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HISTORY OF AIcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



633 



sandstone is found below the coal, from ten 
to fifteen feet in thickness. It is No. 11, of 
the foregoing section, and is believed to be 
the equivalent of the sandstone in the McLean 
and Stewart quarries near Macomb. A section 
of the bed exposed In the vicinity of these 
quarries shows this succession of strata: Thin 
coal, 1 foot; Shaly clay, 2 feet; Thin bedded 
sandstone, 1 to 6 feet; Massive sandstone, 10 
to 12 teef; Bituminous shale (coal No. 1), 4 
feet; Carbonate of iron, % foot; Fire clay. V2 
foot; Bituminous slate, or shale, 2-3 foot; Shale, 
5 feet. 

In the Colchester region, at most of the 
outcrops examined, the same horizon was rep- 
resented by dark blue shales (No. 12 of the 
section previously given), containing nodules 
of iron ore inclosing crystals of zinc blende. 
On the southwest quarter of Section 24, Town- 
ship 5 North, Range 4 West (Tennessee), the 
following beds were found exposed in con- 
nection with coal No. 1: Shaly sandstone, 4 
feet; Coal No. 1, 2 feet; Fire clay (not ex- 
posed); Shaly sandstone, 16 feet; St. Louis 
limestone, 6 feet. 

Although the lower coal was not found de- 
veloped at any of the exposures examined in 
the vicinity of Colchester, it was found by Mr. 
Horrocks at his tile and fire-brick kiln, not 
more than a mile from the town, and was 
struck in one of the pits sunk for fire clay. It 
was discovered about forty-five feet below 
coal No. 2, being a foot in thickness and asso- 
ciated with an excellent fire clay. 

As early as 1S53 a coal seam was opened 
on Section 24, Township 5 North, Range 4 
West, on land then owned by Mr. Lowrey. The 
coal was from eighteen inches to two feet in 
thickness, overlaid by a few feet of shaly 
sandstone. Below the bed of coal about six- 
teen feet of sandstone was exposed, and a 
short distance up the creek a concretionary 
limestone underlies the sandstone. This is 
doubtless the lower coal (No. 1) and probably 
exists at many points in the county, ranging 
from one to three feet in thickness. At the 
same time (1S53) coal was also dug on Mr. 
Thompson's place, on the northeast quarter 
of Section 16, Township 4 North, Range 3 West 
(Bethel). At this point the seam was thirty 
inches thick, but was only exposed in the bed 
of the creek, with no outcrop of the associate 
beds. This is, without doubt, the lower seam, 
2 



as the concretionary member of the St. Louis 
limestone was found outcropping on the creek 
a short distance below where the coal was dis- 
covered. On tne northwest quarter of Sec- 
• tion 33 (Bethel) a coal seam was opened and 
worked in 1S58, on land then owned by J. 
Stouching, The coal was worked by "strip- 
ping" in the bed or a small creek, the deposit 
ranging flrom eighteen to twenty inches in 
thickness and being overlaid by about two feet 
of gray shale. 

These two lower seams also outcrop on Job's 
Creek near tslandinsville, and have been 
worked from the first settlement of the coun- 
ty. They appear aiso on nearly all the tribu- 
taries on the east fork of Crooked Creek, and 
probably underlie at least seven-eighths of the 
entire area of the county. In this portion of 
the State, however, they seldom attain a thick- 
ness of three feet; but they are nowhere more 
than 175 feet below the surface of the gener- 
ally level prairie. No. 3, if developed any- 
where in the county, will probably be found in 
the eastern range of townships, and would 
probably be the first seam reached in sinking 
a shaft, or boring from the prairie level. 

At Bushnell a boring for coal passed 
through the following beds, as reported by 
those in charge of the work: (1) Soil, 2 feet; 
(2) Yellow clay, 12 feet; (3) Sand, 2 feet; (4) 
Blue clay, with bowlders, 61 feet; (5) Blue and 
yellow sand. 35 feet; (6) Sandstone, 5 feet; 
(7) Clay shale, 1% feet; (8) Black shale, 1% 
feet; (9) Gray shale, % foot; (10) Limestone, 
9 feet; (11) Shale, 1 foot. The beds Nos. 1 to 
5, inclusive, belong to the drift, and show an 
aggregate thickness of 112 feet, Indicating the 
existence of an old valley here, in which the 
Coal Measures have been cut down to a point 
below the horizon of the Colchester seam, and 
which was subsequently filled with drift de- 
posits. Consequently, that coal which should 
have been found at this point at a depth of 
fifty to seventy feet below the surface, was 
not discovered at all. The limestone (No. 10 
of the above section) is probably the bed over- 
laying the Seaville coal. 

At Prairie City a boring was carried down 
to a depth of 227 feet, passing through the 
following beds, as reported by Mr. T. L. Ma- 
gee: (1) Soil and drift clays, 36 feet; (2) 
Clay shale, or soapstone, 16 feet; (3) Black 
shale, 1/2 foot; (4) Coal No. 2, 1% feet; (5) 



634 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Fire clay, 4 feet; (6) Shale and sandstone, 12 
feet; (7) Clay shale, 38 feet; (8) Hard rock 
(limestone), 11 feet; (9) Shale, 4 feet; (10) 
White flint, 1 foot; (11) Shale, 10 feet; (12) 
Coal No. 1, 3 feet; (13) Fire clay, 6V2 feet; 
(14) Hard rock, 5 feet; (15) Clay shale, 8 
feet; (16) Sandstone, 4 feet; (17) Dark gray 
shale, S feet; (18) Clay shale (light colored), 
14 feet; (19) Limestone (St. Louis bed), 441/2 
feet. 

In the foregoing sections the beds numbered 
from 2 to 18, inclusive, belong to the Coal 
Measures and include the two lower coal 
strata. No. 19 is undoubtedly the St. Louis 
limestone, which outcrops on Spoon River, 
just below Seaville, eight miles east of Prairie 
City. At Lawrence's Mound near that city, at 
an elevation considerably above the surface 
where the above boring was made, a coal seam 
three feet in thickness was found (probably 
No. 3). It was probably an outlier left by the 
denuding forces which swept it away from 
the surrounding region, as it lay immediately 
below the drift with no roof but gravel, and 
covered but a limited area of ground. 

LiMKSTONE BEn.s. — This division of the Lower 
Carboniferous series is probably nowhere in 
the county more than fifty feet in thickness, 
and consists (first) of a bed of light gray con- 
cretionary or brecciated limestone, lying im- 
mediately below the lower sandstone of the 
Coal Measures; and (secondly) of a magnes- 
ian limestone and some blue shales or calcar- 
eous sandstones, constituting what is some- 
times called the "Warsaw limestone." On the 
east fork of Crooked Creek, a little north of 
west from Colchester, the following sections 
of these limestones may be seen: (1) Brec- 
ciated light gray limestone. 5 to 20 feet; (2) 
Calcareous sandstone in regular beds, 12 feet; 
(3) Bluish shale, 3 feet. The magnesian bed. 
which usually forms the base of the group, 
is below the surface here and generally ranges 
from eight to ten feet in thickness. The brec- 
ciated (composed of angular fragments ce- 
mented together) of limestone is very unevenly 
developed, and, in a short distance, often var- 
ies in thickness from five to twenty-five feet, 
or even more. 

The Keokuk limestone is the lowest rock 
exposed in the county, and is only found along 
the bluffs of Crooked Creek, in Townships 4 



and 5, Range 4 West (Lamoine and Tennes- 
see). The upper part of this formation is us- 
ually a bluish calcareo-argillaceous shale, con- 
taining siliceous geodes, either filled with a 
mass of crystalline quartz, or hollow and lined 
within with quartz crystals, mammillary, chal- 
cedony, calcite and dolomite. Below this 
geode bed there is usually from thirty to forty 
feet of gray limestone, tne strata varying in 
thickness from a few inches to more than two 
feet and separated by partings of shale. The 
limestone beds consist mainly of the remains 
of organic beings — corals, crinoids and mol- 
lusca — that swarmed the primeval ocean; and 
the old quarries of limestone afford a rich 
field for the student to become acquainted 
with the varied and peculiar organic forms of 
this geological period. South of Colmar the 
grade of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad cuts into the upper part of this lime- 
stone to the depth of several feet, and from 
the excavated material were obtained many 
characteristic fossils of this period in an ex- 
cellent state of preservation. 

A complete section of all the limestone be- 
low the Coal Measures In this county would 
show the following order of succession and 
thickness: Light gray brecciated limestone, 5 
to 10 feet; Calcareous sandstone, 12 feet; Mag- 
nesian limestone and shale, 10 to 12 feet; Ge- 
odiferous shales of the Keokuk bed, 20 to 30 
feet; Light gray chirty limestone, 30 to 40 
feet. 

Economical Geology. — As may be seen from 
a perusal of the foregoing pages, a large por- 
tion of this county is underlaid with coal, and 
although the seams that have been discovered 
are much thinner than those that outcrop in 
Schuyler and Fulton Counties, they have not 
only furnished an abundant supply of fuel for 
home consumption, but for many years thou- 
sands of tons have annually been shipped to 
adjoining counties. From Colchester alone the 
yearly shipments have for a long period 
amounted to about 500,000 tons, and, until 
within a few years past, the output equalled 
the shipments. 

The Colchester coal is of an excellent qual- 
ity, if taken out at some distance from the 
outcrop, where it has been exposed to atmos- 
pheric influences. It is hard, bright and com- 
paratively free from pyrites, breaking freely 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



635 



into cubic bloclis when mined. As I'eported 
by Henry Flatten, in Dr. Norwood's "Analy- 
sis of Illinois Coals." the specific gravity of 
Colchester coal is 1.290. It loses 41.2 per cent, 
in coking, the complete analysis being as fol- 
lows: Moisture, 0.4; volatile matters, 35. S; 
carbon coke, 56. S; ashes (light gray), 2.0. The 
coal consists of 60.10 per cent, of carbon. 

The analysis shows it to be one of the best 
grades of coal in the State, and its freedom 
from pyrites has always made it a favorite 
with blacksmiths. The coal from the lower 
seam is usually harder than that from the Col- 
chester vein, and less uniform in quality. No. 
3, if found at all in this county, would be met 
with in the uppermost layers of the bed rock 
and immediately underneath the bowlder 
clays, except at a few points where it might 
t)e overlaid by a few feet of sandstone or 
sandy shale. A boring carried down to a 
depth of two hundred feet would probably 
pass entirely through the Coal Measures in 
any portion of the county, and in the western 
part the subordinate limestone would be 
reached at a depth of 150 feet, or less. When 
the light gray brecciated limestone of the St. 
Louis group is reached, it is useless to bore 
further in search of coal. This limestone is so 
different in its appearance from any of the 
limestones in the lower part of the coal meas- 
ures that an expert would find no difficulty in 
identifying it, even by the smallest fragments 
taken up by the sand pump; hence it forms a 
reliable guide, both where it outcrops and 
where it may be reached by the drill, and de- 
termines the point below which no coal may 
be found. 

The following, taken from the report of J. A. 
Kavanaugh, Mine Inspector, for the year 1905, 
indicates the state of the coal-mining industry 
in McDonough County: Number of mines in 
operation, 72; miners employed, 299; total 
number of days operated, 10,986; bushels of 
coal mined, 1,076,461; average price and value 
of coal at mines, 8% cents per bushel; total 
value of coal mined during the year 1905, $92,- 
519.18. The report shows a decrease of 378,- 
659 bushels, as compared with 1904. Only one 
accident occurred during the year, and that 
not fatal. The foregoing represents coal 
mined at Colchester, Tennessee, Birmingham, 
Blandinsville, La Harpe, Bushnell, Vermont, 
Industry and Macomb. In the entire county 



there are sixty-nine operators and dealers. 
The report also stated that each mine had been 
inspected and found in good woj-king condi- 
tion. During the year 1905 a large mine owned 
by a corporation of which W. A. Compton was 
President, was opened at Littleton, on the Ma- 
comb & Western Illinois Railroad, and pos- 
sesses all the latest facilities for mining. 

Fire Clay. — The fire clay found in McDon- 
ough County is plentiful and of first class qual- 
ity. While manuiacturing drain tile at an 
early day, Mr. Horrocks found an excellent 
quality of clay near Colchester by sinking a 
shallow shaft down to the lower, or No. 1 coal, 
which at his works is about forty-five feet he- 
low the Colchester vein. Tne horizon of the 
lower coal furnishes an excellent article of fire 
and potter's clay in various portions of the 
State and county. In 1S6S Messrs. Horrocks 
and Stevens Brothers erected tile-works just 
outside the limits of Bardolph, and for a quar- 
ter of a century increased their output of tile 
sewer-pipe and fire clay, with bricks of all di- 
mensions, the entire manufacture being of 
most excellent quality. The fire clay was noted 
throughout the country for its purity and fire- 
resisting qualities. The raw material has 
been found all along the north side of Crooked 
Creek from Bardolph to Tennessee, but the 
shipment of the manufactured product ceased 
with the destruction of the Bardolph Fire Clay 
Works, some years ago. 

Iron Ore. — There is a band of iron ore very 
generally developed in connection with coal 
No. 1, and indications of its existence have 
been observed at other points in the county, 
though nowhere has it been found in work- 
able quantities. On the creek below Colches- 
ter Tile Works, a bed of very pure ore occurs 
about six Inches thick, and it is quite probable 
that it may somewhere be found in the county 
of sufficient thickness to be of some economical 
value. In the adjoining county of Schuyler 
there are several bands of ore associated with 
the same coal, attaining an aggregate thick- 
ness of about two feet and yielding an analy- 
sis of about fifty-two per cent, of protoxide of 
Iron. The ore is argillaceous — rich in carbon- 
ate of iron — and compares favorably in quality 
with the best Pennsylvania ores, but is not 
found in sufficient quantities to justify mining. 



636 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



In Mound Township a deposit of bog iron-ore 
of good quality has been found and reported 
to be several leet in thickness, but the area 
covered has not been ascertained. Should it 
prove sufficiently extensive and pure as the 
samples indicate, it may be a valuable deposit; 
but to this date no person has been sufficiently 
interested to lurther investigate. 

BiTiLDixG Stonk. — The central and Westef-n 
portions of the county have an abundant sup- 
ply of freestone from the sandstone bed inter- 
vening between coals Nos. 1 and 2. This is us- 
ually from ten to twelve feet in thickness (as 
worked), in the upper part the beds being 
from three to twenty inches in thickness, and 
capable of being quarried out in thin, even 
slabs, suitable for flagging pavements. The 
lower part of tue seam of sandstone is quite 
massive, and splits evenly. At the McLean, 
Rowley and Stewart quarries, two miles west 
of Macomb, there is an exposure of about 
twelve feet of stone in the face of the quarry. 
The stone is rather coarse-grained sandstone, 
nearly white in color, and furnishes a very 
durable material for foundation walls, curbing 
and culverts. 

At the Hector-McLean quarries, half a mile 
west of the Rowley place, the sandstone is 
more regularly bedded, the layers varying 
from four to more than twelve inches in thick- 
ness and the stone being of better quality. Mr. 
McLean manufactures grindstones, whetstones, 
grave-stones and milk troughs, from the best 
portions of the quarry, and several of the 
veins were equal to any freestone in the coun- 
ty for color, regularity of grain and durability. 
Mr. Rowley invested a considerable amount of 
money in erecting the necessary buildings and 
machinery for the manufacture of grindstones, 
but it did not prove a remunerative investment 
and, within a few years, was abandoned. 

The sandstone is equivalent to that on the 
railroad west of Seaville, in Fulton County. 
The magnesian and arenaceous beds of the 
St. Louis group will afford excellent material 
for culverts and bridge abutments — in fact, as 
good as can be found in the State, since they 
are scarcely affected by changes in tempera- 
ture or climatic conditions. Good limestone 
for burning into quick-lime may be obtained 
on most of the tributaries of Crooked Creek, 
and on the east fork as far north as Colchester, 



but not in sufficient quantities to justify the 
erection of kilns and other expensive appa- 
ratus. At an early day, before railroad facili- 
ties were available, a kiln or two had been 
erected and the product used by the early 
settlers, but never in sufficient quantities to 
encourage its manufacture to any great ex- 
tent; and to-day there is not a kiln in the 
county. 



CHAPTER VI. 



EARLY SETTLERS— THEIR HARDSHIPS. 



m'doxough county pioxeebs and problems they 

n.^Il to meet — HARDSHIPS OF THE E.MIGRAXTS' 
JOURNEY — REMINISCENCES OF A PIONEER — BUILD- 
ING AND FURNISHING A PIONEER HOME — BREAK- 
ING THE PRAIRIE SOD THE COLD WINTER AND 

DEEP SNOW OP 1830-31 SUDDEN FREEZE OF 1832 

— FOOD AND CLOTHING PROBLEMS — BLACK HAWK 
WAR — EXPERIENCE OF A CALIFORNIA GOLD-SEEKER 
— CHILLS AND FEVER TROUBLES CROPS AND BUSI- 
NESS METHODS "wild-cat" CURRENCY AND PRO- 
DUCE PRICES — AVEB-A^GE LOG HOUSE AND ITS 
DOMESTIC LIFE AMUSEMENTS WAGES — LIVE- 
STOCK PRICES — ABSENCE OF LABOR-SAVING MA- 
CHINERY' — CONTRAST PRESENTED BY PRESENT 
CONDITIONS. 

The McDonough County pioneers, as well as 
those in other parts of the State, had many 
difficulties to contend with, beginning with 
their journeys from civilization to their prairie 
homes. For many weary miles their routes lay 
through a rough country; swamps, marshes, 
creeks and larger streams were crossed with 
much hardship and dangerous labor. Their 
teams were often stalled in fords deep with 
mud, being obliged to unload the numerous 
members of the family and their worldly goods. 
At night they were obliged to camp on the 
open prairie, subject to storms of rain accom- 
panied with terrific thunder and vivid light- 
ning. It was enough to strike dismay to the 
hearts of these strangers in a strange land 
when the rain came down in sheets of water, 
penetrating the canvas of the covered wagon 
and sometimes upsetting them, with the camp 





m4' 




T^/ YORK 
LIBRAH^ 



T.F.>^OX 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



637 



tents, while the horses and cattle would be 
stampeded — such misfortunes causing the 
hardy emigrant many hours of anxious search 
before the family was ready to proceed. Some- 
times the streams would suddenly swell in vol- 
ume, making it hazardous to cross them. The 
only alternative was to camp on the banks until 
the angry stream had subsided. Such experi- 
ences upon the road were often continued for 
months; but, through them all, the eyes of the 
settler were ever turned westward. The wife 
and children, full of energy and pluck, ably 
seconded the efforts of the worthy sire to 
secure a home and haven of rest for those he 
loved. The boy of twelve to eighteen years, 
and the girl of equal age, proved ready assist- 
ants, early assuming the duties of helpmates to 
their parents and finally being placed in charge 
of the household and the farm. 

What a contrast between the Then and Now! 
Today, we travel royally on the railroad, having 
our comfortable beds, excellent tables set with 
the best the land affords, bath-rooms, barber 
shops, reading-rooms, writing desks and sta- 
tionery; in a word, there is no comfort found 
In our private dwellings which is not duplicated 
on the railroad or steamboat. And yet one 
often hears complaints made by the modern 
traveler, on the ground of fatigue or a short 
delay. A little pioneering would do the grum- 
bler good. 

Well, the settler at length arrives at his 
destination. Soon the anxious father and fam- 
ily proceed with their own hands to erect some 
kind of a habitation; and thus pioneer lite 
begins. 

Reminiscences of a Pioneer. — In order to 
give what would be termed Personal Experi- 
ence in pioneering, the following account (with 
some slight changes In verbiage) is presented 
as related by Ira C. Bridges, of Industry, one 
of the oldest settiers in the county: 

"I (Mr. Bridges) was born in Morgan 
County, 111., August 20, 1S25, my parents coming 
hither from the State of Tennessee in 1S23. 
There (in Morgan County) they resided until 
November, 1829, when they located in McDon- 
ough County, at that time composing a part 
of Schuyler County. With my maternal grand- 
father, James Vance, the Bridges family lo- 
cated in the south part of the county, Mr. 
Vance having removed to that locality in 1823. 



Mr. Vance was a Justice of the Peace from 1S25 
until the county was organized in 1830. He was 
one of the first County Commissioners, was the 
first Postmaster in his section of the county, 
and assisted in naming and laying out the city 
of Macomb. Mrs. Bridges' father had located 
on eighty acres of prairie land adjoining the 
timber, and there built a small log house. In 
its construction not a nail was used; half of the 
floor was laid with linn-wood puncheons — that 
is, split logs; mother earth furnished the other 
half, and contributed to the construction of the 
hearth, flre-place back and jambs, surmounted 
by a stick chimney — that is, made up of small 
sticks plastered over with mortar made of com- 
mon clay. The door was made of clapboards 
(split timber), with wooden latch and hinges. 
Bedsteads were made by boring two-inch auger 
holes in the logs, constituting the walls, erect- 
ing posts at a suitable distance for the width 
of a bed, and then stretching poles between 
them and the wall. Clapboards were laid on 
the poles for a bottom, and on top of this was 
placed a tick filled with prairie hay, surmount- 
ed finally by a feather bed, stuffed with the 
soft down which the mother had plucked from 
her geese. A most excellent bed was the re- 
sult. We had two such in our small room, and 
the family enjoyed themselves and came out 
all right in the spring of 1830. 

Grandfather Vance erected a small horse-mill, 
which ground the corn-meal for the entire 
county. My parents had fifteen children, and 
all were raised on com bread and bacon. The 
father broke up ten acres of prairie, and cut- 
ting the overturned sod with an ax, planted the 
first crop of corn therein (sod corn). Water- 
melons and pumpkins were produced abundant- 
ly; and, altogether, the tamily lived on the 
tat of the land. In the summer it was neces- 
sary to add another room to our palace; and 
we felt quite comfortable and were no longer 
crowded. 

"The plow used for breaking prairie was 
called the barshare; its mold-board was of 
wood, the bar and shoe (or point) of steel, and 
with six yoke of oxen attached, it cut a furrow 
from sixteen to eighteen inches in width. It 
took a stout man to hold the plow, while the 
bare-footed boy did the driving. Often, on fin- 
ishing a land, there would be a snake-killing, 
as the reptiles were very numerous in the 
early days. 



638 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



"The winter of 1S30-31 proved to be very se- 
vere, on account of an unusually heavy fall of 
snow which continued on the ground for sev- 
eral months, causing much suffering. The lit- 
tle corn that was raised could be reached only 
after much digging and great labor, and both 
the deer and turkeys died for want of food. 
As we could not go to mill, we made graters 
for the manufacture of meal and for the sup- 
ply of our daily bread, mush and hominy. The 
cold was intense, to add to our sufferings. We 
would cut down a tree, haul it to the house 
door, roll on big backlogs and fill in along the 
front; and then the family would sit around 
the roaring fire and sing all day long — there 
were no pianos then. 

"In 1831-32 the Indians were quite numerous 
and troublesome. The Governor called out 
troops, and, after some parleying, the Black 
Hawk War ended by the Indians agreeing to 
leave the State. Only a few remained to steal 
stock and otherwise make nuisances of them- 
selves. Among those caught in thefts was 
Black Hawk himself, and Thomas Bridges, a 
cousin of mine, had the honor of giving him a 
cow-hiding^after which all the Indians left. 
(The Black Hawk War occurred in 1S32, 
though there had been much disturbance dur- 
ing the previous year. — Ed.) 

"Our churches were few and far between. 
There were a few Hard-Shell Baptists, but the 
Missionary Baptists, under Elder John Logan, 
organized a church among the neighbors and 
preached from house to house. Although the 
preacher stood behind a chair for a pulpit the 
people showed themselves eager to hear the 
Gospel — much more, it seems to me, than they 
do now. This church organization continued 
for some years. Mr. Logan then removed to 
Macomb, and the congregation recognized that 
place as their church home. 

"In the pioneer days we were much pestered 
with wolves, as they made sad havoc with our 
calves, pigs and sheep. Father made a wolf 
trap, and caught quite a number. He received 
$5 for each scalp, which proved quite useful to 
pay taxes with, money being then very scarce. 
We continued to break a few acres of land 
each year. In 1832 emigration became quite 
extensive. 

"There being many ponds throughout the 
county, and the vegetation dense, malaria, with 
chills and fever, became quite prevalent; in 



fact, hardly any person .was exempt. The few 
doctors in the county did what they could with 
calomel, and quinine and bleeding, when the 
case became serious. The fever would leave* 
the patient very weak and listless, with skin of 
yellowish hue, and with an anxious, far-away 
look, which would cling to him for years, or un- 
til the disease was completely worn out by 
time and better sanitary conditions by way of 
drainage. 

"Crops of all kinds were abundant, the soil 
producing luxuriantly, but the prices obtained, 
on account of distance from market and imper- 
fect means of transportation, were at a low 
ebb compared with those of today. Pork sold 
at $1.25 per hundred pounds, dressed; com, 
to emigrants going west, at 8 to 10 cents per 
bushel; and wheat (which had to be hauled 
to Beardstown) at 25 to 30 cents per bushel. 
Sales of produce were made on the principle 
of barter or exchange — that is, exchanged for 
store goods. Cattle were very cheap, buyers 
coming from Jacksonville and elsewhere south 
of McDonough, getting them at their own 
prices. 

"Our wheat was threshed on the ground by 
horses trampling on the sheaves. The separat- 
ing was done with wooden forks; there was 
not a steel fork, or an iron shovel or scoop in 
the county. The first threshing separator ma- 
chine was built and introduced into the county 
by Dallamand & Imes, the builders, in 1852. 
This changed our entire method of preparing 
grain for the market, and to us it was a most 
wonderful improvement. 

"In 1850 the California fever struck our 
neighborhood, and, with many others. I started 
for the Golden West. We left McDonough 
County on the 20th of March, of that year, and 
arrived at Hangtown, in California, on the 12tli 
of August, after five months of weary pilgrim- 
age spent in crossing the great plains and des- 
erts of the West. We saw numerous bands of 
Indians, large herds of buffaloes, deer, prairie 
dogs, antelopes, rattlesnakes and many other 
animals — not a few of which were welcomed to 
our camp kettles. Our route was by way of 
Fort Kearney, up the South Platte River to Ash 
Hollow, where it was crossed, thence by way 
of the Black Hills, to Fort Laramie, Sweet Wa- 
ter and Devil's Gate, and through the South 
Pass of the Rocky Mountains and down the 
Humboldt River to 'the Sink,' where it enters 




.^4yyic/ui2 .y4i/tctZ^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough couxty. 



639 



the ground; then across a grassless, waterless 
desert of fifty miles to the Sierra Nevada 
Mountains, and over the mountains to Hang- 
town. This was an old mining town, which re- 
ceived its name from the hanging there of two 
notorious thieves. There I remained and work- 
ed over two years. I had the usual success of 
these early miners^made little money, but 
gained great experience and saw much of the 
world. I returned by way of Panama, by steam- 
er, to Xew York, and thence home." 

Mr. Bridges furnishes much more of his valu- 
able and interesting history, but as this covers 
the early period of his life in connection with 
the first settling of McDonough County, other 
portions of his narrative will be reserved for 
later pages. 

Deep Sxow of 1830-31.^One of the most nota- 
ble events in the memory of the early set- 
tlers of McDonough County, as it was with 
those of the same period in other portions of 
Illinois, was the "Deep Snow" of the winter of 
1830-31. Clarke's "History of McDonough 
County" (1878), referring to this event, says: 

"The snow began to fall the night of the 
twenty-ninth of December (1830), and contin- 
ued to fall for three days and nights, until it 
reached an average depth of about four feet, 
drifting in places as high as eighteen or twenty 
feet. Great suffering was experienced in con- 
sequence. The settlers relied for their daily 
food upon the Indian corn which they were 
enabled to raise, together with the wild game, 
which was abundant at that time. Plenty of 
the former was raised to supply the wants of 
all until the next season's crop; but when the 
snow fell, but little had been gathered. Game 
could not be had. The great depth of the snow 
was a barrier to all travel, and it may well be 
imagined the sufferings of the people were 
great indeed. In a letter, published in the 
March (1876) number of 'Clarke's Monthly,' 
Hon. James Clarke thus graphically described 
the situation: 

" 'The snow fell to an average depth of 
about four feet, and remained on the ground 
for about three months. Before the snow fell 
the deer were as fat as could be, and before 
it passed away they were so poor they were 
not fit to eat. Wild turkeys would tall from 



the limbs of trees. The morning after the 
snow my wife was about three hours shoveling 
it from our cabin. We then lived about one 
hundred yards from the house lately occupied 
by Isaac Haines, a little southwest of Macomb. 
I did not have my corn gathered, and had a 
good-sized family to feed, and had five horses 
and some cattle. As soon as possible I sent 
John Wilson, the young man afterward mur- 
dered by McFadden, with the horses to Mor- 
gan County to have them kept through the 
winter. Each day we would have to go out 
to the field, and where we could see a stalk 
of corn standing above the snow, reach down 
until we came to the ear, pull it off. gathering 
enough for the day. There were no mills in 
the country, and each family would, with a 
mortar and pestle, pound their corn so as to 
make bread. A few were fortunate enough to 
have a large grater with which they woald 
grate up the corn. The first thing done each 
morning would be to build the fire and put on 
a big pot of water in which the corn would 
be thrown and boiled a while, then taken out 
and grated and made into good, wholesome 
bread. This, with what game we could get, 
was what we had to live on during the long 
winter. 

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



640 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough couxty. 



The Sudden Freeze of 1832. — Another mem- 
orable event, of a character somewhat similar 
to that just described, occurred in the latter 
part of the winter of 1S32 — the year after the 
"Deep Snow" — when, within a space of fifteen 
minutes, the weather changed from a mild 
thaw to a severe freeze, causing much suffer- 
ing throughout the State, especially in the 
northern and western portions, accompanied 
by much loss of life. This incident is men- 
tioned in most of the local histories. Clarke's 
"History" gives the following brief account of 
the experiences of some of the early settlers 
of McDonough County in connection with that 
event: 

"On the sixteenth day of March, 1832. David 
Clarke and William Carter were returning from 
Frederick to Macomb, each with a wagonload 
of goods. On the morning of this day they 
left the residence of a man living near Dodds- 
ville, and proceeded about a mile when it be- 
came so cold tney could go no farther. Un- 
hitching their oxen from tue wagons, they 
broke for the nearest house, barely reaching 
it alive. On this same day two men left 
Blandinsville for Fort Madison, the weather 
at starting being comparatively pleasant. They 
had gone but a short distance when they dis- 
covered they were freezing. One of the party 
hurried off for help, which was obtained, and, 
on going back, the other party was found, but 
a short distance from where he was left, 
frozen to death. Again, on the morning of the 
same day, a man left Macomb for his home 
near Blandinsville, or Job's Settlement, and 
had reached the prairie on the north, when 
the change in the weather occurred. Unhitch- 
ing his oxen, he started them toward the tim- 
ber, at the same time catching hold and hold- 
ing on to their tails. The oxen brought up 
at a house not very far distant, and the men en- 
deavored to loosen his hands, but was unable 
to do so, and the inmates of the cabin were 
compelled to pull him loose, the entire skin of 
his hands coming off in doing so." 

Foot) AND Clothing Problem.s — Doiiestic Life 
— During the first few years of their settlement 
in the county the early pioneers were com- 
pelled to make strenuous efforts to procure 
food and clothing for the most pressing wants 
of their families. The first small crops were 
frequently threshed with flails of their own 
making, and the grain trampled out by colts 



on a closely cut sod. The grain was carefully 
swept up and winnowed in the breeze by pour- 
ing it from some elevation upon a sheet spread 
on the ground. The first threshing machine 
was a "terror;" it was called a "chaff piler." 
The mechanism consisted simply of a concave 
wooden cylinder, set with iron teeth not al- 
ways firmly fastened; and, as when they broke 
loose they flew out with fearful velocity, many 
accidents happened from this defect. The 
straw, dirt, chaff and grain were hurled from 
it in masses; grains of wheat came flying from 
the cloud of stuff and rattled around like bird 
shot — the entire process begriming the thresh- 
ers with smut and dirt, which necessitated a 
scrubbing with soft soap and an abundance 
of water. 

There were, of course, no granaries or barns 
in those days, and the threshed grain was usu- 
ally stored at the place of threshing in cribs, 
the latter constructed of common rails so laid 
that the thin edges were toward the outer side. 
The crib was made to flare outwardly toward 
the top, thus protecting the contents from the 
rain. The bottom was also made of flat rails 
laid closely together and raised a foot or more 
from the ground, the whole being lined with 
straw, which prevented the grain from escaping 
through the crevices between the rails. When 
the crib was filled It was roofed over with 
rails, straw and prairie hay. This covering 
would keep out rain, but the ravages of rats 
and mice were very destructive. When the 
wheat or oats was needed for the market or 
domestic use, what was called a wind-mill was 
used to clean the grain — the forerunner of the 
separator of today. This proved hard work for 
the boys, and much grain was lost by these 
primitive methods; but within a few years all 
was changed, and the excellent threshing ma- 
chines of the present day save grain. labor and 
expense. Corn was snapped and put in piles, 
when the neighbors were invited to help shuck 
it, or it was husked in the field and cribbed 
the same as wheat, excepting the straw was 
not needed. 

As there were no cellars, the potatoes were 
kept in good order over the winter by smooth- 
ing a circle, some six or eight feet in diameter, 
on some dry place in the patch, piling the fresh- 
ly dug potatoes upon it, in pyramidal form, then 
covering them with a layer of straw like a 
thatch and shoveling on this a thin banking of 
earth. At the foot of the mound a shallow 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough couxty. 



641 



ditch was dug. encircling it tor drainage, and 
the hole was covered with coarse prairie grass 
to shed the rain. As winter approached more 
covering was put on to exclude the frost, but 
with care not to have it too warm, and in the 
spring the potatoes were as fresh as when first 
dug. 

The money 01 the country was scarce, barter 
being the principal means of exchange up to 
late in tlie 'fifties. True, coin alone was a legal 
tender, but there was not enough of it in circu- 
lation here to transact one-tenth of the neces- 
sary business. So paper money, of all de- 
scriptions and denominations, was issued un- 
der such euphonious names as "red-dog." "wild- 
cat." "stump-tail" and "shin plasters." This 
crude stuff freely circulated as currency and 
counterfeits abounded. The bills of the same 
denominations issued by different banks had 
as many values, which fluctuated from day to 
day. At every payment of money the Bank 
Note Reporter was always consulted, and the 
current value of each bill computed. It would 
be impossible to exaggerate the bewildering 
and worthless variety of bills and tokens which 
were in circulation in this Western country. 

These conditions naturally caused barter to 
be the usual method of exchange. In the early 
days every store had a general assortment of 
articles needed by the settler, and would take 
from him in trade almost any product of his 
farm. The parties to the transaction would 
mutually agree on the price of the articles, 
which would be charged up to the account of 
the farmer, and every six or twelve months the 
merchant would foot up the balances and take 
the farmer's note drawing interest at ten per 
cent, per annum. He would accept dressed 
pork at $1.25; potatoes at 10 to 12^^ cents per 
bushel; chickens at 6 to 10 cents apiece; eggs 
at 4 to 8 cents per dozen, and butter at from 
7 to 12 cents per pound. He would charge the 
farmer for calico 25 to 35 cents per yard, for 
sugar 10 to 15 cents per pound, and 25 cents 
for loaf. Every artisan and professional man 
took "store pay" for part of his bill, and wood, 
a cow, a pig, or "farm truck" for a goodly por- 
tion of the balance. How the settler's wife 
managed to endure the hardships and incon- 
veniences of those times and make her family 
comfortable is a marvel. 

The average log house was about 14x16 feet 
in size, and had a low loft for beds, which was 



reached by a ladder, or an open, steep, narrow 
stairway away in one corner. After the saw- 
mills were started a "lean-to" for a sort of 
summer kitchen, and perhaps another for a 
bed-room, were added. The water was hard, 
and the housewife had to soften it with ashes. 
She made her own soap, and at first she dipped 
and molded her own candles. She dried her 
own wild fruit as she could get it; often milked 
the cows (out of doors), and always cared for 
the milk, cream and butter; spun, wove and 
made the children's clothes; did the daily 
cooking, and also saw that the hens were per- 
forming their daily duties, as her pin money 
depended much on the efforts of hendom. 

Matches were almost unknown. The flint 
and steel, with tinder or punk, were often 
used, and some fortunate householders had sun 
glasses. Fire was carefully buried in the ashes 
and kept over night, and if. unfortunately, it 
went out, it was the wife who had to borrow 
some live coals from a neighbor. The house 
was so small, and the presence of so many 
men were required to do the farm work, that 
the wife had neither place nor time for privacy 
or rest; and yet how gracefully and bravely 
she adapted herself to the necessary surround- 
ings, and, with the "men folks," toiled content- 
edly and happily to found these pioneer homes. 

All the slaughtering and the dressing, as 
well as the preserving of the pork and beef, 
was done on the farm, and the farmer's wife 
"tried out" the lard and tallow, and made the 
sausage and head cheese. Whenever an animal 
was butchered a portion of the meat was dis- 
tributed among the neighbors, who, in turn, 
reciprocated the favor. The scarcity of fruit 
was felt for a number of years, until the or- 
chards began to bear. The wild fruits, it is 
true, were abundant during the short season, 
and were carefully preserved by the ever busy 
housewives. Dried pumpkin was a common 
table fruit, and the magnificent pies, over an 
inch thick, that were sucli welcome visitors at 
every farmer's table. Pumpkin "sass." bread, 
pancakes, salt pork and potatoes, and milk 
gravy, were the regular and monotonous daily 
diet. 

Game and fish were abundant, but usually 
the men were too busy to secure their capture 
or prepare them for food. In winter the chil- 
dren caught numbers of prairie chickens and 
(juails in the old-fashioned "figure-4 traps." 



642 



HISTORY OF AlcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



Fishing excursions, turkey-shoots and wolf 
hunts were the larger sports of the men; while 
tea parties and quiltings interested the women, 
and dancing parties, singing schools, spelling 
matches, corn-huskings and pumpkin parings 
were the entertainments of the young people. 
Oxen usually did the greater part of the team 
work, and often hauled merry parties of young 
folks to these frolics. 

Hired men, working by the year, received 
about $S or $9 per month, and their board and 
washing; the hired girl had from $1 to $2 per 
week. A fairly good cow was worth from $7 
to $10; an ordinary yoke of oxen from $35 to 
$60, and a horse about the same. There were 
very few cash sales at any price, as barter was 
the rule, and the people in the county, as com- 
pared with their present condition, were finan- 
cially very poor. 

But such men and women were made of the 
stuff which builds nations. They had no pian- 
os, organs, sewing machines or other species 
of labor-saving machinery; in fact, simple and 
primitive as were the implements of their la- 
bor, they made the great majority of them. 
Their agricultural implements, save only 
the breaking plow, they fashioned themselves; 
all the harrows, corn-plows and such other aids 
and helps as were of wooden construction, were 
made by the handy farmer. A ten-year-old boy 
may now sit upon a buggy-seat with a surrey 
top, and break up twice as much ground as a 
stalwart farmer in the strenuous pioneer per- 
iod. The girls even, of the long ago, would 
drop the corn, and, when a poor stand was ob- 
tained, would replant the crop with a hoe. 
In haying season they would rake up the hay, 
and in threshing time would ride the horses 
that hauled the straw from the threshing ma- 
chine; they would carry lunch and water to 
the harvest hands, and do all cheerfully and 
with dispatch. In a word, the young women 
were healthy and splendid specimens of wom- 
anhood, and as the young men were of the 
same fiber, the generation which now consti- 
tute the middle-aged residents of the county, 
upon whose shoulders rests the main responsi- 
bility for the well-being and advancement of 
Its communities, have inherited the stalwart- 
ness of their pioneer ancestors as a guarantee 
that the Imposed trusts will not only be suc- 
cessfully borne, but increased in value a hun- 
dred-fold. Thus will the impress of the hardy, 



honest and able founders of McDonough County 
be made upon unnumbered generations, and 
the Christian tenor of their noble lives be In- 
definitely continued, broadened and intensified 
by modern methods, institutions and individ- 
uals. 



CHAPTER VH. 



POLITICAL. 



.ST.^TE OFFICEKS — LIST OF GO\'ERXORS WITH TERMS 
OF OFFICE — LIEUTENANT-GOVEKNOES AND SECRE- 
ARIES OF STATE — UNITED STATES SEN.^.TORS — 
CONGBESSION.\L DISTRICTS OF WHICH M'dONOITGH 
COINTY HAS FORMED A PART LIST OF REPRE- 
SENTATIVES FOR SAME DISTRICTS IN CONGRES.S — - 
LECilSLATIVE .APPORTIONMENTS AND LIST OF ST.\TE 
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES. 

There have been twenty-three gubernatorial 
elections since the organization of the State 
of Illinois. Governor Bissell died while in of- 
fice, and Reynolds, Oglesby and Culloni re- 
signed to accept places in the Congress of the 
United States — Reynolds as Representative, 
and Oglesby and CuUom as Senators. In con- 
sequence of these vacancies, four Lieutenant- 
Governors have succeeded to the Governorship. 
Under the Constitution of 1818 the Governor 
was not eligible to immediate re-election for a 
second term, but the Constitution of 1S4S re- 
moved this prohibition, and Governor French, 
who was in office at the time of adoption of 
the latter, became his own successor. Oglesby 
was three times elected to the office, French 
twice and Cullom twice; so that with twenty- 
three elections but nineteen men have been 
chosen to the office; but as four Lieutenant- 
Governors have filled the office for fractional 
terms as successors to those formally elected 
Governors, there have been as many different 
Governors as elections, viz., twenty-three. 

Of the twenty-three persons who have held 
the office of Governor but two (the last two to 
be elected) have been natives of the State, 
though the others all came to Illinois early 
in life, and were closely identified with its in- 



HISTORY OF AIcDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



643 



terests at the time of their election; seven 
were born in Kentucky, tour in New York, two 
in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, two in Vir- 
ginia and two in Illinois, and one each in New 
Hampshire, Ohio, Indiana and Pnissia. The 
following is a list of Governors from the or- 
ganization of the State Government in 1818, to 
the present time, with politics, date of inaug- 
uration and place (or county) of residence: 

Shadrach Bond (Dera.), Oct. 6, 1818; St. 
Clair. 

Edward Coles (Dem.), Dec. 5, 1822; Madi- 
son. 

Ninian Edwards (Dem.), Dec. 16, 1826; Madi- 
son. 

John Reynolds (Dem.), Dec. 6. 1830; St. Clair, 
(Resigned Nov. 17, 1834). 

William L. D. Ewing (Dem.), Nov. 17, 1834; 
Fayette, (Vice Reynolds). 

Joseph Duncan (Dem.), Dec. 3, 1834; Mor- 
gan. 

Thomas Carlin (Dem.), Dec. 7, 1838; Greene. 

Thomas Ford (Dem.), Dec. 8, 1842; Ogle. 

Augustus C. French (Dem.), Jan. 9, 1846; 
Crawford. (Re-elected under constitution of 
1848.) 

Joel A. Matteson (Dem.), Jan. 10, 1853; Will. 

William H. Bissell (Rep.), Jan. 12, 1857; Mon 
roe, (Died March 15, 1860.) 

John Wood (Rep.), March 21. 1860; Adams, 
(Lieutenant-Governor; succeeded Bissell.) 

Richard Yates (Rep.), Jan. 14. 1861; Mor- 
gan. 

Richard J. Oglesby (Rep.), Jan. 16, 1865; 
Macon. 

John M. Palmer (Rep.), Jan. 11, 1S69; Ma- 
coupin. 

Richard J. Oglesby (Rep.). Jan. 13, 1873; 
Macon, (Resigned Jan. 23, 1873; elected United 
States Senator.) 

John L. Beveridge (Rep.). Jan. 23, 1873; 
Cook, (Vice Oglesby.) 

Shelby M. Cullom (Rep.), Jan. 8. 1877; San- 
gamon. 

Shelby M. Cullom (Rep.), Jan. 10, 1881, San- 
gamon, (Resigned Feb. 6, 1883; elected United 
States Senator.) 

John M. Hamilton (Rep.), Feb. 6, 1883; Mc- 
Lean. (Vice Cullom, resigned.) 

Richard J. Oglesby (Rep.), Jan. 30, 1SS5; 
Macon. 

.Joseph W. Fifer (Rep.), Jan. 14, 1889; Mc- 
Lean. 



John P. Altgeld (Dem.), Jan. 9, 1893; Cook. 
John R. Tanner (Rep.), Jan. 11, 1897; Clay. 
Richard Yates, Jr., (Rep.), Jan. 14, 1901; 
Morgan. 

Charles S. Deneen (Rep.), Jan., 1905; Cook. 

LiEUTEN.\xT-GovERNORS. — Following is a list 
of the Lieutenant-Governors of toe State cover- 
ing the same period as the preceding one: 

Pierre Menard (Dem.), Oct. 6, 1818; Ran- 
dolph. 

Adolphus T. Hubbard (Dem.), Dec. 5, 1822; 
Gallatin. 

William Kinney (Dem.), Dec. 6, 1826; St. 
Clair. 

Zadok Casey iDem.). Dec. 9, 1830; .leffer- 
son, (Resigned March 1, 1833.) 

William L. D. Ewing (Dem.), March 1, 1833; 
Fayette, (President pro tem. of Senate — Acting 
Lieutenant-Governor. ) 

Alex. M. Jenkins (Dem.), Dec. 5, 1834; Jack- 
son. (Resigned.) 

William H. Davidson (Dem.), Dec. 9, 1836; 
White, (President of Senate — Acting Lieuten- 
ant-Governor.) 

Stinson H. Anderson (Dem.), Dec. 7, 1838; 
Jefferson. 

John Moore (Dem.), Dec. 8, 1842; McLean. 

Joseph B. Wells (Dem.), Dec. 9, 1846; Rock 
Island. 

William McMurtry (Dem.), Jan. 8, 1849; 
Knox. 

Gustavus Koernor (Dem.), Jan. 10, 1853; St. 
Clair. 

John Wood (Rep.), Jan. 12, 1857; Adams, 
(Succeeded Governor Bissell, deceased.) 

Thomas A. Marshall (Dem.), Jan. 7, 1861; 
Coles, (President pro tem. of Senate, and Act- 
ing Lieutenant-Governor.) 

Francis A. Hoffman (Rep.), Jan. 14, 1861; 
Cook. 

William Bross (Rep.), Jan. 16, 1865; Cook. 

John Dougherty (Rep.), Jan. 11, 1869; Un- 
ion. 

John L. Beveridge (Rep.), Jan. 13. 1873; 
Cook, (Succeeded Oglesby as Governor.) 

John Early (Rep.), Jan. 23, 1873; Winne- 
bago, (President pro tem. of Senate and Acting 
Lieutenant-Governor) . 

Archibald A. Glenn (Dem.), Jan. 8, 1875; 
Brown, (President pro tem. of Senate, and Act 
ing Lieutenant-Governor.) 

Andrew Shuman (Rep.), Jan. 8, 1877; Cook. 



644 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



John M. Hamilton (Rep.), Jan. 10, 1S81; Mc- 
Lean, (Succeeded Cullom as Governor on elec- 
tion of latter to U. S. Senate.) 

William J. Campbell (Rep.), Feb. 6, 1SS3; 
Cook. (President of Senate, and Acting Lieu- 
tenant-Governor. ) 

John C. Smiin (Rep.), Jan. 30, 1SS5; Cook. 

Lyman B. Ray (Rep.), Jan. 14, 1889; Grun- 
dy. 

Joseph B. Gill (Dem.), Jan. 9, 1893; Jack- 
son. 

William A. Northcott (Rep.), Jan. 11, 1897; 
Bond. 

William A. Northcott (Rep.), Jan. 14, 1901; 
Bond. 

Lawrence Y. Sherman (Rep.). January, 1905; 
McDonough. 

Secret.\ries of State. — Following are the 
Secretaries of State up to date: 

Elias Kent Kane (Dem.), Oct. 8, 1818; Kas- 
kaskia. (Resigned Dec. 16, 1822. Elected to 
U. S. Senate.) 

Samuel D. Lockwood (Dem.), Dec. 18, 1822; 
Madison, (Resigned April 2, 1823.) 

David Blackwell (Dem.), April 2, 1823; St. 
Clair, (Resigned Oct. 15, 1824.) 

Morris Birkbeck (Dem.), Oct. 15, 1824; Ed- 
wards, (Resigned Jan. 15, 1825.) 

George Forquer (Dem.), Jan. 15, 1825; San- 
gamon, (Resigned Dec. 31, 1828.) 

Alex. P. Field (Dem.), Jan. 23, 1829; Union, 
(Removed Nov. 30, 1840.) 

Stephen A. Douglas (Dem.), Nov. 30, 1840; 
Morgan, (Resigned Feb. 27, 1841.) 

Lyman Trumbull (Dem.), March 1, 1841; St. 
Clair, (Removed March 4, 1843.) 

Thompson Campbell (Dem.), March 6, 1843; 
Jo Daviess, (Resigned Dec. 23, 1846.) 

Horace S. Cooley (Dem.), Jan. 8, 1849; Ad- 
ams, (Appointed by Governor French.) 

Horace S. Cooley (Dem.), Jan. 8, 1849; Ad- 
ams, (Elected under Constitution of 1848; died 
April 2, 1850.) 

David L. Gregg (Dem.), April 2, 1850; Cook. 

Alex. Starne (Dem.), Jan. 10, 1853; Pike. 

Ozias M. Hatch (Rep.), Jan. 12, 1857; Pike. 

Ozias M. Hatch (Rep.), Jan. 14, 1861; Pike. 

Sharon Tyndale (Rep.), Jan. 16, 1865; St. 
Clair. 

Edward Rummel (Rep.), Jan. 11, 1869; Pe- 
oria. 

George H. Harlow (Rep.), Jan. 13, 1873; 
Tazewell. 



George H. Harlow (Rep.), Jan. 8, 1877; Taze- 
well. 
. Henry D. Dement (Rep.), Jan. 17, 1881; Lee. 

Henry D. Dement (Rep.), Jan. 30, 1885; Lee. 

Isaac N. Pearson (Rep.), Jan. 14, 1889; Mc- 
Donough. 

William H. Hinrichsen (Dem.), Jan. 9, 1893; 
Morgan. 

James A. Rose (Rep.), Jan. 11, 1897; Pope, 
re-elected in 1900 and 1904, now (1907) sei-ving 
third term. 

United States Senators. — Following is a list 
of United States Senators from Illinois, since 
the organization of the State, with the period 
of incumbency and place of residence: 

Ninian Edwards (Dem.), 1818-19; Kaskaskia. 

Jesse B. Thomas (Dem.), 1818-23, Kaskaskia. 

Ninian Edwards (Dem.), 1819-24, Edwards- 
ville. 

Jesse B. Thomas (Dem.), 1823-29, Edwards- 
ville. 

John McLean (Dem.), 1824-25, Shawneetown, 
(Vice Edwards, resigned.) 

Ellas Kent Kane (Dem.), 1825-31, Kaskaskia, 
(Succeeded McLean.) 

John McLean (Dem.), 1829-30; Shawneetown. 
(Died October 14, 1830.) 

David J. Baker (Dem.), Nov. 12 to Dec. 11, 
1830, Kaskaskia, (Appointed to succeed Mc- 
Lean.) 

John M. Robinson (Dem.), 1830-31, Carmi, 
(Successor of Baker.) 

Elias Kent Kane (Dem.), 1831-35, Kaskaskia, 
(Died December 12, 1835.) 

John M. Robinson (Dem.), 1835-41, Carmi, 
(Own successor.) 

William L. D. Ewing (Dem.), 1835-37, Vanda- 
lia, (Vice Kane, deceased.) 

Richard M. Young (Dem.), 1837-43, Jones- 
boro, (Successor to Ewing.) 

Samuel McRoberts (Dem.), 1841-43, Water- 
loo, (Died March 22, 1843.) 

Sidney Breese (Dem.), 1843-49, Carlyle, (Suc- 
ceeded Young.) 

James Semple (Dem.), 1843-47, Alton, (Vice 
McRoberts, deceased.) 

Stephen A. Douglas (Dem.), 1847-53, Quincy. 
(Succeeded Semple.) 

James. Shields (Dem.). 1849-55, Springfield, 
(Succeeded Breese.) 

Stephen A. Douglas (Dem.), 1853-59, Chicago, 
(Own successor.) 




Om^^^ 



HISTORY OF AIcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



645 



Lyman Trumbiin (Rep.), 1855-61, Belleville, 
(Succeeded Shields.) 

Steplien A. Douglas (Dem.), 1859-61, Chi- 
cago, (Died June 3, 1861.) 

Lyman Trumbull (Rep.), 1861-67, Chicago, 
(Own successor.) 

Orville H. Browning <Rep.), 1861-63, Quincy, 
(Vice Douglas, deceased, June^ 26, 1861.) 

William A. Richardson (Dem.), 1863-65, Quin- 
cy, (Succeeded Browning.) 

Richard Yates (Rep.), 1865-71, Jacksonville, 
(Succeeded Richai'dson. ) 

Lyman Trumbull (Rep.), 1867-73, Chicago, 
(Own successor.) 

John A. Logan (Rep.), 1871-77, Chicago, (Suc- 
ceeded Yates.) 

Richard J. Oglesby (Rep.), 1873-79, Deca- 
tur, CSucceeded Trumbull.) 

David Davis (Ind.), 1877-83, Bloomington, 
(Succeeded Logan.) 

John A. Logan (Rep.), 1879-85, Chicago, (Suc- 
ceeded Oglesby.) 

Shelby M. Cullom (Rep.), 1883-89, Spring- 
field, (Succeeded Davis.) 

John A. Logan (Rep.), 1885-86, Chicago, 
(Died Dec. 26, 1886.) 

Charles B. Farwell (Rep.), 1887-91, Chicago, 
(Vice Logan, deceased.) 

Shelby M. Cullom (Rep.), 1895-1901, Spring- 
(Own successor.) 

John M. Palmer (Dem.), 1891-97, Springfield, 
(Succeeded Farwell.) 

Shelby M. uullom (Rep.), 1895-1901, Spring- 
field, (Own successor.) 

William E. Mason (Rep.), 1897-1903, Chi- 
cago, (Succeeded Palmer.) 

Shelby M. Cullom (Rep.), 1901-07, Spring- 
field, (Own successor.) 

Albert J. Hopkins (Rep.), 1903-09, Aurora, 
(Succeeded Mason.) 

Shelby M. Cuiiom (Rep.), 1907-13, Spring- 
field, (Re-elected Jan. 22, 1907, for fifth term.) 

Represext.\tives in Congress. — Shadrach 
Bond was the first Delegate from the Territory, 
serving in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Con- 
gresses. He took his seat at the second ses- 
sion of the Twelfth Congress, December 3, 1812, 
and served until October 3. 1814, when he was 
appointed Receiver of Public Moneys. Benja- 
min Stephenson succeeded Bond, and took his 
seat at the third session of the Thirteenth and 
the first session of the Fourteenth Congress, 



when he also was appointed Receiver of Public 
Moneys, April 29, 1816. Nathaniel Pope was 
elected the successor of Stephenson, and en- 
tered Congress at the second session of the 
Fourteenth Congress, December 2, 1816, and 
served during that session and the first ses- 
sion of the Fitteenth Congress, being the Dele- 
gate at the time of the admission of the Terri- 
tory as a State. 

John McLean was the first Representative ia 
Congress from the State, taking his seat in the 
second session of the Fitteenth Congress. He 
was followed by Daniel P. Cook, December, 
1819, in the Sixteenth Congress. Cook contin- 
ued to represent the State in the Sixteenth, 
Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Con- 
gresses, for a perioQ of nearly nine years, from 
December, 1819, to March, 1827. Joseph Dun- 
can (Dem.) succeeded Daniel P. Cook, taking 
his seat in 1827 at the first session of the Twen- 
tieth Congress and representing the State in 
the Twentieth, Twenty-first and Twenty-second 
Congresses, from 1827 to 1833. 

Under the apportionment of 1831 McDonough 
County was assigned as a part of the Third Dis- 
trict for congressional purposes, and continued 
in this relation until the apportionment of 1843, 
when it was assigned to District No. 6. It re- 
mained a portion of the latter district until the 
passage of the act of 1852 assigning it to Dis- 
trict No. 5, and so continued until by the 
Apportionment Act of 1861 it was incorporated 
into the Ninth District. The county became 
a part of District No. 10 by the act of 1872; 
District No. 11, by act of 1882; District No. 15 
in 1893, and District No. 14 (as at present) in 
1901. 

The following is a list of those who have 
successively represented the District of which 
McDonough County formed a part, beginning 
with the Twenty-third Congress (1833), when 
the county was first incorporated in a Con- 
gressional District : 

1833-35 — Twenty-third Congress — Joseph Dun- 
can (Dem.), of Jacksonville. 

1835-39— Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Con- 
gresses — William L. May (Dem.), Springfield. 

1839-43 — Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh 
Congresses — John T. Stuart (Whig), Spring- 
field. 

1843-47 — Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth 
Congresses — Joseph P. Hoge (Dem.), Galena. 



646 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



1S47-19 — Thirtieth Congress — Thomas J. 
Turner (Dem.), Freeport. 

1849-51— Thirty-first Congress— Edward D. 
Balier (Whig), Galena. 

1851-53 — Thirty-second Congress — Thompson 
Campbell (Dem.), Galena. 

1853-55— Thirty-third Congress and First Ses- 
sion Thirty-fourth Congress — William A. Rich- 
ardson (Dem.), Quincy, resigned to become 
candidate for Governor. 

1856-57 — Thirty-fourth Congress (last ses- 
sion), successor to Richardson. 

1857-61— Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Con- 
gresses — Isaac N. Morris (Dem.), Quincy. 

1861-63 — Thirty-seventh Congress — William 
A. Richardson (Dem.), Quincy. 

1863-69 — Thirty-eighth to Fortieth Congress 
(inclusive), Lewis W. Ross (Dem.), Lewis- 
town. 

1S69-73— Forty-first and Forty-second Con- 
gresses — Thompson W. McNeely (Dem.), Pet- 
ersburg. 

1873-75 — Forty-third Congress— William H. 
Ray (Rep.), Rushville. 

1875-77 — Forty-fourth Congress — Joihn C. Bag- 
by (Dem.), Rushville. 

1877-83— Forty-fifth to Forty-seventh Con- 
gress — Benjamin F. Marsh (Rep.), Warsaw. 

1S83-S7— Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Con- 
gresses — William H. Neece (Dem.), Macomb. 

1887-91— Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses- 
William H. Gest (Rep.), Rock Island. 

1891-93— Fifty-second Congress— Ben. T. Ca- 
ble (Dem.), Rock Island. 

1893-1901— Fifty-third to Fifty-sixth Congress 
— Benjamin F. Marsh (Rep.), Warsaw. 

1901-03 — Fifty-seventh Congress — J. Ross 
Mickey (Dem.), Macomb. 

1903-05— Fifty-eighth Congress— Benjamin F. 
Marsh (died in office.) 

1905-09— Fifty-eighth to Sixtieth Congress— 
.lames McKinney (Rep.), Aledo, filled Marsh's 
unexpired term and twice re-elected. 

Legisl.vtive Department. — The General As- 
sembly of Illinois consists (1907) of 204 mem- 
bers — 51 Senators and 153 Representatives. It 
is the duty of the General Assembly to redis- 
trict the State once in every ten years, making 
(as near as practicable) the ratio of represen- 
tation in the Senate the quotient obtained 
from dividing by the number 51 the total pop- 
ulation of the State as returned by the last 
Federal census. 



To be eligible to membership in the General 
Assembly the candidate must be a citizen of 
the United States, a resident of the State five 
years and of the district from which elected 
for the two years next preceding his election; 
must be at least twenty-five years of age, if a 
Senator, and not less than twenty-one if a 
Representative. No person holding any lucra- 
tive office under the United States, the State 
of Illinois, or any foreign government, is eli- 
gible to the General Assembly; but appoint- 
ments in the militia, and the offices of Notary 
Public and Justice of the Peace are not consid- 
ered lucrative offices: nor may any member 
receive any civil appointment within the State 
during the term for which he is elected. Mem- 
bers are allowed by statute $1,000 for each 
regular biennial session, $50 for stationery, and 
10 cents per mile for the actual distance be- 
tween the State capital and their respective 
homes, with $5 per day for special sessions. 

There is no constitutional or statutory limi- 
tation on the length of the legislative session. 
The Governor may convene the Assembly by 
proclamation on extraordinary occasions, but 
at special sessions no business shall be entered 
upon except for the purpose named in the 
proclamation. 

All members are elected at the regular elec- 
tion held on the Tuesday next after the first 
Monday in November, in even numbered 
years — Representatives for a term of two years 
and Senators for four years. Senators from 
even-numbered districts are elected at the 
same time as Presidential Electors, and from 
the odd-numbered districts, two years later, at 
the same time as the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction. In all elections for Representa- 
tive (under tne minority representation sys- 
tem) each elector may cast as many votes as 
there are representatives to be elected, giving 
all the votes to one candidate, or distributing 
the number, or equal parts thereof, among the 
various candidates. This system of cumulative 
voting usually results in the election of two 
Representatives from the dominant party and 
one from the minority party of each district. 

The General Assembly is prohibited from 
passing special laws for the granting of di- 
vorces, for changing the names of persons or 
places, for establishing roads and highways, 
for vacating roads, streets, alleys, etc., for 
granting special privileges to persons or cor- 
porations, and for other purposes specially 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUXTY. 



647 



enumerated in the constitution; besides wtiicii. 
there is a general provision that in "all other 
cases where a general law can be made ap- 
plicable, no special law shall be enacted." The 
General Assembly meets biennially on the 
Wednesday next after the first Monday in Jan- 
uary of all odd-numbered years. 

Under the Constitution of 1S48 McDonough 
County was incorporated into the Sixteenth 
Senatorial District and Representative District 
No. 38; by the apportionment of February 27, 
1854, in the Tenth Senatorial and the Thirty- 
eighth Representative District; by act of Janu- 
ary 31, 1864, into the Fourteenth Senatorial and 
the Twenty-ninth Representative District; on 
January 4, 1871, into the Fourteenth Senatorial 
and the Fifty-ninth Representative District; 
on March 1, 1872, (under the Constitution 
adopted in 1870), into Senatorial District No. 
Twenty-three, each district being entitled to 
one Senator and three Representatives, with 
Warren and McDonough counties both incorpo- 
rated in the district; by act of May 6, 1882, 
into District No. 27, comprising the same coun- 
ties; by act of June 15, 1893, into District No. 
28, consisting of Hancock, McDonough and 
Warren counties; and on May 10, 1902 (as 
at present) into District No. 32, embracing the 
three counties named. 

McDonough County first sent a Representa- 
tive to the Tenth General Assembly, its entire 
representation to date being as follows: 1836- 
40 — William Edraonston, Representative; 
Thomas H. Owen, Senator; 1840-42— William 
W. Bailey, Representative; Sidney H. Little, 
Senator; 1842-44 — Hugh Irwin, Representative; 
Sidney H. Little, Senator; 1844-48— William H. 
Randolph, Representative; William McMillan, 
Senator; 1848-50 — Josiah Harrison, Representa- 
tive; 1848-52 — John P. Richmond, Senator; 
1850-52 — John Huston. Representative; 1852-54 
— James M. Randolph, Representative; 1852- 
56 — James M. Campbell, Senator; 1854-56 — 
Louis H. Waters, Representative; 1856-58 — 
George Hire, Representative; 1856-60 — William 
C. Goudy, Senator; 1858-60— William Berry, 
Representative; 1860-62— S. H. McCandless, 
Representative; 1860-64 — William Berry, Sena- 



tor; 1862-64 — Lewis G. Reid, Representative; 
1864-66 — William H. Neece, Representative; 
1864-68— James Strain, Senator; 1866-68— 
Amaziah Hanson, Representative; 1868-70 
— Humphrey Horrabin, Representative; Thom- 
as A. Boyd, Senator; 1870-72 — James Man- 
ly. Representative; Benjamin R. Hampton, 
Senator; 1872-74— William A. Grant. John E. 
Jackson and E. K. Westfall, Representatives; 
Benjamin R. Hampton, Senator; 1874-76 — Isaac 
L. Christie, C. W. Boydston and A. W. King, 
Representatives; John T. Morgan, Senator; 
1876-78— C. W. Boydston, E. K. Westfall and 
Charles H. Whitaker, Representatives; John T. 
Morgan, Senator; 1878-80 — Henry M. Lewis, 
Henry Black and Edwin W. Allen, Representa- 
tives; William H. Neece, Senator; 1882-84 — ■ 
Isaac N. Pearson, C. M. Rogers and Isaac Pratt, 
Representatives; Henry Tubbs, Senator; 1884- 
86 — Calvin M. Rogers, W. H. McCord and Wil- 
liam H. Weir, Representatives; Henry Tubbs, 
Senator; 1886-88 — James P. Firoved, Henry W. 
Allen and Richard G. Breeden, Representatives; 
Isaac N. Pearson. Senator; 1888-90 — Richard G. 
Breeden. Horatio R. Bartleson and Henry W. 
Allen, Representatives; William J. Frisbee, 
Senator; 1890-92— Eli Dixson. Charles V. 
Chandler and Dominick G. Graham, Representa- 
tives; O. F. Berry, Senator; 1892-94— Thomas 
J. Sparks, Louis Kaiser and D. C. Hanna, Rep- 
resentatives; O. F. Berry. Senator; 1894-96— U. 
A. Wilson. Louis Kaiser and James A. Teel, 
Representatives; O. F. Berry, Senator; 1896-98 
— Lawrence Y. Sherman, Ulysses A. Wilson and 
William A. Compton. Representatives; O. F. 
Berry, Senator; 1898-1900- Lawrence Y. Sher- 
man, James A. Anderson and George M. Black. 
Representatives; O. F. Berry, Senator; 1900- 
02 — Lawrence Y. Sherman, S. J. Grigsby, Jr., 
and J. E. Wyand, Representatives; William T. 
Harris, Senator; 1902-04 — Lawrence Y. Sher- 
man. Everett C. Hardin and William McKinley, 
Representatives; O. F. Berry, Senator; 1904-06 
— Everett C. Hardin. Edward Harris and Wil- 
liam McKinley, Representatives; O. F. Berry, 
Senator; 1905-07 (Forty -fifth General As- 
sembly). John E. Harris. H. L. Jewell and 
John A. Califf, Representatives; O. F. Berry. 
Senator. 



648 



HISTORY OF IMcDOXOL'GH COUNTY. 



CHAPTER \'ni. 



COURT AND BAR OF McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



JUDGES WHO HAVE PRESIDED IN m'dOXOUGH CIR- 
CUIT COURTS — PERSONAL HISTORY OF PROMINENT 

JUSTICES RICHABD M. YOUNG, STEPHEN A. 

DOUGLAS, PINCKNEY H. WALKER, CHAUNCBY L. 
HIGBEE AND OTHERS — LIST OF STATE'S ATTOR- 
NEYS — CIRCUIT COURT CLERKS — SHERIFFS PRES- 
ENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BAR — SKETCH OF 
CYRI'S WALKER — OTHER NOTABLE LAWYERS OF 
AN EARLY PERIOD. 

The legal records of McDonough County will 
compare very favorably with those of any other 
section of the State with regard to She legal 
ability and personal worth of the members of 
its Bar, and it is therefore with pleasure that 
the editor here offers the careers of members 
of the learned profession who have adminis- 
tered and expounded the law. 

Judges of the Circuit Court. — McDonough 
is now in the i\mth Judicial Circuit, but at the 
organization of the county, and until 1873, it 
was included in the Fifth Circuit — except for 
a short time after 1S53 by special act of the 
Legislature it was attached to the Fifteenth, 
then embracing the neighboring counties of Ad- 
ams and Hancock. Originally the circuit in- 
cluded all that part of the State known as the 
Military Tract, and extended across the north- 
ern part of Illinois, including the counties of 
Cook and Jo Daviess and the intervening terri- 
tory. 

The first Judge of this circuit was the Hon. 
Richard M. Young, who was commissioned 
January, 1829, having previously served two 
years as Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. 
After his appointment in 1829 he made his resi- 
dence at Galena. In 1833 he resided in Quincy, 
and remained in office until January, 1837, when 
he resigned to enter upon his six years' term 
as United States Senator, to which office he 
had been elected by the Legislature of that 
year. After the expiration of his term as 
United States Senator, he served more than 
five years (1843-48) as Associate Justice of 



the Supreme Court, as successor to Judge The- 
ophilus W. Smith. 

Judge Young was a native of Kentucky, and 
was one of the early settlers of Illinois, first lo- 
cating at Jonesboro, where he was admitted to 
the bar in 1817. He ranked high in his profes- 
sion, and his decisions did much to shape the 
judicial policy of the State. He possessed a lib- 
eral endowment of intellectual ability, in liter- 
ary as well as legal acquirements, which com- 
bination admirably fitted him for the imixjrtant 
posts he was called upon to fill. His course 
and labors as United States Senator brought 
him into general notice, so that after the ex- 
piration of his Senatorial term President Polk 
appointed him Commissioner of the General 
Land Office in Washington. He also discharged 
the duties of other offices at Washington, where 
he died in 1853. 

The Hon. James H. Ralston, also a native of 
Kentucky, was elected by the Legislature, in 
1837, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the res- 
ignation of Judge Young; but in August, 1839, 
Mr. Ralston resigned, on account of ill health, 
and removed to Texas. He soon returned to 
Quincy, where he resumed the practice' of law. 
In 1840 he was elected State Senator, and in 
1846 President Polk appointed him Assistant 
Quarter-Master of the Army, with orders to 
report for duty in Mexico. After the war he re- 
turned to his home in Quincy, but subsequently 
emigrated to California. 

Hon. Peter Lott, a native of New York, was 
elected the successor of Judge Ralston, contin- 
uing in office until January, 1841; was a mem- 
ber of the Fourteenth General Assembly (1844- 
46) from the Adams County District, and in 
1848 was appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court. 
He served in this position until 1852, when he 
became a resident of California, holding the 
office of Superintendent of the United States 
Mint at San Francisco under President Pierce; 
but was removed from office by President Buch- 
anan, and spent the last years of his life in 
Kansas in humble circumstances — is said to 
have died in Mexico while serving as United 
States Consul at Tehuantepec. 

Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was elected a Judge 
of the Supreme Court by the Legislature of 
1841, — the Judges of the Supreme Court from 
that period until the reorganization of the 
courts under the Constitution of 1848 doing 
circuit court duty. Judge Douglas continued in 




MARIA LEWIS BENNETT 




MATILDA BROWN BENNETT 



GEORGE BENNETT 



■uDLxCLilJKARY 






HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



649 



office until August, 1S43, when he resigned to 
enter upon his career as a member of Con- 
gress from the Quincy District. Upon assum- 
ing his judicial duties he found the docket very 
large, the former incumbent having fallen much 
behind in the discharge of judicial business, 
allowing the docket to become "loaded with 
unfinished cases." Judge Douglas, however, 
was equal to the task imposed upon him, and 
"cleaned up the docket" with his usual ability 
and dispatch. As a Judge he created a favor- 
able impression on lawyers and clients alike, 
and his subsequent great career proved that 
their confidence in him was not misplaced. On 
account of his small physical stature and his 
great intellectual power, he was commonly des- 
ignated as "the Little Giant," and became the 
acknowledged leader of the political party of 
which he was a member. In 1847 he was elect- 
ed to the United States Senate, was re-elected 
in 1853 and again in 1859. In 1860 he received 
the nomination for the presidency, but was 
beaten by Abraham Lincoln, his former compet- 
itor for United States Senator. On the inaug- 
uration of the Republican President, the sub- 
sequent withdrawal of the Southern States from 
the Union and their declaration of war. Sena- 
tor Douglas proved his patriotism by upholding 
the officers of the LTnited States Goveniment 
and the cause of the Union, declaring that 
henceforth there could be only two parties in 
the country — "patriots and traitors." On the 3d 
of June, 1861, the great and patriotic statesman 
died at his home in Illinois, and, perhaps with 
the exception of George Washington and Abra- 
ham Lincoln, no public character of the United 
States was ever more sincerely or widely 
mourned. The familiar signature of the his- 
toric statesman may be seen in the records of 
the Circuit Court of McDonough County, sub- 
scribed to many of its documents while he la- 
bored faithfully and efficiently on the bench. 

Hon. Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., (a nephew of a 
former United States Senator by the same 
name) was appointed Judge of the Supreme 
Court in August, 1843, and continued in office 
until 1845, when he resigned. That he was a 
most excellent Judge was proven by his subse- 
quent transfer to another circuit. His death 
occurred soon afterward. 

Hon. Norman H. Purple, of Peoria, was elect- 
ed in 1845, serving until his resignation in May, 
1849. As he was distinguished for high legal 
3 



abilities and much executive talent, his retire- 
ment was considered a distinct loss to the 
bench and the public sei-vice. Both Thomas 
and Purple, though elected Judges of the Su- 
preme Court, discharged their duties on the 
circuit bench. 

Hon. William A. Minshall, of Rushville, was 
elected Circuit Judge in May, 1849, this being 
the first election of Circuit Judges by popular 
vote under the Constitution of 1S4S. He re- 
mained in office until his- death on November 
5, 1852. Judge Minshal! was born in Tennessee, 
came to Illinois in early life, and previous to 
his elevation to the bench, was a member of 
the Constitutional Convention and of the Leg- 
islature. He was an active and successful law- 
yer, as well as an able Judge. 

By th^ transfer of McDonough County in 
1S53 from the Fifth to the Fifteenth Circuit, 
nf which it farmed a part for four years. Judge 
Onias C. Skinner became the presiding Justice 
for a time, being succeeded in 1855 by Judge 
Joseph Sibley. Judge Skinner was promoted 
to the Supreme Bench in 1855, and was a dele- 
gate to the State Constitutional Convention of 
1869-70 from Adams County, dying in Quincy 
in 1877. McDonough County was returned to 
the Fifth Circuit in 1857. 

Those who presided over the McDonough 
circuit courts, previous to the adoption of the 
Constitution of 1870, besides those already 
named, included Pinckney S. Walker. 1855 to 
1858, when he was elected to the Supreme 
Bench; .John S. Bailey, 1858 to 1861; and 
Chauncey L. Higbee, of Pittsfield. Mr. Higbee 
had a long record as a jurist, serving under 
various changes from 1861 until his death in 
1885. Under an act passed in 1873 after the 
adoption of the present Constitution, the State 
outside of Cook County was divided into twen- 
ty-six circuits, with McDonough County as part 
of the Tenth Circuit, Judge Joseph Sibley, of 
Quincy, being the presiding Justice. In 1877 
by the consolidation of adjacent circuits, the 
total number was reduced to thirteen. McDon- 
ough County becoming a part of the Sixth Cir- 
cuit. This act brought two Judges into each 
circuit, and under authority of an additional 
provision of the same act a third Judge was 
elected in each circuit during the same year. 
Those who se:-ved in the Sixth Circuit under 
this act were Chauncey L. Higbee, 1877 to 
1885; Simeon P. Shope, 1877 to 1879; John H. 



6.S0 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Williams, Quincy; Asa C. Matthews, Pittsfield 
(as successor to Judge Higbee, 1SS5); William 
Marsli, Quincy; Charles J. Schofield, Carthage; 
Jefferson Orr, Pittsfield; Oscar P. Bonney, of 
Quincy, and John J. Glenn, of Monmouth. The 
present occupants of the bench in the Ninth 
Judicial Circuit, of which McDonough County 
now forms a part, are: Robert G. Grier, of 
Monmouth; George W. Thompson, of Gales- 
burg, and John A. Gray, of Canton. William 
S. Brown is the present Circuit Clerk; Clar- 
ence S. Townley, State's Attorney; Eugene L. 
Hampton, Master in Chancery, and Charles W. 
Taylor, Sheriff. 

Pr()b.\te Judges. — The Probate Judges of this 
county, with their terms of service, have been 
as follows; Peachy Gilmore, 183'ik James 
Clarke, 1S39-47; William S. Hail, 1847; James 
Clarke, 1S49-53; Thompson Chandler, 1853-69; 
J. B. Nickle, 1869-73; James Irwin, 1873-77; 
J. H. Baker, 1878-91 (died in office); R. Breed- 
en (successor of Judge Baker, deceased), 1892- 
94; C. P. Wheat, 1894-98 (died in office); W. 
W. Malone (succeeded Judge Wheat, deceased), 
1898; J. Ross Mickey, 1898-1902 (resigned, upon 
election to Congress); W. J. Franklin, 1901- 
06. 

St.\te's Attorn'eys. — The first incumbent of 
this office in McDonough County was Hon. 
Thomas Ford, who served from the organization 
of the county until January, 1835; in 1839 be- 
came Judge of the Northern District, two years 
later was appointed Associate Justice of the 
Supreme Court, retiring in 1842 to become a 
successful candidate for Governor of the State, 
and holding the latter office during the famous 
Mormon War. His "History of Illinois" is re- 
garded as a valuable and interesting record 
of the State. 

Hon. William A. Richardson served from 
1835 to 1837. He served first as Captain and 
later as Major of the First Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers (Col. John J. Hardin's) during the 
Mexican War, and on his return to his home In 
Illinois was elected to Congress for six cons?c.- 
utive terms. He was an unsuccessful candi- 
date for Governor on the Democratic ticket in 
1856, later was appointed Governor of Nebras- 
ka by President Buchanan, but after holding 
the office a year resigned and returned to his 
former home at Quincy, where he died in 1875. 



Hon. William Elliott served as State's At- 
torney from January, 1839, to January, 1848. 
He served in the Black Hawk War and subse- 
quently was Quartermaster of the Fourth Regi- 
ment during the Mexican War. Returning to 
his home in Lewistown, he died soon afterward. 

Hon. Robert S. Blackwell served from 1848 
to 1852. He was one of the leading lawyers in 
the State, and the author of "Blackwell on Tax- 
Titles." This being then the most important 
subject of common concern brought him into 
great prominence, especially as his work was 
considered authority. He lived at Rushville un- 
til after he ceased to be State's Attorney, re- 
moving thence to Chicago, where he died in 
1863. 

Hon. Calvin A. Warren, of Quincy, served 
from May. 1S52, until August, 1853, being an 
able and eloquent lawyer. He died, at his 
home in Quincy, Febraury 22, 1881. 

Hon. John S. Bailey served from 1853 until 
September, 1858, when he resigned to take a 
seat on the circuit bench. 

Hon. L. H. Waters, of Macomb, was appoint- 
ed by the Governor to serve out the unexpired 
term of Mr. Bailey, or until 1860. In the fol- 
lowing year Mr. Waters became Lieutenant 
Colonel of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, Illi- 
nois 'Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward 
Colonel of the Eighty-fourth Regiment. Colonel 
Waters made an excellent soldier and com- 
manding officer, being present at every engage- 
ment in which his regiment participated. At • 
■ the close of tne war he returned to his home 
in Macomb to resume the practice of his profit- 
able profession. Four years afterward he re- 
moved to Missouri, became United States At- 
torney with his residence at Jefferson City, and 
still later went to Kansas City, where he now 
lives. Mr. Waters was particularly noted as 
a stum]) speaker, and while a resident of Illi- 
nois, always took an active and a leading part 
in politics. 

Hon. Thomas E. Morgan was elected in 1860. 
He was highly educated, a lawyer of fine quali- 
ties and altogether the equal of any at the bar. 
He died on the 22d of July, 1867, L. H. Waters, 
named above, being appointed to the vacancy. 

Hon. L. W. James served from 1868 to 1872. 
His residence was Lewistown. and at this writ- 
ing he is still living. 

Prosecuting (or State's) attorneys were first 
elected by counties in 1852; previous to this 




JOHN R. BENNETT 



. .;E\V YORK 

U BUG LIBRARY 

ASTOR, LENOX 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



651 



time a Prosecuting Attorney was elected, or 
appointed, with jurisdiction througliout the cir- 
cuit. From 1S52 to the present time the incum- 
bents of the office have been as follows: D. H. 
Gilmer, 1852; Thomas E. Morgan, 1860-68; L. 
W. James, 1868-76; Crosby F. Wheat, 1876-78; 
William Prentiss, 1878-84; H. C. Agnew, 1884- 
88; George D. Tunnicliff (succeeding Mr. Ag- 
new, at the death of the latter), 1888-92; T. B. 
Switzer, 1896-1900; Thomas B. Camp, 1900-02 
(resigned); R. W. Pontious, 1904; C. S. Town- 
iey, 1904 (present incumbent.) 

CiKCUiT Clb:rks. — The incumbents of this of- 
fice have been as below; James M. Campbell. 
183.5-4S; William H. Randolph. 1S4S-56; Wil- 
liam T. Head. 1856-60; John B. Cummings. 
1860-64; John H. Hungate. 1864-68; Benjamin 
T. Pinckney. 1868-72; Isaac N. Pearson, 1872- 
80; J. E. Wyne. 1880-84; C. S. Churchill. 1884- 
1904; and William S. Brown from 1904 to date. 

SiiERiFF.s. — The Sheriffs of McDonough Coun- 
ty, since its organization, have been: William 
Southward, 1S30-3S; William H. Randolph, 1838- 
44; David Lamson, 1844-50; William T. Head. 
1850-52; Sydnor H. Hogan. 1852-56; George A. 
Taylor, 1856-58; F. D. Lipe, 1858-60; Silas J. 
Hopper, 1860-62; Amos Dixon, 1862-64; G. L. 
Farwell, 1864-66; Samuel Wilson, 1866-68; J. E. 
Lane, 1868-70; Thomas Murray, 1870-72; Samuel 
Frost, 1872-74; J. B. Venard, 1874-76; Charles 
C. Hayes, 1876-78; W. H. Taylor, 1878-80; Fred- 
erick Newland, 1880-88; Theodore Huston, ISSS- 
92; Robert Thomas. 1896-1900; M. P. Bruner. 
1900-04; and C. W. Taylor, from 1904 to date. 

The B.\k of McDonough County. — The pres- 
ent bar of McDonough County will compare 
very favorably, as to ability and integrity, with 
that of any other county in the State of sub- 
stantially the same size and population. The 
names of the leading members, with their resi- 
dences, are given below, a more extended notice 
of a number of these learned gentlemen being 
elsewhere given: Lawrence Y. Sherman (pres- 
ent Lieutenant-Governor), Tunnicliff & Gum- 
bert, Ralph W. Pontious, Neece & Elting, Ira 
O'Harra, Charles W. Flack, J. Ross Mickey, 
Thomas McClure. Vose & Creel, W. A. Comp- 
ton. H, E. Billings, Eugene I. Hampton. Dr P. 
Pennywitt. Switzer & Miller, J. C. Thompson, 
H. M. Tabler, W. J. Franklin. Frank B. Wetzel. 



