. 
\  Bowler,  Ellen 
I  Bowler,  G.  W.,  Jr. 
\  Harriet  E.  Simpson 

Bevirt,  John  M. 

Elizabeth  Sparks 
f  Beedle,  Warren 
\  Mary  C.  Hunter 

Begole,  C.  S. 

Begole,  Ijaiira  M. 
(  Bell,  John  H. 
\  Buckley,  Ann 
(  Badgley,  James  A. 
\  Lucy  SisBOm 
f  Badgley,  Simeon 
\  Louisa  Reid 
/  Brake,  Jackson 
\  Mary  Oglesby 

{Begole,  F.  M. 
Begole,  Joshua 
Mary  Terry 
Budde,  Jacob 
Eliza  Nurden 
(  Baldus,  George 
\  Josephine  Schulthaes 

{Cooper,  A.  J. 
Ann  E,  Sipple 
Martha  L.  McGuire 
{Dixon,  G.  S. 
Nancy  Aultman 
Eliza  Badgley 
/  Deppe.  William 
\  Fredrika  Kuhlmann 
f  Eversmann,  Louis 
\  Loui.^a  Gansmann 
f  Freder,  George 
\  Sebilla  Row 

r  Formaa.  Rebecca,  (nee  Beedle.) 

\  Forman,  Isaac 
j  Fletcher,  William 
\  Julia  Ridgway 
f  Glenn,  Thomas 
1  Hannah  C.  Phillips 
( Hogan,  Harriet  J. 
\  Hogan,  James 
/  Hneckel,  John 
\  Josephine  T.  Baldus 

f  Hoeckcr,  Caroline,  (/tee  Wedel.) 

\  Hoecker,  Henry 

Hoeltmann,  John  T. 

Magdalena  Ermann 

Charlotte  Peters 
(  Plueckel,  Willianrll. 
I  Anne  M.  Maise 
f  Kuhlmann,  William 
1  A  una  Hastcotta 
/  Kampmeycr,  C.  H. 
I  Mary  Reipsoh  lager 
f  Koehler,  Henry 
I  Mary  Kramer 

Le'men,  Fred 
/  Lemin,  Geo'ge  S. 
I  Sarah  Begole 

Lemen,  .loseph  B. 
I  Millett,  Thomas 
1  Hannali  Hooley 
/  Matter,  John 
I  Catherine  Geil 
f  Meckfessel,  Henry 
I  Elizabeth  Gaussnian 
f  Moorhouse.  James 
1  Hannah  Thompson 
/  Miller,  J.  R. 
\  Malin(la  Nickols 
f  Nearen,  James 
\  Nicene  Gaskill 
(  Need  ham,  Matthew 
<  Martha  Williamson 
(  Mary  Atchison 
f  Owings,  Thomas  P. 
\  Frances  Goodrich 
/  Ovelgoenner,  August 
\  Caroline  Kampmeyer 


p.  OITPICE. 


Kiijge  Prairie 

Died  Nov 

liiilge  Prairie 


'ollinsvilli 

(( 

O' Fallon 

(1 

Caaeyville 
a 

Itidge  Prairie 
i( 

(t 

a 

Belleville 


Died    Oct 

Collinsv'le 

Died  Mar. 

.^oUinsv'le 

Ridge  Prairii' 
(( 

French  Viirg*- 
a 

Ridge  Prairie 
Died  J  an 
Ridge  Prairie 

Believiiie 
Died  Dec. 
Belleville 

Ridge  Prairie 
Died  July 

Casey  ville 

(( 

0' Fallon 


Died    Oct. 
GoUinsv'U, 

Belleville 

Collinsv'lli 

Died  Apr. 

Collins  v' Ik 


Died  Feb. 
Caseyville 

Died  Mar. 
Caseyville 


Hidgi^  Pniirie 
i( 

Gasevville 
'tt 

tt 

tt 

CoUinsv'lle 

U 
i, 
tt 

Ridge  Prairie 

u 

Caseyville 

'it 

■Ridge  Prairie 

« 

Caseyville 
(( 

(( 

(( 

CoUinsv'le 


Died  May 
CoUinsvllt 
O'Fallon 

it 

Caseyville 


Sec.  29 

6,  /79 
.Sec.  26 

26 
21 
24 
15 
15 
14 
14 
23 
23 
22 
22 
22 
22 

Alma 

it 

Sec.  34 
34 
34 

33 

15,  '79 

Sec.    3 

2,    '74 

.Sec.    3 

3: 

32 

31 

3( 

2; 

18.51 
Sec.  23 
31 
5l 
Sec.  34 
2< 

9,  '79 
Sec.  19 

19 
27 

2: 

22 

27,  '78 

.Sec.    4 

4 

34 

3^ 

2 

7,  '75 
Sec.    9 

9 
4 

10,  '71 

Caaeyvle 

19,  '6.- 

CaicyvU 


OCCUPATION. 


Sec.  3: 
32 

1! 
19 
18 
18 
1 

S.  36  Mad 


Sec.    : 
Alma 


Sec.  10 
10 
29 
29 

Casey  v'le 

C| 

Sec.    6 
6 
11 
11 

4 

19,  '78 
Sec.  4 
25 
25 
20 
2(1 


Farmer  and  Hotel 
Late  hns,  of  Mary  R,  Amsb'y 
F'armerand  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  B.  F.  Begole 
Farmer  and  Stocik  Raiser 
Wife  of  Wm.  R.  Begole 
Fiirmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  S  H.  Beedle 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raise 
Wife  of  G.  W.  Bowler,  Jr 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  M.  Bevirt 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  Warren  Beedle 
F^ar  ..erand  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  C.  S.  Begole 
Pit  Boss  Gartside  Coal  Mine 
Wife  of  John  H.  Bell 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  J.  A.  Badgley 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  S.  Badgley 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Late  wife  of  Jack.  Brak^ 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Father  of  F.  M.  Begole 
Widow  of  Joshua  Begole 
Farmer  and  Stock  Rtiser 
Wife  of  Jacob  Budde 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Geo.  Baldus 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
1st  wife  of  A.  J.  Cooper 
Pre.s.  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Ist  wife  of  G.  S.  Dixon 
Pres.  "  " 

Parm.  t  Road  Supervr  Dist.  No.  11, 

Late  wife  of  Wm.  Deppe 
I'armer  and  Stock  RaLser 
Wife  of  L.  Ever-mann 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  George  Freder 
Retired  Farmer 
Late  bus.  of  Reb.  Forman 

Goai  UIdc  £  Pit  Ro.:s  Ooe-S  th  prop. 
Spring  ITell. 

Wife  of  Fletcher,  William 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Thomas  Glenn 

Retired  Farmer 

Late  hus.  Har.  J.  Hogan 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  John  Hneckel 

Retired  Farmer 

Late  hus.  of  Car.  Hoecker 

Gen  Mer.&CoalOperat'r 

1st  wife  J.  T.  Hoeltmann 

Pre^.  •• 

Merchant 

VVife  of  Wm.  H.  Hueckel 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Wm.  Kuhlmann 

Farmer  an.l  Stock  Rais  i 

Wife  C.  H.  Kampmeyer 

Farmer  nod  Stock  Raisei 

Wife  of  Henry  Koehler 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raisei 
It  II 

Wife  of  G.  S.  Lemen 
Farm.  &  Newspaper  Corres. 
Supt.  Gartsirle  Coal  Mine 
^yife  of  Thomas  Millett 
Farmer  and  Stock  RaLser 
Wife  of  John  Malter 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Hen.  Meckfessel 
Farmer  and  Constable 
Wife  of  Jas.  Moorhouse 
Farmer  &  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  J.  R.  Miller 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  James  Nearen 

Coal   Mine   &  Pit  lioss     Oae-Qfth 
Proprt  tor  Spriii  t  Well. 

l3t  wife  of  Matt.  Needhum 
Pres   "  '■ 

Farmer  and  Stock  Rai.ser 
Wife  of  Thos.  P  Owings 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  A  ug.  O  V  elgoenner 


KATIVITY. 


France 
It 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
lohnson  Co.  Mo 
St.  Clair  Go.  Ill 


Williamson  Co.  Ten 
St.  Glair  Co.  111. 
Miami  Co.  Ohio 
AugustaCo.  Va. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Cook  Co.  111. 
Durham  Go  Enc 
Pa.  ^ 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Ohio 

Greene  Co.  Ohio 

St.  Glair  Go.  HI. 

Maryland 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Hanover;  Ger. 
Madison  Co.  111. 
France 

Cantoo  SwitE,  Switzl' 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
(( 

Cape  Girardeau  Go.  Vo 

Stokes  Co.  N.  C. 

Indiana 

St  Clair  Co.  111. 

Lippe,  Detmoldt,  Pras. 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Madison  Co.  111. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 

Miami  Go.  Ohio 

Bourbon  Co.  Ky 

Chish'e Co.  Eng 
If 

Lincoln  Co.  N.C. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Louden  Go.  Va. 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
.\lsace,  France 

CaotoD  Scliwyz,  SwitE. 

Prussia 
Hanover,  Ger. 

Prus<ia 

it 

Hanover,  Pruss. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
St..  Louis,  Mo. 
Prussia 


Hanover,  Ger. 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Cheshire,  Eng 
(I 

Bavaria,  G«r. 

11 

Hanover,  Ger. 
If 

Lancashire,  Eng 
Meigs  Co.  Ohio 
Warren  Co.  O. 
Overton  Co.  Tenn. 
Monroe  Co.  III. 
Broome  Co.  N.Y 
Cheshire,  Eng 

Lancashire,  ISjg 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

JeJftrsop  Co.  N.  Y. 

Prussia 

St.  Clafit;  Co."  111. 


aJ 

XI 

42 

52 

28 

58 

25 

31 

40 

42 

38- 

37 

44 

39 

18 

30 

42 

74 

66 

60 

39 

49 

a 

1« 
18 
17 
38 
20 
08 
45 
78 
54 
54 
29 
38 
50 
44 
45 
12 
48 
55 
46 
58 
45 
45 
18 

■>o 

63 
66 
62 
36 
59 
19 
51 
53 
42 
44 
55 
55 
70 
52 
78 
6i 
6S 
40 
46 
5« 
.■)3 
49 
27 
26 
36 
63 
65 
53 
53 
57 
>7 
56 
i2 
58 
53 
07 
10 
58 
62 
56 
30 
44 
58 
56 


TOWNSHIP    2    TfORTIT,    E^NGB    8  WEST -[Contintjed]. 


f  Owens,  John  W. 
\  Mary  A.  Jones 
(  P.ggolt,  Levi 
\  Mary  A.  Kegole 
Pflflher,  Edward 
f       "         Hi-nry 
\  Elizabeth  Riget 
J  Pausoli,  lieorge 
.  \  Elizat)i'th  Conrad 
f  Pausch,  Gi  orge,  Jr. 
\  Magdalna  Hneclifl 
J  Rutherford,  W.  H. 
\  Dida  C.  Rittenhonse 
fRittenhouse,  Wm.  J. 
■j  France-i  Wilderman 
(  Sar.th  AuU,  (jice  Glenn) 

1^  Smiley,  Hary  (nee  Christy) 

J  James  Porter 

(  Matthew  A.  Smiley 

j  Boper,  Milbuni 

\  Araminta  Whiteside 

j  Smith,  George  W. 

I  Christina  Wilson 

j  Seibel.  John 

\  Anna  C.  Heardt 

J  Stiles,  Amos 

\  Emma  1.  Brake 

Skinner,  William  F. 
f  Taylor,  Joseph 

\  Mary  Gartaide,  (nee  Wliitdiead) 

( 'I'routmann,  F. 
\  Dorotha  Deck 
f  Wellner,  Fritz 

\  Mina  Neibraegge,  (nee  Rlctie) 

J  Ward,  James 
I  Jane  Hargeraves 
I  Wiggins,  J.  L ,  M.  D. 
\  Louisa  Moeller 
J  Webb,  Emanuel 
\  Sarah  Mowe 


P.  OFFICE 

RESID. 

Caseyville 

it 

Oaeeyvlc 
tt 

Eidge  Prairi» 

Sec.  15 

« 

16 

0' Fallon 

3.5 

" 

3.5 

tt 

3.5 

Collinsv'le 

1] 

li 

11 

it 

12 

a 

15! 

O'Fallon 

23 

n 

23 

Ridge  Prairie 

34 

Died  May 

20,  '73 

Kidge  Prairie 

Sec.  34 

24 

Died  Aug. 

30,  '38 

1847 

O'Fallon 

Sec.  14 

Died  Aug. 

22,  '46 

Ridge  Prairie 
tt 

Form'n 

it 

Sec.  27 

It 

27 

Belleville 

33 

tt 

33 

Kidge  Prairie 
tt 

Alma 
tt 

tt 

tt 

Casevville 

Sec.   9 

>( 

9 

Ridge  Prairie 

33 

33 

Alma 

Caseyville 

Caseyv'le 

tt 

ti 

tt 

It 

tt 

OCCUPATION. 


General  Merch.  &  J.  P. 
Wife  6{  John  W.  Owens 

Farmer  &  Sorgham  Manuf  r 
Wife  of  Levi  Piggott 

Farmer  and  Stock  Kaiser 
tt  it 

Wife  of  Heniy  Pfiffner 
Farmer  and  Siock  Raiser 
Wife  of  George  Pausch 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  Geoige  Paus(;h,  Jr, 
Farmer  ami  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  W.  H.  Rutherford 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
1st.  w.  of  W.  J.  Rittenh'se 
Pns.  " 

Retired  Farmer 
1st.  hus.  of  Mary  Smiley 
Late  " 

Retired  Farmer 
Late  wife  of  M.  Soper 
Engineer  Gartside  C'al  M'ne 
Wife  of  Geo.  W.  Smith 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Seibel 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Amos  Stiles 
Engin'r  Gartside  Coal  Mine 
Gen.  Merchant  &  Saloon 
Wife  of  Joseph  Taylor 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raise 
Wife  of  F".  Troutraann 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raisei 
Wife  of  Fritz  Wellner 
Mine  Ins.  of  St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Wife  of  James  Ward 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Wife  of  J.  L   Wigiiins 
Gen.  Merch.  &  Farmer 
Wile  of  E.  Webb 


NATIVITY. 


Madison  Co.  Ill 
Monm'aths'e,  Eng 
St.  Louis  Co.  Mo 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 


Bavaria,  Ger. 

tt 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Lincoln  Co  N.C. 
Butler  Co.  Ohio 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Bedford  Co.  Ten 

Prince  George  Co.  Md. 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 

Nottiaghainshire,  Eng. 

Liverpool,  Eng. 

Hesse  Dartnstadi,  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
tt 

Montgomery  Co.  Mo. 

Lancashire,  Eng 

(( 

ll.sace,  France 
It 

Lippe,  Dettmold,  Frus. 

rt'ussia 

Cheshire,  Eng. 

Penna. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

New  Ulm,  Minn 

Casevville,  Ky. 

England 


TOWNSHIP  2,  NORTH,    RANGE  9,  WEST, 


f  Boueau,  Joseph 
\  Odill  Penscmeau 
J  Bonl,  Nicholas 
I  Berthelsmann,  Mary  C, 
J  B(me;iu,  Amelia . 
1  Boneau,  Lambert 
I  Koisseau,  Louis 
J.  Pauline  Giradine 
I  Emma  Kramer 
f  Boisseau,  Dominique 
Elizabeth  Jaquet 
Boisseau,  Hnrbert 
Boisseau,  Bridget 
J  Davinroy,  Magdalena 
I  Davinroy,  Nicholas 
f  Doctor,  Jacob 
t  Elizabeth  Dnrk 
/  Delorme,  Joseph 
I  Mary  N.  This 
j  Draper,  George  W. 
\  Jane  J.  Jones 
J  Gandillot,  L. 
I  Mary  Boisseau 
f  Hallows,  William 
-j  Caroline  A.  Williams 

(  Mnry  J  Thornton,  'nee  Williams) 

f  Jerome.  Theophilus 
I  Joi'ephine  Simonin 
f  Jones,  Ambrose  Sen. 
I  Harriet  Turner 

Klein,  Rev.  John  Peter 
f  Lepage,  Jo.seph 
■j  Mary  Grundine 
I  Mary  C.  Hag.  n 

fLarobadier,  Francis 
Margarite  Grimont 
Mary  A.  Marcelle 
j  Marl  in,  Victorine 
I  Marlin,  John  B. 
f  Martin,  Carrol 
I  Marv  M.  Richee 
Morbach,  Dominique 
Therse  Rombardier 

Philomina  Piquard,  (neeBeatry) 

[Edward  Piquard 


French  Vill'ge 


Died   Oct. 
French  Vill'ge' 

Died  Nov. 

FrenchViU'ge 

Died  Nov. 

FrenchViU'ge 


Died  Mar. 

E.  St.  Louis 

Died-  Feb, 

Casevville 
**t 

E.  St.  Louis 

It 

Caseyville 
tt 

E.  St.  Louis 

Died  Mar. 

E.  St.  Lonis 

French  Vill'ge 
ti 

E.  St.  Louis 
(( 

French  Viirge 
(( 

Died   Jan. 

French  Till'ge 
n 

Died  Aug. 

Trench  ViU'ge 

Died   Oct. 
E.  St.  Louis 

tt 

Casevville 
Died  Apr. 

Caseyville 
Died  May 


Sec.  26 

26 

25 

25 

26 

22,  '66 

Sec.  26 

21,  '72 

Sec.  26 

23 

4,  '76 

Sec.  23 

23 

26 

14,  '77 

Sec.  16 

8,  '66 

Sec.  12 

12 

16 

16 

14 

14 

15 

25,  '62 

Sec.  15 

27 

27 

17 

17 

Fr.ViH'ge 

Sec.  27 
1,  '59 

Sec.  27 

23 

3,  '60 

Sec.  23 
22 

19,  '72 
16 
16 
15 

13,  '63 

Sec.  15 
63 


Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Joseph  Boneau 
Farmer  &  Justice  of  Peace 
Wife  of  Nicholas  Boul 
Retired  Farmer 
Late  hus.  of  Amelia  Boneau 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
1st  wife  of  Louis  Boisseau 
Pres.  "  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Late  wife  of  "D.  Boisseau 
Son  of  D.  &  E.  Boisseau 
Wife  of  Hurbert      " 
Retired  Farmer 
Late  hus.  of  M.  Davinroy 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Late  wife  of  Jacob  Doctor 
Farmer  an<l  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Joseph  Delorme 
Farmer  &  School  Teacher 
Wife  of  Geo.  W.  Draper 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  L.  Gandillot 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
1st  wife  of  Wm.  Hallows 
Pres.  " 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  T.  Jerome 
Far.  and  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  A.  Jones,  Sen. 
Pas.  St.  Philip's  Cath.Ch. 
Farmer  &  Justice  of  Peace 
1st  wife  of  Jos.  Lepage 
Pres.  "  " 

Far.  and  Frnit  Grower 
1st  wife  Fran.  Larobadier 
Pres. ;'  " 

Farming  &  Stock  Raising 
Late  hus.  of  V.  Marlin 
Far.  anil  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  Caml  Martin 
F'armer  and  Stock  Raiser 
1st  wife  of  D.  Morbach 
Pres.  "  " 

l.st.  hus.  of  Phil.  Morbach 


Cass.  Co.  Ind. 
•St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 


Paris,  France 
.St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


France 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Alsace,  France 
France 

Bavaria,  Ger. 

It 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
France 

Oneida  Co.  N.Y. 
Wayne  Co.  N.Y 
France 


Cheshire  Co.  Eng. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Kent  Co.  Eng. 

It 

France 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
It 

France 


Fo  it'v  Co  Tenn 
tt.  Clair  Co.  111. 
1 1,1  nee 

Switzerland 
France 


TOWNSHIP    2    NOETH,    l?Ji>-GE    9    WEST.— [Continued.] 


j  Mozer,  Victor 
I  Amelia  Hagen 
f  Pensoneau,  Stephen 
-j  Adeline  Bellange 
(  Barbara  Eckmann 
r  Pope,  A.  B. 
\  Celia  Marlin 
J  Paridy,  Francis 
t  Julia  "Tillotson 
j  Richee,  Louis  E. 

<   Franoca  Riclicc,  (nee  Nurdin.) 

(  Richee  John  C. 
f  Renlaud,  Antoin 
■1  Magda  ine.Shoeubrag'r 

Sickmann,  Casper 

Elizo  Biondieis 

Theiesa  Horein 
(  Shultz,  .lohn 
1  Amelia  M.  Williams 
fToussaint,  Anthcmy 
J  Toussaint,  Frank 
\  Adele  Delome 
[  Toussaint,  Edward 
I  Thomas,  Nicholas 
■j  Mary  Simonin 
i  Barbara  Germain 
(  Warning,  H. 
I  Eliza  Witte 
(  Mary  Lueokerayer 


p.   OFFICE. 


French  Vill'ge 
tt 

French  Vill'ge 

Died  Nov. 

FrenchViU'ge 

E.St.  Louis 


Died  Jan, 

Caseyville 

(( 

FrenchViU'ge 
Died  Aug. 
FrenchViU'ge 

Caseyville 
(( 

E.  St.  Louis 


FrenchViU'ge 
Died  July 
French  YiU'ge 

Died  July 

FrenchViU'ge 


Sec.  23 
23 

Sec.  23 
'48 

Sec.  23 
9 
9 
28 
28 
16 
Ifi 

18,  '77 

Sec.  11 

11 

26 

1,  '73 

Sec.  26 
14 
14 
14 
14 
14 
14 
22 
6,  '70 

Sec.  22 
26 

26,  '58 

Sec.  26 


OCCUPATION. 


nativity. 


3 

a> 
CO 


Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Victor  Mozer 
Far.  and  Fruit  Grower 
1st  wife  of  S.  Pensoneau 
Pres.  " 

Far.  and  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  A.  B.  Pope 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser' 
Wife  of  F'rancis  Paridy 
Far.  and  Grain  Thresher 
Moth,  of  Louis  E.  Richee 
Late  hus.  of  Fran.  Richee 
Far.  and  Frnit  Grower 
Wife  of  AnK  in  Reneaiid 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
1st  wife  of  C.  Sickmann 
Pies.  "  " 

Far.  and  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  John  Shultz 

Far.  and  Fruit  Grower 

(.  tt 

Wife  of  Frank  Toussaint 
Son  of 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Ist  wife  of  Nich.  Thorngs 
Pres.  "  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Ist  wife  of  H.  Warning 
Pres.  " 


Maxville,  La 
.^t.  Clair  Co.  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Paris,  France 
Lorraine,  " 
Christian  Co  Ky 
Mont'y  Co  Tenn 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Mo. 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
France 


St.  Clair  Co.  in. 

Hanover,  Ger. 

It 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 

Essex  Co.  N.  J. 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
tt 

France 

St,  CUh  Co.  111. 

It 

France 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

France 

Prussia 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Prussia 


48 
o2 
19 
32 
46 
38 
74 
21 
25 
51 
36 
.35 
42 
22 
52 
S2 
57 
34 
37 
60 
46 
32 
52 
66 
36 
.55 
48 
35 
58 


TOWNSHIP  1,  NORTH,     KA.NGB  9,  WEST. 


f  Anstedt,  George 

\  Mary  Ruetrman 

/  Boul,  John 

\  Adeline  Dunn 

J  Brennfleck,  George 

I  Lena  Carne 

j  Dunn,  Peter 

\  Susanna  Teter 

(  Donnelly,  James 

\  Mary  McPhilips 

f  Emge,  Adam 

X  Margaret  Obenstine 

I  Herr,  Philip  J. 

\  Christine  Schlernitzauer 

j  Koohmann,  J.  H. 

\  Gustena  Meyer 

f  Keck,  John  H. 

I  Caroline  Oldendorph 

(  Keck,  Christian 

\  Mary  Peter 

f  Kecic,  Adam  G. 

\  Margaret  Hammell 

Layton,  William  T. 
r  Mitchell,  James 
\  Maria  Schwinn 
j  Masserang.  J  acob 
\  Maria  Hopen 
I  Mohr,  Christian 
}  Pauline  Krauss 
f  Merod,  John 
\  Charlotte  Wehring 
I  Ogle,  David 
\  Margaret  Kandleman 
j  Ogle,  Joseph 
1  Felicete  Bcmeau 

PuUiam,  James  L. 

Margaret  J.  Matheny 

Elminia  Ballard 
(  Peter  Frederick 
I  Catherine  Priesacker 
}  Schwarz,  Johann  Peter 
}  Barbara  Rieble 
(  Mary  Gaus 
f  Stookey,  Aaron 
t  Mary  J .  Holcomb 
I  Schwinn,  Peter 
}  Catherine  Moser 
(  Josephine  Dupont 
/  Voellinger,  Jacob,  Jr. 
I  Christina  Dahm 

Vogt,  George 

Charlotte  Hoyle 
,  Ottille  Odendoph 
j  Vogt,  Mary 
1  Vogt,  Peter 
j  Wild,  George  F. 
t  Margaretta  Schilling 


GcDtreTilleSta'a 

Belleville 

(( 

Centervillc  Sta'n 

Belleville 

Died 

W.Belleville 
a 

u 

ci 

Belleville 

It 

Millstadt 


Belleville 


CentprvilloSta'n 

Belleville 


Millstadt 


CentervilleSta'n 


Belleville 


Millstadt 
Died  Oct. 
Millstadt 


Center  villeSta'Q 

Died  Sept. 

CetiterTiUeSta'n 

Belleville 


Died  May 
Belleville" 
W.Belleville 

tt 
Died  Dec. 

W.Belleville 
CeiitiTvilleStaii 

Died  Nov 

CobtervilleSta'n 


Sec.  1 6  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
16  Wife  of  George  Anstedt 
36  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
36  Wife  of  John  Boul 
16  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

16  Wife  of  Geo.  Brennfleck 

15  Retired  Farmer 
1837      Late  wife  of  Peter  Dunn 
Sec.  11  Farmer  and  Merchant 

11  Wife  of  James  Donnelly 
14  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

14  Wife  of  Adam  Emge 
25  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

25  Wife  of  Philip  J.  Herr 
21  Farmer  and  Merchant 

21  Wife  of  J.  H.  Koohmann 
29  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
29  Wife  of  John  H.  Keck 
29  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
29  Wife  of  Christian  Keck 

26  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
26  Wife  of  Adam  G.  Keck 

17  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
24  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

24  Wife  of  James  Mitchell 

25  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
25  Wife  of  Jacob  Masserang 
28  Pastor  Evan.  Concordia  Ch. 