Clarence S. Townley & H. H. Harris, Cyrus 
A. Lantz, Dean Franklin, George A. Falder, of 
Macomb; T. J. Sparks, George S. Doughty, W. 
M. Crosswait, David Chambers, Solon Banfiell, 
Bushnell; and George A. Falder, Colchester. 

Among the members of tne early bar the 
most prominent was Hon. Cyrus Walker. Born 
in Rockbridge County. Va., May 14, 1791, while 
an infant he was taken to Kentucky. He re- 
sided in that State until 1833. when he remov- 
ed to Macomb, 111., living there until his death, 
on the 1st of December, 1875. The following 
sketch, prepared by Hon. Hawkins Taylor, of 
Washington City, first appeared in the Car- 
thage (111.) Gazette: 

"The father of Cyrus Walker and my mother 
were brother and sister, and we grew up in 
the same county (Adair) of Kentucky. When 
the settlers first went from Virginia to Ken- 
tucky, they had to assist each other in house- 
raising and log-rolling, and tor three years the 
father of Cyrus acted as a ranger, watching 
the movements of the Indians and warning set- 
tlers of approaching trouble. His circuit em- 
braced several hundred miles of wild, unsettled 
country, and he was compelled to live almost 
entirely on game and camp out at night. Sev- 
eral of the uncles of Cyrus Walker were sol- 
diers in the Revolutionary War. The old stocks 
were both Irish Presbyterians — all of them 
learned in the Scriptures and of stern, unyield- 
ing wills. Cyrus was mainly self-taught, there 
being no schools in that section of the country 
at that day, and from his admission to the bar 
he took high position as a lawyer. 

"When Mr. Walker made a profession of re- 
ligion, for a time he contemplated quitting 
the law and turning his attention to the min- 
istry. He was educated to believe that slavery 
was a sin, and when he joined the church he 
freed all his negroes and paid their passage 
to Liberia. Among their number was a spright- 
ly boy who has since risen to distinction in the 
African republic. This boy had a young and 
\ handsome wife, who was the property of the 
pastor of the Presbyterian Church to which 
Mr. Walker belonged. When Mr. Walker set 
his slaves free he urged the minister to free 
the wife of the boy he had liberated; but the 
pastor refused, saying he was not able to lose 
the value of the woman, although he had him- 
self got her by marriage. Mr. Walker sent off 
his freed people, fully believing that the minis- 



652 



HISTORY OF JMcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



ter would not separate the man and wife when 
the time for separation came; but he still re- 
fused, and Mr. Walker bought and paid him 
for her and sent her on after her husband to 
Louisville. 

"Mr. Walker removed to McDonough County 
in 1S33, and, as stated, resided there until his 
death. Although he did not move to Iowa, he 
practiced there for several years. 

"Mr. Walker had no taste for office. He 
served two terms in the Kentucky Legislature 
during the great excitement between the Old 
Court and the New Court, because he was the 
most popular man on the Old Court side in 
the county. He was forced on the ticket by his 
friends in the contest, and carried the county 
by a majority of 222, when no other man on 
his side could have done so. 

"After the formation of Congressional Dis- 
tricts in Illinois, based on the census of 1S40, 
the Jo Daviess district was largely Whig, with 
the Mormon vote, but a debatable district, the 
Mormon vote going to the Democrats. Nearly 
all the counties in the district had Whigs who 
wanted to be candidates, but they were willing 
to give way to Mr. Walker if he would only 
consent to be a candidate. Walker was then 
in Iowa attending the courts, the last one, in 
Lee County, lasting several weeks. His desk 
was full of letters from all parts of the district 
urging him to allow his name to be used as a 
candidate for Congress. Of these letters at 
least two were from Joe Smith, and several 
from George Miller, the Mormon Bishop, but 
who had formerly lived at Macomb and, while 
there, was a brother Elder in the Pres- 
byterian Church with Mr. Walker. All 
these letters urged Mr. Walker to be 
a candidate, to save the district for the 
Whigs. In his letters Smith pledged the 
Mormon vote to Walker, if he would allow his 
name to be used, but would not agree to vote 
for any other Whig. Mr. Walker had steadily 
refused to be a candidate, until he felt that 
his duty to the Whig party required him to 
make the sacrifice; but when he finally en- 
tered the contest he was terribly in earnest. 

"It was well understood by Walker and his 
friends that the Democracy would not give up 
the Mormon vote without a struggle. One of 
the Backenstoses was Sheriff and the other 
Clerk of Hancock County Circuit Court, and 
Judge Douglas was a candidate for Congress in 



the Adams district. Matters were not working 
quite satisfactorily in Nauvoo. Mr. Taylor 
went down to Warsaw to meet Mr. Walker, 
who was there holding a joint discussion with 
Mr. Hoge, his opponent. That night Mr. Walk- 
er went to Nauvoo. The next morning he 
called on Joe Smith and told him that he re- 
leased him from all the pledges made to give 
him the Mormon vote, but in turn asked hon- 
est dealing, telling Smith tnat if it was neces- 
sary for their (the Mormons') safety from ar- 
rest by the State authorities, that he should vote 
for Hoge (see article on "Mormons" for ex- 
planation) ; that he would tell him so, and in 
that event he would at once go to Galena, and 
spend the balance of the time before the elec- 
tion in the northern part of the district. Joe 
said with great vehemence, 'I promised you the 
support of the church and you shall have it. 
You stay here and meet Hoge on Thursday." 
The joint discussion of the candidates took 
place, and everj-thing indicated that Walker 
would get the united vote of the church. On 
Saturday the voters of the church in city and 
county were called together in the grove near 
the Temple, where Hyrum Smith made a speecn 
urging them to vote for Hoge. It was a regular 
Democratic speech, and appeared to have no 
influence. He was followed by Wilson Law, 
in a bold, telling Whig speech in favor of Walk- 
er, and from the commencement to the end he 
was cheered by the entire Mormon audience. 
Hyrum arose, black and furious, stretching him- 
self to his full height, and extending his ann 
at full length said; 'Thus saith the Lord; If 
this people vote against Hoge for Congress, on 
Monday, a greater curse will befall them than 
befell them in Missouri. When God speaks, 
let men obey!" and immediately left the stand, 
the whole audience dispersing in silence. 

"When Walker heard of Hyrum's speech he 
was indignant, and was for leaving Joe's house; 
but Joe stopped him, professing to be furiously 
mad at Hyrum, saying that he himself would 
make a speech to the people on Sunday morn- 
ing; and he again repeated the pledge that Mr. 
Walker should have the Mormon vote. The 
next morning Joe did speak to the people 
just one hour, and no speech had closer atten- 
tion. In that speech Joe passed the highest 
eulogy upon Mr. Walker. He denounced poli- 
ticians, declaring that Walker was not a poli- 
tician, but an honest and a true man; that he 




MRS. JOHN R. BENNETT 



THE NE'.v - .-.:. 
PUBLIC LIBRARY 

A-TOK. LKNOX 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



653 



had been forced to be a candidate against his 
will. He denounced, in the most bittei- terms, 
any member of the church who would consult 
the Lord about whom the.v should vote for; and 
declared it anyone should do it, he should be 
cut off fi-ora salvation; said that he would vote 
for Cyrus Walker, and commanded all to vote 
for the man of their choice without reference 
to what anyone said. Yet in his hour's speech 
in praise of Walker and in denunciation of any- 
one who would consult the Lord about whom 
he should vote for, he said: 'Brother Hyrum is 
the elder brother. Brother Hyrum never has 
deceived his people. When the Lord commands, 
the people must obey,' etc. The next day 
Joe did vote for Walker, and the balance of 
the Mormons voted for Hoge, as the Lord had 
commanded. 

"This is the real history of the campaign, 
so far as Walker was concerned. It was to 
him a campaign of mortification from the be- 
ginning. He was forced into it contrary to his 
wishes, largely to get the Mormon votes; but 
after entering into the contest he was de- 
nounced by the Whigs all over the district for 
trying to secure them, and really lost more 
Whig votes in the district than in all probabil- 
ity would have elected him, simply because it 
was supposed that he could get the Mormon 
vote." 

So ended Mr. Walker's connection with poli- 
ticians. As before stated, he • had no desire 
to hold office of any kind, as he was acknowl- 
edged to be at the head of the bar of Illinois 
and Iowa — which to him was more congenial 
and the most honorable position an American 
citizen could occupy. 

There were other prominent members of the 
McDonough County bar; but only a few names 
are mentioned at this point, to keep them in 
remembrance. O. H. Browning, of Quincy, serv- 
ed as Secretary of the Interior under President 
Johnson and earlier as United States Senator. 
Archibald Williams, of the same city, was an 
eminent lawyer who made a specialty of titles 
to lands in the Military Tract. He successfully 
established the rights of the soldiers of 1812 
and their heirs, to their lands in Illinois, and 
was the leader of the Republican party in the 
old Fifth Congressional District, of which Mc- 
Donough then formed a part. There were also 
W. C. Goudy, S. Corning Judd, W. H. Mannierre 
and B. T. Schofield. T. Lyle Dickey, for many 



years a Judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois, 
began his legal career in Macomb, as well as 
Judge Pinckney H. Walker, who was Judge of 
the Supreme Court for a quarter of a century, 
and Judge D. G. Tunnicliff, who succeeded 
Judge Walker in that high office. Other lead- 
ers of the bar might be mentioned, but these 
are especially brought forward that their names 
may be held in iiroud remembrance. 



CHAPTER IX. 



TOWNSHIP HISTORY. 



TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION IN 1857 ORIGINAL LIST 

OF TOWNSHIPS AND SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONS — 
INDIVIDUAL TOWNSHIP HISTORY EARLY SET- 
TLERS AND DATE OF SETTLEMENT — CHARACTERIS- 
TICS OF SOIL AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS — 
E.^RLY MARRI.\GES, BIRTHS AND DEATHS — E.\RLT 
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES — PRESENT CONDITIONS 
AND EVIDENCE OF THREE-QUARTERS OF A CEN- 
TURY'S GROWTH. 

McDonough County was organized into town- 
ships under the General Township Organization 
Act in 1857, in accordance with a popular vote 
taken at an election a few months previous. 
At first the number of townships was sixteen 
with the boundaries identical with the congres- 
sional townships, each township consisting of 
thirty^six sections, or 23,040 acres of land. The 
names of the townships as first organized (be- 
ginning in the southeastern corner of the coun- 
ty) were as follows: Eldorado (T. 4 N., R. 1 
W.); Industry (4 N., 2 W.); Eagle Town (4 
N., 3 W.); Lamoine (4 N., 4 W.) ; New Salem 
(5 N., 1 W.); Scotland (5 N., 2 W.); Erin (5 
N., 3 W.); Tennessee (5 N., 4 W.); Mound 
6 N., 1 W.); Macomb (6 N., 2 W.); Spring 
Creek (6 N., 3 W.); Rock Creek (6 N., 4 W.); 
Prairie City (7 N., 1 W.); Walnut Grove (7 
N., 2 W.); Sciota (7 N., 3 W.); and Blandins- 
ville (7 N., 4 W.). The first election of town- 
ship officers was held in April, 1857, and the 
Board of Supervisors chosen at that election 
held their first meeting on May 11th follow- 



654 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COL'NTY. 



ing. At that meeting, the name of Eagle Town 
was changed to Bethel, Erin to Chalmers, 
Spring Creek to Emmet and Rock Creek to 
Hires — the new names being still retained. Later 
as will be seen by the history of the several 
townships, Prairie City Townshp was divided 
into two equal parts, the north half retaining 
the name Prairie City, while the south half re- 
ceived the name of Bushnell Township; nine 
sections from the western portion of Chalmers 
and an equal area from the eastern part of 
Tennessee Township were cut off and united to 
create the new township of Colchester; while 
the city of jVIacomb, situated in the central 
part of the county, and originally including the 
southwest corner of Macomb Township, the 
northwest corner of Scotland, the northeast cor- 
ner of Chalmers and the southeast corner of 
Emmet Township, constitutes a separate 
township with boundaries identical with the 
city limits. These changes increased the num- 
her of townships to nineteen, of which Macomb 
City, by virtue of its population exceeding 4,- 
000 and less than 6,500, was entitled to two 
members in the Board of Supervisors and the 
others to one member each — making the total 
membership of the County Board 20. 

In the following pages the history of each 
township is treated separately, beginning with 
Eldorado Township in the southeastern corner 
of the county; 

ELnoR.A.DO Township (4 N., 1 W. ) — This town- 
ship lies in the extreme southeastern part of 
the county and was first settled in 1S31. Arthur 
J. Foster erected the first house on Section 
2, the location becoming known as Foster's 
Point. Some ol the old settlers, however, claim 
that Anson Mathews erected a cabin at this 
point, in 1S27 or 1S28, and afterward sold out 
to Foster. 

About one-fourth of the township consists of 
timber land, the remainder being beautiful 
prairie. The timber land all lies in the south- 
ern part, excepting about 700 acres in the 
northeast portion, including all of Section 1 
and part of Section 2. Altogether there are 21,- 
292 acres of improved land. In the southeast- 
ern part of the township building (or sand) 
stone is found in large quantities. Sugar Creek, 
with its tributaries, is the principal water 
course in this section, furnishing an abund- 
ance of living water for stock and other pur- 
poses. 



To continue the record of settlement, which 
may be termed temporary, William Moore, a 
Georgian, made a settlement in 1S28 nortli 
of where the Hushan farm now is, but the fol- 
lowing year returned to his old home. George 
Dowell settled in the township in 1829, put 
up a cabin, and, like many of the pioneers, soon 
removed elsewhere. Joshua David settled 
here early in 1830 and, being pleased with the 
country, was soon followed by his father, Abra- 
ham, and the rest of the family. The father, 
who was a native of Hardin County, Ky.. died 
in 1863, and his wife in 1878. 

As already stated, Arthur J. Foster located 
on Section 2, residing there until his death in 
1843. James Harris settled on Section 1, at 
an early day. He was a native of New York. 
.John Hushan. who located in the township in 
April. 1832. came fixjm Indiana. After 1833 
quite a number settled in the township, im- 
proved farms and the development of this sec- 
tion progressed as other portions of the county. 
The township had a population in 1900 of 880. 

The first marriage in the township took place 
at the residence of Father Harris, in 1839. The 
ceremony was performed by Rev. Aaron Kin- 
ney, a Universalist preacher, the contracting 
parties being Cleon Reddick and Lucy Harris. 
In the fall of 1831 occurred the first birth, that 
of Samuel J. Foster. Lucy Harris, mentioned 
above, taught tne first school in 1837. 

Descendants of the above still occupy farms 
in Eldorado and adjoining townships. Among 
the many successful and wealthy farmers now 
resident in tnis township may be mentioned 
A. J. Berry. Henry Bogue, Caleb B. Cox, August 
Horwedel, J. R. Harris, Samuel Kee, H. S. 
Leighty, M. D. Leighty, J. N. Lawyer, Prank 
Moore, Dilworth C. Mershon, Stephen Mershon, 
George W. Standard, Charles Sweeney and W. 
E. Snowden. (More extended notices of the 
above and others mentioned in this preliminary 
history will be found in the biographical de- 
partment. ) 

New SALEit Township, the most easterly of 
the second tier of townships north of the south- 
ern border of the county, consists of Congres- 
sional Township 5 N., R. 1 W. For the most 
part the land of this township is level, or 
gently undulating prairie, with the exception of 
a thirty-eight-acre tract of timber known as 
Pennington's Point, and small belts in the 
northeast and southeast comers of the town- 



HISTORY OF .McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



65: 



ship. It is therefore considered one of the best 
townships of land in the county tor productive- 
ness. 

William R. Pennington was the first settler 
in this section, erecting his cabin, in January, 
1S28, at what is now known as Pennington's 
Point — so named in his honor by Cyrus Walker. 
The early settlers located on the timber land, 
in order to secure fuel and fencing material, 
the prairie lands remaining uncultivated for 
some years thereafter. Among the other pio- 
neers of the township were Stewart Penning- 
ton, Major Stephen Yocum, J. E. D. Hammer, 
Salem Woods and William Moore. 

Salem Woods came from Erie, Pa., in 1S2S. 
He had purchased land the year before, and 
traveled on toot from his eastern home to ex- 
amine the tract he had bought ; but finding the 
country so sparsely settled, he returned to 
Pennsylvania. In 1829 he again came to Mc- 
Donough County and located on Section 30, in 
what is now New Salem Township, where he 
resided until his death, September 27, 1S79. 
Mr. Woods brought the first stove ever seen in 
the county. This was a great wonder to the 
old settlers of that period, the old "spider" 
being then the common utensil for bakin-? 
bread. It is a tradition that some of the good 
thrifty housewives came several miles with 
their dough to have the privilege of baking In 
Mr. Woods' stove. His descendants, as well as 
those of others of the early settlers mentioned, 
occupy the old homestead and their names are 
household words in that vicinity. 

The first marriage in the township was that 
of Morgan Jones and Elizabeth Osborne, in 
February, 1834. The first birth was that of 
Perry, the son of William Pennington, in the 
year 1828, and the first death, that of J. J. 
Pennington, son of Stewart Pennington, on Sep- 
tember 10, 1838. In 1834 Father Harris preach- 
ed the first sermon at the house of William 
Osborne, and the first school was taught at 
Pennington's Point by Miss Martha Campbell, 
who afterward married Major John M. W^alker. 
Gideon Waters was the teacher of the first 
jjublic school opened in the township. 

Adair is the only village in New Salem Town- 
ship. It is situated on the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad. It was laid out in 
August, 1S70, by John Reedy and Jacob Grimm, 
and was originally known as Reedyville. In 



that year an old house was moved onto the 
town-site — the first building to be occupied. 
Thomas Elwell erected the first dwelling there 
during the same year. The first store was 
built and occupied by Strickler & Bennett, who 
placed on sale a stock of general merchandise. 
William G. Wilkins shipped the first carloads 
of corn and rye from the village. Some of the 
prominent and prosperous farmers in the town- 
ship of the present day are Edward Waters, 
J. B. Woods. A. Warner, E. Joy Seab.iru, Lewis 
Pickle, Jonas W. Eveiiy and Stephen Black- 
stone. The population according to the census 
of 1900 was 1,168. 

MorxD Township (6 N., 1 W. ).— The south- 
ern portion of Mound Township is flat but the 
soil is rich, and, as it has been thoroughly un- 
derdrained and improved, is very productive. 
On Section 14 is a high mound, known as Dyer's 
Mound, from the summit of which a fine view of 
the surrounding country is obtained. Kepple 
Creek enters Mound Township in a semicircle, 
about midway on the west side, flows easterly 
to the center of the township, where, turning 
north and west, it runs along and under the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, at 
which point there is a pond and water-tank. This 
is also the scene of the first accident on that 
road. During a night of high water the bridge 
at this point was swept away, and an engine 
plunged into the gap, killing the engineer and 
seriously injuring a number of the passengers. 
Just below this locality the creek forms a junc- 
tion with anotner branch at what is known 
as Drowning Fork, and after flowing west it 
unites with the north fork of Crooked Creek. 
The headwaters of Shaw Fork pass eastwardly 
from a little north of the center of the town- 
ship, and the headwaters of Camp Creels are in 
the southern edge. 

The first settlement in Mound Township was 
made in 1832 by Joseph Smith, who erected his 
house on Section IS and occupied it with his 
family. It was an old-fashioned log house, and 
as the head of the family was quite a hunter 
and of a restless disposition, he did not occupy 
it long, but soon removed to Missouri. A son- 
in-law of Smith, named Osborne, came shortly 
afterward, but left about the time his father- 
in-law moved away. Albert Cox located on the 
northwest quarter of Section 20, improved his 



656 



HISTORY OF iAIcDONX)UGH COUNTY. 



property and sold it to Jacob Kepple in 1833, 
removing then to Fulton County. John Snapp, 
a son-in-law of Jaicob Kepple, located on the 
southwest quarter of Section 30, In 1833, and 
there built a cabin. He continued to reside 
there until ls40, when he removed to Macomb 
Township and. in 1856. to Missouri. In 1833 
Durham Creel located on Section 18, improved 
a farm and died in 1867. When, during the 
same year, Jacoo Kepple settled on the farm 
already improved by Abner Cox, he took pos- 
session of a double log house and several acres 
broken up. There he resided for several 
years, after wnich he removed to Bardolph, 
where he died. From this time quite a num- 
ber of settlers came in and improved farms in 
the township, among whom were Silas Creel, 
James Chandler, Thompson Chandler, Elias 
Culp, Rev. William H. Jackson, the Crawfords 
and Mr. McCandless. 

Edward Dyer and Jane Kepple were the first 
couple married in Mound Township, the cere- 
mony occurring April 17, 1838, with Rev. John 
Richmond officiating. This gentleman was a 
Methodist and organized the pioneer church, 
although the first preaching in the township 
was by Rev. E. Thompson at the house of Jacob 
Kepple. The first birth was that of Peter 
Kulp in 1834, and the first to die was Emily 
Miller, daughter of George and Mary E. Miller, 
in 1832. In 1838 S. H. McCandless taught the 
first school in the pioneer cabin of the town- 
ship. 

Mound Township comprises 22,238 acres of 
improved land, and it is noted as a fine stock 
country. Among those most interested and 
successful in this line may be mentioned the 
Porters, the Creels, the Manleys and the Works. 
New Philadelphia Village, situated on the 
Toledo. Peoria & Western Railroad, in this 
township, was laid out by Lloyd Thomas Octo- 
ber 21, 1858 (Samuel Hunt, surveyor.) It is sit- 
uated on the south half of Section 23, Town- 
ship 6 North, Range 1 West. About a mile 
north of the first survey, J. H. and B. B. Wil- 
son platted a town in 1868, and called it Grant. 
The postoffice was named New Philadelphia, 
and thus the town was named. Although the 
plaf of Grant is still on record, its site has 
been for years under cultivation. Mr. Thomas 
built the first store-house, and, together with 
his son John, carried on a dry-goods store and 
grocery during 1859. The first lots were pur- 



chased by Samuel Kost, who erected two store 
buildings, in one of which Jacob Walter opened 
the first store. The first marriage in the town 
was that of Isom B. Shaw and Mary J., daugh- 
ter of J. H. Wilson, which occurred in 1873. 
The first death was that of Mrs. J. A. L. Mas- 
ter, daughter oi George Sheets, on March 15, 
1875. (For the leading farmers in this town- 
ship, see biographies in another chapter.) Pop- 
ulation (1900), 1,014. 

Br.SHXKLL T0WX.SHIP (north half of T. 7 N. 
R. 1 W.). consists of eighteen sections, embra 
cing the southern half of Congressional Town 
ship 7 N. and 1 W., and is nearly all prairie 
The land is excellent for agricultural purposes 
and after the completion of the Chicago, Bur 
lington & Quincy Railroad, the country rapidly 
increased in population. 

In the tall of 1836 the first settlement within 
the limits of the township was made by Mat- 
thew B. Robinson, who located on Section 30, 
erecting thereon a house and improving a farm. 
For several years he was almost alone, when a 
few settlers came to his neighborhood. It was 
sparsely settled even when the city of Bushnell 
was laid out, August 29, 1854; so that the 
growth of the township was almost identical 
with the development of that city. (See his- 
tory of the city of Bushnell in chapter on "Cit- 
ies. Towns and Villages.") 

In the tall of 1837 occurred the first birth 
in the township— that of Missouri E., daughter 
of M. B. Robinson: the first death was that of 
John W. Clarke, in September, 1847, and the 
first marriage that of Perminium Hamilton to 
Elizabeth A. Robinson. David Robinson taught 
the first school in 1838, and about the same time 
the first religious services we're held by Rev. 
William K. Stewart, of Macomb, at the resi- 
dence of M. B. Robinson. 

But little was done by way of settlement un- 
til after the completion of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad, when every quarter- 
section was soon occupied; and inasmuch as 
the details of the growth of the township was 
closely identified with the city of Bushnell, the 
reader is referred to the article in this history 
on "Cities. Towns and Villages." Population 
(1900) 2.865. 

"Trumax's Pioxeer Stud F.\k.m." of Bushnell, 
McDonough County, 111., is one of the most in- 
teresting places in the State tor admirers of 



A 7^ ^s:^ 1 




..yj /O^ycCce^cAJ ^^^-<^rv-r-y^-^ 



HISTORY OF :\IcDONOUGH COUXTY. 



657 



high-bred stallions to visit, and it has also 
proved a very profitable visiting point for a 
large number ot progressive farmers, who have 
thereby become possessed of the sires of some 
of the best blooded draft horses to be found in a 
large extent of territory. The fame of the enter- 
prise is not merely local, nor is it confined to 
the State where it originated, but has extended 
to all parts of the country. Its first location 
was at the Union Stock Yards, Chicago, where 
ft was founded in 1S7S by J. H. Truman, who, 
although no longer a resident of the United 
States, is still one of the owners of the farm. 
The venture was undertaken for the purpose 
of perfecting the breeding of Shire horses in 
the United States, and the process never attain- 
ed a high degree of success in this country until 
Mr. Truman identified himself with it. When 
the establishment was transferred from Chi- 
cago to Bushnell, McDonough County, thus .giv- 
ing it the benefit of an environment by one of 
the best farming regions of the State, Its fa- 
cilities were largely multiplied. Some time 
after it had entered upon a course of full oper- 
ation in the new locality, J. G. Truman assumed 
entire personal charge of the local opera- 
tion, and J. H. Truman, who had previously 
confined himself to periodical trips across the 
Atlantic in the interest of the enterprise, be- 
came a resident of Whittlesea. England, from 
which point he has selected and forwarded to 
the Bushnell farm the best Shire stallions ob- 
tainable in Great Britain. These include Per- 
cherons, Belgians, Suffolks and Hackneys. The 
various specimens of these breeds, which may 
be found at the Pioneer Stud Farm, are ot ad- 
mirable quality, and in their abundant scale, 
conformation and style of action, they meet 
the essential requirements of the most service- 
able and desirable modern draft or coach horse. 
The pavilion which houses these splendid ani- 
mals is 40 by 140 feet in dimensions, contain- 
ing 20 large box-stalls, each 12 by 12 feet in 
size, and the entire establishment is equipped 
in the most perfect manner, the arrangements 
being especially well calculated to keep the 
horses in prime condition, and to conduce to 
the convenience and efficiency of the grooms 
in charge. In all respects, the enterprise is a 
credit to its immediate locality and to McDon- 
ough County. Mr. J. G. Truman, who directs 
the operation of the concern on this side of 
the Atlantic, is a thorough horseman and wide- 



ly popular; and both he and his partner J. H. 
have been engaged in the business of handling 
select grade horses for nearly thirty years. A 
suitable illustration of the "Pioneer Stud Farm"' 
accompanies this sketch. 

Prairie City Township lies in the extreme 
northeastern corner ot the county (the north 
half of Town 7 N., R. 1 W.) and consists of 
eighteen sections of beautiful rolling prairie, 
which in fertility of soil is not surpassed by 
any section in the State of Illinois. The en- 
tire township is composed of the finest and 
best improved farms in the county. Like the 
Bushnell section, little was done toward the 
development ot this township until the comple- 
tion of the railroad, after which, within a very 
few years, it was entirely settled and improved. 

Prairie City Township was organized in 1S57, 
and its first election was held April 7th of that 
year, at which time William H. Oglesby and 
J. R. Parker were elected Justices of the Peace 
and Leonard Neff, Constable. R. H. McFarland 
was the first Police Magistrate and ex-officio 
Justice of the Peace, elected January 15, 185S. 
At the time of the organization, Prairie City 
was a full Congressional Township, but has 
since been divided and the present township 
ot Bushnell created. Although this part of the 
township had scattering settlers at an early 
day its growth was slow; in fact, a large pro- 
portion of the other townships had been set- 
tled before Prairie City; but when the wonder- 
ful productiveness of its soil became known, its 
growth was both rapid and substantial, and now 
no township in the county can boast of a bet- 
ter class of farms and residences. 

Ot the pioneers most worthy of mention are 
Henry Brink, located on Section 2, in 1S35, and 
John Griffin, on the same section, and part of 
the present site of the corporation of Prairie 
City. Edward Goldsmith and Henry Thompson 
were settlers as early as 1836, the latter build- 
ing his cabin on Section 13. (As the history 
of the Township is largely identical with that 
of the town of Prairie City, further details will 
be given in the chapter on "Cities, Towns and 
Villages.") 

Addie Hamilton, daughter of J. M. Hamilton, 
was the first child native to the township, be- 
ing born September 6, 1855. The first class of 
the Methodist Church was organized in 1856, 
the Free Will Baptist Church was founded in 



658 



HISTORY (JF AIcDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



September of that year, and the Presbyterian 
Church In 1841, at the residence of George 
Kreider, in Fulton County. From the organiza- 
tion last named the church in Prairie City was 
instituted. Township population (1900) 1,142. 

I.xuufeTRY TowNSHii' (4 X., 2 W.) — In the 
spring of 1826 vVilliam Carter and Riggs Pen- 
nington settled in this township, about one 
mile southeast of where the town of Industry 
now stands. Like all the early settlers, they 
commenced clearing their land of timber, not 
dreaming that the untimbered prairie would 
ever be used, to any extent, for farming pur 
poses; as was expressed by the pioneers, "the 
prairie would be good for cattle ranges." The 
locality noted above was known as Carter's Set- 
tlement; but the original settlers remained 
only a few years, when they left the county. 
Stephen Osborne likewise improved a farm in 
1826, and disappeared after a short residence. 
In the fall of 1827 William Stephens erected a 
cabin on Section 24, and located as a perma- 
nent inhabitant. It was in his log house that 
Rev. John Logan delivered the first sermon 
in the county. 

In the winter of 1828 Rev. John Logan, a Bap- 
tist minister, resided in the old log tort, but 
within a year thereafter removed to the cabin 
built by Stephen Osbo:-ne, where, as stated, 
he preached the pioneer sermon of the county. 
In the fall he settled in Schuyler County, later 
returning to Hire Township. 

Industry Township, one of the southern tier 
of townships in McDonough County, and im- 
mediately west of Eldorado Township, was or- 
ganized April 7. 1857, when R. L. Dark 
and William Shannon were elected Justices 
of the Peace, and William B. Peak and John 
Carroll, Constables. The first postoffice was 
established at Doddsville. The first marriage 
in the township and the county occurred Octo- 
ber 30, 1828, the contracting parties being John 
Wilson and Martha R., daughter of James 
Vance. Rev. John Logan was the officiating 
clergyman. 

Mr. Logan also organized the first Sunday- 
school in the county at the "Old Fort," near 
what is now called the Cross Roads, about two 
miles south of the present town of Industry. 
The oldest Sunday-school in me county was or- 
ganized in 1833, at the house of John Rogers 
on Camp Creek, this township. It was desig- 



nated as a Union Sunday-school, and was estab- 
lished by Alex. Campbell, who was its first 
Superintendent. This school was in existence 
for many years, and was finally merged into 
the Camp Creek Presbyterian Church, of which 
the Rev. James M. Chase was pastor for many 
years. Population (1900) 1,504. 

ScoTL.\xn TowxsHip (5 N., 2 W.), immediate- 
ly north of Industry and west of New Salem 
Township, is one of the banner agricul- 
tural townships of McDonough County, every 
acre being under cultivation. Camp Creek, 
which is in the southern part of the township, 
passes between Sections 24 and 25, flows in a 
southwesterly direction through Sections 26, 
27, 34, 22 and 32, and thence enters Industry 
Township. Troublesome Creek rises in Section 
1, and passes tnrough Sections 1, 2, 4, 10, 9, 16, 
17 and 18. These streams are so situated as to 
furnish the best watering facilities to the farm- 
er and stock-raiser. There is a narrow strip 
of excellent timber on the southern edge of the 
township. 

The land not immediately adjoining the 
streams is level, and in the hands of a class of 
thrifty and skillful agriculturists has been de- 
veloped to its fullest capacity, making the town- 
ship second to none in point of agricultural 
wealth. The citizens are largely of Scotch birth, 
or descendants of that industrious, intelligent 
and hardy people, who take especial pride in the 
advancement of everything calculated to add 
to the comfort and attractiveness of their 
homes. Fine country residences and commodi- 
ous out-buildings are the rule, and quite a num- 
ber of artificial groves greet the eye, relieving 
the monotony of the rich pasture land and 
large fields of grain. 

In the spring of 1828 William Osborne set- 
tled in the township, camping during the sum- 
mer on the banks of the stream which, accord- 
ing to tradition, thus received the name of 
Camp Creek. The first permanent settlement 
was made by Joshua Reno and family in the 
spring of 1831. They located in the southern 
portion of the township on Camp Creek, near 
the old Presbyterian church, but after a time 
Mr. Reno disposed of his property and removed 
from the county. The next settlers were the 
Lees — Robert and family, his son John and 
family, and Alexander and James, unmarried 
sons of Robert. The latter soon married and 





')c/aa/ ^S/rf//rJ 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUXTV 



659 



located on the farm afterward purchased by 
Cyrus Walker. About the same time Austin 
Coker, Berry Stockton, Elhannan Lane, Benja- 
min Rice and Stephen Harp and family settled 
along the southern half of the township. 

Joseph McCrosky came to the township from 
Kentucky in 1S32, but subsequently removed 
to Macomb, where he died. In the following 
year Dr. Charles Hays settled on the southeast 
quarter of Section 34. As a physician he was 
favorably known and continued in the practice 
of his profession at Macomb, where he died 
some years ago. As stated, Cyrus Walker, a 
lawyer, whose high reputation extended over 
the Northwest, settled on the Lee farm. Alex- 
ander Lee, of the family mentioned, came to 
the township in 1831, and erected a cabin on 
Section 27, which, four years later, was pur- 
chased by John Clark, who was the first of the 
many Scotch settlers who subsequently located 
in the township. 

From 1S50 to IStJO the township rapidly in- 
creased in population and wealth, many of those 
who located there coming direct from Scot- 
land, such as the McMillans, Watsons, Mc- 
Leans, Barclays and Bennies. The farms of 
these splendid immigrants are still in their 
possession, or in the hands of their immediate 
descendants. 

John Walker, Hugh McAlary and James E. D. 
Hammer settled in 1834. and Joseph Sullivan, 
Sr., and Allen H. Walker, in 1835. Theophilus 
G. Walker, son of Allen, was one of the orig- 
inal members of the Camp Creek Presbyterian 
Church. Many of the descendants of those 
named are still residents of the township or 
other portions of McDonough County. Among 
the most prominent and wealthy farmers of 
Scotland Township at the present time may be 
instanced John Watson, Joseph Walker, Bent- 
ly W. Taylor, Robert C. Pointer, R. A. Pollock, 
George Patrick, Robert Rober*s, R. T. Rexroat, 
B. D. Herndon, Howard Herndon, W. W. Hen- 
derson, William H. Clark, Robert Binnie, Mrs. 
Sarah Binnie, Josiah McDonald and J. M. Mat- 
thews. ( Biographical sketches of those just 
named appear in the Biographical Department.) 
Population of the township in 1900, 868. 

M.\coMB Township (6 N., 2 W. ) embraces 
within its limits a fine body of agricultural 
land, every acre of which is under cultivation. 
Crooked Creek passes through the entire town- 



ship, entering the eastern border at Section 
13 and making its exit at Section 30. Drown- 
ing Fork, a branch of this stream, receives its 
name from the following circumstance: In 
1827 three soldiers, who had been engaged in 
fighting Indians, were returning from Wiscon- 
sin and, on arriving at this branch of Crooked 
Creek, found it much swollen by recent rains. 
In attempting to cross it two were drowned, 
and the survivor buried the bodies beside the 
stream. Proceeding to the block-house in In- 
dustry Township, he narrated the circumstance 
to the few settlers who were there, who, on 
accompanying him to the scene of the acci- 
dent, found the conditions as he had stated; 
whereupon they gave the stream the name 
which it has since borne. 

The only timber in the township lies along 
the banks of Crooked Creek, although the nat- 
ural deficiency has been largely overcome by 
the substantial and far-sighted farmers who 
have planted groves around their homesteads, 
thereby adding both to their value and attract- 
iveness. As stated, the land is excellent in qual- 
ity, being chiefiy composed of dark loam, with 
some sections of light clay and vegetable mold. 
The best quantity of fire and potter's clay is 
found in inexhaustible quantities, and is 
shipped throughout the United States and Can- 
ada, the industry proving to be a great source 
of wealth to the county. 

The first settlement in the township was 
made by James Fulton in 1830. After remain- 
ing on his farm for many years he removed to 
Macomb, where he died a few years ago. Silas 
Hamilton located on Section 4, Alexander Har- 
ris on Section 22 and George Miller on Section 
24, all in the year 1831. In 1832 Abner Walker 
settled on Section 16 and John Harris on Sec- 
tion 22. In the following year James Creel 
built a cabin on the site of Bardolph, then 
known as Wolf Grove, but departed soon after- 
ward and his log house was used for school 
purposes. Robert Grant, J. P. Updegraff and 
Ephraim Palmer were settlers of 1834. In the 
fall of that year, Thomas Brooking came upon 
the scene, spent the winter in Macomb, and in 
the spring of 1835 built a double log-cabin on 
Section 30, where Oakwood Cemetery is now 
situated. 

Mr. Brooking is said to have taught the first 
school in Macomb during his sojourn, opening 
this pioneer session in the log court house. 



66o 



HISTORY OF AIcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



then situated on the corner of the alley at the 
northeast corner of the Square where the Eagle 
newspaper office is now located. At that time 
he resided in a small house across the street 
from the court house, standing on the present 
site of the Union National Bank. Major Brook- 
ing removed to Macomb in 1856. and for a long 
time kept the principal hotel on the west side 
of the Public Square, His death occurred but 
a few years ago. 

John H. Snapp and David M. Crabb settled in 
1S34 and 1836, respectively. John M. Crabb 
also located in the township in the latter year. 
Mr. Crabb was bom in Westmoreland County, 
Va., September 1, 1792, and was the son of 
Daniel and Frances (Middleton) Crabb. His 
parents were natives of England, but came to 
this country prior to the Revolutionary War. 
Mr. Crabb was therefore of good Revolution- 
ary stock, and when the War of 1812 was de- 
clared, being then about twenty years of age, 
his patriotic instincts were aroused. He was 
one of the first to enter the military service, 
and for two years served his country honor- 
ably and well, eventually receiving a pension of 
eight dollars per month and a land warrant 
as a deserved reward for his soldierly service. 

The first election under township organiza- 
tion was held on April 7, 1857, when W. S. Hail 
and W. I. Hendricks were elected Justices of 
the Peace. On the 4th of the following May 
J. O. C. Wilson was elected the first Police 
Magistrate. 

In 1832 George Miller and Abner Walker 
erected the first grist-mill on Crooked Creek. 
They operated it for some time, and, after 
passing through, various hands. It was finally 
purchased by Thomas Rabbit, who converted 
it into a steam mill, which, in turn, was de- 
stroyed. The first Sunday-school in the town- 
ship was organized at the house of George 
Miller, in 1837, by Rev. William H. Jackson, 
assisted by James Harris and M. Vincent. The 
first brick house was built by a Mr. Lovell, on 
Section 26, in the year 1836. 

Among the prominent citizens of Macomb 
Township may be mentioned John E. Hendrick- 
son (who, for nearly half a century, has been 
the station agent of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad), A. H. Maxwell. O. S. Lester, 
A. Horrocks and J. H. Cannon, sketches of 
whom appear elsewhere in this record. (For 
a history of the city of Macomb see chapter on 



"Cities, Towns and Villages.") The total popu- 
lation of Macomb Township, exclusive of Ma- 
comb City, in 1900, was 1,186. 

W.\i,NUT Grove Township (7 N., 2 W.). — This 
township is on the northern border of the 
county, adjoining Warren County, and was first 
settled in 1S30. The quality of the land is ex- 
cellent, but little timbered. Walnut Grove was 
so named from the fact that walnut timber 
grew quite abundantly. For many years camp- 
meetings were annually held in the Grove by 
the Cumberland Presbyterians and Methodists, 
the attendance being large, drawn, as it was, 
from a tract of country many miles in extent. 
A powerful attraction was the celebrated Peter 
Cartwright. a pioneer minister of the Method- 
ist Church and well known throughout the 
State, who, for several years, was the moving 
spirt in such meetings. 

The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad 
passes through the township from east to 
west, and the Rock Island branch of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad crosses its 
northeast corner. A portion of the village of 
Good Hope lies in the township near the south- 
west corner. 

The pioneer settler of this township was 
Isaac Bartlett, who, in the fall of 1830, located 
on Section 34, where he erected a log-cabin and 
engaged in breaking prairie in the vicinity of 
Spring Creek. During the following winter, 
which is remembered historically as the "Win- 
ter of the Deep Snow." he also engaged in mak- 
ing rails, and while thus employed made several 
unsuccessful attempts to reach his aged par- 
ents, who, as he knew, would be in destitute 
circumstances. When he finally was able to 
come to their relief, he found that his father 
had killed the cow, to which he and his wife 
had been driven for the purpose of procuring 
food, and as soon as possible he removed them 
to his quarters on Spring Creek. 

No farther progress was made in settlement 
of the township until the spring of 1S35, when 
Sydney Geer, who came from Schuyler County. 
111., entered land on Section 14 and there built 
a cabin, .\fter breaking five acres of land and 
planting it with corn, he had what might be 
considered bad luck. While on a visit to rela- 
tives in Schuyler County, the wind blew down 
his fences, the hogs destroyed his corn, and 
his team ran away, inflicting upon him a heavy 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



66i 



loss. This series of misfortunes induced Mr. 
Geer to remove permanently to Schuyler, 
where, it is hoped, his ill-fortune did not pur- 
sue him. 

J. H. Campbell settled in the township, March 
20, 1S35, but after a residence of one year re- 
moved to Industry and thence to Macomb, 
where he lived for many years. The next set- 
tlers were Gilmer and Quintus Walker, with 
their families. The latter settled on Section 
16, there erecting a log cabin. Gilmer Walker 
improved Section 34, building the first frame 
house in the township. Both remained here 
during their lifetime, and their descendants are 
among the most prominent families of the 
township. In 1S36 Hugh Ervin occupied a farm, 
but afterward moved to Macomb, where he died 
some years ago. Mr. Ervin was a man of prom- 
inence, and served one term as Representa- 
tive in the General Assembly (the Thirteenth 
— 1842-44.) James Hogshett was a settler of 
1837; in the spring of the same year Robert 
Perry located on Section 16, while about the 
same time Joseph and John Ballance erected 
cabins for their families on Section 28. The 
settlers of 1S38 were P. Livingston, William 
Young and William W. Stewart, the last named 
locating on the Hogshett farm, where he re- 
mained until his death a few years ago. 

The township organization was effected at 
the house of Thomas F. Flowers, April 7, 1857. 
The first court was held by Gilmer Walker, un- 
der a large elm tree near his house; at the 
time (1837) he was acting as Justice of the 
Peace. The first religious services, in 1836, 
were held at Mr. Walker's nouse by Rev. Wil- 
liam Frazier. a Presbyterian minister. On Feb- 
ruary 1.5, 1S3S, occurred the first marriage in 
the township — that of the Rev. Harrison Berry 
to Mary M. Walker. Walker Findley taught the 
first school in a log cabin, in 1838. Sidney 
Geer, whose misfortunes have already been 
recounted, broke the first prairie sod and plant- 
ed the first corn, in 1S35. The first wheat was 
sown by Gilmer and Quintus Walker. In the 
fall of 1837 occurred the first death — that of 
Martha, daughter of Gilmer Walker. 

The township has two villages — Good Hope 
and Scottsburg — mention of which is made in 
the chapters on "Cities, Towns and Villages." 
All in all, the inhabitants of Walnut Grove 
Township are a thrifty, prosperous and most 
excellent class of citizens. Population (1900), 
948. 



Bethel Township (4 N., 3 W.) — This town- 
ship is situated on the southern side of the 
county, adjoining Schuyler County and west of 
Industry Township. Its southern portion is 
largely covered with timber of most excellent 
quality, the land being underlaid with coal and 
an abundance of sandstone. The northern part 
of the township is composed for the most part 
of good prairie land, which is now well im- 
proved and settled by prosperous farmers. The 
township is well watered. Crooked, Camp and 
Grindstone Creeks pass through its entire 
length, the latter coming in at the southeast 
corner of Section 24, while the former enters 
the township at the northeast quarter of Sec- 
tion 1, the two streams forming a junction on 
the northeast quarter of Section 31. 

A noticeable feature of this township is in 
Section 30, where is found a gixjup of Indian 
mounds, which evidently were used for burial 
purposes by the aborigines of this section. 
They consist of an irregular row of hillocks 
from three to six feet in height and from fifteen 
to twenty-five feet at their base. In all, they 
probably number twenty and are located in the 
eastern portion of the section named. Being 
now covered with large oak and hickory trees, 
it is evident that they are of ancient date. At 
different times, the settlers have opened some 
of those mounds and found various implements 
of warfare, such as stone hatchets, spears and 
arrow heads and even bones of the braves who 
had gone to the happy hunting grounds so many 
years ago. 

The first settlement in the township was 
made by John Gibson in 1829, who at that time 
erected its first house. Among the very early 
pioneers were also Benjamin Mathews, of 1829; 
James H. Dunsworth, who settled on Section 8 
in 1830; John Edmonson and John Venard came 
in the same year; William Venard became a 
resident in the following year; Charles Duns- 
worth settled on Section 17, in 1832, and Mala- 
chi Monk on Section 7 during the same year; 
Martin Fugate on Section 21, and John W. Pu- 
gate on Section 30, 1832; James C. Archer came 
the same year; Thomas P. Shoopman located on 
Section 29 in 1833 — William I. Pace, Bowen 
Webb, Jesse C. Webb, John and Samuel T. 
Mathews also coming the same year; M. C. 
Foster in 1834; William Holton on Section 30, 
James L. Horrell, John McCormack, John Pat- 
rick, James E. Riggs, and Samuel and Russell 
Riggs all coming into the township in 1835. 



662 



HISTORY OF iMcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



Bethel Township was first named Eagle, but 
In May, 1S57, soon after its organization, the 
Snpervisors changed it to Bethel. The organi- 
zation was effected April 7, 1857, when William 
Twaddle and John Taylor were elected Jus- 
tices of the Peace and John Brundage, Con- 
stable . For many years the village of Middle- 
town was a busy and enterprisng place, but on 
the completion of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad, it fell into decadence, and 
now but few houses remain. The location is 
now known as Fandon postofBce. 

The first sermon in the township was 
preached by Benjamin Mathews, a Baptist min- 
ister. A church of that denomination was or- 
ganized and is still in existence. The place of 
worship was a log house. lSx20 feet, and was 
in use for many years, the present frame build- 
ing occupied as a church being erected on the 
same premises. John Claybaugh taught the 
first term of school in 1S31, and the first mar- 
riage took place March 29, 1S36, the contract- 
ing parties being William Venard and Sarah 
J. McClure. The first birth was that of Joseph, 
son of John Gibson, in the year 1832. The 
first deaths occurred in 1830, four children be- 
ing buried on the farm of J. H. Dunsworth, on 
Section 7. In 1860 the first brick residence was 
erected by Jonn M. Dunsworth, being a large 
two-story structure. Population (1900) 1,130. 

CiiAL^rERs Towxsiiip (norta of Bethel and 
west of Scotland Township). — This Township 
was organized in 18.57 and remained intact with 
boundaries identical with Town 5 North, Range 
3 West until 1880, when Colchester Township 
was formed, at which time all of Sections 5, 
6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 30 and 31 were detached from 
Chalmers Township and now compose a part 
of the newly organized township, leaving the 
original township with an area of twenty-seven 
square miles. Chalmers is one of the oldest 
settled townships in the county, this fact be- 
ing largely accounted for by its plentiful sup- 
ply of timber — it having contained more wood- 
ed land than any other township in the county. 
It was originauy named Erin, but at the first 
meetin,g of the Board of Supervisors, in May, 
1857, it was changed to Colchester. A portion 
of the city of Macomb lies in the northeast 
corner of the township. There are many ex- 
cellent farms, hi,ghly improved and valuable. 



owned by smail holders — a not unmixed bless- 
ing. 

It is believed that Elias McFadden was the 
first to settle in Chalmers Township. In 1828, 
with his son David, he located in the north- 
east part of the township, about one mile south 
of the site of Macomb — St. Francis Hospital 
being situated on a part of the old farm, which 
is now owned by Mr. Meadow. The McFad- 
dens were both hanged at Rushville, in May, 
1835, for a cold-blooded murder. It seems that 
they and John Wilson owned adjoining timber 
lands, over which they had many bitter dis- 
putes. In 1834 Mr. Wilson, with Nelson Mont- 
gomery, a Constable and Deputy Sheriff, who 
held an execution for debt against the McFad- 
dens, started to levy upon the premises. Ap- 
prehending no danger and arriving at the place, 
they were met by Elias McFadden, who engaged 
them in conversation and decoyed them around 
to the north sloe of the house. At that point 
they were in direct range of a window through 
which David McFadden, the son, shot Wilson 
down without a word of warning. Montgomery 
caught the wounded man as he fell, and drag- 
ging him to a wood-shed, hurried to Macomb 
to give the alarm. Soon a crowd of excited 
citzens proceeded to the scene of the murder, 
and found Elias McFadden coolly repairing a 
fence, while near by lay Wilson in a supposed 
dying condition. McFadden was at once ar- 
rested and search made for the then unknown 
murderer. Entering the house a rifle was found 
in the corner near the north window, unload- 
ed. A pane of glass had been broken out, a 
book lay upon the window sill, and both sash 
and book bore marks of powder. Searching 
still further, foot-prints were found leading 
from the house in the direction of the residence 
of David McFadden, who lived just across the 
ravine, on the west side. The tracks led to the 
door of his house, and there the searchers for 
the murderer found David McFadden at work 
on a shoemaker's bench, apparently as uncon- 
cerned as his father. The two were at once 
brought to Macomb and placed under guard, 
to await the result of Mr. Wilson's injuries. 

The wounded man lived but a few days, and 
at his death a preliminary examination of the 
accused was held before James Clark, Justice 
of the Peace, the evidence bein.g as narrated. 
Elias. David and Wylie (another son) were 




^. TL^ tS-o^^oi^ 







\ 



ASTOB; 



\j£^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough couxty 



663 



committed to tne county jail, witliout bail, to 
await the session of the Circuit Court, and on 
the 15th of November. 1834, the grand jury 
found a true bill against the three McPaddens. 
A few days thereafter they were arraigned be- 
fore the court, which granted a change of 
venue. Wylie McPadden was subsequently dis- 
charged from custody, the evidence against 
him having been found inconclusive, and in the 
spring of 1S35 Elias and David were taken to 
Rushville, Schuyler County, tor trial. In May, 
1S35. the case came before Judge Young, of 
the Circuit Court, Cyrus Walker acting as Pros- 
ecuting Attorney and Judge Minshall repre- 
senting the defendants. The trial lasted sev- 
eral days, but despite a vigorous defense, the 
jury returned a verdict of murder in the first 
degree. At the time set by the court the guilty 
men were hanged upon a scaffold, erected in a 
hollow near the city of Rushville, thus paying 
the penalty for their cowardly deed of murder. 
Thomas Hayden, as Sheriff of the County, 
erected the scaffold, and his son, acting as 
Deputy Sheriff, pulled the drop. The bill for 
hanging the guilty wretches ($1.50) is still 
on file in the County Clerk's office at Macomb. 
The principal witnesses in the case were 
George Wilson, Alfred Evans, Nelson Mont- 
gomery, J. W, Brattle, Moses Henton, William 
J. Frazier, William Bowen, Daniel Bowen, 
Perry Keys and James Anderson. Cyrus 
Walker, who prosecuted the case, regretted, to 
the last, the part he took in the trial. Never, 
thereafter, would he prosecute in murder trials, 
but did defend many such cases to the best 
of his great ability. Such, in brief, is the his- 
tory of the second murder which occurred in 
McDonou.gh County. 

Other early settlers in this vicinity were: 
David Troxwell, who located on the northwest 
quarter of Section 21 in the summer of 1828; 
James Edmonston, on Section 32 in 1829, after- 
ward removing to Schuyler County, where he 
died; William O'Neal located on Section 24 
in the same year, later becoming a resident of 
Iowa; Truman Bowen settled on Section 3, 
about the same time, and died the following 
year; John Massingall, who was more noted 
for his hunting proclivities than for his farm- 
ing abilities, built a cabin on the northwest 
quarter of Section 33. In 1829 William I. Pace 
settled on the farm now owned by A. J. Pace, 
and William Edmonston on the southwest 



quarter of Section 26. Mr. Edmonston sei-ved 
two terms as a member of the State Legisla- 
ture, being elected in 1836 and 1838 and serv- 
ing in the same bodies with Abraham Lincoln. 
Other comers of that period were John Wilson, 
who came in 1834 and was murdered during 
the same year by the McPaddens, as heretofore 
narrated; James McClure and Willis Wayland, 
settlers of 1832., the latter locating on Section 
34, where he died. Other pioneers of the 'thir- 
ties were: Reuben Alexander. 1833: William 
Champ and Wesley Wayland (Section 34), 
1834; Israel Camp (Section 3), Alexander Pro- 
vine (Section 36), William Allison (Section 
24), and John McCormick (Section 33)— all in 
1835; and Firman B. Camp, on Section 3, No- 
vember 13, 1836. 

Among the prominent and substantial farm- 
ers who are still residents of the township are 
William Andrews, Charles Andrews, T. L. 
Bowen, Stephen Bagley, Andrew J. Dark. Rob- 
ert L. Horrell. J. M. Logan, Robert McCuteheon 
and Fred W. Plassman. (For details of their 
lives see Biographical Department. ) Popula- 
tion of the township in 1900, exclusive of a part 
of Macomb City, 869. 

Emmet Township (6 N. 3 W. ).— This town- 
ship is about equally divided between timber 
and prairie land, and is well watered. Crooked 
Creek passes through the southeastern portion, 
entering on the northwest quarter of Section 
25 and leaving on the southwest quarter of 
Section 34. Spring Creek and some smaller 
streams also do their part in watering the 
township. A portion of the city of Macomb 
is on Section 36 of this township. It contains 
many good farms, most of its 23.000 acres of 
land being improved. 

In 1830 Peter Hale made the first settlement 
in Emmet Township, erecting his cabin on land 
to the west of Macomb, where the old cemetery 
is now located. About the same time William 
Pringle located just west of Mr. Hale's place, 
and in the spring of that year James Clarke 
and his son, Samuel L., settled on Section 36, 
and James and Thomas W. Head, on Section 5, 
in 1832. Richard H. Churchill occupied a farm 
on Section 14, in the same year; Job Yard 
settled on Section 30 and Levi Warren, on the 
same section, in 1833; Benjamin Naylor erect- 
ed a log cabin on Section 29. in 1S33; and in 
the following year Joshua Simmons settled on 



664 



HISTORY OF iMcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



Section 4, while David Hardin came to the 
township in 1835. 

Many others have done their full share in 
the development of the township, among whose 
industries must be mentioned the celebrated 
McLean stone quarries. Among Its enterpris- 
ing and wealthy farmers are: W. A. Murray, 

C. P. K. Kline, E. Hickman, T. M. Champion, 

D. H. Clark, I. W. Black, and George M. and 

E. O. Cole. (For individual records, see bio- 
graphical sketches,) Population in 1900, exclu- 
sive of a part of the city of Macomb, 1,001. 

ScioTA Township (7 N. 3 W.), with the ex- 
ception of a section in the southwest corner, 
consists of a fine body of prairie land, every 
acre of which is under fence and cultivation, 
and used either for farming or pasturage. Ow- 
ing to a scarcity of timber, this township was 
late in being settled. With fuel and building 
materials scarce, it was a bold act for the early 
settlers to fix their homes on the bleak prairie; 
hence, uir to 1855 or 1856, but few had the har- 
dihood to try the experiment. But with the 
advent of the railroads the problem was 
solved, and a rush was made for the bleak but 
rich open land. Lumber, fuel and all necessary 
materials were then easily brought to hand, to 
enable the settlers to fence their fields, build 
their barns and maintain comfortable homes. 
The township is well watered, as Crooked 
Creek passes through ten or twelve of its sec- 
tions. Within its boundaries are two villages — 
Good Hope and Sciota — the latter being first 
named Clarkesville, in honor of William B. 
Clarke, who first located at that point. (See 
chapter in this history, on "Cities, Towns and 
Villages.") 

The first settler of the township was Pers- 
ley Purdy, who built his log cabin on Section 
31. Some time afterward he emigrated to 
Oregon, where he died not many years ago. In 
1834 Victor M. Hardin came and settled on the 
same section near Mr. Purdy, occupying his 
farm for many years and afterward removing 
to Blandinsville, where he spent the last years 
of his life. John Hainline and family arrived 
in October, 1836, and settled on Section 31, on 
the southeast quarter of which Mr. Hainline 
erected a log-cabin. He resided on this farm 
until his death June 28, 1801. John W. Hain- 
line, his son, who owns the old family home- 
stead, was born May 10, 1846, and is the oldest 



living resident born in the township. In 1838 
Benjamin Clarke settled on Section 30, on 
which he resided until his death in 1854. Har- 
rison Head located on Section 32, in 1834, and 
lived there until his death in 1881. Thomas W. 
Head, who became a settler of Emmet Town- 
ship in 1832, located on Section 32 in Sciota 
Township, in 1848. After remaining on this 
place for some years, he removed to the village 
of Sciota, where he died a few years ago. 

The above mentioned comprise the earliest 
of the pioneers, but as stated, on the comple- 
tion of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy line, 
settlers rapidly came in and occupied the 
choice prairie lands. Among this latter class 
may be mentioned the following; Zachariah 
RIcketts, who, In 1856, located on Section 25; 
Louis Woolley, who settled on Section 12, and 
moved to McLean County. 111., in 1863; Henry 
Baldwin, who purchased a farm on Section 11 
in 1857, later removed to Warren County, 111., 
after which he returned to this township; Wil- 
liam and Richard Jones, settlers of the same 
year, who came in March, 1857, Improved a 
farm on Section 23 and in 1870 removed to the 
West; Lewis Shatter, who located on Section 
12, in the spring of 1858, but removed to Fulton 
County in 1862; Robert Bishop, who settled on 
Section 11 in 1S59, and a year later migrated to 
Kansas; and last, but by no means least. 
Captain Benjamin A. Griffith, who in July, 
1863, was made Captain of a company in the 
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at 
Vicksburg and at Champion Hills, and after 
serving to the conclusion of the war, was mus- 
tered out of the service August 17, 1865. Upon 
his return Captain Griffith located on Section 
31, where he died a few years ago. 

The first marriage in Sciota Township made 
V. M. Hardin and Nancy Purdy man and wife, 
on the 16th of April, 1840. The first school 
house, erected in 1846, was 18x20 feet in dimen- 
sions and constructed of native timber. Louis 
Goddard taught the first term here. Rev. Cy- 
rus Haines preached the first sermon at the 
residence of John Hainline, in the summer of 
1837. The death of Samuel Purdy, in Septem- 
ber, 1841, was the first In the township. John 
H. Hainline was the first child born, his death 
occurring In infancy. A man named Town- 
send, who, in the spring of 1836, entered land 
on Section 31, broke up the first land in the 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUXTY. 



66; 



township. In tne following summer he broke 
seven acres, but did not put in a crop and left 
the country during the next fall. In the spring 
of 1837 John Mainline sowed the first wheat 
and planted the pioneer crop of corn. 

Sciota Township was organized in 1856, the 
first election occurring April 7, 1857. William 
B. Clarke and James M. Wallin were elected 
Justices of the Peace, and so officiated for 
many years. The total population of the town- 
ship in 1900, including Sciota village and part 
of Good Hope Village, was 1,304. 

Lamoixe Township (4 N., 4 W.), in the 
southwest corner of the county, contains about 
23,000 acres, the most of which consists of 
timber and broken land. That portion of the 
township known as Round Prairie, on the bor- 
der of Hancock and Schuyler Counties, is good 
soil, and comprises excellent, improved farms. 
Troublesome and Crooked Creeks pass through 
the township, the latter entering on Section 
18 and flowing diagonally through Sections 17, 
21, 22, 27 and the southwest corner of 34. 
Troublesome Creek enters on Section 21, and 
passes through Sections 3 and 9, entering 
Crooked Creek on Section 34. 

The settlement of this township was diffi- 
cult and slow. As it was densely wooded, he- 
roic labor was required to clear the land. It 
had been the recent home of the Indian, as 
well as the deer, the wolf and other wild ani- 
mals, and it required hardy sons of toil to 
bring the condition of the people up to a state 
of security and comfort; but after years of 
hard work and often of suffering, this was ac- 
complished. As stated, the township has now 
many excellent farms, and the descendants of 

the pioneers who bore the brunt of the fight 

« 
for civilization are wealthy, industrious and 

prominent citizens. 

The first settlement in the township was 

made in the spring of 1830. by Charles Hills 

and David Fees, who entered land on Section 

12 and erected a log cabin on its northeast 

quarter. Mr. Hills resided for years on Section 

1, and was one of the oldest settlers living in 

the county. John Hills also came in the spring 

of 1S30. settled on Section 12. and was one of 

the volunteers during the Mormon War. In 

the spring of 1832 William Jenkins located in 

the township, as also did Christopher Yates. 

The latter moved to Nauvoo, Hancock County, 

4 



and was subsequently killed in a runaway acci- 
dent near Quincy. In the same year Arvel 
Sherrel settled on Section 31, and Elijah Poole 
and Abel Friend on Section 30. In 1848 the 
latter moved to Iowa. Ahel Friend, Sr., and 
family also settled on Section 2S. In 1832 
James King located on Section 3, and James 
Denton, on Section IS, in 1833. On the 1st of 
April, 1834, John H. Smith and his brother, 
Byrd Smith, settled on Section 31, where they 
built a cabin. Byrd died in 1880, but John still 
lives in the township, being one of its most 
prominent and wealthy citizens. He remained 
on the farm he first occupiea until the spring 
of 1854, when he sold his place and removed 
to Section 20, where he now resides, highly 
esteemed as an honest Christian gentleman 
and citizen. For many years he has been a 
consistent worker .in the Methodist Church, 
having been class-leader for more than a quar- 
ter of a century. In the local public service, 
as School Director, Trustee and Road Commis- 
sioner, he has earned the high esteem and re- 
gards of his neighbors and fellow citizens. 

Besides John H. Smith and those mentioned 
above, a number of the pioneers of the 'thirties 
are worthy of special mention. Isaac G. Smith 
came in 1834, his location being on Section 31. 
In May, 1835, came Hugh E. Wear, a settler, 
who was Justice of the Peace and died in 1873. 
About the same time Beverly Whittington locat- 
ed on the southwest quarter of Section 28, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. An- 
drew Wear, a son of Hugh, came to the town- 
ship about the same time as his father and 
remained on his farm many years. 

In 1835 William Hooten came from the State 
of Vermont, traveling the entire distance in a 
lumber wagon, and settled on Section 30 in 
Bethel Township, afterward removing to the 
eastern part of Lamoine. In 1868 he settled at 
Round Prairie, where he died November 12, 
1877. W. H. Hooten, who located in the town- 
ship in 1836, died in March, 1867. 

In the tall of 1836 Samuel F. Morris erected 
a small shanty with dirt floor. He was one of 
the volunteers in the Mormon War, and was 
present at the death of Joe Smith. John Twid- 
well came with his parents, in 1836, the family 
first locating on Section 33 and afterward re- 
moving to Section 28. In 1838 Avery Huff set- 
tled on Section 32, where he lived for a num- 
ber of years before returning to his native 



666 



HISTORY OF A[cDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



state, where he spent the remainder of his 
life. Edward Jarvis settled on Section 4. In 
1S41, and is largely interested in stock-raising. 
Johannis C. Decider settled on Section 29. 
John W. Hendricks, who resides on Section 1-5, 
came to the county in 1S3S, and built the first 
brick house in the township. 

In 1S37 the Lamoine Mills were erected by 
Butler Gates and a Mr. Mathews on Section 21. 
They have passed through various hands, but 
are still in operation. The first religious ser- 
vices in the township were held at the house 
of John Jarvis, by Jesse Chapman, and the 
first sermons were preached by Father Bradley 
and Thomas Owen at the house of Elijah Poole, 
in 1S32. Charles Hills and Charlotta David 
contracted the first marriage, and the first 
birth was that of Sarah, a daughter of David 
Fees, in 1S30. In that year the above named 
.gentleman built the first log cabin in the town- 
ship on Section 12. The first frame building 
was erected by Marcus Rice, in 1S40, its loca- 
tion being on Section 11. In 1839 William S. 
Hendricks taught the first school on Section 11. 

At the township meeting held April 7, 1857, 
John Twidwell and J. S. Halliday were elected 
the first Justices of the Peace and Robert Dor- 
othy, the first Constable. The village of Col- 
mar is situated within the township of La- 
moine. (For sketch see "Cities. Towns and 
Villages.") Population (1,900), 1,015. 

TEKNE.SSEE TowxsHii*. — The original town- 
ship was organized April 7, 1857 (then con- 
sisting of Congressional Township 5 North, 
Range 4 West), and remained without territo- 
rial change until 1880, when Colchester Town- 
ship was created, taking a strip a mile and a 
half wide from its eastern side and reducing its 
present area to twenty-seven square miles. 
Nearly one-half of Tennessee Township is com- 
posed of timber land, and its surface is under- 
laid in many places with an excellent body of 
fire and potter's clay and an almost ine.xhaust- 
ible supply of superior coal. A large portion 
of the area consists of .good farming land, 
somewhat level in sections, but in course of 
thorough drainage, and already comprising 
many first class farms and improvements. 

Crooked Creek enters the township on the 
southwest quarter of Section 1, and flows diag- 
onally through Sections 9, 10, 16, 17 and the 
northern part of 19, leaving at the southwest 



corner of Section 18. At this point it is quite 
a considerable stream, supplying abundance of 
water. The village of Tennessee is In this 
township. ( For sketch, see chapter on "Cities, 
Towns and Villages.") 

Daniel Campbell settled in Tennessee Town- 
ship on December 10, 1829, locating on Sec- 
tion 10. He was a volunteer of the Black Hawk 
War of 1832, became Sheriff of the county, and 
died April 9, 1842. His son, Daniel W. Camp- 
bell, erected the first business house in the 
village of Colchester. 

Roswell Tyrrell came to the township in 
1826. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, en- 
listing at the age of sixteen years. He re- 
mained in the army throughout the period of 
hostilities, and received for his services a land 
warrant for x60 acres of land, which he sold 
and afterwards purchased a quarter of Section 
29, in Tennessee Township. This tract he oc- 
cupied until his death, April 13, 1872. Mr. Tyr- 
rell was a man of great courage, unswerving 
integrity and esteemed by all who had the 
honor of his acquaintance. His life was replete 
with interesting events, well remembered by 
his old neighbors, but the narrative would be 
too long to insert in this connection; suflice it 
to say. that he was an honor to his family and 
country. 

Joshua Hunt located on Section 3 in 1831, 
and passed the remainder of his life there. 
His son, Simon W. Hunt, owned large tracts of 
land, and was noted as a stock-raiser. Hugh 
McDonough located on Section 31. where he 
resided for many years, his family being still 
well known and esteemed in the county. In 
the spring of 1832 James Fulkerson located on 
Sections 2,S and 29, where he remained until 
his death, July 3, 1867, aged seventy years. 
Thomas Fulkerson, his son, proved an unusu- 
ally bright student, receiving his higher edu- 
cation at McDonough College, at Macomb, and 
afterward teaching school at Hills" Grove for a 
number of years. In the fall of 1833 John Wad- 
dell entered land in this township, lived on 
his farm for many years and died there Janu- 
ary 9, 1877. There was a large family of 
Waddills, many of whom are still residents of 
Tennessee Township. John Kirk settled on. 
Section 34, in the spring of 1834, and in 1856 
removed to Blandinsville, where he died in 
November of that year, 

Larkin C. Bacon, a native of Tennessee, be- 




MR. AND MRS. EDWARD D. BRINTON 



Sl^^^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



667 



came a resident of the township in March, 
1S34, settling on Section 34, where he pros- 
pered and added continually to his farming in- 
terests. He was also an active business man, 
dealing largely in cattle; and both in his ag- 
ricultural and his live-stock operations he was 
entirely successful. Further, for many years, 
he was a leader in church and Sunday-school 
work, being superintendent of the latter for 
a long period. At the age of nineteen years 
he had joined the Baptist Cnurch, but there 
being no organizatiop of that denomination in 
the vicinity of his Illinois Home, in 1845 he be- 
came a member of the Methodist Church, and 
continued a faithful adherent to that faith until 
his death, October 24, 1877. Dr. Bacon, of Ma- 
comb, one of tne prominent surgeons and phy- 
sicians of the county, was the founder of St. 
Francis Hospital, in that city. 

In 1835 John Lyon settled on Section 13 of 
this township, and afterward removed to Sec- 
tion 4, where he resided until shortly before 
his death, which occurred in Adair County, Ky., 
September 27, 1840. Michael Lawyer accom- 
panied his mother to this township and settled 
on Section 34. In the spring of 1837 Lewis B. 
Mourning came with his parents and located on 
Section 8, residing there until his death, April 
IS, 1870. Mr. Mourning was an active man of 
business, as well as a power for good in all 
moral and religious movements in his vicinity. 

Charles B. Gilchrist became a resident in 
1837, purchasing land in Section 32 and estab- 
lishing there a very comfortable and desirable 
home. He afterward purchased the old home- 
stead on Section 29, where he resided until his 
death, June 30, 1882. Both his sons, Charles A. 
and Van B. Gilchrist, were prominent men in 
the county, the former becoming a Brigadier- 
General in the Civil War. 

In the fall of 1832 James Jenkins took up 
land south of Hill's Grove. He is still an active 
worker in all the religious and moral move- 
ments of his locality. 

In 1835 Isaac Holton, a graduate of Brown 
University, moved into the township, and, in 
a log cabin on Section 29, established what was 
known as Hills' Grove Seminary. He erected 
the building himself, It being a rude structure 
about 20x24 teet, one-and-one-half stories in 
height; it is now used as a stable. Mr. Holton 
conducted a school in which all the collegiate 
branches were taught, and continued in this 



line for fifteen years. He then removed to 
Carthage, 111., where he taught the high 
school for a year, returning thence to Hills' 
Grove with the intention of resuming his edu- 
cational work there; but his death occurred 
shortly afterward in the vicinity of the school. 
Mr. Holton left his impress not only in this 
township, but his good influence extended 
throughout the county, and his name will not 
soon be forgotten. 

In 1834 Alexander Ladlock taught a school in 
a cabin on Section 9. In 1835 the first religious 
services in the township were held at the resi- 
dence of Isaac Holton. Mr. Valentine, the min- 
ister, also preached the first sermon to the 
people of Tennessee, In the spring of 1832, at 
the house of James Fulkerson. O. A. Young 
built the first steam saw-mill, in 1857, on Sec- 
tion 6. The first marriage was that of Par- 
menio Jones and Ann Dickson, in the spring of 
1836. The first school was taught by James 
Fulkerson, on nis own premises, in the spring 
of 1832. In July, 1834, occurred the death of 
a Mrs. Taise, a widow, her demise being the 
first in the township. As there was no regu- 
lar cemetery, her remains were interred in the 
timber on the northwest quarter of Section 4, 
her coffin of dressed walnut being made by a 
Mr. Durand. 

At the general election in November, 1856, 
it was decided to organize the county into 
townships, and no change was made in the lim- 
its of Tennessee Township until the spring 
election of 1880, when it was voted to transfer 
Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, and the east 
half of Sections 2, 11, 14, 23, 26 and 35 to the 
township of Colchester. The first township 
election was held April 7, 1857, when S. A. 
Knott was elected Justice of the Peace, and 
D. W. Campbell and Samuel Gibson, Con- 
stables. (For sketch of village of Tennessee, 
see article under heading, "Cities. Towns and 
Villages.") Population of township in 1900, 
1,033. 

CoLciiifSTER Township, as already explained 
in connection with the history of Chalmers and 
Tennessee Townships, was organized in 1880 
with an area of eighteen sections, composed of 
equal parts taken from Chalmers and Tennes- 
see Townships — the northern half of the six- 
mile strip taken from the western part of 
Chalmers Township being two miles wide and 



668 



HISTORY OF :\IcDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



the southern half one mile wide, while the six- 
mile strip taken from the eastern part of Ten- 
nessee Township Is one and a half miles wide. 
The early history of the township has already 
been given in connection with that of the town- 
ships of which it constituted a part, while the 
city of Colchester — an important part of the 
township from its prominence as a mining re- 
gion — is treated quite fully in the chapters on 
"Geology and Mineral Deposits" and "Cities, 
Towns and Villages." The population of Col- 
chester Township, including the city of Col- 
chester, according to the census of 1900, was 
2,389. 

Hire Township (6 N.. 4 W.).— The soil of 
this township is of good quality, and the im- 
proved farms are equal to any others in the 
county. It has an area of over 22,000 acres of 
improved prairie land and about 800 acres of 
timber. When the township was organized, in 
1S57. it was named Rock Creek, but when the 
Board of Supervisors met they rechristened it 
Hire, in honor of George Hire, one of the early 
and prominent farmers of the township. 

Richard Dunn was the first settler who im- 
proved land in the township. In 1826 he built 
a cabin, raised four acres of corn and soon 
afterward left the county. Lewis Walters next 
settled on the northwest quarter of Section 3, 
in the year 1829, but left sometime in 1S30. In 
the spring of the latter year Nathaniel Herron 
improved a farm on the northwest quarter of 
Section 3, and continued to make it his home- 
stead until 1855, when he removed to Noda- 
way County, Mo., where he died. James Sey- 
bold settled on Section 4, in 1830, removed to 
Blandinsville in 1860 and died in that village 
in 1869. William H. Hays, who located in 1832, 
resided in the township for a long period and 
died a few years ago. There was a large 
family connection in this county, including 
Hillary Hays, Jefferson Hays, Joseph W. Hays 
and Nathaniel Hays, many of whose descend- 
ants still reside in McDonough. William Rud- 
dell and family entered land on Section 6, in 
1835. and in 1840 removed to Iowa, where he 
died in 1871. 

Vandever Banks located on the southwest 
quarter of Section 30, built tue usual log cabin, 
and proved to be an energetic, industrious, pros- 
perous and remarkably intelligent farmer. He 
was a Captain in the Mormon War, and in 



1856 was a candidate for the Legislature. Mr. 
Banks received a clear majority in the county, 
which at that time was largely Democratic, 
but, on a technicality, his opponent, George 
Hire, secured the seat. The unsuccessful can- 
didate was a Christian gentleman, and had the 
sincere esteem of his many friends in Mc- 
Donough County. During the Civil War he 
was an influential Union man, upholding in 
every possible way the principles in which he 
so thoroughly believed. Mr. Banks died a few 
years ago on tne farm upon which he had so 
long resided. 

Major Hungate settled on the southwest 
quarter of Section 13, but after a few years' 
residence left the county, accompanied by Ja- 
cob Clarke, who had located on the same sec- 
tion. In the spring of 1838 Fitzgerald Wool- 
ley and family came overland from the State 
of New York, and located on the southeast 
quarter of Section 32. Mr. WooUey lived there 
until 1847, when he removed to Hancock 
County, where ne died in 1876, aged eighty- 
nine years. In 1842 Jacob Keithly and family 
settled on Section 2. He resided there until 
1860. lived in Blandinsville from that year un- 
til 1870, and then migrated to California, where 
he died, five years later. Ebenezer X. HicU.s 
settled in the township, in 1842, was a success- 
ful stock-raiser and became quite wealthy. 
Jesse Hire located on Section 32 in 1847, but 
subsequently purchased a tract on Section 28, 
upon which he resided until his death. 

George Hire, after whom the township was 
named, settled in McDonougn County in 1851. 
He was a man of ability, practically successful 
and became a wealthy farmer. In 1856 he was 
elected to the Legislature, serving two years. 
Mr. Hire claimed that, when a small boy in 
Virginia, he saw George Washington. 

Among other prominent citizens was John H. 
Hays, a native of McDonough County, who was 
born on the family homestead on Section 2, 
April 7, 1836. Oliver P. Courtright settled on 
Section 16, and was among the first to enlist 
under the call for 75,000 men at the beginning 
of the Civil War. He was also quite active in 
obtaining volunteers. During the war he was 
a member of tne Seventy-eighth Illinois Regi- 
ment, and at the close of the rebellion he re- 
turned home. Mr. Courtright died August 25, 
1878, his remains being interred in the South- 
ern Cemetery, near Blandinsville. In 1854 John 




f/^^^ ^r^rxA^^f^ 



HISTORY OF .McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



669 



B. Murray settled on a tract in the southeast- 
ern part ot the township, his family consisting 
of three daughters and one son. His descend- 
ants in this county are numerous and 
highly respected. In 1S41 M. L. Phelps 
emigrated from the State of New York 
and became a settler ot this township. 
He was an industrious and successful 
farmer, amassing quite a fortune.^ He was 
killed, January 13, 1872, near the railroad depot 
at Macomb, by a runaway team, which threw 
him from his wagon, inflicting fatal injuries. 
In 1905, shortly before her death, his widow 
furnished the means to erect the Marietta 
Phelps Hospital, at Macomb, which is a well 
deserved monument to her memory and will 
ever be gratefully remembered by the citizens 
of the place. (For details, see "Hospitals.") 

On April 7, 1S57, at an election held under 
the new township organization, Samuel Logan 
was elected Justice of the Peace, and Reuben 
Martin and Thomas Branham, Constables. The 
first religious service held in the township was 
at the residence of Vandever Banks. The pio- 
neer school was taught by Captain Charles R. 
Hume, in 1838, on Section IS. Population 
(1900), 1,011. 

Blandinsville Township (7 N., 4 W.). — This 
township, located in the northwest corner ot 
the county, consists principally of an excellent 
quality of prairie land. Along the streams, in 
the early days, there was considerable timber; 
but this has been nearly all cut down, so that 
now the township is mostly under a high state 
of cultivation, its elegant and commodious 
dwellings and barns showing that the people 
are industrious and prosperous. There are 
four small streams which run through the 
township and afford an abundance of water for 
all purposes. One of these streams passes 
through Sections 26, 27, 32, and 33; another 
through Sections 13, 14, 23, 22 and 21, to Sec- 
tion 30; and another through Sections 1, 12, 
11, 10, 15, 16, 17 and IS, indicating that a ma- 
jority of the sections in the township are well 
supplied with running water. 

The "M'inter of the Big Snow" (1S30-31) dis- 
couraged many from coming into the town- 
ship, as well as the few who were then here; 
but those who remained through that season of 
suffering have seen the development of a fine 
country, and have received the reward of pa- 
tient endurance and industry. 



The earliest settler in the township was 
William Job, who, with several others from 
Morgan County, came on a prospecting tour in 
1825. In the following spring he brought his 
family, and for their accommodation built a 
split log cabin on the southeast quarter of 
Section 33. This was succeeded by a hewed 
log building, considered at that time quite an 
aristocratic edifice. The latter primitive struc- 
ture is still in existence in the city of Blan- 
dinsville. Mr. Job died in 1835 on the place 
of his labors and improvements. Others soon 
settled in his vicinity, and for many years the 
town of Blandinsville was known as Job's set- 
tlement; in fact, to this day old settlers recog- 
nize it by that name. 

Ephraim Perkins and William Southward 
came with Mr. Job, Mr. Southward settling on 
Section 9 and living there for several years. 
He was the first Sheriff of McDonough County, 
and after his term of ofiice removed to Mis- 
souri. In the Spring of 1826 John Vance also 
settled In the vicinity of Mr. Job, and, after 
residing on his farm until 1854, removed to 
Iowa, where he died December 1, 1866. Frank 
Redden, one ot the early pioneers of this 
period, located on Section 34, but ultimately be- 
came a resident of Iowa. 

During the years 1828-30 quite a number 
were added to the settlement. Elijah Bristow 
located on Section 21, but later, with his fam- 
ily, removed to Oregon. John Woodsides set- 
tled on Section 16, where he lived for ten 
years, and then departed from the county and 
the State. John Bagley died suddenly a short 
time after locating on Section 16. 

On March 14, 1S30, John Huston settled on 
the northeast quarter of Section 3. He was a 
man ot great energy and intelligence, pros- 
pered, and became wealthy. His death oc- 
curred July 8, 1S54. The deceased was also an 
able man of affairs and of unquestioned per- 
sonal integrity. In 1850 he was elected to the 
State Legislature, and there, as elsewhere, 
was truly a representative gentleman. Mem- 
bers ot his family occupy prominent positions 
in the affairs of the county and have proved 
themselves worthy of his nonored name. Rig- 
don Huston, a son ot John, occupied a portion 
of the family homestead, and added many acres 
to his landed possessions. He was extensively 
engaged in the importing and raising of blood- 
ed cattle, and had an international reputation 
as the owner of one of the best herds of Short 



6/0 



HISTORY OF .McDOX'OUGH COUNTY. 



Horn cattle in the United States. Rigdon Hus- 
ton was higlily esteemed by all his acquaint- 
ances and business associates, and his death, 
which occurred a few years ago, was generally 
regretted throughout the county. 

In 1S30 Russell Duncan built his cabin on 
Section 3 and lived there until his death in 
the spring of 1840. John Scroggins erected a 
cabin on Section 32. made some improvements 
and after a short residence sold his property 
and moved from the State. John Hardesty set- 
tled on Section 9 in 1830, and died in August, 
1875. Enoch Cyrus came to the township in 
the same year, taught the first term of school, 
and, after a few years, sold his land and went 
to California, where he died. Joel Duncan lo- 
cated on Section 4, also in 1S30, built a 
cabin, and afterward removed to a farm farther 
south, where he spent the rest of his life. 
Jacob Koffman, after living for a number of 
years on Section 3, removed to Missouri. The 
Grigsby family came into the township in 1830, 
and quite a number of the children are still 
residents of the county. Thomas B. Duncan 
settled on Section IS, but subsequently re- 
moved to Section 8, where he has since resided 
for years. 

Thomas A. Mustain came with his family in 
1832, and settled on Section 32: in the same 
year William D. and John F. Mustain located 
on Section 16. The Mustains were an indus- 
trious people and exercised much good influ- 
ence in their community, being regarded as 
honorable and high minded. Harrison Hun- 
gate came to the county September 27, 1833. 
resided eight years on his farm, and then re- 
moved to the village of Blandinsville, where 
he engaged In the grocery business with V. M. 
Hardin. In 1834 Joseph Duncan entered land 
on Section 4, where he afterward suddenly 
died. 

After these early settlers had improved their 
farms, for some years further settlement was 
at a standstill. From 1850 emigration became 
more active, until finally the township was 
fully improved. James Gilfrey, however, set- 
tled on the northeast quarter of Section 20. 
He was a soldier of 1S12, and at his death left 
a large family. Henry F. Gilfrey, a son of 
Mr. Gilfrey, came with his father to this town- 
ship, his chief avocation being that of farm- 
ing, and his occasional occupation that of a 
carpenter and .joiner. He removed to Macomb 



in tne early 'sixties, dying there a few years 
ago. Among other prominent citizens of the 
township are George W. Mustain, George D. 
Mustain, Martin Spiker, William Martin Miller, 
Philip W. George, John T. James, James Smith 
Dodds, William B. Kirkpatrick and William L. 
Woodside. 