28  Wife  of  Christian  Mohr 

16  Farmer  &  Prop'r  Saloon 
16  Wife  of  John  Merod  _ 

1  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

1  Wife  of  David  Ogle 

1  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

1  Wife  of  Joseph  Ogle 
20  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

8,     '69  First  wife  of  L.  Pnlliara 
Sec.  20  Present  "  " 

29  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
29  Wife  of  Frederick  Peter 
20  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

19,  '68  First  wife  ofJ.P- Schwarz 

Sec.  20Pres't    '■ 

25  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
25  Wife  of  Aaron  vStookey 

2  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
30,  '73  Fi't  wife  of  Peter  Schwinn 
Sec.    2Pres't" 

24  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
24  Wife  of  J.  Voellinger 

15  Farmer  an<l  Stock  Raiser| 
30,  '66  First  wife  of  George  Vogt 
Sec.  15  Pres't  " 

15  Farming  &  Stock  Raising 
25,  '78  Late  liu.s.  of  Mary  Vogt 
Sec.  16  Blacksmith 

16  Wife  of  Geo.  F.  Wild 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Germany 

It 

New  York  Citv 
St.  Clair  Co.  Hi. 
Ireland 

Germany 


France 

Germany 

'  i( 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

11 

Scotland 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
France . 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Fran(!e 

New  Castle  Co.  Del 

St.  Clair  Co.  HL 

New  Castle  Co.  Del 

St.aairCo.llL 


North  Carolina 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 

It 

Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 

tt 

Germany 
tt 

France 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

It 

Germany 

France 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Germany 
Huntsdale,  Pa; 


46 
45 
42 
28 
59 
59 
18 
05 
63 
52 
53 
53 
43 
45 
74 
74 
41 
46 
51 
56 
48 
43 
59 
50 
49 
47 
62 
9 
6 

.^ 

fS8 

18 
i9 
18 
2.5 
20 
30 
32 
38 
42 
51 
51 
68 
24 
32 
33 
45 
55 
47 
50 
3S 
47 
42 
48 
42 
52 
63 


TOWNSHIP  1  NOUTH,  KANGE.  7  WEST. 


NAME. 


P-  OFFICE. 


Belleville 
u 

Mascoutah 
(1 

Shiloh 


Belleville 
Died  Oct.  4, 
Belleville, 
Shiloh, 
Died  May 
Shiloh 


Belleville 


Died  Aug 
Belleville 

Shiloh 

Belleville 

ti 

Shiloh 
tt 

Mitscoutah, 
Died  Nov. 
Died  M'rch 
Belleville 
Died  Dee 
Died  June 
Belleville, 

Died  Nov'r 
Died  Feb'y 
Belleville 


/■Alexander  Edwin 

I  Kmtline  C.  Griffen 

J  Arbogast,  Peter 

I  Margaret  Weber 

J  Bug,  Martin 

I  Saloma  Arbogast 

J  Bnnsen,  Charles  O. 

I  Johannah  E.  Menzenr 

f  Clark,  8.  G.       [berger 

-j  Surah  E.  Henderlite 

(Saphrona  Merrill 

(  Exter,  W.  T. 

]  Extei,  F. 

(  Anna  S.  Scott 

1  Fnedewald,  Henry 

\  Philipina  HauRy 

J  Griffen,  Charles 

I  Martha  A.  Park 

(Griffen,  Jngfeph 

-j  Margaret  Shaw 

(.  Belle  Murdagh 

Griffen,  Joseph  P 
I  Herbst,  F.  W. 
\  Regina  Sauer 
J  Knobeloch,  Thomas 
I  Anna  Mary  Hage 
J  Knoebel,  Henry 
I  Regina  Merckel 
(  Knobelocb,  J. 
\  Elizabeth  Hardy 
.  "         Dibold 

Lienesch,  George  P. 

Permelia  A.  Me-singer 

Mary  Ann  Thomas 

Mary  C.  Kleibacker 

Moore,  Risdon  A. 

Anna  Middlecoff 

Sarah  A.  Duncan 

Sarah  A.  Wildermau 
f  Moore,  James  A. 
\  Catharine  Clark 
r  Miiller,  Solomon 
<  Elizabeth  Moser 
(.  Mary  Moser 
j  Moser,  Jacob 
\  Catharine  Dakum 
/  Ogden,  A. 
l  Lucy  Davis 
I  Pierce,  H.  A. 
(  Mary  A.  Middlecoff  • 
i  Pierce,  Margaret  C. 
\  Pierce,  James  A. 

Phelps,  Jacob  S. 
f  Peischbacber,  Philip 
1  Margaret  Frank 
(  Perschbacher,  Mary 
\  Perschbacher,  George 

Eentchler,  D 
j  Eeuaa,  Albert  C. 
1  Kate  C.  Pierce 

{Reuiis,  F.  L. 
Reuss,  Adolph 
Raith,  Caroline 

I  Reuss,  Julius 

"I  Sophia  Eogelmann 

C  Renner,  Charles  F. 

I  Catharine  Deobald 

J  Reppel,  John 

\  Adaline,  M  on  ton 

(  Rdbhau,  Euiile 

.|  Jjouisa  Fenzlin      died 

(  Catharine  Miiller 

/  Schott,  Adolph 

I.  Joanna  Pierce 

I  Scott,  E.  J. 

(.  Mary  E-  Wilderman 

J  Scoit,  Philip 

\  Augusta  Cass 

f  Scott,  J.  M. 

]  N.  J.  Wilderman 

(.  Ellen  Sandidge       >  ; 
J  Schuetz,  George 
1  Margaret  Gondolf 

f  Schuetz,  George,  Jr. 

\  Schubert,  Agusta 

J  Tozer,  John  M.  Shiloh 

1  Hairiet  Retherford 

/  Weil,  Peter 

t  Anna  C.  Pausch  Died    May 

(  Weber,  Louis  H.  Shiloh, 

-j  Caroline  Garber  Died  Dec'r 

(  Mary  Humphrey  Shiloh, 


Died  Feb'y 
Belleville, 


Rencthler 

u 

Shiloh 


Died  Jan'y 
Shiloh, 


Died  Juni 
Bentchler, 
Shiloh, 


Died  April 
Died  April 
Shiloh 


in  Germ'y. 
Shiloh 


Belleville 

tt 

Shiloh 

Belleville, 
Died  May 
Belleville 


Sec.  15 

"    15 

•'    22 

"    22 

"     16 

"    IH 

"      8 

"      8 

Sec.  15 

4, 1856 

Sec.  15 

"      8 

4, 1874 

Sec.   8 

Shiloli 

Sec.  14 
"  14 
"     23 

3, 1862 

Sec.  23 
15 

Shiloh 


OCCUPATION. 


Sec. 


29 

29 

3 

3 

2 

27,  '51 

24,  '56 

Sec. 

4, 1852 

5, 1872 

Sec. 

"    19 

2-5,  '43 

14,  '56 

Sec.  19 

16 

16 

Sec.  28 

8, 1872 

Sec.  28 

"    29 

"    29 

Rnthl'r 
u 

Sec.    3 


'64 

Sec.    9 


11 
26,  '77 
Sec.  33 
4 
4 
4 
4, 1877 
15,  '69 
Sec  3 
3 
8hiloh 


Mh'49 
Shiloh 


Sec.  17 
17 


Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  Edwin  Alexander 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Peter  Arbogast 
Farmer  &  Slock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Martin  Bug 
Fruit  Grower 
Wife  Charles  0.  Bunsen 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
WifeofS.  G.Clark 
Present  Wife  S.G.Clark 
Insurance  Agent 
Father  of  W.  T.  Exter 
Mother        "        '■ 
Gen.  Merchant  &  P.  M. 
Wife  of  H.  Friedewald 
Farmer  &  Stock.  Bai-er 
Wife  of  Charles  Griffen 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiper 
Wife  of  Joseph  Griffin 
Present  Wife  " 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Mfr.  of  Wag.  &  Plows 
Wife  of  F.  W.  Herbst 
Farmer  &  Stock  R  liser 
Wife  of  Tho<.  Kni)b3l  icl^ 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Henry  Knoebel 
Retired  Farmer 
1st,  Wife  J.  Knobeloch 
Late 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Irtt  Wf.  Geo.  P.  Lienesch 
2d    "  "  " 

Present  Wf.  "  " 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
1st  Wife  of  R.  A.  Moure 
2d      "  " 

Present  Wife       " 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  James  A.  Moore 
Farmer  &  Mfr.  of  Cider 
1st  Wife  of  Sol.  Muller 
Wife  of 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Jacob  Moser 
Hot'l  4  Sal.  &  Man.  Enter.  Mn 
Wife  of  A.  Ogden 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  H.  A.  Pierce 
Farm'g  &  Stock  Raising 
Late  Hua.  M.  C.  Pierce 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 


NATIVITY. 


St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Green  Co.,  Ky. 
Alsace,  France 
Bayern,  Germ'y 
it  i( 

Alsace,  France 
Frankford,  Gr'y 
Leibsig,  Germ'y 
Robertson  Co.  T' 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Wife  Phil  Perschbacher 
Farming  &  Stock  Bais'g 
Lt.  Hub  M.  Pcrschbach'r 
Farmer  &  Coal  Operator 
Farm.  &  Prop.  Saw  Mill 
Wife  of  A.  C.  Reus8_ 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Father  of  T.  L.  Reuss 
Mother  of    " 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Julius  Reuss 
Prop.  Shiloh  H'se  &  Sal. 
Wife  of  Chas.  F.  Renner 
Prop.  Hotel  and  Saloon 
Wife  of  John  Reppel 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
1st  Wife  Emile  Rebhau 
Pres.  Wf.     " 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  Adolph  Schott. 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  E.  J.  Scoit 
Farmer  &  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  Philip  Scott 
Fr.&Br.flneStk  &finePoul 
Ist  Wifeof  J.  M.  Scott 
Present  Wife  J.  M.  Scott 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  George  Schuetz 
Farmer  &  Slock  Rai-ser 
Wife  of  George  Scluitz 
Farmer  &  Slock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  M.  Tozer 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Late  Wife  of  Peter  Weil 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
1st  Wife  of  L.  H.  Weber 


Germany 

It 

St  Clair  Co. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
Alsace,  France 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


Castleton,  Vt. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Albany,  N.  Y. 
Bayern,  Ger. 
■*t.  Louis,  Mo. 
Hesse  Darm^t'dt 
Bayern,  G.    [G. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
H.  Damstadt,  G 
Germany 

Switzerland 

u 

Hanover.  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
((         ti        (t 

Baltimore,  Md 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

((  li  I: 

Wafh.  Ctv,-D.C 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

((  U  it 

Ohio 

Bayern,  Ger. 
St.  Louis,   Mo. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Bheinbayern,  G 
"  ■      Ger 
Lancaehire,Eng 
Wales 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


TOWNSHIP   1,  NORTH,  KANGK  10,  WEST. 


NAME. 


17 

13,  '73 

Sec.  17 

20 

20 

20 

"    20 

"      8 

"  ■  8 

"    11 

18,  '79 

Sec.  15 

22,  '72 

Sec.  15  Present  Wf. 


Germany 


Morgan,  Co.  Ill 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Frankford,  Ger. 
Wurtembrg 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

t(  II  a 

Bayerne,  Ger. 


Alsace,  France 

Germany 

(I 

Bavaria,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


Clinton  Co., 
Monroe  Co., 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
i(        II        It 

Germany 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Morgan  Co.,  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Bavaria,  Ger. 

It         It 

Hanover,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


26 

58 
58 
45 
48 
32' 
61! 
39 
43 
77 
77| 
32 
46  I 
33 
32 
31 
17 
55 
39 
16 
23 
72 
17 
18 
48 
21 
35 
50 
44 
51 
52 
40 
37 
54 
59 
22 
27 
28 
22 
46 
33 
35 
47 
33 
38 
61 
56 
63 
35 
33 
45 
5l| 
57 
54 
54 
60 
2 

40 
42 
33 
34 
37 
14 
66 
33; 
.33 
43 
56 
55 
55 
63 
24 
31 
37 
36 
60 
40 
55 


f  Bohnemeir,  John 
J  Mary  Young 
1  Bohnemeir,  Francis 
[  Mena,  Ert'mann 
/  Dreyer,  Fried  rick 
I.  HenriettaSchmidt 
j  Geyer,  Michael 
I  Sophia  Baiir 
f  Gaskill,  John  Q.  A. 
I  Emily  G.  Reed 
(  Hoftmann,  Henry 
(  .Vlary  Mersch 

Mueller,  0.-icar  G. 
f  Pulse,  William  W. 
■j  Pulse,  Hi' am  C. 
(  Ann  E.  Abernathy 
(  Reirchert,  William 
\  Elizabeth  Merod 
I  Sharp,  Benjamin  F. 
1  Ann  Jeffs 
I  Scliulte,  John 
I  Elizabeth  Mersch 
/  Scliwarz,  John 
\  Carolina  Beil 

Stout,  John  H. 


p.  OFFICE. 


Columbia 


Millstadt 


Columbia 

C'ville  Sta. 
it . 

Columbia" 


C'ville  Sta. 


23 
23 
27 
27 
36 
36 
34 
34 
27 
27 
Sur.  430 
Sec.  34 
34 
34 
35 
35 
24 
24 
27 
27 
25 
25 
25 


OCCtTFATlON. 


NATIVITY. 


Sec  23  Farmer  St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

23  Wife  of  John  Bohnemeir 

Father  of  "  "         Germany 

Mother        "  '' 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Fried.  Dreyer 

Farmer  &  Saloon  Keeper  France 

Wife  of  Michael  Geyer        " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  Madison  Co.i  III. 

Wife  of  J.  Q.  A.  Gaskill  St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Farmer  &  Road  Super' sr  Germany 

Wife  of  Henry  Hoffmann 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 


56 
61 
35 
35 
62 


Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wifeof  William  Reichert 

Farmer 

Wife  of  Benj.  F.  Sharp 

Farmer  and  Stock  Rtiser 

Wifeof  John  Schulte 

Farmer 

Wife  of  John  Scliwarz 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 


St.  Loiiis  Mo. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  111. 

Virginia 

ti   ' 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


England 
Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill, 


5.5 
3i6 
44 
25 
59 
52 
67 
58 
35 
36 
56 
59 
49 
6i 
65 
65 
68 
54 
33 


PRAIRIE   DU  PONT.      COMMON  FlilLDS. 


Acker,  T.  N. 
f  Aufdenkemp,  Henry 
1.  Mary  Boessler 
(  Boismenne,  Nicholas 
\  Elizabeth  Gemony 
/  Bailey,  Isaac 
t  Louisa  Arnold 
f  Bell,  James  E. 
A  Lucinda  Fuller 
f  Brown,  Peter 
\  Samantha  Martin 
f  Craig,  Ri  ibert 
\  Henrietta  Mariman 

Conner,  Charles 
/  Chatillion,  Peter 
\  Elizabeth  Heasick 
/  Chartrand,  J. 
1  Mary  Labusier 

Chatillion,  Constant 
/  Carlton,  James  N. 
\  Anna  Turner 
/  Caster,  M.  W. 
\  Nellie  Kohle 
f  Douglas,  Benjamin 
\  Dra  Hutchinson 
(  Dauphin,  Charles 
\  Relia  Mansette 

Denoyer,  A. 
f  Douphin,  A. 
\  Susie  Mulberson 
f  Fries,  Jo^^eph 
\  Ann  Smith 
f  Frew,  P.  N.  _ 
\  Severna  Lilli 
(  Godin,  Peter,  Sr. 
I  Virginia  AUary 

Gough,  Reuben 
f  Grubb,  Wm.  A. 
(  Catherine  Boland 
/  Harrison,  Edward  T. 
\  (ieorgeanna  Stores 
f  Jameson,  T  11. 
\  Emma  R.  Ford 
f  Lutton,  Henry 
\  Jennie  Corm 
f  Lunce,  Fred. 
I  Alice  Gray 
/  Lutton,  John 
I.  Lillie  Turner 
/  Lntton,  James 
\  Amanda  Marshall 
J  Lacroix,  Isaac 
\  Margaret  Boisraenue 

Lapage  A. 
f  McCormick,  J.  W. 
\  Hannah  S.  Desper 

Michael,  Joseph 
/  Murphy,  Isaac 
I  Mary  A.  Burks 
(  McCarty,  J.  W. 
\  McMahan,  Susan 
/  Reghar,  Andrew 
\  Virginia  Pahneria 


E.  CarODfielet 

Died  Jan. 

E.  Curondelet 


Died  May 

E.  Carondelct 


E.Caron't  ^^r.  enter  and  Saloon  Keeper 
F.springs  Quarry man 

Iggy'Late  wife  of  H.  Aufdenlsenip 

p.DuPont  'Saloon  Keeper 

Wife  of  N.  Boismenne 

Farmer 

Wife  of  Is  'ac  Bailey 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  James  E.  Bell 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Peter  Brown 

Laborer  in  Furnace 

Wife  of  Robert  Craig 

Saloon  Keeper 

Prop,  of  .Saloon 

Wife  of  Peter  Chatillion 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  J.  Chartrand 


Snrv'ySSS 

3.59 
1-54 
154 

P.DuPont 


E.Camo't 
:i.i,  1878 
K.Cftron't 


SurvvlS 

"  188 
"  359 
"  359 
"  359 

E.Caron't 


New  York 
Germany 

u 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

a  u 

Boone  Co.  Mo. 


58 
56 
o6 
44 
47 
65 
65 

Kentucky  67 

North  Carolina  :67 
Mi^sis.-iippi  163 
Pennsylvania  76 
Kentucky  ■7?, 

Monroe  Co  III.  |71 
Saline  Co.  Mo.  ;54 
Missouri  J73 

Missouri  j73 

Prairie  Du  Pont  35 
Cahokia  45 


Farmer  and  S'.ock  RaiseriSt.  Louis,  Mo.     57 


Real  Estate  Agent  and  Teacher 

Wife  of  Jas.  M.  Carlton 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Wife  of  M.  W.  Caster 

Saloon  Keeper 

Wife  of  Benj.  Douglas 

Farmer 

Wife  of  Charles  Dauphin 

Farmer 

Farmer 

Wife  iif  A.  Douphin 

Constjible  and  Saloon  Keeper 

Wife  of  Jo.<eph  Fries 

Hotel  and  Saloon 
«        Wife  of  P.  N.  Frew 
P.DuPont  Merchant  an  1  Saloon 
"       (Wifeof  Peter  Godin 
K.caront Laborer  in  Furnace 

Machinist 

Wife  of  Wm.  A.  Grubb 

Railroad  Engineer 

Wife  of  Ed.  T.  Harrison 

River  Pilot 

Wife  of  T.  H.  Jameson 

Farmer 

Wife  of  Henry  Lutton 

Farmer,  and  Pastor  Baptist  Church, 

Wife  of  Fred.  Lunce 
snrvj359:l''arraer 

3.=)9;Wife  of  John  Lutton 


St.  Clair  Co.  111.41 


135 
135 


SurVy359 

359 

159 

159 

144 

144 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  James  Lutton 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Mother  of  Isaac  Lacroix 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Justice  of  the  Peace 
WifeofJ.W.McCormack 
General  Merchant <& P.M. 
Farmer 

Wife  of  Isaac  Murphy 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wifeof  J.  W.  McCarty 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wi/e  of  Andrew  Reghar 


.Mastin  Co.  111. 

Indiana 

Austria 

Lincoln  Co.  Ky. 

Tennessee 

Mi.-<souri 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 
It  If 

Missouri 
Missouri 
France 
Pennsylvania 

Italy 

I'rairie  Du  Pont 


Kentucky 

Virginia 

Ireland 

Monroe  Co.  111. 

Iowa 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Chester  City,  Pa. 

Indiana 

Georgia 

Mississippi 

.Arkansas 

Indiana 

Missouri 

Indiana  | 

Missouri 

Prairie  Du  Pont,  Ill.'gg 

36 


49 
80 
78 
79 
62 
57 
58 
56 
67 
76 
73 
73 
73 
71 
34 
36 
75 
73 
73 
78 
76 
72 
72 
73 
73 
66 
66 
73 
76 
73 
3 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
New  York 
St.  Louis,  Mo.. 
Kentucky 
Mii-souri 
Little  RiickjArk 
Osage  Co.,  Mo, 
Cahokia,  III. 


34 
71 
72 
79 

65 
59 
75- 
60 
)0 
)6 


PKAIRIE  DU  PONT.     COMMON  FIEL.D8.— [Continued] 


J  Sinclair,  John  C. 
\  Emma  Sohwickardt 
J  Sliertnan,  Victor 
t  Ida  Owens 
J  Smizer,  Jacob 
\  Sarah  Kimberlin 
J  Simons,  John  J. 
\  Simons,  Virginia 
f  Stricltland,  Maiton 
t  Strickland,  Mary  Ann 
I  Sinclair,  Austin  M. 
t  Ettie  M.  {jotchell 

Stadelmann,  Sebastian 
f  Thomas,  E. 
t  Sarah  Curran 
J  Thomas,  J.  C. 
\  Sarah  J.  Weible 
I  Vien,  J.  B. 
t  Julia  Girardot 
/  Winkler,  jVndrew 
t  Lizzie  Kuplhoff 


P.  OFFICE. 


E.Garondalei 


RESID. 


OCCUPATION. 


Surv'ylSO 

"  180 

CoiUm'sof 
P.DuPont 

R.Caron't 


F. Springs 
K.Caron't 


Carpenter 

Wife  of  John  C.  Sinclair 

Merchant  and  J.  P. 

Wife  of  V.  Sherman 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Wife  of  Jacob  Smizer 

Farmer  and  Carpenter 

Wife  of  John  J.  Simons 

Farmer  &  Saloon  Keeper 

Mother  of  M.  Strickland 

Carpenter 

Wife  of  A.  M.  Sinclair 

Quarryman 

Saloon  Keeper 

Wife  of  R.  Thomas 

Teacher 

Wifeof  J.  C.  Thomas 

Justice  of  the  Peace  &  Teacher 

Wifeof  J.  B.  Vien 

Baker 

Wife  of  Andrew  Winkler 


NATIVITY. 


HI. 


Ohio 

Monroe  Co 
Maryland 
Mississippi 
Clearmont,  O, 
Kentucky 


Missouri 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Iowa 

Germany 

Ohio 

Ehode  Island 

Ohio 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI, 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

France 

Wurtenburg 

.St.  Louis,  Mo. 


TOWNSHIP  2  SOUTH,  RANGB  7  WEST. 


(  Borger,  George,  Jr. 
\  Mary  Whitmore 
j  Deichmann,  Peter 
t  M.  L.  Schaller 

f  Uegen,  F.  W. 
\  Magdaline  Bice 

(  Flach,  Joseph 
\  Catharine  Schmitt 
J  Feurer,  Philip 
\  Schar  Schmidt 
J  Fries,  George 
\  Johannette  Ahlheim 
J  Fritz,  Philip  C. 
I  Elizabeth  Goebel 

(  Fischer,  Katharina 
\ John  Jud 
Griffin,  Abraham 

f  Hooss,  Jacob 

t  Christine  Althoune 

{Hennemann,  Christ 
Mary  Gan-et 
Hannah  Leber 
I  Huggins,  Beuben 
■j  Nancy  Browning, 
( Frances  Nixon 
J  Hermann,  Peter  Sen. 
t  Elizabeth  C.  Lortz 
I  Hermann,  Philip 
\  Catharine  Darmstatter 
/  Hessick,  George  N. 
\  Catharine  Berth 
/  Joseph,  Wm.  Henry 
\  Catharine  A.  Hermann 
j  Lartz,  John 
t  Esther  Teter 
J  Nuernberger,  Louis 
t  Augusta  Eunze 
(  Petrie  J.  George 
I  Anna  M.  Schmesahl 
J  Pitth,  William 
I  Margaret  Stookey 
( Stehl,  Conrad 
\  Catharine  Kolhmier 
(  S'^hwarz,  Wilhelm 
1  Dorda  Kice 

{Suemniclit,  Gustav 
Saltenberger,  Philipeni 
Louisa  Bommelman 

f  Suemnicht,  Herman 

(  Lisette  Saltenberger 

f  Schanz,  John  G. 
1  Henriette  Forcade 
jStuntz,  L.  D. 

I.  Mary  J.  Varner 
J  Teter,  Abraham 
1  Polly  Ann  Green 
J  Teter,  Solomon 
\  Mary  M.  Herring 
f  Wilderman,  A.  C. 
I  Rachel,  Tate 
j  Wilderman,  laabeile 
1  Wilderman,  Geo.  W. 
(  Watts,  B.  I. 
\  Lizzie  Ellen 
J  Zierath,  Charles 
\  Louisa  Kraft 


Freeburg 
N.  Athens 


Fayettevill 

N.  Athen^ 
Died  Oot. 
Fayettevill 
N.    Athens 


Died  Sept 
Died  April 
N.    Athens 

Died 
N.    Athens 
Freeburg 
Died  Dec. 
Freeburg 
*(_ 

N.    Athens 

f( 

Freeburg 


NewAt' 


Sec.  24 

24 

NewAt' 
(( 

Sec.    1 
1 

NewAt' 
30,  73 
Sec.    ; 

NewAt' 


30, 
21, 
Sec.  35 


71 
'80 


Sec.  7  Stock  Baiser  and  Farmer 
Wife  of  Geo.  Borger,  Jr. 
Propr.  New  Athens  Hotel 
Wife  of  P.  Deichmann 
Propr.  of  Machine  Shop 
Wife  of  F.  W.  Degen 

General  Merchandise  and  f  redi^nt 
of  Town  Board 

Wife  of  Joseph  Flaeh 

Farmer  and  Stock  Reiser 

Wife  of  Philip  Feurer 

Retired 

Wife  of  George  Fries 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Philip  C.  Fritz 

Dress  Maker 

Former  bus.  of  K.  Fischer 

Fnrmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Propr.  New   Atbena     Brewert  and 

Hotel 
Wife  of  Jacob  Hoos 
Propr.  Treraont  House 
First  wf.  ofC.Hennemann 
Late  wife 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
First  wife  of  R.  Huggins 
Sec.  35  Pres, 

18  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
14,  76  Latewf.ofP.Herraann,Sr. 
Sec.    7  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

7  Wife  of  Philip  Hermann 
3-1  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

34  Wife  of  G.  N.  Hessick 
7  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
7  Wife  of  Wm.  H.  Joseph 

Sur.  386  Farmer  and  Stock  Baiser 
386  Wife  of  John  Lartz 
N.    Ath«ns  Sec.  S-'i  Farmer  and  Stock  Baiser 

35  Wife  of  L.  Nuernbeiger 
Fayettevill'            1  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

1  Wife  of  J.  G.  Petrie  _ 
Freeburg     Sur.  3J7  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

3»7  Wifeof  Wm.  Pitts 
Lenzburg     Sec.  25  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

25  Wife  of  Conrad  Stehl 
N.     Athens  19  Far.  Stock  Raiser  &  Wine  Gr 

19  Wife  of  Wilhelm  Schwarz 
Freeburg               2  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser]  Pottsdam,    Ger, 
Died    Aug.  30,  '74  Firstwifeof  Gus.SuemnichtSt.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Freeburg     Sec.    2  Pres. 