Charles A. Blandin, son of .Joseph L. Blan- 
din, founder of the village of Blandinsville, 
settled on a portion of the present site of that 
place, at first engaging in general mercantile 
business. In 1855 he entered into the lumber 
business, cutting logs and floating them down 
to Oquawka, where he had a saw-mill. Subse- 
quently he built a saw-mill at Burlington, and 
constructed and ran a steamboat for the 
transportation of his lumber. In October, 1860, 
Mr. Blandin returned to Blandinsville and re- 
sumed farming, continuing in this business un- 
till 1877, when he moved to the village of Sci- 
ota, where he built a mill and elevator. After 
a year's residence at Sciota, he sold his prop- 
erty there and returned to Blandinsville, 
where for a number of years he was a hotel- 
keeper and a dealer in grain and live stock. 
He then retired to the old homestead, where he 
still resides. As is indicated by this short 
sketch, Mr. Blandin has been a very active 
business man, and it should be added that he 
is a citizen of upright character and has earned 
universal confidence and esteem. 

As to other pioneer events of the township — 
Frank Redden built the first grist-mill on Sec- 
tion 34, where he had settled. In the spring of 
1830 was born the first white child — James, the 
son of John Vance. The first school building, 
constructed of logs, was occupied by Enoch 
Cyrus as a teacher in 1S31. Rev. John Logan 
preached the first sermon in 1830, the building 
used as a church being the barn of John 
Hardesty. In 1832 the Baptist and Christian 
denominations erected a union church building 
on Section 21, this being the first house of 
worship in the township. (For further details 
of Blandinsville, see "Cities, Towns and Vil- 
lages.") Population (1900), 1,710. 

In the above record brief reference has been 
made to the several townships, chiefly for the 
purpose of giving the history of their organi- 
zation and placing in evidence the names of 
those hardy pioneers who helped to make the 
wilderness blossom like the rose, making it pos- 




MRS. W. T. BROOKING 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY 



671 



sible for succeeding generations to live in com- 
fort, peace and plenty. To these heroic 
spirits — men and women alike — it is but just 
that such a memorial should be erected and 
their goodly names saved from oblivion. 



CHAPTER X. 



CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES. 



CITY OF M.\COMB — JOHX BAKER THE FIRST .SET- 
TLER — FIR.ST ELECTION OF COUNTY OFFICERS IX 
1S30 — .\CT OF THE LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHING 
THE COUNTY SEAT PRESENT AREA AND TERRI- 
TORY EMBRACED IX CITY LIMITS CITY INCORPO- 
RATED IX 1S56 — POPULATION, PUBLIC BUILDINGS 
AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES SOME EARLY DOCU- 
MENTARY' HISTORY CITIES OF BUSHNELL AND 

COLCHESTER VILLAGES OF PRAIRIE CITY, BAR- 

DOLPH, INDUSTRY, GOOD HOPE, SCIOTA, BLAN- 
DINSVILLE, NEW PHILADELPHIA, TENNESSEE AND 
COLMAR — BUSINESS CONCERNS, SCHOOLS AND 
CHURCHES — SOME ABANDONED VILLAGES. 

City of Macomb. — The first permanent set- 
tler on the original site of the present city 
of Macomb was ,Iohn Baker, although one 
Elias McFadden appears to have settled in the 
northeast corner of Chalmers Township, near 
the present site of Macomb in the fall of 1828 
or the spring of 1829. On June 14, 1830, in 
accordance with an act passed by the State 
Legislature on January 25, 1826, empowering 
the citizens residing within the limits of the 
territory now comprising the county of Mc- 
Donough, to organize a county government 
when the population of the new county should 
amount to 350, the first step was taken to this 
end by the issue of an order by Hon. Richard 
M. Young, then Circuit Judge of the District, 
directing that an election be held at the house 
of Elias McFadden on the 3d day of July fol- 
lowing, for the choice of county officers. (For 
this order see Chapter 11. of this "History of 
McDonough County.") The County Commis- 
sioners then elected adopted a resolution de- 
claring that "The present seat of justice be at 



the house of John Baker, and that for the 
liresent the same be known as the tow'n of 
Washington." 

In December following James Clarke, who 
had been elected one of the County Commis- 
sioners, went to the city of Springfield, then 
the location of the Land Office, for the purpose 
of securing the title to the land selected as 
the seat of justice for the new county; and 
about the same time the Legislature, then in 
session at Vandalia, passed the following act, 
which was approved by the Governor December 
24, 1830: 

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of 
the State of Illinois, represented in the Gen- 
eral Assembly, That the county seat of the 
County of McDonough be, and the same is 
hereby, permanently established on the south- 
west quarter of Section 31, in Township 6 
North, of Range 2 West, and that the Commis- 
sioners of said county are hereby authorized 
to purchase the said quarter section of land 
of the United States, as provided by the laws 
of Congress; and that the name of said 
County Seat shall be called Macomb." 

Although the name was adopted in honor of 
Gen. Alexander Macomb, an officer of the War 
of 1812 w'ho had been connected with Commo- 
dore McDonough — for whom the county was 
named — in achieving the victory at the Battle 
of Plattsburg in 1814, the name of the new 
town was spelled locally, for a time, as "Mc- 
Comb," probably because of an Irish element 
in the population. 

The first sale of lots occurred in May, 1831, 
and it is said that eleven sales were had 
before the tract embraced in the original site 
was disposed of, realizing $4,903.55, the sales 
being conducted at a cost of $186.88 — thereby 
netting $4,810.67. The population began to 
grow in 1831. and since that period various 
additions have been made, until now, judged 
by the map, the city covers an area of nearly 
two square miles, the larger portion being in 
the original township of Macomb, though addi- 
tions have been drawn from the townships of 
Scotland, Chalmers and Emmet. The principal 
additions bear the names of the Chandler's, 
Yieser's, Chase's, Holmes' and Peasley's, 
though others have been made, especially 
those in the vicinity of the County Fair 
Grounds. 

In 1841 Macomb was incorporated as a vil- 



6/2 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough couxty. 



lage with a Hoard of five Trustees, the area 
then being one square mile. Its Incorporation 
as a city came in 1S56, with a charter similar 
to that granted the city of Quincy. 

According to the census of 1900, the popu- 
lation was 5,375, which is now estimated as 
approximating 7,000. The city is unsurpassed 
in agricultural surroundings; has a State Nor- 
mal School with the finest building of its kind 
in the State; a good business college; five 
good public schools; a Carnegie Library; one 
Church School; fourteen churches; Y. M. C. 
and Y. W. C. Associations; four weekly and 
two daily newspapers; seven miles of paved 
streets; a beautiful City Park; a superior 
water-system; an excellent sewerage system; 
a well equipped Fire Department; an electric 
light and gas plant; a complete telephone sys- 
tem; is on two railroad lines; has a City 
Commercial Club; three of the largest stone- 
ware factories in the world; two sewerpipe 
works; one large iron-foundry; a large brick- 
yard; three pressed stone factories; two 
planing-mills; two feed-mills; two plumbing 
establishments; three large lumber yards; 
bottling works; sheet-metal works; two marble 
works; two steam laundries; four commodi- 
ous hotels; two candy factories; two up-to- 
date hospitals; one National and three private 
banks; an opera house and coliseum; six 
livery barns; free-mail delivery; is the center 
of seven rural-mail routes; has two green- 
houses; Fair Grounds, including a halt-mile 
track; Band and orchestra; a population of 
600 persons employed in factories — and neither 
saloons nor loafers. 

Visitors accord to the city high praise for 
its beauty and business appearance. It is reg- 
ularly incorporated, a Mayor and a Board of 
eight Aldermen constituting the governing cor- 
poration. It has many societies — notably the 
Masonic. Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, An- 
cient Order of United Workmen, Modern 
Woodmen of America, Knights of Columbus, 
several Labor Union Lodges, a Court of Honor 
Lodge, Grand Army Post and Woman's Relief 
Corps, Order of Red Men, Loyal American 
lodges. Mutual Protective League, Mystic 
Workers of the World, Harrison Mutual Burial 
Association, McDonough County Agricultural 
and Mechanical Association, Macomb Mer- 
chants' Club, Macomb Gun Club; Armory of 
Troop H (First Regiment Cav.. I. N. G.); 



Woman's Christian Temperance Union (with 
a large number of members); two public parks 
(City Park and Lake George Park), and three 
cemeteries — Oakwood, Old Cemetery and the 
Catholic Cemetery. 

The city is well represented with tasteful, 
modern church buildings, as follows: African 
Methodist, Christian, Christian Endeavor 
(Chapel). Baptist (Colored), Cumberland 
Presbj-terian, First Baptist, First Free Meth- 
odist, First Methodist Episcopal, First Presby- 
terian, St. George's Episcopal, St. Paul's Cath- 
olic, Trinity Lutheran and Universalist. 

The city of Macomb is on the Chicago, Bur- 
liington & Quincy Railroad, and connected with 
the Macomb & Western Illinois Railroad. It is 
204 miles southwest of Chicago and sixty miles 
northeast of Quincy. 

Some Docijiextary HiStoky. — The following 
items taken from the public records of Mc- 
Donough County, soon after its organization 
and after the location of the county-seat at 
the city of Macomb, have been furnished by 
George D. Tunnicliff, Esq., an attorney of that 
city. Having an important bearing upon titles 
to real-estate in the city of Macomb, it is be- 
lieved they will have a permanent value to 
many residents of Macomb and McDonough 
County; hence, they are deemed worthy of 
insertion in this connection: 
"Tuesday, March S, 1831. 

"Ordered that James Clarke be allowed the 
sum of Three Dollars for going to Springfield 
to enter the quarter section of land on which 
the town of McComb now stands. (In 1830.) 

"Ordered that John Baker be and he is here- 
by allowed and granted the fee sim])le right 
to two lots in the town of McComb where his 
houses now stand, provided the said Town of 
McComb is or may be laid off on the quarter- 
section on whicn the said houses of said Baker 
now stand, in discharge of payment of account 
for house-rent for county uses and purposes, 
as a court-house; and, further, that so soon 
as the county obtains a deed for said land, 
that the county agent, or agents, make the said 
Baker a deed in fee for said town lots. 

"Ordered thac James Clarke be requested to 
go to Springfield for- the purpose of entering 
the quarter-section of land on which to locate 
the town of McComb. and for so doing he is 
allowed one dollar per day going and returning 



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THOMAS A. BROOKING 



, J u^^"- 






HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



673 



and his expenses, to be borne by the county 
and refunded him on his return. 

"Ordered that the receipt of the Agent of the 
Land Office be admitted to record, which is 
done in the words and figures following, to- 
wit: 

Springfield, 2S Dec, 1830. 
"Received of James Clarke for the County 
Commissioners of the County of McDonough 
of the State of Illinois, to be applied to the 
entry of the southwest quarter of Section 
31, Township 6 North, of Range 2 West, or re- 
turned when called for." 

"John Taylor." 
"Ordered that court adjourn until tomorrow 
morning, nine o'clock. 

"J.^MES Vance, 
"Jajies Clarke, 
"John Hahi>i.sty. 

"Commissioners." 
"Special Term, March, 1S31. 

"At a special term of the County Commis- 
sioners' Court, begun and holden in pursuance 
to legal notice given, the following orders and 
proceedings: 

"Present, the Honorables James Vance and 
James Clarke, Commissioners. 

"Ordered that the plat of the town of Mc- 
Comb, presented this day and marked 'A,' be 
filed and adopted as the plat for the Town of 
McComb, and that the lots be laid oft sixty 
feet front and to extend back one hundred and 
twenty feet. And it is further ordered that the 
said plat be acknowledged and recorded in the 
Recorder's ofBce in and for said county." 

"Special Term, April 11, 1831. At a 
County Commissioners' Court begun and 
holden in and for the County of McDonough: 
"This day was presented for the considera- 
tion of this court a petition of sundry citizens 
asking and praying this court to revoke an 
order adopting a certain plat for the Town of 
Macomb, filed and marked 'A,' and annexed to 
the said petition as a plat of said Town which 
they (the citizens) request may be adopted, 
and according to which the town may be sur- 
veyed and laid off and established; whereupon, 
after consideration of the said jietition 
and examination of the said plat by the Court, 
it is ordered that the said order heretofore 
made, adopting and filing the said plat, first be, 
and the same is hereby, revoked and an- 
nulled; and it is further ordered, that the said 



petition and plat hereto annexed be, and the 
same is, hereby adopted and established for the 
plat of the town of McComb and county-seat of 
McDonough County. And it is further ordered 
that the said plat be handed to the Recorder 
of the said county for record. 
"April 11, 1831. 

"I, James Vance, an acting County Commis- 
sioner in and for the County of McDonough, do 
hereby enter my protest against the adoption 
of the Plat named in the preceding order. 

"James Vance." 
"It is ordered and agreed that if John J. Kea- 
ton will, duly and fully (according to the rules 
and regulations of surveying), survey and run 
off the lots of the town of McComb, according 
to the plat to be furnished by the Clerk (which 
was adopted and filed this day), the said Kea- 
ton shall have the sum of thirty-five dollars; 
that is, for running out and laying off 208 lots, 
commencing from the public square and laying 
an equal number of blocks on all sides of said 
square. 

"Ordered, that court adjourn until tomorrow 
morning, nine o'clock. 

"James Vance, 
"James Clarke, 
"John Hardisty, 

Commissioners." 
"Tuesday, April 26, 1831. 

"Ordered that William Edmonson be, and he 
is hereby, appointed Commissioner in and for 
the county of McDonough, and to have full 
power as such to sell any lot, or lots, of ground 
In the town of Macomb, and that he act as 
crier of said lots on the days of sale, and that 
he sell at private sale any lot or lots when. In 
his judgment, the sale is to the advantage of 
said county, and that the said Edmonson give 
bond and security, conditioned as required by 
law. in the penal sum of $500. 

"Monday, June (i, 1831. 

"Ordered that the report and account of Wil- 
liam Edmonson of the sale of town lots, as 
agent for said county, be accepted and filed; 
also the Treasurer's receipt in favor of said 
Edmonson. 

"Monday, June 6, 1831. 

"Ordered that the bill of sale of the town 
lots of Macomb, hanaded in by William Ed- 
monson, Esq., be filed, together with the 
Treasurer's receipt for $85.32. 



674 



HISTORY C)l- .\kDCL\UL"GH CULXTY. 



■•Tuesday, June 7, 1831. 

■Ordered that the conditions of the sale of 
to-wn lots in the town of Macomb, on the 10th 
day of June, inst., be made known as follows, 
to-wit: The purchaser will be required to give 
bond, with approved security, to the Commis- 
sioner for said county, one-half the purchase 
money to be paid within nine months and the 
other half within eighteen months from the 
day of sale. 

■■Tuesday, March «, 1832. 

■■Ordered that the County Surveyor be re- 
quired to proceed and lay off the whole amount 
of land belonging to this county, and mark 
the corners thereof, and then shall proceed to 
extend and lay off the remainder of said 
quarter-section in blocks of the size of blocks 
now established, including the size of the 
alleys, to-wit, three hundred and sixty feet 
square; and to extend the streets according 
to the plat of sixty feet wide, to the out-bound- 
ary line of this quarter. 

"Ordered that William Edmonson be, and he 
is appointed, to take the receipt of the Re- 
ceiver at Springfield, and to draw the sum of 
two hundred dollars, and when so received, 
shall be, by said Edmonson, deposited in the 
Land Office at Quincy for the payment of and 
for the quarter-section on which the town of 
McComb is now located, and receive duplicate 
receipts therefor; that is, for the southwest 
quarter of Section 31 in Township 6 North, in 
Range 2 West; and that he hand unto the 
Clerk's office a receipt for said deposit, and 
that said Edmonson enter into bond, in the 
penal sum of four hundred dollars, payable 
to the County Commissioners for said county, 
he having undertaken to perform said trip for 
the sum of thirteen dollars and fifty cents, 
which service is to be performed on or before 
the first day oi May next. 

"March 8, 1832. 

"Ordered that the Commissioner offer for 
sale town-lots in this town, and that he adver- 
tise to that effect in the several public places; 
in said county, sale to take place on the sec- 
ond Monday of next month. 

■Monday, December 2, 1833. 

■■Ordered that the Commissioner for the sale 
of town-lots be, and he is hereby required, to 
commence suit on all notes in his hands for 
town lots which are now, or as they become 
due for lots in the town of Macomb, for all 
lots which are owned by citizens of other than 



this county, and for notes for lots owned by 
resident citizens of this county, which they 
have not improved; and that collection be 
made, or suits brought forthwith. 

■■It is further ordered that the sales made of 
all lots from this day, which may be made, 
shall be for cash in hand and in no case to 
sell to one individual more than two "small 
lots" until the first shall be improved, and 
which improvement this court reserves the 
right to say and decide on. 

■'Wednesday, March 5, 1834. 

'■Ordered that the Commissioner for the sale 
of town^lots be required to suspend the collec- 
tion of notes now due the county for lots, until 
a certificate from the Land Office, vesting the 
title to the land on which the town of Macomb 
is located is received. 

■■Thursday, March 6, 1834. 

■■Ordered that the County Surveyor, as soon 
as may be practicable, to take the variation 
of the streets and lots from the present de- 
cree, and that he also place a stake, or a stone, 
permanently at the corners of each square 
or block, and that he attach the fraction on 
the outside of said blocks on the north, south, 
east and west of said town-quarter to the block 
annexed thereto, and leave only six feet on 
each side of said town quarter for a pass way; 
and that he make a complete report of said 
survey and lots and blocks so established, the 
quantity in each fractional block on all sides 
of said town as so established, etc. 

■■Thursday, March 6, 1834. 

■'Ordered that the Commissioner be author- 
ized and required to continue the sale of lots 
as is ordered at a time previous to that of last 
court, viz.: To allow a credit, on sales of 
lots so sold by him or to be sold, for nine and 
eighteen months thereon, etc., and that said 
order thereon at the last term of this court 
be revoked. 

"September 1, 1834. 

"This day William Edmonson presented his 
report of his sales of town lots in Macomb, 
which was accepted and ordered to be filed, 
and also Treasurer's receipts. 

"September lo, 1834. 

"Court met pursuant to iidjournment, present 
same as heretofore. 

"J.VSIES Cl.\rke, 
"Nath.\x W.\Rn. 
"Commissioners." 




Log Cabin on the North Line of Emmet Township. Built in 1835 by James Clarke. 
Now owned by Eliphalet Hickman 





N. E. Corner Public Square. Macomb 
About 1873 



S. E. Corner Public Square, Macomb 
About 1873 



Lie LIBRARY 



HISTORY OF AIcDOXOUGH COUXT^'. 



675 



"Ordered, that the following be substituted 
in lieu of the order at the March term, 1S34, 
relative to the survey of the Town of Macomb, 
to-wit: Ordered that the County Sui-veyor take 
the courses and distances of the streets and 
distances of the streets, alleys, lots and blocks, 
and that he attach the fractional blocks lying 
on the north side of said town quarter-section 
to the tier of blocks next south, which will 
include such parts of Monroe Street as may in- 
tervene and also on the south side of said 
quarter-section, that he attach the south tier 
of fractional blocks, including the intervening 
parts of Clay Street to the tier of blocks next 
north, and that he leave a space, or alley, six 
feet in width, on the north and south sides of 
said town-quarter adjoining its boundary, and 
that he place at certain given distances and 
directions from the corner of each block a 
cedar picket or stake, with distances and 
bearings to be specified in his notes, and that 
he make account of said re-survey, accompa- 
nied by a plat of the same as is the survey now 
run and established. And further ordered, 
James Clark be employed to procure, by him- 
self or otherwise, sixty-five pickets of the di- 
mensions following, viz.: to be delivered in 
Macomb to James Clark, Esq., for the use of 
the surveyor as aforesaid — at least two inches 
square and eighteen inches long, one end 
sharpened. 

"Tuesday, December 2, 1S34. 

"Ordered that William Edmonson forthwith 
and without further delay commence suit on 
all notes due and payable to the county of Mc- 
Donough and State of Illinois, for lots bought 
from said county and due from persons living 
out of this county, in the most remedial way. 

"Saturday, January 10, 1S35. 

"Ordered, that the County Commissioner for 
the sale of town lots be, and he is hereby re- 
quired, to issues notices that all persons In- 
debted to this county shall make payment on or 
before the last day of March term next, and 
all who are then Indebted to said county for 
lots shall be forthwith sued by said Conimis- 
sionei". 

"Tuesday, March 3, 1835. 

"This day came William Edmonson and pre- 
sented his report of sale of town lots in Ma- 
comb as Commissioner for said sales, which 
was accepted and filed. 

"Friday, March 6, 1S35. 



"This day came James W. Brattle, County 
Surveyor of said county, who presented a plat 
and survey, made by him in pursuance to an 
order made at the September term of this 
court last; whereupon, it is ordered that Com- 
missioners W. M'. Bailey, William P. Richards, 
Moses Hinton and John Adkinson be requested 
to take said plat and survey, and suggest from 
an examination the most legal manner which 
said plat may be accepted, recorded and es- 
tablished by this court. 

"Friday, March 6, 1835. 

"And, whereas, the committee appointed to 
examine a plat submitted to this court by 
the County Surveyor this day, and this day 
reported as follows, viz: The undersigned, a 
committee appointed by the County Commis- 
sioners' Court of McDonough County, Illinois, 
to take into consideration and report to said 
court their opinion as to the expediency of 
adopting a new plat of the Town of Macomb 
in said County, as also their opinion of the 
best mode of legalizing said plat, obviate all 
doubts and chances for litigation, report: That, 
inasmuch as the existing plat was adopted, it 
should be complied with on the part of the 
county in the fulfillment of existing contract; 
but that as serious errors and inaccuracies 
exist in it, it would be expedient to adopt the 
plat that has been submitted to our inspection, 
and that the court should order that in all 
deeds to be made in fulfillment of bonds given 
by the acting Commissioners, the correspond- 
ing number of blocks in each plat shall be in- 
serted designating the first or original plat No. 
1 and the second No. 2; for instance. Block No. 
33 of Plat No. 1, being Block No. 5 of Plat No. 
2, or Block No. 36 of Plat No. 1, being Block 
No. 24 of Plat No. 2; the said plat No. 2 being 
drawn by James W. Brattle, County Surveyor, 
bearing date December 13, 1834. and having 
appended to it his certificate that it is a true 
plat. 

"All of which is respectfully submitted. 
"Wm. W. Bailey, 
"Moses HI^'TO^^ 
"John Adkinson, 
"WiLLi.\M P. Richards, 

"Committee." 

"Macomb, March 6, 1835. 

"Whereupon, it is ordered that said plat be, 
and the same is hereby accepted and adopted 
in lieu of the former plat, and the Commis- 



676 



HISTORY OF McDONOL'GH COUNTY. 



sioner for the sale of town-lots for sales to be 
complied with on his part as agent for said 
county, shall designate the number of blocks 
and lots, first as to plat No. 1 and plat No. 2, 
as aforesaid reported, and that he make deeds 
thereof accordingly; and that the Clerk of this 
court, after same to be acknowledged, have 
the same filed for record in the County Re- 
corder's office of said County.— together with 
the field note or plats explanatory thereof, as 
made by said County Surveyor. 

"Friday, March 6, 1835. 

"Ordered, that James W. Brattle, County 
Surveyor of said county, be allowed the sum 
of $63.43%, as per bill this day presented, for 
resurvey of Macomb town-lots, which Is al- 
lowed and filed. And the sum of six dollars 
to Abrorah Cannon, as per certificate of Coun- 
ty Surveyor, and the sum of $3.37% to 
J. Harrison Head, for certificate of County Sur- 
veyor filed. And that John Hinton be allowed 
the sum of six dollars and twenty-flve cents as 
per certificate of County Surveyor filed, and 
also the sum of one dollar and fifty cents to 
James Clark as administrator of Isaac Harvey, 
deceased, on certificate of the County Surveyor 
filed, and the sum of seven dollars and fifty 
cents be allowed to each, James Clark, Cavill 
Archer and Nathan Ward, and same amount 
to James M. Campbell, and the sum of five dol- 
lars to Daniel Campbell (Sheriff) for services 
this term of court. 

"Ordered that court adjourn until court in 
course. 

"Cavill Archer, 
"James Clarke, 
"Nathan Ward." 

"Monday, September 7, 1S35. 

"This day came William Edmonson, Com- 
missioner for tne sale of the county property 
in the town of Macomb, viz.: County Treasurer 
receipts tor the sum of $467.51. also for $152.75, 
which was ordered to be credited to said Com- 
missioner and charged to said County Treas- 
urer. 

"Monday, December 7, 1835. 

"Ordered, that the report of the County 
Treasurer for the sum of $418.03, given to Wil- 
liam Edmonson, Commissioner, etc., and to be 
charged to said Treasurer and credited to said 
Commissioner, etc. 

"July 11, 1836. 

"This day came William Edmonson, Commis- 



sioner, etc., for the sale of town-lots in and for 
the said county and State, and presented the 
following papers, viz.: A receipt from the 
County Treasurer for $300.69, and his report of 
the debts due from the sale of town-lots in 
Macomb and leaves a balance due the county 
of $1,966.25. 

"Monday, November 21, 1836. 

"Whereas, this day William Edmonson, Esq., 
came into court and resigned the office of Com- 
missioner for the sale, etc., of town-lots in the 
town of Macomb. It was thereupon ordered 
that Benjamin T. Naylor, Esq., be and he is 
hereby appointed. Commissioner for the sale 
of town-lots and for the collection of all mon- 
eys due or to become due therefor; to make, 
seal and acknowledge deeds of conveyance, re- 
ceive and receipt for money due said county, 
and that the Clerk take bond in the penal sum 
of $3,000, with William Edmonson, Thompson 
Chandler, Rezin Naylor and T. L. Dickey as 
his securities." 

The City of Bushxell, situated on the north- 
east quarter of Section 33. Town 7 North, Range 
1 West, was platted August 29, 1854, by W. H. 
Rile. County Surveyor, and has since received 
numerous additions. John D. Hail was the own- 
er of the original tract, and sold a two-thirds 
interest to D. P. Wells and Iverson L. Twyman, 
all of Macomb. The town was laid out along 
the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad, which at that time had been graded. 
The tract was divided into forty-eight blocks of 
twelve lots each, the blocks being 360 feet 
square. Two streets were laid out, each sev- 
enty feet wide and running parallel on either 
side of the railroad, all the other thorough- 
fares being sixty feet in width. The first pub- 
lic sale of lots was held in May, 1854; about 
seventy lots tnen being sold at from $30 to 
$120 each. 

The city was named in honor of Hon. Nehe- 
niiah Bushnell, who was at tnat time President 
of the Northern Cross Railroad. The city is 
now a railroad center, at the junction of three 
railroad lines — two branches of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy (main line and Rock Is- 
land Branch), and Toledo, Peoria & Western. 
Bushnell has always been noted for its enter- 
prise and business push. In brief, the present 
leading business features of the city are: An 
opera house, three banks, three book and paper 




First National Banl^, Bushnell 



^UB^^^^\ 




AS-^^rnUv.. 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



677 



stores, one carpenter shop, two notion stores, 
one shoeshop, three furniture stores, one under- 
taker, three tailor shops, two harness shops, two 
hardware shops, one grain buying concern, two 
clothing stores, one florist establishment, two 
meat markets, two carriage factories, one bi- 
cycle factory, two photograph establishments, 
an electric light and power plant, two pump 
manufacturers, one Telephone Central office, 
one bottling store, three general dry-goods 
stores, three millinery stores, three agricultural 
stores, four jewelry stores, two lumber yards, 
five groceries, »one produce dealer, one coal 
dealer, four drug stores, two bakeries, eight 
restaurants, two newspapers, a City Club, eight 
cigar-makers, one feed mill, one poultry store. 
one tinner's shop, two boot and shoe stores, 
one tank manufactory, one laundry, six black- 
smith shops, one livery barn, two hotels, one 
plumber shop, two dentist offices, three barber 
shops. The surrounding country is highly im- 
proved, and the city is principally sustained by 
the farming interests. Bushnell also has an 
annual Agricultural and Mechanical Fair, which 
is well patronized. The population of Bushnell 
in 1900 was 2,490 and it has since had a healthy 
growth. 

Prairie Citt, located on the northeast quar- 
ter of Section 1, Township 7 North, Range 1 
West, in the extreme northeast corner of the 
county, was laid out by Edwin Reed and plat- 
ted October 11, 1S54, by DeWitt C. Folsom, 
Surveyor. It is situated in the midst of the 
finest tract of prairie land imaginable, and its 
name Is quite appropriate. It contains one 
■wheat roller-mill, one elevator, one livery barn, 
one lumber yard, one dentist's office, one har- 
ness shop, two hardware stores, three grocer- 
ies, three dry-goods and clothing stores, two 
drug-stores, one jewelry store, one bakery and 
restaurant, one hotel, one meat market, one 
millinery store, two barber shops, one machin- 
ist shop, two blacksmith shops, two insurance 
agencies, one newspaper, one bank, three 
churches (Presbyterian, Methodist and Free- 
will Baptist), four physicians, one general as- 
sortment store. Golden Gate Lodge, Ancient 
Free and Accepted Masons; Lee Chapter. Xo. 
332, Order of the Eastern Star; McDonough 
Lodge, No. 205. Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, and Westtall Camp, Modern Woodmen of 



America. The census of 1900 reported a popu- 
lation of 81S. 

The City of Colchester, located on part of 
the northeast quarter of Section 13, Town 5 
North, Range 4 West, was laid out by Charles 
A. Gilchrist and Lewis H. Little, and was plat- 
ted on November 21, 1S55, by C. A. Gilchrist, 
Surveyor. The coal industry is paramount in 
this section. (See article on "Geology," Chap- 
ter V.) Colchester has always been a stirring 
business center. The clay and brick industry 
is rapidly coming to the front, and, in time, 
will be a potent factor in the material wealth 
of the city. It has two dry-goods and general 
mercantile stores, two banks, three groceries and 
meat stores, one boot and shoe store, one hard- 
ware store, one agricultural warehouse, two 
furniture stores, one clothing store, five restau- 
rants, four barber shops, two harness stores, 
two millinery stores, two hotels, two under- 
takers, two drug stores, two book stores, one 
wall paper store, two livery and feed barns, 
two jewelry stores, one cigar factory, one 
shoemaker, one photographer's rooms, two feed 
stores, one newspaper, two physicians, three 
dentists. The city is regularly incorporated, 
with a Mayor, Beard of Aldermen and othei* 
municipal officers. Population (1900). 1,635. 

■Village of Bardolph. — Located on Section 
24, Township b North, Range 2 West, the vil- 
lage was laid out by William H. Randolph, G. 
W. Parkinson. William Chambers and Charles 
Chandler, proprietors, and platted September 
1, 1854. It was at first named Randolph, but 
from the fact that there was another town and 
postoffice in the State of that name, it was 
afterward (February 12, 1856) changed to Bar- 
dolph. The town was surveyed and platted by 
William H. Rile, County Surveyor, is surround- 
ed by excellent, well improved farms, and was 
at one time the principal center of the pot- 
ter's clay industry. In their day, the Bardolph 
Fire Clay Works constituted one of the first- 
class factories of the State, but a few years 
ago they were totally destroyed and have never 
been rebuilt. In the vicinity of the village are 
large deposits of excellent clay, and it Is prob- 
able that they will again be worked to the 
industrial advantage of Bardolph. It has the 
usual number of stores of all classes, notably 
a large department establishment. There are 



6/8 



HISTORY OF AfcDONOUGH COUXTY. 



Masonic, Odd Fellows and Woodmen lodges, 
one newspaper, one bank, a large elevator, two 
churches, and a High School. The villa.ge is 
governed by a Board of Trustees. The popula- 
tion in 1900 was about 400. 

Village of lNDr.sTRY. — Situated on Section 
10, 4 North, 2 West, the village of Industr.v was 
laid out by William R. Downer, proprietor, sur- 
veyed by William H. Rile, and platted October 
17, 1S55. It was one of the earliest settle- 
ments in the county, and is surrounded by 
heavy timber land, upon which it was origin- 
ally located. Considerable business is drawn 
from the wealthy settlers on the prairie farms 
to the east and west. Industry has a small 
brick and tile factory, and a flour and grist- 
mill. In the vicinity are fine coal lands, which 
are increasing in production and may add much 
to the business of the village. Its business 
establishments consist of one harness shop, 
two meat shops, one jewelry store, two barber 
shops, two restaurants, three millinery stores, 
one notion store, one agricultural warehouse, 
two livery concerns, two blacksmith shops, one 
clothing store, two dry-goods stores, one liim- 
♦ber yard, three general stores, two groceries, 
one bakery, two drug stores, one hotel, one ele- 
vator, tW'O churches, an opera house, a high 
school and an Importing stock farm. There 
are also two veterinary surgeons, two physi- 
cians, one dentist, and a builder and contractor. 
The secret and benevolent societies com- 
prise a Masonic Lodge (No. 327), Lodges of the 
Eastern Star. Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Mystic 
Workers and Patriotic Sons of America. The 
village is quite a shipping point for cattle. 
Since the completion of the Macomb & West- 
ern Illinois Railroad to the town, there has 
been a decided increase of business of all 
kinds, marked by the erection of brick blocks 
and dwellings and other substantial evidences 
of prosperity. The village population in 1900 
was about 500, which has since materially in- 
creased. 

ViLL.\GE OF Gooo HopE. — This village is locat- 
ed on the southeast quarter of Section 25, Town 
7, Range 3 West, and was laid out by William 
F. Blandin, its proprietor, and platted July 16, 
1867, by James W. Brattle, Surve.vor. Its orig- 
inal name was Milan. Its site is prairie land 
and is surrounded by highly improved farms 



and a wealthy class of settlers. The town is 
on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad, and, 
as it is the grain center of the county, it has 
several .good elevators. It has also a public 
hall, a Masonic Lodge, one bank, two general 
mercantile stores, five groceries, two dry-goods 
stores, one agricultural warehouse, one livery, 
three carpenter shops, two blacksmith shops, 
one wagon-shop, one harness shop, one barber 
shop, one lumber yard, one lurniture and un- 
dertaker's warehouse, one restaurant, one meat 
market, three elevators, Methodist, Presbyte- 
rian and Baptist churches, a graded High 
School, one drug store and two physicians. As 
stated, Good Hope is a noted grain shipping 
point, and it may be added that altogether it 
is a thriving little village. The last Govern- 
ment census (1900) showed a population of 
430. 

ViLL.vdE OF Sc'ioT.4.. — This place was laid out 
by William B. Clarke and originally named 
Clarkesville. It is situated on the southeast 
quarter of Section 29, Town 7 North, R. 3 West, 
and was platted December 23, 1S67, by J. W. 
Brattle. Surveyor. The Toledo. Peoria & West- 
ern Railroad passes through the village, located 
about ten miles west of north from Ma- 
comb. The surrounding country is level prairie, 
and principally devoted to the raising of corn. 
The land is very productive, and Sciota is one 
of the best grain shipping points in the county. 
It possesses two elevators, one hotel, one pub- 
lic hall, one harness shop, a lumber yard, a 
blacksmith and repair shop, a shoemaker's 
shop, a livery, one hardware and agricultural 
warehouse, one boot and shoe store, two gro- 
ceries, one restaurant, three dry goods stores, 
one millinery store, two churches. All in all, 
the business of the village is commensurate 
with the rich farming district by which it is 
surrounded. Population in 1900. 238. 

Bl.wdin'svili.e. — This old and beautiful vil- 
lage was laid out by James L. Blandin on the 
southeast quarter of Section 32. 7 N., 4 W., 
and was platted March 16, 1842, by S. A. Hunt. 
Surveyor. Situated on the Toledo, Peoria & 
Western Railroad, it is a lively business vil- 
lage, its principal stores being substantially 
built of brick and carrying large stocks of mer- 
chandise. Following is a business directory 
of the firms and business houses of Blandins- 



DO 




PUBLIC LlBR^ 



rixDt-^ 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUXTY. 



679 



ville: C. A. Roberts, millinery; C. R. Huston, 
lumhei- dealer; W. L. Bennett, C, L, Welsh & 
Company, Webb & Son, H. E. Shryack, dry 
goods; E. E. Voorhees, hardware and imple- 
ments; M. E. Marston, J. J. Voorhees, livery; 
William Phillips, blacksmith; Huston Banking 
Company, Grigsby Bros. & Company, bankers; 
Edwards Bros., hardware; J. C. Bishop. J. H. 
Fowler, John O. Oakman. D. J. Curran, grocer- 
ies; Al. B. Pond. Huston Drug Company, drugs; 
C. L. Spielmau & Sons, furniture; W. H. Yates. 
,T. B. Beeley, jewelry; J. B. Finley, bakery; E. 
C. McCartney, James Markland, harness; Wil- 
liam B. Daniels, John Gibbs, Jacobs & Sons, 
restaurants; Craig & Ray, meat market; Au- 
gustus Webb, millinery and notions; W. A. 
Grigsby, Hicks & Coffman, clothing; Davis 
Brothers. Theodore Squires, barbers; Ballou & 
Wright, flour mill and electric lighting; F. B. 
Sharpe & Co., grain and live stock: and C. W. 
Carroll, grain. 

In addition to the above business firms and 
establishments, there are Masonic and Royal 
Arch Lodges. Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America; three churches — 
Methodist. Baptist and Christian; an opera 
house; two hotels and an elevator. The town 
supports one newspaper and is governed by a 
Board of Trustees. 

Blandinsville is fourteen miles northwest of 
Macomb. Considerable wealth is in the hands 
of its citizens, and the farming community 
within business range is unusually prosperous. 
The population in 1900 was 995. but has since 
increased. 

Village of New Philadelphia. — The village 
was laid out by the proprietor. Lloyd Thomas, 
and platted October 21, 1858, by Samuel A. 
Hunt, Surveyor. It is situated on the south 
half of Section 23, 6 N., 1 W., and is a station 
of the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad. Be- 
ing surrounded by fine, arable prairie land, 
cultivated by wealthy owners, it is a good 
shipping point for grain, but the village itself 
never improved much after the first year or 
two of its organization. It has an excellent 
elevator, a hardware and agricultural ware- 
house and several general stores. 



Village of Texxessee. — Its site is a part of 
the northeast quarter and the northwest quar- 
ter of Section 22. 6 N. 4 W., and is lo- 
cated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad. The village was laid out by Thomas 
K. Waddill. Joseph B. Bacon and Steven Cock- 
erham, being platted by W. H. Hill. Surveyor, 
on the 5th of April, 1854. Its incorporation 
dates from November 25, 1872. The town has 
four general stores, one hotel, a blacksmith 
shop, two churches, an excellent public hall, 
and Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges. While 
not increasing in size, it does a good business. 
An important industry, which is growing 
rapidly, is the shipping of clay, principally to 
the Western Pottery Company of Macomb and 
Monmouth, which owns most of the banks. The 
country surrounding the village of Tennessee 
is fine prairie land, intermixed with consider- 
able timber about one mile south of Crooked 
Creek. Population according to the census of 
1900 was 327. 

Village of Colmar. — Situated on the south- 
east quarter of Section 7, 4 N., 4 W.. on the 
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad, the vil- 
lage was laid out by its proprietor. William 
Graves, and surveyed and platted by Charles 
A. Gilchrist. It has a general store, a black- 
smith shop, restaurant and elevator. For a 
place of its size, business is good, but station- 
ary. 

Defuxct Villages. — At the early settlement 
of the county several villages were organized in 
what were then the largest centers of popula- 
tion; but. after an ephemeral existence, they 
went back to the farm and were heard of no 
more. The most noticeable of these defunct 
villages were the following: 

Sewardsville. once situated on the northwest 
quarter of Section 25, 4 N., R. 2 W., was laid 
out by William Seward, its proprietor, and 
platted by O. F. L. Martin, Surveyor. It was 
at one time quite a prominent voting precinct, 
but is now a corn-field. 

The village of Grant, situated on the south- 
east quarter of Section 23, fi X., R. 1 W., was laid 
out by its owner. James H. Langford. and plat- 
ted by S. S. Hunt. Surveyor. February 13, 1S69. 



68o 



HISTORY uF Mcdonough county. 



J. H. and B. B. Wilson platted a town in 1S6S, 
and called it Grant. When New Philadelphia 
was platted the postoffice was moved to that 
place and named accordingly. There is noth- 
ing now on the site of the old town of Grant to 
indicate that a settlement ever stood there. 

The village of Middletown, located on the 
northeast quarter of Section 5 and part of the 
southeast quarter of Section 32, 4 N., 3 W., 
was laid out by James Edmonston and John 
Patrick, and surveyed and platted by Charles 
W. Bacon, on the 21st of Marcn, 1837. At one 
time this was one of the largest villages in 
the county, and situated in its most densely 
settled tract — being also one of its heaviest 
voting precincts: but on the completion of the 
Xorthern Cross Railroad it rapidly decayed. 
Some of its dwellings, together with several 
of its merchants, became a part of Colchester, 
and the place is now a little settlement, whose 
postoffice is Fandon. Otherwise, it consists 
of a general store, a blacksmith shop, a bar- 
ber shop, a restaurant, a few dwellings and two 
churches. 

As before stated, these villages have become 
defunct, and passed from the stage of history. 
Their projectors thought they would grow and 
become permanent, but the world progi-essed 
in a direction w-hich they had not anticipated, 
and both they and their villages have passed 
away. 

McDoxorr.ii Cou.xTv Po.stoffices. — In 1900 
there were twenty-one postoffices in McDon- 
ough County, including, in addition to the 
towns and villages named in this chapter. 
Siesta, Sorghum and Vishnue. By the extension 
of the rural delivery system, this number was 
reduced in 1906 to sixteen, as follows: Adair. 
Bardolph, Blandinsville. Bushnell, Colchester, 
Colniar. Fandon, Good Hope, Industry, Macomb. 
New Philadelphia, Prairie City, Sciota, Scotts- 
burg, Tennessee. Walnut Grove. Of these all 
except Colmar and Scottsburg were classed as 
money order offices. 



CH.APTER XI. 



RAILROADS. 



I'ROHTIVE HISTORY OF R.\ILR0.\D ENTERPBISE.S IN 
m'dONOUGH county — STRUGGLE TO SECURE THE 
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST LINE — THE NORTH- 
ERN CROSS RAILROAD DEVELOP.S INTO A PART OF 
THE CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY — SUB- 
SCRIPTION OF STOCK VOTED BY THE CITIZENS OF 
M'dONOUGH COUNTY — SOME OF THE EARLY PRO- 
MOTERS — .SOUTHERN SECTION OF THE ROAD COM- 
PLETED TO M.ACOMB IN 1855 ITS INFLUENCE 

UPON THE LAND V.ALUES OTHER RAILROAD EN- 

TERPRISE.S — THE TOLEDO, PEORIA & WESTERN, THE 
ROCKFORD, ROCK LSLAND & ST. LOUIS AND THE 
:MAC0MB & WESTERN LINES, AND THE SECTIONS 
OF THE COUNTY WHICH THEY PENETRATE. 

The subject of building railroads through 
this section of the country had, for some years, 
been given much attention; but the great ma- 
jority of the early settlers had with difficulty 
been able to improve their farms, and were 
especially anxious to be free from debt. Added 
to these considerations, they had had no expe- 
rience in railroad transportation, and they were, 
therefore, but little inclined to contribute of 
their slender means to such projects. But the 
subject would not down, as Eastern capital- 
ists had their eyes on the future of the great 
rich prairies of the West, and had learned 
that efforts had been made, many years before, 
to build a railrtiad through this section of the 
country, but that continued hard times had 
delayed the enterprise if not almost obliterated 
the matter from the public mind. 

Railroad Campaign Started. — Under date of 
October 10, 1851, Macomb's first newspaper 
took up the subject most vigorously, in the fol- 
lowing words: 



HISTORY OF AIcDOXOUGH COUXTV. 



68 1 



"What is to be done in regard to the pro- 
posed road from Quincy to Macomb, and from 
here to Galesburg? The time for stopping to 
consider the policy of such an enterprise has 
passed away; and the benefits to be derived 
from such a means of communication are held 
to be too self-evident to need any additional 
arguments advanced in their favor; for who, 
say we, cannot see in the advanced price of 
land, in the advantage of a ready market, in 
the increased facilities of communication, in 
the spread of general intelligence, in the cheap- 
er and quicker mode of transportation, a suffi- 
cient inducement to wish such an undertaking 
success, and say that its benefits are beyond 
dispute? Perhaps the fact of these truths be- 
ing so plain and undeniable has led to lethargy 
and inaction of our people. But we must 
awake from our stupor. Measures must be ta- 
ken for the securing of stock; of having the 
county become a stockholder to a liberal 
amount; of getting individuals who need only 
the solicitation of some active friend of the 
road, to become deeply interested in its com- 
pletion. Then, friends of the road, be up and 
doing! Farmers of McDonough County, your 
interests are at stake; see tnat you neglect 
them not I Merchant and mechanic, your wel- 
fare, too, is bound up in this scheme; with it, 
will come your prosperity — without it, you 
must lose immensely! Then again, say we, 
let us all work. Let our untiring zeal and de- 
termined efforts show that we desire what 
we need, and must have A RAILROAD." 

And this clear and true explanation of the 
needs and benefits of a railroad system was the 
subject of weekly articles, equally as vigorous 
and pointed; so that the communities, both of 
this and adjoining counties, were being edu- 
cated to the advantages of such means of trans- 
portation. 

Meetings to Promote SitbscripTion.s of 
Stock. — On November 5, 1851, a public meet- 
ing was held at the court house in Macomb, 
which was addressed by Hon. Calvin A. War- 
ren, of Quincy, and General Darnell, of Han- 
cock County, and which resulted in the appoint- 
ment of a committee to confer with the di- 
rectors of the railroad. At an adjourned meet- 
ing, held on the following evening, it was re- 
solved to ask the County Court to call an elec- 
tion for the purpose of giving the people of the 
5 



county an opportunity to vote on the propo- 
sition to take $50,000 stock in the proposed 
line. Substantially the same resolution was 
adopted at a third meeting held December 1, 
1S51, and on the next day Hon. B. R. Hampton 
appeared before the County Court and present- 
ed the following resolution as an expi'ession 
of the sense of the people: 

"Resolved, Tnat we respectfully request the 
Honorable County Court, in and for the County 
of McDonough and State of Illinois, to submit 
to the people of said county a proposition to 
vote for, or against, the County of McDonough 
taking stock to the amount of fifty thousand 
dollars in the proposed railroad from Clayton 
to Galesburg, and that they be solicited to fix 
upon the third Monday in the month of March, 
1852, for the purpose of taking said vote." 

The Court thereupon adopted the following 
order: 

"It is ordered by the Court, that the said 
proposition be submitted to the citizens of Mc- 
Donough County, as requested in said resolu- 
tion, and that the Clerk of this Court order 
an election to be held at the several election 
precincts in said county, on the third Monday 
in the month of March next, to take the vote 
of the county lor and against the county taking 
stock in said railroad to the amount of fifty 
thousand dollars; and that the Clerk issue the 
notices of said election in the time and manner 
required by law : and that said election be held 
and conducted in all respects as other general 
and special elections required by the statutes 
are conducted. It is further ordered that the 
resolutions and proceedings of said meetings 
be filed by the Clerk." 

The machinery was now set in motion, and 
the subject prosecuted with enthusiasm. A 
committee, consisting of Hon. James Campbell, 
Dr. J. B. Kyle, B. R. Hampton, J. P. Updegrafl. 
L. H. Waters and others in favor of the road, 
at once began to canvass the county, speaking 
in nearly all its school houses. 

The opponents of the road — and they were 
not few — were not idle, and exerted every 
means in their power to influence the people 
against it. At a meeting in Industry, the Hon. 
Cyrus Walker, a prominent attorney, took a 
decided stand against the whole scheme. At 
other places he also endeavored to show the 
fallacies of the arguments advanced in favor of 
the railroad. Mr. Walker remarked at a meet- 



682 



HISTORY uF Mcdonough county. 



iiig held in Macomb, that he Uad been informed 
by a couple of prominent merchants in the 
town that one train of cars could carry away 
all the surplus products of McDonough -County 
raised in one year: or that David Rail and 
Harry Perry (two well known teamsters) could 
likewise remove all the surplus produce, carry 
it forty miles to market, and return with all 
the merchandise required by the inhabitants. 
If these facts were correct — and he thought 
they were — what use had they for a railroad? 
And much more was advanced in the same 
line of argument. 

The opposition was not connned to farmers 
and mechanics, but prominent merchants in- 
veighed against the railroad. Even the ques- 
tion of birthplace cut a figure. Many of the 
citizens of the county were of Southern birth, 
and hinted that the road was being manipu- 
lated by "Yankees," as all Eastern people were 
termed. Of course, they were looked upon as 
shrewd and far-seeing, and as undoubtedly this 
railroad business was an evidence of their 
keen perception of trade advantages, it ought 
to be accepted with great caution; so argued 
the opposition. 

But the committee named continued its work 
of enlightening the people throughout the coun- 
ty, answering many strange questions and the- 
ories, which, at tnis date, would seem frivolous 
and even silly; and, in spite of open unfriend- 
liness, there was no cessation of effort on the 
part of the supporters of the enterprise. As 
the day of election drew near. Its friends were 
fearful of the result, realizing that the county 
had not been thoroughly canvassed and also 
noting the increased activity of the enemies 
of the measure. It was therefore deemed wise 
to petition the County Court for a postpone- 
ment of the election. Perhaps, fortunately for 
the supporters of the enterprise, that body 
revoked its former order, on March 6, 1852, and 
postponed the election until Saturday, May 22. 
of that year. 

The battle was again commenced, and every 
household in the county was canvassed by 
both sides in the fray. The result of the elec- 
tion, as finally held, was 817 votes for, and 644 
against issuing the $50,000 bonds as an offset 
against the stock of the Northern Cross Road. 
The result showed a determined opposition, 
but the majority was sufficient to encourage 
the friends of the measure to continue their 



campaign of education. The obstacles, how- 
ever, were not easily removed; a year passed 
after the vote, and still no road. Its friends 
were much troubled, and its enemies corre- 
spondingly elated. "I told you so," was the 
usual greeting accorded its supporters, and pre- 
dictions wei'e freely made that the road would 
never be built. The reason for the delay, how- 
ever, was not local, but arose from the fact 
that it was difficult to convince Eastern capi- 
talists that the proposed line would be a safe, 
paying investment. 

The Hon. Nehemiah Bushnell, of Quincy, the 
President of the road, was indefatigable in his 
efforts to secure the necessary funds, but for 
some months failed to make headway. It 
therefore became necessary that McDonough 
County should increase its subscription of 
stock. Private citizens suDscribed $52,500. 
which showed the increasing public sentiment 
in favor of the enterprise; for it should be re- 
membered that the population of the county 
was then but S,000 and it contained compara- 
tively but little wealth. But more capital was 
absolutely necessary before building could be 
comijienced, and arrangements were finally 
made with Eastern capitalists which Mr. Bush- 
nell thought more favorable; hence, _on the 
29th of June. 1853, at a meeting of the Board 
of Directors of the road held in Quincy, the 
following resolution was passed: 

"Resolved, That in case McDonough County 
will, in its corporate capacity, in lieu of the 
$50,000 already voted, subscribe $75,000 to the 
capital stock of the company in bonds bearing 
eight per cent, interest, the company will 
agree to pay, until the road is put in operation 
the whole distance from Quincy to Galesburg, 
all the interest which may accrue on said bonds 
over and above the $3,000 annual Interest 
which would accrue on the bonds already vot- 
ed, so that no additional tax will be required 
in consequence of this increase of the county 
subscription: the interest thus advanced and 
paid by the company, to be hereafter refunded 
out of the surplus dividends which may be 
declared on the county stock, after providing 
for the interest thereafter accruing on the 
bonds." 

A resolution was also passed asking that an 
election for the proposed increase in stock to 
$75,000 be held, as provided by the statutes, 
and, in case the popular decision was favorable 




GEORGE W. BURPEE 



HISTORY OF JMcDONOUGH COUXTY. 



683 



to the new proposition, that the former vote 
of the county subscribing for $50,000 stoclv be 
annulled. 

Again the friends of the road rallied to its 
support, and the result of the election of Au- 
gust 20, 1853, was 1,145 in favor, and only 2S5 
against the proposition. This gratifying out- 
come of the second campaign was an assur- 
ance of the building of the road, which proved 
to be of incalculable benefit to the entire coun- 
ty. 



village of Walnut Grove. The townships of 
Eldorado, New Salem, Mound, Bushnell and 
Walnut Grove subscribed for $161,000 stock, 
nearly all paid; but, of course, the stock is 
worthless, as the road for many years was not 
a paying investment. After being transferred 
to various parties, or corporations, it finally 
was purchased by the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad, and since coming under this 
ownership has become profitable, as part of 
its great system. 



Completion of the Railroad. — In the fall of 
1S55 the road was completed as far north as 
Macomb, and the citizens — many of whom had 
never seen a locomotive or train of cars — were 
highly gratified to find that they had suddenly 
become linked with advanced civilization. The 
line was completed to Galesburg in January, 
1S56, connections at that point being made 
with the Central Military Tract Railroad to Chi- 
cago, which subsequently became a section of 
the great Chicago. Burlington & Quincy sys- 
tem. 

The residents of McDonough County found 
that all predictions made in the preliminary 
efforts to obtain subscribers to the stock of the 
road were more than fulfilled. Land prices 
advanced at a rapid rate, and all kinds of 
produce now found a ready market; and from 
the day the first train reached Macomb its mer- 
chants and farmers received cash. All the old 
and cumbersome methods of store orders in 
exchange for products, and actual barter, were 
wiped out. 



The M.\comb & Western Illinois Railroad 
was incorporated in 1903, and was in running 
order by 1904. Its line, twenty-one miles in 
length, extends from Macomb to Industry and 
Littleton, in the northern part of Schuyler 
County. William A. Compton is President and 
Ralph S. Chandler, Secretary and Treasurer. 
The road passes through some of the best 
farms and farming lands in the county, and 
has proved of great benefit to the county. 
Since its construction the price of lands has 
risen at a phenomenal rate. Its terminus, Lit- 
tleton, is in the midst of a splendid coal re- 
gion, which Is being rapidly developed by 
Messrs. Chandler and Compton, the principal 
owners of the road and coal land privileges. 
The industry promises to become large and 
profitable. The village of Littleton has be- 
come quite a busy point for grain and live- 
stock shipments, as well as coal, as the road 
connects with the Chicago, Burlington & Quin- 
cy at Macomb. The town has a bank and sev- 
eral general mercantile establishments. 



The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway, 
originally chartered as the Toledo, Peoria & 
Warsaw Railroad in 1S63, and completed across 
the State in 1»68, passes through the northern 
tier of townships in McDonough County, its 
stations being New Philadelphia, the city of 
Bushnell, and villages of Scottsburg, Good 
Hope, Sciota and Blandinsville. In the build- 
ing of this line, no subsidies or subscriptions 
were requested. It opened a fine portion of 
the county, and is of great benefit to the in- 
habitants of that section. 

The Rockford, Rock Island & St . Lodis 
Railroad passes along the eastern border of 
the county, running through the village of 
Adair, Jefferson Station, city of Bushnell and 



CHAPTER Xn. 



BANKING INSTITUTIONS. 



list of national, state and private banks in 
mcdonough county — date of organization. 

present OFFICERS. ETC. 

There are seventeen banks in McDonough 
County, owned and conducted by her wealthiest 
and most conservative business citizens. They 



684 



HISTORY OF AIcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



comprise two National, one State and fourteen 
private institutions, and are situated in the 
most convenient towns and villages for the 
transaction of the business of the different 
communities. Their reputation for safety and 
integrity is second to none in the State. Fol- 
lowing are the names, locations, officers and 
directors of the several banks: 

Uxio^i National Baniv of Macomb. — The of- 
ficers or the Union National Bank are: Pres- 
ident, Albert Eads; Vice-President, B. F. Mc- 
Lean; Cashier, J. W. Bailey; Assistant Cashier, 
L. F. Gumbart; Directors, Albert Eads, B. F. 
McLean, J. W. Bailey. W. S. Bailey and George 
W. Bailey. This bank was originally instituted 
by Dr. T. M. Jordan, in 1858, then passed into 
the hands of M. Holland, and finally organized 
as above. Following is a report of the con- 
dition of the Union National Bank of Macomb, 
at the close of business. January 26, 1907: 

RESOURCES. 

Loan.s and Discounts $5ii8.444 15 

Overdrafts 7,053 90 

U. S. Bonds 100.000 00 

Stocks and Bonds 45.702 00 

Furniture and fl.xtnres 3,500 00 

Redemption fund with U. S. Treas 5.000 00 

Cash and Exchange 153.3.53 97 

Total $883,144 02 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock $100,000 00 

Surplus fund 20.000 00 

Undivided proflts 11.543 72 

National bank notes outstanding 100,000 00 

Deposits 651,l>00 30 

Total $883,144 02 

Bank of Macomb (Private, C. V. Chandler & 
Co.) — The present officers of this bank are: 
President, C. V. Chandler; Cashier. Ralph S. 
Chandler; Assistant Cashier, Frank H. Mapes. 
This bank went out of business November 30, 
1906. 

Citizens' Ba.vk. Macomb (Private, Binnie 
Bros. & Co.) — Present officers: President, 
John Binnie; Vice-President, James Binnie; 
Cashie,-, Elmer T. Walker. This bank was or- 
ganized January 1, 1898. 

McDoNouGH County Bank, Macomb (Pri- 
vate, J. O. Peasley & Co.) — Officers; President, 
J. O. Peasley; Cashier, George H. Scott; As- 
sistant Cashier, George M. Wells. This bank 
was organized in 1901. 



Bank of Adair (Private.) — President, M. I. 
Herndon, Jr.; Vice-President. S. A. Hendee; 
Cashier, Walter Sperling. This bank has been 
in operation for several years. 

Bank of Industry (State Bank.) — President, 
Albert Eads; Vice-President, J. W. Bailey; 
Cashier. T. D. Sullivan. This bank was organ- 
ized in 1905. 

First National Bank of Bushnell. — Offi- 
cers: President, M. M. Pinkley ; Vice-Presi- 
dent. H. A. Kaiser; Cashier, J. M. Gale; Assist- 
ant Cashier, Charles E. Henry; Directors. T. 
J. Ball, T. K. Condit, J. M. Gale, H. A. Kaiser, 
O. M. McElvain, M. M. Pinkley, P. K. Upde- 
graff. This bank was originally established 
by J. M. Cole. 

Baxk of Bushnell (Private). — Officers: 
President, E. D. C. Haines; Cashier, J. S. 
Nunemaker; Assistant Cashier, S. H. Robin- 
son. This banlv has been in existence for sev- 
eral years. 

Citizens' Bank. Bushnell (Private). — Offi- 
cers: President, W. B. Heaton; Vice-President, 
Ed. Heaton; Cashier, George Heaton; Assistant 
Cashier. Bert Reach. 

Cole Saving Bank, Bushnell (Private). — 
Officers: President, James Cole; Vice-Presi- 
dent. George Cole; Cashier, James McDill. Or- 
ganized 1905. 

Gricsby Brothers & Co. (Private Bank) 
Blandinsville. — Officers>: President, James H. 
Grlgsby: Cashier, Frank W. Brooks. This 
bank was organized by William H. and S. 
Grlgsby and James H. and L. McGee, in 1884, 
and is now owned by the first-named Grlgsby. 

Huston Banking Co.mpany ( Private). Blandins- 
ville. — President, John Huston; Vice-President, 
George B. Huston; Cashier, Guy Huston. This 
bank was organized several years ago. 

Bank of Colchester, (Chandler & Imes, pri- 
vate bank). — President, C. V. Chandler; Cash- 
ier. C. I. Imes. This bank went into liquida- 
tion November 30, 1906. 

Bank of Rardolph (Chandler and Smith, 
private bank). — President, C. V. Chandler; 




Western Illinois State Normal School. JVIacomb. Built in 1902 




Carnegie Free Public Library, Macomb 



PUBLIC Ll- 

■r-.LD N fOU-- 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



685 



Cashier, U. G. Smith. Went out of business and 
was succeeded by Samuel Daugherty, Presi- 
dent, and U. B. Smith, Cashier. 

Bank of Good Hope. (Cummings, Ward & 
Co., private). — President, Q. C. Ward; Cash- 
ier, H. A. Allison. Organized in 1890. 

B.\XK OF Prairie City (private bank). — 
President, A. M. Craig; Cashier, J. Waldo Wil- 
son. Originally organized by W. H. Kreider 
several years ago. 

Baxk of Sckita. (Ward, Allison & Co., 
private bank). — President, Q. C. Ward; Cash- 
ier, A. Allison. Organized in 1902. 

National Baxk of Colchester. — This bank 
was organized December 29, 1906. Its present 
officers are: President, Albert Eads; Vice- 
President, B. F. McLean; Cashier, Edgar R. 
McLean; Assistant Cashier, Newton Boyd; 
Bookkeeper, Laura I. McLean. 



CHAPTER Xni. 



Scarcely had a dozen families located within a 
radius of a few miles and secured Indispensable 
shelter for themselves within the walls of their 
rude cabins, before efforts were being made to 
provide a school for their children. In the 
early days good schools were truly few and 
far between, and It was thought to be very 
fortunate Indeed If an opportunity was offered 
for obtaining even the rudiments of a common 
school education. Any one was thought com- 
petent to teach school if he had a reasonable 
knowledge of the "Three Rs" — Reading, 'Rit- 
ing and 'Rithmetic — and, even with these qual- 
ifications, teachers at that time were difficult 
to obtain. Many of the scattered settlements 
could not afford to hire a teacher, and the chil- 
dren had no educational advantages other than 
what their parents could find time and oppor- 
tunity to provide. But it was observable that 
the parents of that day were extremely anxious 
that their children should not grow up in ignor- 
ance; hence It was that during the winter 
months the children who were large enough 
were sent to school two to five miles distant. 
Morning and evening, they would trudge all 
that distance, taking the dinners with them 
which their affectionate mothers prepared, and 
during recess a regular picnic was held, the 
substantial meal being fully appreciated. 



EDUCATION— SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. 



EARLY SCHOOLS IX M DOXOUGH COUNTY^SCAR- 

CITY OF COMPETENT TEACHERS DAYS OF THE LOG 

SCHOOL HOUSE AND THE PIONEER TEACHER — 

EARLY TEXT BOOKS A TEACHER'S CONTRACT — 

BEGINNING OF THE FREE .SCHOOL SYSTEM — FIRST 
MACOMB SCHOOL — PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY TOWN- 
SHIPS AND DISTRICT.S — MACOMB AND BUSHNELL 
CITY SCHOOLS — ATTEMPTS TO FOUND HIGHER 
INSTITUTIONS — M'dONOUGH COLLEGE, NORMAL 
AND SCIENTIFIC SCHOOLS, AND MACOMB FEM.VLE 
SEMINARY — WESTERN ILLINOIS STATE NORMAL 
SCHOOL — PRESENT BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND 
TEACHING FACULTY' SUNDAY SCHOOL STATIS- 
TICS — LIBRARIES — REMINISCENCES OF AN EARLY' 
TEACHER. 

Schools for children engaged the active at- 
tention of the early settlers of the county. 



The Log School House and the Teacher. — 
The school house was a log cabin, with one 
window at the side and a fireplace at the op- 
posite end from the door entrance. The furni- 
ture was of primitive style, the heavy seats 
constructed of sawed slabs or split puncheons, 
while there were a rough desk and a stool for 
the teacher, with a plentiful supply of hazel 
switches in full view. The latter sometimes 
had a wholesome effect on the children, who 
knew full well that in them were the elements 
of corporal punishment or correction. The 
teacher usually sat before the fireplace, facing 
the scholars, and could, at a glance, see what 
was transpiring among his pupils. Books were 
few, consisting chiefly of the "blue spelling- 
book" — "Webster's Elementary Speller" being 
then universally used — with one or two "Eng- 
lish Readers," Kirkham's Grammar and Pike's, 
Smith's or Ray's Arithmetic, these constituting 
the sum total of the fountain of knowledge 
from which to fill the minds of these sturdy, 



686 



HISTORY OF AIcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



healthful pupils. From these maj- be judged 
the sources from which were drawn the ele- 
ments which, under adverse circumstances, 
developed some of the foremost men of the 
nation, such as Lincoln, Garfield and others, 
who entered upon their intellectual life through 
this modest curriculum. The walls of the old- 
time school-room were not decorated with beau- 
tiful maps — geographical, scientific and hy- 
gienic; nor did artistic and massive globes 
stand upon the floor, representing in detail 
all the lands and seas of the universe; neither 
was there an abundance of text-books, filled 
with up-to-date information and covering the 
broad fields of literature, science and art. This 
was before the days of photography, and mark 
the contrast between the artistic conditions of 
then and now. On the walls of the log school- 
house, where space would permit, some youth- 
ful Hogarth would scrawl a likeness of the 
teacher; or, as was often the case, he would 
try to transfer to high rough canvas — the 
whitewashed logs — the pretty features of some 
little Venus with whom he was in love. Be- 
sides maps and works of art, the modern walls 
were often decorated with beautiful specimens 
of penmanship for the children to copy; in 
those days teachers were often employed who 
could scarcely write their own names intel- 
ligibly. 

Contract Between Teacher and Parents. — 
A good illustration of the difference between 
the primitive and modern methods of education 
is afforded in the following agreement, made 
between John G. Woodside and the patrons 
of his school, the original being in possession 
of his son, William L. Woodside: 

"Articles of Agreement, made and entered 
into this first day of April, one thousand eight 
hundred and thirty-five, by and between .John 
G. Woodside of the first part, and the under- 
signed, of the other part, both of McDonough 
County and State of Illinois; 

"I, the above named Woodside, do agree to 
teach a school in the school house near Levi 
Parents for the term of six months, five days 
in each week, or time to that amount. I do 
agree to teach spelling, reading, writing and 
arithmetic to the best of my skill and judg- 
ment. I also bind myself to keep good order, 
and pay strict attention to my school. 



"And we, the undersigned, do promise to 
pay the said Woodside for his services one 
dollar per scholar in money, and three dollars 
in good merchantable wheat, pork, wool, linen, 
linsey, flax, or work at the market price in this 
neighborhood, to be delivered at said Wood- 
side's house — the pork to be paid at the usual 
time of killing, the money part, or other arti- 
cles, to be paid at the expiration of the school. 

"And we, the subscribers, do bind ourselves 
to fix the school-house in a comfortable man- 
ner, school to commence the first of May, or 
sooner if subscribers want it. 

"I, the said Woodside, will begin with twenty 
scholars, and any larger scholar, or scholars, 
who will not submit themselves to the rules 
of said school, shall be expelled from said 
school ; and it is understood that said Wood- 
side is to have the liberty of teaching his own 
children. 

"If either of the parties should become dis- 
satisfied the school can be discontinued at the 
end of three months by the teacher, or a ma- 
jority of the subscribers, either party giving 
two weeks' notice." 

This agreement shows the primitive meth- 
ods adopted in the early settlement of this 
western country, and, at the same time, bears 
v.jfness to the earnest desire of parents to 
have their children educated in some measure. 
An analysis of the environments and opportu- 
nities of the settlers of seventy-five years ago 
must bring one to the conclusion that they 
were earnest, common-sense, patriotic citizens, 
and builded much better than they dreamed of. 

Commencement of Public School System. — 
Remember that the public school system, 
though long projected, was not an actual reali- 
zation until 1S55, when by law taxes could 
be levied for free-school purposes. By laws 
enacted in the latter part of the eighteenth 
century, and applying to the region northwest 
of the Ohio River, of which Illinois formed a 
part, the sixteenth section of every township 
was dedicated and set apart to be used for 
school purposes; but, there being little demand 
for land at that time and the government price 
of $1.25 per acre being all that could be real- 
ized from its sale, the income to be derived 
from that source was small. Hence, subscrip- 
tion schools had to be relied upon for many 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



687 



years. The appropriation, by the United States, 
of the sixteenth section was wise legislation, 
and had each county kept the land, which 
could not be taxed, it would now be realizing 
a vast income. McDonough County had sixteen 
sections, or 10,240 acres, which, at the 
present average price of $100 per acre, would 
amount to $1,024,000; and this, with interest nt 
four per cent., would more than pay the entire 
county taxes each year. Of course, the future 
of this country had not entered into the mind 
of the most extravagant dreamer, and the ne- 
cessities of the early settlers were such that 
the lands had to be sold and the proceeds or 
interest thereon applied to school purposes. 

The first school in Macomb, if not in Mc- 
Donough County, which received support from 
the public treasury, was in operation in 1837. 
and was taught by Miss Ellen Overton, who, for 
more than forty years, continued in that pro- 
fession. From this time forward the people 
began to avail themselves of the privilege of 
the school law. and for the past forty years 
rapid progress has been made in all branches 
of public education. 

Public Schools of Present Day. — Public 
schools, as now organized in McDon- 
ough County, are distributed in districts, vary- 
ing in number from six to eleven in each of 
the several townships, the average number be- 
ing nine. They are generally numbered con- 
secutively, the exceptions being several Union 
Districts and the District of Good Hope ( (for- 
merly No. 9) in Sciota Township. 

Eldokado Township (4 N., 1 W.I — This being 
a wealthy township, its schools and school 
houses are equal to any in the county. It con- 
tains nine school buildings, all frame. 

In District No. 1 the school house stands 
upon the northeast corner of Section 11, and 
is valued at $700. Until 1S72 the district was 
two miles and a half long, north and south; 
in that year Districts Nos. 1 and 6 were di- 
vided, forming 1, 6 and 7. The first school 
house in District No. 2 was built in 186.5, at a 
cost of about $400. In 1884 it was rebuilt for 
$350, and is now an average school building. 
District No. 3 school-house stands on the south- 
west corner of Section 5, and is worth about 
$400. The building for District No. 4 is lo- 
cated on the northeast corner of Section 13. 



On the northwest corner of Section 22 is the 
school-house of District No. 5 — a good frame 
building erected in 1SG9, at a cost of $1,500, 
and now valued at $1,000. It is 24x30 feet, 
and is familiarly known as old "sixteen." Dis- 
trict No. G has a school-house on the south- 
east corner of Section 14, erected in 1872, at 
a cost of $800. The building for District No. 
7 is located on the northwest corner of Sec- 
tion 3G and was erected in 1875, costing $700. 
On the southwest quarter of Section 37 is the 
school-house of No. S (cost $250). The build- 
ing for District No. 9 was erected in 1875, at 
a cost of $750. 

Five of the districts in Eldorado Township 
have school libraries, numbering a total of 126 
volumes, of which 61 were bought in 1905. 
The salary paid female teachers for that year 
was $1,250 and for male teachers $1,655. The 
total amount received for school purposes dur- 
ing the year was $5,159.35, and the total of 
school assets of the township, in cash, notes 
and increased value of property, was $2,360.95. 
The number of females of school age (6 to 21 
years ) was ^50. and of males, 347. 

New Salem Township (5 N., 1 W.).— This 
township contains ten school buildings, all 
frame. Eight of the districts have school li- 
braries which contain a total number of G28 
volumes, of which 75 volumes were purchased 
during 1905. There are 358 females and 391 
males of school age (6 to 21 years) in the 
township, of whom 70 are enrolled In the 
graded schools. The salaries paid teachers ag- 
gregate $2,255.55 to female teachers, and $1, 
352 to male teachers. There are two male 
teachers and one female instructor in the 
graded school, and five male and six female 
teachers in the ungraded schools of the town- 
ship. 

The first school-house was erected in New 
Salem Township in 1849, on the northwest cor- 
ner of Section 36. its site being on the farm 
of Joseph Lownes. In 1846 the township was 
divided into three school districts, equally di- 
vided north and south. In 1852 the west half 
was divided into two districts, and in 1857, by 
an entirely new subdivision, nine districts were 
created in the township, each two miles square. 
The old school-houses were sold. For the ac- 
commodation of District No. 2 an old school 



HISTORY OF .AlcDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



689 



was built on Section 17 in 1S81, at a cost of 
$700. The grounds comprise one acre of land. 
District No. 6 building was erected on Section 
9, in 1859, and cost $400. The school-house 
of District No. 7 is situated on the northwest 
corner of Section 12, the site embracing one- 
fourth of an acre and its cost being $300. Or- 
ganized in 1864, District No. 8 has a good 
building on the southeast corner of Section 30, 
erected at a cost of $1,400. 

ScoTL.\ND Township (5 N., 2 W.). — Scotland 
Township is one of the best in the county, 
every acre of its thirty-six sections of land 
being available for cultivation, and the owners 
of its farms among the wealthiest in this sec- 
tion. The farms are well improved, with ele- 
gant residences and capacious barns, and the 
settlers noted for their industry and thrift. 
The township received its name because of the 
large percentage of Scotch people who settled 
there, and, like others of that nationality, in 
whatever part of the world they are found, 
their schools are objects of their special care. 
The township has nine frame school-houses, 
fully equipped, two of them being provided 
with good libraries. Of its ten teachers, three 
are males and seven females, their salaries ag- 
gregating $2,343. 

District No. 1 was organized April 21, 1856, 
and a small frame building was first erected 
for the accommodation of its few scholars. In 
1874 a substantial new building was put up on 
Section 1, at a cost of $1.4G9. The first school 
building for District No. 2 was a small log 
house, known as Mount Nebo School, but in 
1857 an excellent frame structure was erected 
on Section 4, its cost being $1,500. District 
No. 3 has a building on Section 6. erected at 
a cost of $600. District No. 4 school-house 
stands on the northwest corner of Section 20; 
a new building was erected in 1883 at a cost 
of $900. The Centrepoint School (District No. 
5) is located on the southeast corner of Sec- 
tion 16. Adjoining the building is a very fine 
Presbyterian church, erected by the same con- 
gregation that originally worshiped in the old 
church on the edge of the timber adjoining the 
Clark farm. The first religious structure was 
built in the early 'forties, on what is known 
as the Robert Roberts farm. In 1857 District 
No. 6 was organized and its building erected 
on Section 13, at a cOst of $700. In 1882 a new 



building was erected on the site of the old one, 
costing $1,000. The school-house in District 
No. 7 is located on the southeast corner of 
Section 26 and cost $500. District No. 8 has 
a building on the northeast corner of Section 
33, repaired and remodeled in 1883, and cost- 
ing $800. District No. 9 was organized in 
1847, and a new building was erected in 1863 
on the southeast corner of Section 29. 

Macomb Township (6 N., 2 W.). — This is a 
wealthy and thickly settled township, with 
eight frame school buildings, of which four 
have libraries, containing 294 volumes. Within 
the township are 850 persons of school age — 
451 males and 439 females — and of its thirteen 
teachers, two are male and eleven female. The 
total amount paid in salaries to teachers was 
$3,150. 

District No. 1 was organized in 1866, and in 
the same year the school-house was moved 
from District No. 2 to its present location, the 
northwest quarter of Section 12. In the same 
year District No. 2 had a school-house put up 
on the northeast quarter of Section 10, at a 
cost of $1,080. In 1865 District No. 7 was di- 
vided into Nos. 1 and 7, and in 1867 No. 7 
was changed to No. 2. District No. 4 was or- 
ganized by a consolidation of Nos. 3 and 8, 
and in 1868 a school-house was built on Section 
16, costing $375. District No. 5 is composed 
of portions of Macomb and Emmet Townships, 
and has two buildings — one located on Section 
1, Emmet Township, and the other on Section 
IS, Macomb Township, — both being erected in 
1856 at a cost of $840 each. Previous to this, 
school was held in a log house on the Patrick 
Laughlin place. The school-house of District 
No. 6 is situated on the southwest quarter of 
Section 23, the house being built at the time of 
the organization of the district, in 1855. In 
1866 the old school-house was replaced by a new 
building erected at a cost of $1,650, on land do- 
nated by Benjamin Randolph. District 
No. 7 was organized several years ago. but as 
early as 1860 a good frame school-house was 
erected in Bardolph. The building now being 
used in that town for school purposes was 
commenced in August, 1874. and accepted by 
the board December 7, 1874. It is a good 
two-story frame building, with four rooms, 
and cost, completed and furnished, $4,500. The 
present building in District No. 8 was erected 



690 



HISTORY UF .McDOX(JUGH COUNTY. 



in the summer of 1S77, and is provided with 
all modern educational conveniences. It is 
known as the Wiley School House, is located 
on the northeast corner of Section 34, and its 
cost was $1,300. The former school-house, built 
on the same site in 1863 (cost $731). was sold 
and removed in 1877. District No. 9 was or- 
ganized in 1863, and the building on Section 29 
was erected the same year at a cost of $470. 
(The schools of the city of Macomb are men- 
tioned later on in this chapter.) 

W.^L-MT Grove Township (7 N., 2 W.). — The 
township named consists of some of the best 
land and most substantial farms in the county, 
every acre being cultivated or made valuable 
by the most modern improvements known to 
agriculture. The educational facilities com- 
prise one brick and seven frame buildings. In 
the township are 281 males and 251 females of 
school age, and its four male and eleven female 
teachers draw salaries aggregating $2,415 an- 
nually. 

The building for District known as No. 1 was 
moved to its present location (northwest cor- 
ner of Section 12) in 1863. In the same year 
District No. 2 was organized, and in 1864 a 
building costing $200 was erected on the south- 
east corner of Section 4. District No. 3 was 
also organized in 1863, and In the following 
year a school-house was built on the northeast 
corner of Section 7 at a cost of $250. In Au- 
gust, 1863, District No. 4 was organized, and 
a house costing $351 was erected on the north- 
east corner of Section 19, in 1873 being moved 
to its present location on Section 18. In 1863 
buildings costing $500 each were also erected 
in Districts Nos. 5 and 6, the house for the 
latter district being on the northwest corner 
of Section 24. The school-house for District 
No. 7, located on Section 26, was built in 1S72. 
District No. 8 was formed by a union of No. 
3, of Macomb, and No. 8, of Walnut Grove 
Townships, its school-house (costing $500) be- 
ing situated on the southwest quarter of Sec- 
tion 32. District No. 9 has an excellent brick 
building situated on Section 9. erected in 1861 
at a cost of $400. 

Bethel Township (4 N., 3 W.). — The esti- 
mated value of school property in Bethel Town- 
ship Is nearly $6,000, and the wages paid male 
teachers range from $25 to $47.50 per month. 



There are seven school-houses in the township, 
six of which are frame structures and one of 
brick. The enrolled pupils in the several 
schools aggregate over 300, and the population 
of school age over 600. The first school build- 
ing — a log house 12 by 15 feet — was erectea 
on Section 30 and used for school and church 
purposes, a school being taught there in 1836. 
District No. .3 was organized in 1845, and a 
log house (IS by IS feet) erected on Section 
29; this building being used until 1S79, when 
the present one was erected on the southwest 
corner of Section 21 at a cost of $700. In 1840 
the first school-house in District No. 4 was 
erected on Section 22, was moved in 1859 to 
Section 14, and two years later gave place to 
the frame building (24 by 36 feet) now in use, 
erected on the same site at a cost of $1,400. 
Mount Zion School-house (District No. 5) is 
located on Section 33, to which it was removed 
from Section 34 in 1874. The building (22 by 
30 feet) is located on a lot containing one-half 
acre. This is a Union District, a part of 
which lies in Schuyler County. The school- 
house for District No. 6 is situated on Section 
25, and is known as the Victor School-house. 
It was erected in 1875 at a cost of $800. West 
Bethel School is located on the southeast corner 
of Section 8, on a site embracing one acre of 
ground. The first building (20 by 26 feet) 
was erected here in 1862, costing $200. In 1S73, 
the present building (26 by 36 feet) was erected 
on the same site at a cost of $1,200. and is now 
in a fairly good condition. 

The township originally consisted almost en- 
tirely of timber lands, but now contains many 
good farms owned by thrifty and enterprising 
farmers. Water is abundant and stone, and 
coal underlie the surface, which will, in time, 
add greatly to its wealth. Improved farm- 
lands command high prices and sales are not 
frequent. 

Chalmers Township (5 N., 3 W.). — This 
township is largely timber, and is not as 
thickly settled as the prairie townships, but 
contains many well-to-do, even wealthy, farm- 
ers, who have made substantial improvements. 
One brick and seven frame school-houses pro- 
vide educational accommodations, and three 
male and seven female teachers, whose sal- 
aries total $1,859, are the agents of the pub- 
lic school system. Throughout the township 



HISTORY OF AIcDONOUGH COUNTY. 



691 



there are 5U9 males and 3S7 females of school 
age. 

The school building of District No. 1 is sit- 
uated on the southeast quarter of Section 1, 
and that of No. 3 on the northwest quarter 
of Section S. In 1SG7 a brick school-house, 
costing $900, was built on Section 17 for the 
use of pupils in District No. 4, those who were 
educated at the public school for a decade pre- 
vious to that year obtaining their instruction 
in a small log cabin erected in 1S57. School 
houses for Districts Nos. 5 and 6 stand on 
the northwest corner of Section 22, and the 
northeast corner of the northwest quarter of 
Section 14, respectively. The building pro- 
vided for District No. 7, at a cost of |500, is 
located on Section 25. District No. 8 has a 
good frame building, which until 1866 was 
used as a business house in Middletown. but, 
upon the organization of the district in April 
of that year, it was purchased for $600 and 
removed to its present location on Section 33. 
The school-houses for the various Union dis- 
tricts are situated as follows: No. 1, in Bethel 
Township, Section 1; No. 6, in the town of 
Colchester; No. 8, on Section 19, and No. 12, 
in Pandon, formerly Middletown. 

Emmet Township (6 N., 3 W.). — More than 
half of the township consists of timber land, 
fairly well settled. The prairie land is all 
arable and in a high state of cultivation, car- 
rying good improvements. For school pur- 
poses, there are nine frame buildings, with 
three district libraries containing SI volumes. 
In the township are 433 males and 407 
females of school age, with seven male and 
six female teachers, whose combined salaries 
are $2,529. 

In 1836 the first school was held in Union 
District No. 1, the building in which the few 
scholars assembled being a rude log cabin. In 
1S40 a new log house was built on Section 10, 
near the location of the present building. In 
1854, during a season of turbulence between 
parents and teacher, the house was razed, and 
soon afterward the present structure was erect- 
ed at a cost of $500. The pupils in District 
No. 2 first received instruction in a log house 
which was built in 1841. situated about forty 
rods north of the present building. The school 
house now occupied was erected in 1864 and 
cost $600. District No. 2 has a most excellent 



buildiag on Section 29, valued at $7U0. The 
school-house for District No. 4 is a mile and 
a halt west of Macomb, on Section 35. District 
No. 5 provided a school-house in 1856, at a cost 
of $840. It is situated on Section 1. District 
No. 6 was organized in 1866, and in the same 
year erected its present house at a cost of $800. 
The building for No. 7, southwest corner of 
Section 13, cost $550, and dates from 1876. Dis- 
trict No. S was formed by the division of No. 
7. and its school-house, on Section 22, was built 
in 1877 and cost $350. 