11  Farmer  and  Stock  Eaiser'Poftsdam,    Ger. 
11  Wife  of  H.  Suemnicht      jSt.  Clair  Co.  HI. 

y  Wagon     Builder     and     Blacliamltb  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 


Lenzburg 
tt 

Freeburg 
Died   Aug. 
Freeburg 


Died    Mar. 
N.    Athens 


Sur.  387 
387 
Sec.  36 
36 
5 

13.  77 
Sec.  5 
5 
6 

23,  '79 
\ewAt'. 


CumbprlandCo.Pa. 
Lucas  Co.  O. 
Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 
Germany 

Hesae  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

Bodebaugh,  Ger. 
Darmstadt,  Ger, 
tt  tt 

Naussau,  Ger. 

Hessfl  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

Switzerland 

4( 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany. 


.St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 


Jefferson  Co.  O. 
Saxony,  Ger 

Hesae  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

St..Clair  Co.  Ill 
"         <i 

Baden,  Ger. 
Germany 
Wood  Co.  Ohio 
St.  Clair  Co.  HI 
CumberlandCo.Pa. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

Prussia 

Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many 

Hanover,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

tt    it 

Germany 
St.  ('lair  Co.  Ill 
Bhine,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co  111 


Shop 
Wife  of  John  G.  Schanz  _ 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  L.  D.  Stuntz 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Abraham  Teter 
Farmer  and  Slock  Raiser 
Late  wife  of  Sol.  Teter 
Parmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  A.  C.  Wilderman 
Farming  &  .Stock  Raising 
Latehus.of  J.  M.  Wilderman 
l^hysician  und  Surgeon 
Wife  of  R.  I   Watts 
Books  and  Stationary 
Wife  of  Charles  Zierath 


many 

CumberlandCo.Pa 
St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 


Illinois 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


WashingtonCo.IJl. 
I.  It 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI 


TOWNSHIP  3   SOUTH,  KANGE   7  WEST. 


p.     OFFICE. 


/  Ahlers,  Conrad 

1  Anna  M.  Breidweiser 

/  Bolgard,  Adam 

\  Christine  Hueser 

f  Burr,  Joseph  C. 

\  Burr,  Emeiine  L. 

/  Dreher,  P.  J. 

\  Ma'garet  Griebel 

I  Faber,  Frfedrick 

\  L.  Kiimmarzell 

/  Florke,  Louis 

1  Fox,  Anna 

/  Geyer,  J.  George. 

I  M:irgaret  Spitz 

f  Ileinecke,  H.  .J. 

I  Elizabeth  Wilde 

(  Hardy,  John,  Sr. 

I  Cath.  Margenthaler 

I  Haensel,  David 

\  Katie  Ahlheim 

f  Hughes,  Miles 

1  Mary  Johnson 

/  Halin  Andrew 

1  Mary  Leilith 

f  Kraft,  William 

I  Eliza  Leilich 

f  Kirchhaefer,  Wendel 

\  Christine  Wealtz 

f  Lemser,  Lorenz 

\  Louisa  Weis 

Moore,  Atlas  R. 

Louisa  G.  Leming 

Moore,  Nancy 

Miles  Catharine 
/  Popp,  Henry 
\Therressa  Geyer 
(  Sliper,  F. 
\  Augusta  Shank 
I'Schiilz,  August 

EIvinaLeiincke 

Mary  Faber 

{Tellack,  Henry 
Mary  A.  Blum 
Catharine  Granssinge 
f  Vogler,  C.  W. 
\  Susan  Bennett 
(  Volkening,  H. 
1  Volk™ing,  H.  L. 
f  Wliitchurch.  D.ivid 
\  Elizabeth  Lively 
j  Waellz,  Adam 
\  Elizabeth  Angel 
/  Walker,  J.  B. 
(  Delphine  Smith 
j  Wildi,  Jacobina  M. 
1  Wildi,  John_ 
/  Winter,  Louis,  Sr. 
\  Caroline  Brown 
f  Wirth,  George 
1  Catharine  Arnholt 
f  Yuuk,  Hermann 
\  Mary  Klinkhartd 


Lenzburg 

(( 

New  Athens 
(( 

Bisdon 

ii 

Lenzburg 

-Vew    Alhens 
tt 

Bisdon 
Lenzburg 


New   Athens 


Lenzburg 


RESID. 


Sec.  12 
1'. 


New  Athens 


Lenzburg 


Risdon 


Marissa 

Risdon 

(I 

New   Athens 
tt 

Risdon 
Died    Mar, 
Risdon 

Died  Dec. 

Risdon 

Lenzburg 


Risdon 

It 

Lenzburg 


New   Athens 


Died  July 

Lenzburg 
tt 

New   Athens 


10 
10 

27 

27 

L'burg 
it 

Sec.  11 

11 

27 

27 

10 

10 

L'burg 
It 

Sec.  10 

10 

L'burg 
it 


OCCUPATION. 


See.  14 

14 

15 

15 

35 

35 

24 

24 

34 

34 

34 

36 

34 

34 

2(1 

20 

27 

22,  70 

Sec.  27 

•27 

25,  '79 

Sec.  27 

L'burg 


.Sec.  34 

34 

24 

24 

11 

11 

2 

3, '66 

Sec.  1 1 

11 

15 

1-i 

29 

29 


Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Conrad  Ahlers 
Farmer  and  Stock  Rai.»er 
Wife  of  Adiim  Bolgard 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Sister  of  Joseph  C.  Burr 
General  Store  and  P.  M 
WifeofP.  J.  Dreher 
Grocery  Store 
Wife  of  Freidrick  Faber 
Farmer  and  Stock  Rais=er 
Wife  of  Louis  Florke 
Farnicr  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  J.  Geo.  Geyer 
Propr.  of  Hoiel  Heinecke 
Wife  of  H.  J.  Heinecke 
Farmer  and  Stock  Baiser 
Wife  of  John  Hardy,  Sr. 
Wagon  &  Carriage  Build' 
Wife  of  David  Haensel 
Pliy.sician   and    Surgeon 
Wife  of  Miles  Hughes 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Andrew  Habn 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  William   Kraft 
Farmer  and  S'ock  Raiser 
Wife  of  W.  Kirchhaefer 
Farmer  and  Stock  Bai-  er 
Wife  of  Lorenz  Leinser 
Farmer  and  Stock  Baiser 
Wife  of  Atlas  B.  Moore 
Mother     " 

Farming  &  Stock  Baising 
Farmer  and  Stock  Baiser 
Wile  of  Henry  Popp 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  F.  Sliper 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
First  wife  of  A.  Schiilz 
Pres.      "  " 

Grocer  and  Farmer 
First  wife  of  H.  Tellack 
Pres.       "  " 

Wagon  &  Carriage  Buil'd 
WifeofC.  W.  Vogle 
Druggist 

Wife  of  H.  Volkening 
Farmfer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  D.  Whitchurch 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Adam  Waeltz 
School  Teacher 
Wifeof  J.  R.  Walker 
Farming  &  Slock  Raising 
Late  bus.  of  J.  M.  Wildi 
Justice  of  the  Peace 
Wife  of  Louis  Winter 
Farmer  and  Stock  Ba'ser 
Wife  of  George  Wirth 
Propr.  Saw  Mill 
Wife  of  Hermann  Yunk 


NATIVITY. 


Mobile 

St.  Clair  Co. 

Germany 


111. 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


■a. 

CO 


Germany 
St.  Clair  Co. 
Germany 


111 


Si.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 
.(        tt 

Germanv 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI, 

Switzerland 

France! 

Mobile 

Germany 

Illinois 

tt 

Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  HI, 


Mo. 
Germany 

it 

it 
Maryland 
Germany 
Ohio 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
.Atlantic  Ocean 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany 


Tenn. 

St.  Clair  Co. 

Germany 


111 


Indiana 

Illinois 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  HI, 


46 

51 

47 

67 

28 

30 

56 

53 

76 

76 

52 

53 

44 

52 

53 

53 

17 

27 

66 

63 

72 

72 

37 

.S7 

33 

35 

53 

■')2 

53 

,52 

49 

50 

04 

54 

49 

52 

62 

62 

54 

52 

70 

59 

53 

57 

52 

56 

67 

67 

19 

20 

52 

52 

73 

73 

46 

27 

33 

37 

54 

42 

50 

53 


TOWNSHIP  2  NORTH,   KANGE  7  WEST. 


f  Bates,  O.  C. 

\  Anna  Stuart 

f  Bischoff,  Bernard 

\  Anna  Chenot 

f  Bond,  J.  S. 

\  Laura  Hart 

f  Bowler,  B.  F.,  Jr. 

I  Bowler,  B.  F.,  Sen. 

(  Hester,  Lemen 

(  Bennet,  Jeremiah 

\  Mary  M.  Alexander 

j  Curry,  James  A. 

I  C.  M.  Butherford 

j  Cook,  H.  E. 

\  Sarah  P.  Simmons 

(  Darrow,  William  A. 

I  Malvana  Simmons 

/  Darrow,  George  W. 

IDrusilla  A.Stites 

(  Darrow,  Charles  B. 

l  Mary  Dwire 

f  Eckert,  John  W. 

1  Anna  Dannar 


O'Fallon 

ti 

O'F'lon 

O'Fallon 

({ 

" 

a 

Died  April 

11,  '66 

O'Fallon 

Sec.    7 

Died  Oct. 

8, '69 

O'Fallon. 

Sec.    7 

Lebanon 

26 

Died  Sept. 

13,  '80 

O'Fallon 

Sec.  27 

(( 

27 

Lebiinon 

15 

^i 

15 

O'Fallon 

27 

tt 

27 

a 

28 

it 

28 

(i 

28' 

tt 

2S: 

tt 

32 

ti 

32; 

Physician  and  Surgeon     St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 

Wife  of  O.  C.  Bates 

Mfr. of Soda&  Min.  Waf  r  Germany 

Wife  of  Bernard  BischoflTSt.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Lawver  and  Farmer         Clinton  Co.   Ill, 

Late" wife  of  J.  S.  Bond    St.  ClairCo.  Ill, 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  St.  Louis  Co.Mo. 

Fatherof  B.  F.  Bowler,jr. 

Mother      " 

Fm'r,  Stock*  Coal  Oper'r 

Late  wife  of  J.  Bennet 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  James  A.  Curry 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  H.  B.  Cook 

Farmer  and  Stock  Baiser' 

Wife  of  Wm.  A.  Darrow] Band' ph  Co.  Ill 

Farmer  and  Slock  Baiser  St.  Clair  Co.  HI 

Wife  of  Geo.  W.  Darrow 

Farmer  and  Slock  Raiser 

WifeofC.  B.  Darrow 

Farmer  and  Stdck  Raiser 

Wife  of  John  W.  Eckert 


St.  Clair  Co..  HI. 
Gilford  Co.  N.C. 
St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 


Band'pli  Co.  111. 
St.Cl^irCo.  III. 


Chambers'g  Pa. 
France 


ii 
48 
SO 
44 
61 
43 
60 

28 
35 
24 
58 
60 
42 
6t 
!37 
58 
'31 
3^ 
40 
143 
39 
i60 


TOWNSHIP  2  NORTH,  RANGE  7  WEST.- 


[Continued.] 


NAME. 


{Elliott,  Jesse 
Elliott,  Jepse 
Martha  Melvin 

/  Fischer,  Charle-!  F. 
\  Ernestine  Hirschfeld 
J  Garlside,  Dan.  D. 

L  Hellen  Taylor 

J  (libson,  John  H. 
\  Mary  Patterson 

I  Houser,  Ida 

■j  Houser,  Elias 

(  Elina  Malott 

(  Hill.Kichard 

\  Mary  Adams 
JEouser,  E.  Jr. 

f  Kraiise,  B 

\  Kinkel,  Mary 

f  Kirgar,  8.  8. 

\  Marv  O.  Lewis 

r  Krost,  Philip 

\  Anna  M.  Moehn 

f  Keck,  Martin 

\  Eva  Eemelius 

f  I£ampnieyer,  E. 

\  Laiirene  Oj»le 

f  Lanrlgraf,  Joseph 

\  Elizahelh  Engelhardt 

f  Lemen,  Cyrus  A. 

\  Caroline  E.  Myers 

(  Liickner,  Edward 

(  Mary  Kroschz 

f  Mackin,  Thomas 

\  Catherine  Linckey 

f  Morris,  Joseph 

\  Hannah  Osborne 

J  Miinie,  H.  P. 

I  Anna  He'^s 

i  NeedKs,  Mrs.  C    M. 

1  Needles,  James  B. 

r  Ogle.  Eliza  J. 

i  John  Simpson 

(Ogle,  G.  W. 

J  Ogle,  J.  M. 

l  Eva.  Hannbn 

f  Poignefi    Frank 

\  Salome,  Dan. 

f  Poigne6,  George 

\  Catherine  Kloes 

r  Paiterson,  H.  E. 

.j  Amanda  Rader 

I  Florence  Parker 

J  Peach,  John 

I  Harriet  W.  Cook 

f  Remelins,  Bichard 

J  Clara  Poignefi 

I  Margaret  Klees 

[  Bertha  Ulrich 

(  Ross,  William  M. 

i  Ross  William  D. 

(  Emeline  Peach 

/  Runkwitz,  Herman 

I  Anrelie  Wthntine 

I  -^cott.,    Elizabeth    fnee 

l  Scott,  Isaac        [Pcnn) 
ISchildknecht,  Philip 
Catherine  Stookey 
Charlotte  Stookey 
Schildknecht,  Henry 
Emma  K.  Difiller 
Scott,  M.  G.  (nee  Garetson) 

1  Scott,  W.  H.  H. 
J  Scott,  J  WiLson 
1  Sarah  C  Wetherill 
/  8  liter,  John 
(.  Mary  A.  Wastfield 
/  Scott,  W.  8.  , 
I  Marv  E.  Rider 
(  Smith,  S.  G. 
J  Orinda  Banksnn 
I  Mary  A.  Peck 
j  Simmons,  William 
1  Rebecca  J.  Owens 
f  Smiley,  8   C. 
1  Jennie  I.  Simmons 
f  Tiedeman,  F.  O. 
(  Wiihelmina  Kalzer 
f  Tiedeman,  Ernest  J. 
t  Mary  Baumann 
j  Tiedeman,  Charles 
1.  Titdenii  n,  Jennie 


P.  OFFICE. 


Lebanon 
Died   Sept, 
Lebanon 
O' Fa  Hon 


Sec.  22 
17,  76 
Sec.  22 
O'F'lon 


Died  Sept. 
()' Fallon 
Died  Oct. 
0' Fallon 


Shiloh 

it 

OTallon 


ColliosTillP,  Ma- 
di.^on    Co. 

Lebanon 

(< 

O'Fallon 

Lebanon 

i( 

O'Fallon 


Died  Feb 
O'Fallon 

Died 
O'B'allon 


Lebanon 
Died  Feb. 
Lehanrn 
O'Fallon 

Died  Sept. 
O'Fallon 
Died  June 
"      Aug. 
O'Fallon 
Lebanon 
Died  Nov. 
Lebanon 


O'Fallon 
Died  Jan 

O'Fallon 
Died   Mav 
Died  Sept. 

O'Fallon 


Died  Dec. 
O'Fallon 
Died  April 
O'Fallon 


Died  April 
O'Fallon 


RESID. 


OCCUPATION. 


13,  '80 

Sec.  29 
19,  '72 
Sec.  33, 
O'F'lon 


Sec.  3.5 

S-i 

3 

3 

O'F'lon 
i( 

'I 

ii 

Sec.  6 

"   2G 

O'F'lon 

Sec.  27 

27 

27 

27 

O'F'lon 

27,  '64 

See.  30 

1843 

Sec.  30 

18 

18 

O'F'lon 


Sec.  22 

5,  '77 

Sec.  2-2 

2< 

23,  '73 


O'F' 

31, 
16, 

O'F 
Sec. 
18, 
Sec. 


O'F' 
1(1, 
O'F' 


O'F'lon 


'42 
31 
77 
33 
33 
32 
3-2 
27 
'48 
27 
19 
19 
18 
18 
O'F'lon 


29, 
Sec. 
12, 
Sec. 


17, 
Sec. 


Fanner  and  Sioek  Raiser 
Father  of  Jessie  Elliott 
Mother    "  " 

Hotel,  Livery,   Dealer   in     Lime, 

Siind,  &C. 
Wife  of  Charles  F.  Fischer 
Grocer 

Wife  of  Dan  D.  Gartside 
Propr.  Livy  &  F'd  Stable 
Wife  of  John  H.  Gibson 
At  home 

Father  of  Ida  Houser 
Late  wife  of  Elias  Houser 
Supt.  Van  Court  CI  Mine 
Late  wife  of  Rich'd  Hill 
j  Farmer  and  Slock  Raiser 
Physician  and   Druggist 
Wife  of  B.  Krause 
Blacksmith 
Wife  of  S.  S  Kirgar 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Philip  Krost 
Farmer  and  Sto"k  Raiser 
Wife  of  Martin  Keck 
Dlr  in  H'dWRrp  &  Agr'I.  Imp. 
Wife  of  R.  Kam|imey§r 
Propr.  of  Sal  on 
Wife  of  Joseph  Landgraf 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Cyrus  A.  Lemen 
Farmer  &  Grape  Grower 
Wife  of  Kdward  Luckner 
Propr.  of  Saloon 
Wife  of  Thomas  Mackin 
Propr.  Morris  Coal  Mine 
Wife  of  Joseph  Morris 
Farmer  and  Stock  Rai.ser 
Wife  of  H.  P.  Munie 
Retired  Farmer 
Late  husb'd  of  C.  M.  Needle^ 
Retiri-d 

First  hasb'd  of  E.  J.  Oglt- 
Pres.        "        _    " 
Farmer  &  Fruit  Grower 
Wife  of  J.  M.  Ogle 

County  Commis.,iionBr,  Notary  Pu'ilio 
anil  Real  F^utate  A  geut. 

Wifeiif  Frank  P..igne6 
Propr.  of  Saloon 
Wife  of  George  Poigne^ 
Parmer  and  Slock  Raiser 
First  wife  of  H.  E.  Patterson 
Pres.         "  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Late  wife  of  John  Peach 
H'ware,  Agr'I  Imp.  &  Const'. 
Kiist  wife  of  R.  Remelius 
Second 

Pres  "  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Father  of  Win.  M.  Ross 
Widow  of  Wm.  D.  Ross 
Farmer  and  Frnii  Grower 
Wife  of  Her.  Runkwitz 
Retired  [Scod 

Late  husb'nd  of  Elizabeth 
.Inst,  of  the  Peace  4  Not.  Pub. 
First  wife  of  P.  Schildkneclit 
Late        "  " 

Mfr.  &  Dk.  in  Saddles  &  I-Iar. 
Wife  of  H.  Schildknechi 
Retired  Farmer 
Late  hus.  of  M.  G.  Scott 
Farmer  and  Siock  Raiser 
Late  wife  of  J.  W.  Scoii 
Parmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Sailer 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  W.  S.  Scott 
Retired  Farmer 
First  wife  of  S.  G.  Smith 
Pres.  wife  of  S.  G.  Smith 
Farmer  and  Stock  Rai-ei 
Wife  of  Wm.   .'^inimons 
Farmer  and  S  ock  Raiser 
Wife  of  S.  C.  Smiley 
Lumber  D'aler 
Wife  of  F.  ().  Tiedemar 
ftencial  Merchant 
Wife  of  E.  J.  Tiedeman 
Merchant  Miller 
Wife  of  Clias.  Tiedeman 


NATIVITY. 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Ruther'dCo.Tenn. 
Davidson  Co.Ul 
Baden,  Ger. 
Prus-ia 
England 

Austra 

Rmd'phCo.Ill. 

St.  Clair  Co   HI. 

Wasliin'g  Co.  Md. 
((  (( 

Cornwall,  Eng. 

8t.  Louis,  Mo. 

Germany 

St.  L')iii's,  Mo. 

Cnmberl'd  Cn.  Ky. 

Iloboken,  N.  J 

Germany 

Bavaria,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
St.  Louis,  Mo 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 

Hcs<e  Oarin'tFidt  Ger- 
many 
rrermany 
Sr.  CUir  Co.  Ill 
V  iiMtra 
Saxony,  Ger. 

[reland 

(( 

Cornwall,    Ead. 
((         '( 

Lorraine,  Fr, 

((  «< 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Maryland 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Warren  Co.  Ill, 
Germany 
France 
Germany 
Madison  Co.  111. 
Kand'ph  Co.  III. 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Rand'phCo.  III. 
St.  Clair  Co   111. 


ermanv 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 


Tenn. 

Rand'phCo.  III. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Saxony.  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Germany 


■St.  Clair  Co.  Til. 

Monroe  Co.  III. 
tt        .< 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Ohio 

Knox  Co.  Ohio 

St.  Clair  C).  111. 

(1  u 

Monroe  Co.  III. 
Wilm'ton,  Del. 
■if.  Clair  Co.  111. 
St.  Louis  Co.  Mo 
■5t.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Germa 


any 


TOWNSHIP  2  NORTH.  RANGE  7  WEST,— [Continued.] 


NAME. 


(  Van  Cour>,  B.  J. 
I  Amelia  Midtnacht 
(  Westfleld,  Mrs.  E.  O. 
t  Westfleld,  A.  J. 


p.  OFFICE. 


O'Fallon. 


Died  Nov. 


OCC'TFATION. 


NATIVITY. 


Sec.  29  R'^tired  Farmer 

29,  Wife  of  B.  J   Van  Court 

33'Retired  Farmer 
15,  '66  Late  hiis.ofE.O. Westfleld 


Miflin  Co.  Pa. 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill, 


CITY    OP    I.EBANON. 


Ash,  J.  F- 

Lebanon 

/  Brenniug,  John 
1  Elizabeth  J.  Perry 

u 

(t 

/  Baker,  J.  D. 
t  Blanck,  Ida  B. 

It 

f  Baum,  Henry 

\  Bergsnaum,  Mellie 

tt 

tt 

(  Blanck,  Henry  W. 
(  Samaria  Sanders 

tt 

1  Brownlee,  William 
\  S.  L.  Notestine 

tt   * 

It 

/  Berger,  A. 

\  Cecillia  A.  Adams 

tt 

f  Blanck.  Herman  J. 
\  Mary  E.  Rankin 

" 

it 

I  Cunningham,  R.  F. 
t  Mary  E.  Risley.  Died 

tt 

June  6, 

r  Gannu  ■,  E. 
{  Emma  Potter 

Lebanon, 

t( 

f  Horner,  H.  H. 
\  H.  M   Danforth 

it 

It 

r  Hypes,  Joseph 

tt 

J  Elizbeth  Thomas  Died 

July  21, 

1  Helen  C.  Turner   Died 

April  13, 

1  Hypes,  William  H. 
\  Emma  L.  AUyn 

Lebaiion, 

(t 

j  Hoffman,  Giistavns 
\  Hartmann,  Marie 

" 

tt 

Jones,  O.  V. 

tt 

(  Keese,  W.  V. 
VSarah  J.  Cooley 

it 

t( 

f  Lindly,  J.  N. 
\  Alice  I).  Carson 

tt 

tt 

/Lindly,  J.J. 

tt 

(  Ellie  H   Pierson 

/Lindly,  Cicero  J. 
\  Alice  J.  McNeil 

tt 

tt 

f  Lupton  John 
I  Louisa  O.  Dufour 

tt 

ti 

(  Lvtle,  F.  W 

tt 

i  Florida  M.  Routt,  die:J 

July   11th, 

Lottie  Danforth 

Lebanon, 

/  Moore,  Thomas 
\  Mary  J.  Nichols 

(• 

•* 

r  Nichols,  William 

K 

i  Candine    V.    Lingen- 

il 

(  Delila  Moore      [felter 

Died  Feb.  5 

Nichols.  W.  L. 

Lebanon, 

/  Norris,  S.  R. 

\  Maud  G.  Whittelsey 

*' 

<( 

}  Phillips,  D.  W. 
\  Susan  E.  Vasey 

(1 

(( 

/  Pesold,  Frederick 
\  Louisa  Reinbardt 

(( 

u 

f  Pfeffer,  C 

1  Margaret  Kuespert 

(( 

Cf 

I"  Rankin,  James 

l( 

\  Elizabeth  J.  Phelps 

Died  Dec'r 

(  i;  i/.abcth  McDonald 

Died    Mav 

Rahner,  John  G. 

Lebanon, 

r  Renter,  Charles  J. 

(  Minnie  A    Schmidt 

(( 

f  Schaefcr,  Martin  W. 
Louisa  L.  Weigel 

<( 

(1 

j  Schaefer,  Jacob 
1  Margaret  Noll 

tt 

'* 

/  Smith,  James  F. 
1  Ella  E.  Robbins 

If 

{  Sargent,  J.  L. 

it, 

]  Sargent,  Jane  H. 

Died  Nov'r 

Abbie  W.  Danforth 

Died  May 

(  Swahlen,  William  F. 
1  Carrie  V.  Hvpes 

Lebanon, 

(( 

Sager.  C.  H. 
An)elia  W.  Slarkel 

u 

u 

(  Tr  .band,  Philip  H. 
I  Sophia  Goola 

.< 

(f 

f  Willoughby,  W-  E. 
1.  Mary  Moore 

tt 

tt 

/  Welsberger,  Gustave 
I  Teekla  Herbrodt  • 

t( 

Leban. 