ScioT.\ Township (7 N.. 3 W.).— This town- 
ship consists of most excellent prairie land, is 
thickly settled, and the agricultural improve- 
ments are all modern and valuable. There 
are eight school buildings in the township, 
which has a school population of 332 males 
and 318 females. Its three male and seven fe- 
male teachers receive salaries which aggregate 
$2,265. 

Previous to the organization of District No. 
1, school was held in a building south of the 
present location. The building was in what 
was then known as District No. 5. In 1871 the 
district was divided into Nos. 1 and 6. The 
school-house now occupied is situated on Sec- 
tion 11. The house in District No. 2 was erect- 
ed in 1868 at a cost of $450, and stands on the 
southeast corner of Section 4. During the same 
year a school building for No. 3 was moved to 
its present location, northeast corner of Sec- 
tion 8, District No. 2 having been divided, in 
1868. into Nos. 3 and 4. District No. 4 was 
organized in 1867, and for its accommodation a 
house was built in that year costing $450. In 
1858 District No. 5 was organized and a build- 
ing erected on Section 22, at a cost of $450. 
The school building for No. 6, situated on the 
southeast corner of Section 14, was erected in 
1872, and is valued at $1,500. The school build- 
ing known as District No. 10 is in the village 
of Sciota, and dates from 1872. Its cost was 
$1,200. The structure occupied formerly by 
the pupils of District No. 9 was situated on 
the southwest corner of Section 30, the date 
of its erection being 1861. When the district 
was changed to Good Hope, in 1874, the school 
was moved to that town, and the old building 
has since given place to a large and excellent 
structure. 



692 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



Lamoine Township (4 N., 4 W.). — As this 
township is nearly all timber land, it is not 
thickly settled; yet the arable area is in a 
high state of cultivation with good improve- 
ments. Of the eight school-houses, four have 
libraries. In the township are 369 males and 
364 females of school age, and five male and 
seven female teachers, with salaries aggregat- 
ing 12,200. 

In 1844 the first school in the township was 
taught on the J. D. Tabler farm, but the build- 
ing was long ago destroyed by fire. The pres- 
ent school-house of District No. 1 was erected 
in 1871, on the northwest quarter of Section S. 
District No. 2 building, located on the north- 
west corner of Section 11, was put up in 1862, 
and two years later District No. 3 erected a 
school-house on the line between Sections 29 
and 30. The building for No. 4 on Section 28 
was erected in 1872. A log house on Section 
36, built prior to 1841, replaced by a frame 
structure in 1S5S and rebuilt in 1880. provided 
educational accommodations for District No. 0. 
The school-house of District No. 6, on the east 
half of Section 15, was built in 1870. 

Tex.xes.see Tovi'.N-siiip (5 N.. 4 W. ). — About 
equally divided between timber and prairie 
lands, this township is quite well settled. In 
it are three brick and nine frame school build- 
ings, ten of which contain libraries aggregat- 
ing 266 volumes. The school population is di- 
vided between 1,161 males and 1,094 females, 
and the twenty-nine teachers draw salaries 
amounting to $6,227. 

District No. 1 has two school-houses — one 
situated in Hillsgrove and the other on Section 
20; cost, $600. No. 2. situated on Section 26, 
was erected in 1869 and is valued at $500. The 
building for District No. 3 is on Section 10 
and cost $400. For some years previous to 1856 
a school was taught on the northern part of 
Section 5 (District No. 4); the present build- 
ing, erected in 1857, is situated on the south- 
west quarter of Section 5. The substantial 
building for District No. 5, erected in 1873 at 
a cost of $7,000, Is located in the village of 
Tennessee. The school-house in Colchester 
(No. 6) is an excellent brick structure, erected 
in 1870 and valued at $8,000. The buildings of 
Districts 7 and 8 are not in Tennessee Town- 
ship — one being located on Section 19. Chal- 
mers Township, and the other on Section 36, 



Hire Township. The school-house of District 
No. 9 is situated on Section IS and cost $300. 
(The report for Colchester Township, which 
originally consisted of equal parts of Chalmers 
and Tennessee Townships, is included in the 
reports for the original townships.) 

Hire Township (6 N., 4 W.).— This township 
is about two-thirds prairie and the balance 
timber, being thickly settled by substantial 
farmers. There are nine school buildings in the 
township; 332 males and 340 females of school 
age, and ten teachers with aggregate salaries 
of $2,556. 

The building of District No. 1, located on 
Section 11. was erected in 1862 at a cost of 
$400. In 1877 the school-house for No. 2 was 
built on the southwest quarter of Section 3; 
the first building (1837) was on Section 4. 
District No. 3 was organized and its school- 
house built in 1864, it being located on the 
northwest corner of Section 8. District No. 4 
was formed in 1857, and its building on Section 
17 was erected in 1873 at a cost of $1,060. No. 
5 building, located on Section 22. was removed 
to its present site in 1862; original cost. $200. 
The school-house of District No. 6, which 
stands on the northeast corner of Section 28, 
was built in 1872. District No. 7 has a building 
on the northeast quarter of Section 36, which 
is valued at $300. Organized in 1852, District 
No. S erected a house during the following 
year; the present building on Section 34 was 
put up in 1837, costing $1,200. In 1863 a 
school-house for District No. 9 was erected on 
Section 30. 

BL.\NDr\sviLLE Tow.NSHiP (7 N., 4 W.). — The 
township is about equally divided between prai- 
rie and timber lands, and in material wealth is 
third in the county. It has one brick and nine 
frame buildings, with 29 teachers whose sal- 
aries amount to $4,663. The persons of school 
age in the township number 534 males and 564 
females. 

District No. 1 school is located on the south- 
east corner of Section 2; erected in 1872 at a 
cost of $750. The building of No. 2. on the 
northeast quarter of Section 7, cost $300. Dis- 
trict No. 3 has a school-house on Section IS. 
and District No. 4 on Section 21 — the latter 
being built in 1858 for $600. No. 5, on Sec- 
tion 36, was erected in 1876 at cost of $500. 
District No. 6 includes the town of Blandins- 




(S^^(^^. 



•^--i-^ 



BLIC LLtiiiA : 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



693 



ville, and its handsome school-house is worth 
$10,000. No. 7 school building is located in 
Hire Township. District No. 8 has a house on 
Section 23, and District No. 9, on Section 29, 
each costing $300. The school property in Dis- 
trict No. 10 cost $300. The school-house 
in District No. 11 was moved to its present site, 
southeast corner of Section 4, in 1864. 

M.\co.MB City Public Schools. — Grant School, 
which is situated in the First Ward between 
Johnson and McArthur Streets, Macomb, was 
erected in 1S94. While not as artistic as some 
of the other buildings, it is convenient for 
school purposes. All grades except the fifth 
are taught here. Ida M. Bonwell is Principal; 
Winifred Comer, Nellie B. Elwell, Edna Bar- 
rett and Estella Payne, teachers, i'he last en- 
rollment showed 132 scholars. 

Lincoln School is in the Second Ward, on 
Calhoun between Dudley and Madison Streets. 
The original building was burned some years 
ago, and the present edifice was erected on its 
foundations, the interior of the new school be- 
ing arranged more conveniently. This is known 
as the High School, five-eighths of the building 
being occupied by graduates from the grammar 
grades and the remainder by the first four 
grades. The following compose the faculty: 
Maria F. Hazel, Principal; Laura Hazel, Teach- 
er of English: Edna E. O'Hare, Latin and Ger- 
man; Amelia Deneweth, Music and Drawing; 
Mary E. Taylor, Natural Sciences; and W. W. 
Ernest, Superintendent of City Schools. There 
are 120 students enrolled in the High School, 
and 214 in all grades. 

Logan School, in the Third Ward, is located 
between Madison and Edwards Streets. All 
the eight grades are taught by the following 
faculty: Henrietta M. Campbell, Principal; 
Anna M. Pollock, Assistant; Alice I. Black. Olga 
C. Watson. Helen M. Hoskinson, Nellie Gilmore, 
Bessie Kirkpat.rick and Clara B. Cochrane, 
teacher.s. The total enrollment is 320. 

Douglas School is situated on the corner of 
Johnson and Washington Streets, Fourth Ward. 
and its Principal is John O. Cowan; with 
Blanche Parks, Mary Neville, Myrtle Venard, 
Sadie McMillan and Lucille Simmers, as teach- 
ers. The first six grades are taught in this 
school, and 154 pupils are enrolled. 

The music and drawing in the Macomb 



schools have been under the immediate supervi- 
sion and instruction of Amelia E. Deneweth, 
and under the general superintendency of Prof. 
W. W. Ernest. Sixteen graduates from the 
high school were added, in 1906, to the list of 
alumni, which begins with the class of 1S6S. 
The Macomb schools have all been successful, 
and have sent out into the world many gradu- 
ates who have made their mark in business 
and professional fields. Since their foundation 
the attendance has steadily increased. 

BusHXELL Schools. — The Bushnell High 
School building was erected in 1876. but some 
years later was burned down and the present 
large and convenient structure was erected on 
the original site. All grades are taught and filled. 
The West Side School was built a few years ago 
to furnish educational facilities for the ever 
increasing demand. Bushnell has always been 
interested in school matters, and has spared 
neither money nor effort in making her educa- 
tional institutions second to none in the sounty 
— which position she has reached and main- 
tained. A business, or normal institute, open 
to both sexes, was continued in Bushnell 
tor many years, and was a power in the com- 
munity. After the State Normal School at 
Macomb was in operation there was no fur- 
ther need of such an institution, and the man- 
agement sold the property. 

SCHOOL STATISTICS 



TOWNSHIPS. 



i;ifliiratlo 

Xhw Salem ... 

M^mnrt 

T.usliiiell 

I'l-iiirie City .. 

Iinlnstr.v 

S.otliind 

>I;i'-oinb 

M'.ilnnt Grove 

H.'flipl 

Cliiiliiiers 

lOiiiinot 

Scii.ta 

Lnuinine 

Tennessee .... 

Hire 

Bl.'inilin.sville . 
.Maciimb City 
Colchester 



II68 

101 
2S65 
1149 
1504 

868 
1186 

984 
1130 

8C.9 
1001 
1304 
1015 
1033 
1011 
1710 
5375 



226 
336 
299 
8!5 
368 
497 
222 
362 
266 
384 
387 
291 
316 
350 
940 
302 
494 
1730 



y. 


H 


7!, 





d3 








■? = 




i-D 






D 


ma 




ro 


n 


M 


^3 




^, 


c ^ 
















n 






:r 




















m 







K 
cos 

C -1 



O 



9 


195 


3 


11 


2n 


5 


10 


303 


3 


19 


634 


5 


10 


218 


2 


11 


350 


4 


9 


209 


2 


10 


274 


3 


S 


171 


3 


7 


200 


7 


9 


363 


2 


8 


207 


2 


14 


302 




8 


346 


3 


20 


887 


5 


9 


226 


4 


15 


453 


5 


25 


1354 


12 

5 



238 
336 
192 
553 
295 
:S48 
242 
337 
132 
352 

81 
109 
377 

87 
2.55 
245 
598 
1721 
594 



694 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



McDoxou(iH College — Higher Ixstitutioxs. 
— As early as 1S35 a project was inaugurated 
for the establishment of a college in this county, 
showing what a deep interest the people took in 
higher education even in that day. A petition 
signed by a number of the citizens of Macomb 
was presented to the Legislature at its session of 
1S3.5-3C, praying for the passage of an act to in- 
corporate an institution by that name. By this 
act. which was passed and approved by the Gov- 
ernor January 12, 1836, William W. Bailey, 
Charles Hays, Moses Hinton, William Proctor, 
James McCroskey, Joseph G. Walker, George 
Miller, John M. Walker, Saunders W. Camp- 
bell and Alexander Campbell, were appointed 
Trustees. Notwithstanding the early day in 
which this charter was granted, it was not 
until ISol that a full college course was es- 
tablished, though a high-grade school was con- 
ducted in the building which was situated in 
the extreme northeast corner of the city. The 
building was of brick, two stories in height, 
and was begun immediately after the charter 
was granted, but not completed until the fol- 
lowing year. Rev. James M. Chase and Rev. 
Mr. Stafford occupied the building some years 
with a select school, both of these gentlemen 
being regular college gi-aduates. The Schuyler 
Presbytery, under whose control and supervi- 
sion the college was to be, never felt war- 
ranted in reorganizing the regular college 
course. In 1S4S McGinnis and Banks, the con- 
tractors, obtained judgment against the trus- 
tees for work performed on the building, and 
sold the property to satisfy the same. 

Macomb Lodge No. 17, A. F. & A. M., had 
in contemplation the establishment of a Ma- 
sonic college. As the Grand Lodge of Masons 
of the State of Illinois was then seriously con- 
sidering the propriety of establishing such an 
institution, Macomb Lodge thought it advis- 
able to purchase the property and tender it i.o 
the Grand Lodge, believing it would be an in- 
ducement to locate the college in Macomb. It 
will thus be seen that the pioneers of the county 
were enterprising and far-sighted, especially 
looking forward to the upbuilding of its edu- 
cational interests in all directions; and this 
spirit has continued to the present. At the 
annual session of the Grand Lodge of that year 
(1.S4S) Dr. J. B. Kyle, an enthusiastic Mason, 
in behalf of Macon Lodge, formally tendered 



the property to that body. The offer was de- 
clined, the Grand Lodge having become satis- 
fied that it would be unwise to engage in the 
contemplated undertaking. It was then ten- 
dered to the Schuyler Presbytery, on condition 
that this body should establish and maintain 
a school of high grade — which proposition was 
accepted. 

A charter for a college to be known as the 
"McDonough College" was then obtained — the 
old charter probably, by that time, having been 
forfeited. Under its provisions, James M. 
Chase, William F. Ferguson, William K. Stew- 
art, F. S. Vail and W. R. Talbot were named 
as Trustees. The Masonic Lodge of Macomb 
then nominated Rev. Ralph Harris to a profes- 
sorship in the institution, which action was 
ratified by the Trustees on condition that he 
take charge of the school, and for his services 
therefor receive the tuition fees as his salary. 
Mr. Harris accepted the offer, and on the first 
Monday in November, 1849, the school was 
opened, the principal being assisted by Miss 
Ellen Phelps for a period of two years. 

On the eleventh of June, 1851, Rev. William 
F. Ferguson, U. D., was unanimously elected 
by the Board of Trustees as President of the 
college, his term of service to commence in 
September. A full college course was decided 
upon, and the following faculty appointed' 
Rev. William F. Ferguson, D. D., President and 
Professor of Mental Philosophy, Political Econ- 
omy and Evidences of Christianity (a huge un- 
dertaking) ; Rev. Ralph Harris, A. M., Profes- 
sor of Languages; and Thomas Gilmore, Tutor. 
The two first named are long since dead; the 
latter still survives and is a citizen of Macomb. 
During the first year of the college 133 students 
were enrolled in all the departments, showing 
a fair degree of success. On the death of Pro- 
fessor Ferguson, which occurred March 15, 1853, 
Professor Harris was appointed President pro 
tem., and James W. Mathews, Instructor, until 
the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. 
At the meeting named Mr. Mathews was elected 
Professor of Mathematics, and Rev. Ithamer 
Pillsbury, President. Inasmuch as Mr. Pills- 
bury could not enter upon the duties of the 
presidency for a few months, the Rev. John C. 
King was appointed to act pro tem.. and so 
continued until the regular head took charge 
of the college. Under Mr. Pillsbury 's adminls- 




^. 



^^z^i^ut^ 



/?, 



1 



'E NEW ' 
^ Lie LIB. 



T IT M r, V 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUXTY 



695 



tration the college prospered somewhat for a 
year or two, but as the Synod of the Presbyte- 
rian Church refused to help the Institution, 
which action was quite unexpected, it was found 
impossible to sustain the enterprise any fur- 
ther. In 1855 it was therefore closed, the build- 
ing and grounds reverting to the Masons; and 
thus ended, for the time being, what promised 
to become an Honorable and useful institution 
in McDonough County. The property subse- 
quently came into the possession of Dr. B. R. 
Westfall, the Masons having sold their interest 
in it. 

McDoxorcH Normal and Scifxtific College. 
— In 1S65 a charter was granted by the State 
Legislature for the organization of this insti- 
tution In the city of Macomb, the old college 
property above described being then owned 
by Dr. B. R. Westfall. That gentleman, whose 
heart and mind were with the cause of educa- 
tion, sold the property to Professor D. Branch, 
on condition that a school of high grade should 
be established and kept in operation therein 
for ten years; and by arrangement with the 
Trustees under the new charter and Mr. Branch 
the college was continued for over twelve 
years. 

After various changes the grounds were 
finally sold to John M. Keefer, who subdivided 
the block of ground, on which have since been 
erected several residence buildings, a part of 
which is now owned and operated by Frank 
Bonham and known as College Hill Greenhouse. 
Thus ended the laudable efforts of the early 
citizens of this city and county to again dem- 
onstrate that the future interests of education 
had not been lost sight of. 

Macomu Female Seminary, established in 
1S52, was situated on the City Park, fronting 
the present site of the Soldiers' Monument, but 
has long since disapjjeared. It was purchased 
by the Baptists, who used it for their religious 
services. 

Western Illinols Normal School. — The first 
State Normal School in Illinois was established 
by an act of the Legislature approved February 
IS, 1S57, and the school was located near Bloom- 
Ington in the central part of the State. The 
Southern Illinois State Normal School was es- 



tablished in 1869 and located at Carbondale. 
During the year 1894, a movement sprang up 
in the northern portion of the State led by Col. 
Isaac Elwood, for the establishment of a nor- 
mal school in one of the northern counties, and 
in 1895 a bill was introduced into the Legisla- 
ture to this effect. A strong opposition to this 
bill at once arose in the eastern part of the 
State. To quiet this opposition a compromise 
was agreed upon by which two schools should 
be established — one for the northern and one 
for the eastern part of the State. Bills estab- 
lishing the schools were passed and approved 
the same day. One was located at DeKalb, the 
other at Charleston. Thus it came about that 
the central, southern, northern and eastern 
parts of the State have been supplied with nor- 
mal schools. The injustice of this distribution 
of normal schools appealed strongly to the peo- 
ple of the western part of the State. Common 
equity demanded that a region furnishing so 
large a proportion of the taxable property of 
the State should also have its normal school. 
These people found a champion in Hon. L. Y. 
Sherman, a member of the Legislature from Mc- 
Donough County, who had been elevated to the 
Speaker's chair in 1899, and in 1904 was pro- 
moted to the Lieutenant Governorship. Shortly 
after the meeting of the Legislature, he drew 
up a bill modeled after the bills for the crea- 
tion of the other normal schools in the State, 
and gave it to Representative Black, of Schuy- 
ler, who introduced it into the Legislature. 

To preserve party harmony it was deemed 
undesirable to pass bills which the Governor 
would deem it his duty to veto. A list of the 
bills receiving favorable mention in the vari- 
ous committees was therefore presented to 
Governor Tanner to ascertain his attitude 
toward them. Believing that the distribution of 
State institutions is a fertile cause of "log-roll- 
ing" in the Legislature, the Governor drew a 
blue pencil mark through the normal school 
bill. Some of the friends of the measure a few 
days later waited upon the Governor, explained 
the justice and necessity of the bill, and as- 
sured him that it was the one bill the Speaker 
desired to have passed. Whereupon the Gov- 
ernor withdrew his objections and the bill was 
passed and approved April 24, 1899. 

Immediately upon the passage of the bill a 
committee of citizens form Warren County 



696 



HISTORY OF McDOX(3UGH COUNTY 



waited upon the Governor, stating that Mon- 
mouth would be an applicant for the location 
of the school and asked that he appoint one of 
its residents a member of the Board of Trus- 
tees. Macomb and Rushville also sent com- 
mittees to the Governor making similar re- 
quests. After a lapse of some sixty days, no 
other towns applying, the Governor appointed 
Senator Fred E. Harding, of Monmouth, John 
M. Keefer, of Macomb, John S. Little, of Rush- 
ville, Col. William Hanna, of Golden, and Hon. 
Charles J. Searle, of Rock Island, as members 
of the Board of Trustees, believing that Col. 
Hanna and Mr. Searle and Mr. Bayliss, Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction (an ex-officio 
member of the Board), would be able to locate 
the school in one of the competing towns, de- 
spite the votes of the two Trustees from the 
other two towns. Scarcely had these men re- 
ceived their commissions when two other cities 
appeared as applicants for the location — Quincy 
and Aledo. Mr. Searles championed the cause 
of Aledo, while loyalty to his home county in- 
spired Col. Hanna to espouse the cause of 
Quincy; and thus was laid the foundation for 
the prolonged contest that was to follow. In due 
time La Harpe and Oquawka entered the arena. 

The Board of Trustees met in Bushnell, July 
20th, and organized by electing Senator Hard- 
ing President and John Little Secretary, and 
drew up rules for the guidance of the various 
towns which should compete for the location 
of the school. During the month of August the 
Trustees visited the competing towns and in- 
spected the sites. Never did these towns pre- 
sent such a beautiful appearance. Streets were 
swept, weeds were cut, trash was burned, fences 
were whitewashed, stagnant pools were skimmed 
and fresh water pumped in, children's faces were 
washed, Sunday clothes were put on. In some 
cases it is said blankets were spread over the 
graveyards. The fire department was on dress 
parade. There were hose laying contests and 
water was squirted over the court house or 
other high buildings. These were but feeble 
indications of the pent-up determination of the 
citizens of each locality to secure the school. 

August 31st, the Trustees met in the "Union 
Hotel" at Galesburg to hear the pleas, to open 
the bids, and, if possible, to select the site. Two, 
hundred delegates from the competing towns, 
were present. Prominent politicians within and 



without the "tract" had gathered, for a seat in 
Congress and possibly a judgeship were at 
stake in addition to the location of the school. 

The act establishing the school required the 
Trustees "to receive from localities desiring to 
secure the location of the said school proposals 
for donations or a suitable site and other val- 
uable considerations," and authorizezd them to 
locate the school "in the place offering the 
most advantageous conditions, all things con- 
sidered, as nearly central as possible in that 
portion of the State lying west of the Fourth 
Principal Meridian, in what is known as the 
'Military Tract,' with a view of obtaining a 
good water supply and other conveniences for 
the use of said institution." 

"The other valuable considerations" and "all 
things considered" were interpreted to mean 
luoney, and the competing towns vied with one 
another in securing the largest sum. On open- 
ing the bids, it was found that Rushville had 
offered $120,000 in addition to other valuable 
considerations. It is said that every tax-payer 
in Schuyler County was under obligation to 
contribute. Aledo and Macomb each offered 
$711,000 in addition to the site; Monmouth $."J4,- 
000 and a valuable site; Quincy $30,900 and a 
site; La Harpe $10,000. The excitement 
among the delegates was intense. Would the 
great bid of Rushville land the school? The 
first ballot revealed the fact that each Trustee 
proposed to stand by his own town. The con- 
test lasted for a year. Besides the time spent 
in traveling to and from the meetings, the 
Board was in session thirty-seven days, held 
sixty-one separate sessions, and cast five hun- 
dred and ninety-seven ballots without choice. 

There were meetings in Springfield, in 
Galesburg, Rock Island, Beardstown, and in 
other places. The meeting in Beardstown dur- 
ing the 1:iolidays was perhaps the most excit- 
ing. The Trustees were weary of the long bat- 
tle and were seeking ways to end it honorably 
to themselves and to their constituents. An 
advisory board was suggested, but Governor 
Tanner gave the Board to understand that the 
Trustees themselves must locate the school. 
The plum now ripened rapidly and was about 
to fall. Mr. Bayliss, the only unprejudiced 
member of the Board, had declared again and 
again that he would vote for any one of the 
towns that could secure three other votes. That 



HISTORY OF .Mcdonough county. 



697 



happy condition had now arrived, for Aledo. 
Monmouth and RushviUe had each received 
three votes. Mr. Bayliss was sent for to Spring- 
field where he was attending the annual meet- 
ing of the State Teachers' Association. He 
came, but the Trustees adjourned for one week 
to Rock Island and the decisive ballot was not 
cast. Before the week ended the Governor 
called for their resignations. A new Board 
was appointed. New rules governing the con- 
test were adopted. The money consideration 
was abolished; the sites again inspected, new 
propositions made, and the new Board on .Au- 
gust 14, 1900, assembled in the Senate Chamber 
at Springfield, to hear the pleas and to select 
the site — the bids having been opened the weelc 
previous at Galesburg. 

The struggle was short. The first ballot de- 
cided the matter, and Macomb was selected by a 
unanimous vote. The new Trustees were C. J. 
Searle, Rock Island, President; B. M. Chiper- 
fleld. Canton, Secretary; S. P. Robinson, Bloom- 
ington; J. H. Southwick, Flora; J. J. McLallan, 
Aurora, and hon. Alfred Bayliss, Superinten- 
dent of Public Instruction, Sprmgfield. None 
of these men were residents of the territory in 
which the school was to be located. To these 
men was committed the task of selecting a site 
and erecting the building. 

The corner-stone was laid December 21, 1901, 
with elaborate ceremonies, in the presence of a 
great crowd. A parade was one of the fea- 
tures of the day, being led by Governor Tanner, 
President C. J. Searles. of the Board of Trus- 
tees, Judge Lawrence Y. Sherman, and other 
prominent men. Then came the Fifth Regi- 
ment band, of Canton, the militia, and the 
Grand Lodge of Masons escorted by the 
Macomb Commandery. The stone was laid 
with Masonic rites, and within it was placed a 
strong box containing papers, documents and 
other valuable articles. Addresses were deliv- 
ered by Governor Tanner, President Searle and 
others. 

The work of building was pushed as rap- 
idly as possible, with the view of opening the 
school for the fall term of 1902. Professor John 
W. Henninger, of Jacksonville, was appointed 
President of the institution, and, with thirteen 
others, comprised the faculty. It was due to 
their tireless efforts and determination that the 
school was set in operation September 23, 1902. 
6 



The enrollment in both the Training and Nor- 
mal Departments exceeded the most sanguine 
expectations. The hrst year proved a most 
successful one. and excellent work was done 
in every department. The attendance for the 
entire year was 370 in the Normal proper, and 
ISO in the Training School, and the institution 
has manifested a healthy growth up to the 
present time (1907). 

For that year the Board of Trustees was as 
follows: Alfred Bayliss, Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, President; John A. Mead, of 
Augusta, Secretary; C. R. Chandler, of Macomb. 
Treasurer; Fred R. Jelleff, of Galesburg; John 
M. Keefer, of Macomb; Louis H. Hanna, of 
Monmouth; J. F. Mains, of Stronghurst. Pro- 
fessor Henninger having resigned at the close of 
the term in 1905, Alfred Bayliss was elected 
by the Board of Trustees to succeed him, which 
proffer has been accepted, Mr. Bayliss resign- 
ing his position as Superintendent of Public 
Schools to enter upon his duties at the begin- 
ning of the fall term. Pending the assumption 
of his duties by President Bayliss, Prof. S. B. 
Hursli served as acting President. 

A complete list of the members of the fac- 
ulty (1906) follows: Alfred Bayliss, President; 
Samuel B. Hursh, Professor of English; Wil- 
liam James Sutherland, Ph. B., Professor of 
Geography and Geology; James Clinton Burns, 
A. M., Professor of History and Civics; Ernest 
S. Wilkinson. Professor of Mathematics; He- 
mer L. Roberts, Professor of Biology; John 
Payson Drake, A. M., Professor of Physics and 
Chemistry; Frederick Joy Fairbank, A. M., 
Professor of Latin. German and Greek; Seth 
Lincoln Smith, Professor of Drawing, Writing 
and Commercial Branches; Winifred Swartz 
Fairbank, Director of Music; Alice M. Osden, 
Expression and Physical Culture; Louis Henry 
Burch, Manual of Arts; W. E. Lugenbeel; Miss 
Dunbar. Librarian; Cora M. Hamilton, Prin- 
cipal of Training Department; Laura Hazel, 
and Elizabeth Hitchcock. Critic Teachers; Mrs. 
Josie Tabler, Stenographer. (Some changes 
have been made within the last year.) 

Appropriations were made by the Legislature 
of 1905 sufficient to complete the building, 
which (1906) is rapidly approaching comple- 
tion. When complete, the building, furniture 
and equipments, will be second to none of the 
normal schools of Illinois. The grounds, em- 



698 



HISTORY OF McDONOL'GH COUNTY. 



bracing an area of sixty acres lying on a beau- 
tiful rolling ridge overlooking the city and ttie 
country tor miles around, were laid out under 
the supervision of a celebrated landscape gar- 
dener and planted under the direction of a 
competent botanist. Taken altogether, the site 
is magnificent, the surroundings pleasant and 
the grounds artistically beautiful, reflecting 
great credit on the Trustees and all in au- 
thority. 



The county is divided into districts, the 
following being the District Presidents: South- 
east District, J. F. Lawyer, Vermont, 111.: 
Northeast District, Robert Burden. Prairie 
City: Southwest District, William Harrell. Col- 
chester: Northwest District, O. A. Webb, 
Blandinsville. The Department Superintend- 
ents are: Normal, J. P. Merriweather. Ma- 
comb; Primary. Mrs. Herman Stocker. Ma- 
comb; Home, John Ulrich, Macomb. 



McDoxouGH Cot'XTY SvxD.w SCHOOLS. — The following table presents an interesting 

From its earliest years McDonough County study, showing the Sunday School attendance 
evinced an earnest desire to institute Sunday in comparison with the population, and cei'- 

STATISTICS OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS BY TOWNSHIPS 



SAME OF 
TOWNSHIP. 



TOWN>HIP 
PKl SlDi.NT. 



POSTOFFTCE 
ADDRKSS. 



JO 



P o 



H? 



!°ai 



as 



33 

0^015 



Membership. 



^1 ►^iS^ 



S3 






o :^ 
go 

ID 



Home de- 
partment. 



2: O 



in 2. 



to 

• ?\ 3 
Of,: 



Financial. 



QO O 

2."'S"I 

3 O o 
w 3 c 

» 3 



?«o3 

■ » 3 
^?- 

o ;o 
: 03 



j^idorado 

New Salem.. 

Mound 

Bushnell 

Prairie City.. 

Industry 

Scotland 

Macomb 

Walnut Grov 

Bethel 

Chalmers 

Macomb City 

Emmet 

Sciota 

T>anioine 

Colchester... 

Tennessee 

Hire 

Blandinsville 



Arvin Cash Vermont R. R. 1... 

Mrs. Harvey Miner.. Adair 

0. J. Thompson.... Bardolph R. R. 1., 

J. B. Spicer Bushnell 

G. V. Booth Prairie City 

J. G. McGaughey.. Industry R. R. 2... 

Arthur Walker Macomb R. R. 3... 

ti. B. Walker Macomb 

J. W. Simmons Roseville R. R. 3... 

C. W. Schnatterly.. Colchester R. R. 3, 

3. J. Bagley Macomb R. R. 5... 

L. B. Vose Macomb 

V. M. Stickle Macomb 

1. A. Smith Sciota 

V. L. Bartlett Plymouth 

G. W. Carson Colchester 

Miss Pans.v Green.. Tennessee 

\^'. Baumgardner.. Colchester R. R. 1, 
Frank Herzog Blandinsville 



Total 82 



208 
272 
156 
186 
258 
29* 
218 
288 
107 
293 

68 
1512 

89 
30fi 

08 
522 
214 
215 



238 
336 
192 
5.53 
295 
348 
243 
337 
132 
352 

81 
1721 
109 
377 

87 
594 
255 
245 



73 19 982 6110 7092 4109 249 



¥ 12 67 
26 00 



60 00 
82 05 
46 80 
140 50 
22 .57 



■"s'so 


'235 '46 


4 40 


11 40 



27 04 
32 OG 
25 00 
53 08 



4 60 

6 72 

3 84 

7 74 

5 90 

6 84 

4 84 

6 74 
2 85 

7 04 
1 55 

34 44 



5 39 
1 OD 
11 26 
5 16 

5 20 

6 54 



73*778 77 '$127 61 



Schools and other Christian organizations. 
For years every township has been regularly 
organized. holding its own conventions 
and being represented at the gatherings 
of the County Sunday School Association. At 
the State Sunday School conventions, the coun- 
ty, in turn, is always represented by its most 
efficient workers, and ranks with the first in 
Illinois for earnest and systematic Christian 
effort in this direction. 

The officers of the County Sunday School As- 
sociation for 1906 are as follows: L. B. Vose, 
Macomb. President; I. U. Underbill, Colchester, 
Vice-President; Agnes Hamline, Blandinsville, 
Secretary and Treasurer. 



tainly speaks well for the interest and Chris- 
tian effort sustained in McDonough County: 

Public Libraries. — In addition to the school 
libraries, Bushnell has a circulating library or- 
ganized and sustained by a few of its leading 
citizens, but the details of its workings are 
inaccessible. There is also a small select li- 
brary in Prairie City, organized by the Superin- 
tendent of Schools, who issues the books. Its 
quarters are in the High School building. 

The Macomb Carnegie Public Library is a 
valuable institution of the city and county. It 
had its origin in a debating club, whose mem- 
bers, in the early 'seventies, commenced to 




C z/^cT-. 




HISTORY OF AIcDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



699 



solinit from citizens their unused books. Tiie 
collection afterwards developed into a free cir- 
culating library, and for some years continued 
as such, the citizens contributing books, rent- 
ing the rooms and paying a librarian. Thus 
the book-loving sentiment was fostered, and the 
movement resulted ultimately in getting liberal 
legislation from the City Council, which, under 
the State laws, appropriated annually such 
sums of money as would in great measure 
meet the wants of the people. Suitable rooms 
were provided in the city building, and the 
operating expenses of the library also met by 
the Council for one day in the week. Interest 
rapidly increased throughout the entire com- 
munity, and it soon became necessary to open 
two days in each week — Wednesdays and Sat- 
urdays. Encouraging accessions were made to 
the book department, and the Public Library 
became a permanent and popular institution. 

The first Library Board, appointed by the 
City Council in 18S1. was organized as follows: 
Benjamin R. Hampton,- President; Mary Pills- 
bury. Secretary: Dr. W. O. Blaisdell, Elizabeth 
Garrettson. and Mary Pillsbury, Trustees for 
one year: B. R. Hampton, J. M. Downing and 
Alex McLean, Trustees for two years; Mrs. W. 
S. Bailey, Ella Whitson and A. K. Lodge, Trus- 
tees for three years. The library was opened 
to the public in April. 1882. At that time the 
number of volumes was 826, of which 231 were 
Government documents. The location of the 
first library room, under the foregoing organi- 
ation, was in the Stocker building on the south 
side of the Square, but was afterwards re- 
moved to the City building. 

In 1903 Mr. Andrew Carnegie contributed 
$15,000 to the city for a library building, on 
condition that the municipality appropriate 
$1,500 annually for the support of the institu- 
tion. The terms were accepted, and a structure 
complete in every respect for the required pur- 
pose was erected, at a cost of $31,000. The 
Board w'hich had the entire matter in charge 
from the stage of negotiation with Mr. Carnegie 
to the completion of the building, was as fol- 
lows: Van L. Hampton. President; Ralph 
Chandler, Secretary; L. P. Gumbart, Philip E. 
Elting, Hiram H. Harris, Prof. James C. Burns, 
Mrs. Lilly Keefer, Eva M. Stocker and Cora B. 
Harris. Well did they perform their duties, the 
building itself being a monument to their 



taste and earnest, efficient efforts in the public 
interest. 

During the year 1904 the library was re-or- 
ganized under the Dewey system of classifica- 
tion, Mahala Phelps having been the efficient 
librarian from the first. Under her charge the 
Public Library of Macomb has done much to 
elevate and foster an educational spirit, not 
only in the city, but everywhere in the county, 
as books can be obtained by non-residents of 
Macomb under certain rules established by 
the Board. The new building is situated on 
Lafayette and Jefferson Streets, and is open 
daily except Sunday. Architecturally it is % 
handsome structure, and its interior arrange- 
ments and furnishings are of the latest and 
best quality. 

Early School Reminiscences. — The follow- 
ing is the experience of one of our earliest 
teachers in a neighborhood where It had been 
the not infrequent custom of "locking out the 
teacher." and thus rather ingloriously ending 
the term of school. Benjamin L. Patch, for 
over a quarter of a century Judge of the County 
Court of Carroll County, 111., when a very young 
man, began the study of law In the oflice of 
Hampton & Waters, of Macomb. In order to 
make his bread and butter, he taught school 
for a time, and his experience was that of all 
early teachers in this new county. While these 
faithful pedagogues were not university grad- 
uates, they taught the elementaries in a force- 
ful and satisfactory manner, and many of their 
pupils have become leading lawyers and states- 
men. All honor belongs to these unvarnished 
pedagogues, and their memories should be care- 
fully preserved. Judge Patch's letter follows: 

"The winter of 1850-51, I taught school in 
McDonough County, a few miles south of 
Macomb, at a place known as Gin Ridge. The 
School Directors were Messrs. Calvin, Venard 
and Haney. Having learned that they wanted 
a school teacher in said district. I called upon 
them. They Informed me that the public school 
fund was not sufficient to pay the teacher; that 
the deficit had to be made up by the patrons of 
the school; that in the district were a lot of 
big tough boys who attended school, but made 
much trouble, and that the teacher being una- 
ble to control them would soon give up the 
school. They added that, during the last win- 
ter, several teachers had been employed, and. 



700 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



having failed to manage these scholars, were 
obliged to leave. As I was a young man the 
Directors said they had doubts of my abilities 
to control this element in the school. 

"I replied that it they, as Directors, would 
stand by me in every thing that was right, I 
would undertake to teach the school; that if I 
failed and had to give it up, I would not ask 
pay for the time I taught. I was thereupon 
employed to teach a term of three months at 
$1G per month and board — the latter being sup- 
plied by different patrons of the school. 

"When the time arrived to commence school, 
Mr. Calvin, one of the Directors, went with me 
to the school house. This was a log cabin, with 
a large fire-place in one end of the building and 
the chimney on the outside. The furniture con- 
sisted of a rough table, several rough benches, 
and a long writing desk made by boring holes 
into the logs and inserting wooden pins, upon 
which was placed a wide rough board. It was 
certainly a hard-looking place for a school. 

"The district was large and most of the in- 
habitants lived in log houses, neighbors not 
very near each other. When all the sixty-one 
scholars were present there was no vacant 
space in the school house. The pupils had all 
kinds of school books — hardly any two alike — 
seven different arithmetics, five different gram- 
mars, but all full of useful information. But 
the multiplicity of hooks made no difference 
to the scholar who was trying to acquire an 
education. The scholars were of all sizes — 
twenty-six great strapping boys, any one of 
them big and stout enough to thrash the 
teacher. 

"But I had no trouble with any of the schol- 
ars; they were all kind and obliging, interested 
in their work and seemed much pleased with 
the school. And thus it continued during the 
term. At the close of the term the Directors 
and patrons of the school were so well satisfied 
with the success of the school that they em- 
ployed me to teach a term of six weeks, and 
increased the salary to ?20 per month. The 
same order and good feeling continued through- 
out this term. 

"My experience in teaching the school con- 
vinced me that the prior trouble in the dis- 
trict was more the fault of the teachers than 
the scholars. I was well treated by the Direct- 
ors, patrons of the school and scholars, and 



much pleased with all of them, I failed to 
find any 'bad, tough boys" among my pupils, and 
concluded that 'Gin Ridge' was not a bad place 
in which to teach school." 



CHAPTER XIV. 



'■THE Mcdonough county press. 



HISTORY OF M DONOUGH COUNTY NEWSPAPERS 

FIRST NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1851 — SOME 
NEWS ITEMS OF THAT PERIOD — ^THE MACOMB EN- 
TERPRISE AND MACOMB JOURNAL OTHER MA- 
COMB CITY JOURNALS AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN 
IDENTIFIED WITH THEIR HISTORY — B. R. HAMP- 
TON, THE HAINLIXES AND OTHERS — COLCHESTER, 
BUSHNELL, PRAIRIE CITY, BLANDINSVILLE, GOOD 
HOPE, BABDOLPH AND INDUSTRY JOURNALS — 
GROWTH OF THE M'DONOUGH COUNTY PRESS IN 
THE PAST FIFTY YEARS. 

On the 12th of September, 1851, the first 
number of the "McDonough Independent," 
which was the first newspaper issued in the 
county, was launched on the journalistic field. 
It was a six-column folio, published by George 
W. Smith and Theodore L. Terry, the former 
having previously been proprietor of a paper 
at Beardstown, 111. This was long before the 
day of railroads in this section of the State, 
and during the period of muddy thoroughfares, 
slow stages and an entire absence of educa- 
tional or literary surroundings. In fact, all the 
settlers were too busy making a living to think 
of such things; they were certainly short on 
education, and long on hard work. 

The First Editor. — Mr. Smith was a strict 
Democrat of the Jacksonian school, but in order 
to gain a foothold in the community, he pub- 
lished, as its name indicated, an independent 
paper bearing the usual motto — "Independent 
in All Things: Neutral in None." But in spite 
of the motto. Smith could not hide his predi- 
lections; his individual politics would crop out. 
But neither the Whigs nor the community at 



THE NEV-' .. 

JBLICLIBRA 

APTOR. Lr: •■• 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



701 



large were in a fault-finding mood. Thej' were 
too thanlvful to have a newspaper to be hyper- 
critical, and it tool< amazingly. Smith was a 
born editor and printer. He made his own 
wood cuts; manufactured his ink from soot ana 
oil, when the roads were bad and communica- 
tion with Beardstown impossible; and, when 
short of paper, which was not an infrequent 
predicament, he bought from the merchants 
such as they used in business, thus maintain- 
ing his reputation for regularity. Mr. Smith 
did the most of his own work at the case, 
never using manuscript, but simply picking up 
his types and "firing away." In a word, he 
was one of the most versatile of geniuses; he 
could run a paper, lecture on scientific subjects 
or grind out poetry and prose with equal facil- 
ity. His partner in business was a young, dap- 
per little fellow, being a good compositor and 
general office man. But the town was too slow 
and uninteresting for him, and in February, 
1852, he returned to his home and a more ad- 
vanced state of civilization. 

Si'ECIMEX ItEMH I'ROM THE FiRST ISSUE. It 

may be of some interest to select a few items 
from the first issue of this paper, showing 
the conditions which prevailed then as com- 
pared with the present. News from abroad was 
generally a month old, or rather it was from 
thirty to forty days in getting West. To il- 
lustrate: In a column which was headed "Lat- 
est," appeared some war news from China, dat- 
ed January 23, 1S51, and published eight 
months thereafter in the first issue of the "In- 
dependent." Now the morning and afternoon 
papers keep the uttermost parts of the world 
before their readers, as a moving picture, al- 
most of the present. This paper of September 
12th had news from New Orleans dated Sep- 
tember 5th, per steamer "Cherokee," giving 
authentic information of the capture and execu- 
tion of Lopez in Havana, and the taking of 
over ninety Americans who intended to cap- 
ture the Spanish possession. Some of the pas- 
sengers on the steamer were present at the gar- 
roting of Lopez, and at the execution and ban- 
ishment of many others. Thus ended the first 
invasion of Cuba. Items of local interest ap- 
peared, such as the marriage notice of Alex 
ander V. Brooking to Elizabeth H. Randolph, 
which occurred August 27, 1851. and, with the 
notice, was announced the receipt of an abund- 



ance of wedding cake, "for which the fair bride 
has our sincere thanks." So taffy has been in 
the market for many years past. Other mar- 
riage notices appeared in the first issue, includ- 
ing those of Isaac Massingill to Sarah Groves, 
August 31, 1851; David H. Lockett, of McDon- 
ough. to Priscilla Sherman, of Hancock County, 
and Alexander Dorothy to Sarah Hurn, on Sep- 
tember 7th — Squire C. R. Hume performing the 
marriage ceremony of the latter. The first 
death notice was that of Mrs. Jane S. Lang- 
well, wife of Peter Langweli; aged sixty years. 

Much more ancient history could be made by 
referring to the files of the "Independent." 
The usual crop of home poets came to the front, 
and quite frequently their effusions appeared. 
Smith, like Barkis, "was willin'," and so they 
had a good show tor trying the patience of a 
generous public; but. up to date, nothing has 
been heard of any who have acquired lasting 
fame. 

In September, 1852, the paper was enlarged 
to a seven-page folio, afterward appearing as 
the "McDonough Independent and Democratic 
Review." In September, 1S55, it was again 
changed to the "McDonough Democrat," at 
which time R. M. Royalty became a partner in 
the paper. The paper now became intensely 
Democratic. Mr. Royalty retired in 1856, and 
Mr. Smith continued as editor and proprietor 
for some time, after which he removed to 
Blandinsville and issued the "Argus." Still 
later, he went to Missouri, and was fatally in- 
jured by falling from a hotel veranda. 

"The Enterprise" was the second paper pub- 
lished in McDonough County, its first issue be- 
ing dated June 19, 1855. Smith's paper having 
developed into an outspoken Democratic jour- 
nal, two young men named T. S. Clarke and D. 
G. Swan, both practical printers, were induced 
to establish "The Enterprise," engaging L. H. 
Waters, an attorney of brilliant abilities, to edit 
it according to Republican principles. Mr. 
Clarke was connected with the paper only for a 
few months, its management remaining in the 
hands of Mr. Swan as proprietor and Mr. Wa- 
ters as editor. On account of the limited pat- 
ronage of the paper, publication was discon- 
tinued in November, 1855, but after a (ew 
weeks Hon. B. R. Hampton, an attorney, pur- 
chased an interest in the paper, and assumed 
its editorial control. His salutatory appeared 



702 



HISTORY OF AIcDONOUGH COUXTY. 



December 26, 1855, and strongly presented the 
claims of the Republican party tor public sup- 
port. Under Mr. Hampton's editorial manage- 
ment the paper prospered, and his honest, can- 
did and fearless policy soon brought it into 
the lead as a Republican paper in McDonough 
and adjoining counties. 

Mr. Swan, one of the founders of the paper, 
retired January 28, 1857, and P. C. Fowler ob- 
tained his interest. "The Enterprise" contin- 
ued under the joint management of Messrs. 
Hampton and Fowler until March, 1859, when 
the latter was succeeded as part proprietor by 
J. W. Nichols, who retired in 1860. Mr. Hamp- 
ton thus assumed complete control of the pa- 
per, after which Virgil Y. Ralston held the edi- 
torial chair for some time until 1861, when he 
relinquished it for the purpose of raising the 
first company of the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, 
remaining with that regiment until 1864. Mr. 
Ralston died from wounds and exposure in- 
curred during the war in 1864. In the spring 
of 1861 James K. Magie, of Carthage, purchased 
a half interest, the name of the paper then 
being changed to "Macomb Journal,'" which title 
it has since retained. 

In 1862, having become a private in the Sev- 
enty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Ma- 
gie sold his interest in the "Macomb Journal" 
to Mr. Nichols, who again became editor and 
continued the management of the paper until 
January, 1864. He then disposed of his inter- 
est to Mr. Magie, and T. S. Clarke, one of the 
founders of the paper, became editor in Au- 
gust, 1864. Mr. Clarke associated with himself 
C. L. Sanders, and thus continued the publica- 
tion of the paper until the return of Mr. Magie 
from the war, in June, 1865. The latter then 
assumed full charge, and in November of that 
year Mr. Hampton again purchased the office, 
continuing in control until June 17, 1870, when 
William H. Hainline purchased a half-interest 
in the establishment. 

Hampton & Hainline continued as publishers 
of the "Journal" until January 3, 1881, when 
the former disposed of his interest and Mr. 
Hainline edited and controlled the paper until 
January 3, 1884. The announcement was then 
made that the concern had become a corpora- 
tion, with William H. Hainline, Mrs. W. H. 
Hainline. Walter L. Piper and A. J. Hainline as 
stockholders, its official title being "The Ma- 



comb Journal Printing Company." The edi- 
torial management remained as formerly. 
Frank Harris is now both managing editor and 
financial manager. Since the commencement 
of its coriwrate life, the "Journal" has contin- 
ued to grow in size and influence, and is now 
second to none in the State as a prosperous 
county paper. 

"The Macomb E.^gle," the leading Demo- 
cratic newspaper of McDonough County, was 
established in that city in October. 1856, by R. 
M. Royalty and W. E. Avise, the former as ed- 
itor. The first issue bears date October 18th, 
of that year, and three weeks later the paper 
suspended for lack of patronage and funds. On 
January 3, 1857, it was revived by G. T. Mitch- 
ell, who entered into partnership with Mr. 
Avise, since which time the "Eagle" has lived 
and soared. On March 7, 1857, Mr. Avise re- 
tired and Nelson Abbott succeeded him, while 
on January 9, 1858, Mr. Mitchell also disposed 
of his interest to Mr. Abbott. John H. Hun- 
gate bought the office February 11, 1865, and 
continued the publication of the paper, with J. 
B. Naylor as editor, for six months, when he 
sold it to Charles H. Whitaker. Mr. Whitaker 
was editor and proprietor of tne "Eagle" until 
1894, when it was sold to a company consist- 
ing of T. J. Dudman and Rufus Leach. In De- 
cember of that year Mr. Leach retired, and 
since that time Mr. Dudman has continued ed- 
itor and proprietor. The paper is a fair expo- 
nent 01 Democratic principles, and is quite con- 
servative; but it certainly has proven a paying 
investment for Mr. Dudman, who owns not only 
the plant, but the building where the "Eagle" 
is published, as well as other real estate in 
the city. He is not the proverbially "poor 
editor and printer." 

Some Miscellaneous Publicatioxs. — Between 
1S66 and 1881 numerous papers and periodical 
jiublications were issued in Macomb, among 
which was the "Macomb Ledger," with T. S. 
Clarke editor. It lived just four weeks, when 
press and material were sold and shipped to 
Havana, 111. 

"The Western Light," published by S. J. 
Clarke and Charles P. Whitten, issued its first 
number in January, 1868. The proprietors 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



703 



aimed to make the publication more of a liter- 
ary journal than a newspaper, and it existed 
one year. In December of that year Mr. Clarke 
disposed of the office to Reynolds & Garrison, 
and the plant was used in printing the "Gospel 
Echo," a religious paper published in the in- 
terest of the Christian Churcn. In about a 
year thereafter B. R. Hampton became propri- 
etor, when the material became somewhat mi- 
gratory and all trace of the plant was lost in 
the busy commercial world. 

"The Illinois By-St,\xi)er" was established 
by Hon. Benjamin R. Hampton, a pioneer jour- 
nalist, and the first issue was dated April 13, 
l^Sl. It was a six-page folio and was intensely 
independent, although not so original as to 
forbear flying at its masthead the old-time 
motto "Independent in All Things: Neutral in 
None." Mr. Hampton continued to issue the 
paper until his death in 1S87, and under his 
able management it became a very strong and 
influential paper. While still a youth Mr. Hamp- 
ton's son Benjamin introduced the short no- 
tices 01 "Arrivals and Departures" of the peo- 
ple of the city and county, which proved such 
a successful feature that it has since been 
adopted by all the papers in the county. At 
the death of Benjamin R. Hampton, his son 
David H. Hampton, became proprietor and 
edited the paper with continued success until 
August, 1893, when he disposed of the plant 
to Van L. Hampton, the present owner and 
editor. 

"The By-Stander" was continued as a weekly 
until December, 1904, when Mr. Hampton added 
the "Daily By-Stander." both issues now being 
regularly published with great success. Van 
L. Hampton seems to be a natural news-gath- 
erer and a public exponent of all matters per- 
taining to newspaperdom. These qualities, 
with his perseverance, his industry and enthusi- 
asm, make his paper greatly appreciated, and 
a political power in Republicanism. For three 
generations the Hampton family has stanchly 
adhered to that party, and stood as sturdy op- 
ponents of the wrong and supporters of the 
right in the strictly moral sense of the word. 
For a few years Mr. Hampton conducted the 
"Colchester Independent," before purchasing 
the "By-Stander," but sold that paper to Frank 
Groves, its present owner and editor. 



"Colchester Ixdepexdext." — The first issue 
of this paper is dated September 7, 1880, its 
owner being H. H. Stevens, who had published 
a paper in the interests of the Patrons of Hu.s- 
bandry, commonly known as "Grangers." It 
was discontinued under its original name, and 
appeared as the "Colchester Independent" from 
the date above given. On August 22, 1883, it 
was leased to V. L. Hampton for a period of one 
year, but before that term expired Mr. Stevens 
sold out to L. S. Reid, and, a few days later, 
the latter turned the property over to Mr. 
Hampton. Under Mr. Hampton's management 
the paper was very prosperous, and for some 
time after his purchase of the "By-Stander" he 
conducted both publications. After some 
changes the "Independent" became the proper- 
ty of its present editor, Frank Groves, who has 
maintained its standard as a first-class news- 
paper, which reflects credit on the city of Col- 
chester and is a faithful agent in advancing 
municipal interests and the welfare of its own 
patrons. 

"McDoNOUGH Democrat." — This weekly paper 
is published in the city of Bushnell, having 
been established in the summer of 1884 by 
Charles C. Chain and W. L. Kay, the former 
being its editor and manager. \\ hen first is- 
sued. .July 3, 1884, it was a seven-column folio, 
but December 11, 1884, It was changed to a five- 
column quarto, which form it has since retained. 
The paper has been regularly issued since its 
establishment by Mr. Chain, and has been con- 
sistently devoted to the interests of Bushnell 
and the surrounding country. In politics it is 
Democratic, and Mr. Chain, with his enterpris- 
ing temperament, does not fail to keep abreast 
of the party and the times. He therefore ob- 
tains his full share of patronage, and is recog- 
nized as a bold Democratic exponent and party 
leader. 

Prairie City Newspapers. — Prairie City, this 
county, seems to be a sort of newspaper grave- 
yard, as the rise and fall of various editorial 
outputs demonstrate. The first paper issued 
here was the "Prairie City Chronicle." April 23, 
1S57, with R. W. Seton, editor. It lingered 
for nearly a year before its death. Notwith- 
standing its decease, Mr. Seton, in May, 1858, 
began the publication of the "Prairie Chief," 



704 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



in the interests of ttie Good Templars. Its rec- 
ord is rather obscure; but it is l^nown that 
the "Chief" was consigned to an eai-ly grave. 
Then came the "Prairie Chiclien," which had 
no future whatever. 

In ISTO appeared the "Prairie City Herald." 
instituted by C. W. Taylor, who, with his broth- 
er. H. B. Taylor, continued the publication for 
some years. It was spicy, and its columns 
breathed the spirit of its principal editor, which 
is now almost daily absorbed through the col- 
umns of the "Chicago Tribune," under the 
heading "In a Minor Key," signed by C. W. T. 
It is a pleasure to add that C. W. Taylor has 
continued as fresh in his humor, and as up-to- 
date, as any of the literary specialists in his 
line. After retiring from the "Prairie City Her- 
ald" Mr. Taylor was connected for several 
years with the "Bushnell Record." The "Prairie 
City Herald" suspended in 1882. 

The "Prairie City Bugle" startled the com- 
munity with its notes on February 8, 1882, and 
continued its musical strains under a number 
of editors until September 28, 1883. Changed 
to "Transcript" November 24, 1884, it was pur- 
chased by Henry L. N. Miller, who continued its 
publication for a number of years. Mr. Miller 
was an independent editor, and had the cour- 
a.ge to plainly express his convictions, and he 
has since been connected with the papers of 
Prairie City as editor, solicitor and contributor. 

"Prairie City Herald." — On the 30th of April. 
1885, a new venture in the journalist field was 
Instituted in remembrance of the old defunct 
paper of the Taylor brothers. It was named 
the "Prairie City Herald." and its editor, 
Charles E. Keith, proved to be a very racy 
writer and maintained the interest of his read- 
ers for a number of years. It was a seven- 
column quarto, and after many changes of pro- 
prietorship and editorship, became the proijerty 
of its present owner and editor, L. M. Hamilton, 
who has given his patrons a good readable fam- 
ily and business newspaper. 

Blandixsville Newspaper.s. — Blandinsville 
has had a large brood of newspapers during 
the past fifty years. Its first journal was is- 
sued in 1857 by George W. Smith, under the 
name "Blandinsville Argus," but continued In 
existence only a few months. 

In 1875 William Brown temporarily estab- 
lished the "Era," which has neither ancestry 
nor descendants. 



In the fall of 1877 .lohn C. Hammond issued 
the "McDonough Democrat" and continued its 
publication until 1879, when it came under the 
management of the Blandinsville Publishing 
Company, and remained thus until 1882. In 
that year George S. Puhr became proprietor 
and editor, and, with his brother Prank Fuhr, 
remained in control until June, 1884. Upon 
the retirement of George Puhr at that time, 
the politics of the paper was changed to Re- 
publican, but in March, 1885, when it passed 
into the hands of Lucien Reid, it became the 
"Review" and returned to Democracy. For 
some years it was conducted by different ed- 
itors until a few years ago it became the pi-op- 
erty of Charles Ballou. Mr. Ballon sold it to 
the present editor, John H. Bayliss, the name 
of the publication having some time before 
been changed from "Review" to "Star Gazette." 
Under the present man&gement it has been a 
most welcome sheet in both business and fam- 
ily circles, and has also become an exchange 
duly appreciated by the journalistic fraternity. 
Mr. Bayliss is abreast of the times, a keen ob- 
server and his journalistic pencil shows pith 
and point. 

Good Hope New.spapers. — The village of Good 
Hope has also its defunct papers. The "Index." 
issued January 29, 1885, was continued for 
some time under that name. Then the "Tor- 
pedo" came into being, but, according to its 
name and nature, it exploded, being succeeded 
by the present "Reflector." Under the editor- 
ship of George A. Lackens, it is a very well 
conducted paper. The editor is an active, up- 
to-date citizen, being interested in all enter- 
prises, whether political or commercial. 

"Bardolpii News." — This modern weekly pa- 
per is published in the village of Bardolph by 
Fred H. Maxwell, editor and proprietor. It is 
well patronized by the business men of Bar- 
dolph and vicinity, is a newsy journal, and 
seems to possess the elements of growth and 
stability. 

"BrsHXELL Record." — The first paper estab- 
lished in the city of Bushnell was founded 
in 1865, by D. G. Swan, in that day one of the 
most versatile and driving printers of this sec- 
tion of the country. He was the organizer of 
many newspapers in this part of the State. In 
Bushnell he published the "Union Press," and 
continued it for two years, when he disposed 




ANDREW J. CLINE 



: NEW Y 

iCLIBR- 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



705 



of the ofBce to Andrew Hageman, who changed 
the name to "Bushnell Recoi'd." It was con- 
tinued under Mr. Hageman's management until 
1871, when he was compelled to retire on ac- 
count of declining health. In March, 1871, A. 
W. Vandyke, who had been the manager of 
the "Record," and was a son-in-law of the pro- 
prietor, assumed charge of the paper and con- 
tinued its publication for two years. Epperson 
& Spencer became proprietors in the spring of 
1873, and Mr. Epperson sole proprietor and 
editor in 1874. Among the later proprietors 
were Charles W. Taylor and Thomas H. B. 
Camp, and at the close of the year 1882, when 
John B. Camp purchased Mr. Taylor's interest, 
the firm name was changed to Camp Brothers, 
— the public being notified of the new manage- 
ment in the issue of January 12, 1883. The pa- 
per continues under this management for many 
years, when T. H. B. Camp, who had been 
admitted to the bar, was elected County Prose- 
cuting Attorney. The part«ership between the 
brothers was then dissolved, and the "Record" 
is now under the sole management, both edi- 
torial and business, of John Camp, who has 
made it second to no paper in the county. Mr. 
Camp is a quaint and spicy writer, and up 
with the procession in every detail of his pro- 
fession. He has made the "Record" a house- 
hold necessity, and well deserves the success 
accorded him by the public, the commercial 
world and his brothers of the pen and pencil. 

Industry Newsp.\per.s. — The first newspaper 
established at Industry was the "Enterprise." 
issued by A. H. Marlow, formerly of Rushville, 
on September 15, 1902. Mr. Marlow continued 
the publication until the fall of 1904, when he 
disposed of the plant to Z. A. Avery and J. H. 
Wilhelm. The firm of Avery & Wilhelm con- 
tinued the management of the paper until the 
spring of 190.5. when Mr. Avery became sole 
proprietor, his former partner removing to 
Hamilton, 111., where he associated himself 
with Bert Oakman in the publication of the 
"Register" of that city. Mr. Avery continued 
the publication of the "Industry Enterprise" 
until October 23, 1905, when he leased the plant 
to W. I. Prugh, who is now editor and in full 
charge of the office and newspaper. 

The "Industry Weekly News" was established 
in the winter of 1901, the first issue being dated 



December 5th, of that year. It was owned by 
W. I. Prugh and J. W. Hermetet, and published 
under the firm name of W. I. Prugh & Co. They 
remained thus until September, 1905, when 
Mr. Prugh disposed of his interest to Dr. Her- 
metet, who engaged Howard Ely, a Philadel- 
phia gentleman, to take charge of the office. 
Both of these papers are quite liberally patron- 
ized, and, as disseminators of local news, are 
the equals of any journals in the county. They 
are independent politically, and a credit to 
their conductors and the village of their pub- 
lication. 

An honest endeavor has been made in the 
above to give a concise and reliable history of 
the newspapers which have been instituted in 
McDonough County, some of which have died 
and some thrived with creditable success. Much 
of value has doubtless been omitted, and er- 
rors may also have occurred; but as an expla- 
nation of omissions or other faults, it should 
be stated that data has been difficult to obtain, 
since a large proportion of the early newspaper 
flies are lost and there is no reliable means at 
hand to verify or correct personal recollections, 
which are often conflicting and unreliable. 



CHAPTER XV. 



MORMONISM— THE MORMON WAR. 



COMIXG OF THE MORMOXS TO ILLINOIS — ORIGIN AND 
CiKOVVTH OF THE SECT — THE CAREER OF JOSEPH 
SMITH — SETTLEMENT AT NALWOO— ARROGANCE OF 
THE LEADERS AND ITS EFFECT UPON THE PEOPLE 
— GOV. ford's ACCOUNT OF THE ARREST OF .lO- 
SEPH AND HYBUM SMITH — THEIR MURDER BY' A 
JIOB IN THE HANCOCK COUNTY JAIL — THE MOR- 
MON WAR AND THE HEGIRA TO UTAH — THE OLD 
JAIL NOW THE PROPERTY' OF THE "LATTER DAY' 
SAI.VTS" — WILLIAM R. HAMILTON'S ACCOUNT OF 
THE MUBDEB OF SMITH AND FOLLOWING EVENTS 

— A SERMON BY BRIGHAM YOUNG LIST OF THE 

CARTHAGE GRAYS AND ROSTER OF TROOPS FROJI 
M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 

From 1835 to 1845 McDonough County nearly 
doubled its population, increasing from 2,S62 



7o6 



HISTORY UF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



souls (including six negroes) to 5,355 (three 
negroes included) during that period. The set- 
tlers of that time had little opportunit.v to en- 
gage in public enterprises — first, because the 
period was one covered by the expression "hard 
times"; and, second, because those who located 
in the new country were of very limited means 
at best, and what money they had earned had 
to be economically spent in the improvement of 
their lands and the erection of the strictly ne- 
cessary dwellings and barns. Among the in- 
coming settlers several families of Mormons 
settled in McDonough County, having been 
driven from Missouri by an incensed people 
who claimed that the refugees had persistent- 
ly robbed and despoiled them; the Mormons 
themselves claimed that they had been perse- 
cuted on account of their religion, and thus 
aroused such sympathy in the breasts of the 
Illinoisans that the new comers were received 
with favor. 

The people called the Mormons, but who 
called themselves members of "The Church 
of Jesus Christ, or Latter-day Saints." be- 
gan to figure in the politics of the State in 
1S40. Large numbers of them came to Illi- 
nois and purchased a tract of land on the east 
side of the Mississippi River, in Hancock 
County, about ten miles above Keokuk, Iowa. 
Here they commenced the building of the 
city of Nauvoo; and a beautiful site for a 
city it was, on the brow of a high bluff over- 
looking the great river and adjoining coun- 
try for miles. The place was laid out with 
wide streets and convenient alleys, and sev- 
eral acres were designated as the Temple 
Area, or Square, in the center of which was 
erected one of the most splendid houses of 
worship then in existence in the Mississippi 
Valley. Even now, although the Temple, like 
its great prototype, has been razed to the 
ground, the spot is the hallowed Mecca of 
the Mormon people, wherever found, and is 
visited by those who have opportunity at all 
seasons of the year. 

The origin, rapid development and prosper- 
ity of this religious body, or sect, are matters 
for marvel, and challenge attention as a his- 
torical event of the nineteenth century. That 
an obscure man, without money, education or 
respectability, should hoodwink and persuade 
thousands of people to believe him inspired 
of God, and cause a book, without merit as 



a literary production, to be received as a part 
or a continuation of the Sacred Scriptures, ap- 
pears almost incredible; and yet, in less than 
half a century, the disciples of this obscure 
individual have increased to hundreds of thou- 
sands; have founded a State in the distant 
West, and not only built a splendid city, but 
have erected a Temple and a Tabernacle which 
are hardly surpassed for beauty and architec- 
tural magnificence on this continent; and, 
finally, their growth in population and political 
strength has compelled recognition of the com- 
munities they have established as an inde- 
pendent State. 

The founder of Mormonism was Joseph 
Smith, who was born at Sharon, Windsor 
County, Vermont, on the 23d of December, 
1S05. one hundred years, almost to a day, be- 
fore this article was written. His parents 
were in humble circumstances, and gave their 
son but an indifferent education. When he 
first began to act the Prophet he was ignorant 
of everything which belonged to science or 
theology, but his deficiency in these lines, as 
in education generally, was counterbalanced 
by a natural cunning and a wonderful inven- 
tion and intellectual constructiveness. 

When Joseph was ten years old his parents 
removed to Palmyra, N. Y. His youth was 
spent in an idle, vagabond fashion, roaming 
the woods, dreaming of buried treasures and 
studying the art of locating them by the twist- 
ing of a forked stick held in the hands, or by 
looking through enchanted stones. Both he 
and his father became noted as "water 
witches," always ready to point out the ground 
where living wells might be dug; and many 
are the anecdotes of the son's early life giving 
bright promise of the future Prophet. 

Such was the Joseph Smith when found by 
Sidney Rigdon, a man of considerable talent 
and information who had conceived the idea 
of founding a new religion. Rigdon had be- 
come possessed of a religious romance written 
by a Mr. Spaulding, a Presbyterian clergyman 
of Ohio (then dead); and the story had sug- 
gested the idea to him; in Joe Smith he found 
the requisite cunning and duplicity to reduce 
it to practice. It was agreed that Smith should 
be put forth as a Prophet, and the two de- 
vised the tale that golden plates had been 
found buried in the earth in the vicinity of 
Palmyra; these were said to contain a record 




Jail at Carthage. Hancock County, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were l^illed. 
'Window from which Joseph Smith fell after being shot 




Court House, Carthage, Hancock County. Wm. R. Hamilton was stationed in the Cupola to 
observe the movements of the mob before Joseph Smith was killed. 



i -^UBl 



,1C 



\::^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



707 



in unknown characters, which, when deciph- 
ered by the powers of inspiration, gave the 
history of the ten tribes of Israel in their wan- 
derings through Asia and America; where they 
had settled and flourished and where, in due 
time, Christ came and preached his Gospel 
to them, appointed his twelve Apostles, and 
was crucified here, nearly in the same manner 
in which he met his death on Calvary. 

As Rigdon stated, it was made linown to 
Smith that the Indians were the remnant of 
Israel; that when they first came to this con- 
tinent they were an enlightened people having 
a knowledge of the true God; that the proph- 
ets and inspired writers among them had 
handed down the tablets for many generations; 
that the people tell into wickedness and nearly 
all of them were destroyed, but the records, 
by command of God, were deposited where 
found, to preserve them from the hands of 
the wicked who sought to destroy them. As 
Rigdon asserted, Joseph Smith became filled 
with the Holy Ghost, and upon several occa- 
sions an angel appeared to him instructing him 
concerning the great work of God about to 
commence on the earth through him. He was 
told where the records were deposited, and 
required to go immediately and view them. 
The records were found on the side of a 
hill, slightly buried in the earth and secured 
in a stone box, on the road from Palmyra to 
Canandaigua, three miles from the village of 
Manchester, in the State of New York. They 
were said to be engraved on gold plates in 
Egyptian characters, the plates being of the 
thickness of tin and bound together in the 
form of a book of about six inches in thick- 
ness, fastened on one side by three rings 
which passed through all the metal sheets. 
In the same box with the plates were found 
two stones, transparent and clear as crystal ; 
the Urim and Thummim used by seers in an- 
cient times — the instruments of revelation of 
things distant, past or present. 

The news of this alleged discovery spread 
abroad. The new Prophet became the sport 
of lies, slanders and mobs, and, as he stated, 
vain attempts were made to rob him of the 
plates. He then removed to the northern part 
of Pennsylvania, where, with the aid of in- 
spiration and Urim and Thummim, he com- 
menced to translate the mysterious records, 
and finished a part of what he called the 



"Book of Mormon." In order to give these 
so-called Revelations some semblance of au- 
thenticity, the Prophet Smith brought forward 
those whom he alleged to be witnesses of the 
existence of the plates. Oliver Cowdrey, Mar- 
tin Harris and Samuel Whitemore solemnly 
certified that "we have seen the plates which 
contain the records; they were translated by 
the gift and power of God, 'tor His voice has 
declared it unto us;' and we declare, with 
words of soberness, that an angel of God came 
down from heaven and brought and laid them 
before our eyes, and that we beheld and saw 
the engravings thereon." Several other wit- 
nesses certified that Joseph Smith, the trans- 
lator, had shown them the plates, which had 
the appearance of gold, and "as many of the 
plates as said Smith had translated they did 
handle with their hands; and they also saw 
the engravings thereon, and they all appeared 
to be ancient workmanship." Doubtless these 
witnesses were all in the conspiracy. 

Many of the early followers of Mormonism 
were anxious to see the plates which formed 
the very groundwork of their faith. In an- 
swer to such requests the Prophet adroitly 
stated that they could not be seen by the car- 
nal eye, but must be spiritually discerned; 
that the power to see them depended upon 
faith, and could only be obtained through fast- 
ing, prayer, mortification of the flesh and exer- 
cise of the spirit, promising that if he saw 
the evidences of a strong and lively faith in 
any of his followers, they should be gratified 
in their curiosity. Many other very curious 
and interesting incidents might be cited, show- 
ing how Smith worked upon the feelings and 
sentimentality of his numerous followers. Many 
of his disciples spoke in an outlandish gibber- 
ish, which they called "the unknown tongue." 
Others acted as interpreters of this jargon; 
for it rarely happened that those thus gifted 
of tongue were able to understand their own 
communications. Many also pretended to per- 
form miracles by the laying on of hands and 
by faith in prayer; and there are, in this day 
and generation, many who pretend to cure dis- 
eases and do other miraculous works, who are 
not Mormons. 

The main body of Mormons settled in the 
neighborhood of Nauvoo. Hancock County, this 
State, although there were a few in McDon- 
ough County who were thoroughly imbued with 



7o8 



HISTORY OF McDOKOUGH COUXTY. 



this strange religion. One of the noteworthy 
converts in this county was George Miller, 
who, in 1S43, was a well-to-do farmer of Ma- 
comb, and a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. At that time he resided in a house 
which stood at the corner of East Carroll and 
North Randolph Streets, on the present site 
of the Jolly House. Becoming interested in th.<^ 
Mormon doctrine, he visited Nauvoo for the 
purpose of getting light upon the subject, and 
upon his return said he was not very favorably 
impressed with the people, except with Joe 
Smith, the Prophet; he would like to hear the 
Prophet preach, and suggested to the citizens 
of Macomb that, if they had any desire to lis- 
ten to him, he would have Smith talk to them. 

It is not known whether Joe Smith actually 
did preach to the people of Macomb; but Mr. 
Miller was soon afterward a regular member 
of the Mormon Church. Soon after his visit 
to Nauvoo he was picking blackberries in the 
woods where Bardolph now stands, when sud- 
denly he threw up his hands screaming and 
fell to the ground in a swoon. He was taken 
to his home and placed in bed, continuing to 
rave for a period of forty-eight hours, when he 
was relieved through bleeding and calomel, 
his physician being Dr. J. B. Kyle. Next day 
two men on horseback rode up to the Square 
and accosting William Hamilton, late of Bush- 
nell, inquired for the residence of George 
Miller. Being directed to the house, they rode 
over, entered the residence, knelt by the bed- 
side of the sick man and prayed aloud. At 
the conclusion of their prayers they arose, 
laid their hands upon him, and repeatedly ad- 
monished him to have faith. In a few mo- 
ments thereafter he became calm and arose 
from his bed, and the next day announced to 
his friends tnat he was thoroughly cured, 
though a little weak. On the next day Mr. 
Miller was baptized into the Church of Latter 
Day Saints, in Crooked Creek, north of town, 
and in a few days thereafter moved to Nauvoo 
and became a leader among tne Mormon peo- 
ple. Of course, it is not known to this day 
how much of connivance there was in the 
above narrated episode of sudden sickness and 
"miraculous" cure. 

For several years much agitation and bad 
blood were engendered in McDonough and oth- 
er counties against the Mormons, who, as they 
grew in strength, became more arrogant, hold 



ing that as ' tne earth was the Lord's and the 
fullness thereof" and they were his peculiar 
people, therefore the Gentiles were entitled to 
few of the fruits. This doctrine led to consid- 
erable trouble between the Saints and those 
who did not accept their faith. Much stock 
disappeared from all parts of the county and 
much of it was traced to the Holy City; but 
even when found it was exceedingly difficult 
to regain possession of it. 

Under a provision of the city charter of 
Nauvoo. it was enacted that no writ issued from 
without the city for the arrest of any of its 
citizens should be recognized within its lim- 
its without an approval endorsed thereon by 
the Mayor; that if any public officer, by vir- 
tue of a foreign writ, should attempt to make 
an arrest in the city without such approval 
of his process, he should be subject to im- 
prisonment for life, and that even the Gover- 
nor of Illinois should not have the power of 
pardoning the offender without the consent of 
the Mayor of Nauvoo. If an attempt was made 
to obtain property by writ of replevin, wit- 
nesses innumerable could always be obtained 
to promptly swear it belonged to some Mormon 
claimant. 

This high-handed disregard of the rights of 
persons, property and the constitutional rights 
of the Commonwealth, soon led to serious con- 
sequences. The citizens of Hancock Coupty 
submitted to the outrage until patience ceased 
to be a virtue, whereupon they appealed to 
Governor Ford for aid. This assistance was 
requested more especially, on account of the 
failure to arrest Joe Smith and other leading 
Mormons for engaging in a riot and destroy- 
ing the office of an Anti-Mormon paper. A 
warrant was issued at Carthage and served 
upon them; whereupon they were taken before 
the Municipal Court of Nauvoo, on a writ of 
habeas corpus, and promptly discharged from 
custody on the 2d of June, 1844. 

When Governor Ford arrived at Carthage 
he found an armed force assembled and hourly 
increasing in numbers, composed of men from 
Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler Counties. 
He immediately placed all under military com- 
mand of their proper officers, and ordei-ed 
the Mormon leaders to send a committee to lay 
their side of the question before him. In the 
meantime the Governor had learned, from 
information gained on the ground, that the 



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HISTORY OF .McDOXOUGH COUXTY. 



70() 



Common Council of Nauvoo had violated the 
law in assuming the exercise of judicial power; 
in proceeding ex parte, without notice to the 
owners of the newspaper property; in proceed- 
ing against the property, in rem. : in not call- 
ing a jury and in not swearing witnesses; in 
not giving the owners of the property accused 
of being a nuisance (in consequence of being 
libelous) an opportunity of giving the truth in 
evidence, and, in fact, in not proceeding by 
civil suit, or indictment, as in other cases of 
libel; finally, that "the Mayor violated the law 
in ordering the erroneous and absurd judg- 
ment of the Common Council to be executed, 
and the municipality erred in discharging them 
(the leaders) from arrest." 

The result of the various conferences with 
the Governor was that Smith and some of the 
other Mormon leaders agreed to surrender and 
stand trial at Carthage, under assurance of 
protection. Again, quoting from "Ford's His- 
tory of Illinois: 

"On the 23d or 24th of June Joseph Smith, 
the Mayor of Nauvoo, together with his broth- 
er Hyrum and all the members of the Council, 
surrendered to the constable on charge of riot. 
They voluntarily entered into a recognizance 
before the Justice of the Peace for their ap- 
pearance at court to answer the charge, and 
all were discharged from custody except Jo- 
seph and Hyrum Smith, against whom the 
magistrate had issued a new writ on a com- 
plaint of treason. They were immediately ar- 
rested by the constable on this charge, and 
retained in his custody to answer it. The 
overt act of treason charged against them con- 
sisted in the alleged levying of war against the 
State by declaring martial law in Nauvoo, and 
in ordering out the Legion to resist the posse 
oomitatus. 

After the Smiths had been arrested on the 
new charge of treason, the Justice of the 
Peace postponed the examination because 
neither of the parties was prepared for trial. 
In the meantime he committed them to the 
jail of the county at Carthage, for greater se- 
curity. A great desire was manifested on the 
part of the militia, especially from this county, 
to see Joseph Smith, the head of the Mor- 
mons. On the morning of June 27th, under 
guard of the Carthage Grays, commanded by 
Captain R. P. Smith (afterward Colonel of 
the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry in the Civil 



War), the Mormon leader was marched 
around the Public Square and then taken back 
to jail. The Governor then disbanded the prin- 
cipal part of tne militia, placed the Carthage 
Grays as a guard around the jail, and proceed- 
ed to Nauvoo lor the purpose of exerting his 
influence with the Mormons in favor of peace. 
The volunteers from McDonough County in> 
mediately returned home, leaving Carthage 
about 2 o'clock p. m. About 4 o'clock of the 
same day the Governor was in Nauvoo, coun- 
seling obedience to the law and finally called 
for a vote of the Mormon crowd as to whether 
his advice should be followed. They voted to 
be law-abiding citizens. A short time before 
sundown he started on his return to Carthage 
and had proceeded about two miles, when he 
was met by two men — one of them a Mormon 
— who informed him that the Smiths were 
killed. After ordering the two men under ar- 
rest he hastened on to Carthage. (For the 
Governor's details of the entire transaction, 
see "Ford's History of Illinois." On pages 353- 
355 he relates the account of the murder.) 

It would appear that, agreeable to previous 
orders, the posse at Warsaw had marched, on 
the 27th of June, in the direction of Golden's 
Point, with a view of joining the force from 
Carthage. The whole body then marched into 
Nauvoo, while about two hundred of these 
men, many of them being disguised by black- 
ening their faces with powder and smearing 
them with mud, hastened to Carthage. En- 
camping at some distance from the village, 
they soon learned that most of the militia 
had been disbanded, that the Carthage Grays 
were stationed in the Public Square, a hundred 
and fifty yards from the jail, and that eight 
of the force, under Sergeant Franklin A. Wor- 
rell, had been detailed to guard the prisoners. 
A communication was soon established between 
the conspirators and the company, and it was 
arranged that the guards should have their 
guns charged with blank cartridges and fire 
at the assailants when they attempted to en- 
ter the jail. General Deming. who had been 
left in command, being deserted by some of 
his troops and perceiving the arrangement 
which had been made with the others, for fear 
of his life retired from the village. The way 
being clear, the conspirators advanced, jumped 
the slight fence around the jail, were fired 
upon by the harmless guards, who were quick- 



■10 



HISTORY OF .Mcdonough county. 



ly overpowered, and entered the jail to the 
door of the room where the prisoners were 
conflueu, with two of their friends who volun- 
tarily bore them company. An attempt was 
made to break open the door, but before this 
could be accomplished, Joseph Smith, who had 
been armed with a six-barreled pistol, fired sev- 
eral times and wounded three of the assail- 
ants. Before the door was forced open, sev- 
eral shots were fired into the room, Hyrum 
Smith being instantly killed and John Taylor, 
one of his friends, receiving several wounds. 
Joseph Smith attempted to escape by Jumping 
out of a second-story window on the east side 
of the jail; but at his appearance he was shot 
and fell to the ground dead. 

Henry Bristow, now a resident of Macomb, 
was one of the militia from McDonough Coun- 
ty, and when his company was discharged by 
the Governor, he accepted the invitation of a 
friend in Carthage to stay over night, as 
"there would be fun." He remained and was 
a witness to the stirring events of the even- 
ing, and still has a very vivid recollection of 
all that occurred, in great measure confirming 
the account as above set forth. But few. If 
any, of the actual participants are yet alive. 

Thus fell Joe Smith, one of the most suc- 
cessful impostors of modern times; a man, 
who, though Ignorant and coarse, had many 
great natural parts which eminently fitted 
him for temporary success. That his was a 
brutal and premeditated murder is not denied 
at this day. Neither was the end of the as- 
sassins gained, as the Mormons did not evacu- 
ate Nauvoo for two years thereafter. In the 
meantime the excitement and prejudice against 
this people were not allowed to die. Horse 
stealing was quite common, and every case 
of such theft was ascribed to the Mormons. 
That they were in great measure responsible 
cannot be denied: but it is now known fhat 
much of the crime was committed by organ- 
ized bands of thieves, who knew they could 
carry on their nefarious business with more 
safety as long as suspicion could be placed 
on the Mormons. 

The Mormox War. — Before the spring of 
1846 a great majority of the Mormons had left 
Nauvoo, but still a large number remained. 
The following incidents led to the ultimate 
conflict. About the time mentioned a man 



by the name of Debenheyer was killed near 
the town of Pontoosuc and buried in a ditch by 
the side of a sod fence. The murderers were 
unknown, but a number of Mormons had been 
seen in that vicinity for sometime engaged in 
riotous disturbances, and were ordered to 
leave the country. This they refused to do. One 
day while they were at work in a field, in that 
neighborhood, surrounded on thi-ee sides by 
timber, without w-arning they were surround- 
ed by forty or fifty Anti-Mormons, who cap- 
tured them, took them to the place where Deb- 
enheyer had been buried, stripped off their 
clothing, gave each of them thirty-nine lashes 
well laid on the bare back, and ordered them 
again to leave the country. Instead, the Mor- 
mons went to Nauvoo, reported the matter, 
and a few nights afterward, with a large 
number of others, surrounded the residence 
of Major McCauley who lived in the neigh- 
borhood, and demanded his surrender. J. W. 
Brattle, for many years Surveyor of McDon- 
ough County and well known by its older citi- 
zens, was temporarily stopping with McCaul- 
ey. Both were arrested and marched to Nau- 
voo, where they were held tor several days 
and, after trial, were discharged. It was 
thought at the time that their release was 
due to the fact that several leading Mormons 
had been taken by the Gentiles and held as 
hostages. 

Sometime in 1845 or '46 a party of Mor- 
mons started from Nauvoo in search of a 
young man, who they thought had done them 
an injury. He fled to the house of John Vance, 
living near Blandinsville. and as the Mor- 
mons were in close pursuit, jumped into bed. 
covered himself and told Mrs. Vance to tell 
the party that he was her son. Quick as a 
flash she took in the situation, and seizing a 
white handkerchief wet it and laid it over his 
head. When the Mormons arrived she I'e- 
quested them to be very quiet, as her son 
was in a high fever. Observing the young 
man in bed they made search as quietly as 
possible, and then retired. The patient 
doubtless was in a high fever, for had he been 
discovered short work would have been made 
of him. 

About the 1st of September. 1846, a writ 
was issued against several leading Mormons 
and placed in the hands of John Carlin, the 
Carthage Constable, for execution. Carlin 



HISTtJRY OF AIcDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



711 



called for a posse to aid him in the arrest. 
Two or three companies went from McDon- 
ough County to his assistance, and quite a 
force was soon gathered in the neighborhood 
of Nauvoo. Not being a military man, Carlin 
placed the posse first under General Single- 
ton, but afterward under Colonel Brockman. 
The latter proceeded to invest the city, erect- 
ing breastworks and taking other means of 
both a defensive and an offensive nature. 
What was termed a battle next took place, re- 
sulting in the death of one Mormon and the 
wounding of several others, and the mortal 
wounding of a McDonough County volunteer 
(a Pennsylvanian, then on a visit with 
friends), and the wounding of several others. 
At last, through the intei-vention of an anti- 
Mormon committee of one hundred citizens 
of Quincy, the Mormons and their allies were 
induced to submit to such terms as the posse 
chose to dictate — which were that the Mor- 
mons should immediately surrender their arms 
to the Quincy committee and remove from the 
State of Illinois. 

■"The Mormons now realized that their time 
had come." says Ford ("History of Illinois," 
pages 423-425). "The trustees of the church 
and five of their clerks were permitted to 
remain for the sale of Mormon property, and 
the posse were to march in unmolested and to 
leave a sufficient force to guarantee the per- 
formance of their stipulations. Accordingly, 
the constable's posse march in, with Brock- 
man at their head, consisting of about eight 
hundred armed men and six or seven hundred 
unarmed, who had assembled from all the 
country around, from motives of curiosity, to 
see the once proud city of Nauvoo humbled 
and delivered up to its enemies. They pro- 
ceeded into the city slowly and carefully, ex- 
amining the way for fear of the explosion of 
mines, many of which, 'twas said, had been 
made by the Mormons by burying kegs of 
powder in the ground, with a man stationed 
at a distance to pull a string communicating 
with the trigger of a percussion lock alfixed 
to the keg. This contrivance was called by 
the Mormons a Hell's Half Acre. 'When the 
posse arrived in the city, the leaders of it 
erected themselves into a tribunal to decide 
who should be forced to leave, and who re- 
main. Parties were dispatched to hunt for 
Mormon arms and Mormons, and to bring the 



latter to judgment, where they received their 
doom from the mouth of Brockman, who sat a 
grim, unawed tyrant for the time. 

"As a general rule, the Mormons were or- 
dered to leave within an hour, or two hours; 
by rare grace some of them were allowed until 
next day, and in a few cases longer. The 
treaty specified that the Mormons only should 
be driven into exile. 

"Nothing was said in the treaty concerning 
the new citizens who had, with the Mormons, 
defended the city. But the posse had no soon- 
er obtained possession than they commenced 
expelling the new citizens. Some of them 
were ducked in the river, being in one or two 
instances actually baptized in the name of the 
leaders of the mob. Others were forcibly 
driven into the ferry boats, to be taken over 
the river before the bayonets of armed ruffi- 
ans, and it is believed that the houses 
of most of them were broken open and 
their furniture stolen. Many of these 
new settlers were strangers in the country, 
from various parts of the United States, who 
were attracted thither by the low price of 
property, and they knew but little of previous 
difficulties or the merits of the quarrel. They 
saw with their open eyes that the Mormons 
were industriously preparing to go away, and 
they knew of their own knowledge that an ef- 
fort to expel them by force was gratuitous 
and unnecessary cruelty." 

Thus ended the so-called Mormon War. Al- 
though the suffering among the Mormons was 
great — caused by their sudden departure to a 
new country, where prejudice had preceded 
them — yet they persevered, and after many 
weary months and years, they succeeded in the 
establishment of one of the finest and rich- 
est cities in the West, and founded a State 
inhabited by a frugal, industrious and thrifty 
people. However much they may be wrong 
in regard to their religious belief, their seem- 
ing faith in their doctrines shows a stalwart 
belief worthy of a better cause, and now that 
over half a century has passed since the stir- 
ring events above recorded, Nauvoo and the 
Carthage jail have become a veritable Mecca 
and Medina to the Mormon Church through- 
out the world. 

The jail in Carthage, where the Smiths 
were murdered, seems to be especially the ob- 
ject of the Mormon's' tender care. It now be- 



/ 



12 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



longs to the Church of Jesus Christ of the 
Latter Day Saints, and to enable this history 
to place on record the particulars of its pur- 
chase, special obligations are here acknowl- 
edged to Hon. Charles ,J. Scofield, of Carthage, 
who himself executed the transfer papers. His 
account follows: "The old jail is located on 
Lots 4 and 5, Block 6, Original Town (now 
city) of Carthage, being one block north and 
about two blocks west of the Public Square. 
Mrs. Eliza M. Browning owned the premises 
for thirty years or more, selling the same on 
November 4, 1903, for $4,000 and making deed 
of that date thereof to Joseph F. Smith, as 
trustee in trust of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter Day Saints, residing at the city and 
county of Salt Lake, in the State of Utah, and 
his successors in office and assigns forever. 
The premises are occupied at present by J. 
A. Califf, who was our Superintendent of 
Schools for twelve years, under a lease from 
the grantee. 

"Mrs. Browning is the widow of James M. 
Browning, for six years County Treasurer and 
one of our best and most highly respected 
citizens, who died in the spring of 1903. On 
account of friendship existing between the 
families and church affiliation, Mr. Browning 
had me prepare the deed, and the same was 
acknowledged in my office. A man named 
Woodruff represented the trustee of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day 
Saints in this transaction. I think he was 
from Chicago — a representative of Mormon 
evangelization in that city. He was a man 
of pleasing address, intelligent, rather quiet 
in his demeanor, and seemingly well posted in 
the work he had in hand. The premises are 
occupied exclusively for residence purposes. 
Mormon representatives have been evangeliz- 
ing in this community during the last year or 
two — with what success am unable to state. 
As to present condition of Nauvoo, I would 
say that there are but slight vestiges of Mor- 
mon days to be found there, and very few 
Mormons, as I understand the matter. The 
population of the town is mostly German. It 
is a beautiful site for a city, the Mississippi 
River making a half circle at that point, and 
thus partly enclosing the site. It is a very 
good town for a place of its size, and its citi- 
zens are ordinarily quiet and attentive to busi- 
ness." 



It might here be stated that a portion of the 
capital of one of the columns supporting the 
front of the Temple, showing the usual sun- 
burst and angel face, with blowing horn, was 
but recently in possession (and may still be) 
of Hon. Louis Kaiser, at Bushnell, 111. The 
writer has seen a similar fragment in the yard 
of the old State House, at Springfield, and 
so far as known, these relics are about all 
that is intact of the Nauvoo Temple. 

The following account of the last scene in 
the life of the Smiths is given by the Hon. 
William R. Hamilton, now over eighty years 
of age and still living in Carthage, together 
with photograph of the jail and plats of its 
interior. Mr. Hamilton was a young man at 
the time, and these stirring events, which 
made a deep impression on him, had been 
carefully recorded, and for many years he 
had in contemplation the publication of them 
in some form. Personal obligations are there- 
fore acknowledged to him for his interesting 
and authentic statement, with which is closed 
the account of Mormonism in Nauvoo and Car- 
thage: 

Mr. H.\milton'.s Statement. — "I will give 
you a short description of the killing of the 
Smith's as I saw it done on June 27, 1S44. Gov- 
ernor Ford issued his order disbanding the 
troops early in the morning, and all had left 
for home by 11 o'clock except the Carthage 
Grays, whom he had retained to guard the 
Smiths, and the Augusta Dragoons, who ac- 
companied him to Nauvoo. (The town was 
at first called Commerce.) The Smiths were 
taken from my father's hotel to the jail, and 
placed in the jailor's sleeping room under 
guard of an officer of the Carthage Grays, with 
six men who were relieved by a new detail 
at noon. 

"The Smiths being upstairs, the guards took 
their station on the front steps and in the hall 
below. It was a warm day; windows and doors 
all open; not a lock, bolt, or even a latch, was 
upon the door to the room where the Smiths 
were. They had with them as companions. 
Elders John Taylor and Willard Richards. 
About 11 o'clock Captain Smith ordered E. S. 
Rand and me to take a large field glass and 
go to the cupola of the Court House, and keep 
watch for and see if we could discover any 
body of men approaching the town from any 




G^^ 




.0 i-lC- 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough coi'xty. 



713 



direction, but especially t'lom the west. About 
4 o'clock p. m. we discovered quite a large 
number of men congregating on the prairie, 
about two miles from the town and just be- 
hind the point of timber a little northwest. 
Our orders were that, on discovering anything 
we should at once privately report to him, and 
to no one else. Rand went with the report to 
the Captain, ana was ordered to return to his 
post, and to keep a close watch and see if 
any of the men came through the timber and 
approached toward town or jail; if so, we 
were not to give an alarm, but to make report 
to him only. 

"About 4:45 P. M. we discovered them com- 
ing out of the timber on foot, and starting 
toward the jail at a quick step. They were 
in single file, north of the old rail fence, and 
out of sight from anyone on the ground. They 
numbered at least one hundred, and perhaps 
one hundred and fifty, and were carrying their 
guns at trail and apparently as much out of 
sight as possible. We immediately tried to 
report, but could not find the Captain and did 
not, until the mob had reached the jail and 
commenced their work. Then the call to arms 
was given, but delays of all sorts prevented 
a quick formation of the company, so that it 
did not reach the jail until the work for which 
the mob came had been accomplished and the 
latter were at a safe distance. 

"When the first firing was heard, I felt that 
it I waited for the company I would not see 
anything; so immediately, without orders, I 
started for the jail on the run, and got there 
just as Joe Smith came to the window and 
was shot. He fell out, striking the ground on 
his left side, his head toward the north. One 
of the mob went up to him and said 'He is 
dead, boys I' With that, the mob immediately 
left, in a quick but orderly manner, in the di- 
rection whence they came. Smith was not 
shot, maltreated, or molested in any manner 
after he fell out of the window, and all such 
stories by Mormons, or anyone else, are ab- 
solutely false. 

"I went up to Smith while the mob was 
there, and saw that he was dead; then thought 
that I would go into the jail and see what 
had taken place there. I found Hyrum Smith 
dead, lying on his back on the floor, toward the 
east side of the room with his head in that 
direction. One of the men i;i>^he hall had 
7 



shot him by placing his gun against the door 
panel and shooting through it, the ball strik- 
ing Smith in the left breast, wnen he fell back- 
ward and lay in the position in which I found 
him. I was the first person to enter the room 
after he was killed. No one was there, and 
no one came while I was there. Richards, 
who had escaped being shot, had just carried 
Taylor out and taken him into the cell depart- 
ment. After I had satisfied my boyish curi- 
osity, I went down, and started for home to 
tell what I had seen. As I was going home 
and when about a block away. I met the com- 
pany going toward the jail. 

"It was then in good formation, marching in 
good time, with guns properly at shoulder 
and flag flying, as if on dress parade, or ready 
for business. But as none remained to be 
done at that late hour, a detail, or guard, was 
left, and the company returned to quarters, 
put away their guns, and ail but four of its 
members broke for the tall timber before the 
sun arose next day. None of them were in 
the plot — no indeed! 

"Upon going home I found our house full of 
excited neighbors. I told my little story to 
them, which seemed to add fuel to the flames. 
They had heard the reports of the guns, and 
some of them had relatives in the company, 
who they feared had been shot. I was able 
to assure them that none of the soldiers had 
been hurt, and that none but the Smiths had 
been killed. Then began the talk that as soon 
as the Saints found out that the Smiths had 
been killed, the Nauvoo Legion and Danite 
Band would raid the town, and all would be 
killed and quartered, or burned at the stake. 
Soon a Coroner's jury was impaneled and held 
an inquest. 

"My father took a team, went to the jail 
and removed the bodies, together with Taylor, 
to the hotel; had rough pine boxes made, in 
which they were placed, and the next morn- 
ing went with the cotRns to Nauvoo — he taking 
one, and William and Samuel Smith (brothers) 
the other. That night the town was almost 
deserted, only tour families being left in it — • 
father's, Fred Loring's, Abram Baker's, and a 
widow with a sick child. Such was the hurry 
to get away from Carthage that many left doors 
and windows open, which gave Loring and me 
quite a job to go around and shut gates, doors 
and windows. By night a few of the men 



714 



HISTORY OF McDON'OUGH COUNTY. 



came straggling back, and in ttiree or four 
days most had returned. 

"After the Smiths were Ivilled, the county 
officers, being afraid that the town would be 
raided by the Mormons and the records burned, 
got father to send me with a team and take 
them away. To tell all would be a long and 
interesting story; but, in short, I went, having 
with me David E. Head and a Mormon girl who 
was living with Baokenstos. the Circuit Clerk 
and Recorder. We had every valuable record 
and paper of all the county offices in the one 
load (could hardly do the job now). We took 
them to an old sugar camp, about eight miles 
east of town on the land of Thomas H. Owen, 
where I left them in charge of Head and re- 
turned home, arriving a little after sunset to 
find the town deserted and father and the 
Smiths preparing to start for Nauvoo with the 
bodies of the Smiths. I wanted to go; but fa- 
ther and mother said no, that I had been out 
all night, and that was enough; so it had to 
be. 

"I might relate more of the scenes of those 
days; but I think it would be of little use now — 
of the raid of Backenstos on Carthage, with his 
three hundred Mormons, at a later date; of the 
burying of the cannon, to keep him from get- 
ting it (it was subsequently unearthed by J. 
D. Hainline and George Head and taken to 
McDonough County, where, after remaining 
some years, it was called for by the United 
States Government in 1861; and that was the 
last of "Emma"): of the celebrated battle of 
Nauvoo (in which, by the way. I took part); 
of the stealing of the General's whisky jug, 
and the treating of our company from it upon 
our return to camp after the battle was over; 
of our triumphant entry into the sacred city; 
of our capture of prisoners (none of whom 
were taken to Babylon), and starting them 
on their journey westward — but it is much eas- 
ier to think them over than to write about 
them. I have, of late years, thought that I have 
not received my just dues; the Government 
has never said pension to me — badly treated I 

"W. R. H.\MII,T0X." 

Mr. Hamilton also gives a few items relative 
to the methods of the Mormons which had 
much to do in inflaming the minds of citizens 
against them. One Sunday afternoon in 1841. 
he was present at Nauvoo when Brigham 



Young preached from the text, "The earth is the 
Lord's, and the fulness thereof belongeth to 
His people." A long pause followed the an- 
nouncement of the text and then he added: 
"We are His people. We will appropriate to 
our use that which the Lord has so bountifully 
placed before us; and here is what we will de- 
fend ourselves with" (taking from his pocket 
a pistol, and laying it on the pulpit before him). 
One can imagine what kind of a sermon fol- 
lowed. Mr. Hamilton remarks: "Just such 
harangues as he made were the mean.? of incit- 
ing the Mormons to lawlessness and inflaming 
the minds of the people against them. No Mor- 
mon was ever persecuted in tnis county on ac- 
count of his religion, but on account of his 
acts following the advice of the Prophet, Patri- 
arch, Elders and leaders, who, as a rule, were 
fortune hunters and unprincipled men. I do 
not mean to say that the Mormons were all 
bad people, for they were not; but at times 
they were religious fanatics and thought the 
Prophet and the leaders could do no wrong. 
I saw and knew by sight nearly all the leading 
Mormons, many of whom were frequently in 
Carthage and stopped at father's hotel; and, 
with few exceptions, they were quite as well 
behaved people as could be found. There are 
some yet living in the county who came in the 
Mormon era, who are good citizens and have 
never been disturbed on account of their reli- 
gion. Political treachery, disregard of law, and 
unlawful use of the writ of habeas corpus, as 
practiced by the Mormons at Nauvoo, caused 
the great trouble in this county, and incensed 
the entire people against them." 

Then and during the more troublous times, 
there were Anti-Mormons — termed Gentiles — 
who at favorable opportunities delivered them- 
selves of their opinions. The following is a 
shori specimen of these speeches, delivered at 
a school exhibition in the spring of 1846 by 
Mr. Hamilton himself, who says his sentiments 
have not changed to any great extent: 

"I rise not to plead the cause of the perse- 
cutor, or to calumniate religion. The first I 
deem the author of bigotry and ignorance; the 
last I revere as the highest gift of God to man. 
The history of the world affords many exam- 
ples of tyranny, wickedness and cruelty prac- 
ticed by unprincipled men under the pretended 
authority of religion — the lewd and lascivious 
libertine; the low and vulgar blackguard; the 




^§^ .\n . <^'>i^ 



PUBLIC LIBR. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



715 



heartless tyrant; the despoiler of innocent vir- 
tue; the pusillanimous knave and coward; the 
dark and black-hearted hypocrite, whose only 
ambition was the gratification of his own base 
appetites and passions! 

"Of whom do I now speak? I hear the an- 
swer echo from these walls; it is the Mormon 
Prophet! Without a redeeming qualification 
of character; vice, the predominant of his com- 
position; ignorance, impudence and sacrilege, 
his ruling characteristics. He ran an ephem- 
eral race of ignominious fame. He had brought 
penury, disgrace and ruin upon thousands of 
his disciples. He had degraded and debased 
innocent virtue. He had assailed the freedom 
of speech and liberty of the press. He had es- 
tablished a tyranny unparalleled in modern 
ages, which was destined to be maintained 
only by the arms of his deluded followers. His 
cup of iniquity was full. The vengeance of an 
excited and injured populace sealed his career 
of tyranny, oppression, wickedness and imposi- 
tion, and the memory of his career and his 
reign will go despised to their native oblivion." 

We here close the discussion of this subject. 
The preceding history has been presented with 
the desire to leave on record, as nearly as pos- 
sible, a truthful statement of the career of 
the Mormon people in Illinois — especially as 
most of the participants in the events of that 
period have passed into the realm of the Be- 
yond. 

Members of the Carthage Grays (1844). — 
Following is the muster roll of the Carthage 
Grays, in 1844, at the time that Joseph and 
Hyrum Smith were killed: 

Captain— Robert F. Smith. 

First-Lieutenant— Samuel O. Williams. 

Second-Lieutenant— Franklin A. Worrell 

Third-Lieutenant— Thomas L. Morrison. 

Ensig-n— Louis C. Stevenson. 

Orderly-Sergeant- Eli H. Williams. 

Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates— Crock- 
ett Wilson, Claiboum Wilson. John Wilson, Moses 
Printy, Thomas L Dale, William E. Baldwin, Ed- 
win B. Baldwin. Frank Rhodes, Albert N. Thomp- 
son. ,Joseph W. Hawley. .Mexander Moore, Thomas 
B. Griffith, Ellis Hug-hes. Marvin M. Hamilton, 
William R. Hamilton, Ebenezer Rand, E. S. Rand, 
John Morrison, Ale.\ander Svmpson. Walter Bagbv 
Charles Bagby, Frederick Loring, Mike Barnes 
Jr., James D. Barnes. Williami Conlev, Jonas Ho- 
bert, Levi Street, Harlow Street. James C. Mc- 
guarry. John H. Lawton, Ezra Fav, Benjamin F. 

Easterbrook. Symonds and James H. 

Carothers. 

McDoNOUGH CorxTY Troops in the Mormon 
War. — The following constitutes a complete 



roster of the troops from McDonough County, 
who were enlisted and participated in the so- 
called Mormon War. While but few of them 
survive, with but rare exceptions their descend- 
ants of the second and third generations are 
residents of this county, or adjoining sections 
of the State. It is therefore deemed but proper, 
as a matter of local history, that these names 
should be enrolled as pioneers and protectors 
of their homes and families. The list is taken 
from the roll of the Paymaster, Captain Wil- 
liam H. Randolph, on which was found record- 
ed the amounts paid each ofilcer and private, 
with the receipts for the same. The names 
follow : 

Colonel— E. B. Root. 

Lieu tenant -Colonel — Levi TN'arren. 

Major- V. E. Remington. 

Surgeon— Dr. H. G. Ayre. 

Adjutant— S. McFarland. 

Sergeant-Major— H. Gilfrey. 

Quartermaster-Sergeants— Thomas Gilfrey. Wil- 
liam Duncan. 

Wagoner — Joseph Shute. 
Captains — 
Charles Creel. James M. Wilson. 

A. P. Smith, Charles W. Waddill, 

W. S. Hendricks, Vandever Banks, 

Samuel C. Hogan, William I. Pace, 

F. D. Lipe, B. Maxwell, 

Johu Long, W. F. Blandin. 

Thomas Davis, J. L. N. Hall. 



Lieutenants- 
Joseph Crawford. 
J. L. Ross. 
Harry R. Holden. 
Thomas Shippey, 
John R. Edmonston, 
Milton L. Archer, 
Thomas Mustain, 
William Edmonston, 
James S. Palmer. 
William B. Clarke, 
Philetus Rice, 
Johathan L. Berry, 
George C. Vest, 
V. M. Hardin. 
Peter McClure, 

Privates — 
Henry Thompson. 
John W. Clarke. 
Silas' Creel, 
William Brooking, 
Levi Hampton. 
John Creel. 
G. E. Robinson, 
David Hogsett, 
E. Brooking. 
James R. Simpson, 
Ross Panan. 
James Kepple. 
Hugh Ervin. 
D. M. Crabb, 
William Hamilton, 
Thomas Davis, 
George Nicolas. 
J. H. Michael, 
Valentine Clayton, 
R. McClure. 
William Stevens, 
John Crawford, 
Andrew Walker, 
Ephraim Banning, 
P. Hamilton, 



Perry Langford, 
I. C. Webb. 
John Baker. 
John Smith. 
H. H. Burr. 
Patrick Laughlin, 
Richard Brightwell. 
I. L. Twyman 
Absolom Parker. 
Bethel Owen. 
J. C. D. Carmack, 
Andrew Alison, 
John C. Webb. 

A. Dorothy. 
Harrison Hungate, 
Joseph P. Gates. 

B. T. Gibson. 
Robert Black, 
James Rasor. 
Edmond Maylor, 
Hugh Black. 
Samuel McClure. 
William S. Bailey, 
Edmond Barber. 
John McCormick, 
Shad. Campbell, 
Benjamin Stephen. 
Robert Barber, 
Thomas Dungan, 
George W. Mitchell. 
Francis A^'ajiand, 
Francis Rice, 
Travis Miller, 

J. J. Wyatt. 
Andrew Allison. 
Anderson Cannon, 
Henry Perry. 
John Fletcher, 
Joseph Bailey, 
Elijah Stephens. 
John Barrett. 
William Gahagan, 



7i6 



HISTORY OF :McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



D. R. Hamilton. 

W. M. McCartney, 

Wilev M. Sloan, 

O. H. Casley, 

C. W. Dunsworth, 

Lewis Mourning, 

A. Stephens. 

Thomas J. Hunt, 

William Boyd. 

Edmond Bean, 

J. J. Lower, 

James Chamberlain, 

Isaac Bacon, 

Eliphate Jarvis. 

William B. Baker, 

G. S. Hainllne, 

R. J. Scott. 

John S. Wilson, 

H. H. McGee. 

James Dye. 

Stephen White, 

W. W. Clayton, 

Silas Parker, 

James Stroud. 

James Wilson. 

John Rollins, 

J. W: Walker. 

Samuel McCarey, 

George Head, 

A. G. Hainline, 

Jacob Stickle, 

J. Mitchell. 

J. H. Head. 

Harper McCandless, 

John S. Campbell, 

John Snapp, 

Jonathan Palmer, 

Garrett Bonham, 

G. Vanhowten, 

George W. Wade, 

Durham Creel, 

Nicolas Bowman, 

Calvin Canote, 

Thomas K. Waddle, 

Charles Kepple, 

John Bishop, 

John Stokes. 

John M. Jackson. 

Michael Harris. 

George Boothe, 

William Stewart, 

S. A. Hunt. 

Patrick, Arber, 

Richard Musson, 

Joseph Rilev, 

Shad Goan," 

Peter Dye, 

Thomas White, 

Luke Prentice, 

Levi Done, 
William Stroud, 
J. L. Cross, 
J. M. Head, 
William B. Head, 
Robert Garheart, 
A. J. Walker, 
Eli Campbell. 
William Lower, 
Samuel M. Not, 
A. Fulkcrson, 
William B. Clarke, 
A. D. McBride, 
George Painter, 
Samuel Bland. 
J. B. Stapp, 
Grin Chatterton, 
Michael Youst, 
G. W. Eyres, 
Nathan Hainline, 
Samuel Clarke, 
Nelson Montgomery, 
C. W. Fulkerson, 
Hugh McDonotigh, 
Jonathan Parker, 
Asa Decker, 
Andrew Jackson, 



T. B. McCormick, 
John B. Jackson, 
George W. Neece, 
James Perry, 

A. H. Rutledge, 
Joseph Haines. 
John W. Fugate. 
Thomas Shoopman. 
Edward Dixon, 

B. B. Edmondson, 
Thomas E. Smedley, 
Caleb Husted, 

H. V. Craig, 
Robert Clugston, 
G. W. Shoopman, 
John Wilson, Jr., 

C. Pruit. 

J. C. Vawter, 

Russell Riggs, 

John Nankeville, 

Charles Patrick. 

Nathan Dunsworth. 

Thomas Hunt. 

Arch. Holstein. 

■Washington Owens, 

Samuel Dark, 

J. Q. McClure, 

Robert Hall, 

William Parks, 

Peter Riggs, 

Nimrod Duskili, 

Jacob Waimac, 

John I. Foster, 

John Crisp, 

James McPeters, 

J. J. Mathews, 

William Ellis, 

William W. McCormick, 

Zoel Wayland. 

Thomas Allison. 

G. C. Lane. 

Jesse Neece. 

Alexander Provine. 

Jacob Massinglll, 

Boston Seybold, 

Israel Camp, Jr.. 

AVIllIam J. Despain, 

Jonathan Comar. 

Nathan Scott, 

William Lovelv, 

L. M. Hobart, 

George Hume, 

David Scott, 

Isaac Fugate, 
Jacob Morgan, 
Jacob S. Mathews, 
B. Mason, 
John G. Stoneking, 
J. J. Smedley, 
John Bundridge, 
Samuel Calvin, 
John McCoy, 
Carroll Lane, 
William Venard, 
William T. Wells, 
William Shannon, 
John E. Riggs, 
William Thompson, 
M. C. Archer, 
James Dunsworth, 
Amos Gibson. 
Robert McCumsey. 
John Patrick, 
John Ferguson, 
Robert Archer, 
G. A. Tayl.- 
George Venard, 
John B. Case. 
James C. Archer. 
William W. AVIlson. 
A. J. Edmondson, 
William Owens, 
Samuel Wilson, 
Hugh B. Smiley, 
John Monk, 
N. B. Hardin, 



B. Whittlngton, 
William Badg,T, 
John C. Conants, 
Ambrose G. Owen, 
Lewis Scalf, 
Charles Jackson, 
David Kepple, 
John Badger, 
William Grafton, 
Matthew Framel, 

B. B. Jackson, 

D. Bovd. 
John Tidwell, 
Josiah Ralston, 
Isaac Garrett, 
Isaac Smith, 
H. Melton, 
Bird Smith, 
Joseph D. Wear, 
Andrew D. V,'ear, 
Augustus Lillard, 
David Jenkins. 
John Kenned^•, 
John Hill. 
Nicholas Jarvis, 
Isaac Welch, 

V. A. Cadwell, 
J. R. Welch, 
H. J. Averill, 
William Carmack, 
William Walker, 
N. B. Wooley, 
Othias DeHaven, 
Jessie Hainline. 
John Logan, Jr., 
Henry Martin, 
William Hardesty, 
James Seybold. 

E. T. Monarch. 
Jacob Hutchison, 

C. C. Hungate, 
Frank Clarke, 
S. H. Gillian, 
William Owens, 
David Badger, 
Allen Porter, 
Elias Clem, 
Thomas JacUson, 
William Gibson, 
C. McDonough, 
Nathaniel Barker. 
James Moore. 
George Crossier, 
Peter McDonough, 
R. G. King, 
Roswell Tyrrell, 
Ladwick Courier, 
C. G. Gilchrist, 
William Ervin, 
James Rigdon. 
Isham Rigdon. 
John Smith. 

H. Garrett, 
Henry Garrett, 
Allen Melton, 
John B. Wear, 
W. Melton, 
Nathan Stephens, 
James Hendricks. 
Reuben Alexander, 
Solomon Kennedy, 
Levi Sawyer, 
Isaac Howell, 
N. C. Averlll. 
G. W. Welch, 
Jefferson Welch, 
John James. 
Moses Stookev, 
Rufus Botts. 
James Williams, 
James Dorouthy, 
Hiram Hainline, 
William Martin, 
Joshua White. 
James Milsaps. 
Henry H. Monarch, 



Sanford Past, 
Joseph Overton, 
John Ijedgerwood, 
J. H. Hughes. 
Francis McSpirit, 
J. H. Baker, 
Reuben Harris, 
D. Bristow, 
Wesley Langford, 
H. Mayhew, 
Robert Dorothy, 
J. E. Lansdown, 

D. F. Martin, 
G. G. Guy, 

J. Rolllhs. 
William Strlkle, 
Thomas J. Caldwell, 

B. J. Welch. 
Harry Carmack. 
H. S. Head. 
William D. Mustain, 
William J. Epperson, 

E. F. Randall, 
James P. Birthlatid, 

C. A. Brown, 
Joseph Duncan. 
Simeon Everett, 
John Hall, 
John L. Charter, 
Redmond Grigsby, 
David Alton, 
Hugh Conner. 
William Moss. 
Philetus Charter, 
B. B. Head, 
Squire Charter, 
Samuel Dunlay, 
James Grigsby, 
John Vance. 
.\lva Alton. 

John Duncan, 
.Alex. McCullin, 
Norman Davis, 
N. Herrln, 
G. A. Farwell, 
Samuel Haney, 
B. Past. 

Jasper Twichell, 
G. Hainline, 
John Pyrdy, 
Jacob Humbart, 
Smith Haines, 

A. C. Bristow, 
Daniel Duncan, 
Sylvester Ruddle, 
Preston Anderson, 
James Peak, 
Lewis Past, 
Lorenzo Twichell, 
S. Stewart. 
William Scott, 
William Humbert, 
Allen Bland. 
William Walker. 

B. R. Hamptor. 
Martin Miles, 
Hiram Bellew, 
Robert Kellison, 
James D. Eads, 
Nathan Ferris. 
Thomas Speaks, 
William E. Duncan, 
William Wilson, 

H. G. Woodside, 
Francis McKay, 
Henry Dorothy, 
Silas Grigsby. 
Henry Alton. 
John Hagerty. 
George Bughman, 
John Bowman. 
A. L. Bryant, 
Ephraim Hammer, 
John T. Mustain, 
James AVard, 
AVIlliam Grigsby. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



717 



Isaac Bogart, 
Jacob Keithley, 
A. G. McCord, 
William McCord. 
Slocum Wooley, 
Charles Marin, 
Beta Haskins, 
Oliver C. Smith, 
Robert Andrews. 
James F. Greenup. 
Anson Richardson, 
William Waddle, 
Cyrus Wing, 
James McKte. 
James Fulton, 
Jonas Hushaw, 
Watson Choclcley, 
Richard Chockley, 
William Toland, 
George Woods, 
John Seward, 
Thomas Bailey. 
George W. Shultz, 
James H. Atkinson, 
Jerry Sullivan, 
John Allison, 
Samuel Pallock, 
William Henley, 
Benjamin Miller, 
Gholson Lane, 
Jesse Beck, 
G. W. Coker, 
Alfred Gibson, 
William Rice, 
John Hushaw, 
Joel Pennington, 
P. C. Tomberlin. 
A. J. Cockram, 
Nathan Hayes, 
Wesley Harlan. 
William B. Peak, 
David Later. 
.Teremiah Sullivan, 
Robert L. Dark, 
Morton Pringle, 
N. Edmondson, 
D. C. Riggs, 
William H. Pringle, 
Isaac McCowen, 
John Friend. 
A. Edmondson, 
James Jarvis, 
Roily Martin, 
Moses Haskins, 
John Caldwell, 
S. N. C. Pennington, 
Henry W. Foster, 
Thomas ' Richardson, 
Martin Miles, 
Robert Comer, 
Clem Riddick, 
John W. Lane, 
James McCurdy, 
Elam Chockley. 
Benjamin Chockley, 
Isom J. David. 
Thomas Toland, 
Randolph Hall, 
D. Sandridge, 
John P. Kinkade, 
Walter Scott, 
Bdmond Cave, 
James Walker, 
Nelson Campbell, 
T. W. Greenup, 
Alfred Ripitow, 
Jesse James, 
Elisha Dungan, 
William Beck, 
William Sullivan, 
James Gibson, 
Robert Smithers, 
Johnson Dower, 
Lewis Springer, 



Isaac Harris, 
John Huston, 
John L. Gordon, 
John Gilfrey. Sr.. 
John T. Gilfrey. 
C. A. Lawson, 
N. Montgomery. 
T. B. Maury, 
Merritt A. Russell, 
G. W. Smith. 
R. H. Broaddus, 
Joshua Conrad, 
Thomas Pickett, 
J. P. Head, 
Manva Perr.v, 
J. P. Updegraff. 
John Lowry. 
Andrew Lewis. 
T. M. Luster. 

B. F. Martin. 
N. McElrailh, 
W. H. Kvle, 
William S. Hail, 
William H. Phelps, 
William B. Godon. 
J. B. McCartney, 

C. W. Dallam, 
P. H. Walker. 
William L. Broaddus. 
Joseph Long, 

S. S. Whitmire, 
J. M. Martin, 
James Cannon, 
David Lawson, 
William H. Randolph, 
W. H. Kendrick, 
T. J. Beard. 
J. E. Wyne, 
Milton Sweeney, 
John L. .Vnderson, 
C. M. Duffee. 
Thomas Adcock. 
G. W. Watt. 
Henry Towls, 
Martin Read. 
John Wiley. 
Marshall Rogers, 
Wesley Freeland. 
R. M. Bonham. 
James Walker. 
Richard Rowley, 
Daniel R. Rail, 
Robert Cannon, 
S. C. Watson, 
John Harrow. 
J. O. C. Wilson. 
J. H. Updegraff. 
Charles Chandler. 
Robert H. Broaddus. 
R. F. Anderson. 
Gowan DeCamp. 
J. W. McDonald, 
O. C. Cannon, 
Charles Dunn, 
Daniel Sullivan, 
William Brvin. 
Thomas McElraith, 
James Anderson, 
Logan Kyle, 
J. C. Roberts, 
James B. Kyle. 
James Martin. 
Samuel McKamey. 
Abner Walker, 
Theodore Laughlin, 
Michael Martin, 
William F. McCandless, 
Joseph Bailey, 
Daniel Courtwright. 
W. Courtwright, 
R. .\. Brazelton, 
R. Garrett. 
John M. Sullivan, 
Adonijah Hung&le. 



CHAPTER XVL 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



M'DONOUGH county patriotism THE WIJJNEBAGO 

axd black hawk wabs — soldiee.? from 
m'doxough county who served during the 

LATTER — the WAR OF THE REBELLION — CAUSES 
WHICH LED UP TO THAT STRUGGLE — THE FALL OF 
FT. SUMTEK AND LINCOLN'S FIRST CALL FOR VOL- 
UNTEERS — PATRIOTIC RESPONSE OF m'dONOUGH 
COUNTY^ — MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS OF WHICH 
m'dONOUGH county VOLUNTEERS FORMED A PART 
— LIST OF OFFICERS AND PRIVATES WITH BATTLES 

IN WHICH THEY P.iRTICXPATED A REMINISCENCE 

OF THE SURREXBEB OF VICKSBURG — m'UO.VOUGH 
COUNTY "ROLL OF HONOR" — SOLDIERS' MONUMENT 
AND ITS DEDICATION MEXICAN AND SPANISH- 
AMERICAN WARS. 

The records of McDonough County have ever 
proven that, whenever men or means have been 
required for the defense of the State or nation, 
she has promptly come to the front. Including 
the Black Hawk War and the conflict with 
Spain, her citizens have bravely responded to 
the call to arms, and demonstrated on many 
a battle field that unyielding bravery which was 
the salvation of the Union and which has prov- 
en the rock of defense for the nation at large. 

The Black Hawk War. — The cause of this 
war with the famous Western Chief reaches 
beyond the Winnebago, or Sauk, War of 1827. 
Prior to that date even, the Indians upon the 
northern boundary of Illinois were not only 
engaged in hostilities with each other, but in 
1825 extended their T*arfare toward the white 
settlements. A combination was formed by 
the different tribes of Indians under Red Bird, 
a chief of the Sioux, to exterminate the white 
invaders above Rock River. The league com- 
menced operations by killing two white men 
near Prairie du Chien, Wis., in July, 1827, and 
near the close of the same month they attacked 
two keel-boats as they were returning from 
Fort Snelling, whither they had conveyed mill- 



/J 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



tary stores. Before the savages were repulsed 
they had killed two of the crew and wounded 
four others. 

Anticipating trouble, Governor Edwards had 
issued orders on the 14th of July, 1S27, to the 
commandants in General Hansen's brigade, lo- 
cated on the east side of the Illinois River, to 
detach one-fourth of their respective regiments, 
and hold them in readiness to meet any attack 
made by the Indians. On the same day he is- 
sued orders for the acceptance of 600 volun- 
teers. Under this call one company of cavalry 
and four companies of infantry were recruited 
and marched to Galena; but Red Bird and six 
of his principal chiefs had surrendered, and 
the campaign came to an end. 

While these troops were being recruited and 
proceeding to the scene of action, the settlers 
were not idle. A committee of safety had been 
formed, and, m accordance with the orders of 
Governor Edwards, the miners in the vicinity 
of Galena were enrolled in companies and 
equipped, temporary defenses also being erect- 
ed. This militia was placed under command 
of General Henry Dodge, and formed a force 
auxiliary to the 600 regulars under command of 
General Atkinson, U. S. A. These forces also 
proceeded against Red Bird and his warriors, 
but, as stated, before their services were re- 
quired, that chief, with six of his associates, 
had voluntarily surrendered; among the latter 
was the celebrated Black Hawk. (See "Black 
Hawk," pp. 48-49. Historical Encyclopedia part 
of this work, and "Black Hawk War," pp. 609- 
615 same.) 

The captive Indians were detained several 
months. Red Bird dying while a prisoner. 
Some of the savages were tried, convicted of 
murdering white citizens, and executed Decem- 
ber 26, 1S27. This was the end of the Winne- 
bago War, which was followed by the Black 
Hawk outbreak four years later. 

About this time (1829), as Governor Ed- 
wards states, the President issued his procla- 
mation according to law, and, in pursuance 
thereof, all the country above Rock River — 
the ancient seat of the Sauk nation — was sold 
to American families, and in the following 
year it was taken possession of by them. To 
avoid difficulty with the tribes, a treaty, con- 
firming previous ones, was made with the Sacs 
and Foxes, on the 15th of July, 1830, by the 
provisions of which they were to remove peace- 



ably from the Illinois Country. A portion of 
the Sacs, under their principal Chief, Keokuk, 
quietly retired across the Mississippi. The set- 
tlers who had purchased land at the mouth of 
Rock River made an arrangement with the In- 
dians who remained there, by which the latter 
were to cultivate their old fields under the pro- 
visions of the treaty empowering the Indians 
to remain so long as the lands remained the 
property of the Government — i. e., until they 
were sold to white proprietors. 

Black Hawk, however, a restless and uneasy 
spirit who had ceased to recognize Keokuk as 
chief, emphatically refused to remove from the 
lands, or to respect the rights to them claimed 
by white "squatters." He insisted that Keo- 
kuk had no right to make such a treaty, and, 
gathering around him a large number of the 
warriors and young men of the tribe who were 
anxious to distinguish themselves as braves, 
he determined to dispute with the whites the 
possession of the ancient seat of his nation. 
Having rallied around him the braves of the 
Sac and Fox nations, he recrossed the Missis- 
sippi River in the spring of 1832. 

Upon hearing of the invasion. Governor Rey- 
nolds hastily collected a body of 1,800 volun- 
teers and placed them under command of Brig- 
adier General Whiteside. The little army 
marched to the Mississippi and. having reduced 
to ashes the Indian village of Prophetstown, pro- 
ceeded several miles up the river to Dixon, 
there joining the regular forces under General 
Atkinson, which place thus became the tem- 
porary headquarters of the army of defense. 
Numerous skirmishes occurred, but none led 
up to a general engagement. Two companies 
of volunteers at Dixon, who were anxious for 
glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter the ene- 
my. Under command of Major Stillman, they 
advanced to a creek afterward named Still- 
man's Run. and while encamping there saw a 
party of Indians (mounted), at a distance of 
about a mile. Several of Stillman's men sprang 
upon their horses and charged the enemy, kill- 
ing two of the savages; but they, in turn, were 
fiercely attacked and completely routed by the 
main body of Indians under Black Hawk. By 
their rapid flight the little party of volunteers 
spread such a panic through the entire camp 
that the whole company ran oft to Dixon, re- 
turning to headquarters, in bands of four or 
five, during the whole night, each squad posi- 



HISTORY OF AlcDOXUUGH COUNTY. 



719 



tive that all those left behind had been mas- 
sacred. Although the expedition was the 
source of considerable merriment, roll call 
showed that eleven of the company had been 
killed, so that in reality the venture was pain- 
fully disastrous, and a monument has been 
erected by the State in commemoration of those 
who lost their lives at Stillman's Run. 

In June, 1832, Black Hawk, with a band of 
150 warriors, attacked the Apple River fort, 
near Galena, defended by twenty-five men. It 
was a mere palisade of logs, erected to afford 
rude protection to the miners. But knowing 
that no quarter would be given if they sur- 
rendered, the small band of defenders fought 
with fury and desperation for fifteen long 
hours, and shot to the death so many of the at- 
tacking party that the Indians were forced to 
retreat. 

Skirmishing and fighting were continued 
throughout the summer of 1S32, until at last 
the troops under Generals Atkinson and Henry 
joined forces, struck the main trail of Black 
Hawk's warriors and marched hastily toward 
the Mississippi. Not far from its banks they 
came up with the main body of Indians, who, 
seeing that a battle was inevitable, charged 
the troops, who received them with their bayo- 
nets. The enemy fought with desperate valor, 
but the volunteers returned the charge, cutting 
many of the Indians to pieces and driving the 
remainder Into the river. In the engagement, 
the Indians lost 300, besides fifty prisoners; 
the whites, seventeen killed and twelve 
wounded. 

Black Hawk and his companions were con- 
fined at Fortress Monroe, but on June 4, 1S33, 
by order of the President, they were freed and, 
under conduct of Major Garland, returned to 
Rock Island. Amid impressive ceremonies, 
they were then formally given their liberty. 
In all his visits to the whites Black Hawk was 
thereafter received with marked attention. He 
was usually present at the reunions of the 
old settlers and at other meetings, and was 
always treated as a brave and intelligent man. 
In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock 
Island, to receive his annuity from the govern- 
ment, he contracted a severe cold, which re- 
sulted in a fatal attack of bilious fever, ter- 
minating in his death, on the 3d of October, 
1838. At his decease Black Hawk was dressed 
in the uniform presented to him by the Presi- 



dent while in Washington. He was buried in 
a grave six feet in depth, upon an eminence 
overlooking the Des Moines River in Davis 
County, Iowa, the body being placed in a sitting 
posture upon a seat constructed for the pur- 
pose. On his left side the cane given him 
by Henry Clay was placed upright, with his 
right hand resting upon it. His remains were 
afterward stolen, but they were recovered by 
the Governor of Iowa and placed in the mu- 
seum of the Historical Society at Burlington, 
where they were finally destroyed by fire. 

In June, 1832, a battalion of men was raised 
in this and Warren Counties, under the call 
of the Governor dated the previous 20th of 
May. The command consisted of mounted 
rangers, and the organization was effected at 
Macomb, the Warren County men coming here 
for that purpose. Samuel Bogart. of McDon- 
ough County, was chosen Major, and Peter 
Butler, of Warren, First Lieutenant. They 
marched to the town of Oquawka, and were 
there stationed for the purpose of guarding 
the "frontier." They were out eighty-six days, 
but performed no special service. They drew 
their rations with laudable regularity, ate 
heartily, played euchre, and visited the friendly 
Indian camps on the opposite side of the river. 
At the expiration of their term, they returned 
to Macomb and received their discharge; but 
for years afterward they could be found in 
groups, swapping stories about the jokes they 
played on each other — laughing as heartily 
when the tun was against them as when with 
them — and generally discussing the good old 
times of the Black Hawk War. 

The following were among those from Mc- 
Donough County who served in the Black 
Hawk campaign, ready for whatever might 
come: Samuel Bogart, Major: John Wilson, 
Second Lieutenant; Abraham Dover and Asa 
Cook, Sergeants; Lewis F. Temple, Corporal; 
Moses Booth, J. M. Campbell, David Clarke, 
Jacob Coffman, Isaac Cranshaw, Thomas Car- 
ter, Andrew Calhoun, Uriah Cook, Daniel 
Campbell. Berry Jones, John Jones, Iraby Job, 
Larkin Osborn, John McFadden, Jeff Penning- 
ton, John L. Russell, William Sackett, William 
Southward. George Tetherow, James Tetherow, 
Orasmus Parrington, Nicholas Campbell, John 
Hardisty, Peter Hays, Nathaniel Hays. J. J. C. 
Head, Shadrach Goens, John Jackson, Lace 
Jones. Z. Kirkland, John Lathrop, Isaac Morris, 



720 



HISTORY OF iNIcDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



Solomon Osborne, S. P. Lewis, Langley, 

P. H. Smith, Sliannon, David Tetherow, 

William Tetherow, F. C. Tomberlin and Robert 
L. Dark. The men received eighty-six cents 
per day and horses, besides rations and forage, 
and subsequently each man also received a 
bounty of eighty acres of land. So tar as can 
be ascertained, all of the above list are dead. 

W.\B OF THE Rebellion. — The institution of 
slavery was always a source of trouble between 
the free and slave-holding States. The latter 
were always fearful that the former would en- 
croach upon their rights, and even In the 
State of Illinois, during the Coles administra- 
tion in 1822-24, the issue was fought to a conclu- 
sion with great zeal and many heated discus- 
sions. Governor Coles represented the Free 
State element, and the cause was chiefly won 
by him and his adherents. 

Compromise measures were adopted, from 
time to time, to settle the vexed question, but 
all proved futile. Threats of secession were 
often made by the slave-holding States, but 
when conciliatory measures were passed, no 
attempt was made to carry out such threats. 
Finally came the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
I)romise coupled with the adoption of the Kan- 
sas-Nebraska bill, opening certain territory to 
slavery, which, under the compromise of 1820, 
was to be forever free. At that time the Whig 
party was gradually passing away, and the 
great body of that organization, together with 
certain Democrats who were opposed to the 
Kansas-Nebraska Act, united (In May, 1856) to 
form the Republican party, which had for Its 
specific work the prevention of the further 
spread of slavery in the United States. The 
result of the battle, fought along these lines, 
was to elect a Republican Governor and other 
State officers in 1856, and Abraham Lincoln, 
President, in November, 1860. 

The Southern States at once prepared to 
carry out their threat of secession. Measures 
to that end were adopted by the State of South 
Carolina, in a convention held on the 20th of 
December, 1860, declaring "that the Union now 
existing between South Carolina and the other 
States of North America is dissolved, and that 
South Carolina has resumed her position among 
the nations of the earth, as a free, sovereign 
and independent State, with full power to levy 
war and conclude peace, contract alliances, es- 



tablish commerce, and do such other acts and_ 
things which independent States may of right 
do." On the 24th of December Governor Pick- 
ens issued his proclamation endorsing the same 
in due form, and two days later Major Ander- 
son evacuated Fort Moultrie and occupied Fort 
Sumter, for the reason that the walls of the 
former were only fourteen feet high and so 
situated that the guns of the enemy commanded 
the situation. His appeals for reinforcements 
were unheeded by President Buchanan, and en- 
tirely ignored by Secretary of War Floyd. 

Measures of grave import were now culmin- 
ating with rapid strides. On the 2Sth of Decem- 
ber, 1860. South Carolina occupied Fort Moul- 
trie and Castle Pinckney, and hoisted the pal- 
metto flag on the ramparts. On the following 
day Floyd resigned his seat in Buchanan's cab- 
inet, charging that the President, in refusing 
to remove Major Anderson from Charleston 
Harbor, designed to plunge the country into 
Civil War, and adding, "I cannot consent to be 
the agent of such a calamity." On the same 
day the South Carolina commissioners present- 
ed their official credentials at Washington, 
which, on the next day (December 30) were 
declined. 

In rapid succession other States followed the 
lead of South Carolina. On the 2d of January, 
1861, Georgia declared for secession, and took 
possession of me United States arsenal at Au- 
gusta and of Forts Pulaski and Jackson. On 
the 4th of the month, the Alabama and Mis- 
sissippi delegations in Congress telegraphed the 
conventions of their respective States to secede, 
telling them that there was no prospect of a 
satisfactoiy adjustment. On the 7th of Janu- 
ary, the conventions of Alabama, Mississippi 
and Tennessee met in secession conclave. 
Florida adopted an ordinance of secession Jan- 
uary 10th, Alabama on the 11th, Louisiana on 
the 25th and Georgia on the 19th. On the 9th 
of February. 1861, a provisional constitution 
was adopted by the Confederate States of 
America, at Montgomery, Ala., modeled on the 
basis of the constitution of the United States, 
with modifications designed to protect slavery. 
Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen 
President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of 
Georgia, Vice-President. 

Abraham Lincoln was duly inaugurated Pres- 
ident of the United States. March 4, 1861, the 
ceremonies, which were witnessed by a vast 





(^a^MjL^ 



HISTORY OF .AIcDOXOUGH COUXTY. 



721 



concourse of people, taking place on the east 
side of the capitol. Before taking the oath 
Mr. Lincoln read his inaugural address, which 
was enthusiastically received by the Unionists 
and the world at large. On Friday, April 12, 
ISCl, the surrender of Fort Sumter, with its 
garrison of sixty effective men, was demanded 
and refused by the gallant Major Robert An- 
derson. Fire was at once opened on the help- 
less defenders by the Confederate forces, num- 
bering several thousands, and two days later 
the formal surrender of the little band of 
Union forces was the inevitable result of their 
inadequate means of defence. The Civil War, 
with all its horrors, had now commenced be- 
yond recall. 

On Monday, April 15th, President Lincoln is- 
sued the following proclamation: 

"Whereas, The laws of the United States 
have been for some time past, and are now 
opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed 
in the States of South Carolina, Alabama, Flor- 
ida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, by com- 
binations too powerful to be suppressed by the 
ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by 
the power vested in the Marshals; 

"Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, Presi- 
dent of the iJnited States, by virtue of the 
power in me vested by the Constitution and 
laws, have thought to call forth, and hereby 
do call forth, the militia of the several States 
of the Union, to the number of seventy-five 
thousand men, in order to suppress said com- 
binations, and to cause the laws to be duly 
executed. 

"The details for this subject will be immedi- 
ately communicated to the State authorities 
through the War Department. I appeal to all 
loyal citizens to favor, facilitate and aid this 
effort to maintain the honor, the integrity and 
the existence of our National Union and the 
perpetuity of constitutional government, and to 
redress wrongs already long endured. I deem 
it proper to say that the first services assigned 
to the forces hereby called forth will probably 
be to repossess the forts, places and property 
which have been seized from the Union: and 
in every event the utmost care will be ob- 
served, consistent with the object aforesaid, to 
avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or 
interference with property, or any disturbance 
of peaceable citizens in any part of the coun- 
try; and I hereby command the persons com- 



posing the combinations aforesaid to disperse 
and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, 
within twenty days from this date. 

"Deeming that the present condition of pub- 
lic affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, 
I do hereby, in virtue of the power vested in 
me by the Constitution, convene both Houses 
of Congress; the Senators and Representatives 
are hereby summoned to assemble at their re- 
spective chambers at 12 o'clock, noon, on 
Thursday, the 4th day of July next, then and 
there to consider and determine such measures 
as, in their wisdom, the public safety and in 
terest may seem to demand. 

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my 
hand, and caused the seal of the United States 
to be affixed. 

"Done at the city of Washington, on the flf 
teenth day of April, in the year of our Lord 
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and 
of the independence of the United States the 
eighty-fifth. 

"By the President, AnR.\H.\ji Lixcolx. 

"WiLLi.^M H. Sew.ird, Secretary of State." 

When the firing upon Fort Sumter became 
known to the citizens of McDonough. the par- 
tisan feelings which had heretofore existed 
were swept away, and, in the language of the 
immortal Stephen A. Douglas, already quoted, 
"but two parties could exist — patriots and 
traitors." When the President issued his call 
for 75,000 men, McDonough County responded 
without delay, and when, a few days there- 
after, he sent out his call for 300,000 more, 
others were ready to go the front. Democrats 
and Republicans alike participated in the meet- 
ings held in various parts of the county, at 
which resolutions were adopted setting forth 
in strongest terms undying devotion to the 
Union. At Macomb, April 17, 1861, a large and 
enthusiastic meeting was held, and a commit- 
tee was appointed, consisting of Nelson Ab- 
bott, Charles Chandler. A. K. Lowry, W. E. 
Withrow, John Knappenberger and Carter Van 
Vleck, to prepare resolutions expressing the 
sense of the meeting. This committee, com- 
posed of three Democrats and three Republi- 
cans, presented the following, which were en- 
thusiastically adopted: 

"Whkrk.\.s. War against the Government of 
the United States has been commenced by the 
authorities of the so-called Confederate States, 
by assailing and reducing Fort Sumter, a fort- 



722 



HISTORY OF McDOXOL'GH COL'NTY. 



ress garrisoned and defended by United States 
soldiers, and under the sacred protection of 
the United States flag; and 

••WiiEiiEAS, Tlie President of the United States 
has issued his proclamation reciting that 'the 
laws of the United States have been, and are 
opposed in several States by combinations too 
powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary 
way,' and calling for volunteers to suppress 
said combinations and execute the laws; be it 

"Resolved, By ine citizens of McDonough 
County, without distinction of party, in mass 
meeting assembled, that it is the duty of all 
loyal and patriotic citizens, at whatever cost 
of blood and treasure, to support and sustain 
the constituted authorities of the United States 
in their lawful efforts to preserve the Union, 
maintain the integrity of the Constitution and 
the supremacy of all the laws, protect the 
Federal capital and sustain the honor of the 
national flag; 

"Resolved, That while we would be glad to see 
such legislation adopted by the Federal and 
State Governments as would, if possible, bring 
about an honorable reconciliation between the 
citizens of the several States, yet we deem it 
the duty of our Legislature about to assemble 
to pass such laws as will render the General 
Government speedy and efficient aid in all its 
lawful endeavors to carry out the objects in- 
dicated in the foregoing resolution. 

"Resolved. That the Stars and Stripes are 
the emblems of the country's liberties and hon- 
or, and, wheresoever floating, it is the duty of 
every American citizen to yield to that flag 
unconditional allegiance and undying devo- 
tion." 

At a public meeting held in Colchester, on 
the 19th of April, it was noted that, although 
its citizens were largely foreign-born, they 
were earnestly loyal to the flag and adopted 
the following: 

"Resolved, That we, the citizens of Colches- 
ter and vicinity, have no ill feeling toward any 
political party, and say, with the immortal 
Clay, that we know no North, no South, no 
East, no West — we know only the welfare of 
our country; 

"Resolved, That, in view of our present crisis, 
we pledge our support to the Administration 
for the purpose of sustaining the Government, 
the Constitution and the Union. In doing so, 
we show that we are not degenerate sons of 
•76." 



At Foster's Point, on the evening of the 27th 
of April, the citizens of that place and vicinity 
assembled and adopted the following: 

"Whereas, The Government of the United 
States has been assailed; the flag of our coun- 
try fired upon and dishonored; our country 
threatened with destruction; therefore 

"Resolved, That, without respect to party, we 
declare our undying devotion to the Union, 
the Constitution and the enforcement of the 
laws; 

"Resolved. That we know no government but 
our Government, no country but our country, 
and no flag but the Stars and Stripes of our 
honored sires." 

Similar meetings were held in every school 
house and in many of the churches, to give ex- 
pression to the universal sentiment of loyalty 
of the people throughout the county. The 
Flag, the Constitution and the Laws were. the 
watchwords of old and young, and well did 
they uphold their patriotic devotion by their 
deeds of endurance, heroism and bravery on 
many a weary march and bloody battle-field. 

Recruiting offices were at once opened in 
every township, village and city, and the drum 
and fife were abroad in the land. On the 20th 
of April, 1S61, 108 men formed a company, 
which was recruited by V. Y. Ralston, editor 
of the "Macomb Journal," and the work of re- 
cruiting in McDonough County never stopped 
until the final surrender of Lee. 

The tollowing names of troops enlisted in 
this county are taken from the Adjutant Gen- 
eral's report to the State Legislature: 

SECOND ARTILLKRY. 
Battery H. 



Sergeant— Jona.« Eckdall. 



Jellison, John. 
McCartney. John. 
Megan. Martin. 
Stewart. Charles, 
Whitten. James. 
Walter, Isadore. 



Privates — 
Clark. Peter. Sr.. 
Clark. Peter. Jr.. 
Rutishamer. Jacob, 
Smith. James. 
Waldrick. Patrick. 
Corporal. Newton, 

This battery was organized at Camp Butler, 
near Springfieid, 111., in December, 1861. by 
Captain Andrew Stenbeck. It was mustered 
into the service on December 31st, and on the 
1st of February moved to Cairo. Stationed 
first at Fort Holt, it subsequently took part in 
the siege of Fort Pillow, and was ordered suc- 
cessively to Columbus, Ky., and Henderson, 
Smithfield and Clarksville, Tenn. On the 1st 
of January, 1864, the command was mounted 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



7^1 



as cavalry, and participated in skirmislies at 
Canton and Rock Castle Ford, Ky., after which, 
until July 15, 1S65, it went into garrison at 
Clarksville. It was mustered out at Spring- 
field, 111., on the 29th of July, 1S65. Fourteen 
members of the battery were from McDon- 
ough County. 

Battery K. 

Harris. (_^olumbus, Fi?hbourne. Thomas. 

Battery K was organized and mustered in at 
Springfield, December 31, 1863, and mustered 
out July 14, 1865. 

SECOND CAVALRY. 
Company H. 

Captains— James D. Walker. Josephus B. Venard. 
Lieutenant— George \V. Naylor. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant- Charles H. Rogers. 
Sergeant— William Venable. 

Corporals— Gabriel Jones. Oliver Williams, 
Thomas Hays. John Shipman. John Venard. 
Buglers— William H. Hudson. Frank R. Kyle. 
Saddler— James Ellis. 



Privates — 
Austin. James. 
Brown. William. 
Halliday. Thomas L.. 
Davis. George, 
Hanson. Nels, 
Ingram, Riley, 
Johnston. Henry. 
Kinkade. Mack. 
Freeland. Charle.s. 
Huff. James E., 
Jewett, A. v., 
Keithley, Andrew. 
Beck, James E.. 
Bentlv. George R.. 
Tift. Semer B., 
Bartleson. Charles. 
Chase. James P.. 
Calvin. Henry C. 
Hamilton, Thomas. 
Hogan, Augustus, 
Jacobs. Mark F.. 
Kohule. John. 
Limberge. Henry, 
Edward. Edmonds. 
Jackson. Edwin. 
Kinkade. John H.. 
Yaple. Oscar. 
Beck. Jesse. 
Butcher. Bowman R.. 
Tift. Silas J.. 
Venard. George G.. 
AVright. Hiram B.. 
Chapman. Amos. 
Lightfoot, Armsted. 
Morgan. James G.. 
Munson. William F.. 
McClure. James, 
Markham, Daniel. 
Norwood. Douglas. 



Payton. John. 
Rickets. Green. 
Shannon. John. 
Walker. Samuel P.. 
Warren. Edward F., 
Curtis, Edward E., 
Cockerham. Daniel, 
Dunham, George, 
Butcher. Preston. 
Cockerham. William. 
Lee. George W.. 
Michaels. William F.. 
Pace, Andrew J.. 
Rouse, Levi H.. 
Markham. Archey, 
Wagle, William A.. 
Webb. Silas H.. 
Dickens. Joshua. 
Scott, Thomas, 
McMahon. Thad. C. 
Metts. John H., 
Martin. Charlie E., 
Markham. Henry L.. 
Oertel. Jacob. 
Rickets. Rival. 
Sieberling. Henrv M.. 
Tyson. Charles F.. 
Welkin. Ohio. 
Wright. Thomas, 
(^.■'lugston. Warren. 
Dark. Samuel \.. 
Butcher. John M.. 
Ballou. Charles. 
Knowles, Robertson B.. 
Markham. Aaron. 
Morgan, Isaac L.. 
Rickets. Pleasant G.. 
Sullivan. John. 
Markham. Daniel. 
Schultz. John H. 



This company was organized at Macomb, 
111., by Dr. J. D. Walker, and accepted by the 
Governor July 24, 1861. Going into quarters 
at Camp Butler, near Springfield, it was mus- 
tered into the service August 12th, and re- 
mained in camp until the 12th of November, 
1861, when it was ordered to Paducah, Ky., 



where it was partly armed and equipped. From 
this point the company made several important 
reconnoisances into the interior of the State. 
On March 11, 1862, it was ordered to Colum- 
bus. Ky.. being a portion of the force which 
first entered the rebel stronghold, and there 
remained until March 23d. On the 31st of 
that month the Second Cavalry was a portion 
of the force which captured Union City, re- 
turning to Hickman and remaining there until 
July 9, 1862. The company moved with its 
regiment to Union City, Crockett Station and 
Trenton, Tenn., and on July 27th scouted to- 
ward Brownsville, being for seventeen days 
continuously engaged in skirmishing with guer- 
rillas. It reached Bolivar on the 29th of Au- 
gust, and went immediately into the action 
which proved fatal to Lieutenant-Colonel Hogg. 
On November 5, 1862, it was ordered to La- 
grange, Tenn., and while making reconnois- 
sance in the vicinity of Lamar, brought on an 
engagement, drove the enemy from the field 
and captured eighty prisoners. On November 
28th the regiment advanced and passed through 
Holly Springs and Abbeville, returning to the 
former point December 2d, when it went into 
camp. They were attacked by the Confeder- 
ate General Van Dorn on the 20th of that 
month, and, after two hours of hard fighting, 
were overwhelmed by numbers and driven 
from their position, losing 160 men, killed, 
wounded and missing. The command was or- 
dered successively to Memphis and Young's 
Point, within the following two months, and 
on March 14th to Milliken's Bend, where it re- 
mained until the commencement of the move- 
ment of Vicksburg, when it took the advance. 
The steps of the advance toward Vicksburg 
from Milliken's Bend were as follows: Rich- 
mond. La., March 31st; Smith's plantation, 
April 14th: thence crossed the bayous in flat- 
boats to Louisiana, April 28th; crossed the 
Mississippi River at Bruinsburg, May 1st, and 
arrived at Big Sandy on the 5th; May 16th ar- 
rived at the Black River, and the next day 
made the first reconnoissance in the rear of 
Vicksburg. The regiment scouted in the Yazoo 
Valley until June 9, 1863, and was then or- 
dered to the Big Black bridge, on the Vicks- 
burg and Jackson road, remaining there until 
July 5th, when it advanced on the latter place, 
skirmishing with the enemy for four days. 
After other minor movements it arrived at 



724 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY, 



Vicksburg July 28, 1863, and on August 5th 
was ordered down the Mississippi River to 
Natchez. In the vicinity of Morganza, La., it 
was engaged in continuous skirmishing for fif- 
teen days, and on the 29th of September the 
Confederates brought on a general engage- 
ment which resulted in the retirement of the 
Union forces. 

The Second Cavalry reported to General Lee 
at New Orleans, October 9, 1863, and, after be- 
ing successively ordered to Brashear City, 
Franklin, New Iberia and Vermilion, advanced 
along the Bayou Teche road and brought on 
an engagement with the enemy which resulted 
in slight losses. The regiment returned to 
Vermilion on November 1st, and on the 11th 
engaged the Confederates at Crow Bayou cross- 
ing, one of the men being killed and three 
wounded. On January 5, 1864, it was ordered 
to New Orleans to recuperate. 

Company H, of the Second Cavalry, was 
composed almost entirely of McDonough Coun- 
ty men, 91 being from this county. It was 
mustered out of the service on the 22d of 
November, 1865. Four of the force had been 
killed, four had died and four had been wound- 
ed. Many of the men who served in the 
company are still living, and in this and other 
counties, as members of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, hold regular annual meetings. The 
late Hon. Benjamin F. Marsh, who for many 
years represented this district in Congress, 
was Colonel of the regiment and proved a 
splendid soldier. 

SEVENTH CAVALRY. 
Company K. 



Nel.son. Enoch, 
Smith. Lewis M. 



Adams. Matthew, 
Jamieson. Lewis M.. 
Gustasson. Alexander, 

Company L. 

Captains— George M. Scott, Squire A. Epperson, 
Daniel M. Wilt. 

First-Lieutenants— James Price. " arren W . 

Porter. „,.. . 

Second-Lieutenants— Squire A. Epperson. Elijah 
F Martin, Daniel M. Wilt, Lewis Pickel. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant- Alexander W. Scott. 

Sergeants— Israel Markham. John R. Sperling. 
James W. Lancv, Eliab Martin. 

Corporals— Lester Husted. John T. Lancy. Alex- 
ander Lockard. Henry B. Parvin. George Stans- 
berry. 



Price, James, 
Wilt. Daniel M.. 
Wilson. James. 
Atkinson, Charles. 
Allison. Samuel, 
Burnett. Daniel D.. 
Campbell. John A.. 
Husted, Marion, 
Elliott. Jasper S.. 
Johnson. Nathaniel L.. 
Matthewson. Josiah C, 
McDermott, Patrick, 
Marlham. Hiram. 
McGinnis. John. 
McClure. Winslow. 
Pyle. Benjamin F., 
Scott, Seymour R., 
Wissler, Jonas, 
Wooley, Lewis B.. 



Wilson. James M., 
Adcock. Joseph, 
Adcock. George L., 
Brown. "William B.. 
Boughner, Christian, 
Epperson. John L.. 
Eveland. Charles B., 
Henry, Lorenzo D., 
Jones, Thomas G., 
Mitchell, Levi. 
Markham. Frank. 
Markham. Harrison, 
Myers. James J.. 
Park. William B.. 
Schall, John L., 
Thompson. Henrv, 
Willis, William H., 
White. William J. 



Privates- 
Dewey. George L. 
Hammer, John, 
Honwood. Josephus. 
Lair. Daniel. 
Meyers. Christian. 



Francis, Henry H.. 
Harris. Alexander, 
Lambert. David. 
Long, Henry. 
Mvers. Frederick. 
Schall. Samuel S.. 



This regiment was organized during the 
summer of 1861, with William Pitt Kellogg 
as Colonel; Edward Prince, Lieutenant-Colonel; 
Cyrus Hall, Major, and Sidney Stockdale, Ad- 
jutant. Captain George M. Scott organized 
Company L, at Bushnell, in August, 1861, and 
it was mustered into the service September 3d. 
The regiment remained at Camp Butler until 
December, when it was removed to Cairo and 
thence to Bird's Point, Mo. It continued at 
the latter point until March 5, 1862, and was 
engaged in the capture of New Madrid, Island 
No. 10 and Corinth. The command guarded 
the Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Ala- 
bama until September 9, 1862, and afterward 
participated in the following engagements; 
luka, in September; Burnsville, September 
19th; Corinth, October 3d and 4th; Hudson 
Lane, in November; Oxford, December 1st; 
Yancona Creek, December 3d; Water Valley, 
December 4th; Coffeeville. December 5th; Cov- 
ington, Tenn., March 8, 1863; Union Church, in 
April of that year; Plain Store, La., May 25th; 
Clinton, July 3d; Quinn's Mills. Miss., August 
1st; Salem, September 9th; Collierville, Tenn., 
September 11th; Byhalia, Miss.. September 
12th; Wyallsford, September 13th; Moscow, Oc- 
tober 12th; Espanola, Tenn., December 24th; 
Summerville, December 26th; West Point, 
Miss., February 20, 1864; Okalona, February 
23d; Pontiac, February 24th; Guntown, June 
10th; Memphis, Tenn., July 21st; Shoal Creek, 
Lawrenceburg, November 21st; Campbellsville, 
November 24th; Franklin, in November; Nash- 
ville, December 17th; Rutherford Creek, De- 
cember 19th; Anthony Hill, December 25th. 
The above gives an idea of how continuously 
the regiment was on the fighting line. It also 
sustained with soldierly fortitude the weary 
marches of the celebrated Grierson raid, and 





[^ 




t^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



725 



participated in the siege and capture of Port 
Hudson. La., in June and July, 1S63. 

On February 9, 1S64, a portion of Company 
L re-enlisted under Captain Daniel Wilt and 
Lieutenants James Rice and Lewis Pickel. 
From McDonough county came 59 members 
of the company, which was finally mustered 
out at Nashville, Tenn., on the 4th of No- 
vember, 1S65, having achieved a record which 
reflected lasting credit upon the county. 

EIGHTH CAVALRY. 



Company G. 



Danley, William L., 
Edmon.ston, James C. 
Luther, James, 
O'Brien, James, 



Delaney. Dennis, 
Luton, Samuel, 
Lear, John W.. 
Woolary. George. 



ELEVENTH CAVAI-RY. 
Company I. 

Captains— Harvey T. Gregg. William R. Hayes. 

First-Lieutenant — Joseph Edell. 

Second-Lieutenants— John H. Hays, Henry C. 
Fuller. 

Sergeants— John H. Hays, Martin V. Owen. 

Corporals— Theophilus Spiellman, Robert S. 
Brooking, Adam S. Zimmerman. 



Privates — 
Butterfield, C. W.. 
Calkins, George W., 
Davidson, Henry C, 
Edell. Joseph, 
Freeland. Fleming F.. 
Graves. William C. 
Hays, Levi S., 
Hume. Robert W.. 
Kirkpatrick. William B., 
McKinney. Ephraim. 
Mayhugh. McCullum, 
Pennington, Thomas. 
Schenck. Phillip. 
Webster. Francis B.. 
Bushnell. Homer. 
Bailev. William S.. 
Butler, Harry R.. 
Cunningham. William. 
Davis. Reuben A.. 
Duncan. Elias, 
Foster, William H., 
Grove, Benjamin F. . 
Hays, George W., 
Jackson, Henry D., 
TjUthey, Francis A., 
Mitchell. Marcellus, 
Millington, German, 
Pennington. F. M.. 
Pennington. William R.. 
Snyder. Henr>'. 
Wyman. J. Alex., 
Williams, Reuben, 



Camp. Edward S., 
Cox. R. S.. 
Dimcan, Elijah, 
Friend. Thomas J., 
Gates, George C 
Gove. Charles, 
Holler. Joseph, 
Keithley, Francis M., 
Lowe, Austin, 
Metcalf. William E., 
McQueen, Arlow. 
Pennington. Allen, 
Spirva. F. M., 
Wetson, Benjamin F., 
Baughman. James K. ] 
Butler, Ozias, 
Courson. Andrew, 
Coe. Edward D.. 
Durham. William A., 
Edell, Louis. 
Farris, William C, 
Grigsby. Redmond, 
Hainline, Nathan G., 
Jackson. John, 
Lillard. Augustus, 
Moore. William W., 
McQueen. Norman, 
Pennington, S. M., 
Pennington, John L., 
Titus. John M., 
^\'illard. Reiley. 
York, Francis. 



Company G. 



Pixley. Enoch. 



Company K. 



Botkins, Ira B., 
Hefley, William, 
Johnson. Sylvanus B., 
Morse. William H., 
Schultz. David A., 
Sweegle, John, 



Harvemail. Mont. H., 
Johnson, Edwin W.. 
Little, Henrv C, 
Ratikin, Silas E., 
Sweegle, Robert, 
Vandall, Charles W. 



Company L. 
Gleason, William H., Martin. George. 

Company M. 
Captain— John A. Gray. 

TWELFTH CAVALRY^ 
Company D. 
Sergeant— Danford Taylor. 



Privates — 
Arter, William, 
Doran. William, 
Whitsel, Henry, 
Murphy, C. R.. 



Blazer. David, 
Loftis, Benjamin, 
Bryle, Charles R., 
Miller, Frank. 



Company L. 



.\lden. John H., 
Fonts, John C, 
Hinesman, John C. 
Lipsey, James B., 
Morgan, George \V., 
Nicolas, George W., 
Sapp, Calvin A.. 
Tanner, William. 
Thompson. John S., 



Foster. James, 
Giles. Daniel F.. 
Hughson. Jacob D., 
Martin, Norton D., 
Montrose, Charles, 
Robb, Francis C, 
Schultz, Josiah M., 
Tainter, David N., 
^^'entzel, Abram. 



Company M. 



Brassfield, James, 
Mitchell, Theodore, 



David, John F., 
Toland, James B. 



SIXTEENTH CAVALRY. 

Company L. 

Commissary-Sergeant — James C. Canfield. 
Corporal — Joseph Markham. 



Privates — 
Abel. Thomas, 
Fultz, Frederick, 
Bellew, Henry H., 



Beard, James. 
Beardsley, Bartemus. 
Cochran. Mahlon B.. 
Howard. Joseph T. 



TWELFTH INFANTRY^ 



Company A. 



Cochran, Alexander, 
Jones, George W., 



Godfrey, Samuel, 
Stark, William, 
Naylor, William B. 



SIXTEENTH INFANTRY. 

Lieutenant-Colonels— Samuel Wilson. James .\. 
Chapman. 

Quartermaster— Thomas J. Coulter. 
Hospital Steward— Patrick H. Delaney. 
Musician— Enoch Welker. 

Company A. 

Captains— Virgil Y. Ralston, Eben White, Ben- 
jamin F. Pinkley, Ambrose Updegraff. 

First-Lieutenants— Benjamin F. Pinkley, Henry 
W. Gash. John V. Mason. 

Second-Lieutenant— Hiram B. Bartholomew. 

First-Sergeant— Henry W. Gash. 

Sergeants— Clark, C. Morse, John E. Lane, 
Charles L. Sanders. 

Corporals — Joseph M. Gaston, William H. Bon- 
ham. John C. Bell. James L. Hainline. Marsh B, 
Burr. John V. Mason, William Morrison. William 
F. Bayne. , 

Musicians— Enoch W^elker, Samuel P. Danley. 



Privates — 
Adams, Edward A., 
Brandon, Calvin K., 



Allison, Joshua. 
Ball. James F., 
Chapman, Thomas E., 



726 



HISTORY OF ^[cDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



Brooks, Harrison, 
Clarke. Benjamin P., 
Delaney. Patrick H.. 
Fislibourne, Tliomas M. 
Franklin, William J.. 
Graham. John M.. 
Gash, George B., 
Hainline, George L., 
Hampton. Van C, 
Han. Henrs-. 
Head. William H.. 
Henderson. Edward F., 
Hook, Charles, 
Kelley, Edwin D.. 
King. William F.. 
Logan. William. 
Lane. Cyrus. 
Morrison. Robert. 
McCartney. John ivL, 
McCurd>-. Martin, 
Price, Miles, 
Rutherford, Robert A., 
Shannon, Aaron, 
Speake, Richard H., 
Spencer. Benjamin F.. 
Stainbrook. James H., 
Simmons. Fletcher C. 
Taylor, Thomas B,, 
Thomas, Lloyd, Jr., 
Thompson, Ellis, 
Walters, Charles, 
Wood, Wesley W.. 
White, Eben, 
Campbell, John T.. 
Ellis, Alvin C. 
Hastings, George F., 
Hainline, Nathan T., 
Kendrick, James W.. 
McDonough. John W., 
Ragon. William M., 
Lane, William, 

Com 



Doran, William M.. 
Ervin. James, 
Forrest, James M.. 
Gordon. Harrison. 
Grooms. Nathaniel C. 
Hainline. Baxter. 
Hainline. William H., 
Hampton. Harrison H.. 
Hayden, John. 
Hendrickson. James F., 
Hicks, William, 
Hurley, Edward, 
Kendrick, NalliMuiel H., 
Lea, Archibald T., 
Loucks, Wellington, 
Mattison. D. W., 
Montague, Charles, 
Merrick, Charles W., 
Oyerstreet. "William H., 
Prentice, William H.. 
Sacket. Charles. 
Slocum. George. 
Spear, James T.. 
Sperry, Orren, 
Strenge, George, 
Shrader, John B., 
Taylor. Albert. 
Thomas. Abel. 
Updegraft. Ambrose. 
Wheeler. George. 
William. Benjamin F.. 
Crowl, John H.. 
Clark, Richard J.. 
Fox Hugh. 
Hamilton, George A., 
Kelley, William, 
Keho, Miles, 
Phillips, Charles A., 
Smith, Charles W., 
Thomas, Winfield S. 

pany B. 



Captain— David P. Wells. 

First-Lieutenants — William L. Broaddus. George 
W. Ray. 

Second-Lieutenants — Abram Rowe, James A. 
Chapman, Benjamin Lowe. E. K. Westfield. George 
W. McAllister, Gilbert W. Parvin. 
First-Sergeant— Elnathan K. Westtall. 

Sergeants— Henry Bailey, William S. Hendricks, 
^^'illiam H. Campbell. 

Corporals — Henry W. McAllister. Alexander D. 
Hail. James M. Eyre. James A. Chapman, William 
H. Walker, William Powers. 

Wagoner — Samuel Manholland. 



Privates — 
Allerd. Jeremiah, 
Buchanan, Robert A., 
Dillon, James T., 
Gill. John. 

Hammer. William B., 
Jones, Perry C. 
Keener. Henry H.. 
Layton. Henry C. 
McGraw, Thomas F.. 
Pile. William S.. 
Parvin, Gilbert T., 
Ritchley. Simon, 
Slater, Isaac O., 
Starr, Oscar P., 
Strickler, Robert P.. 
Truitt. Lafayette. 
Walker, William P., 
Wovely, John, 
Yoctim. Syh'ester. 
Dillion. Andrew J.. 
My rick. Mycon N., 
Jones. I. N.. 

Comp; 



Bates. Edward, 
Brink, Thomas. 
Farrier. Charles I., 
Hogue, George P.. 
Jellison. James. 
Kipling, Thomas, 
Lowe, Benjamin, 
Miller, William N., 
McCampbell, James L, 
Parr, James, 
Rugh, Joseph, 
Rav, George Vk'.. 
Smith, John W., 
Smithers, Joseph, 
Thompson, Julius G.. 
Tordv. James A.. 
Wolf, John W.. 
^Vetherhold. George. 
Campbell. Alex. B., 
Green, William C. 
Nebergall, A. J. C. S. 
Toland, Isaac. 

any C. 



First Sergeant— Ebenezer Rhodes. 

Sergeants— Sylvester C. Gilbert. Andrew J. Dun- 
can. James Donaldson. Pelatiah Wilson. 

Corporals— James M. Johnson. Edward Wilson. 
Don. C. Salisbury. John P. Humbert. Richard Bet- 
son. Richard Hobert, William Wilson. 

Fifer— William S. Johnson. 

Wagoner— Isaac Allshire. 



Privates— 
Barnett, James, 
Dalton, James, 
Hendricks, Benjamin, 
Lane. Wilson, 
McGrew, George W.. 
Smithwait. John. 
Taylor. John. 
Tones, Walker, 
Turner, Henry, 
Young, Robert, 
Brundage, Daniel. 
Hobart, Lewis, 
Niitall. "William, 



Barnett, Edward, 
Fritz, Charles S.. 
Johnson. Alexander M.. 
Leary, Patrick J., 
Newland, Frederick, 
Thorp, James, 
Taylor, Richard, 
Tuttle, Charles G., 
Watts, Hiram, 
Barrett. Samuel D.. 
Bagbie, Thomas, 
Lane, William B., 
Scott. John. 
Slater, Thomas. 



Carter. Smith W. 



Cannon. William. 
Lester, Cyrus, 
Burson, Jesse A., 
Pontious, David, 



Freeland, Snyder, 



Company D. 

Webster, Eleazur. 

Company G. 

Currier, Elon, 
Wyatt, Samuel, 
Newell, Jacob. 
Steel. William, 
Swartz, Benjamin. 

Company I. 

Runkle. Joseph. 
Company K. 



Corey, Silas G., 
Johnson, Thomas J.. 
Tipton, James, 
■\'anSlake, Daniel, 



Cooper, John M., 
Rigne>", John H.. 
Conley, John. 
Maxwell, John C, 
Veal, John S. 



Captains— Abram Rowe, George W. Patrick. 
First-Lieutenants — Edwin Moore. James Donald- 
son. Pelatiah Wilson. 

Second-Lieutenant — Edwin Moore. 



The Sixteenth Illinois Infantry was organized 
at Quincy under the Ten-Regiment call on 
the 24th of May, 1S61, and mustered into the 
service of the United States on the 12th of 
the following June. The first officers were 
Colonel Robert P. Smith, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Samuel Wilson, Major Samuel M. Hayes, Adju- 
tant Charles D. Kerr, Quartermaster Thomas 
J. Colter and Surgeon Louis "Watson. The reg- 
iment was at once moved to Grand River, Mo., 
and employed as a guard along the line of the 
Hannibal & St. .Ice Railroad. On July 10th one 
detachment, under Colonel Smith, sustained an 
attack of 1,600 mounted Confederates at Mon- 
roe Station, and held their position until re- 
inforcements arrived. Upon the retirement 
of the enemy, July 16th, there was another skir- 
mish at Caldwell's Station, in which the loss 
to the regiment was two men killed and two 
wounded. On the 20th of August the com- 
mand united with the troops under General 
Stephen A. Hurlbut, In pursuit of a column 
under General Green to Honeywell, Mo,, ar- 
riving there on September 1st. The regiment 



HISTORY OF .McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



/^/ 



remained at that point until the 10th, when 
it was ordered to St. Joseph, and thence to 
Piatt City, wnere, with the Third Iowa, it 
had a brisk skirmish with the enemy. Re- 
turning to St. Joe, the men went into camp 
and drilled until January 27, 1862. At New 
Madrid, March 3d, it was assigned to the Sec- 
ond Brigade. First Division, Army of the Mis- 
sissippi. About a week afterward, with the 
Tenth Illinois, the troops were engaged in 
throwing up a line of earthworks for the 
mounting of four pieces of heavy ordnance, 
and in the conflict of March 13th supported the 
battery of siege guns. 