Ed.  &  Prop.  "  Reveille' 

Engineer    , 

Wife  of  John  Brenning 

B  inker 

Wife  of  J.  D  Baker 

Hardwr.  &  Tinwr.  Mer. 

Wife  of  Henry  Baum 

Merchant 

Wife  Henry  W.  Blanck 


St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Germany 

Ireland 

New  York  City 

St.  Clair  Co.,  ifl 

(Jermany 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Germany 

Mirion  Co.,  ill 


1879 
Leban. 


1849 
1874 
Leban. 


1875 
Leban. 


1849 
Leban. 


16,  '44 
14,  77 
Leban. 


•21,  '4 
11,  '80 
Leban. 


55 
44 
49 
68 
57 
60 
77 
48 
70 
71 
71 
50 
30 
47 
43 
34 


Ret.  Railroad  Condiictor^Ireland 
Wife  Wm.  Brownlee        Ohio 
Physician  and  Surgeon     Germany 
Wife  of  A.  Berger  St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Merchant  Germany 

Wife  of  H.  J.  Blanck         Clinmn  <h.,  II! 
Physician  and  Surgeon     Harford  Co.  M 
Lt.  Wife  R.  F.  Cunning-  Vermilion  Co.,  I! 
Propr.  Bishop  Hse.  [ham  Susquehan.  Co.  Pa  70 
Wife  of  E.  Gannun  Oneida  Co.  N.Y  7t) 

Attorney-al-Law  St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill  21 

Wife  of  H.  H.  Horner  Franklin  Co.  Vt  54 
Retired  BotetjurtCo.Va  21 

1st  Wife  of  Jos.  Hypes  Wythe  Co.,  Va.  17 
Late  Wife  "  Bo'tetourt,  Va.     17 

Ins.  and  Loan  Agent  St.  Clair  Co.,  Id  .39 
Wife  of  Wm.  H.  H;.  pes  '  Connecticut  |63 
Watchmaker  &  Jeweler  St.  Clair  Co.  111.  49 
Wife  of  Gus.  HoflTmann    Germany  '80 

Ed.  &  Pub.  Leb.  'Journ'l'i Caldwell  eo.  Ky  47 
Mill'r  &  Prop  Custom  Mills  Ohio  66 

Wife  of  W.  V.  Kee.se.         "  66 

Druggist 

Wifeof  J.N.  Lindly 
Farm'r  and  Stock  Dealer 
Wifeof  J.J  Lindly 
.\ttomey 

Wife  of  C.  J.  Lindly 
Portrait  Pntr.  &  Photog'r 
Wife  of  John  Lnpton 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
1st  Wife  F.  W.  Lytle 


Pres.  Wife 
Police  Magistrate 
WifeofTlios.  Moore 
Retired  Farmer 
Pres.  Wife  W.  Nichols 
1st  Wife       "         " 
Merchant 

Railroad  Agt.  &  Livery- 
Wile  S.  R.  Norris   [man 
Pres.  McK'endree  College  Wash 
Wife  D.  W.  Phillips 
Watchmaker  &  Jeweler 
Wife  of  P.  Pesold 
Di.«tiller 

Wife  of  C.  Pfelfer 
Mavor  and  Jn.stice  Peace 
IstWife  J.  Rankin 
Late  Wife        '' 
S.iloon  Keeper. 
Mfr.  Mineral  Wafer 
Wife  of  C.  J.  Renter 
Banker 

Wife  of  M.  W.  Schaefer 
Tailor  &  Land  Specnlat'r 
Wife  of  J-  Schaefer 
Commercial  Traveler 
Wifeof  Jas.  F  Smith 
Horticulturist  &  Farmer 
1st  Wife  J.  L.  Sargent 
Laie  Wife  "  " 

Prof,  in  McKendree  Col. 
Wife  Wm.  F.  Swahlen 
Hardwr.  &  .Agricult  Mer 
Wife  of  C.  H.  Sager 
Cigar  Manfr.  and  Saloon 
Wife  of  P.  H.  Traband 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  W.  K.  Willoughby 
Lumber  Merchant 
Wife  Gustave  Weisbei^er 


Madison  Co..  Ill  65 
Wa.sh.  Co.,  111.80 
Madison  Co.  Ill  66 
Schuvler,  N.  Y.  65 
Madison  Co.,  Ill  65 
Bond  Co.,  111.  80 
Champaign  Co.  0.  6.3 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  63 
Westmorei'd  go.  V  65 
JessamineCo.  E  65 
Franklin  Co.  Vt  55 
St  Clair  Co.,  Ill  25 
"  "  "  34 
Christ'n  Co.,  Ky  25 
Clark  Co.,  Ky.  49 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

"  48 
Will  Co.,  111.  71 
Monmouth  CO.  N.J  71 
Co.,  111.  79 
Jefferson  Co.,  79 
Germany  [N.Y  70 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  56 
Germany  73 

73 
Indiana  Co.,  Pa]44 
Davidson  Co.  T.  41 
St  Clair  0>.  Ill!2i 


Cincinnati,  O. 
Germany 

Madison  Co.  Ill 
8t.  Clair,  111. 
Germany 

Broom  Co.,  N.Y 
N.  Orleaas,  La. 
Colum.Co.  N.Y 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Frankl'nCo.Vt 
Wheeling,  Va. 
•St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Fairfield  Co.,  O. 
Germany 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
(  tt 

Kent  Co.,  Del. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  II 
Germany 
St.  Clair  Co.  II 


60 
58 
68 
59 
62 
59 
.59 
78 
78 
39 
21 
5-2 
63 
49 
58 
59 
64 
SO 
35 
25 
65 
50 


TOWNSHIP  1  NORTH,  RANGE  6  WEST. 


NAME. 


P.  OFFICE.   RESID, 


Centralia 
Mascoutah 


Benz,. Gottlieb 

Mary  Liebig 
■   Bagby,  £. 
f  Barker,  Amos 
\  Zaidee  Kittenhouae 

Cornick,  Boyd 

Decker,  Henry  J. 

DilK,  Fred. 

Emig,  A.  C. 

Eiseninayer,  Philip  H 

Eisenmayer,  George  C. 

Priess,  Jolin  P. 

Fribolin,  Charles 

{Kriesz.   Auoa  U.   ^ueu  Fei'dcb- 
baoberl 
Priesz,  George  P. 
Hueke,  Philip 
Hertz,  Hermann 
f  Hecker,  Fred.  Colonel 
\  Josephine  Eissenhardi 

iHagist,  P. 
El  zabeth  Frey 
Hagist,  Ernest 
Kissel,  Fred. 
Leibig,  Louis 
Lill,  Peter  W. 
■  Lucius,  R.  W. 
Leibrock,  George 
Leibrock,  Geoige,  Jr 
Meyer,  George 
f  Morlock,  John 
\  Maxei-ner,  Minna 
J  Manville,  W.  A. 
\  Margarie,  P.  Free 
f  Nungesser,  Justus 
\  Elizabeth  Schmahl 
Padfleld,  James  R. 
Postel,  Ph.  H. 
Pieke,  A. 
Kutz,  R. 

Eichiirdt,  George,  Jr. 
Kie«s,  Ferdiniin 
f  Richardson,  James  H 
\  Maria  Rentchler 
f  Riess,  Adam 
\  Barbara  Friess 
f  Sehlinger,  Anthony 
\  Louisa  Faust 
Soheve,  Gust  J. 
Swaggard,  George 
Hchubkegel,  Philip 
Schubkrgel,  Fred. 
Solomon,  Albert 
f  Seheve,  Fred.  J. 
\  Sophia  Scheurer 
Stock,  Adam,  Jr. 
Stock,  CharltB 
/  Stein,  Louis 
\  Caroline  Etting 
f  Seewald,  John   Philip 
I  Catheiine  Mersinger 

Sheeley,  W.  D. 
J  Tyson,  Robert  A. 
\  Samantha  Neff 
(  Wuench,  Henry,  Sr. 
(.Elizabeh  Wutnch 


Mascontah 


19 
31 

Soc.  2.Tp. 
1  OlinfOo 

Mas'tah 


Died   Sept. 

Mascoutah 

(( 

Dec'd 

Sammerfield 
Mascoutah 


OCCUPATION. 


Sac.  19  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 


Sec.  15 
15,  '76 

Mas'tah 


Sec.    3 
Maa'tah 


New  Baden 
Mascoutah 


NATIVITY. 


CO 


Wife  of  Gottlieb  Benz 
Grain  Dealer  and  J.  P. 
Retired  Farmer 
Wife  of  Amos  Barker 
Physician  and  Surgeon 

frnpi'lcior    Mascoutah     Huuae   and 
Livery 

Editor  Mascoutah  Anzeiger 
D  puty  Post  Master 
Mayor  of  Mascoutah 
Ketired 

Propr.  Eagle  House 
General  Merchant 
Farming  &  Stock  Riiisinj; 
Late  hus.  of  A.  M.  Friesz 
General  Merchandise 
Cloth'  &  Gents'  Furn.  Good.- 


Germany 

St.  Glair  Co.  111. 

Halifax  Co.N.C. 

Lincoln  Co.  Maine  18 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Missouri 

Germany 


TOWNSHIP  1  SOUTH,  RANGE  8  WEST.-[Continued.J 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
H.  Darmstadt,Ger. 
Germany 


NewBa' 
i( 

Mas,'. ah 

Sec.  24 

2-1 
Mas'tah 


Sec.  3S 
33 

27 
27 

Mtis'la) 


Summerfield 
Summerfield 
Mifecoutah 


Sec.  1 
15 
3 
3 

Mas'tati 


Widow   of  the    lata   Coloael  Fred. 
Hecker 

General  Merchant 

Wife  of  E.  Hagist 

Son 

Butcher 

Propr.  of  our  House  &  Sal 

Tobacconist 

Jeweler 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Propr.  Haw  Mill  and  Dearler  io  Hai-d 
TjUmber 

Saloon  and  Billiard  Hall 

Teacher 

Wife  of  John  Morlock 

Pastor  Cbristlaa   Church  aud  M  at 

Wife  uf  W.  A.  Manville 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Justus  Nungesser 

Constable 

Proprietor  Star  Mills 

Pastor  Mascoutah  Parish 

Constable 

General  Merchandise 

Proi-r.  B-'lleville  Hons 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  J.  H.  Richardson 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Adam  Riess 

Merchant  Mills 

Wife  of  Anth'y  Sehlinger 

JuKticeof  the  Peace  aud  lusuraace 
Ajjent 

Retired  Farmer 

Uue  of  the  prijprLetors  of  Emeral  lale 
MiUa 

Saloon 

Cloth'  4  Gents'  Fur.  Goods 

General  Merchant 

Wife  of  Fred.  J.  Seheve 

Dlr.  in  Boots  and  Shoes 

Merchant  Tailor 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Louis  Stein 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

WifeofJ.  Philip  Seewald 

Teacher 

Teacher 

Wife  of  Robert  A.  Tynon 


Baden,  Ger. 


Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany 

Belleville,  III 
St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Heaae  Darmstadt 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI. 
Germany 


St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Chester  Co.  Pa 
Union  Co-  Pa. 
Hessen,  Ger. 
Darmstadt,  Ger. 
Germany 
St.  Clair  Co 


111 


Germany 


Madison  Co.  Ill 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Freuss,   Uiuden,    Ger- 
many 

St.  Clair  Co.  III. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 

a  If 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
York  Co.  Pa. 
Ohio 


Proprietor  South-Easteru  HouBe  aud  Q-eimanV 
Saloon  I  ( 

Wife  of  Henry  Wiiench,  Sr. 


12 
40 
46 
44 
47 
39 
39 
33 
67 
3-1 
36 
63 
64 
48 
48' 
50 
52 
67 
47 
36 
50 
53 
44 
44 
54 
53 
58 
35 
40 
54 
51 
22 

75 

49 

54 

55 

48| 

38 

39 

53 

51 

40 

46 

21 

3 

55 

77 

44 

50 
54 
50 
50 
40 
34 

73 

7H 
58 
58 


J  Hummel,  Joseph 
\  Louisa  Hoffman 
j  Helms,  F. 
I  Margaret  M.  Shook 
f  Keiiu,  Heinrich 
\  Anna  M.  Bucchel 
j  Kurtz,  Edward 
\  Mary  Hammer 
I  Laeiiffert,  W.  H. 
I  Laura  Metzger 
(  Lippert,  Henry 
\  Catharine  Gaff 
j  Moeser,  Henry 
\  Elizabeth  Becker 

Moesser,  Fred. 
fMiller,  W.  J. 
\  Virginia  M.  Terrell 
f  Miller,  David  D. 
-j  Sally  Burnett 
I  Miller,  S;illy(iVeeCarr) 
rNehring,  Frank  J. 
-j  Nehring,  John 
(  Eva  Schniitt 
J  Schaefer,  Mary 
\  Schaefer,  John 
j  Sohroeder,  J.  M. 
\  Amanda    L.    Wilder 
(  Stookey,  T.  A.      [man 
\  Mrs.  Syrena  L.  Short 
f  Tale,  Geo.  R. 
I  Sarah  C  Smith 
f  Tempele,  F.  B. 
\  Mary  J  en  kens 
I  TerreH,  Isaac  L. 
[  Nancy  J.  Woods 
(  Veile,  Joseph 
\  Anna  B.  Cuch 


Freeburg 

It 

Heinrich'n 
Smithton 

Belleville 

ti 

Smithton 


OCCUPATION. 


NATIVITY.         S 

OS 


36  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser    gt.  Clair  Co.,  Ill  52 
36  Wife  of  Joseph  Hummel  I     "  "         56 

S'y  382  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser    Germany 

Wife  of  F.  Helms  St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

Srathtn  Propr.  Hotel  &  Siiloon      Bavaria,  Ger. 

Wife  ot  Heinrich    Keim  Prussia,  Ger 
Sec.    2  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser    St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
2  Wife  of  Edward  Kuriz 


Belleville 

(t 

Smithton 
Died  Nov'r 
Smithton 
Freebui'g 


Smithton 
Died  Sepl'r 
freeburg 


Smithton 

tt 

Belleville 


Millstadt 


Smthtn 
It 

Sec.  26 
"  26 
"  30 
"  30 
"    30 

S'y    - 

SSc 

1862 

Sec.  29 
23 
23 
23 
20 

19,  '67 

Sec  12 
12 
14 
14 
19 
19 
21 
21 
12 
12 
18 
18 


Physician  &  Surgeon 
Wife  of  W.  H.  Laeufferi 
Fmr.  &  Propr.  Saw  Mill 
Wife  of  Henry  Lippert 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Henry  Moe-^er 
Preacher  &  Farmer 

Kmr.  A  Breeder  of  Noriuau^s  Horses 
and  Short  Horus, 

Wifeof  W.  J.  Miller 
29  Fanner  and  Stock  Raiser 
Late  Wife  D.  D.  Miller 
Mother     " 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Father  of  Fr.  J.  -Nehrinj 
Mother 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Late  Hus.  Mary  Schaefer 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  J.  M.  Schroeder 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  T.  A  Slodkey 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Gc  orge  R.  Tate 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  F.  B.  Tempele 
Farmer  &  Stock  Kaiser 
Wife  of  Isaac  L.  Terrell 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Joseph  Veile 


52 
45 
56 
56 
50 
55 
45 
79 
41 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill  ■ 

Monroe  Co.,  Illi62 

St-  Clair  Co.,  Ill  45 

50 

57 

50 

52 

29 


Prussia 

Heinpsbach,  Gr 

Hesse  Damstadt 

tt  tt 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


Macon  Co.,  Tn. 
Bourbon  Co.  Kv 
St  Clair  Co  ,  III 
Wurtembrg,  Gr 
Ravaria, 


03 

:s 

33 

47  ■ 

47 

:-:6 

44 

32 

58 

:;4 

40 

47 

37 

51 

24 

25 

(i5 

96 


TOWNSHIP  3  NORTH,  RANGE  6,  WEST. 


TOWNSHIP    1    SOUTH,    RANGE    8,    WEST. 


f  Bock,  G.  C. 
1  Elizabeth  Schlafer 
f  Brenner,  Wm. 
(.  Margaret  Frees 

Brebel,  Philip  J. 
/  Daab,  George 
1  Louisa  Ettling 
f  Eimer,  George  J. 
\  Ewers,  Bernardine 
J  Eckert,  Henry  C. 
I  Mary  L.  Miller 

Frein,  Henry  P. 
(  Grossman,  George 
A  Mary  Hilger 
(  Louisa  Deabald 
J  Germain,  J.  H. 
I  Mary  H.  Mueller 

Gundlach,  Jacob 
j  Holcomb,  L.  M. 
\  Georgie  Wright 


Smithton 


Belleville 
Smithton 


Belleville 


Smithton 


Died 


Smthtn 
(( 

Sec.  36 
36 
9 
25 

25 

Smthtn 
tt 

S'y  381 


Smithtim 
Belleville 


Freeburg 


Smthtn 
Sec.  19 
Oct'r  9,  1870 


Sec.  19 


2 
25 

25 


Physician  and  Surgeon 

Wife  of  G.  C  Bock 

Fmr.,  Car.  &  Stk  Raiser 

Wife  of  Wm.  Brenner 

Farmer  and  Stk  Raiser 
it  tt 

Wife  of  George  Daab 

Druggist 

Wife  of  Geo.  J.  Eimer 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Hry  C.  Eckert 

Teacher 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

1st  Wife  Geo.  Grossmann 

Pres.  W.         " 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  J.  H.  Germain 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  L.  M.  Holcomb 


Grermany 


Belleville,  111. 
St.  Clair  Co. 


Belleville,  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Hesse  Dam'dt,  Gr 
.(  tt 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


Kentucky 


f  Adams,  William  Lebanon 

\  Eloiiise  Bradsby 

f  Anilrews,  Henry  H.      Summerfld. 

\  Caroline  Calbrealh 

f  Appel,  G.  H. 

\  Elizabeth  Kiser 
Brodnby,  Wm.  B.  Lebanon 

Mary  E.  Higgins 

J  Barton,  Isaac  • 

\  Nancy  A.  Humphries 

f  Bub,  Adam  Summerfld. 

\  Elizabeth  Wettner 

j  Bilzer,  Daniel  Lebanon 

I  Sarah  E  Collins 

f  Bland,  E.  P.  Summerfld. 

\  Julia  A.  Padfield 

f  Beck,  Stephen  I 

}  Elizabeth  Sdiwind  " 

{  Catharine  Heinclbach  Died  July 

I  Calbreath,  John  H.       Lebanon 

\RhodaPenn  Died  April 

(  Eisenmayer,  C.  Summirfld 

\  Mary  E.  Leibrock  " 

I  Geers,  James  M.  Lebanon 

t  Elizabeth  McMurtry  " 

r  Hamlet,  James  W.  " 

t  Mary  E-  White 

54  ;  Hill,  B.  A. 

55  \  Martha  E.  Chaffin 
47   /  Hill,  J-  B.  Summerfld 
40  t  Emma  Bryan  " 
54    f  Moore,  V.                       Lebanon 

49  t  Matilda  P.  Gabbert  " 

50  f  Murphy,  David  Summeifld 
46   t  Martha  V.  Moore  " 

49  Moore,  A.  G.  Lebanon 

50  f  Nichols,  M.  {Nee  Bar-         " 
t  Nichols,  Jesse         [ton  Died  May 

77    f  Nichols,  Isaac  Lebanim 

32  \  Mary  Chaffin  Died  Dec'i 

49    I  Sarah  ArnoW  Lebanon 

49    f  Padfield,  W.  R.  Summeifld 

52    I  Caroline,  Alexander     Died  Mch 
57    1  Anna  Klein  Died  Apri 

54    [  Elizabeth  Kline  Summerfld 

57    f  Padfield,  J.  R. 
72   ISu,  an  Tipton 


11 

2 

l( 

10 

u 

10 

" 

35 

li 

35 

1* 

18 

" 

15 

(( 

5 

iC 

5 

i< 

25 

tt 

25 

" 

6 

(t 

6 

ti 

35 

ti 

35 

Smfld. 

(« 

17, 

'58 

Sec 

11 

4, 1876 

Smfld. 

Sec 

4 

it 

4 

it 

9 

(t 

9 

tt 

9 

U 

9 

cl 

11 

{( 

16 

tC 

9 

li 

9 

vSec 

.  :o 

a 

10 

C( 

29 

(( 

7 

11, 

'78 

Sec 

.    S 

13, 

'57 

Stc 

.    8 

Sec.    2'Farmer  Si.  Clair  Co.,  HI 

Wife  of  William  Adams.  Wash.  Co.,  Ill 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser    Germany 
Wife  of  H.  H.  Andrews  St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser    Germany 
Wifo  of  G.  H.  Appel 
Farmer  &  Stock  Kaiser 
Wife  of  Wm.  B.  Bradsby 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Isaac  Barton 
Farmer 

Wife  of  Adam  Bub 
Farmer  aud  Dairying 
Wife  of  Daniel  Bilzer 
Retired  Physician 
Wife  of  E.  P.  Bland 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Prts  Wife  of  S.  Beck 

1st  Wife 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Lt.  Wife  J.  L.  Calbreath 

Milling 

Wife  of  C.  Eisenmeyer 

Farmer  &  Stock  Rsiscr 

Wife  of  James  M.  Geers 

Farmer  &  Stoak  Raiser 

Wife  of  Jas.  W.  Hamlet 

Farmer  &  S:ock  Rai^er 

Wife  of  B.  A.  Hill 

Farmer  &  Stoi  k  Raiser 

Wife  of  J.  B.  Hill 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  C.  Moore 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  David  Murphy 

Rnired 

Widow  of  Jesse  Nichols 

Late  Hus.  Matil.  Nichols 

Farming 

1st  Wife  Isaac  Nichols 

Pres.  Wife      " 

Retired  Farmer 
18,  '54  1st  Wife  W.  R- 
18,  '742d     '■  " 

Sec.  28  Pr.    " 
'■    34  Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
''    34  Wife  of  J.  R.  Padfield 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


Davidson    Co., 
Germ'y     [Ttnn 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Lancast'r  co.  Pa 
Montgr.Co.,  N.  Y- 
Virginia 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Germany 
St.  Loui-s,  Mo. 
Germany 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
<i  .> 

Germany 

Bourbon  Co-  Ky 
White  Co.,  111. 
Wilsim  Co.,  Tn. 
Madison  Co.  Ill 
Monroe  Co.,  Tn 
Fayette  Co..  Ill 

St-  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
it  it 

England    [Fnd, 

Washinoton  t^o. 

Ireland 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 


Fayette  Co.,  Ill 
Madison  CO.  Ala 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Padfield  Georgia 
Germany 
On  Allan.  Oc'n 
St.  Clair  Co..  Ill 
Carter  Co.,  Tn 


12 

39 

48 

49 

34 

52 

28 

l31 

41 

50 

53 

42 

60 

63 

44 

33 

53 

58 

52 

25 

26 

37 

40 

53 

4-2 

60 

62 

52 

59 

54 

60 

48 

44 

49 

32 

16 

25 

14 

16 

40 


3s 
I 
32 
.3 
53 
0 


TOWNtSHIP  2  NOUIH,  RANGE  6  WEST.— [CoNTiNDEn  ] 


NAME. 


P.  OrFICE. 


f  Perriti,  N. 
\  Piffner,  Mary 
f  Paiiseh,  E. 
J  Mary  Appt-l 
1  Pausch,  John 
[  Mary  Mallrich 
)  Kuss,  Biipert 
\  Mary  Giith 
f  Keibold,  L. 
■j  Letnentine  Straus 
(.Caroline  Schutte 
(  Seller,  Henry 
■I  Alice  J.  Radefelt 
(Nancy  P.  Bad  ley 
f  Tipton,  W.  R. 
\  Fannie  Padfield 
J  Tiiicher,  W.  F. 
\  Alice  A.  Anderson 
J  Wadsworth,  Jolin 
ISarali,  Hill 
(  Whitaker,  Jojiin  E. 
I  Anna  E.  Stewart 
f  Whitaker,  Joseph  P. 
\  Jennie  E.  Faires 
J  Winkler,  Julius 
1  P.  H.  Schmidt 


Sumraerti'd 
Died  July 
Smnmerfld, 


Lebanon 


Died  April 

Lebanon 

ii 

Died   May 
Lebanon 


Summerfl'd 


."  29 
19,  '65 
Snifld. 


OCCUPATION 


NATIVITY. 


Sec.  20 
"  20! 
■'    33 

7, 1870 

Sec.  33' 
"     8, 

14,  '77! 

Sec.  8 
"  32 
"  32 
"  4 
"  4 
"  16 
"  16 
"  10 
"  10 
"  15 
"    15 

Smfld. 


Retired  Farmer 
Lite  Wife  of  N.  Perrin 
Mer.  &  Dlr.  in  Agr.  Imp 
Wife  of  E.  Pau.-*ch 
Mer.  &  Dlr.  in  Agr,  Imp 
Wife  of  John  Paunch 
Wine  Grower 
Wife  of  Rupert  Buss 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Ist  Wife  of  L.  Reibold 
Present  Wile        '' 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
1st  Wife  of  Henry  Seller 
Pres.  " 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  W.  R.  Tipton 
Farmer  &  Slock  Raiser 
Wife  of  W.  F.  Tincher 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Wadsworth 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  John  R.  Whitaker 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wifeof  Jos.  P.  Whitaker 
Merchant 
Wife  of  Julius  WinkRr 


France 
Switzerland 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Hi 


Germany 


Pennsylvania 

Germany 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Madison  Co.  Ill 
Polk  Co.,  Tenn 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Madison  Co 
St  Clair  Co 
Clinton  Co.,  Ill 
Greene  Co.,  Tn. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Clinton  Co.,  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Madison  Co.  Ill 
Germany 


III 
III 


TOWNSHIP    NO.    1    SOUTH,    RANGB    6  WEST. 


J  Andres,  George  J. 
\  Mary  Stall 

IBarlh,  John 
Catharine  Koob 
Calh.  Linas  {Nee  Ren- 
iBarth,  George       [ther 
Mahuldah  Hawkins 
Delilah  McNail 
)  Cannady,  Elijah 
\  Diana  M.  Sackett 
f  Dickhaut,  Peler 
\  Elizabeth  Leibig 
J  Engelraann,  Theodore 
I  Johanna  Kribben 
/  Eidmann,  Louis  F. 
\  Catharine  Koob 
j  Fries,  John 
•j  Catharine  Oberling 
(  Elizabeth  Wolber 
J  Funck,  August 
\  Magilalena  Hollocher 
(  Friesz,  John 
\  Elizabeth  Friesz 

Griffin,  Ed.  M. 
(  Ka'rch  Charles 
t  Mary  Heberer 
(  Klingel,  Louis 
\  Uatharine  Seibert 
i  Laux,  Peter 
\  Catharine  Scheide 
I  Nicol,  Martin 
\  Cliailoite  Voss 
(  Kayhill,  John  J. 
(  Adaline,  Pitts 
J  Siiibert,  Peter 
t  Catharine  Eidman 

Sheeley,  W.  D. 
J  Tracawell,  George 
I  Elizabeth  Linn 


Maiicoulah 


Died  Dec' I 
Mascoutah 

Died  Dec'r 
Mascoutah 


Fayettcville 
Died  Dec'r 
Fnyet  eville 
Mascoutah 


Fayetteville 

(• 

Mascoutah 

t( 
Died   Mch, 

Fayetteville 
it 

Masco:itah 

Died  Nov. 

Fayetteville 
u 

Mascoutah 


See. 

16 

It 

16 

(f 

7 

15, 

'74 

Sec. 

7 

(t 

8 

1874     1 

Sec. 

8 

'• 

17 

(( 

17 

"  4 
"  4 
"  20 
"  20 
"  18 
"  18 
"    31 

1862 

Sec.  31 
'■    10 


(( 

12' 

{( 

12 

<* 

30 

.< 

31 

'• 

31 

u 

8 

tt 

8 

it 

16 

1, 18771 

Sec 

32 

(( 

32 

t* 

3 

1865     1 

Sdc 

30 

U 

30 

Masc.  1 

S  c 

30 

i' 

30 

Retired  Farmer 

Wife  of  Geo.  J.  Andres 

Retired  Farmer 

1st  Wifeof  John  Barth 

Present  Wife 

Retired  Farmer 

I  si  Wife  of  George  Barth 

Pres.    "  •' 

Teacher 

Wife  of  Elijah  Cannady 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Peter  Dickhaut 

Retir^d.Farmer 

Wife  Tlieo.  Engelraann 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 

Wile  of  L.  F.  Eidmann 

Retired  Farmer 

1st  Wife  of  John  Fries 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  August  Funck 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  John  Friesz 
Farmer  &  Slock  Raiser 
Fmr.  &  Township  Scli'l 
Wife  Chas.  Karch  [Treas 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Louis  Klins;el 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Late  Wife  of  Peter  Laux 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Martin  Nicol 
Retired  Farmer 
Wifeof  John. L  Rayhill 
Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Peter  Seibert 
Teacher 

Farmer  &  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Geo.  Tracewell 


Rhein  Pfaltz,  G 

Nassau,  Ger. 
Bavaria,  Ger. 

Nassau,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Wash.  Co.,  Ill 
DeKalb  Co.  Mo 
H.  Damstadt,  G 

Rhein  Pfaltz,  G 
Cologne,  Prus. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Clinton  Co.,  Ill 
H.  Damstadt,  G 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
Badeu,      '' 
H.  Damstadt,  G 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
H.  Damstadt,  G 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


H.  Damstadt,  G 
Nassau,  Ger. 
Bavaria,   '* 
Nassau,     " 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 


35 
40 
34 

48: 

46 
33! 
2-5' 
25 
74 
74 
48 
33 
33 
40 
47 
70 
36 
46 
64 
59 
59 
40 
58 
63 
43 
47 
41 
52 
52 
53 
54 
40 

"  ((  ((    loj 

H.Darmstadt,(i  52 
StrClair  Co.  11148 


llarriaburg,  Pa. 


TOWNSHIP  3  SOUTH,  RANGE  C  WEST. 


(  Blankenmei.ster,  A.  L. 
1  Maggie  Dunn 
(  Borders,  M.  W. 
\  Rachel,  Alcorn 
(  Beckmann,  Philip  C. 
(  Elizabeth  M.  Kruss 
f  Cmlter,  Arthur  P. 
\  Phebe  C  Jackson 
(  Crawford,  Rev.  J.  B. 
I  Martha  E.  Wliite 
f  Coulter,  George  P 
t  Sarah  S.  Armour 
f  Crouch,  A.  F. 
\  Margaret  J.  Green 

{Cojipedge,  James  A. 
Mary  H.  Fitzwater 
j  Dunn,  Andrew 
\  Mary  M.  Walker 


Marissa 


Darmstadt 
Marissa 


Died  May 


Marissa 


Watch  Mak°r  &  Jeweler 


Wifeof  A.  'j.RlankeTimiestGr 
General  M^Tchant 
Wife  of  M.  W.  Borders 

Sec.    3  Farmer  and  Slock  Raiser 
3  Wife  of  Philip  Beckmann 

Marissa' Physician  and  Surgeon 
Wife  ofArthurP  Coulter 
Minister  Ref.  Presb'y  Ch. 
Wife  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Crawford 

Sec.  16  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
16  Wife  of  Geo.  F.  Coulter 

Marissa  Pliotographe--. 

Wife  of  A.  F.  Crouch 
Propr.  Hamilton  House  .J,  P 
Wife  of  Jjs.  A.  (Joppedge 

Sec.  30  P"'armer  and  Stock  Raiser 

4,    '70  Late  wife  of  And.  Dunn 


Cooper  Co  ,Mo 
RmdolphCu.  II 


H.  Drmsdt.  Ger 


Wash.  Co.,  III. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Co.  Donneg'l,  Ir 
Randolph  Co.  II 
Robertson  Co.  T  34 
Ches.  Dist.  S.  C  34 
Baltimore,  Md  1 66 
Crawfrd  Co.  Mo'64 
"  |72 
"  "      |72 

Ches.  Dist.  S.  C  52 
Fairfld  "       "   ]5o 


TOWNSHIP  3  SOUTH,  RANGE  6  WEST.— [Continued.] 


NAME. 


P.  OFFICE. 


/  D'al,  Harrison 

1,  Frances  M.  Gib.son 

/  Finger,  Augiiste 

1  Finger,  Jas.  H.  M.  D 

j  Green,  B.  P. 

1  Sarah  Gaity 

f  Guthrie,  George  W. 

\  Rebecca  McClintock 

{Gib.son,  Samuel 
Cornelia  Patterson 
Hannah  R.  Campbell 
(  Guthrie,  S.J. 
1  Mary  A.  Mcllwain 
/  Hamilton,  James  H. 
\  Virginia  S.  Short 
/  Hamilton,  John  C. 
t  Marfjaret  .Meek 
(  Hamilton,  Robert  H. 
1  Lucy  A.  Thompson 

r  Hamlkon,  Elizabeth    (nee    Bau- 
J       niau) 

L  Matthew  E.  Hamilton 

iHendren,  N.  (nee  Smith) 
Janus  W.  Green 
Hendren,  John  H. 
(  Helbron,  J.  R. 
\  Maggie  Hell 
f  Hacker,  Alexander 
\  Susanna  Wielmenster 
f  Hesker,  L.  (nee  Dial) 
\  Hesker,  John  W. 
j  Hell,  John 
\  Elizabeth  Weltz 
f  Kirchhoefer,  Phil 
\  Margl.  Weilmuenster 

Lyons,  Rev.  S.  R. 
f  Lyons,  W.  M.  K. 
\  Sarah  J.  Patten 
f  Lively,  M.  M. 
\  Martha  J.  Elder 

{McCurdy.  James 
Mary  McMillen 
Elizabeth  E.Thompson 
f  Moore,  Daniel  T. 
\  Sarah  J.  Brown 
f  Miles,  Willjam  H. 
\  Lucy  Lisley 
/  Mearns,  Robert 
\  Marian  Pollock 
f  Nelson,  George 
1  Catherine  B.  White 
C  Nairn,  Hugh 
■j  Margaret  Watt 
(  Jannelte  McMillen 
f  Nixon,  John 
\  Martha  Ramsey 
j  Nevin,  George 
\  Mary  J.  H-nnah 
fOrth,  John 
\  Sophia  Berninser 
f  Robinson,  William 
\  Agnes  Pollock 
f  Short,  J.  S. 
\  Rebecca  L.  Whitraare 
f  Sternemaun,  Stephen 
\  Margaret  A.  Hoee 
/  Stuart,  Mary 
\  Stuart,  «|(||;n 
(  Steinheifer,  Heinrich 
\  Steinheimer,  Ilanette 

{Strassinger,  Henry  Sr. 
Sclietick,  Margareta 
Emile  Ruebert 
(  Wells,  John  W. 
\  W.  lis,  Ella  A. 

r  Wlllto,  Margaret   J.   (noe   Ham- 
}      II  toil 

i  White,  John  K. 

]  Wylie,  J.  A. 

\  White,  Sarah  C. 

f  Wilson,  Robert  H. 

\  Jennie  M.  Hamilton 

(  Wyllie.Robt.  Crichton 

1.  Anna  C.  Mathews 

f  Wylie.  William 

1  Mary  Guthbertson 

I  Wills,  A.  H. 

\  Lizzie  J.  Hamilton 

I  Walker,  Josiah 

\  Elizabeth  McCarthy 

f  Weiniz,  Charles 

\  Doro.  Roemei  h  leuser 

f  Zihisdorf,  Daniel 

\  Mary  E.  Dunn 


Marissa 


Died  March 
Marissa 


Died  May 
Marissa 


3f 

7.    '72 
See.  35 

.Marissa 


Died  Oct. 
Marissa 
Died  March 
Mariasa 


BESID. 

Sec 

22 

22 

27 

10, 

'53 

Sec. 

8 

8 

OCCUPATION. 


Farmer  and  Stock  Riiser 
Wife  of  Harrison  Dial 
Farming  &  Sinck  Raising; 
Ijate  hus.  of  Aug.  Finger 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wifeof  B.  P.  Gre-n 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 


nativitv. 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Wash.  Co.  " 
Bavaria,  Ger. 
Frankfort,  Prus, 
Monroe  Co.,  III. 
Co.  Antrim,  Ire 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Co.  Antrim  Ire 
Wash.  Co..  III. 
St.  Clair     " 


Rmdolph 


32  Wife  of  Geo.  W.  Guthrie 
I'arp.  A  Board'g  Hou.sB  Kpr. 
First  wife  of  S.  Gibson 
Pres. 

Ltvp-y  Machine  Shnp  and   Agricut- 
tui'iil  lnipluineiit,i. 

Wife  CIS.  J.  flufhrie 

Banker  &  Hard'   Mej-ch.  St.  Clair 

Wifeof  Jas.  H.  Hamilton  Fulton 

Sec.  28  Far.  Merchant  &  Banker  Ches.  Dist.  S.  C. 

28  Wife  of  J.  C.  Hamilton    Randolph  Co.  II 

28  Farmer  and  Merchant     Ches.  Disi.  S.  C 

28  Wife  of  R   H.  Hamilton  St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Marissa  General  Merchant 


25,  '76  Late  hus.  of  E.  Hamilton  Ches.  Dist.  S.  C 

Co.  Antrim,  Ire 

Randolph  Co.  II 

Hancock  Co.  In 

Prussia 
tt 

St.  Clair  Co.  HI 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
H.  Darm.,  Ger. 


Marissa  Retired  Farmer 
26,  '77  First  hus.  of  N.  Hendren 
Marissa  Pres.         "  " 

Hotel  and  Saloon 
Wifeof  J.  R.  Hebbron 
Sec.  15  Fanner  and  Stock  Raiser 

15  Wife  of  Alex.   Hacker 
Marissa  Widow  of  J   W.  H&sker 
Died  April  2.3,  '78  Late  hus.  of  L.  Hesker 
Marissa        Sec.  28  F'arraer  and  Slock  Raiser 
Died    Peb.'6, '74    Wife  of  John  Heil 
Marissa        Marissa  Propr.  Globe  House         Germany 

"       I  Wife  of  Phil  Kirchkoefer  St.  Clair  Co.,  Tl 
"        iMinister  United  Preshy'  Ch.'Pairfild  Dis.SC 
"       I  Druggist  &  Liim.  Merch.  .St.  Clair  Co.  111. 
"        Wife  of  W.  M.  K.  Lyons  Randolph    " 
"       [Carpenter  &  Builder        i         '■  " 

"       'Wifeof  M.  M   Lively      jSoulh  Carolina 
Sec.  29  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  t!o.  Antrim,  Ire 
Died   Aug.    185S    First  wife  of  J.  McCurdy  I         "        " 
Marissa        Sec.  29  Pres.         "  "        jRandolphCo.il 

5  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  St.  Clair 
5  Wife  of  Daniel  T.  Moore 
32i  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
32  Wifeof  W.H.  Miles 
Mari«sa  Dlr.  in  Agricultural  Imp.  Scotland 


Lenzburg 

tC 

Marissa 


Died    Auf 
Marissa 


Died  Feb. 

Maris.sa 

Lenzburg 

Marissa 
■t". 


38 

64 
38 
42 
26- 
53 
41 
49 
48 
38 
5-2 
48 
76 
44 
55 
34 
57 
34 
6i 
29 
34 
51 
26 
74 
74 
74 
49 
52 
41 
63 
53 
53 
53 
44 
55 
47 
75 
72 
2 
53 
54 
59 
46 
48 
44 
55 
75 


^' 


2.  '78   Late  wifeof  Robt.  Mearns 
ec.  34  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
34  Wife  of  George  Nelson 
8'Farmer  and  Stock  Riiser 
1863  i  Wife  of  Hugh  Nairn 
Sec.    8i  Present  "        " 

8  Fanner  and  Carpenter 
8  Wife  of  John  Nixon 
22  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
22  Wife  of  George  Nevin 


Co.  Antrim,  Ire 
tt        tt 

Bavaria,  Ger. 


Died   Sept. 
Marissa 


Died  Jan. 
Marissa 


Died   Aug. 
Marissa 


Lenzburg 

■tt 

Marissa 


Wife  of  John  Orth 
Sec.  31  Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
31  Wife  of  Wm.  Robinson 
3--ij(Ik  of  WhiieOak  Coal  Co 
35  Wife  of  J.  S.  Short 
Saloon  Keeper 

Wi  c  of  Stephen  Sterne-lst.  "ciair  Co.  III. 
Farming  &  Stock  RaisingCo.  Antrim,  Ire 
21,  '73  Late  hus.  of  Marv  Stuart 
Marisss'  Prop,  of  Liv. &  F'd  Stable  St.  Clair  Co.  III. 


Old  Ha 
rla  a 

Sec.  15 


OM   Ma- 

4.  '08 
Old  Ma- 
rissa 

Mari  sa 

(( 

Sec.  33 
28,  '56 
Sec.  33 
33 
28 
29 
Marissa 

Sec.  17 

17 

Marissa 


Sec.  26 

26 

M  irissa 


Wife  of  H.  Steinheimer 
General  Merchant       [Sr 
1st  wifeof  H.  Strassinger, 
Pres.  " 

Editor  Marissa  Monator 
Wife  of  John  W.  Wells 
Farming  &  Slock  Raising 
Hus.  of  Marg't  J.  White 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wifeof  J.  A.  Wylie 
Farmer  and  Slock  Raiser 
Wife  ofHobt.  H.  Wilson 
General  Mercliant 
Wife  of  R  C.  Wyllie 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  William  Wylie 
Cashier  Bank  of  Marissa 
Wife  of  A.  H.  Wells 
Saloon  Keeper 
Wife  of  Josiah  Walker 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Charles  Weintz 
Post  Master 
Wi  e  of  Daniel  Zihisdorf 


St.  Clair  Co.  Ill  !57 
Chester  Dist.S.C  56 
"  "  56 
.\vreshire,  Scot.  42 
Scotland  42 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill.|33 
.letferson  Co.  0.36 
Chester  Dist.S.C  57 
32 
55 
65 
67 
Co.Mongh'n,lre  t)4 
"64 
56 
56 
6 
49 
52 
50 
47 
46 
54 


Randolph  Co.  II 
Juniata.  Pa. 
Bedford  Co  Pa. 

Swilz- 


rmann;'^"°'"°J'''"' 


H.Darmst'dt,Gr 
It        tt 

Sasanu,  Ger. 
Switzerland 
Hampden  Co.  W 
Van  BurenCo.la 
Randolph  Co.  II 
Chester  Dist  S.C 
Randolph  Co.  II 
Si.  Clair  Co.  111. 
Chester  Dist.S.C 
><        II 

St.  Clair  Co.  111. 

Randolph  Co.  U 

Ayreshire,  Scot. 
tt        II 

VanBurenCo.Ia 
St.  Clair  "  II 
Davis  "  la 

Randolph  "  II 
Rhein  Platz,  Gr 
Kurhis.sen,  Ger. 
Pommera  Prus 
St.  Clair  Co.  III. 


63 
72 
34 
49 
62 
55 
^ 
34 
52 
76 
43 
44 
72 
56 
71 
73 
58 
68 
?3 
37 


TOWNSHIP   2  SOUTH,  RAKGB   6,    WEST. 


NAMB. 


f  Biirgard,  Conrad 
I  Bertha  Morlock 
f  Baalmann,  Anion 
I  Catharine  Riitter 
f  Erb,  George 
\  Magdalene  Waeltz    ,, 
f  Eckert,  George  Martin 
I  Regina  M.  A.Voskamp 
r  Pranke,  Josepli    ' 
I  Eosa  Klook 
J  Fischer,  F.  X. 
I  Helena  Wpgner 
f  Hoff,  Aug^ist  B. 
l  Rose  Hir^h 
J  Heimberger,  E.  U. 
I.  Hermann,!  Anna* 
J  Hausman,  C.  D. 
\  Catharine  Dierker 
J  Harwerth,  Bernard 
I.  Elizabeth  yHnndelt 
J  Harwerthj  William' 
I  Adel.  Sch^iedcrjans'    . 
/  Kreikemeyer,  Adolph 
\  Gertrude  JHartlage 
J  Lehr,  John 
\  Maria  M<  Friefenbach 


p.  OFf  ICE. 


St.  Libory 
« 
u 

(I 

Fayettevl. 

Darmstadt. 

({ 

St.  Libory 

u 

Darmstadt 

(f 

Fayettevl. 
« 

St.  Libory 


Deceased 
Fayettevl. 

Darmstadt 


Seo'n  11 
n 
Sen.  an.  T 

■i  B.  5,  W. 
Wsh.oo.  I 

Sec'n   6 
Seo'n  ■  6 


Dartn. 

St.  Lib. 
(I 

Dmsdt 
ii 

Fayett. 


St.  Lib 
i< 

Sec.  24 
Sec.  24 
Sec.  24, 

Fayett. 

Dmsdt 


OCCUPATION. 


Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  Conrad  Burgard 
Farmer  &  Justice  Peace 
Wife  of  Anton  Baalman 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  of  George  Erb 
Propr.  Drmstadt  Mills 
Wife  of  Geo.  M.  Eckert 
Blacksmith 
Wife  of  J.  Franke 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
Wife  of  if'.  X.  Fischer 
Teacher  and  Farmer 
WifeofAug.  B.  Hoff 
Post  Master  V 

Wife  R.  U.  Heimberger 
Harness  Maker  and  J.  P. 
Wife  of  C.  D.  Hausman 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  Bernard  Hawerth 
Retired  Parmer 
Lt.  Wife  Wm.  Harwerth 
General  Blacksmithing 
Wifeof  Ad'lph  Kreikemeyer 
Pr.  Drmsdt.Hot. 
Wife  of  John  Lehr 


NATIVITY. 


St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 

<i  U  11 

Wash.  Co.,  111. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
H.  Drmsdt,  Ger 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
H.  Drmsdt,  Ger 
Hanover,  Ger. 

St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Basle,  Switzer'd 
Posen,  Prussia 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Baden,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Bohemia 
Hanover,  Ger. 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
Wash.  Co.,  111. 
Hanover,  Ger. 

Westphalia,  Pr. 
St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill 
H.  Drmstdt,  Gr 


TOWNSHIP  2  SOUTH,  RANGE  6  WEST.-[CoNTiNrEB.] 


NAME. 


f  Moss,  Herman 

\  Mary  Schoenebaum 

Meinert,  Henry 
/  Niese,  John 
\  Mary  Rank 
(  Poelmann,  Theo.        « 
\  Anna  Rutler 

Rerabe,  Charles 
f  Rieth,  Joseph      [man 
\  C.  Sander  {Nee  Mass- 
r^teutter,  Bernard 
.{  Kutter,  Henry 
(  Gertrude  Klaasmeier 
5  Sraubinger,  Benedict 
I  Mary  Wilkins 
f  Stein,  Adolph 
\  Mary  Brueckner 
/  Vahlkamp,  Stephan 
\  Elizabeth  Rank 

Voskarap,  Henry 
/  Wasem,  Valentine,  Jr. 
\  Charlotte  Karch 
Weber,  August 
Likcinda  A.  Griffin 


Fayettevl. 


St.  Libory 

Fayettevl. 
Darmstadt 

St.  Libory 
Died  Aug. 
St.  Libory 
Fayettevl. 


RESID. 


Sec.  9 
Sec.  9 
Fayett, 


St.  Lib 

Fayett. 

Dmsdt 
it 

St.  Lib 
10,  '80 
St.  Lib 
Sec.  8 
Sec.  8 
Fayett. 


OCCUPATION. 


Fmr.  &  Propr.  Saw  Mill 
Wife  of  Herman  Moss 
Shoemaker 
Boot  and  Shoe  Maker 
Wife  of  John  Niese 
General  Merchant 
Wife  of  Theo.  Poelmann 
Physician  and  Surgeon 
General  Merchant 
Wife  of  Joseph  Rieth 
General  Merchant 
Father  Bernard  Ratter 
Mother  " 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 
Wife  Benedict  Straubin 
Farmer  &  Sal.  Kpr.  [ger 
Wife  of  Adolph  Stein 
Fmr.  &  Prop.  Okaflf.-Hse 
Wife  of  S.  Vahlkamp \ 
General  Merchan 
Agt.  Agr.  Imp.  &  Mchy. 
Wife  of  Val.  Wasem 
Farmer 
Wife  of  August  Weber 


NATIVITY. 


Hanover,  Ger. 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Lumach  Sax.  G 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 

Hanover,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co,  111 
Hesse  Cassel,  G 
Nassau,  Ger. 
Wash.  Co.,  III. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Germany 

Suavia,  Prussia 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Hanover,  Ger. 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 
Westphalia,  Pr. 
Strassburg,  Ger 
St. 'Clair  (Jo.  Ill 
Rhinish  Bav.  G 
St.  Clair  Co.  Ill 


2 

"2 

IB 

47 

44 
78 
47 
51 
6> 
57 
78 
57 
57 
58 
43 
48 
54 
50 
67 
48 
48 
48 
58 
50 
48 
53 


KEYISED    CONSTITUTION  OF  ILLINOIS. 


PREAMBLE. 

We.  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  crder  to  form  a  more  perfect  government,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic 
Iranquility.provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  stcure  the  liless- 
ings  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  follows,  to  wit :  Beginning  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Wabash  river;  thence  up  the  same,  and  with  the  line  of  Indira,  to  the 
nonhwest  comer  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  exer- 
cise such  jurisdiction  upon  the  Ohio  river  as  she  is  now  entitled  to,  or  such  as  may 
hereafter  be  agreed  upon  by  this  State  and  the  State  of  Kentucky. 

ARTICLE  II. 

BILL  OF  RIGHTS. 


T.  Inherent  and  Inalienable  Rights. 

2.  Ijue  Process  of  Law. 

3.  Liberty  of  Conscience  Guaranteed. 

4.  Freedom  of  the  Press— Libel. 

5.  Right  of  Trial  by  Jury. 

6.  Unreasonable  Searches  and  Seizures. 

7.  Bail  allowed — ^Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus. 

8.  Indictment  required — Grand  Jury  Abolished. 

9.  Rights  of  Persons  Accused  ot  Crime, 
to.  Sclf-Crimination — Former  Trial. 


II.  Penalties    proportionate  —  Corruption — For- 
feiture. 
'  12.  Imprisonment  for  Debt. 
I  13.  Compensation  for  Property  taken. 
'\  14.  Ex  post  facto  laws — Irrevocable  Grants, 

15.  Military  Power  Subordinate. 
I  16.  Quartering  of  Soldiers. 

17.  Right  of  Assembly  and  Petition. 

18.  Elections  to  be  Free  and  Eqjal. 

19.  What  Laws  ought  to  be. 

[  20.  Fundumentai  Principles.- 


\  I.  All  men  are  by  nature  free  and  independent,  and  have  certain  inherent  and  inalieh- 
able  rights — among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  To  secure  these 
rights  and  the  protection  of  property,  governments  are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their 
just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed. 

\     2.  No  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or  properly,'without  due  process  of  law. 

I  3.  The  free  exercise  and  enjoyment  of  religious  profession  and  worship,  without  dis- 
crimination, shall  forever  be  guaranteed ;  and  no  person  shall  be  denied  any  civil  or  political 
right,  privilege  or  capacity,  on  account  of  his  religious  opinions;  but  the  liberty  of  conscience 
hereby  secured  shall  not  be  construed  to  dispense  with  oaths  or  afifirmntions,  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  ministry  or  place  of  worship  against  his 
consent,  nor  shall  any  preference  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 
ibr  the  abuse  of  that  liberty;  and  in  all  tiials  for  libel,  both  civil  and  criminal,  the  truth, 
when  published  with  good  motives  and  for  justifiable  ends,  shall  be  a  sufficient  defense. 

\  5,  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  as  heretofore  enjoyed  shall  remain  inviolate;  but  the 
trial  of  civil  cases  before  justices  of  the  peace  by  a  jury  of  less  than  twelve  men,  may  be 
authorized  by  law. 

I  6.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers  and  effects, 
against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  violdted ;  and  no  warrant  shall 
issue  without  probable  cause,  supported  by  affidavit,  particularly  describing  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  presumption  great;  and  the  privilege  of  the  writ  ol  habeas  corpus 
shall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  publ.c  saftty  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,  and  in  cases  arising  in  the  army  nnd  navy,  or 
in  the  militia  when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger:  frovided,  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  thereof;  to  meet  the  witnesses  face  to  face,  and  to  have  process  to  compel  the  attend- 
ance of  witnesses  in  his  bahalf,  and  a  speedy  public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  county 
or  district  in  which  the  offense  is  alleged  to  have  been  committed. 

g  10.  No  person  shall  be  compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  give  evidence  against  him- 
self, or  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  for  the  same  offense. 

g  II.  All  penalties  shall  be  proportioned  to  the  nature  of  the  offense;  and  no  conviction 
shall  work  corruption  of  blood  or  forfeiture  of  estate;  nor  shall  any  person  be  transported 
out  of  the  State  for  any  offense  committed  within  the  same, 

\  12,  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt,  unless  upon  refusal  to  deliver  up  his  estate 
for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  prescribed  bylaw;  or  in  cases 
where  there  is  strong  presumption  of  fraud. 