On April 7, 1862, the brigade, composed of 
the Tenth and Sixteenth Illinois Regiments, 
was taken across the Mississippi River and 
followed the retreating enemy from New Mad- 
rid to Tiptonville, Tenn., where it captured 
five thousand prisoners and a large quantity 
of artillery, small arms and ammunition. Re- 
turning to New Madrid on the 9th, the 17th of 
the month saw the regiment embarked at Os- 
ceola. Ark., to take part in the operations 
against Corinth. After the evacuation of that 
place it pursued the enemy as far as Boone- 
ville, and June 12th encamped at Big Springs. 
On the 20th a movement was made to Tus- 
cumbla, Ala., and on the 29th the Tennessee 
was crossed at Florence en route to Nashville. 
There the regiment arrived, after seventeen 
days of continuous marching and guerrilla 
fighting, losing one man killed and five wound- 
ed. It was now placed in garrison at Edge- 
field. Tenn., to guard the railroad bridge, which 
was a point of great importance, as its 
safekeeping depended open communication for 
the army supplies. The noted Confederate Gen- 
eral Morgan attacked the position on the 5th 
of November, but was repulsed with heavy 
loss. 

The Sixteenth Illinois, now under the com- 
mand of Colonel James B. Cahill, participated 
in all the movements and engagements that 
preceded the siege and fall of Atlanta, honor- 
ably acquitting itself at Buzzard's Roost, Snake 
Creek Gap, Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw Mountain 
and Peach Tree Creek. At the Jonesboro en- 
gagement of September 7, 1864, the regiment 
was on the fighting line and did its full share 
in repulsing the enemy. It marched with 
Sherman to the sea, and at the capture of Sa- 
vannah was one of the first two regiments 



to enter the city. On the march northward it 
participated in the battle of Bentonville, where 
the loss to the Sixteenth was heavier than at 
any other engagement during the war. The 
triumphant march was then through North 
Carolina and on to Washington, where the vet- 
erans took part in the ever-to-be-remembered 
review before the President and Generals of 
the Army. 

The regiment was mustered out of the serv- 
ice at Louisville, Ky., on the 8th of July, 1865, 
and two days afterward arrived at Camp But- 
ler, 111., where the men were paid off and 
honorably discharged. The Sixteenth was 
composed principally of men from McDonough, 
Hancock, Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Henderson 
and Pike Counties. Many of the boys of 1861-65 
are still living in Macomb and vicinity, and, 
when opportunity offers, fight their battles 
over again at their annua! campfires and other 
gatherings. 

SEVENTEENTH INF.\NTRV. 
Company C. 



Privates- 
Douglas, Royal. 
Murrv. William. 
Still, K. D., 



Hendryx. William. 
Sanford, Sylvester. 
Demits, Ernest. 



EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY. 



Company F. 



Corporal— George P. Norton. 
Mu.sician— Edward P. Vail. 



Privates— 
McClure, James P.. 



Waggle, Jasper S. 
Company I. 



Corporals— William L. Brooks. James N. Tedron. 

Privates — Ellis. Isaac \\'.. 

Daniels, Daniel L.. Hubbard. William. 

Ervin. James D.. Johnson. George M.. 

Hall. Edward. Snyder. Alvin A.. 

Messick. David H.. Woods. William H. 
Tedron, M.. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. 

I^ieutenant-Colonel— Louis H. Waters. 

Quartermasters— Hugh Ervin, Arthur G. Burr. 
Richard Lawrence. 

Surgeon— John Kemper. 

Sergeant-Major— Charles E. Waters. 

Hospital Stewards— Rotiert R. C. Danley. Albert 
G. Sullivan. 

Company D. 

Captain— Gladden L. Farwell. 

First-Lieutenant— John B. Pearson. 

Second-Lieutenants— Charles Conover, Daniel K. 
Miller. Andrew W. McGoughy, Henry H. Hen- 
derson. 

Sergeant— Robert Pearson. 

Corporals— Ezra V. Sayer. Joseph Gill. Joseph T. 
Walker. Solomon Foster, Elijah Patrick. 

Musician— Robert R. C. Danley. 



728 



HISTORY OF McDOXOL'GH COIXTY. 



Privates — 
Anderson. John E., 
Blackford. Isaac. 
Bloss, William. 
Brant. Abraham. 
Courtright. Van H., 
Dawson. Richard, 
Freeland. N. B., 
Faulkner. Thomas. 
Gordon. John. 
Hobart. Edwin L., 
Hillyer. Isaac C. 
Hoyt. Lucien, 
Long. Albert. 
Matheny. William H.. 
Metts. Clinton. 
McGee, Samuel R.. 
Penrose. Henrv W., 
Russell, J. T.. 
Simmons. Rowen L.. 
Shepherd. S. R.. 
Spencer. Richard, 
Teas. George H., 
Welch, Azro B., 
Wayland, E. Q. A., 
Welch. Sylvester B., 
Gordon, James A., 
Kearns, Marion, 



Broaddus, Edward L., 
Jellison, Zimri, 
Gorman, William, 
Freeland, Francis, 
Freeth. Georgq W., 
Gill. Josiah. 
Hardesty. William. 
Hillyer. Lambert, 
Hawk. Samuel. 
Keller. William. 
Laughlin. John W., 
Menzies, Walter, 
Milligan, Albert, 
Nichrils, Seymour, 
Pierce. Frank. 
Smithers. Thomas J.. 
Sharp. Samuel. 
Penrose. John F.. 
Smith. John, 
Twitchell. William, 
Welch, James M.. 
Warren. Francis L.. 
Carter. .Tames L., 
Heath, E. A., 
Plotts, Joseph C, 
Gordon, Benjamin F.. 
Keller, Joseph. 



Companies A and B (Drafted). 



Company G. 



Privates — 
Patrick. John R., 
Steward. John A., 



Brothers. Albert, 
Taylor, Henry L. 



Company K. 

First-Sergeant— Ellis S. Stokes. 
Corporals— Thomas W. Blackston. Joseph A. 
Thornburg. 



Privates — 
Barker. James. 
Edmunson. William D., 
Nichols. Alvinus W., 
Scott. Theodore H.. 



Davis. James R.. 
Nergeman. Henry, 
Phillips, Martin, 
White, Marcus. 
Young, Ralph J. 



The Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry was or- 
ganized at Camp Butler, near Springfield, in 
August. 1861, with Louis H. Waters as Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel: Charles J. Sellen Major; J. B. T. 
Mead, Adjutant, and Hugh Erwin. Quarter- 
master. After moving to Thebes, 111., and 
Bird's Point, Mo., on October 2d it proceeded 
to Fort Holt, Ky., where it was incorporated 
into the brigade of Colonel John Cook, but 
January 31, 1862. at Paducah, Ky., was as- 
signed to General Lew Wallace's brigade. It 
moved up the Tennessee River, with the other 
troops, and participated in the capture of Forts 
Henry and Hinman. On February 13th a de- 
tachment of forty-eight men and twelve offi- 
cers, under Colonel Johnson, met 500 Confed- 
erates at Little Bethel and routed them. Mov- 
ing toward Pittsburg Landing, March 6th. it 
arrived on the scene of the siege on the 17th. 
On the morning of April 6th it was called into 
line and marched half a mile to the front, 
where it met the enemy driving General Pren- 



tiss. The position assigned the Twenty-eighth 
was on the left of the line, in the Peach Or- 
chard, and there an immediate attack of the 
enemy was repulsed, and the position held from 
8 o'clock a. m. until 3 o'clock p. m., when, un- 
der orders from the division commander. Gen- 
eral S. A. Hurlbut, the regiment retired. On 
the morning of the 7th the regiment held a 
position on the right of the line, and was hotly 
engaged until the battle closed and the vic- 
tory won. sustaining a loss of 239 killed and 
wounded. 

At the first meeting of the Board of Super- 
visors of McDonough County, held after the gal- 
lantry of the Twenty-eighth at Pittsburg Land- 
ing (or Shiloh) became known, Hon, James M. 
Campbell introduced the following resolution, 
which was unanimously and enthusiastically 
adopted: 

"Resolved, That James M. Wallin, Esq., the 
Chairman of this Board, be requested to pro- 
cure and present to Captain G. L. Farwell, for 
his Company D, Twenty-eighth Regiment Illi- 
nois Volunteers, a national flag, as a token of 
merit and distinguished patriotism, in the bat- 
tle of Shiloh, on the 6th and 7th of April 
last, on behalf of McDonough County, Illinois." 

In May, 1862, the regiment was engaged at 
the siege of Corinth, and thence marched to 
Memphis, via Grand Junction, Lagrange, Holly 
Springs, Moscow, Lafayette, Collierville and 
Germantown, reaching its destination July 21, 
1S64. From Memphis it moved to Bolivar and 
the Big Muddy River, and on the 5th of Octo- 
ber took part in the battle of Metamora, on 
the Hatchie River, where it suffered a loss 
of ninety-seven killed, wounded and missing. 
After various movements during the following 
two months, on December 30th it was assigned 
to the definite task of guarding the railroad 
from Holly Springs to Waterford, Miss. It 
was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg from 
June 11 to July 4, 1863, and from the latter 
date until March 15, 1866. the regiment was 
in active service throughout Louisiana. .\t 
the date mentioned, it was mustered out of 
the service. 

At the organization of the Twenty-eighth Illi- 
nois, the number of men enlisting was 761; 
recruits, 959; total, 1.620; 241 killed and died; 
2S4 wounded. Of the 89 from McDonough 
County, 9 were killed, 9 died and 15 were 



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THE NEW YORK 

PUBLIC LIBRAK' 

ASTOR, LENOX 

TILDE>i ]■( ' 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



729 



wounded, showing a record equal to any regi- 
ment in the field during the war. 



Privates — 
Wagoner. Jacob, 



Privates — 
McManigle. William R 



THIRTIETH INFANTRY. 
Company B. 

Wheeler, Benjamin F. 
FIFTIETH INFANTRY. 
Company D. 

Willis, John J. 
Company F. 



Privates — 
Clarke. Thaddeus S., 
Evans. William H., 
McManimie. W., 
Myers. Noah. 



.\therton. Finley B., 
Ewalt. Nicholas. 
McManimie. Marion A., 
Perkey, Daniel, 
Strode, Jesse B. 



FIFTY-FIFTH INFANTRY. 

Lieutenant-Colonel— Milton L. Haney. 
Major— G. F. Hand. 
Chaplain— M. L. Haney. 

Company F. 

-Joshua R. Benton, 



David 



First- Lieu ten ant 
Holmes. 

Second-Lieutenants— Joseph W. Parks, John B 
Johnson. 

First-Sergeant— James M. Shreeves. 
Sergeant— George Sanford. 

CorporaLs— George H. Rogers, David M. Cram 
baugh. Giles P. Hand. 

Musician — David J. Matheny. 



Privates — 
Brady, Archibald C, 
Benton. Joshua. 
Carnes, William H., 
Crowl. William A., 
Dewe.v. John C, 
Dunlap, LeGrand, 
Eads. John. 
Fowraker. George W., 
Fugate, Robert M.. 
Holmes. David N., 
Hensley. Samuel H., 
Hartsook. Joseph. 
Hutchins. George W., 
Inman. Jesse N., 
Jameson. Robert S., 
Long, Samuel. 
Lybarger. Milton C, 
Medaris. Joseph B., 
Medaris. John C, 
Miller. Jacob C, 
Moore. Albertson, 
Newkirk. George W., 
Putman. Joseph P.. 
Patterson. Robert S., 
Potinger. Samuel W., 
Rogers. Lewis B., 
Rickman. Moses B., 
Booth. William, 
Bane. George, 
Carries, Jf)hn, 
Crowl, George P.. 
Dewey. Edw-in. 
Davis. Lloyd P.. 
Ewing. Joseph B.. 
Foster. Channing B., 
Fleharty. John N.. 
Hartsook. Daniel, 
Hendricks. James, 



Hartman, .\aron V., 
Hoyt, Oliver J., 
Jones, Samuel, 
Johnson. John A., 
Long, George W., 
Mead. Alfred. 
Maxwell. William J.. 
Miller. George S.. 
McComb. Matthew, 
McDonald. James, 
Powers. John. 
Putman. John M.. 
Pennington. Jacob A., 
Pennell. George W., 
Reed. Amenzo. 
Sanford. Jacob. 
Sanford, Amos, 
Snapp. William. 
Swearingen. Bennett, 
Sperling, Theodore, 
Thompson. Thomas E,, 
AVetsel, Daniel W., 
Winget, Louis, 
Winters, Augustus, 
King, Lyman B., 
Osborn, John. 
Perdum. Dallas, 
Sanford. Bhenezer. 
Sperling. Lewis W.. 
Shannon. Alvin, 
Tatman. Edmond. 
Teithworth. Oliver P.. 
Wetsel. .-Vhaz B., 
Wycoff. Daniel L.. 
Wilson, J. O.. 
Miller. John W., 
Pattison. W. S.. 
Smith, Kellogg J.. 



Company G. 

Sergeants— Thomas R. Scott, 
Corporals— James B. Murphy, 
ley, Stephen R. Bell. 
8 



H. H. Weaver. 
William J. Bck- 



Privates — 
Ayres. M. L.. 
Briggs. W. A.. 
Caldwalader. M. A., 
Emery. J. R.. 
Eckley, George W., 
Eckley. James A., 
Gray. James W., 
Hogue, James B., 
Hiner, Joseph C. 
Lovelace. J. W., 
Mills, David M., 
Myers, John H., 
Smith. W. N.. 
Williams, Andrew. 
Moorey, Harvey C, 



Ball. Harrison. 
Baldwin. William G.. 
Coggswell. L. S., 
Ervin, E. P.. 
Earley. William L., 
Fitzsimmons. T., 
Gillespie. James W., 
Hogue. William P.. 
Jackson, George W., 
McKaig. R. B., 
McQueen, H. B., 
Oglesby, Joseph, 
Sexton. John. 
Drake. D. N., 
Hensley, Samue! P. 



Company H. 



Privates — 
Dowmen. John, 
Kennedy, John, 



Cox, Robert M. 



Ford, William. 
Merrick. John. 
Randolph. A\'illiam. 



Company K. 



The Fifty-fifth Regiment was organized 
at Camp Douglas, Chicago, October 31, 1861, 
and departed for the field on the 9th of No- 
vember. It was present at the siege of At- 
lanta, and at the battle of Jonesboro, August 
31, 1864, lost twenty-three men. It was mus- 
tered out of service August 14, 1865, having, 
during its terra, marched 3,374 miles. Mc- 
Donough County was represented by 125 men, 
of whom 3 were killed, 14 died and 17 were 
wounded. 

FIFTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY. 

Company I. 

First-Lieutenant — Martin Hoagland. 
Second-Lieutenants — William S. Hendricks, John 
T. Parvin. 



Privates- 
Anderson. Elijah E., 
Hanks. George. 
Pellv. David. 
Smith. Richard L.. 
Downey. James, 
Jacob. Benjamin F.. 



Brown, William P., 
McCord, William, 
Babbitt. Robert. 
Smith. Henrv. 
Head. Richard R.. 
McBride. Samuel S. 



FIFTY-NINTH INFANTRY. 
Company C. 

Captains— Brazillia M. Veatch. George R. Stire. 

First-Lieutenants — Norman Curtis. John H. 
Loop. 

Second-Lieutenants— Heslep Phillips. George R. 
Stire, Samuel Purdam. 

Orderly^Sergeant — Dennis L. Burford. 

Sergeants— Jefferson G. Eastwood. Joseph 
Holmes. Joseph H. Bayles. Henry R. Turpin. 

Corporals — William H. McElroy. William A. 
Blume. Norman Curtis, Samuel Purdam. George 
Iseminger, Heslep Philliiis. John W. Leager. 

Musicians — Charles Veatch. Alison G. Weir. 

Wagoner— Samuel S. Bennett. 



Privates — 
Alsop, William B., 
Barnum, Henry, 
Bell, George W^, 
Crants. George, 
Cumbal, Francis, 
Chusy, John, 



Loge, Nathan. 
Loftis. William. 
McGoram. Thomas, 
Murphy, James. 
McTiegh, Michael. 
Norman. George B., 
Gelson, William, 



730 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Purdam. Mesach, 
Painter, James H., 
Shanklin, John. 
Sullivan,, Joshua H., 
Trolock, Thomas. 
Tally, William, 
Jarvis, William H., 
Jamet. Charles, 
Loup, John H.. 
Lawyer, Thomas, 
Mourning, John M., 
Melvin. Thomas J., 
MuHen, Michael, 
Morris. Willard, 
Nelfon, Benjamin, 
Olive, Richard, 
Phiver. Louis, 
Spencer. Joseph, 
Stilson. Nicodemus, 
Sheets, James H., 
Torhouse. Henry, 
Purdam, Francis M., 



Dillon, James, 
Douffhton, Andrew, 
Gastwood, George W., 
Emeil, William H.. 
Gordon, Charles W., 
Gauf. Samuel T., 
Hoyt, Joel, 
Asendorf. Henry, 
Brinay, Chriest. 
Beals, Jesse W.. 
Chung, Jackson W., 
Cochran. James, 
Chute. Abraham G., 
Dobbs. Henry, 
Dorsey, William M., 
Eilenge. James M., 
Erens. William, 
Green, Washington. 
Gallagher. Thomas, 
Herr. George W., 
Jacob. Samuel J., 
Jarvis, Gilbert, 
Loflam. Eugene, 

This regiment was mustered into the serv- 
ice in August, 1861, and was incorporated into 
the Ninth Missouri, being composed entirely 
of Illinois companies. On February 12, 1862, 
by order of the War Department, its name was 
changed to the Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry. 
It participated in all the engagements in the 
States of Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana and 
Georgia, being present at the terrible battle 
of Franklin and in the first line of the as- 
saulting column before Nashville. It was mus- 
tered out on December 8, 1865. In Company C 
there were seventy-nine men from this county, 
of whom seven were killed, seven died and 
seven were wounded. 

SIXTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 
Company H. 



Private — 
Belleville, Jacob N. 

Unassigned Recruits 
Dixon, John, 

Company I. 



Corporal— Jacob Pruat. 

Privates — 
Abbott, Joshua. 
David. John F.. 
Reno. Alexander. 
Peak, Patrick. 



White. Charles W.. 
Frank. Marion. 
Williams, Moses J. 



Cordell, James. 
Flack, Alexander. 
Black. Richard S.. 
Peak. William. 
Tatham. W. H. 



SIXTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. 



Company A. 



Abbott, George W.. 

Blanchard. William, 
Clayton. Francis M., 



Anderson. Joseph. 
Cochran. Stephen D., 
Dinwiddle. Robert. 



Company F. 



Brown, Charles. 
Haskins. Benjamin. 
Ralson. Jesse R., 
Craig. William H.. 
Fair. William. 
Frank. Marion F.. 
Kirk Patrick. William, 
Mourning. John W.. 



Roberts. Adam. 
Dickerson. Charles. 
Dixon. John. 
Dutton, William, 
Johnson, John M., 
Lloyd. John V.. 
Martin. Charles. 
Roberts, Elmore, 



Powell. James, 
Roberts, Chauncey. 
Wilson. Thomas M.. 
Williams, Henry W"., 
Haynes, Jonathan, 



Rowe, Louis P., 
Williams, Moses J., 
White, Charles W., 
Way. Enoch. 



SEVENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 
Company G. 



Privates — 
Cecil. Henry A., 
Jenkins, Joseph. 
Jarvis, John M., 
Morris. Harmon F.. 
McDaniel, George W., 
Miller. Henry G., 
Royce, John W., 
Smith, Markcay, 



Ewing, William. 
Jenkins. Thomas. 
Jarvis. Garrett J. D., 
Myers. John. 
McDaniel. William, 
Peters, Peter. 
Spurlock, Lewis J., 
McElvain, George. 



Company I. 
Corporal — John C. Murray. 



Privates — 
Bartlett. Hiram M., 
Cole, Samuel D.. 
Fordham. John. 
Marose. Daniel R., 
Negley. John F.. 
Wilson. Curtis B.. 
Shreves. Henry S., 



Brannan. Patrick. 
Cooper. Cyrus. 
McElvain, George W., 
Miller. John W.. 
Sanders. Anthony, 
Megley. John F.. 
Wilson. William, 
Wilson. Amos. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. 

Colonel— Carter Van Vleck. 
Major— William L. Broaddus. 
Adjutant— Charles V. Chandler. 
Surgeon — Thomas M. Jordan. 
Second Assistant Surgeon — Durham M. Creel. 
Chaplain— Robert F. Taylor. 
Sergeant-Major— Harman Veatch. 
Musicians — Daniel M. Carroll, Reuben L. May- 
nard. 

Wagon Master— Karr McClintock. 



Company A. 



Privates — 
Brundage. G. W.. 
Fugate, Martin V., 
Frisby. Abraham. 
Scott. Amos. 
Toland. William. 
Hendricks. H. F., 



Brundage. James, 
Fugate. Samuel H., 
Husted. Talmon, 
Toland. Solomon, 
Johnson. David, 
Mullens, John W. 



Company C. 

Captains — Charles R. Hume, George W. Blandin. 
First-Lieutenants — O. P. Courtwright. Andrew J, 
O'Neil. 

Second-Lieutenant— John E. James. 



Privates- 
Bond. Marion D. M.. 
Boylan. Thomas C. 
Carter. Isaac G.. 
Cole. Eleazer. 
Cames. Henrv. 
Cline. Marshall C. 
Downen, Thomas J.. 
Dowell. George W.. 
Duncan. James M.. 
Duffield. William H.. 
Forrest. John. 
Freeland. William C, 
Galbreath, John T.. 
Gibson. Samuel T.. 
Harmon. John, 
Hainline, John R.. 
Hendricks. T^ewis. 
James, William E.. 
Jenks. Joel H.. 
Keithley. Perry. 
Bentley. Joseph H., 
Bridges, Thomas B., 



Mealey, Michael, 
Magie. Charles H.. 
McFall, Sylvester. 
Meeks. Luther, 
Monohan, John, 
O'Neil. Andrew J., 
Rush. John W.. 
Riddell. Sylvester. 
Smith. William, 
Stafford. Albert J., 
Tyft, Cyril. 
Venning. Henry, 
Worley, John L., 
Woodside, John W.. 
Worley. William H. H., 
Wil helms. W^illiam A., 
Brown. Frederick P., 
Kirk. John W.. 
Tift. Semer, 
Warner. Jesse, 
Lawson. Joseph D., 
Morgan. Clinton. 
Mayhugh. John T., 




MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL L. GRAIN 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



731 



Chaftin, Phillip. 
Curtis, Mark M.. 
Clark, Edward, 
Curtis, Joseph P., 
Davis. Thomas J.. 
Dixon. William. 
Duncan, John, 
Decker, Nathaniel, 
Frank, John, 
Green, John F., 
Gorham, John, 
Harmon, William W., 
Hamilton, Elisha, 
Huddleston, J. R., 
James, John W.. 
James, John E., 
Kirkpatrick, F. A., 
Keithley, J. H., 
Llndsey, Thomas. 
McGee. William F., 
Messacher, Silas, 
Mayhugh, F. T., 
Michaels, Jacob H., 



Marshall, Josephus, 
Martin, George. 
Magie. James K.. 
Mayhugh. Laban D., 
Midcap, Nathaniel, 
Messacher. William D.. 
Norris, Charles L., 
O'Cain, James, 
Roberts, Peter B., 
Sherry, Marion, 
Spielman, C. L.., 
Sims, John, 
Tipton, James. 
Warner, William H., 
Wilson, Andrew. 
Wilson, Elias H., 
Welsh, James L., 
Bavles, Joseph W., 
Chaltin. Michael, 
Pace, Ingram, 
Terry. Richard L.., 
James, Poseph E. 



Company D. 



Bates. William. 



Company F, 

Captain — Elisha Morse. 

Company I. 

Captain— Granville H. Reynolds. 
First-Lieutenant— Hardin Hovey. 
Second-Lieutenants — James H. 
Charles V. Chandler. 



McCandless. 



Privates- 
Arnold. Ira, 
Althouse. Lebeus, 
Buchanan, James C. 
Bennett. Albert C. 
Bowman. William H.. 
Brown. Christopher, 
Batcheior. John, 
Chase, James M.. 
Allen, Richard C, 
Anstine, Theodore P., 
Brown, Daniel, 
Beatty, Simon B., 
Baymiller. Michael, 
Bear, John O., 
Chapman. Douglas M.. 
Clark, Jerome J., 
Cowgill, John F., 
Carroll. James S.. 
Carnahan. S., 
Diseron. Daniel, 
DeCamp. Goin S., 
Doran, Hugh H., 
Garrison, Zach M., 
Gill, Benjamin F., 
Hall, George P.. 
Hamilton P., 
Lane. Benjamin F., 
Monfort. L. M.. 
McCandless. Wilson, 
Myers. John V., 
McClellan, John, 
Mayfleld, Joseph, 
Pitman, Burress E., 
Pembroke, John F., 
Parker, Henry, 
Rhea. Elias B., 
Reed, Henry G., 
Shannon, John F., 
Stewart, Francis M., 
Shannon, James P., 
Stewart, John F., 
Smith, Joseph A., 
Smith, William P., 
Tunis. Isaac. 
Vincent. David A.. 
Weaver. John, 



Wilson. Lewis R.. 
Broaddus, Thomas H., 
Carroll, John R., 
Cupp, William C. 
Ellis, James C, 
Gibson, Samuel F., 
McClure. Hugh, 
Sims, John, 
Carroll, Daniel M., 
Craig, Simeon, 
Downen, Thomas J., 
David, George H., 
Dallam, Samuel W., 
Edmondson, Thomas, 
Gibson, John, 
Hows, John B.,' 
Hogue, George P., 
Hummer. John M., 
Laughlin. Robert F., 
McCandless. Moses A., 
Maxwell. John C. 
McClellan, James C 
McClellan, William G., 
Pennington, Joseph L.. 
Pitman, George, 
Plotts. Thomas M., 
Painter, George. 
Ricketts, Harvey, 
Reed, William R., 
Scudder. Jesse B., 
Stewart, John W., 
Stewart. Thomas B., 
Scudder. Martin V.. 
Smith. James H., 
Tunis. Joseph, 
Vail. Thomas J.. 
Weaver. William. 
Withrow. James E.. 
Wilson. Rufus R.. 
Bridges. Thomas B., 
Cupp. Jonas P.. 
Decker. Nathaniel. 
Faber. Jacob. 
McClintock. Karr, 
Pace, Ingram A.. 
Wilhelm, A.. 
Wilhelm. Samuel P. 



This regiment was organized at Quincy, III,, 
by Colonel William H. Bennison, in August, 
1862, and mustered into the service on the 1st 
of December. It was at once ordered to Louis- 
ville and assigned to the Second Brigade, 
Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio, and after- 
ward transferred to the Second Brigade, Sec- 
ond Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. In June 
it participated in the forward movement of the 
Union forces under Rosecrans, and was active 
in the operations around Chickamauga, where 
Major William L. Broaddus was killed at the 
first volley of the Confederates. After this bat- 
tle Colonel Bennison resigned and was suc- 
ceeded by Carter Van Vleck, of Macomb. The 
regiment subsequently took part in nearly 
every engagement from Chickamauga to At- 
lanta, and bore its full share of hard fighting. 
After the capture of the city the command was 
a part of the famous onward movement to the 
coast. Colonel Van Vleck was mortally wound- 
ed by a sharp-snooter, dying August 23, 1864, 
deeply mourned by all his men, who were de- 
votedly attached to him. 

The regiment was mustered out June 7, 1865. 
McDonough County furnished 214 of its men, 
of whom 15 were killed, 28 wounded and 23 
died while in service; 20 were taken prisoners, 
6 of whom died at Andersonville and 3 in Libby 
Prison. No better body of men than these 
of the Seventy-eighth went into the field, or 
were more active during the entire term of 
their service. 

EIGHTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. 

Colonel— Lewis H. Waters. 
Adjutant — Charles E. Waters. 
Quartermaster— Louis A. Simmons. 
Surgeon— James B. Kyle. 

Company A. 

Captains — John P. Higgins. Willis Edson. 

Second-Lieutenants— William F. Stearns. John 
S. Walker. 

Sergeants— John McCabe. Edwin B. Rail, Thomas 
M. Whitehead. 

Corporals— Warren S. Odell. David J. Tuggle. 
William J. Lea. Joseph B. Worthman. Quincy A. 
Roberts, Thomas J. Starns, William Jones. 



Privates — 
Allen. Coffner W., 
Blair. Samuel. 
Butler. Preston. 
Clark. Jacob. 
Clark. Milton. 
Casto. Thomas J.. 
Covalt. Abraham 
Case Edward. 
Driscoll. John. 
Davis, John W., 
Gadd, Frank, 



Archer, George C 
Brotherton, Silas E.. 
Baker. John, 
Clarke, James S., 
Casto, George W.. 
Cox. Nathan C. 
Crane. John A.. 
Dunsworth. D. B.. 
Deardorff. Joseph. 
Fentom. George, 
Green, William T., 
Kelly, James. 



71^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Holliday. Francis M.. 
Lane. David H.. 
Misener. Charles W., 
Morris, Richard L., 
Owen. Nathaniel, 
Parks. George, 
Pelsor. John C, 
Patrick. Charles, 
Reno. Joseph L.. 
Shoopman. Jacob. 
Shepherd, Thomas J.. 
Slyter. Lorenzo, 
Tug^gle. Crawford, 
Voorhees. John, 
White, Thomas W., 
Willis. Able H.. 
Whiting. Charles H., 
Dawson, Richard A.. 
Chase. Chauncey. 
McCamenout, J. P., 



Lutes. Granville M., 
Maury, Thomas B.. 
Nolan. Michael. 
O'Bryan, Edward. 
Parks. John. 
Patrick. Samuel. 
Remick. Augustus. 
Robertson. James T., 
Spear. Samuel R., 
Slyter. Philo. 
Smizer. John. 
Voorhees, George R.. 
Walker. Daniel. 
Wood. Richard A., 
Wilson. Zacharia. 
Wells. Christopher C, 
Clarke. Benjamin F., 
Mitchell. Wilford, 
Willis, George W. 



Corporals— Eli Elwell, James H. Kennie, Rufus- 
L. Cox. 



Company B. 
Corporals— R. H. McClintock, David G. Harland. 



Privates- 
Andrews. Martin, 
Hannon. Patrick, 
Leighty. John H., 
Mitchell. Coleman, 
Stambaugh, Jacob, 
' Toland. John T.. 
Walker, Samuel. 



Chappell. W.. 
Green, William T., 
Miles. Augustus, 
Smiter. James P.. 
Stambaugh. Samuel, 
AValker. Ebenezer, 
Greer. John A. 



Company C. 

Captain— William Ervin. 

First-Lieutenant— Joseph G. Waters. 

Second-Lieute.nants— William P. Pearson, 
liam F. Jones. 

First-Sergeant— William T. Harris. 

Sergeants — John S. Provine, John A. 
George T. Yocum, William Pointer. 

Corporals — Daniel Wooley. Edward 



William J. Hampton. William J. 
Blackburn. Nathan A. Miller. 



Hensley, 



Piper. 

Alex. 



Privates — 

Adcock. Joseph T., 
Broaddus. Thomas H., 
Brown. David, 
Cord, William G.. 
Champ. Martin H., 
Dailev. Isaac W., 
Foley. William H., 
Hill. James. 
Hall. Henry. 
Harris, George W.. 
Hamrfler, Josiah Y., 
Johnson, James, 
Kelsey. Cyrus. 
Markham. Albert, 
Martin, Thomas J., 
Maines. David. 
Pennington. C. W.. 
Purdam. Abraham. 
Pennington, R. AV., 
Rollins. John H., 
Sumpter. Henry, 
Sweenev, John W.. 
Stratton. Elijah. 
Smith, Edward. 
Sweeney. William, 
Venable, John W.. 
Van Meter. Henry. 
Willis. Abraham V., 
Winslow. Charles F.. 
Wayland. William H.. 
Hunter, James H., 



Avery. Daniel, 
Brooks, Francis. 
Bowlin, John S.. 
Chapman. William A., 
Dailey, James. 
Erwtn. Jesse L., 
Ferguson, J. V.. 
Harris. John, 
Herron. Wesley C. 
Herndon, Allen A.. 
Harlan, Marcus L., 
Kemble. Thomas E.. 
Lee. Cicero B.. 
McQuestion. Alex.. 
McDaniels. G. W.. 
Maxwell, George. 
Provine. James H., 
Purdam. James, 
Pennington. AV. T., 
Ringer. William W.. 
Simmons. William W.. 
Stratton, John W.. 
Smith. Samuel A.. 
Swigart. Josiah. 
Tandy. Jeptha M.. 
VIeet. David. 
Witherell, Cyrus, 
Winslow. William H., 
Wilkinson. F.. 
Walker. William C. 
Hankins. John. 



Company E. 
Taylor. Benjamin F. 

Company F. 
Second-Lieutenants— Samue! Frost. Joseph Price. 



Privates — 
Benson. Vachel, 
Graves. Allen. 
Hammond. Benjamin. 
Kerr. Clayburn T., 
McConnell, George. 
McFadden. Samuel N., 
Seaburn. George, 
Shaffer. John, 
Swearingen. George, 
Turner. Thomas B., 
AValroth, Abram N., 



Enders. Christopher. 
Herlocker. James M.. 
Kerr. George N., 
Knock, Daniel. 
Miller. Levi A.. 
Nebergall. Reuben J., 
Sloan, John F.. 
Swearingin. Martin, 
Thomas, John, 
Westel. Christopher. 
Culp. William. 



The Eighty-fourth was one of the most gal- 
lant regiments of the State of Illinois. It was 
organized at Quincy, by Colonel Lewis H. Wa- 
ters, in Atigust, 1862, its commanding officer 
having served a few months as Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Twenty-eighth. On September 
1, 1862, the regiment was mustered into the 
service with 951 men, rank and file. Ordered 
to report at Louisville on the 23d of Septem- 
ber, it was there assigned to the Tenth Bri- 
gade of the Fourth Division, and on the 29th 
of the same month marched with the brigade 
in pursuit of Bragg. Its long march finally- 
brought it to Nashville, but the first battle 
of any importance in which the regiment par- 
ticipated was that of Stone River, or Mur- 
freesboro, which occurred on the 31st of De- 
cember, 1862, to January 3, 1863. This was 
one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war, and 
in them the Eighty-fourth displayed rare gal- 
lantry, losing 228 men killed and wounded. In 
June the Eighty-fourth was again with Rose- 
crans' army in search of General Bragg, and, 
not finding the enemy at Chattanooga, pushed 
on rapidly in his rear. September 19th the 
armies engaged in battle, with indecisive re- 
sults; finally, on the 20th, Rosecrans retired. 
General Thomas alone stood between disaster 
and rout all that long, terrible afternoon, while 
around his veterans surged the entire Confed- 
erate force; but he. also, was obliged finally to 
retire to Chattanooga. The Eighty-fourth was 
among his heroes, and when the roll was called 
at Chattanooga, 172 of its men failed to re- 
spond. 

On the 24th of November the Eighty-fourth 
was ordered on duty and took part in the mem- 
oi-able battle of Lookout Mountain. It engaged 
an the battle of Dalton. May 13. 1864. and was 
also present at Resaca, May 14th; Burnt Hick- 
ory, May 26th to 31st, and Dallas, June 1st. 2d 
and 3d. ' At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain 
and the siege of Atlanta it bore a prominent 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



7iZ 



part. When Sherman's army drew out of At- 
lanta, Thomas' Corps was left to defend Nash- 
ville, and during the sanguinary conflicts at 
Franklin and Nashville, December 15th and 
16th, the Eighty-fourth sustained its reputation 
for bravery. 

The total casualties sustained by this gal- 
lant regiment numbered .5.5.S men. On the 8th 
of June, 1S65, it was mustered out of the serv- 
ice and returned home. The 205 men from 
this county were divided between Companies 
A, B, C, E and F. Of these. 11 were killed, 39 
died in the service, 39 were wounded and one. 
John R. Carroll, was captured and died in An- 
dersonville Prison. His remains rest in grave 
No. 7,937. The citizens of the county held 
this regiment in high esteem, watching care- 
fully its every movement and rejoicing exceed- 
ingly at the return of the survivors. 

EIGHTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. 
Company A. 



Campbell, Thomas, 
■peterman, David P., 



Moss, Samuel. 
Randolph, John H. 



Company F. 
Sergeant— James W. Wilson. 
Private — HoUenbeck. Francis. 
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD INFANTRY. 

Company F. 

Corporal— Andrew J. Justice. 

Musicians — William A. Smith, William E. Cooper. 



Privates- 
Buck, Joseph H., 
3aughman, Samuel. 



Ames, Americus. 
M.vers, Artemus, 



Buck. Joseph, 
Holler, William. 
Post, William. 

Company G. 

Yocum, John W. 



ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEENTH 
INFANTRY. 



Company A. 



Freeman. John P.. 
Leal. Clark, 



Fortney, Henry M., 
Martin, Henry C. 



Compan.v B. 



Burham. James T.. 
T^add. Andrew L., 
Mattelu. Conrad. 
Wells, Lewis T.. 



Haiffht. John. 
McCants, Leander. 
Ramsey, Samuel, 
Weider. Alonzo. 



Company E. 
Corporals— Jacob D. Bungar. George W. Thomas 
Company I. 



House. William A. 



Company K. 



ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH 
INFANTRY. 

Company H. 

Captain— Samuel McConnell. 

First-Lieutenants— Henrv C. Mullen. Jackson 
Wells. 

Second- Lieutenant — Samuel D. Sawyer. 

First-Sergeant- Nathan B. McGraw. 

Sergeants— Levi S. Mills. Robert T. Carter. Joel 
C. Bond. Parvis H. Moore. 



Privates — 
Arthur. Daniel. 
.Vmos. George W., 
Booth, James, Jr., 
Booth. James C. 
Booth. John. 
Clark. James. 
Crownover. F. L.. 
Covert, John. 
Duncan. Benjamin, 
Anderson. William H.. 
Bond. Benjamin, 
Burchett. Henry B., 
Bechtel, David, 
Carter. John E.. 
Covert, Joseph B.. 
Covert. David. 
Cruser, DeWitt T. B.. 
Duncan. James E.. 
Dewey. William H., 
Frost, Richard T.. 
Falck. Frederick, 
Fleming. John. 
Farley. George, 
Hobart. John. 
Hunt. Miinning F.. 
Kepple. James V., 
Lemmons. James H.. 
McKennelley, W. L.. 
McMein. Ammon P., 
Oglesbv. William T.. 
Pelly. John D.. 



Plotts. Martin L., 
Pugh. Alexander. 
Snook. Roswell H., 
Thomas, William. 
Whittlesey. William H.. 
Maxwell. John A., 
Camp, Thomas J., 
Hyde. Charles. 
Ralston. David R., 
Eby. Jeremiah W., 
Faust. Charles. 
Frankenburg. Benjamin, 
Faulkner. William. 
Gibson. Alpheus M., 
Hall, James. 
Loggard. Tolbert. 
Kantz. George, 
Long. Samuel C. 
McMaster, William W.. 
Nole. William T.. 
Parvin. Isaac M.. 
Plotts. John C. 
Purman. John H.. 
Stearns. Abdallah M., 
Sutton. James A., 
Wilson, Lewis. 
Frankenburg, J. W., 
Morris. John, 
Couch. William H.. 
Ittle. John. 
Wagner, John. 



Hazel. Solomon. 
Philip, Felix L.. 



Martin, George W., 
Toland, D. L. 



The One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment 
was organized at Quincy, 111., in September, 
1862, by Colonel Thomas J. Kinney, and mus- 
tered into the service on the 10th of October. 
On November 2d the regiment was ordered to 
Columbus, Ky., and assigned to the Fourth 
Brigade, Fifth Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, 
under General A. J. Smith, the Federal forces 
moving up the Red River to the assistance of 
General Banks. The Illinois command took 
part in all the operations of that expedition, 
and on April 7th stood the brunt of the bat- 
tle at Pleasant Hill. They were also present 
at the battles around Nashville, December 15th 
and 16th, embarking for New Orleans on the 
8th of February, 1865. and engaging In the as- 
saults at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. Sub- 
sequently the regiment was ordered to Mobile 
and Montgomery, Ala., and was mustered out 
of the service August 26, 1865, arriving at 
Camp Butler on the 4th of September. 

Company H, of this regiment, contained 
eighty-one men from McDonough County, of 
whom eight were killed in battle and are now 
sleeping in Southern soil. 



734 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOURTH 
INFANTRY. 

Company D. 

Captains— Stephen Brink. Abraham Newland. 
Second-Lieutenant— Travis Mellor. 
Sergeant— John Bechtel. 
Corporals- John Beglan, James H. Kirk, Joseph 
Jackson. 

Musician-William S. Wilson. 



Privates — 
Byerly. David, 
Brodbent, Thomas, 
Bainbridge. John, 
Calbert. Simon, 
Dungan. John. 
Deener. William F.. 
Ennis. John W., 
Green. William M., 
Hickman. William, 
Hainline, A. J.. 
McKenzie. William, 
Mourning. F. M., 
Bechtel. A. G.. 
Barrett. Abner. 
Boyd. William H., 
Chapin. Robert, 
Dewey, Victor M., 
Duncan, Joseph, 
Gartside, Job, 
Hume. Thomas, 
Hall. George, 
Milbourne, William, 
Moore. John J.. 
Mumma, David, 
Nelson, E. C, 
Spicer, Benjamin F.. 



Y'ork. John. 
Burford. \A'illiam J., 
Holton, John W., 
Huff, Francis M., 
Jenkins. David. 
Mitchell. Robert, 
Mammon, Henrv J., 
Richards, J. H., 
Shannon. Walter. 
Shannon. Edward. 
Swigert. Zachariah. 
Smith. John. 
Smith. John T., 
Terrill, John, 
Young, George M., 
Delay, William H., 
Hutchinson. A. H., 
Jarvis, Henry M., 
Lowell. John H., 
Moore. John. 
Pvle. William A.. 
Richards. John T.. 
Sullivan. M. O.. 
Sheets, George R., 
Twitchell. Almond D., 
Delay, Jacob, 
Wear, James M. 



Company I. 

Captains— Thomas K. Roach, Benjamin A. Grif- 
fith. 

First-Dieutenant— Elijah Barton. 

Second-Lieutenant— James M. Griffith. 

Sergeant— James S. Shryak. 

Corporals — Thomas O. Bugg. David T. Guy, 
Milo Hobart, William B. Greenup. 

Musician — Milton J. Stokes. 



Privates — 
Bowers. Thomas J., 
Bugg. Benjamin. 
Campbell. W. M., 
Foley, Thomas, 
Foster. W^illiam, 
Griffith. Cary F., 
Harrison. Joseph D., 
Kennet. Jasper. 
McDonald. Daniel, 
Murphy. George C, 
Overton. Joseph B., 
Svpherd, Flavins J., 
Stodgill, Isaac N., 
Wooley. Moses P., 
Creasy. John, 
Browning, John W., 
Bugg. S. A., 
Duncan, William H.. 
Forrest. Henry T., 
Guy. Nathaniel M.. 
Hainline. .Joseph H.. 
Hawkins. William B.. 
McCanley. William. 
Murfin. William. 
Morris, W^illiam C, 
Phillips, John C. 
Stokes, Wesley S., 
Teas, Joseph C, 
Yard, Job, 



Fullerton, Hiram, 
Fc)lev, James M., 
Gilbert, George G., 
Goodling. Lyman, 
Hainline. David L., 
Lovell, John N., 
McGraw, Calvin, 
Murphy, Luther. 
Sweeney. William O.. 
Burrows. William, 
Frost. Ephraim, 
Heslop. George P., 
Leake. Pennel. 
Morgan. John H.. 
Silverston. ^A'illiam F 
Gilbert. Barnard. 
Gilbert. James R., 
Griffin. Joseph F., 
Hawkins, Robert B., 
Lovell. Charles W.. 
Morton, George. 
Rymer. John H.. 
Wariner. James. 
Divine. Edwin. 
Hannaford. Charles A 
Johnson. Amos B., 
Masten, Joel H., 
Paulk, Alfred, 
Williams, S. L. 



County, was organized at Camp Butler by Col- 
onel Thomas J. Sloan, in September, 1862. 
After being mustered into the service it moved 
to Jaclison, Tenn., where, on October 6th, it 
was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Di- 
vision, Thirteenth Army Corps. This regiment 
took part in nearly all the battles of the West, 
and those fought along the Mississippi River. 
In a contest wherein five regiments competed, 
the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth received 
a stand of colors as a prize for the best drilled 
of the contestants. Upon the banner was this 
inscription: "Excelsior Regiment! Third Di- 
vision. Seventh Corps. From the hands of Ma- 
jor-General McPherson, for excelling in soldier- 
ly appearance, discipline and drill." The reg- 
iment was mustered out of the service of the 
United States at Chicago, August -5, 1865. (See 
on pages 737-738, in the latter part of this chap- 
ter, under the head, "'The Surrender of Vicks- 
burg," an interesting reminiscence of that event 
in connection with the history of the One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-fourth Illinois.) 



ONE HITNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH 
INFANTRY. 



Company H. 



Coon, Peter. 

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVENTH 
INFANTRY. 

Lieutenant-Colonel— Thomas K. Roach. 
Surgeon — W^illiam A. Huston. 
Second Assistant Surgeon— Robert G. Scroggs. 
Acting Assistant Surgeon— Benjamin I. Dunn. 
Principal Musician — James S. Carroll. 

Company C. 

Captain — Brazillia Veach. 
First-Sergeant — Thaddeus Huston. 
Sergeant — James H. Drais. 

Corporals — John B. Russell. James R. Bailey, 
Fred L. Lancy. Peter Mcintosh. 
Musician — Charles Penrose. 



Privates — 
Brown. Isaac N. P.. 
Cord. Thaddeus C, 
Darnell. Homer L., 
Dimcan. John, 
Essex, ^^'illiam, 
Barber. George W., 
Cemmis. Samuel. 
Chapman. Frank M.. 
Doroth.v. Archibald. 
Eakle. Milton. 
Herron. Eli P.. 



Hooker. Francis M.. 
Lea, W^illiam J., 
Miller. Edward M., 
Maylor. Albert. 
Roach. John M. . 
■Thomftson. James, 
Kious. Jacob, 
Martin. John, 
Moore. Joseph. 
Nicholas. Henry P., 
Runkle. Darius. 
Updegraft, A. W. 



The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regi- 
ment, containing 116 men from McDonough 



Company D. 

Captain— John B. Johnson. 
First-Lieutenant — James Robb. 
First -Sergeant — Charles Broadbent. 
Sergeants — Palmer E. Hughson, Peter C. 
Corporals— James Tannehill, Henry C. 
Orion H. Bliss, John C. Dewey. 



Stire, 
King, 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



735 



Privates — 
Arbogast. Henry, 
Carrier. George D., 
Davis, Albert W., 
Punk, Joseph H., 
Kreider. Jacob. 
Murray, Arthur, 
Painter, John \V., 
Raymond, Simon, 
Sackett, Solomon, 



Boyle, William, 
Collar. Allen J. P., 
Drake. William P., 
Hull, Henry, 
McDonald, Isaac J., 
Owens, Alexander, 
Plotts, William L., 
Robinson, Hamilton, 
Sheley. Samuel, 
Stantial, Christopher 



Company G. 
First-Lieutenant — John M. Johnson, 



Privates — 
Adcock, Georg^e P., 
Buck, George W., 
Crabtree, B. F., 
Jellison, Zimri, 
Johnson, Edward R., 
Orr, John, 
Scalf, William, 
Wilstead, Thomas G., 



Akerson, Joseph, 
Carrier, Alonzo E., 
Henry. W^illiam J., 
Jellison, John, 
Mallam, Robert, 
Patrick, Charles, 
Wolf. Jacob, 
Whittier, Laforest. 



Company 1. 

Captain— William H. Oglesby. 

First-Lieutenant— Andrew R. Wilson. 

Second-Lieutenant — James N. Porter. 

First-Sergeant — Charles D. Hendrickson. 

Sergeants— James A. Kyle, James T. McDonald. 
Corporals— Edwin D. Dudley, Jacob R. Dawson, 
Samuel F. Sanders. Myron M. Myrick, Silas W. 
Adcock, Melton B. Chapman. 



Privates- 
Austin. George W., 
Anderson. W. H., 
Barnes, Asa L., 
Bennie, James, 
Carroll, James S., 
Couch, James W., 
Condon, Andrew L., 
Davis, David A., 
Duncan, Isaac, 
Dinington, James R., 
Hensley, William J.. 
Hageman, C. W., 
Keirns, William, 
Lownes, Charles R., 
Laughlin, Edwin T., 
Miller, Robert H., 
Mills. William D., 
Overman. John W., 
Porter, Lester W., 
Pearson, Joseph A., 
Purkey, William, 
Ratekin, William H., 
Shreves. Milton, 
Sherman. A., 
Spencer, William A., 
Toland. Stephen, 
West. Martin. 
Wheeler. Isaac D., 
Wells, David L., 



Arnold, Lewis C, 
Adams, Charles E., 
Barclay, James, 
Couch, William H., 
Chambers. David, 
Chaddock, James, 
Clark. Wilbur C, 
Davidson. Samuel I., 
Folsom, Edgar A., 
Hogue, George P., 
Harris. Henry H., 
Jones, George T., 
Little. John P.. 
LeMaster, James L., 
Martin, Jacob E., 
Montague, Benjamin, 
McGinnis, John F., 
Pottenger. James H., 
Pennell, William J.. 
Prindle, Chauncey R., 
Pugh, John W., 
Rodecker, William H., 
Scrutchfield. J. A., 
Smick, William A., 
Steel, James, 
Walker, James H., 
W^oolley, Lewis B., 
Wychoft. Daniel L., 
Wilson. Nelson M., 
Walker. Robert A. 



The One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regi- 
ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was organ- 
ized at Quincy, by Colonel John Wood, and 
mustered into the 100-days' service on the 5th 
of .June, 1864, Four days later it proceeded to 
Memphis, where it was assigned to the Fourth 
Brigade, District of Memphis, Colonel E. L. 
Baltwick, of the Thirty-ninth Wisconsin Infan- 
try, commanding. McDonough County fur- 
nished 153 men to the regiment, distributed as 



follows: 32 men in Company C, commanded 
by Captain Barzilla Veatch; 28 men in Com- 
pany D, Captain John B. Johnson, of Prairie 
City; 17 men in Company G, and 71 men in 
Company I, Captain William H. Oglesby, of 
Bushnell, commanding. Of these three were 
killed in battle, four died in the service and 
twenty were taken prisoners. The regiment 
was mustered out at Springfield on September 
4, 1864. Among the regimental officers were 
several well known citizens of McDonough 
County, including Thomas K. Roach, of Col- 
chester; Dr. William A. Huston, of Macomb; 
-Assistant Surgeon Robert G. Scroggs, and Act- 
ing Assistant Surgeon Benjamin I. Dunn, of 
Macomb. Dr. Huston died at Memphis, June 
25, 1864, 

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH 
INFANTRY, 

Company A. 
Duncan, Dr. B. A. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST 
INFANTRY. 

Company C. 

Captains— George C. Steach, James L. Cochran. 

First-Lieutenant— Harvey T. Gregg. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant- Isaiah L. Bailey. 

Commissary-Sergeant— Zimri M. Parvin. 

Hospital Steward— Wiley C. Longford. 

Sergeants— William H. Parrlsh, Henry Arbogast, 

Corporals— John H. Dixon, John W, Painter, 
Rollins W'hittlesey. Thomas R. Ritenour, Abraham 
Arthurs, John H. Snook, Charles E. Blackburn. 

Musicians— Wilber C. Clark, Richard Hlllyer. 



Privates— 
W^agoner, J. S. K., 
Atkinson. William H., 
Brink, Stephen, 
Beaver. Francis M.. 
Campbell. Murray L., 
Collier. Thomas, 
Davidson. Ezekiel C, 
Dean, Thomas W., 
Gray, James A., 
Gadden, Cyrus J., 
Hickman. Bayard, 
Iseman, David, 
Johnson. Joseph, 
Lester, Calvin, 
Laughlin. Edwin F., 
Moore. James W.. 
Montgomery. John, 
Mariner, George, 
Markham. Byron, 
Marsh, Gilbert H., 
Nickerson. D. A., 
Pierson, Thomas, 
Steel. William, 
Seaffer, Alliver P., 
Tittsworth. John M., 
Thompson, John W., 
Weisbrod, George. 
Whittier. Laforrest, 
W^aid. John J., 
Barry, Robert, 



Adams. Albert J., 
Broaddus. John R., 
Boyer, Silas M.. 
Chapman. Henry, 
Cottrell. William J,, 
Carter, George W., 
Davidson. Garrett, 
Dace, John. 
Greenwell. Francis M., 
Hinesman, William, 
Hudson, Wash. W., 
Jellison, John, 
Leighty. Henry, 
Langley. Barnett W., 
Miller, Charles C, 
Muckey, George W., 
Martin, John B., 
Myer. Benjamin F., 
McElvain, George H., 
McLaren, John, 
Nash. Andrew W., 
Pittinburgen. Martin, 
Sperling. Robert B., 
Travis, James, 
Towers. Henry J., 
Thomson, Charles L., 
W^eisbrod, August, 
Wenkler, Leopold, 
Wolf, Dallas, 
Cord, Thaddeus C. 



736 



HISTORY OF McDOXOUGH COUNTY. 



Company H. 
Corporal— Richard N. Pearson. 



Musicians— C. Morris, fifer; J. F. Foley, drummer. 



Privates — 
Brown. Edwin F.. 
Carstens, A. W., 
Hobart. Lewis. 
Kennedy. John. 
McGuire. John. 
McPherson, G., 



Campbell. Samuel A.. 
Crawford. James. 
Humberd. J. P.. 
McDermitt. M., 
McCormick. William. 
Maxwell. William. 



Company I. 
Corporal — Ellis Buchanan. 



Privates — 
Bacon. Daniel, 
Cowdry. Spencer, 
Dorset. Harrison, 
Hudson. W., 
Hall. Avory. 
Kelsev. John S.. 
Nutt. John. 
Pryor. Timothy. 
Robertson, John W^. 
Strucker. Josepli, 



Cochran. Asbury C, 
Cook. Robert. 
Graham. Hugh, 
Herrioks, Almerlin. 
Hearns. H. H.. 
Mower. Francis M.. 
Pickens. William A., 
Roach. Elam A.. 
Robertson. Barton. 
Whitson. Abijah. 



Company K. 



Allen. John. 
Caldwell. 'John. 
Evans. Job J., 
Farrier. James, 
Hall. George A., 
O'Brien. John, 
Robertson, John, 
Upton, Charles W., 



Burrows. Joseph. 
Cooper. Robert. 
Farrell. Michael. 
Hunsaker. James, 
L-ovitt. Thomas. 
Pike. John. 
Toner. John, 
Wallace. B.. 
White. Thomas. 



This regiment was organized at Quincy and 
mustered into the service February 28, 1865. 
the enlistment being for one year. It wa^5 
armed and equipped at Springfield, and ordered 
to Nashville, Tenn., on the 7th of March: 
on the 2d of May proceeded to Kingston, Ga., 
via Resaca and Calhoun, arriving May 12th 
and having the honor of accepting the surren- 
der of General Warford and his command. 
On the 13th, 14th and 15th of May they were 
employed in the paroling of 10,400 prisoners. 
The regiment remained at Kingston, guarding 
Government property, and on July 28th pro- 
ceeded to Columbus, Ga.. where, on .January 
24, 1866, it was mustered out of the service, 
the men receiving their final pay and honor- 
able discharge February 8, 1866. In the com- 
mand were 138 men from McDonough County, 
of whom four died during the term of enlist- 
ment of a little less than a year. 

TENTH MISSOURI INFANTRY. 
Company B. 

Captain— William F. Bayne. 

First-Lieutenant — James E. Fleming, 

Second -Lieu tenant — Jerry Randolph. 

Sergeants — David S. Randolph, Calvin R. Single. 
James McClellan. James F. Jones. John H. Moore. 

Corporals— James P. Greenup. James W. Hardin. 
C J. Lindsey. Isaac Halterman. Russell T. Stokes. 
John Matheny, Crawford Cuddison. John W. Clark. 



Privates — 
Samuel Baldwin, 
Reece W. Barnes. 
P. Cubbison. 
W. H. Davis, 
Francis F. Fleming, 
Samuel H. Frisclive. 
Albert Freas. 
Hiram P. Howe. 
Josepli Hensley. 
John Horton, 
John P. Lane. 
^Villiam T. Moore, 
David R. Marier, 
John Melvin. 
Isaac D. Morgan, 
D. H. McCartney, 
Thomas J. Martin, 
Harvey Oatman. 
Edward C. Rabbitt. 
G. A. Robinson. 
John M. Sweeney. 
William H. Stevens. 
G. W. Thompson, 
John E. Vance. 
John Wooley. 
W. H. Woods, 



George W. Baney, 
Andrew J. Clark. 
Daniel A. Camp. 
Thomas J. Ferguson, 
John H. Fair, 
Edwin A. Farley. 
Robert F. Frances. 
Anderson D. Hainline. 
William O. Hoskinson. 
William R. Kirk. 
William P. Leaphart. 
Robert J. Mills. 
Richard J. Morris. 
William N. McGraw. 
Robert S. Morgan. 
John W. Myers. 
David C. Newell, 
William B. Rice. 
I^ouis Roberts. 
Hiram L. Sweeney, 
William S. Stokes, 
George Sherwood, 
L. C. Twichel. 
I. N. VanHoesen, 
Milton Woolridge. 
Felix B. White. 
William H. Young. 



At the first Presidential call for 300,000 men 
in 1861, Dr. W. F. Bayne, of Macomb, organ- 
ized a company and wrote to Governor Yates, 
tendering its services. The Governor answerel 
that he had already accepted two companies 
from McDonough County, and that being its 
full quota, he declined to accept any more men. 
As the Doctor and his men were very anxiou.s 
to enter the field, they went to St. Louis, 
tendered their services there, were accepted 
by Governor Gamble and mustered into the 
United States service at the St. Louis arsenal, 
as Company B. It was placed on detached 
service until 1862. when it was assigned to 
the Tenth Missouri Infantry. Second Brigade, 
Third Division. Army of the Mississippi, Dr. 
Hayne receiving his commission as Captain. 

The regiment went into the field, taking part 
in the various operations in Missouri, and no 
l)art of it did better service, or has a brighter 
record, than Company B, of McDonough Coun- 
ty. Many of those enlisting in 1861 never re- 
turned to their homes, yet there are a few 
brave "boys" still living in this and adjoining 
counties. The following are some of the more 
prominent engagements in which the company 
took an active part: luka, September, 1862; 
Corinth, October 3d; Raymond, Miss., May 12. 
1863; Jackson, May 14th, and Champion Hills, 
May 16th. Company B was also present at the 
siege of Vicksburg, May 18 to July 4. 1863. 
Charles A. Gilchrist, afterward a Brigadier- 
General in command of colored troops, was a 
member of the Tenth Missouri Infantry. 





IF 




<-^Qi^a^v^< 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



737 



SECOND CALIFORNIA CAVALRY. 

Fulkner, Henry J. 

FIFTY-FOURTH OHIO INFANTRY. 

Company A. 

Depoy, James. 

FIFTH CALIFORNIA INFANTRY. 

Brevet-Captain— H. H. Stevens. 

I'NITED STATES VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 

Comi>any A. 

McConnel. William J. 

Company K. 

Vandermint, Danl. Begg.. 

Smith, Jolin O., Jacltson. George W., 

ENGINEER REGIMENT OF MISSOURI. 

Company C. 

Butler, Cyrus F. 

FIRST ENGINEER REGIiMENT OF THE WEST. 

Compan.v B. 



Folsom, DeWitt C. 
Davie, Sylvester, 
Halterman, Oliver, 
DeHass, A. J., 
Cooper, David. 
Snyder, James. 
Tally, Vincent. 



Folsom, Isaac Y., 
Davie, Atwood, 
Benedict, Benjamin. 
Stolcup, David. 
Hatfield. Joseph, 
White, Joseph, 
Clarey. John, 



Flannegan, William, Burdell. Windell, 

Spunagle, William, Spunagle, Daniel, 

Spunagle, Jacob, Hoover, Benjamin K., 

Patton, William G.. Moore. Peter. 

Moore, Oliver, Lamb, Frank, 

Maloney, Richard A. 

THE SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG. 

The following article from the pen of A. New- 
land, of Tennessee, McDonough County, and a 
former member of the One Hundred and Twen- 
ty-fourth niinois, communicated to "The Na- 
tional Tribune," Washington, D. C, will have 
an interest for many veterans connected with 
other Illinois regiments which took part in 
the historic event to which it refers: 

"EiiiTOR N.vTio.NAL Tuiiuxk: Permit me to 
reply to the article by D. I^. Wellman, of the 
Fourth Minnesota, published in 'The National 
Tribune' February 5. 1903. 

"The beautiful moon of Saturday, July 4, 
18G3, dawned gloriously, when Gen. Pemberton 
communicated his acceptance of the terms pro- 
posed by Gen. Grant, .^t 10 o'clock the Con- 
federate garrison marched out of the citadel 
they had so bravely defended, stacked arms, 
and marched back again as prisoners of war. 
Nearly 32,000 men, 172 cannon, 60,000 stands of 



arms, with a large quantity of ammunition and 
oi'dnance stores were surrendered. 

"The most complete and unparalleled capture 
was achieved by the invincible Army of the 
Tennessee under Grant. 

"Just before 10 o'clock that morning the 
One Hundred Twenty-fourth Illinois heard the 
command, 'Fall in,' and in a few moments 
every man able for duty was in his place, 
shoulder to shoulder, as they had often been 
before, but never with such a feeling, never so 
proud of each other as now. A few moments 
later our brigade band, one of the best, being 
hidden from us by the Shirley House, on our 
left, startled us. We had not thought of or 
heard any music for so long, only now and 
then a bugle call, and the deafening rattle of 
musketry, now the beautiful strains of 'Hail 
Columbia' burst out so unexpectedly and 
welled out so e.xultingly, that men who had 
marched up to the cannon's mouth and met 
unflinchingly and fearlessly the shock of battle, 
and the fiery onsets of the fiercest charge, 
were touched and the chords of their hearts 
were swept by the music and many of those 
brave, strong men were moved to tears. Then 
followed the stirring and inspiring strains of 
"The Star Spangled Banner.' Then the order 
rang out, 'Forward— March!' and the gallant 
First Brigade, composed of the Twentieth, 
Thirty-first, Forty-fifth, One Hundred Twenty- 
fourth Illinois, and the Twenty-third Indiana, 
Gen. M. D. Leggett commanding, of Logan's 
fighting Third Division, the Forty-fifth Illinois 
leading, took up its line of march into Vicks- 
bur.g. When the troops arrived at the court 
house, I he battle flag of the Forty-ninth Illinois 
was thrown to the breeze from tlie cupola of the 
court house. The sight of the beautiful starry 
banner floating so gracefully over the city 
caused the boys to shout lustily: their wild 
huzzas rent the air; they shouted as they had 
never done before, and as they never can again. 
When Vicksburg fell the joy of the nation was 
complete. .\s one has said, 'Pluck no laurels 
from I^osran's Third Division.' There is "glory 
enough for all' of the Union troo])S who won 
that matchless victory, and were at the sur- 
render of Vicksburg and took part in the royal 
celebration of that day. Every year that vic- 
torious army has two Fourths to celebrate, one 
for our National birth, and one for Vicksburg. 



738 



HISTORY (^F Mcdonough county. 



"On May 22, during the siege, an assault was 
made upon the enemy's works, which resulted 
in an advance all along the line by the entire 
army. The battle became fierce and furious 
everywhere; men rushed up to the enemy's 
works, climbed up the exterior slope, planted 
their flags upon them; then a fierce and terrible 
struggle ensued; but they could not enter. The 
rebel fire was concentrated on points where 
the nature of the ground would admit of an 
assault to be made only by small bodies of 
troops, and as the head of the column would pass 
the exposed points while assaulting, they would 
be swept by a terrific Are so severe that nothing 
Jiving could stand before it; they would reel 
and fall. The enemy's works were naturally 
and artificially so strong they could not be taken 
in that way, and the nature of the ground was 
such that only small columns could be 
used in making the assault. But Logan's 
Division was so far advanced that we were 
located nearest the rebel works of any possibly 
on the line until the surrender. The Twelfth 
Illinois occupied Shirley's peach orchard, with 
our left resting on his house, or the 'white 
house,' as it was called. Mr. Shirley was at 
home, and claimed to be a Union man. The 
Forty-fifth Illinois used the rear of the house 
for headquarters; the front side could not be 
safely used; it was full of bullet holes, and 
was hit nearly every day. Lieutenant Foster, 
or 'Coonskin,' had his observatory near this 
house. After building forts and rifle pits, we 
made a covered way which reached clear to 
the enemy's works. There were a number of 
coal miners in the One Hundred and Twenty- 
fourth Illinois and some lead miners 
in the Forty-fifth Illinois. We mined 
under Fort Hill and blew it up .June 25; 
1,200 pounds of powder placed under it lifted 
a part of the fort into the air. The falling 
earth had formed a new line of defense for the 
rebels, and had left a large basin, or oval space, 
into which our brave men poured. This place 
became a 'slaughter pen,' or 'crater,' as it was 
called, and many of our noble soldiers and offi- 
cers fell in that bloody and fearful pen. Other 
mines and saps were run, and on July 1st, Fort 
Hill was again blown up into the air. This 
■was quite successful; much damage and loss 
sustained by the enemy, with no loss to us. 
Six persons were blown into our lines; three 



of them were colored, and one of them, named 
'Abe,' survived his transit. Theodore R. Davis, 
of Harper's Weekly, sketched him on the spot, 
all dirt and tatters as he was. He said he went 
up two miles, saw stars, met his master — who 
was one of the white men killed — coming down, 
etc., a part of which — seeing stars — was doubt- 
less true. The colored man was the hero of the 
hour, and seemed to enjoy it greatly. It was 
said that after the blowing up of the fort the 
second time, the Confederate officers found it 
difficult to get soldiers to man that part of 
their line. General McPherson promised each 
of the boys that mined the fort a new suit of 
clothes and one of the first furloughs home 
after the surrender. Several of my company, 
with a number of others, received the promised 
gifts when the siege ended. The accomplished, 
gallant and brave commander, General McPher- 
son, was honor bright in all his dealings with 
men. He was one of the brightest stars in all 
the galaxy of Union Generals. In his death 
America lost a splendid soldier. For proof of 
the above facts, see Grant's Memoirs; General 
McPherson's request to General Rawlins, 
Grant's Chief of Staff; McPherson's orders to 
General Logan; General M. D. Leggett's official 
report. See also the History of Life and Deeds 
of General U. S. Grant, by Frank A. Burr; also. 
The History of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
fourth Illinois. There are many comrades yet 
living belonging to these regiments which com- 
posed General Leggett's Brigade, who can verify 
the above statement. — A. Newland, Co. D, One 
Hundred and Two Dozen, Tennessee, 111." 

THE ROLL OF HONOR. 

Names of soldiers who died during their term of 
service, In battle or in hospital, with date of death: 

Jacob Rutlshamer died at Columbus, Ky., April 4, 

1S62. 
James E. Saddler died July 4. 1863. 
Thomas L. Holliday was killed at the battle of Shi- 

loh. April 6. 1S62. 
Henry C. Calvin was mortally wounded November 

11. 1863. 
George Davis died at Trenton, Tenn., August 16, 

1862. 
Jacob Oertel was killed at Holly Springs, Decem- 
ber 20. 1862. 
Edward Curtis was killed at Sabine, La., April 8, 

1S64. 
John H. Kinkade died at Carrollton, La., August 

22. 1S63. 
Aaron Markham, a veteran, died at Baton 

Rouge, La. 
Enoch Nelson died at Louisville, Ky., September 

29. 1865. 
Alexander L. Corporal was killed at Bird's Point, 

Mo., January 10, 1862. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



739 



Daniel Lair was killed at Bird's Point. Mo.. Jan- 
uary 10. ise2. 
Christian Mvers was killed at Bird's Point. Mo., 

January- 1(1. 1SH2. 
Samuel S. Schall died of wounds at Oxford. Miss., 

December 7. 1S62. 
William B. Park died at Baton Rouse. L/a., July 

14. 1S63. 
Benjamin F. Pyle died at LaGrange. Tenn., Feb- 
ruary 15. 1863. 
Henry Thompson died at Memphis. Tenn.. May 5. 

1864. 
G«orge C. Calkins was drowned at Clear creek 

while scouting. 
George C. Gates wa.s killed January 18. 1S62. at 

Bethel. Tenn. 
Ephraim McKinney died in the service at Mem- 
phis. Tenn. 
Philip Scheneck died at St. Louis, Mo., August 1, 

1S62. 
John Jackson died at St. Louis. Mo.. June 18. 1862. 
Commissary-Sergeant James C. Canfield died at 

Richmond. Va.. March 5. 1864. while a prisoner 

of war. 
Thomas Able died at Andersonville prison July 1. 

1864; number of gra\-e. 2.415. 
Henry H. Bellew^ died while a prisoner of war. 

March 1. 1864. at Richmond. Va. 
Captain Eben "White died f)f wounds May 18. 1865. 
George L. Hainline. a veteran, was killed at Ben- 

tonville. March '20. 1.S65. 
Charles Merrich was killed at Bentonville. 
Henry Hart died June 2. 1S62. 
Rdwin D. Kellj'. a veteran, was killed at Jones- 

boro. Ga.. September 7. 1864. 
Cyrus Lane, a veteran, missing since the battle of 

Bentonville. 
Orren Sperry. a veteran, died May 31. 1S64. 
Charles Waters, a veteran, died of wounds, April 

24. 1865. 
John H. Crowl was killed at Bentonville. March 

2(1. 1865. 
George F. Hastings died from wounds. April 21. 

1865. 
Captain David P. Wells died April 7. 1862. 
Corporal \A'illiam Powers died October 15. 1862. 
Corporal James M. E.vre died September lit. 1862. 
Sylvester Yocum died May 4. 1862. 
William C. Green, a ^'eteran. was killed at Re- 

saca. Ga.. May 15. 1864. 
Isaac Toland. a veteran, died April 12. 1865. 
First-Lieutenant James Donaldson was killed July 

17. 1864. 
Benjamin Hendricks died March 1. 1862. 
John Smithwait died January 7. 1862. 
Jacob Newell died March 7. 1864. 
\\'ilHam Murrv died October 31. 1861. 
James D. Ervin died at Little Rock. May 9. 1865. 
David H. Messick died at Memphis. April 10. 1865. 
William H. Woods died at Camp Butler. March 24, 

1865. 
William P. Brown died at Colmar. 111. 
Second-Lieutenant Andrew W. McGoughy was 

killed July 10. 1864. 
Sergeant Robert Pearson was killed at Shiloh. 

Tenn.. April 6. 1862. 
Corporal Joseph Gill was killed at Shiloh, Tenn., 

April 6. 1862. 
Thomas Faulkner was killed at Jackson. Miss.. 

July 12. 1862. 
Josiah Gill died at Natchez. Miss.. September 1. 

1863. 
William H. Matheny. a veteran, died at Natchez. 

Miss.. March 10. 1864. 
Albert Milligan was killed at the battle of Shi- 
loh. April 6. 1862. 
Seymore Nichols died of wounds received at 

Hatchie, October 15. 1863. 
Henry W. Penrose died at Memphis, Tenn., August 

5. 1862. 
Solomon R. Shepherd was killed at Shiloh. Tenn.. 

April 6. 1862. 
George Teas was killed at Shiloh. Tenn., April 6. 

1862. 
William Twitchell has been missing since the bat- 
tle of Shiloh, Tenn. 



Corporal James H. Welch was killed at Shiloh, 
Tenn.. April 6. 1862. 

Francis L. Warren died at Pittsburg Landing, 
April 15, 1862. 

James L. Carter died at Brownsville, Texas, No- 
vember 22. 1865. 

Joseph C. Plotts died at Fort Holt. Ky., Novem- 
ber 22. 1862. 

James R. Davis died at Brownsville, Texas, Au- 
gust 30. 1865. 

Martin Phillips died at Brownsville, Texas, No- 
\'ember 6. 1865. 

First-Sergeant James M. Shreeves died at Vicks- 
burg. August 19. 1863. 

Corporal David M. Cranbaugh, a veteran, died of 
wounds. April 19. 1863. 

George Bane was killed while on picket duty. July 
14. 1,S63. 

George W. Fowraker died at Walnut Hill. Miss., 
June 28. 1863. 

Robert M. Fugate died at Memphis, Tenn., Janu- 
ary 14. 1864. 

Oliver J. Hoyt was killed at Vicksburg, Miss.. May 
19. 1,863. 

Jesse N. Inman died at Memphis, Tenn., Septem- 
ber 27. 1862. 

Joseph B. Medaris died at Bushnell. 111., Mav 2, 
1864. 

Matthew McComb died at Bridgeport, III., Decem- 
ber 25. 1865. 

Joseph P. Putnam, a veteran, was mortally wound- 
ed at Kenesaw Mountain and left on the field 
June 27. 1864. 

William Snapp died at Camp Sherman, Miss., Au- 
gust 29. 1863. 

Sergeant H. H. Weaver died at St. Louis, April 
8. 1863. 

Corporal James B. Murphy was killed at Walnut 
Hills. June 25. 1863. 

Corporal William J. Eckley, a veteran, died of 
wounds .\ugust 15, 1864. 

George W. Eckley died at Camp Sherman, Miss., 
-August 8. 1863. 

John Sexton died at Camp Sherman, Miss., Au- 
gust 31. 1863. 

George Hanks died at Corinth. Tenn.. December 
24. 1862. 

(?'orporal William A. Blume was killed at Perry- 
ville. Ky.. October 8. 1862. 

Christ Brinay died of wounds July 29. 1864. 

James Cochran, a veteran, was killed at Nashville, 
Tenn.. December 16. 1864. 

Abraham G. Chute died at Springfield. Mo., No- 
vember 6. 1861. 

William H. Emeil was killed at Perryville. Ky., 
October 8. 1862. 

William H. Jarvis was killed at Perryville, Ky., 
October 8. 1862. 

Nathan Loge died at luka. Miss., August 9, 1862, 

Thomas Lawyer was killed at Perryville, Ky., Oc- 
tober 8. 1862. 

William Loftus died at Mound City, III., August 
6. 1863. 

John M. Mournong died at Lebanon. Miss.. Feb- 
ruary 10. 1863. 

James Murphy died of wounds March 18, 1862. 

George E. Norman was killed at Rocky Face 
Ridge. May 11. 1864. 

John %A'. Seward died October 22. 1863. 

Sergeant William Nelson died of wounds Decem- 
ber 1. 1863. 

James H. Sheets was killed at Stone River. De- 
cember 31. 1862. 

Henrv Torhouse. a veteran, died December 16. 1864. 

George W. Ramsey died at Jackson. Tenn.. Sep- 
tember 8. 1862. 

Corporal Andrew Kellough was killed near Cor- 
inth. May 8. 1863. 

William R. Jacobs died at Glendale. Miss., October 
1, 1863. 

James Lyons died at his home in Bardolph. July 
28. 1862. 

Samuel B. Stokes died at Decatur, Ala.. May 15. 
1864. 

Charles F. Winslow was killed near Atlanta, July 
22, 1864. 



740 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Jonathan Haynes died at St. Louis, Mo.. July 

Wil'liam"Fair died at Roanolte. S. C Marcli 31, 1,S65. 

William Kirkpatrick died while in the service. 

Lieutenant Garrett J. D. Jarvis was killed at Fort 
Blakeley, April 9, 1S65. 

Harmon F. Morris died at Paducah, October 9, 1S6J. 

John Myers died at Yazoo Pass, March IB, 1SB3. 

Peter Peters died at Selma, Ala., July 26. ISSa. 

John W. Rovce died at Columbus. Ky., October 21, 
1863. 

Patrick Brannan was killed at Franklm, Tenn., 
November 30, 1.S64. 

Colonel Carter Van Vleck died August 23. 1884. 
of wounds received at Atlanta, Ga. 

Major William L. Broaddus was killed September 
■X, ISK!. 

Martin V. Fugate was killed at Chickamauga, Sep- 
tember 20, 1863. 

Samuel H. Fugate died at Resaca, Ga., May li. 
1864, from wounds. 

Lebeus AUhouse died at Richmond, Va., February 
14, 1864. while a prisoner of war. 

Solomon Toland was killed at Chickamauga, Sep- 
tember 2t), 1863. 

Richard W. Scott died of wounds September 2. 1864. 

Second-Lieutenant John E. James was killed in 
battle June 27, 1864. 

Marshall C. Kline was killed at Atlanta, Ga.. Au- 
gust 7. 1864. 

George W. Dowell died at Nashville, Tenn.. Oc- 
tober 29, 1863. 
.John Forrest was killed at Jonesboro, Ga., Sep- 
tember 1, 1864. 

William W. Harmon died at Savannah, February 
21, 1865. 

John W. James was killed at Jonesboro, Ga., Sep- 
tember 1, 1,864. 

Thomas Lindsey died at Chattanooga. June 25, 1864. 

Jacob H. Michael was killed at Kenesaw Moun- 
tain, June 27, 1864. 

Sergeant Michael Mealev was killed at Atlanta, 
Ga., September 4, 1864. 

Charles H. Magie died at Nashville. Tenn.. August 
19. 1863. 

John Monahan died at Chattanooga, April 3. 1864. 

Charles L. Norris died November 6, 1864, at Chat- 
tanooga. 

John W. Rush was killed' at Jonesboro, Ga.. Sep- 
tember 1. 1864. 

Sylvester Riddell died at Nashville, Tenn., Decem- 
30, 1863. 

Cvril Tvft was killed at Jonesboro, Ga.. September 
1, 1S64. 

Richard L. Terry died of wounds in the service. 

Richard L. Allen died at Andersonville Prison, 
May 28. 1864. 

Albert C. Bennett died at Boston, Ky., November 
12, 1862. 

William H. Bowman died November 26. 1863, of 
wounds. 

Christopher Brown died at Richmond. Va.. Jan- 
uary 23, 1S64, while a prisoner of war. 

Simeon Craig died at Andersonville Prison. Sei>- 
tember 22." 1864; number of grave. 9.307. 

First-Sergeant Jerome J. Clark died of woimds 
April :50, 1.865. 

George H. Davis died of wounds October 2, 1863. 

Hugh H. Doran died in Andersonville Prison, May 
28, 1864. 

Benjamin F. Lane was killed at Chickamauga. 
September 20. 1863. 

Parmenium Hamilton died of wounds October 15, 
1863. 

Moses A. McCandless was killed near Grlggs- 
ville. Tenn.. November 26, 1S64. 

Francis M. Stewart died at Andersonville Prison, 
August 20, 1864; number of grave, 6,292. 

Thomas J. Vail died at Nashville. Tenn.. July 
3, 1863. 

William Weaver died of wounds September 6. 1S64. 

John R. Carroll died in Andersonville Prison, Au- 
gust 24, 1863. 

Samuel F. Gibson died in Andersonville Prison. 

July 29, 1,S64. 
:Sergeant Thomas M. W^hitehead died at Gallatin. 
Tenn., December 11, 1.862. 



Corporal Quincy A. Roberts was killed at Rocky 

Face Ridge. May 9, 1S63. 
Corporal Thomas J. Stearns died at Nashville, 

Tenn.. February 14, 1863. 
Silas E. Brotherton died at Lookout Mountain, 

Tenn., Augu.st 7, 1864. 
Samuel Blair died at Louisville, Kv., October 26, 

1863. 
John Baker died of wounds September 21, 1863. 
Milton Clark died at Nashville. Tenn., December 

25. 1862. 
George W. Caso died at Chickamauga, September 

21, 1863. 
John Driscoll died at Somerset. Ky., November 27, 

1S62. 
Frank Gadd died of wounds January 20, 1865, at 

Nashville, Tenn. 
Francis M. Hollidav was killed near Dallas, Ga., 

May 30. 1864. 
Edward O' Bryan was killed at Rocky Face Ridge, 

May 9, 1864. 
George Parks died of wounds at Nashville, Tenn., 

February 13, 1863. ' 
George R. Voorhees died April 13, 1862. 
Abel H. Willis died at Andersonville Prison, 

March 15. 1865. 
James P. McCamenout died September 1, 1862. 
George W. Willis died at Chattanooga, October 

13. 1863. 
Corporal Richard H. McClintock was killed at 

Chickamau.ga. September 20, 1863. 
Corporal David G. Harland died of wounds Jan- 
uary 3. 1863. 
Augustus Miles was killed at Chickamauga, Sep- 
tember 19, 1863. 
Coleman Mitchell died of wounds April 3, 1863. 
Samuel Walker died of wounds October 24, 1863. 
John A. Greer died June 9, 1865. 
Sergeant George T. Yocum was killed at Stone 

River, December 31. 1862. 
Sergeant John A. Evre died at Macomb, January 

16, 1864. 
Corporal Williani J. Hensiey died at Bowling 

Green. K.v.. December 29, 1862. 
Corporal Edward S. Piper died at Manchester, 

July IS. 1863. 
Corporal Nathan A. Miller died at Murfreesboro, 

Tenn.. May 22, 1864. 
Joseph T. Adcock died at Murfreesboro, Tenn.. 

January 6, 1863. 
Francis Brooks died at Louisville, Ky.. November 

23, 1862. 
David Brown died at Danville, Ky., December 10, 

1862. 
Jackson V. Ferguson died at Benton Barracks. 

Mo., February 10. 1863. 
Allen A. Hernrlon died at Nashville. February 20, 

1862. 
Alex. McQuestion died at Nashville. February 7, 

1863. 
Abraham Purdam died of wounds at Nashville, 

February 15, 1863. . 
Richard W. Pennington was killed at Stone River. 

December 31, 1862. 
John H. Rollins died at Nashville. Tenn.. January 

2. 1863. 
Josiah Swigart died at McDonough county. 111.. 

June 9, 1864. 
W^illiam H. Simmons died at Bowling Green. Ky., 

November 23, 1862. 
Edward Smith diedj of wounds September 22. 1863. 
Henry Vanmeter died at Dallas. Ga.. June 1, 1864. 
Abraham W. ^Villis died at Louisville, Ky,, De- 
cember 6, 1862. 
^Villiam H. Winslow died at Nashville, Tenn., De- 
cember 31. 1S62. 
Corporal Eli Elwell was killetl at Stone River. 