\  13.  Private  property  shall  not  be  t.iken  or  damaged  for  public  use  without  just  compen- 
.sntion.  Such  compensation,  when  not  made  by  the  State,  shall  lie  ascertnined  by  a  jiiiy,  as 
shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  The  fee  of  land  l.iken  f.  r  railroad  tracks,  without  consent  of 
the  owners  thereof,  shall  remain  in  such  owners,  subject  to  the  u■^c  for  which  it  is  taken. 


\  14.  No  expostfacU  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contract',  or  making  any 
irrevocable  grant  of  special  privileges  or  immunities,  shall  be  passed. 

g   15.  The  military  shall  be  in  strict  subordination  to  the  civil  power. 

I  16,  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  ho>ase without  the  consent 
of  the  owner ;  nor  in  time  of  war  except  in  the  manner  presci'ibed  hy  law, 

§  17,  The  people  have  the  right  to  assemble  in  a  peaceable  manner  to  consult  for  Ihfs 
common  good,  to  make  known  their  opinions  to  their  reptesentatives,  and  to  apply  for 
redress  of  grievances. 

J  18.  All  elections  shall  be  free  and  equal, 

\  19,  Every  person  ought  to  find  a  certain  remedy  in  the  laws  for  all  injuries  ^nd  wrongs 
which  he  may  receive  in  his  person,  property  or  reputation ;  he  ought  to  .^obtain,  1  y  law 
right  and  justice  freely,  and  without  being  obliged  to  purchase  it,  completely  and  without 
denial,  promptly  and  without  delay, 

\  20,  A  frequent  recurrence  to  the  fundamental  principles  of  civil  government  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  preserve  the  blessings  of  liberty, 

ARTICLE  HI, 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  POWERS, 

The  "lowers  of  the  Government  of  this  State  are  divided  into  three  distinct  departments 
— the  Legislative,  Executive  and  Judicial ;  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  DEPARTMENT. 


General  Assembly  elective. 

Time  of  Election — Vacancies. 

Who  are  Eligible. 

Disqualification  by  Crime, 

Oath  taken  by  members. 

Senatorial  Apportionments. 

&  8.  Minority  Representation. 

Time  of  meeting— General  Rules. 

Secretary — Adjournment — Journals,  Protests. 

Style  of  Laws. 

Origin  and  passage  of  Bills. 

Reading— Printing  -  Title— Amendments, 

Privileges  uf  members. 

iJisabilitii  s  of  members. 

Bills  making  Appropriations. 

Payment  of  money— ^Statement  of  Expenses. 


\  18.  Ordinary  Expenses — Casual  Deficits — ApprtK 

pnations  limited. 
3  19.  Extra  Compensation  or  Allowance. 
i  20.  Public  Credit  not  loaned. 
\  21.  Fay  and  mileage  of  members. 
\  22.  Special  Legislation  prohibited. 
\  23.  Against  Release  from  Liability. 
\  24.  Proceedings  on  Impeachment. 
25.   l-uel.  Stationery,  and  Printing, 

State  not  to  be  sued. 

Lotteries  and  Gift  Enterprises. 

Terms  of  Office  not  Extended. 

Protection  of  operative  min::rs. 

30.  Concerning  Roads — public  and  private. 

31.  Draining  and  Ditching. 

32.  Homestead  and  Exemption  Laws. 

33.  Completion  of  the  State  House. 


!  26. 

27. 
28. 
29. 


\  I,     The  legislative  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  General  Assembly,  which  shall  consist 
pf  a  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  both  to  be  elected  by  the  people. 


\  2.  An  election  for  members  of  the  General  Assembly  shall  be  held  on  the  Tuesday 
next  after  the  fiist  Monday  in  November,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy,  and  every  two  years  thereafter,  in  each  county,  at  such  places  therein  as 
may  be  provided  by  law.  When  vacancies  occur  in  either  house,  the  governor,  or  person 
exercising  the  powers  of  governor,  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

ELIGIBILITY  AND  OATH. 

\  3,  No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  twenly-fiva 
yeais,  or  a  representative  who  .«hall  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  resident  of  this  State,  and  for  two  years  next 
preceding  bis  election  a  resident  within  the  territory  forming  the  district  from  which  he  is 
elected.  No  judge  or  clerk  of  any  court,  secretary  of  state,  attorney  general,  state's  attorney, 
recorder,  sheriff,  or  collector  of  public  revenue,  member  of  either  house  of  congress,  or 
peison  holding  any  iHcrative  office  under  the  United  States  or  this  State,  or  any  foreign 
government,  shall  have  a  seat  in  the  general  assembly:  Provided,  that  appointments  in  the 
militia,  and  the  offices  of  notary  public  and  justice  of  the  peace,  shall  not  be  considertd 
lucrative.  Nor  shall  any  person,  holding  any  office  of  honor  or  profit  under  any  foreign 
government,  or  under  the  government  of  the  United  States,  (except  postmasters  whose 
annual  compensation  does  not  exceed  the  sum  of  $t,<Xi,)  hold  any  office  of  honor  or  profit 
under  the  authority  of  this  State. 

\  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  maybe  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  assembly,  or  to  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  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  for  affirm)  that  I  will  support  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  the  consti- 
tution of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  will  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  senator  (or  representative)  according 
to  the  best  of  my  ability  ;  and  that  I  have  not,  knowingly  or  intentionally,  paid  or  contributed  anything,  of 
made  any  promise  in  the  nature  of  a  bribe,  to  directly  or  indirectly  influence  any  vote  at  the  election  atwnich 
I  was  chosen  to  fill  vhe  said  office,  and  have  not  accented,  nor  will  I  accept  or  receive,  directly  or  indirectly, 
any  monev  (  r  othi  r  valuable  thing,  from  any  corporation,  con^pany  or  peVson,  for  any  vote  or  influence  1  may 
give  or  withhold  on  any  bill,  resolution  or  appropriation,  or  for  any  other  official  act." 

This  oath  shall  be  administered  by  a  judge  of  the  supreme  or  circuit  court,  in  the  hall  of 
the  house  to  which  the  member  is  elected,  and  the  secretary  of  state  shall  record  and  file 
the  oath  subscribed  by  each  member.    Any  member  who  shall  refuse  to  lake  the  oath  hertin 


prescribed,  shall  forfeit  his'  office,  and  every  member  who  shall  be  convicted  of  havinp; 
sworn  falsely  to,  or  of  violating,  his  said  oath,  shall  forfeit  his  office,  and  be  disqualified 
thereafter  from  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  in  this  State. 

APPORTIONMENT— SENATORIAL. 

?  6.  The  general  assembly  shall  apportion  the  State  every  ten  years,  beginning  with  the 
year  1871,  by  dividing  the  population  of  the  State,  as  ascertained  by  the  federal  census,  by 
the  number  51,  and  the  quotient  shall  he  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  numbers,  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,  ccAitained  by  such  counties  in  excess  of  twice  the  number  of  said  ratio. 

NoTB.— By  the  adoption  of  -minority  represenfation,  i^  7  and  8,  of  this  article,  cease  to  be  a  part  of  the 
constitutio-i.  URder  J  12  of  the  schedule,  and  the  vote  of  adoption,  the  following  section  relating  to  minority 
representation  is  substituted  for  said  secLions  : 

MINORITY   REPRESENTATION. 

JJ  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 
qualifisd  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. 

g  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  constitution.  A  majority 
of  the  members  elected  to  each  bouse  shall  constitute  a  quorum.  Each  house  shall  deter- 
mine the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  and  be  the  judge  of  the  election  returns  and  qualifica- 
tions of  its  members ;  shall  choose  its  own  officers  ;  and  the  senate  shall  choose  a  temporary 
president  to  preside  when  the  lieutenant-governor  shall  not  attend  as  president  or  shall  act 
as  governor.  The  secretary  of  state  shall  call  the  house  of  representatives  to  order  at  the 
opening  of  each  new  assembly,  and  preside  over  it  until  a  temporary  presiding  officer  thereof 
shall  have  been  chosen  and  shall  have  taken  his  seat.  No  member  shall  be  expelled  by 
either  house,  except  by  a  vote  of  ■  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  elected  to  that  house,  and 
no  member  shall  be  twice  expelled  for  the  same  offence.  Each  house  may  punish  by 
imprisonment  any  person,  not  a  member,  who  shall  be  guilty  of  disrespect  to  the  house  by 
ilisorderly  or  contemptuous  behaviour  in  its  presence.  But  no  such  imprisonment  shall 
extend  beyond  two  hours  at  one  time,  unless  the  person  shall  persist  in  such  disorderly  or 
contemptuous  behaviour. 

^  lo.  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  pro- 
ceedings, which  shall  be  published.  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  members  of  either  house  shall  have  liberty  to  dis- 
sent from  and  protest,  in  respectful  language,  against  any  act  or  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. 

J  II.  The  style  of  the  laws  of  this  State  shall  be  :  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State 
of  Illinois ,  represented  in  the  General  Assembly. 

2  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  separately,  and  shall  be  entered  upon  the  journal ;  and  no  bill  shall  become  a  law 
without  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  the  members  elected  to  each  house. 

313.  Every  bill  shall  be  read  at  large  on  three  different  days,  in  each  house;  and  the 
bill  and  all  amendments  thereto  shall  be  printed  before  the  vote  is  taken  on  its  final  passage ; 
and  every  bill,  having  passed  both  houses,  shall  be  signed  by  the  speakers  thereof.  No  act 
hereafter  passed  shall  embrace  more  than  one  subject,  and  that  shall  be  expressed  in  the  title. 
But  if  any  subject  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  body  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. 

%  14.  Senators  and  representatives  shall,  in  all  cases,  except  treason,  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. 

2  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, 
durin<'  the  term  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected;  and  all  such  appointments,  and  all 
votes  given  for  any  such  members  for  any  such  office  or  appointment,  shall  be  void;  nor 
shall  any  member  of  the  general  assembly  be  interested,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any 
contract  with  the  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. 

i  16.  The  general  assembly  shall  make  no  appropriation  of  money  cut  of  the  treasury  in 
any  private  law.  Bills  making  appropriations  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.  _ 

2  17.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  except  m  pursuance  of  an  appropriation 
made  by  law  and  on  the  presentation  of  a  warrant  issued  by  the  auditor  thereon ;  and  no 
money  shall  be  diverted  from  any  appropriation  made  ff>r  any  purpose,  or  taken  from  any 
fund  whatever,  either  >^"  J"-'"'-  "■•  senarate  resolution.     The  auditor  shall,  within  60  days 


after  the  adjournment  of  each  session  of  the  general  assembly,  prepare  and  publish  a  full 
statement  of  all  money  expended  at  such  session,  specifying  the  amount  of  each  item,  and 
to  whom  and  for  what  paid. 

\  18.  Each  general  assembly  shall  provide  for  all  the  appropriations  necessary  for  the 
ordinary  and  contingent  expenses  of  the  government  until  the  expiration  of  the  first  fiscal 
quarter  after  the  adjournment  of  the  next  regular  session,  the  aggregate  amount  of  which 
shall  not  be  increased  without  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  ihe  members  elected  to  each  house, 
nor  exceed  the  amount  of  revenue  authorized  by  law  to  be  raised  in  such  time;  and  eU 
appropriations,  general  or  special,  requiring  money  to  be  paid  out  of  the  State  Treasury, 
from  funds  belonging  to  the  State,  shall  end  with  such  fiscal  quarter:  Provided,  the  Stale 
may,  to  meet  casual  deficits  or  failures  in  revenue,  contract  debts,  never  to  exceed  in 
the  aggregate  16250,000 ;  and  moneys  thus  borrowed  shall  be  applied  to  the  purpose  for 
which  they  were  obtaijied,  or  to  pay  the  debt  thus  created,  and  to  no  other  purpose ;  and 
no  other  debt,  except  for  the  purpose  of  repelling  invasion,  suppressing  insuriectioD,  or 
defending  the  State  in  war,  (for  payment  of  which  the  faith  of  the  State  shall  be  pledged), 
shall  be  contracted,  unless  the  law  authorizing  the  same  shall,  at  a  general  election,  have 
been  submitted  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  made  at  the  lime,  for  the  payment  of  the 
interest  annually,  as  it  shall  accrue,  by  a  tax  levied  for  the  purpose,  or  from  other  sources 
of  revenue;  which  law,  providing  for  the  payment  of  such  interest  by  such  tax,  shall  be 
iiTepealable  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  contracted. 

§  19.  The  general  assembly  shall  never  grant  or  authorize  extra  compensation,  fee  or 
allowance  to  any  public  officer,  agent,  servant  or  contractor,  after  service  has  been  rendered 
gr  a  contract  made,  nor  authorize  the  payment  of  any  claim,  or  part  thereof,  hereafter 
created  against  the  State  under  any  agreement  or  contract  made  without  express  authority  of 
law  ;  and  all  such  unauthorized  agreements  or  contracts  shall  be  null  and  void  :  Provided, 
the  general  assembly  may  make  appropriations  for  expenditures  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  or  extend  its  credit  to,  or  in  aid  of  any  public  or  othei 
corporation,  association  or  individual. 

PAY    OF    MEMBERS. 

\  21.  The  members  of  the  general  assembly  shall  receive  for  their  services  the  sum  of  $% 
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  the  sum  of  ^50  per  session  to  each  member,  which  shall  be  in  full  foi 
postage,  stationery,  newspapers,  and  all  other  incidental  expenses  and  perquisites;  but  na 
change  shall  be  made  in  the  compensation  of  members  of  the  general  assembly  durin'5[  th(, 
term  for  which  they  may  have  been  elected.  The  pay  and  mileage  allowed  to  each  membeic 
of  the  general  assembly  shall  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. 

\  22.  The  general  assembly  shall  not  pass  local  or  special  laws  in  any  of  the  following 
enumerated  cases,  that  is  to  say  :  for — - 

Granting  divorces ; 

Changing  the  names  of  person^  or  places; 

Laying  ouf,  opening,  altering,  and  working  roads  or  highways ; 

Vacating 'roads,  town  plats,  streets,  alleys  and  public  grounds; 

Locating  or  changing  county  seats ; 

Regulal  ing  county  and  township  affairs ; 

Regulating  the  practice  in  courts  of  justfce ; 

Regulating  the  jurisdiction  and  duties  of  justices  of  the  peace,  police  magistrates,  find 
constables ; 

Providing  for  changes  of  venue  in  civil  and  criminal  cases ; 

Incorporating  cities,  towns,  or  villages,  or  changing  or  amending  the  charter  of  any  town, 
city  or  village; 

Providing  for  the  election  of  members  of  the  board  of  supervisors  in  townshipe, 
incorporated  towns  or  cities ; 

Summoning  and  impaneling  grand  or  petit  juries; 

Providing  for  the  management  of  commoij,  schools; 

Regulating  the  rate  of  interest  on  money ; 

The  opening  and  conducting  of  any  election,  or  designating  the  place  of  voting; 

The  sale  or  mortgage  of  real  estate  belonging  to  minors  or  others  under  disability; 

The  protection  of  g.ime  or  fish ; 

Chartering  or  licensing  ferries  or  toll  bridges; 

Remitting  fines,  penalties  or  forfeitures ; 

Creating,  increasing,  or  decreasing  fees,  percentage  or  allowances  of  public  officers,  during 
the  term  for  which  said  officers  are  elected  or  appointed ; 

Changing  the  law  of  descent; 

Granting  to  any  corporation,  association  or  individual  the  right  to  lay  down  railroad 
tracks,  or  amending  existing  charters  for  such  purpose  ; 

Granting  to  any  corporation,  association  or  individual  any  special  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.  ,  .        ,.  ,         • 

\  23.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  release  or  extinguish,  in  whole  or  m 
part,  the  indebtedness,  liability,  or  obligation  of  any  corporation  or  individual  to  this  StjUe 
or  to  any  municipal  corporation  therein. 

IMPEACHMENT. 

2  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  affirma- 
tion, 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  disqualification  to  hold  any  office  of  honor  profit  or  trust 
under  the  government  of  this  State.  The  party,  whether  convicted  or  acquitted,  shall, 
pevertheless,  be  liable  to  prosecution,  trial,  judgment  and  punishment  according  to  law. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

S  25.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide,  by  law,  that  the  fuel,  stationery  and  printing- 
paper  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  State  ;  the  copying,  printing,  binding  and  distributing  the 
laws  and  journals,  and'all  other  printing  ordered  by  the  general  assembly,  shall  be  let  1  y 
contract  to  the  lowest  responsible  bidder ;  but  the  general  assembly  shall  fix  a  maximum 


price  ;  and  no  member  thereo*',  or  other  officer  of  the  State,  shall  be  interested,  directly  or 
indirectly,  in  such  contract.  But  all  such  contracts  shall  be  subject  to  (he  approval  of  the 
governor,  and  if  he  disapproves  the  same  there  shall  be  a  re-letting  of  the  contract,  in  such 
manner  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

^  26.  The  State  of  Illinois  shall  never  be  made  defendant  in  any  court  or  law  of  equity. 

§  27.  The  general  asembly  shall  have  no  power  to  authorize  li,tteries  or  gift  enterprises, 
for  any  purpose,  and  shall  pass  laws  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  lottery  or  gift  enterprise  tickets 
in  this  State. 

g  28.  No  law  shall  be  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  laws  as  may  be  necessary 
for  the  protection  of  operative  miners^  by  providing  for  ventilation,  when  the  same  may  be 
required,  and  the  construction  of  escapement-shafts,  or  such  other  appliances  as  may  secure 
safety  in  all  coal  mines,  and  to  provide  for  the  enforcement  of  said  laws  by  such  penalties 
apd  punishments  as  may  be  deemed  proper. 

J  30.  The  general  assembly  may  provide  for  establishing  and  opening  roads  and  cart- 
ways, connected  with  a  public  road,  for  private  and  public  use. 

J  31.  The  general  assembly  may  pass  laws  permitting  the  owners  and  occupants  of  lands 
to  construct  drains  and  ditches,  for  agricultural  and  sanitary  purposes,  across  the  lands  of 
others. 

2  32.  The  general  assembly  shall  pass  liberal  and  homestead  and  exemption  laws. 

I  33.  The  general  assembly  shall  not  appropriate  out  of  the  State  treasury,  or  expend  on 
account  of  the  new  capitol  grounds,  and  construction,  completion  and  furnishing  of  the 
State  house,  a  sum  exceeding,  in  the  aggregrate,  ;?3, 500,000,  inclusive  of  all  appropriations 
heretofore  made,  without  first  submitting  the  proposition  for  an  additional  expenditure  to 
the  legal  voters  of  the  State,  at  a  general  election;  nor  unless  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
at  such  election  shall  be  for  the  proposed  additional  expenditure. 

ARTICLE  V. 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 


1.  Officers  of  this  Department. 

2.  Of  thj  State  Treasurer. 

3.  Time  of  E  ectiiig  Stale  Officers. 

4.  Returns — Tic — Coi. tested  Klcction. 

5.  Eligibility  for  Office. 

6.  GovernCM" — Power  and  D.uty. 

7.  His  Message  and  Statement. 

8.  Co  ivening  the  General  Asst-mbly. 

9.  Prorogui'  g  the  General  Assembly. 
10.  Nominations  by  the  t  iovernor. 

.  Vacancies  may  be  filled. 

.  Removals  by  the  Governor. 

.  Reprieves — Qommuta  ions — Fardcns. 


15- 
16. 
17- 


Governor  as  Commander-in-Chief. 
Impeachment  for  Misdemeanor. 
Veto  of  the  Governor.         * 
Lieutenant-Governor  as  Coventor. 
As  President  of  the  Senate. 
Vacancy  in  Governor's  Ofnce. 
Vacancy  in  o  h  r  State  Offices. 
Reports  of  State  Oiiicers. 
Great  Seal  of  State, 
Fees  and  Salaries. 
Definition  of  "  Office." 
Oath  of  Civil  Officers. 


EXECUTIVE   DEPARTMENT. 

J  -1.  The  executive  department  shall  consist  of  a  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  Sec- 
retary of  State,  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts,  Treasurer,  Superintendent  of  Ptiblic  Ins' ruc- 
tion,and  Attorney-General,  who  shall,  each,  with  the  exception  of  the  Treasurer, hold  his 
office  for  the  term  of  four  years  from  the  second  Monday  of  January  next  after  his  elet;tion, 
and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified.  They  shall,  except  the  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor, 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. 

J  2.  The  Treasurer  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  two  yeirs,  and  until  his  suc- 
cessor is  elected  and  qualified;  and  shall  be  ineligible  to  said  office  for  two  years  next  after 
the  end  of  the  term  for  which  he  was""elected.  lie  may  be  required  by  the  Governor  to 
giije  reasonable  additional  security,  and  in  default  of  so  doing  his  office  shall"  be  deemed 
vacant. 

ELECTION. 

J  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  Novem- 
ber, in  the  year  1870,  and  every  four  years  thereafter;  and  for  Treasurer  on  the  day  last 
above  mentioned,  and  every  twj  years  thereafter,  at  such  places  and  in  such  manner  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  law. 

J  4.  The  returns  of  every  election  for  the  above  named  officers  shall  be  sealed  up  and 
transmitted,  by  the  returning  offijers,  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  directed  to  "The  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,"  who  shall,  immediately  after  the  organization  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  asseml^ly,  who  shall,  for  that  purpose,  assemble 
in  the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives.  The  person  having  the  highest  number  of  votes 
for  either  of  the  said  offices  shall  be  declared  duly  elected;  but  if  two  or  more  have  an 
equal  and  the  highest  number  of  votes,  the  general  assembly  shall,  by  joint  ballot,  choose 
one  of  such  persons  for  said  office.  Contested  elections  for  all  of  said  offices  shall  be  de- 
termined by  both  houses  of  the  general  assembly,  by  joint  ballot,  in  such  manner  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  law. 

ELIGIBILITY. 

I  5.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  governor,  or  lieutenant-governor,  who 
shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  30  year?,  and  been,  for  five  years  next  preceding  his 
election,  a  chizen  of  the  United  States  and  of  this  State.  Neither  the  governor,  lieutenant- 
governor,  auditor  of  public  accounts,  secretary  of  State,  superintendent  of  public  instruction 
nor  attorney  general  shall  be  eligible  to  any  other  office  during  the  period  for  which  he 
shall  have  been  elected. 

GOVERNOR. 

5  6.  The  supreme  executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  the  governor,  who  shall  take  care 
that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed. 

J  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  shall  recommend  such  measures  as  he  shall  deem  expedient.  He  shall  account 
to  the  general  assembly,  and  accompany  his  message  with  a  statement  of  all  moneys  re- 
ceived and  paid  out  by  him  from  any  funds  subject  to  his  order,  with  vouchers,  and,  at  the 
commencement  of  each  regular  session,  present  estimates  of  the  amount  of  money  required 
to  be  raised  by  taxation  for  all  purposes. 

g  8.  The  governor  may,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  convene  the  general  assembly,  by 
proclamation,  stating  therein  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  convened;  and  the  general 
assembly  shall  enter  upon  no  business  except  that  for  which  they  were  called  together. 

J  9.  In  case  of  a  disagreement  between  the  two  houses  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjourn- 
ment, the  governor  may,  on  the  same  being  certifiedito  him,  by  the  house  first  moving  the 
adjournment,  adjourn  the  general  assembly  to  such  time  as  he  thinks  proper,  not  beyond  the 
first  day  of  the  next  regular  session. 

J  10.  The  governor  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate, 
(a  majority  of  all  the  senators  selected  concurring,  by  yeas  and  nays,)  aDpoint  all  officers 


whose  offices  are  established  by  this  constitution,  or  which  may  be  created  by  law,  and  whjse 
appointment  or  election  is  not  otherwise  provided  for;  and  no  such  officer  shall  be  appointed 
or  elected  by  the  general  assembly. 

g  II.  In  case  of  a  vacancy,  during  the  recess  of  the  senate,  in  any  office  which  is  not 
elective,  the  governor  shall  make  a  temporary  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  the  request  of  the  senate,  or  be 
appointed  to  the  same  office  duiing  the  recess  of  the  general  assembly. 

2  12.  The  governor  shall  have  power  to  remove  any  officer  whom  he  may  appoint,  in 
case  of  incompetency,  neglect  of  duty,  or  malfeasance  in  office;  and  he  may  declare  his 
office  vacant,  and  fill  the  same  as  is  herein  provided  in  other  cases  of  vacancy. 

J  13.  The  governor  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves,  commutations  and  pardons,  after 
conviction,  for  all  offences,  subject  to  such  regulations  as  may  be  provided  by  law  relative  to 
he  manner  of  applying  therefor. 

J  14.  The  governor  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  military  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. 

J  15.  The  governor,  and  all  civil  officers  of  this  State,  shall  be  liable  to  impeachment 
for  any  misdemeanor  in  office. 

VETO. 

^  i5.  Every  bill  passed  by  the  general  assembly  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  pre- 
sented to  the  governor.  If  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it,  and  thereupon  it  shall  become  a  law; 
but  if  he  do  not  approve,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  the  house  in  which  it 
shall  have  originated,  which  house  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  upon  its  journal,  and 
proceed  to  reconsider  the  bill.  If,  then,  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  agree  to  pass 
the  same,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other  bouse,  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  governor.  But  in  all 
such  cases,  the  vote  of  each  house  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  to  be  entered  on 
the  journal.  Any  bill  which,  shall  not  be  returned  1^  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  return; 
in  which  case  it  shall  be  filjd,  with  his  objections,  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state, 
within  ten  days  after  such  adjournment,  or  become  a  law. 

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. 

§  17.  In  case  of  death,  conviction  on  impeachment,  failure  to  qualify,  resignation, 
absence  from  the  State,  or  other  disability  of  the  governor,  the  powers,  duties,  the  emolu- 
ments of  the  office  for  the  residue  of  the  term,  or  until  the  disability  shall  be  removed,  shall 
devolve  upon  the  lieutenant-governor. 