December 31. 1862. 
Corporal James H. Kennie died of wounds at Chat- 
tanooga, October 20. 1863. 
Vaehel Benson was killed at Stone River. Decem- 
ber 31. 1862. 
Christopher Enders was killed at Stone River, 

January 23, 1863. 
Allen Graves died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Jinu- 

ary 23, 186;J. 




SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, MACOMB 



•, ; U Ul-Ji^ 



T Trvo:< 1 



HisTcjRY OF Mcdonough county. 



741 



George W. Kerr died at Quincy. 111., February 
11. 1S64. 

Sergeant Thomas Campbell died at Cowan Sta- 
tion. Tenn.. July 27. 186.3. 

David P. Peterman died of wounds at Atlanta. 
Ga.. July 2S. 1S64. 

Artemu;; Myers was killed at Kenesaw Mountain, 
June 27. 1S64. 

Henry C. Martin died on steamer Di. Vernon. Jan- 
uary IS. 1863. 

James T. Burham died August 20. 1865. 

Sergeant Robert T. Carter died at Vic-ksbiirg, 
Miss., August 13. 1S64. 

John Covert died at Jefferson Barracks. Mo., Au- 
gust 24. 1864. 

Benjamin Duncan died at Memphis, Tenn., Au- 
gust 5. 1S64. 

Frederick Falch died at Mound City, 111., Decem- 
ber 30. 1862. 

Benjamin Frankenburg died of wounds at Jeffer- 
son Barracks. Mo.. December 13, 1864. 

Alpheus M. Gibson died at Quincy. 111.. December 
14, 1864. 

Wilson L. McKennelly died at Memphis. Tenn., 
July 20, 1864. 

William H. Couch died of wounds March 30. 1,S63. 

John Ittle died in the insane asylum at W'ash- 
ington. D. C October 1. 1863. 

Sergeant John Bechtel died at Lake Providence. 
La.. March 21. 1863. 

Thomas Broadbent died of wounds May 16. 1863. 

Abner Barrett died at Keokuk. Iowa, October 24, 
1863. 

John Bainbridge died at Memphis. Tenn., Janu- 
ary 28. 1863. 

William H. Bovd died at Jackson. Tenn.. Novem- 
ber 15. 1862. 

Simon Calbert died at Memphis, Tenn.. July 24. 1863. 

Job Gartside died at St. Louis. Mo.. November 1. 
1864. 

George Hall died at Jackson, Tenn., October 30, 
1862. 

Benlamin Bugg died at Memphis, Tenn., February 
17. 1863. 

Henry T. Forest was killed at Champion Hills. 
Miss.. May 16, 1863. 

Nathaniel M. Guv died at Vicksburg. Miss.. July 
S. 1863. 

Jasper Kennett died at Memphis. Tenn.. February 
11. 186:i. 

William C. Morris died at Oxford. Miss., December 
IB. 1862. 

Fla\-iiis J. S\'pherd died at home. December 27, 1864. 

Isaac N. Stodgill died after having been discharged 
on account of disability. 

George P. Hezlip died of wounds July 13. 1863. 

Amos B. Johnson died at Quincy, 111., April 27, 
1865. 

Surgeon William A. Huston died at Memphis, 
Tenn., June 25. 1864. 

Edward S. Brooking was killed while a prisoner 
near Memphis, Tenn. 

Henry P. Nichols died at home, December 2, 1S64. 

Samuel Sheley died at Memphis. September 1. 1864. 

Christopher P. Stantial was killed at Memphis. 
Tenn.. August 21. 1.864. 

John H. Lowell died at home May 26, 1S65. 

Henry H. Harris died at Memphis, Tenn., Septem- 
ber 1, 1864. 

Lieutenant Lester W. Porter was killed at Mem- 
phis. Tenn.. August 21. 1864. 

Corporal Thomas R. Ritenour died at Columbus, 
Ga., September 16, 1S65. 

Joseph Johnson died at Dalton. Ga.. May 18, 1865. 

Avery Hall died at Nashville. March 7, 1865. 

David Stolcup died of wounds at Chattanooga. 

John Clarrey died at St. I^ouis. 

Matthew Begg. a United States veteran, died at 
Cairo, 111., October 13, 1863. 

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. 

On Thursday. August 3, 1899, the splendid 
monument erected in the Macomb Public Parl\, 



to the memory of the soldiers of McDouougli 
County who yielded their lives for tlie life of 
the Nation during the War of the Rebellion, 
or who have since died, was unveiled with im- 
posing ceremonies. All interested in the af- 
fairs of McDonough County should know the 
history of this monument, erected at a cost of 
$4,000, by Mr. C. V. Chandler, of Macomb, out 
of his private means, and this chapter would 
be incomplete without an account thereof, to- 
gether with something of the record of the man 
through whose patriotism and public spirit was 
erected this splendid testimonial to perpetuate 
the memory of McDonough County patriots, of 
their valor, their self-sacrifice, and their heroic 
achievement during the dark days of 1861 to 
1865. 

Nearly one year before the date on which 
the late O. D. Doland i)laced the foundation for 
a monument in the City Park, speculation was 
rife as to the work in which he was engaged, 
but the only explanation furnished was that he 
was merely executing an order that had been 
placed in his hands. The public remained in 
the dark until the evening of ,lanuary 3, 1899, 
when, at a meeting of the Grand Army Post of 
Macomb, which was well attended by its mem- 
bers, as well as by a large number of other 
citizens, Mr. Chandler announced that he con- 
templated the erection of a monument to the 
memory of the men of McDonough who had 
participated in the war. 

In making this announcement be recited how, 
in that great struggle for national existence, 
half of the men of McDonough County of mili- 
tary age had offered themselves upon the altar 
of their country; also, how two attempts had 
been made to erect a soldiers' monument in 
the county, but had failed. When some fifteen 
years previous he had been awarded a pen- 
sion of $15 per month, he determined to erect 
a suitable memorial, at his own expense, and 
then began turning the sum received into a 
fund for this purpose, by investing it and 
adding thereto the accruing interest. Among 
his private papers there then existed a docu- 
ment instructing his executors, in the event of 
his death before the accomplishment of the 
work for which this fund was set apart, to carry 
out his inirpose. This document he exhibited 
with accompanying i]a])ers. All who know of 
the Chandler monument, to-day, rejoice to know 



742 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



that he lived to see the accomplishment of his 
plan and was himself able to direct the erection 
of this pile of enduring stone. The fund grew 
until it reached a sum sufficient, and the monu- 
ment, unveiled on August 3. 1899. is the result. 

Charles Velasco Chandler was born in Ma- 
comb within six hundred feet of the present 
site of the monument, the eldest son of the late 
Charles Chandler, for many years one of the 
foremost citizens of the county. In August, 
1S62, a company was being raised in Macomb, 
which was mustered in as Company I, Seventy- 
eighth Illinois Infantry. Mr. Chandler, who was 
then a youth of eighteen years, determined to 
enlist, and when his name was called and it 
came his turn to step forward and be sized and 
measured for a soldier by the strange officer 
in charge — so the story goes — another young 
man, a little taller, answered to the name, was 
examined, measured, and, having passed mus- 
ter, received |2 in cash as his reward. Enlist- 
ing first as a private, Mr. Chandler was pro- 
moted to Second-Lieutenant and afterwards as 
Adjutant. At the Battle of Chickaniauga he 
was shot through both legs, and it was on ac- 
count of these wounds that he drew his pen- 
sion, which he has lately applied to this pati'i- 
otic purpose. Returning at the conclusion of 
the war, he was employed in the bank of his 
father, and has continued in the banking busi- 
ness to this writing. 

The unveiling day proved to be unusually 
warm, but this did not prevent one of the larg- 
est crowds being present ever seen in Macomb. 
The services commenced in the afternoon, and 
the big procession of nearly one thousand 
strong was the initiative. The order of march 
was as follows: 

Platoon of Police 

Macomb Band 

Macomb Army Post 

Bushnell Army Post 

Other members of the Grand Army 

and old soldiers 

Women's Relief Corps 

Members of Board of Supervisors 

Macomb City Officials 

Uniformed Rank of K. Ps. 

Knights of Pythias 

Modern Woodmen of America 

Red Men 

Macomb Fire Department and Equipment 

Company F, Fifth Regiment I. N. G. 



The procession marched around the public 
square, to the west side of the City Park near 
the monument, and to the stand and seats pro- 
vided by Mr. Chandler for use of those in at- 
tendance. 

W. J. Franklin, Commander of Macomb G. A. 
R. Post, as Chairman of the meeting, took 
charge of proceedings. After music by the 
band and prayer by the Rev. J. H. Bratton, the 
meeting was opened for the further exercises 
of the day. Governor Tanner was not present, 
but Hon. L. Y. Sherman made a short address 
in his stead. After a patriotic air by the band, 
little George Chandler Mapes, a grandson of 
Mr. Chandler, pulled the cord which released 
the flag that hid the figure of the volunteer 
soldier surmounting a stately pile of granite. 
The unveiling was greeted with great applause 
and by the firing of three salutes by Company 
F, Illinois National Guard. After a few remarks 
by R. H. Berry, Chairman of the Board of Su- 
pervisors, and Mayor Switzer in behalf of Ma- 
comb, then came the dedicatory address by Ma- 
jor R. W. McClaughrey, which met the hearty 
approval of those who heard it. The Major was 
at his best, and that means much. This address 
was published in full in the city papers. 

Something not on the programme occurred 
after the address. This was the presentation to 
Mr. Chandler of an elaborate and costly Post 
Commander's Ai'my badge, the late Colonel B. 
F. Marsh making the presentation speech in his 
usual impressive manner. Mr. Chandler was 
taken comijletely by surprise and greatly af- 
fected by the unexpected compliment, and could 
only respond in a few words, which all could 
see and feel came from the heart. The badge 
bore this inscription: 



C. V. CH.4NDI.KK, 

Macomb, 111. 

OR.\.\D ARMY 01' 
THE REPUBLIC 

1861-1865. 

VETERAN. 



The inscription on the reverse was as fol- 
lows: 



From his 

m'donough county 

comrades and frr>:nds, 

August 3, 1889. 



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H'uBLiC LiJrfirx- 



ASTOR, t 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



743 



The vast audience joined in singing "Amer- 
ica," the benediction was pronounced by Com- 
rade Rev. J. H. Morgan, and the pleasing and 
patriotic programme was ended. 

The monument was made of Barre granite 
from an original design by the late O. D. Do- 
land. It is twenty feet in height, with a first 
base seven feet square, upon which rests a 
secondary base five feet square. The monu- 
ment is surmounted by the figure of a i)rivate 
■soldier — an infantryman — uniformed and accout- 
ered after the fashion of the Civil War period. 
The figure, which is seven feet high, is cai-ved 
from granite and stands at parade rest. The 
inscriptions read as follows: 

(West Side.) 



IX MEMOBV or THE MEN OF 

m'donough county who 

voi.uxt.\kily offered and 

freely ciave their lives 

"that gover.vsient of the people, 

by the people 

and for the people 

shall not perish 

from the earth." 



(South Side.) 



FORT DONELSON 

SHILOH 

CORINTH 

STONE RIVER. 



(North Side.) 



VICKSBUBli 

CHICKAMAUGA 

KENESAW 

ATLANTA 

HEXTONVILLE. 



(East Side.) 



Erected by Co.mbade 
C. V. Chandler 

OF THE 78th ILL. vol's. 

1899. 



Such is a brief history of the beautiful monu- 
ment which adorns the park of the city of Ma- 
comb; and it is pertinent to note as a matter 
:of historic interest that the City Park in which 



It stands was also donated by Mr. C. V. Chan- 
dler for the benefit of its citizens. 

In summarizing the part which McDonough 
County took in the Civil War, it Is found from 
the Adjutant General's report that the county 
was called upon to raise 2,737 men; the county 
was credited with 2,734, leaving a deficit of 
three men. It the seventy-one men who en- 
listed In the Tenth Missouri had been duly 
credited, together with many others joining 
companies which are credited to other coun- 
ties, the quota of this county would have been 
exceeded by at least 200 men. Only about 20 
of the 102 counties in the State furnished as 
great a number, proportionately. 

McDonough County was represented in 
thirty-three regiments and In seventy-eight 
companies. There were sixty-nine men from 
this county killed in battle, 182 wounded and 
176 died in the service. Many of the old soldiers 
still survive, but are rapidly passing away. 
Under date of March, 1906, National Command- 
er-in-Chief Corporal Tanner, of the G. A. R., 
publishes a statement which shows that 164 
members of the order are dying every twenty- 
four hours, or at the rate of one death in every 
eight and one-third minutes. But when it is 
remembered that the Civil War closed forty- 
two years ago, it must be realized that most 
of its participants now living are old men, who 
have, moreover, endured the specially great suf- 
ferings of that terrible conflict, as well as the 
ordinary hardships of life; so the rapid mor- 
tality of this uonored class of American citi- 
zens need not be wondered at. But the general 
sorrow over the rapid passing of the old sol- 
diers of the '60s is assuaged by the pride felt 
in their faithful service and unflinching loy- 
alty; and this pride is nowhere more sincere 
or more fittingly entertained than within the 
limits of McDonough County. 

Mexican and Spanish-American Wars. — Al- 
though of minor importance than the Bla.ck 
Hawk and Civil Wars — locally as to the for- 
mer and in the formidable character of the 
struggle as to the latter — it is to be presumed 
that McDonough County had some representa- 
tives in the Mexican War in spite of its com- 
paratively small population at that period. 
Owing to the meager and imperfect character 
of the records at that time, at least so far 



744 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



as the actual residence of volunteers is con- 
cerned, it is impossible to secure any reliable 
data as to the number and names of citizens 
of McDonough County who participated in that 
conflict. The First Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers, organized under command of Colonel 
John J. Hardin, of Jaclisonville, included sev- 
eral companies enlisted from counties west 
of the Illinois River and adjacent to McDon- 
ough County, and several of their officers be- 
came distinguished officers of the Union army 
during the Civil War. 

During the Spanish-American War several 
counties in the neighborhood of McDonough 
contributed to the muster-roll of the Fifth Reg- 
iment, and there is reason for believing that 
some of the enlistments in this regiment came 
from McDonough County, though it is not cred- 
ited in the Adjutant General's report with any 
company organization. Of some twenty-five 
provisional regiments partially organized 
throughout the State for the Spanish-Ameri- 
can War — but only one of wnich was called 
into actual service — one company was organ- 
ized at Macomb under the name of "Company 
L of The Hamilton's Sons' Provisional Regi- 
ment," with J. W. Stuart as Captain and R. 
Isaac Empey, i<irst Lieutenant. This fact gives 
evidence that the citizens of McDonough Coun- 
ty stood ready to bear their full share of re- 
sponsibility in that struggle, had occasion 
called for summoning them to the field. 



CHAPTER .XVII. 



MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS— PUBLIC UTILITIES. 

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMK.XT — MACOMB VILL.M.E AND 

CITY CHARTERS LIST OF MAYORS. ALDERMEX 

AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS — PUBLIC UTILITIES 
— WATER WORKS — FIRE DEPART.MENT — LIST OF 
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS — ELECTRIC LICHT AND 
CAS PLANT — PRESENT OFFICERS — TELEGRAPH AND 
TELEPHONE SERVICE. 

For the first ten years after the selection of 
Macomb as the county-seat of McDonough Coun- 
ty, it remained under the local authority of 
a Board of Commissioners, but under the 



provision of an act of the General Assembly, 
passed .lanuary 27, 1841, the government was 
entrusted to a Board of five Village Trustees 
elected annually. It is impossible now to obtain 
a complete record of the village officers for the 
early part of that period, and it has consequent- 
ly been necessary to take the list as it is found 
in "Clarke's History of McDonough County." 
For the period between 1S49 and 1S56, the sev- 
eral Boards of Village Trustees, as there re- 
corded for the years named, were as follows: 

1S49— William H. Randolph, A. S. Bonham, 
C. A. Lawson, T. .1. Beard, John P. Head. 

1850— William H. Franklin, R. W. Stephen- 
son, J. P. Head, W. L. Broaddus, Joseph E. 
Wyne, Charles Chandler, W. T. Head. 

1852 — B. R. Hampton, C. A. Lawson. J. M. 
Major, J. P. Updegraff, C. W. Dallam. 

1S53— T. Chandler, J. E. Wyne, J. L. N. Hall, 
W. S. Hendricks, J. M. Martin. 

1854— J. L. .\. Hall, J. M. Martin, J. E. Wyne, 
T. J. Beard, C. A. Lawson. 

1856— Abraham Rowe, J. E. Wyne, T. J. 
Beard. J. L. N. Hall, Garrett Bonham. Alex- 
ander McLean was Secretary for the previous 
year. 

The first step in the incorporation of Macomb 
as a city was taken in 1855 by the passage 
by the General Assembly, on February 15th, of 
an act granting a city charter on condition 
of its acceptance by vote of the people, to be 
taken in May following. Exactly what was 
the result of that vote is not stated in the 
local histories, but it is claimed that the first 
election of city officers was held on November 
8, 1856, the officers elected at that time hold- 
ing their positions until May following. Dur- 
ing the session of the Legislature of 1857 an- 
other act consolidating and amending iirevious 
acts on the subject, was passed and received 
the approval of Governor Bissell on February 
14th. This charter set forth the area and 
boundaries of the city as follows: 

The south half of Section 31. the southwest 
quarter of the northeast quarter of said Section 
31, and the northwest quarter of the same Sec- 
tion (31), all in T. 6 N.. R. 2 W. of the Fourth 
Principal Meridian; the southeast quarter of 
the northeast quarter of Section 36 and the 
southeast quarter of the same Section (30), 
In T. 6 N., R. 3 W. ; the northeast quarter of 
the northeast quarter of Section 1 in T. 5 N., 
R. 3 W. ; and the northwest quarter of Section 





^ 



pUiJUi-^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



745 



G in T. 5 N., R. 2 W., and the northwest quarter 
of the northeast quarter of the same section, — 
making a total of one and a half square miles. 

The following is a list of city officials after 
the date of incorporation: 

1856 — Mayor, John O. C. Wilson; Aldermen — 
James M. Campbell, Joseph McCroskey, Wil- 
liam H. Randolph, Samuel G. Cannon; Clerk, 
H. E. Worshara. 

1857 — Mayor, J. P. Updegraft; Aldermen — 
James M. Campbell, James Clarke, William L. 
Broaddus, O. F. Piper. William H. Franklin, Wil- 
liam H. Randolph, Thomas J. Beard, Samuel G. 
('annon; Clerk and Attorney, Carter Van Vleek; 
Marshal and Supervisor, G. L. Farwell; Treas- 
urer, G. W. Smith; Assessor and Collector, H. 
E. Worsham; Clerk and Surveyor, Charles A. 
Gilchrist; Sexton, David Clarke. 

1858 — Mayor, J. P. Updegraff; Aldermen — 
James Clarke, Charles Chandler, O. F. Piper, 
P. Hpmilton, William H. Franklin, W. E. With- 
row, Thomas J. Beard, S. G. Cannon; Clerk, 
William P. Barrett; Attorney, L. H. Waters; 
Marshal and Supervisor, William L. Broaddus; 
Treasurer, George W. Smith; Assessor and Col- 
lector, J. H. Cummings; Surveyor, George W. 
Page; Weigher, C. A. Humes. 

1859 — Mayor, James D. Walker; Aldermen — 
Charles Chandler. Joseph Burton, O. F. Piper, 
Joseph E. Wyne, George M. Wells, J. L. N. Hall, 
William P. Barrett, Samuel G. Cannon, 
(Thomas E. Morgan elected to fill vacancy of 
S. G. Cannon); Clerk and Attorney, George 
Wells; Marshal and Supervisor, George W. 
Smith; Treasurer, Assessor and Collector, J. 
H. Cummings; Weigher. Hugh Ervin; Sexton, 
Peter Clarke. 

1860 — Mayor, Charles Chandler; Aldermen — 
Joseph Burton, W. H. Neece. J. E. Wyne. R. H. 
Broaddus, G. M. Wells. J. L. N. Hall, Thomas 
E. Morgan, H. T. Chase; Clerk and Attorney. 
George Wells; Marshal and Supervisor, George 
W. Smith; Treasurer, W. W. Provine, Assessor 
and Collector. C. M. Ray. 

1861 — Mayor, James B. Kyle; Aldermen — 
W. H. Neece. John Knappenberger, R. H. Broad- 
dus, 1. L. Twyman, J. L. N. Hall, T. M. Jordan. 
H. T. Chase, Loven Garrett; Clerk and Attor- 
ney, George Wells; Marshal, G. L. Farwell (re- 
signed — R. H. Broaddus filled vacancy) ; Treas- 
urer, W. W. Provine; Assessor and Collector. 
C. M. Ray; Surveyor, A. J. White; Supervisor, 
George W. Smith; Weigher, J. W. Westfall. 
9 



1862 — Mayor, B. F. Martin; Aldermen — John 
Knappenberger, J. H. Baker. I. L. Twyman, 
Elisha Morse, Jr., T. M. Jordan, L. Clisby, Loven 
Garrett, Washington Goodwin; Clerk and Attor- 
ney, George Wells; Marshal, J. Q. Lane; Treas- 
urer, W. W. Provine; Assessor and Collector, 
C. M. Ray, Weigher, G. W. Smith. 

1863— Mayor, Edward A. Floyd; Aldermen — 
J. H. Baker. Alexander McLean, R. L. Cochrane, 
O. F. Piper, L. Clisby, W. E. Withrow, Wash- 
ington Goodwin, S. F. Lacy; Clerk and Attor- 
ney, George Wells; Marshal, J. P. Updegraff 
( resigned — George W. Smith appointed to fill 
vacancy): Treasurer. W. W. Provine (W. T. 
Winslow. to fill vacancy); Assessor and Col- 
lector. John L. Anderson; Supervisor, G. W. 
Smith; Weigher, Thomas Gilmore. 

1864 — Mayor, Thomas M. Jordan; Aldermen 
— Alexander McLean, Joseph Durr. R. L. Coch- 
rane. James Anderson, William E, Withrow, 
L. Clisby, S. F. Lance, John Penrose: Clerk 
and Attorney, C. F. Wheat; Marshal and Su- 
pervisor, Chauncey Case; Treasurer, M. T. 
Winslow: Surveyor, James W. Brattle; Weigh- 
er, William G. Cord. 

1S65 — Mayor, Thomas M. Jordan; Aldermen 
— Joseph Durr, J. W. Blount, James Anderson, 
R. L. Cochrane. L. Clisby, J. P. Updegraff, John 
Penrose, James Brown; Clerk, W. E. Withrow; 
Marshal. Assessor and (Collector, John E. Lane; 
Treasurer, M. T. Winslow; Attorney, C. F. 
Wheat; Surveyor, James W. Brattle; Supervi- 
sor. George W. Smith; Weigher. W. G. Cord; 
Sexton, W. Doolan. 

1866 — Mayor, Joseph M. Martin; Aldermen — 
J. W. Blount, S. G. Wadsworth, R. L. Cochrane, 
W. F. Bayne, J. P. Updegraff. W. S. Hill, B. 
B. Hamill. R. J. Adcock; Clerk, W. E. With- 
row; Marshal. J. E. Lane; Treasurer, M. T. 
Winslow; Attorney, C. F. Wheat; Assessor and 
Collector, J. E. Lane; Surveyor. James W. Brat- 
tle; Supervisor, G. W. Curtis; Weigher, I. 
Hillyer; Sexton, John Axford. 

1867 — Mayor, T. M. Jordan; Aldermen — C. H. 
Bayne, J. W. Blount, W. F. Bayne, R. L. Coch- 
rane, W. S. Hail, William Venable. Jonathan 
Shute. E. B. Hamill; Clerk. W. E. Withrow; 
Marshal and Supervisor, T. M. Gilfrey; Treas- 
urer, M. T. Winslow; Attorney, Asa A. Matte- 
son; Assessor and Collector, T. B. Maury; Sur- 
veyor, James W. Brattle; Weigher, Isaac Hill- 
yer; Sexton, John Axford. 



746 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



1868 — Mayor, J. P. Updegraff; Aldermen — J. 
W. Blount, W. H. Hainllne, R. L. Cochrane, 
O. F. Piper, William Venable. E. L. Wells, B. 
B. Hamill, J. W. Mcintosh; Clerk, W. E. With- 
row; Marshal and Supervisor, G. L. Farwell; 
Treasurer, J. H. Cummings; Attorney, C. F. 
Wheat; Assessor and Collector, H. W. Gash; 
Surveyor, James W. Brattle; Weigher, D. 
Blazer; Sexton, J. Axford. 

1869— Mayor, G. K. Hall; Aldermen— W. H. 
Hainline, J. T. Adcock. O. F. Piper, C. N. Hard- 
ing. E. L. Wells. William Venable, J. W. Mc- 
intosh. T. 1.. Kendrick; Clerk. W. E. Withrow; 
Marshal and Supervisor, J. A. Chapman; Treas- 
urer, M. T. Winslow; Attorney, A. A. Matte- 
son; Assessor, J. W. Blount; Collector, J. E. 
Wyne; Surveyor. .T. W. Brattle; Weigher, D. 
Blazer; Sexton John Axford. 

1870 — Mayor, Joseph E. Wyne; Aldermen — J. 
T. Adcock, T. Chandler, C. N. Harding, J. H. 
Cummings, W. Venable, A. B. Chapman, T. L. 
Kendrick, J. Durr; Clerk, H. R. Bartleson; 
Marshal, J. Scott; Treasurer, C. V. Chandler; 
Attorney. L. A. Simmons; Assessor, J. W. West- 
fall; Collector, C. C. Chapman; Surveyor, J. 
A. Chapman; Weigher, B. T. Applegate; Sex- 
ton, Ben Vail. 

1871 — Mayor, Joseph M. Martin; Aldermen — 
T. Chandler, B. F. Martin. J. H. Cummings, J. 
McMillen, A. B. Chapman, Thomas Gilmore, 
S. F. Lancey, J. W. Mcintosh; Clerk, H. R. 
Bartleson; Marshal, J. Hillyer; Treasurer, C. V. 
Chandler; Attorney, J. G. Mosher; Assessor, J. 
S. Gash; Collector, S. G. Wadsworth; Surveyor, 
J. W. Brattle; Supervisor. G. W. Smith; 
Weigher. B. T. Applegate; Sexton, J. Axford. 

1872 — Mayor, Charles N. Harding; Aldermen 
— B. T. Martin, T. Chandler, J. McMillan, J. H. 
Cummings, Thomas Gilmore. William Venable, 
J. W. Mcintosh. James Gamage; Clerk. W. E. 
Withrow; Marshal, John Hillyer; Treasurer, C. 
V. Chandler; Attorney. W. J. Franklin; Asses- 
sor, J. S. Gash; Collector, W. I. Twyman; Sur- 
veyor, J. W. Hrattle; Supervisor, G. W. Smith: 
Weigher. Isaac Hillyer; Sexton. J. Axford. 

1873 — Mayor, Alexander McLean; Aldermen 
— ^T. Chandler, S. A. M. Ross. J. H. Cummings, 
R. L. Cochrane. William Venable, F. R. Kyle, 
J. Gamage, W. G. McClellan; Clerk and Attor- 
ney, E. P. Pillsbury; Marshal, H. G. Cheatham; 
Treasurer. C. V. Chandler, Assessor, H. Erwin; 
Collector, J. T. Martin; Surveyor, J. W. Brat- 



tle; Supervisor, George W. Smith; Weigher, I. 
Hillyer; Sexton, J. Axford. 

1874 — Mayor, Alexander McLean; Aldermen 
— S. A. M. Ross, J. W. Cook, R. L. Cochrane, 
J. H. Cummings, F. R. Kyle, William Venable, 
W. G. McClellan, James Gamage; Clerk, O. 
F. Piper; Marshal, Karr McClintock; Treas- 
urer, C. V. Chandler; Attorney, E. P. Pillsbury; 
Assessor, H. Erwin; Collector, Henderson 
Ritchie; Surveyor, J. W. Brattle; Supervisor, 
A. Hudson; Weigher, J. H. Nicholson; Sexton, 
J. Axford. 

1875 — Mayor, Alexander McLean; Aldermen 
—J. W. Cook. W. E. Martin. J. H. Cummings, 
J. E. Wyne, William Venable, C. N. Harding, 
J. Gamage. D. M. Graves; Clerk, O. F. Piper; 
Marshal, Karr McClintock; Treasurer, C. V. 
Chandler; Attorney, E. P. Pillsbury; Assessor, 
J. C. Reynolds; Collector, Robert Brooking; 
Surveyor, J. W. Brattle; Supervisor. A. Hud- 
son; Weigher. H. Erwin; Sexton, J. Axford. 

1876 — Mayor, Alexander McLean; Aldermen 
— W. E. Martin. E. F. Bradford, J. E. Wyne, 
J. H. Cummings, C. N. Harding, David Scott, 

D. M. Graves, James Gamage; Clerk, O. F. 
Piper; Marshal, Karr McClintock; Treasurer, 
C. V. Chandler; Collector, J. M. Martin; Attor- 
ney, J. H. Franklin; Assessor, H. W. Gash; Sur- 
veyor, J. W. Brattle; Supervisor. John Shan- 
non; Weigher, J. S. Smith; Sexton, J. Axford. 

1877 — Mayor. Asher Blount; Aldermen — E. 
F. Bradford, W. E. Martin. J. H. Cummings, 
J. E. Wyne, D. Scott. John McLean, J. Gamage, 
W. O. Thomas; Clerk, L. E. Wyne; Marshal, 
K. McClintock; Treasurer. C. V. Chandler; At- 
torney. J. H. Franklin; Assessor, H. Erwin; 
Collector. W. H. Shetterley; Surveyor. J. W. 
Brattle; Supervisor, G. B. Gash; Weigher, J. S. 
Smith; Sexton, J. Shannon. 

1878— Mayor. W. F. Bayne; Aldermen— W. 

E. Martin, E. L. Wells. J. E. Wyne, J. H. Cum- 
minsis, John McLean. .\. B. Lightener. W. 
O. Thomas, J. M. Hume; Clerk, L. E. Wyne; 
Marshal. K. McClintock; Attorney, J. M. Blazer; 
Treasurer, C. V. Chandler; Assessor, J. W. 
Westfall; Collector, R. L. Cochrane; Surveyor, 
J. W. Brattle; Supervisor, John Masterson; 
Weigher. Hiram Russell: Sexton. John Shan 
non. 

1879— Mayor, G. C. Gumbart. Aldermen— E. 
L. Wells, G. W. Price, J. H. Cummings. J. 
T. Price. A. B. Lightener, I. N. Jellison. J. M. 





^j^y<^Si5i-^l^^ 



r UUIJI-^ 



rt^OX 






HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



747 



Hume, W. H. Shetterley; Clerk, James Venable; 
Marshal, A. UpdegiafE; Treasurer, C. V. Chand- 
ler; Attorney, J. M. Blazer; Assessor, G. W. 
Eyre; Collector, J. M. Martin: Surveyor, J. 
W. Brattle; Supervisor, John Hillyer; Weigher, 
H. Russell; Sexton, J. B. Russell. 

1880— Mayor, G. C. Gumbart; Aldermen— C. 
F. Wheat, G. W. Pace, R. L. Cochrane, T. J. 
Price, John Robinson, Newton Jellison, J. T. 
Russell. W. H. Shetterley; Clerk, D. Knapp: 
Marshal, K. McClintock; Treasurer, C. V. 
Chandler; Attorney, J. M. Blazer; Assessor, O. 
F. Piper; Collector, J. M. Hume; Surveyor, 
Cephas Holmes; Supervisor, J. C. Simmons; 
Weigher, H. Russell; Sexton, J. B. Russell. 

ISSl — Mayor, William Prentiss: Aldermen — 
Ed. Farmer, C. F. Wheat. W. S. Bailey, R. L. 
Cochrane, John McElrath, J. Robinson, J. T. 
Russell, J. M. Hume; Clerk, D. M. Graves; Mar- 
shal, K. McClintock; Treasurer, C. V. Chan- 
dler; Attorney, J. H. Bacon; Assessor, G. W. 
Eyre: Collector, T. J. Price; Surveyor. C. 
Holmes; Supervisor, J. C. Simmons; Weigher. 
H.Russell; Sexton, J. Axford. 

1882 — Mayor, Asher Blount; Aldermen — S. A. 
M. Ross, S. P. Danley, C. M. Cadwallader, W. 
F. Bayne, G. P. Wells, J. C. McClellan, J. L. 
Baily. Edgar Bolles; Clerk, I. M. Martin: Mar- 
shal, K. McClintock; Treasurer, C. V. Chandler: 
Attorney, H. C. Agnew; Assessor, G. W. Eyre; 
Collector, J. T. Russell: Superintendent of 
Streets, J. Shannon; Weigher, H. Russell; Sex- 
ton, J. Axford. 

1883— Mayor, W. E. Martin; Aldermen— S. P. 
Danley, J. W. Adcock, W. F. Bayne, B. F. Ran- 
dolph, G. P. Wells. .John McLean. Edgar Bolles. 
M. T. Winslow; Clerk, I. M. Martin; Treasurer, 
C. V. Chandler: Attorney, J. H. Bacon; Mar- 
shal, A. Updegraff; Assessor, J. W. Liggett: 
Collector, B. J. Head; Superintendent, G. But- 
terfield; Weigher, H. Russell; Sexton, J. Ax- 
ford. 

1884— Mayor. W. E. Martin; Aldermen— S. P. 
Danley, B. F. Randolph. W. F. Bayne. J. Mc- 
Lean, J. Archer, J. W. Scott. M. T. Winslow, 
W. O. Thomas: Clerk, I. M. Martin; Treasurer, 
C. V. Chandler; Attorney, J. H. Bacon; Mar- 
shal, A. Updegraff; Assessor, G. W. Eyre; Col- 
lector, R. T. Quinn; Superintendent, J. Mas- 
terson; Weigher. H. Russell; Sexton, .John Ax- 
ford. 

The Mayor and other general city officers 



being elective biennially (in off-years), their 
names are presented in the following list in 
two year periods, with the year of election. In 
the City Council each ward is represented by 
two Aldermen, chosen, respectively, in alter- 
nate years, but each holding office two years. 
As this changes the personnel of the Council 
annually, the complete list is given for each 
year, the representatives of the four wards ap- 
pearing consecutively in groups of two for 
each ward, which avoids the necessity of re- 
peating the number of the ward in connection 
with the names of Aldermen: 

1885— Mayor, Charles W. Dines; City Clerk, 
Isaac M. Martin; City Treasurer, James H. Pro- 
vine: City Attorney, Lawrence Y. Sherman: Al- 
dermen — (1S8.5) Sam Danley. Wheeler Wells, 
W. F. Bayne, G. E. Kelley, John Scott, John 
Archer, W. O. Thomas, Henry Rost; (1886) 
Wheeler Wells, W. C. Burke, G. E. Kelley. J. W. 
Howard, John Scott, John Archer, Henry Rost, 
S. B. Dawson. 

1887— Mayor, W. B. Martin; Clerk, Stanton 
Aldredge; Attorney, George D. Tunnicliff; 
Treasurer, B. F. McLean; Aldermen — (1887) 
Wheeler Wells, W. C. Burke, J. W. Howard, H. 
H. Smith, John Scott, R. W. Bailey, S. B. Daw- 
son, A. J. Leach; (1888) Wheeler Wells, W. C. 
Burke. H. H. Smith, J. H. Cummings, R. W. Bai- 
ley, E. P. Pillsbury, A. J. Leach, John Helms. 

1889 — Mayor, Charles I. Imes; Clerk, Stanton 
Aldredge: Treasurer, J. H. Provine; Attorney. 
J. D. Wooten; Aldermen— (1889) W. C. Burke, 
Wheeler Wells, H. H. Smith, J. H. Cummings, E. 
P. Pillsbury, James Venable, John Helms, A. J. 
Leach: (1890) Gary Adcock, Peter Haslett, J. 
H. Cummings, C. B. Ingram, James Venable, 
Robert Brooking. A. J. Leach. John Helms. 

1891- Mayor, A. B. Lightner; Clerk, Edgar 
."Mdredge; Attorney, J. D. Wooten; Treasurer, 
J. O. Peasley; Aldermen — (1S91) Gary Adcock. 
C. L. Wilson, C B. Ingram, George Hoskinson, 
Robert Brooking, Hugh Watson, John Helms, 
W. E. Thompson; (1892) C. L. Wilson, E. T. 
Walker, George Hoskinson, Karr McClintock, 
Hugh Watson, Isaiah Odenweller, W. E. Thomp- 
son, .lohn Helms. 

1893— Mayor, W. H. Hainline; Clerk, W. H.^ 
Wilson; .\ttorney, Thomas McCIure; Treasurer, 

B. F. McLean; Aldermen— (1893) E. T. Walker, 

C. V. Chandler, Karr McClintock, George M. 
Hoskinson. Isaiah Odenweller, M. Baldridge, 



748 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



John Helms, W. E. Thompson; (1894) C. V. 
Chandler, E. T. Walker, George Hoskinson, 
Karr McClintock, M. Baldridge, Charles Hen- 
dricks. W. E. Thompson, Joseph Larner. 

1895— Mayor, W. E. Martin; Clerk, W. H. 
Wilson; Attorney, Thomas McClure; Treasurer, 
Frank Mapes; Aldermen — (1895) E. T. Walker, 
C. V. Chandler, Karr McClintock, George Hos- 
kinson, Charles Hendricks, John Barclay, Jo- 
seph Larner, W. E. Thompson: (1896) C. V. 
Chandler, J. H. Butterfield, George Hoskinson, 
Elias Barley, John Barclay, James Bailey, W. E. 
Thompson, L. W. Camp. 

1897— Mayor, Isaiah Odenweller; Clerk, W. H. 
Wilson; Attorney, W. Tunnicliff; Treasurer, J. 
O. Peasley; Aldermen— (1897) J. B. Butter- 
field, C. V. Chandler, Elias Barley, Bert Morgan, 
James Bailey, James C. Smith, L. W. Camp, 
Ed. Holden; (1898) C. V. Chandler, W. J. Pech, 
Bert Morgan. W. E. Venard, J. C. Smith, J. W. 
Bailey, Ed. Holden, Charles E. Martin. 

1899— Mayor, Theodore B. Switzer; Clerk, 
Charles B. Smithers; Attorney, C. W. Flack; 
Treasurer, C. V. Chandler; Aldermen — (1899) 
W. J. Pech, J. W. Ralston, W. E. Venard, George 
Russell, J. W. Bailey, J. C. Smith; Charles E. 
Martin, P. H. Tiernan; (1900) J. W. Ralston, 
W. J. Pech, George Russell, W. E. Venard, J. C. 
Smith, George Kerman, P. H. Tiernan, Fred 
Gilbert. 

1901— Mayor, W. J. Pech; Clerk, C. B. Smith- 
ers; Attorney, Conrad uumbart; Treasurer. 
Frank Mapes; Aldermen — (1901) C. V. Chan- 
dler, J. W. Ralston. W. E. Venard, George H. 
Russell, George Kerman, J. E. Cordell. Fred 
Gilbert. P. H. Tiernan; (1902) .T. W. Ralston, 
John Senn, George Russell, J. O. Peasley. J. E. 
Cordell, Don Pennywitt, P. H. Tiernan. W. E. 
Thompson. 

1903 — Mayor, Isaiah Odenweller; Clerk, Ray 
Brooking; Attorney, Conrad Gumbart; Treas- 
urer, C. V. Chandler; Aldermen— (1903) John 
Senn. C. G. Chandler, J. O. Peasley, George Rus- 
sell, Don Pennywitt, R. V. Purdum, W. E. 
Thompson, P. H. Tiernan; (1904) C. G. Chan- 
dler; L. A. Ross, George Russell, J. O. Peasley, 
R. V. Purdum, Charles W. Gilmore, P. H. Tier- 
nan, W. S. Sperry. 

1905— Mayor, I. M. Fellheimer; Clerk, F. G. 
McClellan; Attorney. H. M. Tabler; Treasurer, 
Frank Mapes; Alderman — (1905) L. A. Ross, 
Samuel Russell. J. O. Peasley, Gary W. Adcock, 
Charles W. Gilmore, R. V. Purdum, W. S. 



Sperry, Peter Campbell; (1906) Samuel Rua- 
sell, J. M. Pace, Gary Adcock, Orlo Piper, R. V. 
Purdum, R. W. Oakman, Peter Campbell, Oliver 
Thompson. 

1907— Mayor, Samuel Russell; Clerk, C. B. 
Smithers; Attorney, H. M. Tabler; Treasurer, 
C. V. Chandler; Aldermen — (elected in 1907) 
J. M. Pace, Fred Ralston, Gary Adcock, Orlo 
Piper, R. W. Oakman, R. V. Purdum, Oliver 
Thompson, Ford Fisher. 

The city had over 6,000 inhabitants in 1907, 
and is considered one of the best built and 
governed cities of its size in the State of 
Illinois. 

City Water Works. — In 1903, the present 
water works of the City of Macomb were con- 
structed by Mr. Morgan, a noted engineer of 
Chicago. The system includes a combination 
of ordinary gravitation and direct action from 
the pumps. There is a steel stand-pipe, nearly 
100 feet in height, which affords pressure suffi- 
cient to reach the highest buildings. There is 
also a large reservoir some 60 feet in diameter, 
sufficient for any ordinary emergency. The 
water primarily was obtained from two wells 
respectively, some 1600 to 1700 feet in depth, 
but the water being largely impregnated with 
sulphur, was not desirable for steam and cull- 
nary purposes. So. in 1905. wells were sunk 
in the Third Ward, and the water obtained 
from them is of excellent quality but limited in 
quantity. The total cost of the works to date 
amounts to something over $25,000. The pro- 
curing of a sufficient supply of water Is con- 
sidered a serious and most important problem, 
and may result in an attempt to establish a 
connection with Crooked Creek. The works are 
owned and operated by the City, and have 
proved of great benefit for sanitary purposes, 
the city having been properly sewered and 
mains laid on all the principal streets. 

FiRK Dkpart.mknt. — The headquarters of the 
Macomb Fire Department are located at No. 220 
North Lafayette Street. Following is a list of 
the officers and members: 

Fire Marshal, Douglas McCaughey. 

First Assistant. B. T. Whitson. 

Second Assistant, William Gesler. 

Members — Charles Applegate, William Chan- 
dler. John Daugherty, William Gesler, Thomas 
Hoskinson. M. T. Price. William Hill. Gardie 
Chandler and Harry Thompson. 




Court House, Macomb. Built in 1836 




Court House, Macomb. Built in 1871-2 



,. i_, L-tX'-f ^- 



-n 



' TILDEN POUKDATION^ 






HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



749 



The department is well housed, conveniently 
situated, and its equipment consists of hose car- 
riage, ladder carriage and large chemical car- 
riage. It has proved to be a useful organiza- 
tion. 



The Bell Telephone Company office is located 
at 202 North Lafayette Street, with W. E. Mar- 
tin as manager. 



Electric Light and Gas Plant. — The first 
gas-works in the city of Macomb were erected 
by a Chicago company, Alexander McLean 
acting as agent for the same. The first mains 
laid in October, 1874, were wooden and were 
continued in use until March 1880, when the 
plant, situated in the City Park, was destroyed 
by fire but rebuilt in March. 1881. The present 
buildings are situated on East Carroll Street, 
with modern machinery, and have two large 
gas holders. In addition an electric system was 
installed several years ago, which has two large 
engines, capable of producing electrical energy 
to any extent required in the city. These works 
are held by a private corporation with a capital 
of $,^iO,000, the principal stockholders being A. 
Eads. I. N. Pearson, William Cummings, B. F. 
McLean, the estate of Joseph W. Mcintosh, 
and others. The officers of the company are 
George W. Bailey, President: H. W. Cummings, 
Secretary, and .1. W. Bailey, Treasurer. The 
■works are in charge of Fred S. Armstrong, as 
Superintendent. 

Telegraph and Telephone Service. — The 
Western Union Telegraph Company has the 
only telegraph office in the city, located at the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Depot, 
31.5 North Randolph Street. 

The Illinois Western Telephone Company 
was first organized in Industry by P. Avery 
and George Garrison, in May, 1902. In 1904 it 
was reorganized, with headquarters at Augusta, 
Hancock County, but subsequently the offices 
were removed to Macomb. At the time of re- 
organization the name of the corporation was 
changed, and it is now known as the Illinois 
Western Telephone Company. It is based on a 
capital stock of $200,000. and has the following 
named officers: President. C. W. Erwin; Sec- 
retary and Treasurer, Edward Y. McLean; Di- 
rectors, C. W. Erwin, George Kerman, L. B. 
Vose, Mrs. Bell Erwin and L. E. Gray. The 
central offices are in the Eads Building, No. 
Ill East Carroll Street. Communication is 
furnished throughout the Military Tract and 
with long distance Bell lines. 



CHAPTER XVni. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

M'noNOUGH county'.s first court house a prim- 
itive LOG cabin erected AT A COST OF $69.50 — 
X SECOND BUILDING COMPLETED IN 1834 AND 
SERVES FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS — IT BECOMES 
UNSAFE IN THE EARLY 'SIXTIES AND THE PRES- 
ENT BUILDING IS PROJECTED IN 1868 A TIE-UP 

ON THE QUESTION OF M.\C0MB'S CONTRIBUTION 
TO THE COST — THE ISSUE SOLVED ISY THE GEN- 
EROSITY OF .\ MACOMB BUSINESS MAN COST OF 

THE BUILDING, FURNISHING.S AND ACCOMPANI- 
ME.N'TS. AS FINISHED IN 1872, $155,370 — DE- 
SCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING — FIRST .TAIL ERECT- 
ED IN 1833-34 — DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT 
.TAIL. COMPLETED IN 1876 — COtTNTY ALMSHOUSE. 

The first building constructed for use as a 
court house in McDonough County was erected 
in 1831, in accordance with an order adopted 
by the Board of County Commissioners on April 
12th of that year. The specifications adopted 
by the Board provided that the building should 
be constructed of logs, hewed on both sides, 
should be 18 by 20 feet in dimensions, "with 
a white-oak plank floor above, and below, laid 
loose," should be "nine feet between joists and 
sleepers," that the walls should be "chinked 
and daubed on the out side," that it should be 
provided with "a good batten door, hung on 
good iron hinges," that it should have two 
windows, one witn twelve panes of glass and 
the other with six panes, protected by batten 
shutters, the "undertaker" (or contractor) to 
furnish all material except the glass, and the 
building to be finished by the first of September 
following. The contract was awarded the same 
day the order was adopted to William South- 
ward, the cost to be $69.50. The building was 
completed within the time specified, and the 
circuit court met there for its second term in 
the county, there being present at the session 
Richard M. Young as presiding .Tustice, and 



750 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Thomas Ford as State's Attorney, with William 
Southward, Sheriff, and James M. Campbell, 
Circuit Clerk. 

By 1833, this building being found inadequate 
for court purposes, at the May term of that 
year, the County Board adopted an order tor 
the erection of a new building to be constructed 
of brick, two stories in height and forty-six 
feet square, upon a stone foundation with 
frame cupola from the center three feet high. 
James Clark, Moses Henton and Benjamin T. 
Naylor were appointed a committee to superin- 
tend the erection of the building, and the con- 
tract for the stone and brick work was awarded 
to George Miller and John T. Bishop, tor the 
sum of $2,49S with the proviso that the build- 
ing be completed by November 1, 1S34. In 
September, 1835, a contract was entered into 
with Morris Roberts and David F. Martin to 
construct an enclosure for the building at a 
cost of $1,334 and by another contract the 
completion of the wood-work, painting, etc., 
was provided for on a basis of $l.<ion, the con- 
tractors being Benjamin T. Naylor and Robert 
A. Brazleton, making the total cost of the build- 
ing with the enclosure $4,832. The contracts 
were completed and the first session of the 
Circuit Court was held in the new building in 
the fall of 1836. 

This building was used for Circuit Court and 
other county purposes for a period of thirty- 
three years (1836 to 1869), except during the 
years between 1860 and 1866, when the walls 
were deemed unsafe. During the former year. 
while Hon. Chauncey L. Higbee was delivering 
a political speech in the court-room, the walls 
began to crack (whether on account of the 
speaker's eloquence or for some other reason 
is not stated in the local histories), producing 
a small panic which soon resulted in emptying 
the building, which was not afterwards used 
for court purposes until 1866, when it was 
partially repaired, Campbell's Hall, in the 
meantime, being occupied for this purpose. 

An urgent demand for the erection of a new 
building having arisen, at the meeting of the 
Board of Supervisors held in September, 1868, 
a resolution was adopted proposing that the 
work be undertaken "with as little delay as 
possible." A supplementary resolution was 
adopted at the same meeting appointing L. G. 
Reid as a committee to procure plans and speci- 
fications for the proposed building, and to con- 



fer with the Macomb City Council in reference 
to securing aid for its construction, with in- 
struction to report to the Board at a special 
meeting to be held on the first Monday in Oc- 
tober following. At this meeting a resolution 
was adopted declaring that the "Board refuse 
to erect a court house in the city of Macomb 
until said city become legally obligated to 
donate in aid of the construction of the same 
$2(1.000." As a result of this action the Macomb 
City Council proposed to donate $15,000 to the 
purpose, but refused to increase their appropria- 
tion beyond this sum. This disagreement 
threatened to delay the enterprise indefinitely, 
if not promote the scheme for the removal of 
the county-seat to the city of Bushnell, which 
had started a movement for this purpose. The 
issue, however, was settled by the offer of N. 
P. Tinsley, a public-spirited business man of 
Macomb, to assume responsibility for the extra 
$5,000 demanded by the County Board. A re- 
quest for i)lans and specifications for the pro- 
posed new building was promptly issued, re- 
sulting in the adoption of those submitted by 
E. E. Myers, an architect of Springfield, 111., 
and at an adjourned meeting of the Board held 
on the 29th of December, following, twelve bids 
were opened, the proposals ranging from $125,- 
noo to $160,000. These not being deemed 
satisfactory, new proposals were invited. This 
call was answered by ten bidders, the pro- 
posals in this case ranging from $110,000 
to $143,000. The contract was finally award- 
ed to Messrs. Walbaum & Co., of Chicago, on 
the basis of $129,000, and L. G. Reid. of La- 
moine Township, was appointed to superintend 
the work at a salary of $1,200 per annum. The 
contract provided for the completion of the 
building by the first of November, 1870, but 
this was not accomplished until the summer of 
1872 Other expenses — of which $5,650 w-as on 
account of heating apparatus, $5,777 for furni- 
ture, and $6,289 for fencing — raised the total 
cost of the building and furnishings to $155,370. 

Dkscrii'tion of Btiii,din<;. — The Court House 
which has undergone no important changes 
since its completion in the early 'seventies, 
except as to furnishings and internal improve- 
ments, is described in Clarke's "History of 
McDonough County" (1878), as follows: 

"The exterior of the building presents an 
imposing appearance and harmonious picture 




Old M. E. Church. Built about 1856 
Now occupied by Macomb Fire Department 



Calaboose. Macomb 
Built in 1840 




County Jail, Macomb. Built in 1876 




T -NOX 

. atione 



HISTORY OF McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



751 



from whatever point of view it is approaclied. 
It is situated in the center of the square, in 
the midst of a beautifully decorated yard, en- 
closed by a neat and substantial iron fence. 
This square is in the center of the city and 
within a few hundred yards of the exact center 
of the county. The building is one of the 
neatest and best in the State used for a like 
purpose, and one to which every resident of the 
county points with pride. The many valuable 
public records of the county are considered 
safe within its walls. 

"The building is of modern style of architect- 
ure, and is three stories in height above the 
basement. The basement story is built of 
Sagetown limestone, which gives the structure 
the appearance of solidity, and is in beautiful 
contrast with the red brick with which are built 
the exterior walls of the main and second 
stories. The openings and corners of the build- 
ing are also trimmed with the same kind of 
stone. The outside walls of the fourth, or en- 
tresol, story are covered with slate and the 
roof with tin. The roof, which is Mansard, 
presents a neat appearance, and is elegantly 
trimmed with cast-iron trimmings. 

"There are four entrances leading into the 
corridors of the main story, one in the center 
of either side and one in each end. Each of 
these opens from a portico constructed of iron 
and stone, and is reached by fine, wide stone 
steps. Under each portico, except the one on 
the north, and directly below the main en- 
trances, are openings leading into the halls of 
the basement. The building is surmounted by 
a iine belfry, which rises from the west end. 
It contains a large town clock, the bell of 
which, weighing fifteen hundred pounds, peals 
forth the hours as they pass. On four sides, 
and in plain view from all points, are large 
dials, with huge hands pointing to the hour 
and minute. The entire framework of the 
belfry is constructed of wrought iron. From 
this belfry a fine view is obtained of the sur- 
rounding country for many miles, it being the 
highest available point in the county. 

"The ground plan of the building is 114 feet 
long by 72 wide. The front walls are broken 
projections forming an irregular outline. Large 
halls pass through the basement and main 
stories. The floors of the walls in the base- 
ment are made of stone, while those in the 
first and second stories are of marble tiling, 



twelve inches square. The partition walls, with 
few exceptions, are made of brick, upon which 
rest heavy wrought-iron beams and joists for 
the support of the floors. The ceilings are of 
corrugated iron, painted white. The halls are 
wainscoted throughout with black walnut and 
ash. The doors are large and heavy and made 
of ash with black walnut trimings, while the 
inside window shutters and casings are of the 
same materials. 

"In the center of the south side, leading 
from the basement to the fourth floor, is a 
broad iron stairway, while one in the west 
end of the building, south of the main entrance, 
leads from the basement to the third floor. 
Leading from the fourth floor to the balcony 
of the belfry is an iron spiral stairway. 

"In the basement is the room for the engine 
used for heating purposes, fuel and storage 
rooms, water closets and bathrooms. The main 
floor has commodious apartments for the Coun- 
ty Judge, County and Circuit Clerks, Sheriff, 
Treasurer, and School Superintendent, with 
fireproof vaults for public records. On the 
third fioor are several good offices, the private 
room of the Circuit Judge, oflice of the County 
Surveyor, jury-room and council room of the 
city of Macomb: also the Circuit Court room, 
which occupies the eastern portion of the sec- 
ond and third stories. This room is quite 
large, with ample provision for the bar, wit- 
nesses, jury and spectators, being seated with 
about four hundred arm chairs. The rooms In 
the upper story are used principally for storage 
purposes. There are in the entire building 
thirty-four rooms, all of which are heated by 
steam, the principal rooms being provided, in 
addition, witth fireplaces and mantels. Its venti- 
lation is good and, throughout, it is supplied 
with all the modern improvements." 

County Jail. — At the March term of the Mc- 
Donough County Commissioners' Court, in 1833, 
an order was adopted providing for the erection 
of a county jail — the first in the history of the 
county, — the contract being awarded on the sec- 
ond Monday of April following. The specifica- 
tions provided for a building "twenty feet 
square, with three rooms at least nine feet be- 
tween the floor and ceiling; the walls built of 
hewed logs, twelve inches square, laid close, 
dove-tailed together and pinned at the corner, 
... to be lined with plank two inches thick 



752 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



of white oak. spiked on across tlie logs," with 
floor of similar sized plank and double thick- 
ness, like ceiling, and with doors covered by 
sheet iron with three grated windows large 
enough to admit a pane of glass ten by twelve 
inches, and one window containing six panes 
of glass. Two of the rooms were described as 
"criminals' rooms" and the third as a "debtor's 
room." The building was based on a stone 
foundation, and the contract for its construc- 
tion was awarded to James Edmonson. The 
cost of construction is not given, but there is 
reason to believe that it was much more than 
that of the first court house. This building 
served its purpose for some twenty years, when 
it was turned over to the city of Macomb and 
became the city "calaboose." 

Following the erection of a new court house 
there came an urgent demand for a new jail, 
but the work was not undertaken until 1876. 
Advertisements were inserted in the local papers 
and a Chicago paper in March of that year. 
The contract was awarded to .J. M. Price & Co., 
of Macomb, for the sum of $23,000. Other ex- 
penses for lots, barns, fences, walks, etc., 
raised the total cost to $25,622.99. William 
Quayle of Peoria was the architect. 

The building, which is also used by the Sher- 
iff as a residence during his terra of office, is 
two stories in height — the front, or residence 
portion. 35 by 42 feet, and the jail proper 35 
by 40 feet. The basement is constructed of 
limestone with rough surface exterior; the 
walls of the main building of red brick, and 
with stone trimmings for openings. The Sher- 
iff's residence contains eight rooms, with 
closets, wardrobes and halls, and with three 
entrances. The jail proper as originally con- 
structed contained twenty-four cells, each 4.^^ 
by 7 feet, seven feet in height and arranged in 
six tiers — four in length and three in height — 
one-half opening toward the east and one-half 
opening toward the west, into corridors eleven 
feet wide — the upper cells reached by stair- 
way and balcony. The lower tier of cells rest 
on seven feet of concrete. In the north end of 
the prison department is a dining room 12 by 
35 feet. This portion of the building is fur- 
nished with ample iron water-tanks, bath-rooms, 
ventilating flues, etc.. the openings being pro- 
tected with gratings. The basement is occu- 
pied by heating furnace and fuel rooms. The 
female and debtor's apartments occupy the 



rear portion of the second story, consisting of 
three large rooms. The building was first occu- 
pied for jail purposes the latter part of Novem- 
ber, 1S76. 

For description of public school buildings — 
including Western Illinois State Normal School 
— see Chapter XXII on "Education." 

Cov.NTY Almshouse. — The McDonough Coun- 
ty almshouse, about two miles southeast of the 
city of Macomb, was erected about the year 
1874. It is a large and neat structure, situated 
on a tract of 160 acres of excellent arable land, 
and is in charge of James M. Mathews, as 
Superintendent. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



EARLY CHURCHES. 



i:r.r)Ki; joii\ uhjan i-ukaches tub first .skbmon 
i\ m'do.noigii county in- 1828 — baptist 

CHURCH FOUNDED IN 1831 OTHEK BAPTIST 

CHIBCIIES, FIRST MEMBER.S AND PASTORS 

CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES .SECOND IN DATE OF 
ORIiANIZATION EARLY CHURCHES OF THLS DE- 
NOMINATION AND THEIR FOUNDERS METHODIST 

CHURCHES, DATE OF ORGANIZATION AA'D LOCATION 
— PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY — EARLY MEM- 

liEKS AN[) l>ASrORS CUMBERLAND PRE.SBYTE- 

RIANS, CONOREGATIONALISTS AND LATER BAPTIST 

ORGANIZATIONS IMVERSALIST AND REFORMED 

CHURCHES EARLY CATHOLIC ORGANIZATIONS — ■ 

UNITED BRETHREN AND LITHERAX CHURCHES. 

In accordance with the general rule in the 
rural districts of Illinois, religious organiza- 
tion and development have been a leading fac- 
tor in local history. Elder John Logan, a Bap- 
tist minister, is reputed to have preached the 
first Christian sermon ever delivered in Mc- 
Donough County, though the exact date 
is not given. Elder Logan came to that local- 
ity in May, 1828, and settled in the vicinity of 
the present village of Industry, in what was 
known as the "Carter Settlement." which had 
been established during the previous year. Mr. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



753 



Logan had the reputation of being the first 
missionary appointed by the Home Missionary 
Society of Boston, Mass., and for some months 
lived in the old block-house situated on the 
farm of William Carter, from whom the set- 
tlement took its name, and here he is said to 
have preached the first sermon in the county 
during the year of his arrival. 

During the month of November, 1831, Elder 
Logan, assisted by Elder Stephen Strickland, 
established a Baptist Church in Bethel Town- 
ship. It was known as the "Union Church, ' at 
the time of its organization consisting of ten 
members — four males and six females — viz.: 
John and Nancy Gibson, William and Sarah 
Stephens, James and Polly Edmonston, Richard 
and Cassandra Morris, Abigail Ferguson and 
Sarah C. Palmer. The denomination was 
known at that time as the "United Baptist;" 
which afterwards became the "Regular Bap- 
tist." Thus it was that the Baptist denomina- 
tion gained the reputation of becoming the 
first church organization in McDonough Coun- 
ty. Thomas H. Owen, a licentiate who preached 
to this congre.gation for a time, afterward re- 
moved to Hancock County, and was later a 
member of the State Legislature, serving two 
terms in the House and one session in the Sen- 
ate. John Gibson, who was one of the first 
members of this church, was a prominent cit- 
izen, on two occasions the annual association 
being held near him, when he fed and lodged 
a large number of its members. In 1832 El- 
der William Bradley was called to the pastor- 
ate of this church, and in the fall of the same 
year messengers were sent to the Spoon River 
Association, and it was received into corre- 
spondence and fellowship. In 1833 Elder Mica- 
jah B. Rowland joined the Union Church and 
soon after became its pastor, from which he 
was released in 183.5, being succeeded during 
the latter year by Samuel L. Dark, a licentiate. 
who was ordained in 1840. Others who held 
pastoral relations with this church were Elder 
Robert Mays (1838), Elder John Driskill 
(1838-57), Elder George Tracy (for a few 
months in 1858) but whose pastorate was ter- 
minated by his sudden death. Elder Tracy was 
succeeded by Elder Isaac N. Van Meter, whose 
pastorate continued for over twenty years, be- 
ing assisted at times by Elder Jacob Castlebury 
and T. N. Frazee. This church met at Middle- 



town (now Fandon) for many years, where a 
new house of worship was erected about 1877. 

Antioch Church, also of the Regular Bap- 
tist denomination, was organized at Middle- 
town in February, 1841, by Elders Owen and 
Frazee — the Union Church then holding its 
meetings a few miles distant. But four persons 
entered the organization at that time, — viz.: 
John and Parthenia McCormick, William D. 
Stevens and Holly Edmonston — though others 
soon after were added. Elder Owen served as 
pastor for a time, and the church was connect- 
ed with the Salem Association. A house of 
worshij) was buili in Middletown in 1843, but 
the church was finally disolved in 1849, most of 
its members uniting with the Union Church. 

Besides the two churches already named, 
there were one or two others accepting the 
same articles of faith, but these generally 
united with the "New School" organization, 
leaving but one "Regular Baptist" church in 
the county in 1878. 

Church of the Disciplf:s. — The second de- 
nomination to effect an organization in Mc- 
Donough Count.v was the "Christian" or "Dis- 
ciples of Christ." whose first representatives to 
make their appearance in the county were 
Elders Bristow and Long in 1831. The oldest 
church of this creed was organized under the 
name of the Liberty Church, a few miles from 
Blandinsville in 1832, but in 1849 it removed to 
Blandinsville and took the name of Blandins- 
ville Christian Church. 

Macomb Christian Church was organized in 
that city, September IG, 1845. with seventeen 
members, which, added to twenty-nine who had 
enrolled a few months i)revious under the 
preaching of Evangelist Elder A. J. Kane, made 
a total of forty-six. This church has had an 
extensive growth, and it is now one of the 
strongest church organizations in the county. 
Its church building is located at 202 West Jack- 
son Street. A church edifice erected in 1880 has 
been in use ever since, and is the oldest church 
building in Macomb. A Christian Endeavor 
Chapel is situated in West Woodbury Street, 
in which Sunday School and prayer meetings 
nre held. 

Bedford Christian Church, located in the 
northwestern part of Blandinsville Township, 
was organized on April 7, 1850, by Elder Mil- 



754 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



ton Dodge, with a strong force of members. 
Other church organizations of this denomi- 
nation include Mound Christian Church, or- 
ganized in 1857 by Elder J. B. Royal, of Ver- 
mont. 111.; the Christian Church of Industry, 
organized January 27, 1!S5S, by Rev. .John Mc- 
Millin with eight members, holding its meet- 
ings in school-houses and in the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church until 1869, when it erected 
a building of its own; the New Salem Church, 
organized April 8, 1859, by Mr. Royal; Colches- 
ter Christian Church, at Colchester, organized 
by Elders .J. C. Reynolds and C. Ades, April 1, 
1867, with 116 members; Sciota Christian 
Church re-organized after a period of depres- 
sion in January, 1876; New Bedford Church, or- 
ganized by Elder J. H. Breeden, in November, 
1871, and Bushnell Church, which erected a 
church building in 1867, though the exact date 
of its organization has not been ascertained. 
In 1878 there were nine congregations of this 
denomination in the county, with a member- 
ship, at that time, of 1,121, which has grown 
greatly since that period. 

Methodist Churches. — As usual in most 
other rural districts of the State, the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church obtained a foothold in 
McDonough County, at an early date and now 
leads both as to membership and to number 
of church organizations. The noted Peter 
Cartwright is reputed in 1832 to have preached 
the first sermon in McDonough County by any 
representative of that denomination, and organ- 
ized the first church there during the same 
year. Meetings were held in the old court 
house until 1835, when a brick building was 
erected on a site donated by Hon. James M. 
Campbell. This building was demolished by a 
cyclone in 1847, but was rebuilt the follow- 
ing year, the congregation in the meantime 
holding services conjointly with the Presby- 
terians. The second church building was 
blown down in 1854, and was replaced by a 
new structure, which was dedicated in 1857, 
services being held during the interval in the 
Christian church and in the court house. This 
church was rebuilt and refitted, the dedicatory 
sermon on its reopening being preached by 
Bishop Simpson. Not long after the dedication 
of this building the spire was blown down by a 
violent storm, its place being later supplied by 
a less pretentious cupola. The Macomb Metho- 



dist Church has been a regular station since 
1858, and during its history has been presided 
over by some of the most noted ministers of 
that denomination in the capacity of pastors 
or Presiding Elders. 

Tennessee Methodist Episcopal Church dates 
its origin from the holding of missionary meet- 
ings in the home of James Fulkerson, near 
Hillsgrove, in 1832, the locality being popularly 
known as the "Old Methodist Stamping 
Grounds." In 1851 a society was organized 
south of Tennessee at what was called the 
"brick school-house." A church structure was 
erected in that vicinity in 1864. 

Friendship Methodist Episcopal Church, one 
of the older religious organizations in the coun- 
ty, was organized in 1833 by Rev. Mr. Cord, a 
Methodist Missionary. Meetings were held for 
a time at the residence of John Hunt, later 
known as the Kirk place, and for many years 
at the school-house near the present site of the 
church. The first camp meeting in the Mili- 
tary Tract was held in this locality in 1833, and 
is said to have attracted visitors from a wide 
extent of country, including Quincy, Jackson- 
ville, Beardstown and other points equally dis- 
tant. 

One of the oldest Methodist organizations in 
.McDonough County, known as Pennington 
Point Methodist Episcopal Church, was organ- 
ized at Pennington Point, New Salem Town- 
ship, 1835 or 1836, and a commodious edifice 
was erected there in the "sixties or 'seventies, a 
good frame parsonage also being erected in con- 
nection with the church. 

What is known as Bardolph Methodist Epis- 
copal Church was organized in 1836 at the res- 
idence of Joseph Kepple, about a mile south of 
the present village of Bardolph, the first mem- 
bers being William H. and Ann Jackson, Mrs. 
Jacob Kepple and Mrs. Culp. Meetings were 
held for a time at Mr. Kepple's house, later at 
the residence of Mr. Jackson, and in a union 
church erected jointly by the Methodists and 
Cumberland Presbyterians. Some of the early 
pastors were Revs. B. E. Kaufman, D. S. Main, 
A. P. Hull, J. Ferguson, Jacob Matthews and 
J. E. Taylor. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. 
Dye. 

Other Methodist organizations which came 
into existence in the county previous to, or 
during, 1876, include the following: 

Stickle Methodist Episcopal Church, organ- 




First Baptist Church, Macomb 




Universalist Church. Macomb 



_ je LIBRARY 

I 

I ASTOR, LENC 

I ri I I-, tr -,■ i; nj 'K" Pi 



HISTORY OF McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



755 



ized in Emmet Township, with twelve members, 
and named in honor of Abraham Stickle. A 
church edifice was erected in 1854 at a cost ol 
$1,700. 

Blandinsville Methodist Episcopal Church, 
organized by Rev. Barton Cartwright about 
1848. 

Rock Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, or- 
ganized in Hire Township in 1850, with twenty- 
two members; met in school-houses until 1875, 
when a church building was erected at a cost 
of $2,(1(10. 

Maple Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
Emmet Township, organized about 1850, held 
meetings in groves and school-houses uptil 
1805, when it took possession of a house of 
worship costing $2,500. 

Mound Chapel Methodist Episcopal Churcn, 
organized at the residence of E. Dyer in 1854, 
with eight or ten members. Its church build- 
ing was erected in 1868 at a cost of $3,200. 

Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Industry Township, occupied a church build- 
ing erected in 1857 costing $1,200. 

Liberty Methodist Episcopal Church, Bland- 
insville Townshi)), in the early 'seventies, had 
one of the best rural churches in the county, 
costing about $2,500. 

Prairie City Methodist Episcopal Church, es- 
tablished in the 'fifties: had a chuTch edifice 
erected in 1858; also had a parsonage connected 
with (he church. Revs. .lames Haney, R. Berry- 
man, Richard Haney. Benjamin Appleliee. ,Tohn 
Morey, A. E. Phelps, Thomas Kirkpatrick and 
C. Hobart were among the early |)reacher3 
in this vicinity. 

Industry Methodist Episcopal Church, organ- 
ized at the village of Industry by Rev. E. 
Montgomery in 1855, with John Reed and wife, 
Henry Robely and wife, M. Merrick and wife, 
Mrs. Vance, Fanny Bridges and Polly Shannon, 
as its first members; had a church building 
erected in 1866 at a cost of about $2,000. 

Colchester Methodist Episcopal Church, or- 
ganized February 1, 1858. by Revs. H. Presson 
and B. E. Kaufman, with twenty-one members; 
held service in a school-house until 1861. when 
it erected a church building costing $1,200. 

Mound Methodist Episcopal Church, in the 
northwestern corner of Prairie City Township, 
erected a building in 1858, costing $1,400; also 
had a parsonage. 



Linn Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. Wal- 
nut Grove Township, had a church building 
erected in 1870 at an outlay of $2,400. 

Willow Grove Methodist Episcopal Church 
for a time held its meetings in Prosperity Hall, 
Emmet Township, and later in Willow Grove 
Church of the United Brethren. 

New Hope Methodist Episcopal Church was 
organized in 1866, and had a church edifice, 
erected during the following year, costing 
$1,600. 

Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church was or- 
ganized in the same vicinity twenty-five or 
thirty years earlier, where a church building 
was erected in 1845, but was burned in 1863, 
having been set on fire by an incendiary. 

Centennial Methodist Episcopal Church, lo- 
cated in New Salem Township, was organized 
in 1871, held its meetings in a school-house for 
five years, and in 1876 dedicated its first church 
building. Rev. William ,1. Rutledge officiating. 
. Greenwood Methodist Episcopal Church held 
its meetings for several years in school-houses. 
In August, 1873, it was reorganized and in De- 
cember, 1875, dedicated a church building 
erected in the northeastern part of Macomb 
Township, and costing $2,000. 

Adair Methodist Episcopal Church was or- 
ganized in 1875, a church structure erected 
costing about $2,000, and dedicated in October 
of the same year. 

The Second (African) Methodist Episcopal 
Church, Macomb, 111., was organized in Sep- 
tember, 1876. with five members, but in propor- 
tion to the colored population of that city, has 
had a reasonable growth. For some time meet- 
ings were held in the old Baptisl church, hut 
the present location of the church is at 320 
North Mechanic Street. 

Prksbyterian Churches. — The Presbyterians 
were the third Christian denomination to es- 
tablish themselves in McDonough County, 
the First Presbyterian Church of Macomb being 
organized on June 9, 1832, by Rev. William J. 
Frazer, of Morgan Coimty, services taking 
I)lace in the old log court house, near the north- 
east corner of the Pubic Square on the site of 
the present Union National Bank. The original 
members were: Thomas Grant and wife, 
Alexander Harris and wife, Alexander Camp- 
bell and wife, John Harris and wife (the 



756 



HISTORY OF McDON'OUGH COUNTY. 



latter afterward Mrs. John Clark), Mrs. Patsey 
Naylor, Thomas Pickett, Elizabeth M. Ander- 
son, Miss Ruth Wilson, Miss Jane Campbell, 
and Miss Mahala Camp, afterward Mrs. Quin- 
tus Walker. Mr. Frazer continued to preach 
for this congregation, and occasionally in other 
parts of the county, for a number of years. 
■Other prominent ministers of this denomina- 
tion, who officiated as pastors or supplies 
for a number of years, were: Revs. Wil- 
liam K. Stewart, James Chase, Ralph Har- 
ris, I. Pillsbury, Joseph Warren and J. H. Nes- 
bitt. Services were held in the old court 
house until 1834, when the first brick court 
house was erected. This was used for church 
purposes until 1S35 or '3(i, when a church build- 
ing of brick was erected, which gave place to 
a larger frame structure first occupied in Jan- 
uary, 1853. The present handsome church edi- 
fice, erected a few years ago, at a cost ( includ- 
ing interior fixtures) of |20,000, is located on 
West Carroll Street. The present pastor is the 
Rev. A. F. Ernst. 

Camp Creek Presbyterian Church, in Scot- 
land Township, was organized May 22, 1839, in 
Joseph McCrosky's barn on Camp Creek, with 
thirty original members. Rev. J. M. Hoge be- 
came the first regular pastor in 1843, and was 
■succeeded, previous to 1878, by Revs. James 
'Chase, William K. Stewart, William F. Fergu- 
son, J. C. King, James Cameron, John Steel, C. 
Leavenworth, Joseph Piatt, J. G. Bliss, John 
'Griffin, W. H. Goodeson, P. W. Thompson and 
J. G. Condit. A handsome church building 
buildin.? has been erected in the center of the 
township in connection with a neat i)arsonage. 

Shiloh Presbyterian Church was organized in 
1839 at the residence of Alexander Campbell, in 
Walnut Grove Township, by Rev. James Chase, 
with twenty-three members. The members be- 
ing widely scattered, no church building was 
erected, but a school-house was finally pur- 
chased for church purposes. 

Prairie City Presbyterian Church, organized 
September 19, 1841, with twelve members, 
held Its services for several years at the resi- 
dence of George Kreider, five miles northeast 
of Prairie City, being known at that time as 
the Pleasant Prairie Church. It was reorgan- 
ized October 2.5, 18.51, and in 185,5, the church 
was moved to Virgil, three and a half miles 
ceast of Prairie City, the final removal to Prairie 



City taking place in 1856, where a frame 
church building was erected and dedicated the 
latter part of that year. This building was en- 
larged and rei)aired in 1868. and now houses 
one of the most prosperous church organiza- 
tions in McDonough County. 

Doddsville Presbyterian Church had its 
origin on July 29, 1843, when Rev. William K. 
Stewart, James M. Chase and Elder Briscoe, 
acting by authority of the Schuyler Presbytery, 
held services at the house of Andrew Walker 
and proceeded to organize a church with sev- 
enteen members. The first church, built in 
1851, was vacated in the 'seventies for a new 
structure. A number of prominent mission- 
aries and other ministers officiated in connec- 
tion with this church, and several notable re- 
vivals were held, adding to the church mem- 
bership, though this has been reduced from 
time to time by deaths and removals. 

About 1856 a Presbyterian Church was or- 
ganized at Bushnell. under the auspices of the 
Schuyler Presbytery, which two of three 
years later was dissolved, the members gener- 
ally uniting with the Reformed Church. In 
1868 a petition, signed by thirty persons, was 
presented to the Wari'en Presbytery in ses- 
sion at Monmouth, asking the organization of 
a Presbyterian Church at Bushnell. As a re- 
sult a committee visited Bushnell, and on April 
25, 1868, an organization was eitected, twenty- 
one persons presenting a certificate in a body 
from the Reformed Church, and seven from 
other Presbyterian churches, making a total of 
twenty-eight members. The growth of this 
church is indicated by the fact that, in 1876, 
its membership had increased to 110, and has 
since kept pace with the growth of the city. 
A Sabbath School in connection with this 
church was organized in 1869. 

Good Hope Presbyterian Church was organ- 
ized January 30, 1869, as the result of a visit 
by a committee ajjpointed by the Warren Pres- 
bytery in the fall of 1868. The membership at 
the time of organization amounted to eighteen, 
of whom nine were from the Shiloh Presbyte- 
rian Church, seven from the church at Macomb, 
and three from the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church at Walnut Grove. 

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, in Scotland 
Township, was organized in 1861, from a part 
of the Camp Creek Church, and a frame church 




First Presbyterian Church, Macomb 





Christian Church. Macomb 



St. George's Episcopal Church, Macomb 




First M. E. Church. Macomb 



Tl'E NEW 70' 

PUBLIC LIBR. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



757 



building erected at a cost of $2,000 the same 
year, a parsonage being added in 1860. The 
membership at the date of organization was 
forty-four, but in the next fifteen years had 
increased to about one hundred. 

CuMBERLAXii Presbvtebi.^ns. — The Cumber- 
land Presbyterians, now a part of the regular 
Presbyterian denomination, took a prominent 
part at an early day in church development in 
McDonough County. A flourishing congrega- 
tion existed for a time at Macomb, but this was 
disbanded for a time, but has since been re- 
organized and has a church at 515 East Jackson 
Street, with Rev. R. B. Fisher pastor. 

The Beersheba (or Argyle) congregation of 
this denomination was the first to be organ- 
ized in the county — its organization taking 
place with a membership of nine, at the res- 
idence of John McCord, in the southwestern 
part of Emmet Township, January 13, 1834, 
Rev. P. C. Jewel officiating. This church re- 
mained at its original location until 1854, when 
it moved to Argyle Church, in the southeastern 
part of Hire Township. 

Other churches of this denomination — some 
of which have since gone out of existence by 
consolidation with neighboring church organi- 
zations — include Sugar Creek Church, organ- 
ized at the residence of A. J. Foster early in 
1836, by Rev. William C. McKamy; Walnut 
Grove Church, organized with twelve regular 
members, April 28, 1S3S, by Rev. Peter Downey, 
Cyrus Haynes and Elder John McCord. under 
the auspices of the Rushville Presbytery — was 
finally removed to Good Hope; Industry 
Church, organized at the home of Thomas Ad- 
kisson, November 3, 1843, under the name of 
"Grindstone Church," with twenty members; 
and West Prairie congregation, in Eldorado 
Township, which had one of the best rural 
church buildings in the county, erected in 
1867 at a cost of $3,300. Rev. James Russell, 
who had been a chaplain during the Civil War, 
presided over the last named church as pastor 
for a time. 

CoNGBEGATiONALisTS — The Congregationalists, 
whose articles of faith were similar to those of 
the Presbyterian Church, have not been nu- 
merically strong in McDonough County. The 
first church of the denomination in this vicinity 



was first organized at Virgil, Fulton County,. 
October 1, 1842, by Rev. Levi Spencer, but re- 
moved to Prairie City October 9, 1858, a sub- 
stantial church building being erected there in 
1865, at a cost of $3,000. In 1858 a church of 
this denomination was organized at Macomb, 
which had a church building tor a time on Car- 
roll Street east of Randolph. 

Bai-tist Churches. — At a later date than that 
mentioned in the opening part of this chapter, 
a number of Baptist churches of different 
branches from those mentioned in connection 
with the pioneer church history, were organ- 
ized. One of the earliest of these was the 
Hillsborough Church, organized in 1849, and 
which erected a church building in the west- 
ern part of Blandinsville Township. 

Prairie City Baptist Church was organized 
in that city November 9, 1856, by Elder E. J. 
Lockwood, with fourteen tnembers. Services 
were held in the school-house for a time, when 
a frame church building was erected at a cost 
of $2,000. 

The First Baptist Church of Macomb was 
organized by Rev. D. D. Gregory in 1857, with 
J. Pennington. T. Axford. J. W. Blount, M. T. 
Winslow, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. McCabe, Mrs. Sum- 
mers, and Alexander McLean as the first mem- 
bers. The congregation purchased the Macomb 
Female Seminary building, which was occupied 
for church purposes until a new edifice was 
erected in 1869. Those who have served as pas- 
tors since the organization of the church in- 
clude Revs. L. M. Whitman, J. C. Metcalf, C. 
W. Palmer, J. L. Benedict, C. B. Roberts, J. L. 
M. Young and Rev. Mr. Webb, the present 
pastor. Hon. Alexander McLean was Superin- 
tendent of the Sabbath School for some twenty 
years. The present church building is of hand- 
some design, and erected at a cost of $16,000, 
on East Carroll Street. 

Tennessee Baptist Church was organized 
February 8, 1860, by Elders Farris and Gar- 
nett, and held its services in a school-house 
until 1863, when a church building was erected 
costing $2,000. 

Bushnell Baptist Church was organized 
March 1, 1862, and a church building erected 
in 1867, valued at $2,700. 

Sciota Church, organized in the spring of 
1870, held meetings for a time in the Chris- 



758 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



tian Church, and in 1871 erected a building 
of its own costing |1,950. 

Blandinsville Church was organized June 24, 
1870, by Elders Samuel Pickard and William 
Hobbs. The original twelve members were: 
J. C. Feigley, Mrs. J. R. Harmon, Edith Porter, 
Mary A. Ward, Helen Gruber, Eliza Feigley, 
Jane Ray, Eleseph Ray. Matilda Seybold, Pau- 
lina Logan, Henry Harmon and Isaac H. Ho- 
garth. 

The Second Baptist Church (colored) of Ma- 
comb was organized May 9, 187.5, with eight 
original members. 

Baptist churches also existed about the mid- 
dle of the last century in Emmet and Wal- 
nut Grove Townships — the former known as 
the Independent Church, organized July 4, 
1847, and the latter as Cedar Creek Church. 

Free Will B.vptist. — A Free Will Baptist 
Church was organized at Prairie City in Sep- 
tember, 1857, by Elder John B. Fast, assisted 
by Elders Shaw and Christian, with the fol- 
lowing named members: Elder J. B. Fast and 
wife, John J. Fast, Samuel Nestleroad and 
wife. William Nestleroad, William Bolin, Ada- 
line Tainter, Belchy Mary White and David 
S. Johnson. A church edifice was erected in 
1866-67, costing |5,000. 

Maple Hill Free Will Baptist Church was or- 
ganized by Rev. T. J. Dodge with twelve mem- 
bers, and for a time held its meetings in the 
Maple Hill school-house in the southeastern 
part of Bushnell Township. 

Univeesalist Church. — The first sermon by 
a representative of the Universalist creed was 
preached in Macomb b/ Rev. Mr. Gardner in 
1846, and a congregation organized by Rev. I. 
M. Weslfall in 18.51, with the following list of 
members: R. M. Bonham. J. W. Westfall. J. M. 
Martin, John S. Smith. Orsamus Walker, J. L. 
N. Hall, William D. Penrose, F. L. Westfall, 
D. D. Roll, Green C. Lane, H. H. Burr, John 
Q. Lane, John L. Henton and J. H. Baker. The 
congregation occupies a handsome church build- 
ing erected in 1896, on West Carroll Street. 
The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Alcott. 