5  18.  The  lieutenant-governor  shall  be  president  of  the  senate,  and  shall  Tote  only  when 
ihe  senate  is  equally  divided.  The  senate  shall  ctioose  a  president, />-o  tempore,  to  preside 
in  case  of  the  absence  or  impeachment  of  the  lieutenant-governor,  or  when  he  shall  hold  the 
office  of  governor. 

\  ig.  If  there  be  no  lieutenant-governor,  or  if  the  lieutenant-governor  shall,  for  any  of 
the  causes  specified  in  J  17  of  this  article,  become  incapable  of  performing  the  duties  of 
the  office,  the  president  of  the  senate  shall  act  as  governor  until  the  vacancy  is  filled  or  the 
disability  removed ;  and  if  the  president  of  the  senate,  for  any  of  the  above  named  causes, 
shall  become  incapable  of  performing  the  duties  of  governor,  the  same  shall  devolve  upoa 
the  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives. 

OTHER   STATE  OFFICERS. 

\  20.  If  the  office  of  auditor  of  public  accounts,  treasurer,  secretary  of  State,  attorney 
general,  or  superintendent  of  public  instruction  shall  be  vacated  by  death,  resignation  or 
otherw  ise,  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  and  qualified  in  such 
manner  as  may  be  provided  by  law.  An  account  shall  be  kept  by  the  officers  of  the  execu- 
tive department,  and  of  all  the  public  institutions  of  the  State,  of  all  moneys  received  or 
disbursed  by  them,  severally,  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  report  shall  be  guilty  of  perjury,  and  punished  accordingly. 

^21.  The  officers  of  the  executive  department,  and  of  all  the  public  institutions  of  the 
Stale,  shall,  at  least  ten  days  preceding  each  regular  session  of  the  general  assembly,  severally 
report  to  the  governor,  who  shall  transmit  such  reports  to  the  general  assembly,  together 
with  the  reports  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  defects  in  the  constitution  and 
laws  ;  and  the  governor  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. 

J  22.  There  shall  be  a  seal  of  the  State,  which  shall  be  called  the  ''  Grsat  seal  of  the  Stale 
of  Illinois,"  which  shall  be  kept  by  the  secretaiy  of  State,  and  used  by  him,  officially,  as 
directed  by  law. 

FEES   AND    SALARIES. 

?  23.  The  officers  named  in  this  article  shall  receive  for  their  services  a  salary,  to  be  estab- 
lished by  law,  which  shall  not  be  increased  or  diminished  during  their  official  terms,  and 
they  ahall  not,  after  the  expiration  of  the  terms  of  those  in  office  at  the  adoption  of  this  con- 
stitution, receive  to  their  own  use  any  fees,  costs,  perquisites  of  office,  or  other  compensa- 
tion. 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. 

\  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  eniployment  is  an  agency,  for  a  temporary  purpose,  which  ceases  when  that 
purpose  is  accomplished. 

J  25.  All  civil  officers,  except  members  of  the  general  assembly  and  such  inferior  officers 
as  may  be  by  law  exempted,  shall,  before  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  case  maybe)  that  I  will  support  the  constitution  of  the  Unted  Statei, 
and  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  that  I  will  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office  (rf 
~—^-~-  according  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 

And  nn  other  oath,  declaration  or  test  shall  be  required  as  a  qualification. 


ARTICLE   VI. 

JUDICIAL  DEPARTMENT. 


Judic'al  Powers  of  Courts. 
Seven  Supreme  Judges — Four  Decide. 
Qualifications  of  a  Supreme  Judj^e. 
Terms  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
Three  Grand  Divisions — ^Seven  Districts. 
Election  of  Supreme  Judges. 
Salaries  of  the  Supreme  Judges. 
Appeals  and  Writs  of  Error. 
Appointment  of  Reporter.  " 
Clert*  5  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
Appellate  Courts  Authorized, 
Jurisdiction  of  Circuit  Courts. 
Formation  of  Judicial  Circuits, 
Time  of  holding  Circuit  Courts. 
Circuitsxontaining  Four  Judges. 
Salaries  of  the  Circuit  Judges, 
Qualification  of  Judges  or  Commissioners. 


i  =3- 
i  ^*- 

!  25. 

I  s6, 
I  27- 
128. 
'29, 
J  30, 

i  3'' 
I  32. 
i  3i- 


County  Judges— County  Clerks. 
Appeals  from  County  Courts, 
Probate  Courts  Authorized, 
Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Constables. 
State's  Attorney  in  each  County. 
Cook  County  Courts  of  Record. 
Chief  Justice — Power  of  Judges. 
Salaries  of  the  Judges, 
Criminal  Court  of  Cook  County. 
Clerks  of  Cook  County  Court. 
Justices  in  Chicago, 
Uniformity  in  the  Courts. 
Removal  of  any  Judge. 
Judges  to  make  Written  Reports. 
Terms  of  Office — Filling  Vacancies. 
Proce  ss — Prosecutions — Population. 


I  I.  The  judicial  powers,  except  as  in  this  article  is  otherwise  provided,  shall  be  vested  in 
one  supreme  court,  circuit  courts,  county  courts,  justices  of  the  peace,  police  magistrates, 
and  in  such  courts  as  may  be  created  by  law  in  and  for  cities  and  incorporated  towns. 

SUPREME  COURT. 

?  2.  The  supreme  court  shall  consist  of  seven  judges,  and  shall  have  original  jurisdic- 
tion in  cases  relating  to  the  revenue,  in  mandamus,  and  habeas  corpus,  and  appellate  juris- 
diction in  all  other  cases.  One  of  said  judges  shall  be  chief  justice ;  four  shall  constitute  a 
quorum,  and  the  concurrence  of  four  shall  be  necessary  to  every  decision. 

\  3.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  judge  of  the  supreme  court  unless  he 
shall,  be  at  least  30  years  of  age,  and  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  nor  unless  he  shall  have 
resided  in  the  State  five  years  next  preceding  his  election,  and  be  a  resident  of  the  district 
in  which  he  shall  be  elected. 

\  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  mure  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  rooms  therefor,  and  the  use  of  a  suitable  library,  without 
expense  to  the  State.  The  judicial  divisions  may  be  altered,  increased  or  diminished  in 
number,  and  the  times  and  places  of  holding  said  court  may  be  changed  by  law. 

\  5.  TThe  present  grand  divisions  shall  be  preserved,  and  be  denominated  Sauthern,  Cen- 
tr.-il  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,  Washington,  Jefferson,  Wayne, 
Edwards,  Wabash,  White,  Hamilton,  Franklin,  Perry,  Randolph,  Monroe,  Jackson,  William- 
son, Saline,  Gallatin,  Hardin,  Pope,  Union,  Johnson,  Alexander,  Pulaski  and  Massac. 

Second  District. — The  counties  of  Madison,  Bond,  Marion,  Clay,  Richland,  Lawrence, 
Crawford,  Jasper,  Effingham,  Fayette,  Montgomery,  Macoupin,  Shelby,  Cumberland,  Clark, 
Greene,  Jersey,  Calhoun  and  Christian. 

Third  District. — The  counties  of  Sangamon,  Macon,  Logan,  De  Witte,  Piatt,  Douglas, 
Champaign,  Vermilion,  McLean,  Livingston,  Ford,  Iroquois,  Coles,  Edgar,  Moultrie,  and 
Tazewell. 

Fourth  District. — The  counties  of  Fulton,  McDonough,  Hancock,  Schuyler,  Brown, 
Adams,  Pike,  Mason,  Menard,  Morgan,  Cass  and  Scott. 

Fifth  District. — The  counties  of  Knox,  Warren,  Henderson,  Mercer,  Henry,  Stark, 
Peoria,  Marshall,  Putnam,  Bureau,  J^asalle,  Grundy  and  Woodford. 

Sixth  District. — The  counties  of  Whiteside,  Carroll,  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Winnebago, 
Boone,  MeHenry,  Kane,  Kendall,  De  Ka!b,  Lee,  Ogle  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  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  the  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  judges  then  elected,  shall  expire,  and  every  nine  years  thereafter, 
there  shall  be  an  election  for  the  successor  or  successors  of  such  judges,  in  the  respective 
districts  wherein  the  term  of  such  judges  shall  expire.  The  chief  justice  shall  continue  to 
act  as  such  until  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected,  after  which  the  judges 
shall  choose  one  of  their  number  chief  justice. 

J  7.  From  and  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court 
shall  each  receive  a  salary  of  ;?4,ooo  per  annum,  payable  quarterly,  until  otherwise  provided 
by  law.  And  aft?r  said  salaries  shall  be  fixed  by  law,  the  salaries  of  the  judges  in  office 
shall  not  be  increased  or  diminished  during  the  terms  for  which  said  judges  have  been 
elected. 

^  8.  Appeals  and  writs  of  error  may  be  taken  to  the  supreme  court,  held  in  the  grand 
division  in  which  the  case  is  decided,  or,  by  consent  of  the  parties,  to  any  other  grand 
division. 

J  9.  The  supreme  court  shall  appoint  one  reporter  of  its  decisions,  who  shall  hold  his 
office  for  six  years,  subject  to  removal  by  the  court. 

^  10.  At  the  time  of  the  election  for  representatives  in  the  general  a.ssembly,  happening 
next  preceding  the  expiration  of  the  terms  of  office  of  the  present  clerks  of  said  cou  t,  one 
clerk  of  said  court  for  each  division  shall  be  elected,  whose  term  of  office  shall  be  six  years 
from  said  election,  but  who  shall  not  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  until  the  expiration 
of  the  term  of  his  predecessor,  and  every  six  years  thereafter,  one  clerk  of  said  court  for 
each  division  shall  be  elected. 

APPELLATE  COURTS. 

§  II.  After  the  year  of  onr  Lord  1874,  inferior  appellate  courts,  of  uniform  organization 
and  jurisdiction,  may  be  created  in  districts  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  the  supreme  court,  in 
all  criminal  cases,  and  cases  in  which  a  franchise,  or  freehold,  or  the  validity  of  a  statute  is 
involved,  and  in  such  other  cases  as  may  be  provided  by  law.  Such  appellate  courts  shall 
be  held  by  such  number  of  judges  of  the  circuit  courts,  and  at  such  times  and  places,  and 
in  such  manner,  as  may  be  provided  by  law;  but  no  judge  shall  sit  in  review  upon  casej 
decided  by  him;  nor  shall  ='"''^  ii./4(i«  m^oiye  any  additional  compensation  for  such  services. 


CIRCUIT   COURTS. 

§  12.  The  circuit  courts  shall  have  ori'jinal  jurisdiction  of  .lU  causes  in  law  and  equity, 
and  such  appellate  jurisdiction  as  is  or  miy  be  provided  by  law,  and  shall  hold  two  oi*  more 
terms  each  year  in  every  county.  The  terms  of  office  of  judges  of  circuit  courts  shall  be 
six  years. 

?'I3-  The  State,  exclusive  of  the  county  of  Cook  and  other  countie;  having  a  popula- 
tion of  100,000,  shjvll  hi  divided  into  judicial  circuits,  prior  to  the  expiration  of  the  terms 
of  office  of  the  present  judges  of  the  circuit  courts.  Such  circuits  shall  be  formed  of  con- 
tiguous counties,  in  as  nearly  compact  form  and  as  nearly  equal  as  circumstances  will  permit, 
having  due  regard  to  business,  territory  and  population,  and  shall  not  exceed  in  number  one 
circuit  for  every  100,000  of  population  in  the  State.  One  judge  shall  be  elected  for  each  of 
said  circuits  by  the  electors  thereof.  New  circuits  may  be  formed  and  the  boundaries  of 
circuits  changed  by  the  general  assembly,  at  its  session  next  preceding  the  election  for  circuit 
judges,  but  at  no  other  time  :  Provided,  that  the  circuits  may  be  equalized  or  changed  at  the 
first  session  of  the  general  assembly,  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution.  The  creation 
alteration  or  change  of  any  circuit  shall  not  affiict  the  tenure  of  office  of  any  judge.  When- 
ever the  •  business  of  the  circuit  court  of  any  one,  or  of  two  or  more  contiguous  counties 
containing  a  population  exceeding  50,000,  shall  occupy  nine  months  of  the  year,  the  general 
assembly  may  make  of  such  county,  or  counties,  a  separate  circuit.  Whenever  additional 
circuits  ere  created,  the  foregoing  limitations  shall  be  observed. 

\  14.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide  for  the  times  of  holding  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  shall  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  popu- 
lation and  territory,  in  lieu  of  the  circuits  provided  for  in  section  13  of  this  article,  and 
provide  for  the  election  therein,  severally,  by  the  electors  thereof,  by  general  ticket,  of  not 
exceeding  four  judges,  who  shall  hold  the  circuit  courts  in  the  circuit  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  judges  shall  be,  respectively,  electea;  and  from  aud  after 
the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  no  judge  of  the  supreme  or  circuit  court  shall  receive  any 
other  compensation,  perquisite  or  benefit,  in  any  form  whatsoever,  nor  perform  any  othei 
than  judicial  duties  to  which  may  belong  any  emoluments. 

I  17.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  judge  of  the  circuit  or  any  inferior 
court,  or  to  membership  in  the  "  board  of  county  commissioners,"  unless  he  shall  be  at  leist 
25  years  of  age,  and  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  nor  unless  he  shall  have  resided  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. 

COUNTY   COURTS. 

\  18.  There  shall  be  elected  in  and  for  each  county,  one  county  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  settlements  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  law. 

\  ig.  Appeals  and  writs  of  error  shall  be  allowed  from  final  determinations  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  appoint- 
ment of  guardians  and  conservators,  and  settlement  of  their  accounts  ;  in  all  matters  relating 
to  apprentices,  and  in  cases  of  the  sales  of  real  estate  of  deceased  persons  for  the  payment 
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,  provided  by  law,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  such  justices  of  the 
peace  and  police  magistrates  shall  be  uniform. 

STATE'S    ATTORNEYS. 

\  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  attorneys  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  tbe  recorder's  court  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  the  present  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 
adding  one  to  either  of  said  courts  for  every  additional  50,000  inhabitans  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,  and  may  hold  the  court  of  which  he  is  a 
member.     Each  of  them  may  hold  a  different  branch  thereof  at  the  same  time. 

i  25.  The  judges  of  the  superior  and  circuit  courts,  and  the  State's  attorney,  in  said 
county,  shall  receive  the  same  salaries,  payable  'out  of  the  State  treasury,  as  is  or  may  be 
paid  from  said  treasury  to  the  circuit  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  bv  la  w ; 
such  compensation  shall  not  be  changed  during  their  continuance  in  office.  ^ 

\  26.  The  recorder's  court  of  the  city  of  Chicago  shall  be  continued,  and  shall  be  called 
the  ''criminal  court  of  Cook  county."  It  shall  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 
f-aid  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  criminal  matters,  and  to  di-^pose  of  unfinished  business. 
The  terms  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  exroffioio  judges  of 
said  court. 

\  2"]:  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  cleiks  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  cUrk  of  the  superior  court,  to  be  elected  by 
the  qua'ified  electors  of  said  county,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  four  years,  and 
un'.il  hij  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

§  28.  AU  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 
mijority  of  the  judges  of  the  circuit,  superior  and  county  courts,)  and  for  such  districti  as 
are  novf  or  shall  hereafter  be  provided  by  law.  They  shall  hold  their  offices  for  four  years, 
and  until  their  successors  have  been  commissioned  and  qualified,  but  they  may  be  removed 
by  summary  proceedings  in  the  circuit  or  superior  court,  for  extortion  or  other  malfeasance. 
Exisiing  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  governor.  All  laws  relating  to 
cour  s  shall  be  general,  and  of  uniform  operation ;  and  the  organization,  jurisdiction,  powers, 
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,  judgments  and  decrees  of  such  courts,  severally 
shall  be  utiiform. 

§  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  nientioned,  shall 
be  removed  from  office  on  prosecution  and  final  conviction,  for  misdemeanor  in  ofSje. 

§  31.  All  judges  of  courts  of  record,  inferior  to  the  supreme  court,  shall,  on  or  before 
the  first  day  ol  June,  of  each  year,  report  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  number  of  days  they  have  held  court  in  the  several  counties  composing  their  respective 
circuits,  the  preceding  two  years. 

J  32.  All  officers  provided  for  in  this  article  shall  hold  their  offices  until  their  successors 
shall  be  qualified,  and  they  shall,  respeciively,  reside  in  the  division,  circuit,  county  or  dis- 
trict 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.  AU  officers,  where  not 
otherwise  provided  for  in  this  article,  shall  perform  such  duties  and  receive  such  compensa- 
tion 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. 

§  33.  All  jrocess  shall  run :  In  the  name  of  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois :  and  all 
prosecutions  shall  be  cirried  on :  In  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  People  of  the  State 
of  Illinois;  and  conclude:  Against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  same.  "Population," 
wherever  used  in  this  article,  shall  be  determined  by  the  next  preceding  census  of  this  State, 
or  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  VII. 


SUFFRAGE. 


I  I.  Who  are  Entitled  to  Vote. 

i  2.  All  Voting  to  be  by  Ballot. 

\  3.  Privileges  of  Electors. 

'  Ju  Absence  on  Public  Business. 


[  5.    Soldier  not  Deemed  a  Kssident. 
I  6.     Qualifications  tor  office. 
I  7.    Persons  Convicted  of  Crime, 


\  I.  Every  person  having  resided  in  this  State  one  year,  in  the  county  90  days,  and  in 
the  election  district  30  days  next  preceding  any  election  therein,  who  was  an  elector  in  this 
State  on  the  first  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. 

J  2.     All  votes  shall  be  by  ballot. 

\  3.  Electors  shall,  in  all  cases  except  treason,  felony,  or  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privi- 
leged from  arrest  during  their  attenSance  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  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger. 

\  4.  No  elector  shall  be  deemed  to  have  lost  his  residence  in  this  State  by  reason  of  his 
absence  on  business  of  the  United  States,  or  of  this  State,  or  in  the  military  or  naval  service 
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  consequence  of  being  stationed  therein. 

g  6.  No  person  shall  be  elected  or  appointed  to  any  office  in  this  State,  civil  or  military, 
who  is  not  a  citizen  of  the  United  Stales,  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  suffi-age  persons 
convicted  of  infamous  crimes. 

ARTICLE  Vin. 


EDUCATION. 


'  4.  School  Officers  not  Interested. 
5.  CwUnty  Supeiiniendenc  of  Schools. 


?  I.  F'-ee  Schools  Established. 

\  2.  Gifts  or  Grants  in  aid  of  Scho'^Is. 

\  3.  Public  Schools  not  to  be  Sectarian. 

\  I.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide  a  thorough,  and  efficient  system  of  free  schools, 
whereby  all  childr«i  of  this  State  may  receive  a  good  common  school  education. 

\  2,  All  lands,  nioneys,  or  other  properties,  donated,  granted  or  received  for  school,  col- 
lege, 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,  township,  school  district, 
or  other  public  corporation,  shall  ever  make  any  appropriation  or  pay  from  any  public  fund 
whatever,  anything  in  aid  of  any  church  or  sectarian  purpose,  or  to  help  support  or  sustain 
any  school,  academy,  seminary,  college,  university,  or  other  literary  or  scientific  institution, 


% 
controlled  by  any  church  or  sectarian  denomination  whatever ;  nor  shall  ajjy  grant  or  dona- 
tion of  land,  money,  or  other  personal  property  ever  be  made  by  the  State  or  any  suck 
public  corporation,  to  any  church,  or  for  any  sectarian  purpose. 

\  4.  No  teacher.  State,  county,  township,  or  district  school  officer  shall  be  interested  in 
the  sale,  proceeds  or  prifits  of  any  bjol;,  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  qualifica- 
tions, powers,  duties,  compensation  and  time  and  manner  of  election,  and  term  of  of  office 
shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

ARTICLE  IX. 


REVENUE. 


1.  Principles  of  Taxation  Stated 

2.  Other  and  further  Taxation. 

3.  Properly  Exempt  from  Taxation. 

4.  Sale  of  Real  l^roperty  for  Taxes. 

5.  Righc  of  Redemption  therefrom. 

6.  Release  from  Taxation  Forbidden. 


!    7.  Taxes  paid  into  State  Treastlry, 
\     8    Limitation  on  County  Taxes. 
'    9.  Local  Municipal  Improvements. 

10.  Taxation  of  Municipal  Corporations. 

11.  Defaulter  not  to  be  Eligib'e, 

12.  Limitation  on  Municipal  Indebtedness. 


\  I .  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  at  persons,  to  be 
elected  or  appointed  in  such  manner  as  the  general  assembly  shall  direct,  and  not  otherwise ; 
but  the  general  assembly  shall  have  power  to  tax  peddlers,  auctioneers,  brokers,  hawkers, 
merchants,  commis'-ion  merchants,  showmen,  jugglers,  inn-keepers,  grocery  keepers,  liquor 
dealers,  toll  bridges,  ferries,  insurance,  telegraph  and  express  interests  or  business,  venders 
of  patents,  and  persons  or  corporations  owning  or  using  franchises  and  privileges,  in  such 
manner  as  it  shall  from  time  to  time  direct  by  gener.al  law,  uniform  as  to  the  class  upon 
which  it  operates. 

\  2.  The  specification  of  the  objects  and  subjects  of  taxation  shall  not  deprive  the  general 
.■issembly  of  the  power  to  require  other  subjects  or  objects  to  be  taxed  in  such  a  manner  as 
may  lite  consistent  wi'h  the  principles  of  taxation  fixed  in  this  constitution. 

\  3.  The  properties  of  the  State,  counties  and  other  municipal  corporations,  both  real 
and  personal,  and  such  other  property  as  may  be  used  exclusively  for  agricultural  and  horti- 
cultural  societies,  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  properly. 

\  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  purposes,  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  said  property  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  interested,  by  publication  or  otherwise,  of  the  fact  of  the  sale  of  the  prop- 
erty 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  redemp- 
tion expires. 

\  6.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  release  or  discharge  any  county,  city, 
township,  town  pr  district  whatever,  or  the  inh.-ibitanls  thereof  or  the  property  therein,  from 
their  or  its  proportionate  share  of  taxes  to  be  levied  for  State  purposes,  nor  shall  commuta- 
tion for  such  taxes  be  authorized  in  any  form  whatsoever. 

\  7.  All  taxes  levied  for  State  purposes  shall  be  paid  into  the  State  treasury. 

I  8.  County  authorities  shall  never  assess  taxes  the  aggregate  of  which  shall  exceed  75 
cents  per  ;?ioo  valuation,  except  for  the  payment  of  indebtedness  existing  at  the  adoption 
of  this  constitution,  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  con- 
tiguous property  or  otherwise.  For  all  other  corporate  purposes,  all  municipal  corporations 
may  be  vested  with  authority  to  assess  and  collect  taxes ;  but  such  taxes  shall  be  uniform  in 
respect  to  persons  and  property,  with  the  jurisdiction  of  the  body  i/nposing  the  same. 

^10.  The  general  assembly  sh.ill  not  impose  taxes  upon  municipal  corporations,  or  the  in- 
habitants or  property  thereof,  for  corporate  purposes,  but  shall  require  that  all  the  taxable 
property  within  the  limite  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  prop- 
erty, within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  body  imposing  the  same.  Private  property  shall  not  be 
liable  to  be  trken  or  sold  for  the  payment  of  the  corporate  debts  of  a  municipal  corporation. 

§  1 1 .  No  person  who  is  in  default,  as  a  collector  or  custodian  of  money  or  property  belong- 
in;  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  diminished  during  such  term. 

g  12.  No  county,  city,  township,  school  district,  or  other  municipal  corporation,  shall  be 
allowed  to  become  indebted  in  any  manner  or  for  any  purpose,  to  an  amount,  including  ex- 
isting indebtedness,  in  the  aggregate  exceeding  five  per  centum  on  the  value  of  the  taxable 
property  therein,  to  be  ascertained  by  the  la-t  assessment  for  State  and  county  taxes,  previous 
to  the  incurring  of  such  indebtedness.  Any  county,  city,  school  district,  or  other  municipal 
corporation,  incurring  any  indebtedness  as  aforesaid,  shall  before,  or  at  the  time  of  doing 
so,  provide  for  the  collection  of  a  direct  annual  tax  sufficient  to  pay  the  interest  on  such 
debt  as  it  flails  due,  and  also  to  pay  and  discharge  the  principal  thereof  within  twenty  years 
from  the  time  of  contracting  the  same.  This  section  shall  not  be  construed  to  prevent  any 
county,  city,  township,  school  district^  or  other  municipal  corporation  from  issuing  theii 
bonds  in  compliance  with  any  vote  of  the  people  which  may  have  been  had  prior  to  thv 
adopdon  of  this  constitution  in  pursuance  of  any  U>v  providing  therefor. 

ARTICLE  X. 


COUNTIES. 


Formation  of  New  Counties. 
Division  of  any  County. 
Territ  ry  stricken  from  a  County, 
Removal  of  a  County  Seat. 
Method  of  County  Government. 
Board  of  Co  nty  Commissioners. 
County  affairs  in  Cu.jk  County. 


§    8.  Coun'y  Officers— Terms  of  Office, 

\    9.  Salaries  and  Fees  in  Ci.ok  County, 

\  10.  Sala  ies  hxed  by  County  Board 

\  II.  Township  Officers — Special  Laws, 

p  12.  All  Future  Fees  Uniform. 

i  13.  Sworn  Reports  of  all  Fees. 


I  I.  No  new  county  shall  be  formed  or  established  by  the  general  assembly,  which  will 
reduce  the  county  or  counties,  or  either  of  them,  from  which  it  shall  be  taken,  to  less  con- 
tents than  400  square  miles;' nor  shall  any  county  be  formed  of  less  contents  ;  nor  shall  any 
line  thereof  pass  within  less  than  ten  miles  of  any  county  seat  of  the  county,  or  counties 
proposed  to  be  divided. 


§  2.  No  couiiw  shall  be  divided,  or  have  any  part  stricjcen  therefrom,  vpithout  submitting 
the  question  to"a  vote  of  the  people  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  petition  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  ob.iged  to  pay  its 
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  to  be  removed 
shall  be  fixed  in  pursuance  uf  law,  and  three-fifths  of  the  voters  of  the  county,  to  be  ascer- 
tained 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  ttie  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. 

I  5.  The  gesieral  assembly  shall  provide,  by  general  law,  for  township  organization,  under 
which  any  codhty  may  organize  whenever  a  majority  ol  the  legal  voters  of  such  county, 
voting  at  any4|eneral  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  miy  be  transacted  in  such  raannef  as  the  general  assem- 
bly 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  ma- 
jority 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  organization,  shall  immedi  itely  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. 

J  6.  At  the  first  election  of  county  judges  under  this  constitution,  there  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  trans- 
action of  county  busiiiess  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  terra  of  three  years. 

^  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  ot  Chicago,  and  five  from  towns 
outside  of  said  city,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

■<'  COUNTY  OFFICERS  AND  THEIR   COMPENSATION. 

§  8.  In  each  county  there  shall  be  elected  the  following  county  officers  :  County  judge, 
shi.riff,  county  clerk,  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  (who  may  be  ex-officio  recorder  of  deeds,  ex- 
cept in  counties  having  60,000  and  more  inhabitants,  in  which  counties  a  recorder  of  deeds 
shall  be  electfed  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,  except  the  treasurer,  sheriff  and  coroner,  who  shall  hold  their  office 
for  two  years,  and  until  their  successors  shall  be  elected  and  qualified. 

§  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  ajudge  of 
the  circuit  courc  of  said  county,  and  shall  be  paid,  respectively,  only  out  of  the  fees  of  the 
office  actually  collected.  All  fees,  perquisites  and  emolflments  (above  the  amount  of  said 
salaries)  shall  be  paid  into  the  coimty  treasury.  The  number  of  the  deputies  and  assistants 
of  such  officers  shall  be  determined  by  rule  of  the  circuit  court,  to  be  entered  of  record,  and 
their  compensation  shall  be  determined  by  the  county  board. 

I  10.  The  county  board,  except  as  provided  in  ^9  of  this  article,  shall  fix  the  compensa- 
tion 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  compensation  shall  be  ])aid 
only  out  of,  and  shall  in  no  instance  exceed,  the  fees  actually  collected ;  they  shall  not  allow 
either  of  them  more  per  annum  than  ^1,500,  in  counties  not  exceeding  20,000  inhabitants ; 
JS2,ooo  in  counties  containing  20,000  and  not  exceeding  30,000  inhabitants  ;  $2,500  in  coun- 
tie-i  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  inhabitants ;  and  $4  000  in  counties  containing  over  100,000  and  not  ex- 
ceeding 250.000  inhabitants ;  and  not  more  than  $i,ooo  additional  compensation  for  each  ad- 
ditional 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. 

I  II.  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  pro- 
vided 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  general  law. 

§  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  suc- 
cessors, so  as  to  reduce  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.  This  article  shall  not  be 
construed  as  depriving  the  general  assembly  of  the  power  to  reduce  the  fees  of  existing 
officers. 

^  13.  Every  person  who  is  elected  or  -appointed  to  any  office  in  this  State,  who  shall  be 
paid  in  whole  or  in  part  by  fees,  shall  be  required  by  law  to  make  a  semi-annual  report,  under 
oath  to  some  officer  to  be  designated  by  law,  of  all  his  fees  and  emoluments. 


ARTICLE  XI. 

CORPORATIONS. 


rstablisheH  cnlyby  General  Laws. 
Existing  Charters— How  Forteited.' 
3.     Klectiou  of  Di<ectors  or  Manag  rs. 
'  4.    Construction  of  S. res. t  Railroads. 

5.    State  Bank  For  lidden— Gent  ral  Law. 
I  6.    Liability  of  Banlc  -tockho  der. 
'  7.    S  spensio  1  ot  Specie  Payment. 
"     Ox  a  General  Backing  Law. 


3    9.  Railroad  Office — Books  and  Records. 

g  10.  Personal  Property  of  hailroads. 

\  II.  Consolidations  Forbidden. 

\  12.  l<ailroa'  s  detmed  Y  ighwars — Rates  F'xed.' 

^  13.  Stocks, Bon  sand  D  vjdends. 

i  14.  Power  over  existing  Companies, 

^  15.  FrugUt  and  P-ss,nger  Tariff  reg  latcd. 


§  I.  No  corporation  shall  be  created  by  special  laws,  or  its  charter  extended,  changed  or 
amended,  except  those  for  charitable,  educational,  penal  or  reformatory  purpose'*,  which  are 
to  be  and  rem  tin  under  the  patronage  and  control  of  the  State,  but  the  general  assembly 
shall  provide,  by  general  law,  for  the  organization  of  all  corp  jrations  hereafter  to  be  created. 

I  2.  All  existing  charters  or  grants  of  special  or  exclusive  privileges,  under  which  organi- 
zation .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  effjct  wh  it- 
ever. 

^  3.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide,  by  law,  that  in  all  elections  for  directors  or 
managers  of  incorporated  companies,  every  stockholder  shall  have  the  right  to  vote,  in  person 
or  by  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  such  directors  or  managers  shall  not  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  highway  proposed  to  be 
occupied  by  such  street  railroad. 


§  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,  i.ow 
created,  or  to  be  hereafter  created.  No  act  of  the  general  assembly  authorizing  or  creating 
corporations  or  asssociations,  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  approved  by  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  at  such  election  for  or  against 
such  law. 

J  5.  Every  stockholder  in  a  banking  corporation  or  institution  shall  be  individually  respon- 
sible 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  paym^.l^'ts  by  banking  .institutions,  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  the  laws  of  this  State,  shall 
make  and  publish  a  full  and  accurate  quarterly  statement  of  its  affairs,  (which  shall  be  cer- 
tified to,  under  oath,  by  one  or  more  of  its  officers,)  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

I  8.  If  a  general  banking  law  shall  be  enacted,  it  shall  provide  for  the  registry  and  counter- 
signing, 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  depreciation  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  deposit- 
ing additional  stocks.  And  said  law  shall  also  provide  for  the  recording  of  the  names  of 
alt  stockholders  in  such  corporations,  the  amount  of  stock  held  by  each,  the  time  of  any 
transfer  thereof,  and  to  whom  such  transfer  is  made. 

RAILROADS. 

I  9.  Every  railroad  corporation  organized  or  doing  business  in  this  State,  under  the  laws 
or  authority  thereof,  shall  have  and  maintain  a  public  office  or  place  in  this  State  frr  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  recorded  the  amount  of  capital  stock  sub- 
scribed, 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  ac- 
counts, or  some  officer  to  be  designated  by  law,  of  all  their  acts  and  doings,  which  report  shall 
include  such  matters  relating  to  railroads  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law.  And  the  general 
assembly  shall  pass  laws  enforcing  by  suitable  penalties  the  provisions  of  this  section. 

g  10.  The  rolling  stock,  and  all  other  movable  property  belonging  to  any  railroad  company 
or  corporation  in  this  State,  shall  be  considered  personal  property,  and  shall  be  liable  to  ex- 
ecution and  sale  in  the  same  manner  as  the  personal  property  of  individuals,  and  the  gen- 
eral assembly  shall  pass  no  law  exempting  any  such  property^from  execution  and  sale. 

g  1 1 .  No  railroad  corporation  shall  consolidate  its  stock,  property  or  franchises  with  any 
other  railroad  corporation  owning  a  parallel  or  competing  line ;  and  in  no  case  shall  any 
consolidation  take  place  except  upon  public  notice  given,  of  at  least  sixty  days,  to  all  stock- 
holders, in  such  manner  as  may  be  provided  by  law.  A  majority  of  the  directors  of  any 
railroad  corporation,  now  incorporated  or  hereafter  to  be  incorporated  by  the  laws  of  the 
State,  shall  be  citizens  and  residents  of  this  State. 

§  12.  Railways  heretofore  ccnstructed,  or  that  may  hereafter  be  constructed  in  this  State, 
are  hereby  declared  public  highways,  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  maxi- 
mum rates  of  charges  for  the  transportation  of  passengers  and  freight  on  the  different  rail- 
roads in  this  State. 

g  13.  No  railroad  corporation  shall  issue  any  stock  or  bonds,  except  for  money,  labor  or 
property,  actually  received,  Dnd  applied  to  the  purposes  for  which  such  corporation  was 
created ;  and  all  stock  dividends,  and  other  fictitious  increase  of  the  capital  stock  or  indebt- 
edness 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  man- 
ner as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

§  14.  The  exercise  of  the  power,  and  the  right  of  eminent  domain  shall  never  be  so  con- 
strued or  abridged  as  to  prevent  the  taking,  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  the  said  right  of  eminent  do- 
main, any  incorporated  company  shall  be  interested  either  for  or  against  the  exercise  of  said 
right. 

I  1$.  The  general  assembly  shall  pass  laws  to  correct  abuses  and  prevent  unjust  discrimin- 
ation 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. 

3  I.  Persons  composing  the  Militia.  I     i  4-  Privilege  from  Arrest. 

I  2    Oigauizatii^n—Lquipment— Discipline.  2  5-  Records,  Banners  and  Relics. 

I  3.  Commissions  of  Offi-trs.  I      l  5-  Kxempt  on  from  militia  duty. 

i  I.  The  militia  of  the  State  of  Illinois  shall  consist  of  all  able-bodied  male  persons,  resi- 
dent in  the  State  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five,  except  such  persons  as  now 
are   or  hereafter  may  be,  exempted  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  or  of  ihts  State. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  Union,  establish  justice, 
insure  domestic  tranquility,  provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general  welfare, 
and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  lo  ourselves  and  bur  posterily,  do  Ordain  and  establish 
this  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Section,  i.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in  a  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives. 

Section  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of  members  chosen  every 
second  year  by  the  people  of  the  several  States,  and  the  electors  in  each  State  shall  have  the 
qualifications  requisite  forelectors  of  the  most  numerous  branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

No  person  shall  be  a  Representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age  qf  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. 

Itepresentatives  and  direct  taxes  sbaU  be  apportioned  among  the  several  States  which  may 
be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their  respective  numbers,  which  shall  be  deter- 
mined 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  btates,  and  within  every  subsequent  term  often  years,  in  such  manner  as  they 
shall  by  law  direct.  The  nuraberof  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  Hamphsire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose  three,  Massachusetts 
eight,  Rhode  Island  and  Providi  nee  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  composed  of  two  Senators  from  each 
State,  chosen  by  the  Legislature  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  classes.  The  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first 
class  shsill  be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year,  of  the  second  class  at  the  expira- 
tioii  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  resignation,  or  otherwise, 
during  the  recess  of  the  Legislature  of  any  State,  the  Executive  thereof  may  make  temporary 
appointments  until  the  next  meetmg  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  inhab- 
itant of  that  State  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President  of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have 
no  vote  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a  President  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  he  on  oath  or  affirmation.  When  the  President  of  the  United  States  is 
tried,  the  Chief  Justice  shall  preside.  And  no  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  con- 
currence of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

Judgment  in  cases  of  impeachment  shall  not  extend  further  than  to  removal  from  office, 
and  disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  ofiice  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  Represent- 
atives, 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  different  day. 

Section  5.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  election,  returns  and  qualifications  of  its 
own  members,  and  a  majority  of  each  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business ;  but  a  smaller 
nilmber  may  adjoirn  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,  punish  its  members  for  disorderly 
behaviour,  and,  with  the  concurrence  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  silting. 

Section  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive  a  compensation  for  their  ser- 
vices, to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the  Treasuiy  of  the  United  States.  'I'hey 
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  bouses,  and  in  going  lo  and  return- 
ing from  the  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  authority  of  the  United  States, 'which  shall  have  been  created, 
or  the  emoluments  whereof  shall  have  beec  increased  during  such  time ;  and  no  person 


holding  any  office  under  the  TTnited  States,  shall  be  a  member  of  either  house  di^apg  his 
continuance  in  office.  3|( 

Section  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the  House  of  Represewtalives ; 
but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments  as  on  other  bills..  ^- 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  antfth'e  SenSe,  shall,, 
before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  presented  lo  the  President  of  the  United  States;  if.hfe  approve 
he  shall  sign  it,  but  if  not  he  shall  return  it  with  his  objections  to  that  house  in  '*R6ich  it  shall 
have  originated,  who  shall  enter  the  objections  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  objections,  to  the  other  house,  by  wlifch  it  sliall 
likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  two-thirds  of  that  House,  iflihyil  become  a 
law.  But  in  all  such  cases  the  votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined  bj^^eas  and  nays, 
and  the  names  of  the  persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entereiiTon  the  journal 
of  each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President  iMhin  ten  days  - 
(Sundays  excepted),  after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shaJKbe  a  law,  in 
like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress  by  Iheir  adjoummrot  prevent  its 
return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law.  »- 

Every  order,  resolution  or  vote  to  which  the  concurrence  of  the  Senate  and  Housfeof  Rep-  ^ 
resentatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a  question  of  adjournment),  shall  be  presented  to 
the  President  of  the  United  States ;  and  before  the  same  shall  take  effect,  shall  be  approved 
by  him,  or  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  repassed  by  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives,  according  to  ttie  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  iti  the  case  of  a 
bill.  ■ 

Section  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  power — 

To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  to  pay  the  debts  and  provide  for  the 
common  defense  and  general  welfare  of  the  United  States ;  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  several  States,  and  with  the 
Indian  tribes. ;     .  - 

To  establish  a  uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform  laws  on  the  subject  of  bankrupt- 
cies throughout  the  United  States  ; 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin,  and  fix  th&standard  of 
weights  and  measures ; 

To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  securities  and  current  coin  of  the 
United  States; 

To  esiablish  post-offices  and  post-roads ; 

To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by  securing  for  limited  limes  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  seas,  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  use  shall  h^  i<>r  a  , 
longer  term  than  two  years ;  '^^^r'^ 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy ;  \  '■        ■  '^- 

To  make  rules  for  the  governme-.it  and  regulation  of  the  land  and  naval  forces  • 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  insur- 
rections and  repel  invasions ; 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining  themilitia,  and  for  governing  such 
part  of  them  as  may  be  etnployed  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the  States, 
respectively  the  appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of  training  the  milita-according 
to  the  discipline  prescribed  by  Congress.  . 

To  exercise  legislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  over  such  district  (not  exceeding  ten  miles 
square),  as  may  by  the  cession  of  particular  States  and  the  acceptance  of  Congre«,  become 
the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  to  exercise  like  authority  overall  places    / 
purchased  by  the  consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  lor  the 
erection  of  forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dock-yards  and  other  needful  buildings;— and' 

To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying  into  execution  the 
foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers  vested  by  this  Constitution  in  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  or  in  any  department  or  officer  thereof.  '* '    , 

Section  9.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the  Slates  now  exist-     ': 
ing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited  by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  yearV" 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight,  but  a  tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  importa-' 
tion,  not  exceedmg  ten  dollars  for  each  persons.  ' 

The  privileges  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  casi 
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  proportion  to  the  census,  or  enu-'^;.^ 
meration  herein  before  directed  to  be  taken.  i  -'J 

No  tax  or  duty  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  ofee- 
State  over  those  of  another;   nor  shall  vessels  bound  to,  or  from  one  State,  be  obliged;  to  i  1 
enter,  clear,  or  pay  duties  in  another. 

No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  consequence  of  appropiiaiions  made 
by  law;  and  a  regular  statdnent  and  account  of  the  receipts  and  expenditujes  of  all  publici 
money  shall  be  published  from  time  to  time.  '  ;i 

No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States;  and  no  person  holding anj; 
office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  accgBtb?  any 
present,  emolument,  ofiice,  or  title,  of  any  kind  whatever,  -from  aiiy  king  princ^p  forei^R 
Slate.  ^i  ' " 

Section  10.  No  Slate  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confederation;  J^tWfeiR' 
of  marque  or  reprisal ;  coin  money  :  emit  bil!s  of  credit ;  make  anything  but  go^HjjptT* 


}' 


coin  a  tender  in  payment  of  debts ;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  im- 
pairing the  obligation  of  contracts,  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any  imposts  or  duties  on  imports 
or  exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary  for  executing  its  inspection  laws,  and 
the  net  produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts  laid  by  any  State  on  imports  or  exports,  shall  be 
for  the  use  of  the  Trea'sury  of  the  United  States ;  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the 
revision  and  control  of  the  Congress. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  on  tonnage,  keep  troops 
or  ships  of  war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any  agreement  or  compact  with  another  State, 
or  with  a  foreign  power,,  or  engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent 
danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Section  i.  The  Executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of  the_  United  States  of 
America.  He  shall  hoM  his  office  during  the  term  of  four  years,  and,  together  with  the 
"Vice  President  chosen  for  the  same  term,  be  elected  as  follows : 

Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature  thereof  may  direct,  a  number 
of  electors,  equal  to  the  whole  number  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  m  eet  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  Representatives,  open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes 
shall  then  be  counted.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  the  Presi- 
dent, 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 
\f  no  person  have  a  majority,  then  from  the  five  highest  on  the  list  the  said  House  shall  in 
like  manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  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  determine  the  time  of  choosing  the  electors,  and  the  day  on  which 
they  shall  give  their  votes ;  which  day  shall  be  the  same  throughout  the  United  States. 

No  pesron  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 
person  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  disability  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  during  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  affirma- 
tion : 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the  office  of  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  ray  ability,  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States." 

Section  2.  The  President  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy  of-  the 
United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  States,  when  called  into  the  actual  service  of 
the  United  States;  he  may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  officer  in  each  of 
the  Executive  departments,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices, 
and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  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  make  treaties, 
provided  two-thirds  of  the  Senators  present  concur ;  and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with 
the  advice  of  the  Senate,  shall  -appoint  ambassadors,  ohter  public  ministers  and  consuls, 
judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  United  States  whose  appoint- 
ments 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. 

The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that  may  happen  during  the  recess 
of  the  Senate,  by  granting  comniissions  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 
expedient;  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  commis- 
sion all  the  officers  of  the  United  States. 

S'ECTioN  4.  The  President,  Vice  President  and  all  civil  officers  of  the  United  States,  shall 
be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment  for,  and  conviction  of,  treason,  bribery,  or  other 
high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE  III.  •■ 

Section  f..  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested  in  one  Supreme  Court 
and  in  such  inferior  courts  as  the  Congress  may  from  time  to  time  o'dain  and  establish. 
The  judges,  both  of  the  Supreme  and  inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices  during  good  be- 
haviour, 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  Consritution,  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 
ConSuli; — to  all  cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction; — to  controversies  to  which 
itie  United  States  shall  be  a  party; — to  controversies  between  two  or  more  States; — between 
a  State  and  citizens  of  another  State ; — between  citizens  of  different  States ; — ^between  citi- 
zens 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  ccnsuls,  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  juris- 

i=Xhis  clause  within  brackets  has  been  superceded  and  annulled  by  the  xzth  amendment. 


diction,  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  exceptions,  and  under  such  regulations  as  the 
Congress  shall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impe£{chment,  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  in  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  i.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State  to  the  public  acts,  records 
and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other  State.  And  the  Congress  may  by  general  laws  pre- 
scribe the  manner  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  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  dehvered  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 
aiiOther,  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  within  the  jurisdiction  of  any  other  State :  nor  any  State  be 
formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  States,  or  parts  of  States,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Legislatures  of  the  States  concerned,  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all  needfnl  rules  and  regulations 
respecting  the  territory  or  othei  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  protect  each  of  them  against  invasion,  and  on  application  of 
the  Legislature,  or  of  the  Executive  (when  the  Legislature  cannot  be  convened)  against  do- 
mestic violence. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  Houses  shall  deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose 
amendments  to  this  Constitution,  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  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  Cotigress.  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  Constitu- 
tion, shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under  this  Constitution,  as  under  the 
Confederation. 

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  to  the  contrary  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  or  public  trust  under 
the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  States  shall  be  sufficient  for  the  establishment 
of  this  Constitution  between  the  States  so  ratifying  the  same. 

Done  in  Conventiou  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 
Whereof,  We  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON, 
President  and  Deputy  from  Virginia, 


New  Hampshire. 
John  Langdon, 
Nicholas  Oilman. 

Massachusetts. 
Nathaniel  Gorham, 
RuFus  King. 

Connecticut. 
Wm.  Saml.  Johnson, 
Roger  Sherman. 

New  York. 
Alexander  Hamilton. 

New  yersey. 
WiL.  Livingston, 
Wm.  Patterson, 
David  Brearly, 
Jona.  Dayton. 

Attest : 


Pennsylvania. 
B.  Franklin, 
RoBT.  Morris. 
Tho.  Fitzsimons, 
James  Wilson, 
Thomas  Mifflin, 
Geo.  Clymer, 
ared  Ingersoll, 
Gouv.  Morris. 

Delaware, 
Geo.  Read, 
John  Dickinson, 
Jaco.  Broom, 
Gunning  Bedford,  Jr., 
Richard  Bassett.    ' 

Virginia. 
John  Blair, 
James  Madison,  Jr. 


Maryland, 
James  M' Henry, 
Danl.  Carroll, 
Dan.  of  St.  Thos.  Jenifer. 

Nortli  Carolina. 

Wii{.  "Blount, 
Hu^  Williamson, 
Rich'd  Dobbs  Spaight. 

South  Carolina. 
J.  Rutledge, 
Charles  Pinckney, 
Chas.  Cotesworth  Pinckney, 
PierCe  Butler. 

Georgia. 
William  Few, 
Abr.  Baldwin. 


WILLIAM  JACKSON,  Secretary. 


AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Proposed  by   Congress,  and  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  several  Slates,  pursuant  to  the  fifth  article  of  the  original  Constitution, 


ARTICLE  I. 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free 
exercise  thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press  ;  or  the  right  of  the 
people  peaceably  to  assemble,  and  to  petition  the  government  for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE  IL 

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  of  the  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  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place 
to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  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  per 
son  be  subject  for  the  same  offence  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb;  nor  shall  be 
compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty 
or  property,  without  due  process  of  law;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  »se, 
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  district  shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the 
nature  and  Cause  of  the  accusation ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against  him ;  to 
have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  assistance  of 
counsel  for  his  defense. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the 
right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  no  fact  tried  by  a  jury  thall  be  otherwise 
re-examined  in  any  court  of  the  United  States,  than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common 
law. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual 
punishment  inflicted. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

The  enunifiration  in  the  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  Constitution,  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  Slates  shall  not  be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law 
or  equity  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one  of  the  United  States  by  chizens  of  another 
State,  or  by  citizens  or  subjects  of  any  foreign  State. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by  ballot  lor  President  and 
Vice  President,  one  of  whom  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  them- 
selves; they  shall  name  in  their  ballots  the  person  to  be  voted  for  as  President,  and  in 


distinct  ballots  the  persons  voted  for  as  Vice  President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists 
of  all  persons  voted  for  as  President,  and  of  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  immediately,  by  ballot,  the  President. 
But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  representation  from 
each  State  having  one  vote ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  memberj 
from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 
And  if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose  a  President  whenever  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;utional  disability 
of  the  President.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice  President,  shall 
be  the  Vice  President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed 
and  if  no  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  ineligible  to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible 
to  that  of  Vice  President  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

Section  l.  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  except  as  a  puuishment  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  thii  article  by  appropriate  legislation. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

Section  I.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  United  States  and  subject  to  the  iu- 
r>sd.c  .on  thereof,  are  ot.zens  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 
otizens  of  the  Umted  States ;  nor  shall  any  State  deprive  any  person  of  lif^ri^ber^  or 
pro["c"^L^of  °he  ?aws!"°''"        '"'  "°''  ""'"^  '°  '"^  P"^°"  within^ts  jurisdiction  Ihe^ua' 

Section  2.  Representatives  shall  be  appointed  among  the  several  States  accordinp-  tri 
their  respective  numbers,  counting  the  whole  number  of  persons  in  each  State  excludinpl 
Indians   not  taxed  ;   but  when  the  right  to  vote  at  any  election  for  the  choice  of  ^wi     r  ^» 
President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States,  Representat  ves  in  Cor^^res,  ,h!  ^       .H 
and  judicial  officers  of  a  State  or  the  members  of  the  Lgislafure  therSf  fs  f'n  ^M  ^'^^ 
the  male  inhabitants  of  such  State,  being  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  chizens  of  fhln"^/! 
States,  or  in  any  way  abridged  except  for  participation  in  rebellfon  o,  o'^rSmes  thYb 
of  representation  therein  shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion  which  the  numb/r^f'  '\^^^H 
dtizens  shall  bear  to  the  whole  number  of  -iLFtizens  t^en^-lt  S^flgrin  3 

Section  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  or  PvCpresentative  in  r«« 
President  and  Vice  President,  or  hold  any  office  civil  or  miUtarv  unde^^K^lT^"-/]^"'"'"  °' 
under  any   State  who,  having  previously  taken  an  oath  ^TUllllT^^r  "^  ^'^'^ 
officer  of  the  United  States,  or  as  a  member  of  any  S'ate  LeS.t  Congress,  or  as  an 

judicial  officer  of  any  State,  to  support  the  Constitution  oTtWTT'-.°S ''J  ^"  ^^^ecutive  o( 
engaged  in  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  same  or  ^iv/n  i^H  """=<*  States,  shall  hav< 
thereof.     But  Congress  may,  by  a  votlof  two-thirds  of  eJb  V,  °^  "™'^°" '°  ^^^  «="«mies 

Section  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  tb^n  'iTt:  '"^'"°''^  ^""^^  disability.  1 
including  debts  incurred  for  payment  of  pensions -id  hn?,n,-  ^"""  authorized  by  law, 
insurrection  or  rebellion,  shall  not  be  questioned  ""  But  n^'n!  lu '  "5,"""=  »"  suppressing 
State  shall  assume  or  pay  any  debt  or  obliealion  incnrr^^  ;„  I  • ,  United  States  nor  any 
lion  against  the  United  States,  or  any  loss  or  eniinrlt  "  /"^  of  insurrection  or  rebel- 
obligations  and  claims  shall  be  held  illegal  and  voir  '^       ""^  ^'^^^'  '^"^  such  <leb& 

Section  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  the  power  to  enfor 
provisions  of  this  articla.  ""' 


,  by  appropriate  legislation,  thft 


ARTICLE  XV, 


Section  i.  The  rights  of  citizens  of  the  ITnit.^   c.  . 

bytheUnitedStatesonaccountofr;.»       1     ^'""'^^  '°  ™'^  ^^^^  "°' he  d^-j™  „, 


abridged 
Section 


'^slati, 


•t