Reformed Church. — A church under this 
name was organized in Bushnell, October 19, 
1856. by a committee consisting of Rev. A. Wil- 



son and S. B. Ayers. The original members 
were Frederick Cruser, Thomas Plotts and 
wife, Aaron Sperling and D. M. Wyckoff. The 
first meetings were held in a school-house and 
later in a carpenter-shop fitted up for that 
purpose, but a frame church edifice was erected 
in 1860-61, costing |5,000, which was dedicated 
May 1, 1861. 

C.vTHoLiE Churches. — There were two Catho- 
lic Churches in McDonough County in the late 
'seventies — one located at Tennessee and the 
other at Macomb. The Tennessee Church was 
first established at Fountain Green (known also 
as St. Simon's), about 1839. but in 1860 was re- 
moved to Tennessee, where a good church build- 
ing was erected, the first pastor being Father 
Albright. 

St. Paul's Catholic Church, Macomb, was or- 
ganized in 1854 by Rev. Father O'Neill. The 
first pastor was Rev. Father John Larmer, and 
the present pastor Rev. F. G. Lentz. The Ma- 
comb Church has had a steady growth since its 
organization. 

U.NiTKi) Brethren of Christ. — This demoni- 
nation. which is distinguished by its name 
from the Moravian, or United Brethren, Church, 
but holding doctrines similar to those of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, has had several 
organizations in McDonough County. 

The first sermon by a representative of this 
denomination was preached by Elder Josiah 
Terrell in 1846, and an organization, later 
known as the "Blandinsville Church," effected 
during the same year, with twelve original 
members. This church established the Blan- 
dinsville Seminary, which was in successful op- 
eration for a number of years, its building 
finally passing into possession of the village 
and being used for public school purposes. 

Elm Grove Church, in Hire Township, was 
organized with fifteen members in 1855, and 
erected a church building in 1866, costing 
$1,200. 

Willow Grove Church, also located in Hire 
Township, was organized in 1871 by Rev. I. 
Valentine, although preaching began in Pros- 
perity Hall, which belonged to a temperance 
organization, as early as 1867. On November 
10, 1872, a building erected at a cost of $2,000, 
in the northeastern section of Hire Townshii), 




MARIETTA PHELPS 




Marietta Phelps Hospital, Macomb 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



759 



was dedicated by Bishop D. Edwards. The 
original members of this church were: A. 
Brown and wife, Quincy Hainllne and wife, 
■Georgiana, Emma and Lodelia Watts, James 
Fielding, Rebecca, Flora and Amanda M. Hain- 
line. 

New Philadelphia Church, located in the 
■eastern part o£ Mound Township, was organ- 
ized in the 'sixties and erected a church build- 
ing in 1868. 

Jerusalem Chapel Church was organized at 
the i-esidence of A. Switzer, October 29, 1867. 
:and soon afterward began the erection of a 
•church building, which was dedicated Decem- 
ber 22, 186S. 

Pleasant Gale Church was organized by Rev. 
J. Dunham, in Sciota Township, in 1868, and 
.a church structure was erected which was ded- 
icated November 1, 1874. The original mem- 
bers were: Samuel Rush and wife, William El- 
well and wife, Mrs. B. K. Purkey and Mrs. 
Samuel McDonald. A number of revival meet- 
ings in the early history of this church con- 
tributed to tne increase of its membership. 

Center Chapel Church was organized in No- 
vember, 1875, with thirty-six members, and the 
following year a church building was erected 
in the central part of Walnut Grove Township. 
The dedication of this building took place De- 
cember 10. 1876. In connection with three 
other churches of this denomination — viz.: the 
Willow Grove, Pleasant Gale and Jerusalem 
Churches — the Center Chapel Church owned a 
parsonage in Good Hope. 

EvA\GELic.\L Lutheran- Church. — The first 
■organization of this denomination in McDon- 
ough County was effected April 7, 1871, by Rev. 
'G. H. Schnurr, who located about that time at 
Bushnell. This church held its services for a 
time at Jerusalem Chapel, three miles north 
of Bardolph, but finally removed to Macomb, 
where it was reorganized in January, 1875, un- 
der the name of the "Trinity Evangelical Lu- 
theran Church," taking possession there of the 
old Congregational Church. In the meantime, 
another organization was effected at Bardolph 
which continued in existence for one year, 
when it was suspended. In July, 1872, a 
•church was organized in Chalmers Township, 
five miles southwest of Macomb City, and in 
•conjunction with the Methodist denomination, 



a church was erected there called Salem's 
Church. 

EpLscoPAL Church. — St. George's Episcopal 
Church of Macomb was organized in 1873. The 
church building, located at 225 East Carroll 
Street, is of unique design in the style of Eng- 
lish churches. The cost was about $12. 000. It 
is furnished with a large organ and, altogether, 
is an attractive structure. Since the organiza- 
tion of the church there have been a number 
of different pastors in charge, the present rector 
being the Rev. Francis M. Wilson, a learned 
and able preacher. 

In 1906 there are twelve churches in the 
city of Macomb, representing ten different 
Christian denominations — viz.: Christian, Cum- 
berland Presbyterian, First Baptist, Second 
Baptist (colored). First Free Methodist, First 
Methodist Episcopal, Second Methodist Epis- 
copal (colored), First Presbyterian, St. George's 
Episcopal, St. Paul's Catholic, Trinity Lutheran 
and Universalist — besides the Christian En- 
deavor Chapel and Salvation Army Head- 
quarters. 



CHAPTER XX. 



HOSPITALS. 



THE MARIETTA PHELPS HOSPITAL SUGGESTION 

THAT LED TO ITS FOUNDING — ITS EXISTENCE DUB 
TO FORESIGHT OF DR. S. C. STREMMEL — BENEFI- 
CENT GIFT OF MRS. MARIETTA PHELPS — PRESENT 
BOARD OF MANAGERS — ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL — 
SEEVICE RENDERED BY DR. J. B. BACON IN SECUR- 
ING ITS ESTABLISHMENT SISTERS OF .ST. FRAN- 
CIS IN CHARGE OF THE NUBSIN(! DEPARTMENT — 
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. 

The Mrs. Marietta Phelps Hospital, situ- 
ated at No. 218 East Carroll Street, Macomb, 
was instituted under rather peculiar circum- 
stances, as related by Dr. S. C. Stremmel in 
the following terms: "On December 22, 1899, 
Mrs. Marietta Phelps fell and broke her arm 



760 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



at the elbow. I was called to administer to 
her relief. The injury was of such a nature 
that I could not give her much encouragement 
as to the ultimate result. During one of my 
visits I suggested to her that she donate money 
enough to build a hospital. She treated the 
proposition as a joke, and suggested I might 
be crazy. Later, however, she considered the 
subject seriously and decided to donate $10,200, 
provided I would take the responsibility of 
building and maintaining the hospital and al- 
low her to spend the remaining days of her 
life there. On April 9, 1900, an agreement was 
drawn up to that effect and she paid me the 
$10,200. The building was immediately com- 
menced, and completed in November, 1900. I 
found, by this time, that the money which 
Mrs. Phelps donated was not nearly sufficient 
to complete and furnish the building, and dur- 
ing the ensuing three years I had to advance 
and expend the sum of $7,500 of my own money 
for additional improvements in the way of 
equipment. 

"Within a short time after the hospital 
was finished, it was fully occupied by pa- 
tients, and has been practically so ever since 
its opening to the public in the early part 
of 1905. The patients were so numerous that 
lack of rooms made it necessary to build an 
addition. The addition, which will almost 
double the capacity of the hospital, is being 
erected at my expense and under my su- 
pervision, and when completed will cost $10,000. 

"Mrs. Phelps occupied suitable rooms in the 
hospital for nearly one year, dying at the 
age of eighty-seven years. A few months be- 
fore she died I asked her if she had it to do 
over, would she give her money to build a 
hospital? She at once answered that the last 
years of her life had been the happiest of 
her existence; that she had no idea there was 
so much suffering in the world, or that so 
much could be done with her money; that she 
hoped the hospital would grow; and that others 
who had money to spare would see the im- 
portance of the work, and only wished that 
she had more means to apply in this direction. 

"Mrs. Phelps was one of the most remark- 
able women I ever became acquainted with. 
Her mental faculties were perfectly clear, and 
she was possessed of business ability far 
above the average, even to her latest exist- 
ence. A few hours before she died she in- 
quired of those in attendance if her sickness 



was unto death. She was informed that she 
had but a short time more to live. She at 
once requested that Reverend Mr. Bratton, of 
the Presbyterian church (her pastor), be in- 
vited to attend her. A short, appropriate serv- 
ice was held by the pastor, at the conclusion 
of which she feelingly thanked him for hi& 
kindness, and within a few hours her spirit 
had gone to Him whom she had faithfully 
served during her long pilgrimage on earth." 

The original hospital was capable of accom- 
modating eighteen patients, with twelve rooms. 
The addition to the north contains nineteen 
rooms, capable of accommodating thirty pa- 
tients. The equipments of the hospital are 
of the most modern type, the patients being 
attended by twelve graduate nurses. Every 
year a number of nurses are graduated for 
this work elsewhere. 

The present faculty of the hospital is as fol- 
lows: 

Surgeon in Chief, Dr. S. C. Stremmel. 

First Assistant Surgeon, Dr. J. B. Holmes. 

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat, Dr. Frank Rus- 
sell. 

General Medicine, Dr. H. Knappenberger. 

Diseases of Children, Dr. F. K. Westfall. 

Diseases of Skin, Dr. R. C. Sloan. 

Gynaecologist, Dr. E. R. Miner. 

General Practice, Dr. E. T. Jarvis. 

Mrs. Mercedes Marohe is in charge as Su- 
perintendent. 

St. Pr.\ncis Hospital. — The St. Francis Hos- 
pital is situated at the end of South .Johnson 
Street, beautifully located on rolling land. The 
building is rather unique, in that it does not 
stand according to the cardinal points of the 
compass, but at an angle of forty-five degrees 
between due north and south. By this ar- 
rangement the sun shines into the rooms of 
the patients at some time during the day, and 
a considerable portion of it, thereby insuring 
cheerful and healthful surroundings. 

The St. Francis Hospital is an institution 
which reflects great credit on Macomb and' 
one of which a much larger city might justly 
he proud. It is therefore worthy of notice. 
As early as 1901 Dr. J. B. Bacon commenced 
the work of locating a sisterhood here, and 
offered to raise $10,000 for them to be invested 
in buying the ground and constructing and 
equipping a hospital. Dr. Bacon visited and' 
communicated with all the principal sister- 



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i=TP,R, LENOX 

: UN'DATIONS 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



761 



hoods in the central and eastern parts of the 
United States; but there was much demand 
for their services and his efforts at that time 
were unavailing. Finally, after much corre- 
spondence and hard labor, a sisterhood of St. 
FVancis was secured from Clinton, Iowa. As 
before stated, Dr. Bacon had agreed to raise 
the sum of $10,000, if they would locate at 
or near the city of Macomb, and when he 
learned that this could be accomplished, he 
at once actively engaged in the work of rais- 
ing the promised funds. The work was con- 
tinued without delay until the sum of $20,000 
was added to that previously promised, so 
that the building and grounds could be se- 
cured and the same thoroughly equipped. The 
site secured commands a fine view of the sur- 
rounding country, and is so located that it 
cannot be marred by the erection of other 
buildings. 

Work wa^ commenced on the hospital in 
the spring of 1902. and by the most strenuous 
efforts the building was ready for occupancy 
in May of the following year. It was dedi- 
cated by Bishop O'Riley, of Peoria, on May 14, 
1903, and so great was the demand for ac- 
commodations that two patients were installed 
before the ceremonies had taken place. The 
hospital proved a great success from the date 
of its opening, and is now crowded to its ca- 
pacity. In the second year of the institu- 
tion the business was nearly double that of 
the first. This remarkable success is largely 
due to the fact that, from the first, the ut- 
most care was exercised in the selection of 
the medical staff. Dr. .1. B. Bacon, who Is 
the head of the hospital, had had the neces- 
sary experience which admirably fitted him for 
a position of this importance, having gradu- 
ated from two of the best medical colleges 
of this country and spent two years in the 
hospitals of Germany, thus adding to his al- 
ready large fund of education and experience. 
His high standing as a surgeon was empha- 
sized by his appointment as Instructor in Sur- 
gery at the Northwestern University Medical 
School, Chicago. 

The same care shown in the selection of 
the head of the hospital was exercised in the 
choice of the heads of departments, each be- 
ing a fully qualified specialist in his line. The 
following well-known members of the profes- 
sion constitute the active faculty: 
10 



Joseph B. Bacon, M. D., Surgeon-in-Chief ; 

Arthur R. Adams, M. D., Physician-in-Chief; 

Arthur K. Drake, M. D., Ear, Nose and 
Throat; 

(Mrs.) Francis L. Patrick, M. D., Diseases of 
Women; 

Benjamin D. Jenkins, M. D., Assistant Sur- 
geon: 

Joseph H. Davis, M. D., Assistant Physician; 

George H. Clarke, M. D., Orthopedic Sur- 
gery; 

George H. Maxfield, M. D., Mental and Nerv- 
ous Diseases; 

fienjamin E. LeMasters, M. D., Pathologist 
and Bacteriologist. 

The nurses of this institution, with a Mother 
Superior and a trained corps of nursing Sis- 
ters, add to the efficiency of the hospital, form- 
ing the usual combination of Catholic hospitals 
which is not excelled by the working force 
of any similar institution. The sisterhood, 
as is well known, serve without salary and 
devote their lives to charity and pure benefi- 
cence. 

The facts presented in this chapter furnish 
evidence that this and the surrounding com- 
munities are wonderfully blessed In having 
two institutions devoted to the amelioration 
of human suffering. No patient is refused 
admission by either of the above named in- 
stitutions by reason of poverty, or inability 
to pay for the services rendered. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 

EARLT PHYSICIANS OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY — PRIM- 
ITrVE CONDITIONS AND METHODS EARLY DIS- 
EASES AND REMEDIES SOME NOTABLE MEMBERS 

OF THE PROFESSION MACOMB HOSPITALS — 

M'DONOUfiH COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY AND ITS 
FOUNDERS — LIST OF PHYSICIANS WITH PLACE OF 
RESIDENCE. 

McDonough County has always enjoyed a good 
reputation for the learning and ability of its 
medical department, equal to that of any other 
community of like population. This calls to 



762 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



mind some of the early practitioners when the 
country was virtually an uncultivated wilder- 
ness, when nearly all the early settlers had to 
pass through a period of acclimatization dur- 
ing the "fever and ague season," and when 
calomel, and bleeding and blistering were about 
the sum total of the practitioners' pharma- 
copcBia. And, wonderful to relate, this ex- 
perience had a most wonderful happy influence, 
in that the first settlers were a hardy and 
lusty class of people, as evidenced by the long. 
Industrious and successful lives which they 
lived, becoming the forefathers of the present 
sturdy inhabitants. 

Old Dr. Charles Hayes was the pioneer — "our 
Dr. McClure" of the entire region — who rode all 
over the county day and night on his faithful 
steed "Jess" — administering to the aches and 
pains, fevers and other ailments of the people. 
"Cook's pills" were to him a panacea for nearly 
all the diseases of the early days of malaria 
and fevers. Dr. Hayes was at the beck and 
call of the rich and poor alike, and is still re- 
membered by the grandchildren of his numer- 
ous patients. Then Dr. J. K. Kyle, who 
followed in his footsteps, with his cheery, 
countenance and ever ready, hearty laugh, 
brought to the languid patient a new lease of 
life; and while the potions he administered 
were sometimes very unsavory, yet he inspired 
confidence on the part of his patients which 
went far toward Insuring their recovery. 

These doctors occupied this field of practice 
some seventy years ago. and have gone to their 
reward. Dr. B. R. Westfall, a son-in-law of 
Dr. Hayes, practiced some sixty years ago, and 
was very successful, meriting the confidence of 
the community. Among the many early prac- 
titioners we mention with pleasure, Drs. Hug- 
gins, Huston, McFarland, the two Drs. Bayne, 
Dr. Hammond and Dr. Livermore, all of whom 
have passed away, to be succeeded by no less 
eminent members of this beneficent profession 
in the persons of Drs. Bacon and Stremmel, 
who are now at the head of the two most 
excellent hospitals in Macomb; but want of 
space reminds us that we cannot afford to in- 
dulge in invidious distinction among the med- 
ical profession of McDonough County of the 
present day. and we must, therefore, simply 



content ourselves with giving a list of the med- 
ical gentlemen who now have in charge the 
health and well-being of our increased popu- 
lation. 

And first, attention may fittingly be called to 
the fact that there is now a regular "Medical 
Society of McDonough County," organized in 
1866 by Drs. McDavitt, Bayne and Hammond, 
which meets annually to compare notes and 
relate their experiences for the benefit of their 
co-workers of the present day and those who 
may follow them. 

The present officers of this Society are as 
follows: 

President, Dr. S. F. Russell. 

Vice-President, Dr. A. R. Adams. 

Secretary and Treasurer, E. T. Jarvis. 

The following is a list of McDonough County 
physicians of the present day, with respective 
places of residence: 

Macomb. — Drs. Arthur R. Adams, David S. 
Adams, .Joseph H. Davis, .Joseph B. Bacon. Jo- 
seph B. Holmes, E. Taylor Jarvis, Ben D. Jen- 
kins, Henry Knappenberger, Elizabeth R. 
Miner, Frances L. Patrick, S. Frank Russell, 
Samuel Russell, Ralph C. Sloan, Samuel C. 
Stremmel. F. Kemper Westfall. 

Cor.cH ESTER. — Drs. N. B. Ackley, L. S. Cop- 
Ian, V. Stookey. 

Tennessee. — Drs. J. W. Aiken, L. D. Betts. 

BiTSHMELL. — Drs. John Griffith, William E. 
Haines. J. W. Hamilton, Ben E. LeMaster. C. 
J. Rider, John P. Roark. E. K. Westfall, C. S. 
Zeigler. 

Bardoi.ph. — Dr. William W. Hendricks. 

Br.ANnix.svii.LE. — Drs. Daniel F. Beacon, Ben- 
jamin F. Duncan, William E. Grigsby. Henry 
T. Markee, Ross Huston. 

Good Hope. — Drs. William M. Hartman, Wil- 
liam W. Houston, James R. Hull. 

ScioTA. — Dr. Richard F. Marrs. 

Industbt. — Drs. John W. Hermetel, G. Darius 
Ruukle. 

New Philadelphia. — Dr. Albert Havens. 

Prairie City. — Drs. P. E. Kirmal. William L. 
Kreider, Ernest F. Manning, A. M. Westfall. 

DODDSVILLE. — Dr. J. A. Botts. 

Pensiniiton's Point. — Dr. Carleton O. Booth, 

Adair. — Drs. P. W. Baer, A. C. Hatfield, E. E. 
Hill. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



z^a 



CHAPTER XXn. 



INDUSTRIAL— MANUFACTURES 

m'donough county agricultural and mechan- 
ical ASSOCIATION — FIRST COUNTY FAIR IN 1855 

HISTORY OF SUBSEQUENT FAIRS — STREET FAIRS 

BUSHNELL FAIR ASSOCIATION MANUFACT- 
URERS — FOUNDRIES AND OTHER METAL INDUS- 
TRIES — MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS — POTTERY 
AND CLAY MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES — 
MISCELLANEOUS. 

The McDonough County Fair was organized 
April 16, 1855, the principal movers in the 
enterprise being Thompson Chandler, Joseph 
P. Updegraff, C. M. Ray, Joseph Lownes, Wil- 
liam T. Brooking, W. J. Merritt and S. K. Ped- 
rick. with others from different sections of the 
county. The Fair was held on the grounds 
of the McDonough College in the northeast part 
of the city. There was no high board fence to 
cut off the view from the outside, and all who 
visited the grounds were admitted on honor. 
The Association was a success from the first; 
so that, in its more than half a century's exist- 
ence, it never missed the annual meeting, save 
one year it was drowned out by rain and for 
eight years it had rainy seasons. Later it oc- 
cupied two other locations within the city 
Itbiits, when the demand for greater space 
became urgent, and a regular stockholders com- 
pany was organized and ground, consisting of 
some twelve acres, was purchased at the south- 
ern limits of the city at a cost of ?10,000. The 
capital stock amounted to $7,500 based on an 
issue of 150 shares. On account of rainy sea- 
sons the society became indebted to the amount 
of ?5,200, but the stockholders contributed one- 
half that amount, and the Association gradually 
worked itself out of debt until, of late years. 
it has always paid a good dividend. It is 
therefore entirely solvent and in excellent run- 
ning order. The premises are worth at least 
$15,000; so the stock is above par and its 
business is being managed admirably. The 
grounds, both topographically and geographical- 
ly, are admirably adapted for the purpose for 
which they are used. They are enclosed by a 
tight board fence ten feet high and surrounded 



with regular stalls for horses, cattle, hogs and 
sheep. On the north end are located the floral 
and vegetable halls, and the amphitheater is 
over one hundred feet in length, capable of 
comfortably seating two thousand spectators. 
The race-track covers one-half mile and is as 
fine as any in the State. Financially the Asso- 
ciation always has money in the treasury, and 
pays its premiums with bank regularity. Dr. 
W. O. Blaisdell was, for over twenty-flve years. 
President of the Association, taking a keen 
interest in its prosperity, and to him much is 
due for its prosperous condition. The present 
officers are: George D. Tunnicliff, President; 
A. A. Messmore, Vice-President; George Gadd, 
Treasurer; George W. Reid, Secretary; Direc- 
tors— F. R. Kyle, J. McKee, T. Dudman, F. 
Hogan and W. H. Hainline. Macomb has held 
two notable street fairs — those of 1904 and 1906 
— which proved especially successful. It is fit- 
ting in this connection to give a list of the 
first officers, since to them much is due for the 
success of the enterprise. They were: Thomp- 
son Chandler. President; James Lownes, Wil- 
liam Brooking and S. K. Pedrick, Vice-Presi- 
dents; L. H. Waters, Corresponding Secretary; 
Joseph E. Wyne, Recording Secretary, and J. 
P. Updegraff. Treasurer. 

BusHNELL Fair Association. — During the 
summer of 1897, several citizens, feeling that 
a fair for the exposition of agricultural pro- 
ducts and mechanical implements could be suc- 
cessfully operated in the city of Bushnell, at 
once effected an organization under the above 
name, and proceeded to elect a board of offi- 
cers as follows: Louis Kaiser, President; S. A. 
Epperson and George W. -Solomon, Vice-Presi- 
dents; J. E. Chandler, Treasurer; D. F. Chides- 
ter. Secretary; with S. A. Hendee, C. C. Morse, 
D. N. Wishart, M. L. Walker, I. Hanks and 
.lames A. Gardner, Directors. Grounds were 
rented and well fitted up for the purpose, and 
the first fair was held September 23-26, 1879, 
proving a decided success. The Bushnell Fair 
has continued to be held yearly to date, with 
more or less success. J. H. Johnson, the pres- 
ent Secretary and Treasurer of the Association, 
takes a most active part in conducting its 
affairs and contributes much to Its success. 
Several street fairs have also been held, seem- 
ingly resulting in the success anticipated. 



764 



HISTORY (3F Mcdonough county. 



MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES. 

The following includes a list of the prin- 
cipal manufacturing enterprises in McDonough 
County: 

Mktal Industries. — The foundry of A. Fisher 
& Brother was erected in 1S73 on the west side 
of Randolph Street, in Macomb, just north of 
the Chicago, Burlington & Qulncy Railroad. 
The main building is of brick and is 40 by 136 
feet, ground area. The machine shop is 6II by 136 
feet, and, within the past three years, large 
additions have been made to the molding 
rooms. The proprietors make a specialty of 
casting and finishing school furniture, which 
Is shipped all over this continent and to South 
America. They also do a general casting and 
machine business in their line. This business 
was established by Thomas Wiley in 1856. Mr. 
A. Fisher came to McDonough County in 1868 
and became associated with Mr. Wiley in the 
business. Later Mr. Wiley retired from the 
firm and was succeeded by Fisher & Price, and 
this lasted for several years. The present busi- 
ness is owned and carried on by Archibald 
Fisher, who is conducting a prosperous and 
noted foundry. 

There was a foundry in the city of Bushnell, 
which was carried on for some years, hut 
within the past few years it has ceased to 
exist. The Macomb Sheet Metal Works, at No. 
200 South Lafayette Street, conducted and 
owned by Griffin & Schell, are doing a very 
fair business. The Plumbing Works of Hender- 
son & Cox are located at 233 Lafayette Street, 
Macomb. 

POTTBET AND CLAT MaNUFACTITBING INDUS- 
TRIES. — Macomb Sewer Pipe Company, now 
owned by Walter S. Dickey, is the result of the 
consolidation of two incorporated companies, 
which were sold to Mr. Dickey of Kansas City. 
The first of these companies was known as the 
Macomb Tile and Sewer Pipe Company, lo- 
cated on the west side of Macomb. It had a 
capital of J.^O.dOO. with Dr. W. F, Bayne as 
President; G. W. Bailey, Secretary, and .T. H. 
Cummings, Treasurer. It was chartered March 
24, 1883, and continued in business until March 
8, 1902, when the sale referred to took place. 
The other corporation was known as the Frost 
Sewer Pipe Company, situated on the east side 
of Macomb. It was organized February 16, 
1893, with Samuel Frost as President; W. H. 



Hainline, Secretary; and John Binnle, Treas- 
urer, with a capital of $60,000. It was sold 
first to the Illinois Manufacturing Company, 
but subsequently transferred to the Macomb 
Sewer Pipe Company, of which it became a 
part November 30, 1904. These factories have 
been added to each year until their capacity 
has been more than doubled, and they are now 
in a most prosperous condition. They em- 
ploy nearly two hundred men, and obtain ma- 
terial from their own clay beds, which are 
reached by a private railway to the mines, over 
two miles in length. They also operate their 
own coal shafts at Colchester. The company 
is up-to-date in every necessary equipment. 

The Macomb branch of the Western Stone 
Ware and Pottery Company is the result of the 
absorption, on April 18, 1906. of the Macomb 
Pottery and the Macomb Stone Ware Compa- 
nies. The headquarters of the company are 
located at Monmouth, 111., with the following 
list of officers: W. D. Brereton, Monmouth, 
President: A. D. Philpot. Chicago, Secretary; 
George E. Patton, Monmouth, Treasurer. The 
different factories of the company are located 
as follows: Nos. 1 and 2 at Monmouth; Nos. 
3 and 4 at Macomb; No. 5 at Whitehall, 111.; 
No. 6 at Clinton, Mo.; and No. 7 at Ft. Dodge, 
Iowa. A. Q. Myers is superintendent in charge 
of Nos. 3 and 4 at Macomb. The capacity of 
the seven shops is about 5,000 car loads per 
annum. The company, as a whole, represents 
the largest stoneware manufacturing industry 
in the United States. 

The Buckeye Pottery Company of Macomb is 
situated on the east side of Macomb, No. 405 
West Carroll Street. The officers are: W. J. 
Pech, President ; and L. S. Pech, Secretary and 
Treasurer. This factory has been in existence 
over twenty years, the plant having been first 
built by the father of President W. .1. Pech, and 
it has remained in the hands of the Peoh family 
ever since. It has been successful from the 
first, and continues to do a large business. 

The Conduit Manufactory and the Russell 
Clay Works are located at the corner of Pierce 
and College Streets, the owner being S. Russell. 
This is a new establishment erected for the 
manufacture of conduits to be used for elec- 
trical purposes. 

The Macomb Cement Building Block Factory, 
owned by D. C. Pennywitt, is situated at 302 
West Carroll Street. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



765 



Marble and Gbanite Works. — Thomas D. 
Kirk is the proprietor of the Macomb Marble 
and Granite Works, located at 210 North Lafay- 
ette Street. It furnishes all kinds of monu- 
mental work manufactured according to origi- 
nal designs from Montelo, Berlin, Vermont, 
Quincy, Missouri and Minnesota red and gray 
granites. The workmanship is equal to that 
of any marble works in the country, and Mr. 
Kirk has a growing business. 

J. D. Van Fossen & Son, tombstone and mon- 
ument manufacturers, of marble and all kinds 
of granite, are located at No. 215 East Jackson 
Street. 

Miscellaneous Industries. — The Bushnell 
Tank Works, at Bushnell, has a paid-up capital 
of $75,000. The officers are: W. J. Vertrees. 
President and Treasurer; C. R. Vertrees, Vice- 
President; L. M. Vertrees, Secretary. This 
■concern has been in operation for four years, 
and has i)roved a success. W. J. Vertrees is an 
energetic business man, and, in connection with 
his sons, the business has grown in a remark- 
able degree. 

The Bushnell Pump Company, at Bushnell, 
has been in existence over a quarter of a cen- 
tury. P. H. Wheeler is President, and Wilson 
West Secretary. 

Candy Factobie.s. — Two candy factories, those 
■of Walter W, Gaites and A. J. Laughlin & Co., 
■contribute to the enjoyment of the younger 
generation by the manufacture of ice cream and 
candies, both establishments being located on 
the east side of the City Park, and carrying 
•on a successful business. 



CHAPTER XXni. 



HOTEL HISTORY. 



MArOMIiS III.STORIf 7IOTKL SITE OK THE FIRST 

KIBE FAILURE OF MACOMB's FIRST HANK THE 

01 n RANDOLl'II HOUSE AND ITS lUTLDER DISTIN- 

( riMIIEI) MEN WHO WERE ITS flUE.STS A MEMOR- 

AIU.E CONFERENCE WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN 



TAKING OF A LINCOLN I-OBTBAIT — REMINISCENCES 

OF A REPUBLICAN BALLY IN 1858 OTHER NOTED 

VISITORS — LAST .SLAVES IN M'dONOUGH COUNTY 
SHELTERED THERE — EARLY AND LATER DAY HOS- 
TELRIES — A PRIMITIVE TAVERN — SCALE OF PRICES 

FOR MEALS, LIQUORS, ETC. MINISTERS IN 

THE LIQUOR TRADE IIOIEI. CHANDLER AND 

THE WILLIAMS HOUSE, OF MACOMB — BUSHNELL, 
BLANDINSVILLE, PRAIRIE CITY, SCIOTA, COLCHES- 
TER, TENNESSEE, INDUSTRY AND ISARDOLPH 
HOTELS. 

The following sketch of the historic Randolph 
House, erected in Macomb in 1S5G-57, as copied 
from the "Macomb Journal" of 1903, and 
written by the Hon. Alexander McLean, will, no 
doubt, have an interest for many readers of this 
volume. During the fifty years of its history, 
covering the period of early Republican cam- 
paigns and the Civil War, it was the temporary 
resting place of Abraham Lincoln, Senator 
Trumbull, Governors Yates, Oglesby and Pal- 
mer, and many other distinguished citizens of 
this and other States. Its builder and owner, 
Hon. William H. Randolph, was a patriotic citi- 
zen who lost his life while in the discharge 
of his duty as Provost Marshal for the McDon- 
ough District during the war period. 

The Randoli'H House. — "This noted hotel, sit- 
uated on the east side of the public square, was 
for many years recognized as one of the best 
hostelries in the Military Tract. Part of the 
lot on which it is erected had previously been 
occupied by the office of Dr. Charles Hayes, 
one of the oldest and best known citizens of 
this county. The site of the office is where 
the two-story building owned by E. A. Lane 
now stands. Dr. Hayes erected a two-story 
frame building on the corner, which was occu- 
pied by J. W. Wyne as a general dry-goods 
store, and remained as such until a few years 
ago, when the present brick building was erect- 
ed. The remaining part of said lot was occu- 
pied by Hector McLean as a tombstone, grind- 
stone and general stonecutters' yard, for two 
years. In 1852 a two-story building was erected 
on the southeast corner (on the alley), and oc- 
cupied as a general dry-goods store. 

"The FiRsr Fire. — The first firm occupying 
the same was that of Chambers & Randolph, 
subsequently occupied by the firm of Updegraff, 
Pearson & Cummings. Mr. llpdegi-aff retiring, 
the firm was Pearson, Cummings & Mcintosh. 
"While occupied by this firm, the most de- 



766 



HIST(JKY OF McDON(JUGH COUNTY. 



structive fire which ever visited Macomb oc- 
curred. All our merchants in the early 'fifties 
bought the entire product of our farmers — 
hogs, curing and packing same during the win- 
ter ready to ship on opening of navigation to 
St. Louis. All commercial transactions were con- 
summated. The lower rear part of the building 
was filled with hams, bacon and lard. The fire 
is supposed to have originated by overflow of 
lard from frying kettles. The bucket brigade 
did heroic service. Men, women and children 
formed lines from all wells in the vicinity. 
When the fire was at its height it was an- 
nounced that there was a large quantity of pow- 
der in the premises. This was true, but J. B. 
Pearson, at risk of life, knowing where the 
dangerous compound was, ran in and brought 
whole kegs and one half-keg out amidst show- 
ers of firebrands and took them to a place of 
safety. 

Many comical scenes occurred, fires being un- 
usual. The peculiar idiosyncracies of many 
were developed. One aged man brought down 
from the second floor an armful of log chains 
and deposited them carefully out of harms 
way, then rushed in again and getting a lot of 
scythe blades, threw them out of the window 
on the heads of the helpers. Another, equally 
as diligent, picked up whole packages of plates, 
saucers and other queensware and threw them 
out on the pavement. But after superhuman 
efforts the fire was ultimately extinguished. 
The citizens generally performed their whole 
duty, the women particularly helping in pass- 
ing the buckets and pumping at the wells, and 
thus the fire company covered themselves with 
glory. 

"FiR.sT Bank F.'MU'ke. — After the fire above 
referred to. the second story of the building 
was changed to make a banking house, which 
was the first bank in McDonough County. In 
1S,54 Mr. Randolph, in company with Joseph M. 
Parkinson, Joseph W. Blount and M. T. War- 
slow, formed the first banking company and, 
with a few changes in the firm, continued in 
business until the fall of 1858, when it, with 
hundreds of other banks all over the country, 
had to go into liquidation. So ended the bank 
in this building. This was a year of great finan- 
cial distress and of wildcat banking in the 
country. 



"The members of the above-named bank had 
been for some years engaged in the real-estate 
business, finally selling out their interest in 
the same Xovember 3, 1856. to the firm of Mc- 
Lean, Randolph & Co., who continued in b.isi- 
ness until 1860, when the firm was dissolved. 
Many of our earliest merchants occupied the 
corner store, it being the best in the village. 
We recall some in addition to above named; 
T. B. B. Maury, Captain Lipe, A. Babcock, Dan 
Shumate, Alex and William Brooking, none of 
whom are in business today, and but few alive. 

"Brii.DiNC OK THE HoTKL. — In 1856-57 Mr. Ran- 
dolph decided to build a hotel, which was com- 
pleted in 1857, as represented in the accom- 
panying illustration. It was then one of the 
best houses on the line of the Chicago. Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad from Quincy to Chicago, 
was finished and furnished in the best style of 
that date and rented to D. C. Flint, a gentle- 
man of means from the State of New York. The 
opening day was memorable from the fact that 
the 'bus team, on its first trip to the depot, hav- 
ing entered into the spirit of hilarity of the 
occasion, left without the driver's consent and 
came near making a pile of kindling of the first 
and finest 'bus in the city. Mr. Flint kept an 
excellent caravansary, but, becoming imbued 
with the desire to own some of the fine prairie 
land on the east side of the county, retired 
from the house to the farm in 1858. Mr. Ran- 
dolph then took charge and continued as the 
landlord for several years. This house has been 
operated by quite a number of tenants during 
the ijassing years of its history, notably Jacob 
Randolph. A. C. Brooking and Mr. Miller. It 
may be well to state that the house had many 
boarders who were well known persons in this 
community. We recall Jerry Haskins, Joseph 
Durr, who boarded there from its opening, and 
Dr. W. O. Blaisdell, who, for over thirty years, 
was a steady guest of that hospitable hotel. 

"LiNcoi.x'.s Vi.siT. — The hotel has a political 
history connected with events before and dur- 
ing the war. Many of the leading politicians of 
this and other States were temporary guests. 
Abe Lincoln was a guest on two occasions. In 
September, 1858, Mr. Lincoln, with Medill, 
Bross and Scripps. had been at a public meet- 
ing in Augusta. In the afternoon they came to 
Macomb and met a large number of our citizens. 
Before bedtime these gentlemen had a private 




Randolph House, Macomb 




Hotel Chandler, Maconnb 



I' 



UBUCLi, 



i 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



767 



meeting in the hotel, at which were formulated 
certain questions to be propounded to Senator 
Douglas at the next joint debate. During the 
discussion as to what should be agreed upon, 
it was thought by some that the celebrated 
quotation made by Mr. Linfcoln, that 'a house 
divided against itself cannot stand," etc., and 
his application of this sentiment to the coun- 
try, was impolitic and should not be pressed. 
After reflection Mr. Lincoln asked if it were 
not true. He was answered, "Yes," but not po- 
litic, as it was being used to his injury by Doug- 
las and his friends, and would hazard his (Lin- 
coln's) election as United States Senator. Abe 
answered, if ne should be beaten for the Sena- 
torship on that truth, Douglas would be defeat- 
ed as a candidate for President in the future — 
and Lincoln's judgment was acquiesced in. The 
future demonstrated that he was correct. The 
next morning after this meeting, Mr. Lincoln 
was out on the porch of the hotel when Mr. 
McGee, then of Carthage, proposed that Mr. 
Lincoln should have his ambrotype taken, 
which, after parley, he agreed to and went 
across the street to a gallery owned by 'Paint' 
Pearson, a brother of Hon. I. N. Pearson. A 
good likeness was taken and the last known 
of the ambrotype it was in the relic room of the 
Lincoln monument in Springfield, 111., with a 
history of the circumstances under which it 
was taken pasted on the back of the plate. 

"Mr. Lincoln was again in Macomb and ad- 
dressed the citizens of this county in Septem- 
ber, 185S. It was the largest political meeting 
ever held in this county up to that date, and, 
although it rained heavily nearly all day, the 
people represented by delegations from all 
parts of the county, with bands and banners, 
with whole wagonloads of young ladies repre- 
senting the various States, together with an es- 
cort of ladies and gentlemen on horseback un- 
der the marshalship of Dr. T. M. Jordan, were 
present. One wagon, driven by John D, Hain- 
line, had a flag with the motto: 'Clay Whigs 
for Lincoln.' This was in the lead of the dele- 
gation from Blandinsville, Mr. Lincoln being in 
the carriage of S. J. Hopper, who drove him 
from that town, where he had spoken the even- 
ing before. The enthusiasm was simply at 
fever heat, and Mr. Lincoln delivered one of his 
characteristic addresses, which was heartily 
endorsed by his sympathetic audience. 

"Other Noted Visitors. — During the cam- 



paign of 1860, Hon. Tom Corwin, of Ohio, Sena- 
tor Trumbull, Governor Palmer, Dick Oglesby, 
Dick Yates, and many others took part in the 
campaign in this county, all making their head- 
quarters at the Randolph Hotel. From the bal- 
cony in front each had addressed our citizens 
at different times, until it seemed to become a 
sacred forum. 

"The Last Slaves. — During the war many 
soldiers who enlisted In various regiments were 
bountifully entertained at the Randolph House, 
as it was deemed the headquarters of loyalty 
to the Government. An incident not without in- 
terest occurred at the hotel on the night of 
December 31. 1862. It will be remembered that 
President Lincoln's proclamation of freedom 
to slaves was to take efifect at 12 o'clock mid- 
night of that day. On the arrival of the train 
from Qulncy in the evening, two colored men 
were taken off the train by a white resident of 
this county, detaining them for the purpose of 
returning them to their masters. Mr. J. O. Lane 
the City Marshal, a man of pluck and nerve, 
accosted the negroes and asked what they were 
doing there. They answered that they were 
going to Galesburg, but that that man, pointing 
out the person, had taken their passes and com- 
pelled them to get off the train. Mr. Lane told 
them to get into the 'bus and go with him. 
They were taken to the Randolph Hotel and the 
circumstances detailed to the landlord. Mr. 
Randolph decided these negroes should be put 
in a certain room, there to remain until 12 
o'clock midnight,, when the proclamation would 
go into effect. This was done in spite of the 
railing and fury of the person who had taken 
their passes, but neither threats nor cussing 
could change the minds of the parties in charge. 
At 12 o'clock — and a few minutes after for 
good measure and certainty — the colored men 
went out free men, with none to molest or 
make them afraid. These were the last slaves 
in McDonough County, 111. 

•'The hotel front was changed to what it is 
now some years ago. The columns were re- 
moved and a store took the place of the lower 
floor. There are but few important public 
events of the past fifty years that have not 
been connected, directly or indirectly, with the 
hostelry. Other hotels arose and fell, but the 
old Randolph House still braves the battle and 
the breeze, and is still owned by Mrs. Ran- 
dolph, the widow of Mr. Randolph, by whose 



768 



HISTORY OF McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



name the hotel is known far and wide in this 
section of the country." 

SoMK Early and Later Day Hotel History. — 
On April 12, 1831, the Board of County Com- 
missioners granted to .John Baker a license to 
keep a tavern on payment of a fee of six dol- 
lars and fifty cents, together with the Clerk's 
fees for issuing the license. The Board also 
adopted, at the same meeting, a scale of prices 
to govern inn-keepers, as follows: 
For each meal of victuals the sum of. . . .|fl.2.5 

For each night's lodging 12% 

For each horse feed per night 2.5 

For each horse-feed 12^^ 

For each pint of whisky 12% 

For each half pint of French brandy 25 

For each half-pint of Holland gin or wine .25 
For each half-pint of peach brandy 18% 

This was the first inn or tavern opened in 
McDonough County, and it may seem a little 
strange to the Inhabitants of to-day that Mr. 
Baker, to whom this license was granted, was 
a Baptist preacher, but such was the fact. He 
figured in the county for several years as a 
minister of the Gospel and a retailer of spirit- 
uous liquors. A few days after he obtained 
the license he formed a partnership with Sam- 
uel Bogart, a Methodist preacher, and, under 
the firm name of Bogart, Baker & Co., they en- 
gaged in the sale of dry-goods, groceries, 
whisky, tobacco, etc. The tavern was situated 
on the northeast corner of the public square. 
During the year 1831 the Board of Commis- 
sioners granted four licenses to parties to keep 
tavern. Evidently there was a general de- 
mand tor soft groceries, for years afterward the 
general stores always kept on tap spirituous 
liquors, and it was not considered other than 
regular business. 

The next hotel was built on the southeast 
corner of Jackson Street fronting the public 
square. This was kept by .Tudge .Tames Clark. 
It was a log structure, but subsequently a 
handsome (for that day) two-story brick build- 
ing was erected, which became the principal 
hotel of the county, and was the resort of the 
bar at home and from abroad. While Stephen 
A. Douglas was doing duty as a Circuit .Judge 
he, together with the prominent lawyers of 
that day from Quincy, Carthage, Mount Sterling 
and neighboring county seats, always occupied 
snug quarters in this hostelry. It also became 



the headquarters for politicians and future 
statesmen. The hotel was known as Clark's 
tavern. Subsequently the building changed 
hands and was known at different times as the 
Brooking. Brown's and St. Elmo Hotels. The 
building was finally taken down to give place 
for what are now store buildings and offices. 

There have been several hotels erected since 
that period, notably the Randolph Hotel on the 
southeast corner of the Square, which was 
built in 1855-56 and which still continues to be 
occupied. (See more extended history of the 
"Randolph House" in the first iiart of this 
chapter.) 

The Williams House (now the Elwood Hotel) 
situated near the depot, was erected by Rich- 
ard Williams. He opened a hotel in the old 
jail building on the southwest comer of the 
City Park, named it Park Hotel, and subse- 
quently erected the building now known as El- 
wood Hotel, just mentioned. 

The principal hotel was erected some few 
years ago by Hon. C. V. Chandler on the north- 
west corner of City Park, and which is now 
known as Hotel Chandler. It is an up-to-date 
house, internally and externally, and much 
patronized by the visiting public. Mr. Chandler 
furnished the house and appointed A. H. Mc- 
Veigh manager, who continued in charge until 
.lune. 191)5, when the present i)ro|)rietor, .1. M. 
Pace, purchased the furniture and still occu- 
pies the building. He is considered a most 
excellent landlord. 

BisiixKLL Hotels. — The erection of the first 
hotel building in Bushnell was commenced in 
1855 by .John Crafford, but before its comple- 
tion it was purchased by .John D. Hail, one of 
the original proprietors of the town. Mr. Hail 
at once completed the building and the house 
was conducted by him for several years. Later 
it passed through the hands of several owners, 
the last to occupy it as a hotel being S. S. 
Bradfield, who occupied it for many years. We 
believe it is now a lodging house. It was 
known as the Bushnell House. 

The leading hotel of the city was a three- 
story brick building erected by S. A. Hendee 
in the summer of 1870, and named the Hendee 
House. After passing through several hands 
it is now kept by Tudor Alexander as the Alex- 
ander House. It is an excellent house, well 
kept and generally well i)atronized. 

There was also a two-story frame house in 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



769 



Buslinell known as the "Hess Hotel," situated 
on one of the parks of that city, but it was more 
of a boarding house than a public hotel. 

Bl.vndinwvili.e HoreLS. — The Hardin Hotel 
was the first regular hotel of Blandinsville. It 
was owned by Victor Hardin and continued to 
be occupied by him for many years, but has 
now ceased to exist. 

The Central Hotel, situated on Main Street in 
Blandinsville, was occupied at different times 
by E. L. Sapp and a number of other proprie- 
tors. It is still used as a house of public en- 
tertainment. 

The Edel House, built in 1858, a two-story 
brick structure, is situated opposite the public 
park. Mr. Charles Ballon owns the building 
and, for some years, was its landlord. It is 
still occupied for hotel purposes, and has a 
good list of patrons. 

The Cozad Hotel is a two-story l)rick under 
the management of Mr. Cozad as landlord. This 
is a neat, cozy, well-kept house and is well 
patronized. 

Prmrjk City Horei.s. — A hotel was erected 
by Wesley Cope in 1856, and occupied by J. C. 
Canfield. This was discontinued many years 
ago and is now a private dwelling. 

The first hotel in Prairie City was built by 
Ezra Cadwallader in 1854-55, and known as the 
McDonough House. On the 14th day of No 
vember, 1870, it was burned, and Mr. Cad- 
wallader built another near the depot in 1857, 
which was known as the Eagle House. It was 
sold in November, 1858, and was named the 
Central House. It has ceased to be used as a 
hotel, and has become a i)rivate dwelling. At 
this writing we understand there is no regular 
hotel in Prairie City. 

ScioTA Hotels. — The first hotel in Sciota was 
opened by John Jones in 1871, and was known 
as the Sciota House. It has been discontinued 
and a small private hotel is now in existence. 

Good Hope has a good two-story frame hotel, 
a large majority of its patrons being boarders. 

CoLciiESTEH Hotels. — The first hotel in Col- 
chester was erected by John Taylor in the win- 
ter of 1855-56 and named the Chester House. 
Previous to its enclosure he disposed of it to 
John Stults, who completed it in 1858. J. C. 
Hobert became its landlord and conducted it 
until 1S82, when William Miller took charge of 
it. In June, 1883, the present landlord, J. W. 
Knnis, came into possession. 



The Union House was built in 1869 by Henry 
Slocum, who occupied it for some time, fol- 
lowed by several other parties until April 15, 
1877, when J. D. Trew became the proprietor 
and continues to carry on the business. 

Tennessee Hostelbies. — The first hotel in 
Tennessee was kept in a building which was 
moved from the neighborhood of the McDon- 
ough saw-mill, three miles west of the village, 
in January, 1857, by Leo and John McDonough. 
They sold it to L. Underbill, who occupied it 
for a few months, when he sold it to John Low- 
dernian, after which it ceased to be occupied 
for hotel purposes. About a year afterward Ed- 
ward N. Driscoll erected the Liberty House, a 
two-story frame building. It was afterward 
owned by H. C. Potts, Thomas Cyrus, John Low- 
derman, D. R. Waddill and Mrs. Margaret Dull. 
The latter still occupies the building as a hotel. 

IxursTRV Hotel. — Caleb Hathaway and Mr. 
Pennington occupied the hotel here for some 
years. The present hotel is a neat two-story 
building. It is well kept and well patronized. 

Bahdolpil — The first hotel was built here in 
1858, about the time the town was laid out. 
It was known as the Bardolph Hotel, and was 
occupied successively by Mrs. N. H. Jackson, 
William Wilson, William E. Hendricks and 
others. This building was burned, and since 
then a new hotel for lodgers and boarders has 
been erected. 

The hotels of McDonough County compare 
very favorably with those of the rural districts 
in any other portion of the State of Illinois. 



CH.Xi'TER .\XIV 



POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND POETRY. 



rOLITICAL CAMPAIGNS OF KIKTY YEARS AdO FIllST 

RKPUBIIC.\>' CAMPAKIN FOR I'RESIDKNT FRE- 
MONT THIRD IN THE LIST IN M'dONOUGH COUNTY 

SOME LOCAL INCIDENTS OF THAT CAMPAIGN 

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE OF 1858 — THE "bAIL- 

splitteb's campaign" of 1860 — women pabad- 

ers, brass bands and glee clttbs campaign 

SONGS OF 1860, '44 xno '48. 

The following sketch, giving a brief account 
of the political movements of the past fifty 



770 



HISTORY ( )F McD<JN( JUGH COUNTY. 



years in which McDonough County tools an 
active part, may be of interest to those who 
were actors in the old campaigns, as well as to 
the youth ot the present and the politicians 
of the future. As the campaign songs of the 
earlier times may have been forgotten, or be- 
come dim even in the memory of those who 
once sang the catchy words and melodious 
airs, they are reproduced as reminders of other 
days. It will be noted for the benefit of later 
generations that they were especially personal 
and suited for outdoor crowds. 

First Republican Vote for President. — The 
Whig party went out of existence as the re- 
sult of its defeat at the general election of 
1852, with Winfield Scott as its candidate for 
President. With the formation of the Repub- 
lican party in 1S56, General John C. Fremont 
was placed at the head ot the new party ticket, 
which was opposed by the Democrats and the 
American party — the latter being composed 
largely of former Whigs who still clung to the 
old organization. It was a campaign of stren- 
uosity and uncertainty, but when the vote 
was finally counted in McDonough County, it 
was found that James Buchanan, the Demo- 
cratic candidate tor President, had received 
1,370 votes, Millard Fillmore, the standard- 
bearer of the American party, 864, and Fremont 
only 590. Before the next national election in 
1860, however, the American party had been 
absorbed by the two other opposing parties — 
in this region chiefly by the Republicans — and 
it was evident in McDonough County, as well 
as all over the North, that the new party was 
a vigorous youngster and had come to stay. 

In this canvass of 1856 Dr. James B. Kyle, 
of Macomb, was the candidate on the American 
ticket for Congress against I. N. Morris, Dem- 
ocrat, for long term; Jackson Grimshaw, Re- 
publican, long term; J. C. Davis. Democrat, 
for short term, and Thomas C. Sharp. Repub- 
lican, for short term. As against Morris, Dem- 
ocrat, Grimshaw, Republican, carried the coun- 
ty by a plurality of twenty-nine. 

Trouble With a Republican Pole. — During 
the Fremont contest, the Republicans erected a 
magnificent pole on which floated the American 
flag with the name of the party's standard- 
bearer. Captain George Ayers and Captain 
Rowe, old sailors, took the matter in charge. 



which ot course insured a mast of fine pro- 
portions, being not only ornamental but useful 
in promulgating the tenets of the party. It 
stood majestically for some time, but in an 
evil hour some one who loved not the party, 
with a large augur perforated and let daylight 
throught the pole, and of course it had to be 
replaced, which was done heartily and cheer- 
fully, taking the precaution to put a whole 
keg of tenpenny nails in the stem sufficiently 
high to put it beyond the reach of the boys. 
And so it continued throughout the campaign. 
An incident in connection with this Re- 
publican pole may not be out of place, as it 
in a manner showed the feeling engendered 
and the spirit of those warm times. One morn- 
ing early the custodian of the flag and pole 
(whose duty it was to raise the flag in the 
morning and take it down at Sundown), as was 
his custom, looked to see it the pole was in 
good condition, remembering what had oc- 
curred. Something strange seemed to be hang- 
ing above the cross-trees, and, looking all 
around the Square, no one in sight, the cus- 
todian at once repaired to the pole and there 
found the halyards had been severed and an 
effigy ot Horace Greeley, hat and coat, with a 
cojjv of the "New York Tribune" in the pocket, 
was attached to one end of the rope and run 
up as far as possible. The custodian at once 
began the serious climb to reach the stuffed 
man and found much difficulty in reaching the 
goal. But that had to be taken down at once 
and was accomplished, and old Horace was 
carefully put away in the coal house for fu- 
ture reference. A few days afterward the ef- 
figy was found sitting on top of the court 
house cupola, on the south side thereof, which 
was rather significant, as politics divided the 
court house, from the fact that the north half 
of the building was occupied by Republican 
and the south half by Democratic officers. It 
l)roved to be one of the jokes ot the campaign. 
It was ordered to be taken down by the County 
Board, but a piece of the pole to which the 
image was attached can still be seen in one 
of the old prints of the old court house. Dur- 
ing the succeeding six years the Republicans 
were busy organizing and literature profusely 
circulated. 

Lincoln-Douglas Debate. — In 1858 the cele- 
brated joint debate of Lincoln and Douglas 





d'^Hc^'^^^'^^ 



ABIOR. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county 



771 



occurred, each aspiring to the United States 
Senate. This proved to be the most exciting 
and heated campaign since 1S40, the principal 
issue being on the Kansas-Nebraska bill, which 
involved the question of slavery north of the 
Mason and Dixon line, details of which need 
not be entered into in this article. Suffice it 
to say that the joint discussion enlightened 
the people to the needs of careful legislation, 
and while Lincoln did not succeed in the Sen- 
atorial race, yet he had, with other leaders of 
the party, so enlivened the general public with 
the principles of freedom that, by the time the 
greatest of all political campaigns, that of 
18G0, had arrived, the people were ready, edu- 
cated and anxious to be heard through the 
ballot-box. 

Thk Rail-Splitteb's Campaign of '60. — Early 
in 1860, in every precinct and city, clubs were 
organized. This continued up to the Repub- 
lican National convention, which met in June 
in the wigwam specially erected for that pur- 
pose in Chicago, which was the first National 
convention ever held in that enterprising city. 
To be brief, Lincoln was declared the nomi- 
nee and standard-bearer. When it became 
known that Honest Old Abe was the nominee, 
it was impossible to describe the gratification 
and joy of the lUinoisans. Fence rails at once 
went up in price, and in fire; old, sedate law- 
yers, doctors, legislators and statesmen, and 
even the preachers, were pleased to carry a 
rail. It was called the rail-splitter's and flat- 
boatman's campaign. Many rails were found, 
as per statement of some enthusiasts, made 
by Old Abe, and if he made all that were car- 
ried in processions at public demonstrations 
throughout the country, he must have been a 
giant and worked every day in the year, Sun- 
days not excepted. It pleased the people, how- 
ever, and created a perfect hurricane of en- 
thusiasm. 

Pretty Women, Brass Bands and Glee 
Clubs. — Clubs were organized in every voting 
precinct in this county. Many did but little 
business during the five months of the cam- 
paign. Everywhere throughout the country 
clubs of young ladies were always present at 
the numerous political meetings in wagons, 
specially constructed, containing the beauties 
of the neighborhood dressed in white, one rep- 
resenting each State, while one of them was 



dressed in black for bleeding Kansas. This 
form of display took like wildfire all 
over the country, and no meeting of 
importance was held but had such rep- 
resentatives. These are now grandmothers, 
and we confidently assert that, when they were 
engaged in campaigning in this manner, they 
were not only good Republicans, but were good- 
looking, handsome young women; and the old 
grandfathers of today will assert, by solemn 
oath, that they were as handsome as the aver- 
age young woman of today. 

A Republican brass band was organized and 
instruments furnished by the generous citi- 
zens. This band was composed of young, ac- 
tive, zealous voters, and was present at every 
imblic meeting or rally in this congressional 
district. A splendid band wagon, with "Bill" 
Waters as driver, would haul the band from 
place to place day and night. They went 
around with Senator Trumbull and others for 
several days. They also organized a glee club 
among themselves, and did valiant service for 
the ticket. They made a trip from Blandins- 
ville in the afternoon, and left for Rushville, 
traveling at night, arriving there at the close 
of a Democratic rally. The Hickorys were 
still around with torches. Mistaking the Ma- 
comb band for the Macomb Democratic band, 
they were prepared to act ugly, but happily 
the leading citizens stopped the trouble. The 
band serenaded many of the citizens and had 
a good time until early morning. The next 
day the meeting was addressed by Dick Yates 
and Owen l/ovejoy, and a grand meeting it was. 
Some of the songs of the glee club were of 
the humorous kind, which sometimes led to 
small fights and some interruption, notably at 
Bushnell, where the song did not reflect great 
credit on the adversary, but the speaker held 
up until the fracas was happily ended. The 
participants are now old men, but have no 
reason to be ashamed of the part they took 
in that great campaign. 

The band consisted of Fred Hoffman, A. 
Hunt, Steve Beardsley, A. McLean. Reub Wel- 
ker. 1. N. Pearson, James Anderson and others 
whose names are forgotten. Newt Pearson 
heat the bass drum, and A. Hunt, Steve Beards- 
ley and A. McLean were members of the band. 

HEAD-Ct'M MINUS CONTEST. — On the night of 
the election in 1860, when news was received 
of the success of the ticket, there was a pan- 



772 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



demonium of joy all night long and next day 
and night. J. B. Cummings was candidate for 
Circuit Clerk, W. T. Head being the Demo- 
cratic candidate. When it became known that 

(Cummings was elected, the rejoicing was un- 
alloyed. Mr. Cummings received a majority 
of eleven votes. The incumbent refused to 

:turn over the office to Mr. Cummings, and 

.the contest was made before the Supreme 
Court, which decided in favor of Mr. Cum- 

_mings. This ended the campaign of 1860. 

Other Uxfortln.vte Fl.\g Poles. — A magnifl- 
^cent flag pole was erected during this cam 
paign on the southeast corner of the court 
house yard. A terrific electrical storm struck 
the pole, tearing the upper portion to slivers. 
One of the pole guys was attached to a hitching 
post to which a team of horses was tied. 
The lightning ran down the guy, from there to 
the halter straps and killed the horses instant- 
ly. The pole was soon repaired and stood for 
some years after the campaign. 

In 1S72 a Republican pole was erected on 
the northeast corner of the court house lot. 
It was a beauty and was just finished a few- 
hours when a northwest storm laid it low. 
leaving a stump about twenty feet in height. 
This was the last pole raising. This stump, 
however, remained for years and at every 
victory of the Republican party was decorated 
with flags and brooms, testifying to the faith 
and confidence of the Republicans in the jus- 
tice of their cause. 

Thbef. C-\mi'aiun Songs. — Two are written In 
honor of Whig candidates — Henry Clay, the 
great Kentucklan, who made a brilliant but 
unsuccessful campaign against the "dark 
horse" (Polk), in 1844; and "Old Zach Taylor," 
who ran against Lewis Cass in 1848. "The 
Ship of State" was one of the most i>opular 
songs during the memorable campaign of 1860 
— which has just been described — and it is 
given herewith: 

•THE SHIP OF STATE." 

"Hark! Hark! a signal gun i.s fired, just out be- 
yond the fort. 

The good old ship of state, my boys, is coming 
into port; 

With shattered sails and anchor gone, I fear the 
rogues will strand her. 

She carries now a sorry crew, she needs a new 
commander." 
• Chorus — "Old Abram is the man. old Abram is the 
man; 



With a sturdy mate from the Pine Tree State, 
Old Abram is the man." 

"Pour years ago she put to sea, with prospects 

brightly gleaming; 
Her hull was strong, her sails new set, and every 

pennant streaming. 
She loved the gale, she ploughed the wave, nor 

feared the deep's commotion. 
Majestic, nobly on she sailed, proved mistress of 

the ocean. 

Chorus — "Buchanan is the man. Buchanan is the 

man; 
A four years' trip leaves a crippled ship, 
Buchanan is the man," 

"Tliere's mutiny aboard the ship, there's feud no 

force to smother; 
Their blood is up to fever heat, they're cutting 

down each other. 
Buchanan here and Douglas there, are belching 

forth their thunder; 
While cunning rogues are sly at work, in pocketing 

the plunder." 

Chorus— "Buchanan is the man. Buchanan is the 

man; 
A four years' trip leaves a crippled ship. 
Buchanan is the man." 

"Our ship is getting out of trim, 'tis time to calk 

and grave her; 
She is foul with stench of human gore, they've 

turned her to a slaver. 
She's cruised about from coast to coast, the flying 

bondsmen hunting; 
Until she's stranded from stem to stern, she's lost 

her sails and liunting. 

Chorus— "Old .\bram is the man. old Abram is the 

man ; 
With a sturdy mate from the Pine Tree State, 
Old Abram is the man." 

"We'll give her what repairs she needs, a thor- 
ough overhauling; 

Her sordid crew will be dismissed, to seek some 
honest calling. 

Brave Lincoln soon will take the helm, on peace 
and right relying; 

In calm or storm, in peace or war. he'll keep her 
colors tiying." 

Chorus— "Old .Abram is the man, old Abram is the 

man; 
With a sturdy mate from the Pine Tree State, 
Old .\bram is the man." 



"CLEAR THE TRACK FOR OLD KENTUCKY." 

(A Whig Campaign Song of 1844.) 

"The moon was shining silverv bright. 
The stars with glory crowned the night; 
High on the tree sat the same old coon,' 
Singing to himself that same old tune." 

Chorus— "Get out of the way, you're all unluckv, 
Clear the track for old Kentucky." 

"Now in a sad predicament. 
The Locos= are for President; 
They have six horses in the pasture. 
-And don't know which can run the faster." 
Chorus— Get out of the way. etc. 

"The wagon horse-' from Pennsylvania, 



'The Whig party. 

=Locos or "Locofocos." as the Whigs called the 
Democrats. 

■'The wagon horse from Pennsylvania— James 
Buchanan. 




GEORGE GAMAGE 



THE I 
PUBLIC 



it:: ox 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



773^ 



The Dutchman thinks the best of any. 
But he must drag in heavy stages 
Federal nations and low wages."* 
Chorus— Get out of the way. etc. 

"They proudly bring upon the course 
That old broken down war horse — 
They shout and sing. Oh rumsey, dumsey, 
Colonel Johnson killed Tecumseh." 
Chorus— Get out of the way, etc. 

"And there is Cass, though not a dunce. 
He'll run both sides of the track at once. 
In nothm' first, in all things coppy. 
He's sometimes pig and sometimes puppy." 
Chorus— Gret out of the way. etc. 

"And there's Matty.'* never idle. 
A tricky horse that slips his bridle. 
In '44 we'll show him soon. 
The little fox can't fool the coon." 
Chorus— Get out of the way, etc. 

"It is the fashion of the day. 
Our people's favorite, Henry Clay. 
And let the track be dry or mucky. 
We'll stake our jiile on Old Kentucky."" 
Chorus— Get out of the wav, etc. 



CHAPTER XX\' 



"UNCLE S.\M'S WHITE HOUSE." 

(This is the caption of a Whig campaign song 
sung in 184S. The words are here appended): 

"Uncle Sam's White House is a tine situation 
For any one to live in to attend to the nation. 
And a good many came to the door and knocked. 
And Uncle Sam sang while the door was locked." 

Chorus— "Oh. who's that knocking at the door? 
Is that you Zack? No. it is Cass: 
Well, you're like Santa Anna— you've got no pass- 
So there's no use knocking at the door any more." 

"When the Barnburners' came with the darkies 

in their ranks. 
Then Uncle Sam laughed at their foolish pranks- 
For they brought Martin Van, who had lived there 

before. 
And Uncle Sam sung while thev knocked at the 

door." 

Chorus— "Oh. who's that knocking at the door'' 
Is that you Cass? No. it is Van. 
Well, you can't come in, you're a used-up man: 
So there's no use in knocking at the door any 
more." 

"Then the People came with the brave old chief. 
Whose brow was crowned with a laurel wreath: 
And he went straight ahead as he di« in Mexico. 
And knocked like a soldier boldly at the door." 

Chorus— "Oh, who's that knocking at the door? 
Is that you Van? No. it is Zach. 
Well, walk in. General, you never turn back. 
So there's no use in knocking at the door any 
more." 

'Buchanan was an advocate of low wages for 
working men. being a free trader, while Clav. a 
strong protectionist, had declared in Congress that 
a working man was entitled to "a dollar a day" 
and roast beef at every meal. 

'Martin Van Buren. 

"Polk, who was really nominated and beat Clay 
at the polls and in consequence of which the thou- 
sands who idolized and staked piles on old Ken- 
tucky went broke to the Democrats, is not men- 
tioned. The poem was probably written before 
the convention when Polk, whose nomination was 
an expedient, was not thought of as a candidate. 

'"Barnburners" was an appellation given to the 
Free Soil or Abolition Democrats who. running 
Martin Van Buren. greatly contributed to General 
Taylor's election on account of loss to the regular 
Democratic ticket. 



SLAVERY DAYS— UNDERGROUND 
RAILROAD. 



THE BLACK LAWS OF ILLINOIS — BEVOLUTION- 
WBOITGHT BY THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW AND' 
KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT — THE VOTE FOB LINCOLN 

IN 1860 DAYS OF THE UNDEBGBOUND EAILROAD' 

IN M'DONOUGH COUNTY AND SOME OF ITS MOST 

ACTIVE OPEKATOBS THE STOBY OF THE SLAVE: 

CHABLEY HIS NU.MEBOUS ATTEMPTS TO BESCUE 

HIS FAMILY FBOM SLAVEBY FINALLY PBOVE SUC- 
CESSFUL OTHEB INCIDENTS OK UNDERGROUND' 

BAILROAD WOBK — EXPEBIENCE OF AN EX-SLAVE 

IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

THE LAST SLAVES ON m'dONOUGH SOIL AND THE 
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RETURN THEM TO' 
THEIE MASTERS. 

Although mainly emigrants from Southern or 
Slave States, the early settlers of McDonough: 
County entertained much prejudice against the' 
negro; neither was it peculiar to McDonough 
County, but in great measure permeated the 
body politic of the entire State. 

By referring to the Revised Statutes of the 
State, approved March 3, 1845, the following is 
found in Chapter 54, under the head, "Negroes 
and Mulattoes," which provision was further en- 
forced by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850^ 
passed by the Congress of the United States: 

"Section S. Any person who shall here- 
after bring into this State any black or mu- 
latto person, in order to free him or her from 
slavery, or shall directly or indirectly bring 
into this State, or aid or assist any person in 
bringing any such black or mulatto person to 
settle and reside therein, shall be fined one 
hundred dollars on conviction or indictment be- 
fore any Justice of the Peace in the county 
where such offense shall be committed. 

"Section 9. If any slave or servant shall be 
found at a distance of ten miles from the tene- 
ment of his or her master or person with 
whom he or she lives, without a pass or some 
letter or token whereby it may appear that he 
or she is proceeding by authority from his or 
her master, employer or overseer, it shall and 
may be lawful for any person to apprehend 



774 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



and carry him or her before a Justice of the 
Peace, to be by his order punished with stripes 
not exceeding thirty-five at his discretion. 

"Section 10. If any slave or servant shall 
presume to come and be upon the plantation 
or at the dwelling of any person whomsoever 
without leave from his or her owner, not be- 
ing sent upon lawful business, it shall be law- 
ful for the owner of such plantation or dwell- 
ing house to give or order such slave or serv- 
ant ten lashes on his or her bare back. 

"Section 12. If any person or persons shall 
permit or suffer any slave or slaves, serv- 
ant or servants of color, to the number of 
three or more, to assemble in his, her or their 
outhouse, yard or shed, for the purpose of 
dancing or reveling, either by night or by day. 
the person or persons so oifending shall for- 
feit and pay the sum of twenty-five dollars, 
with cost, to any person or persons who will 
sue for and recover the same by action of debt, 
or indictment, in any court of record proper to 
try the same. 

"Section 13. It shall be the duty of all Cor- 
oners. Sheriffs, Judges and Justices of the 
Peace, who shall see or know of, or be in- 
formed of any such assemblage of slaves, or 
servants, immediately to commit such slaves 
or servants to the jail of the county, and, on 
view or proof thereof, order each and every 
such slave or servant to be whipped, not ex- 
ceeding thirty-nine stripes on his or her bare 
back." 

The Fugitive Slave Law made the enforce- 
ment of similar laws coextensive with the ju- 
risdiction of the United States, and in order 
to clearly define the meaning and import of 
such act, the celebrated case of Dred Scott, 
a slave who was arrested in Boston, Mass., 
was tried before the Supreme Court of the 
United States. Chief Justice Taney delivered 
the opinion of the court, which decided that 
slaves were property, and as such property 
could be moved by the owners of such slaves 
to any State or Territory in the United States, 
the proprietors could claim the protection of 
the laws over such property. The decision 
caused a whirlwind of criticism and opposi- 
tion and convulsed the entire North. Although 
there were thousands of adherents to the doc- 
trine in the Northern States, it finally caused 
a great political upheaval and a radical change 
in party affiliations. The celebrated Kansas- 



Nebraska bill was made the central feature 
of the political contest and much bitter feeling 
and bloodshed resulted from discussions and 
disputes over the issue, resulting ultimately in 
the formation of the Republican party and 
the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. 

The nation went wild over the wonderful 
change in the political field. It was a time 
never to be forgotten by those who were ac- 
tive participants in the stirring events; in a 
day a peaceful revolution of ballots had com- 
pletely transformed the policy of a great na- 
tion! But the defeated Southern party, who 
had staked its all on the election, was dis- 
appointed, indignant and grimly defiant, and 
determined that it would not abide the de- 
cision of the majority. Consequently, before 
Mr. Lincoln had taken the presidential chair, 
several of the States had adopted ordinances 
withdrawing from the Union, recalling their 
Senators and members of Congress, and soon 
afterward formed the Confederate States of 
America. Then came the bloody four years 
of Civil War, the success of the Union arms, 
and on April 14, 1865, the lamented assassina- 
tion of Abraham Lincoln. But through all the 
terrible ordeal the unity of the nation became 
an assured fact. These facts are here briefly 
and generally stated, merely to trace the ulti- 
mate effect of slavery and its agitation by law 
and without the pale of law. 

Returning to the so-called Black Laws of 
Illinois, they were known and read by every 
citizen of the State. While very many had 
their private opinions as to the right and 
wrong of such measures, in order to have peace 
with their neighbors they abided by them, took 
counsel of their consciences and awaited the 
time of deliverance and the inauguration of 
free speech and opinion. Still, there were 
in this county a few stalwart men and women, 
who, despite contumely, and even danger 
to their lives and property, openly and on all 
lawful occasions announced their abhorrence 
of slavery and all connected with the system. 
They were ostracised from society, avoided as 
pestilential, and contemptuously named Abo- 
litionists. Notwithstanding, these heroes 
worked indefatigably for the success of Free- 
dom, and they lived to see it triumph. 

In 1852 John P. Hale, the Free-Soil candi- 
date for President, received nine votes in 
McDonough County. By accessions, largely 




MRS. GEORGE GAMAGE 



■■'OX i 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



775 



caused by the overbearing and unfriendly leg- 
islation enacted by the Proslavery party, in 
I860 Lincoln received 2,255 ballots, showing 
that sturdy and consistent opposition to the 
wrong will, in the end, succeed. 

The UNDfjRGKOU.N'D R.iiLBOAD. — The inside 
workings of the friends of the oppressed slave 
should be made a matter of record, and the 
facts in this account of what was called the 
"Underground Railroad," are largely talcen fi-om 
-'Clarke's History." The institution is generally 
known, but few are intimately acquainted with 
its operations. Happily, the corporation does 
not now exist; the necessity for the enterprise 
is not apparent at present, as the class of 
freight and passengers transported over the 
lines are not now produced, and as a result of 
the continued agitation of the slavery question 
the rails are torn up and the station buildings 
torn down. The death of Lovejoy at Alton, III., 
in 1.S37 — a martyr to his opposition to slavery 
— gave an impetus to the agitation which 
never ceased until the final Act of Emanci- 
pation. 

The formation of a party consisting of those 
in sympathy with slaves resulted in the or- 
ganization of the "Underground Railroad," for 
the purpose of aiding fugitives to escape to a 
land of freedom; the secrecy of its workings 
justified its name. Notwithstanding the sys- 
tem was organized, those engaged in the work 
had no signs or passwords by which they 
might be known, save perhaps a preconcerted 
rap at the door when a cargo of freight was 
to be delivered. As the undertaking was extra- 
hazardous, in view of the laws heretofore 
•quoted, no cravens ever engaged in it. The 
proslavery men complained bitterly of the 
violation of the laws by their Abolition neigh- 
bors, and persecuted them as much as they 
■dared, which was not a little; but such op- 
position only made the friends of the slave 
more determined to carry out their convic- 
tions of right and duty. 

No class of people in McDonough County 
made better neighbors than the Abolitionists, 
or better conductors of a railroad; but, in con- 
nection with their line, it was very singular 
that, although the people well knew who were 
engaged on it, and even where the depot was 
located, the freight could seldom be found. 
Only one case is reported of the recapture 



of a slave on the line which ran through this 
county, although hundreds of the unfortunates 
were forwarded over it during the twenty-five 
years of Its existence. There were various 
branches of the road. The line running 
through McDonough County began in Quincy, 
and was nearly parallel with the present Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. 

IXCIDEJVTS OF UKDEBOBOtlND Ol'EBATIONS. — 

Charley was a likely boy, the property of a 
man living near Hannibal, Mo. He had been 
well treated, and even allowed many liberties 
not enjoyed by the race generally. The 
thought that he was a slave had never dis- 
agreeably entered his mind, and probably 
never would, without the hapi>ening of a lit- 
tle circumstance. Quite a number of slaves 
had escaped from Missouri, and the matter was 
being generally discussed by all classes in the 
State. At a gathering where Charley and his 
master were both present, the latter stated 
that if any slave of his should escape he would 
never rest until he captured him. "Now, Char- 
ley here," he said, "if he should escape, I 
would not take a drink of whisky or a chew 
of tobacco until I had him back." 

In afterward narrating the circumstance, 
Charley said: "The thoughts suddenly flashed 
through my mind — What am I? Am I, or Am I 
not, a human being with power to feel, to 
think, to act? Have I a soul, or am I a ma- 
chine to be set in motion and act in accord- 
ance with the will of one made in the same 
manner as I am, save only of a different color? 
Such thoughts never entered my mind before. 
I had plenty to eat and drink, was well clothed, 
had a fair education and had been in company 
with men of talent, but, of course, without 
power to express my own thoughts, had 1 
the desire to do so. I then thought I would 
give my master an opportunity to put his 
threat into execution; and I did so." 

Having many liberties, with power to come 
and go as he pleased, a few days afterward, 
as evening approached, Charley gave out to 
his fellow slaves that he was going to Han- 
nibal to attend a colored dance. Mounting a 
horse, he rode off in that direction, but when 
out of sight changed his course to the north, 
continuing thus until nearly opposite Quincy. 
There he dismounted and found an old skiff, 
crossed the Mississippi River and landed at 



776 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



-the general depot of the Underground Rail- 
road, where he secured passage to Canada 
by way of Round Prairie. 

Early one morning Charley made Blazer's 
Station, in this county, where he lay by to 
enjoy a little rest and secure the services of 
another conductor. Mr. Blazer kept him that 
day, learned his story, and after dark took 
him to the next station on the line, and thus 
the traveler continued until he reached the 
terminus of his long route. But a few months 
afterward Mr. Blazer was much surprised to 
see the slave back, and learned that he was 
returning to secure hds wife and two chil- 
dren. When Charley arrived at Quincy he 
obtained an excellent skiff from the general 
agent of the road at that point, and for some 
days endeavored to get his family away; but 
he was compelled to return without them, al- 
though he managed to assist in running off 
several slaves from the neighborhood. 

A few months passed, and Charley made an- 
other unsuccessful attempt to get his wife and 
children. A third attempt also failed. His 
master suspected his fourth return for the pur- 
pose, and so kept a strict watch over the wife 
and children, compelling them to sleep in a 
room above the one occupied by himself and 
wife, and through which the slaves were com- 
pelled to pass. But in some unknown way 
Charley got possession of his family without 
alarming the master or mistress, and started 
for the Mississippi. The distance to the river 
at that point was too great to be made in one 
night, so the fugitives were compelled to lie 
out in the woods until darkness again came 
on. During tne second night they reached 
the river, and, crossing over, landed some dis- 
tance above Quincy, on a little island not far 
from the mainland. As the skiff grounded 
two men stepped from cover, with guns in their 
hands, and ordered the party to surrender. 
Charley suddenly drew his revolver, and lev- 
eling it at the men threatened to shoot if they 
made any attempt to harm him. He then be- 
gan to parley with them, at the same time con- 
sulting with his wife as to what should be done. 
She urged him to save himself, stating that it 
would be death, or worse, for him to be cap- 
tured; but as for her, they would do nothing 
save place a more strict watch over her and 
the children. Therefore, seizing the opportu- 
nity when the attention of the men was di- 



verted, Charley jumped into the river and es- 
caped unhurt to the mainland, although sev- 
eral shots were fired after him. He again ap- 
peared alone at Blazer's and was forwarded 
to Canada by the usual routes. 

But Charley was not to be daunted, although 
when he returned to his old home he found 
that his family had been sold and taken down 
the river to a location near St. Louis. There 
he met with better success, as he escaped with 
wife and children and succeeded in bringing 
them to Canada. When the brave and faithful 
man came through McDonough County for the 
third time and reported his adventures with 
the slave catchers, he was advised to abandon 
the attempt to secure his wife and children, 
to return to Canada and marry some French- 
Canadian woman. "No," he replied, "that I 
will never do. I love my wife and children 
as much as any man, if I am black, and I in- 
tend to have them, or die in the attempt." 

As before remarked, Charley was instru- 
mental in running off many slaves, and the 
following, from "Young's History of Round 
Prairie and Plymouth," gives some interesting 
particulars of his labors and hardships borne 
in behalf of the Underground Railroad: Mr. T. 
(initial only given, as the gentleman is well 
known in McDonough and adjoining counties) 
called at the house of Mr. W. on his way 
home from a three-days' trip to Quincy, and 
found that a company of six negroes had 
just arrived that were to be sent on their way 
to freedom. There were a young man and a 
married couple, with two children, all under 
the leadership of a negro named Charley, who 
had been over the lines several times, and had 
become well known to the regular agents of 
the U. G. route. His various trips to and 
from Missouri had been made for the pur- 
pose of getting his wife, failing in which he- 
would gather up such friends as he could pilot 
to the land of freedom. 

Mr. T. detailed himself for the service of 
taking the party to Macomb, engaging to start 
next morning and make a day trip. The party 
of six were stowed as well as possible, at full 
length, on the bottom of the wagon, and cov- 
ered closely with sacks of straw. These were- 
so light that they showed a decided tendency 
to jolt out of place and make unwelcome reve- 
lations on the road. To remedy this, a rope- 
was drawn down tightly over the sacks and' 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



777 



fastened at the ends of the wagon. This ar- 
rangement kept things in place, and all went 
well until near the end of the journey. 

Becoming doubtful as to the proper road to 
take, Mr. T. was tempted to inquire of three 
young men who were getting out logs in a 
piece of woods through which he passed; but 
he dared not, for fear they might pry too close- 
ly into the nature of his load. As he drove 
on he thought there was a striking family like- 
ness in one of the young men to the person 
he was looking for. Further on he came to a 
cabin a short distance from the road, where 
he thought it safe to inquire, but on entering 
recognized the occupant too well as one he 
cared little to meet on such a mission. But 
it was a cold, snowy day, and his face was 
so concealed by his wrappings that he ob- 
tained his information without being recognized 
himself. I^pon retracing his route Mr. T. 
again met the three young men. whose load was 
stalled in a deep rut, and, being now satis- 
fied as to their identity, he entered into con- 
versation with them and answered their ques- 
tions freely regarding his mission. Finding 
that Charley was in the company, one of them 
determined upon a practical joke. Calling out 
the negro's name in a stern voice, he told him 
that he knew he had passed over the line 
several times in safety, "but," he added tri- 
umphantly, "I have caught you at last. You 
are now my prisoner." Charley, still in con- 
cealment with the others under the sacks, 
recognized the voice of an old acquaintance 
and did not turn white with fear, but hugely 
enjoyed the joke which proved to be on the 
other party. 

Soon all were safely housed at Mr. Bla- 
zer's. After supper all hands gathered in* 
the parlor, where for a time there was a free 
intermingling of story, song and mirth. Then 
an old violin was produced and operated upon 
by some one in the company, while the ne- 
groes let themselves out into a regular old- 
fashioned plantation "hoe-down," which lasted 
until all were ready to retire with aching 
sides from excess of rollicking fun. That even- 
ing's entertainment is noted as a particularly 
bright spot in the U. G. R. R. experience — 
brightened with genuine negro polish. 

Train Cai'Turkd. — As heretofore stated, dur- 
ing the many years in which the Underground 
11 



Railroad was in operation, but one accident 
occurred in this county. The agent at Round 
Prairie (on the county line), with a consign- 
ment of fifteen negroes, started one night to 
deliver them to the agent in McDonough, but 
in the darkness lost his way, and found him- 
self in the hollow near the residence of Da- 
vid Chrisman, a well known proslavery char- 
acter in this county. Leaving the wagon he 
took the negroes across lots to the station of 
.James and John Blazer, where he left them 
and returned to his wagon and home. 

The history of this consignment illustrates 
the continuous vigilance, persistency and bra- 
very acquired by the agents of the U. G. R. R., 
in September, 1S61. The slaves had succeeded 
in running away from slave buyers, who were 
on their way south to dispose of the black 
laborers in the hemp fields and cotton planta- 
tions. With great difficulty they had succeed- 
ed in crossing the Mississippi River and land- 
ing at Quincy, where they placed themselves 
in the care of Mr. Van Dorn, the station agent 
there, and a well known friend of their race. 
He kept them secreted in Quincy for about 
three months, before an opportunity offered 
to forward them to the next station at Round 
Prairie, now Plymouth. As there was then 
an outstanding reward of $50(1 for the recap- 
ture of each slave, it may be imagined how 
closely such a man was watched; but, after 
several futile attempts, Van Dorn forwarded 
the party to Round Prairie, only to find that 
station so closely watched that the cargo had 
to be returned to Quincy. Later, he got them 
away himself and accompanied them past 
Round Prairie and Plymouth station to the 
station of the Blazers, already related. 

As Van Dorn returned he was seen, shortly 
after daylight near Middletown, by men in that 
vicinity who knew him and could easily con- 
jecture his business in this part of the county. 
Each of the slaves was hidden In a corn shock 
on Blazer's farm and furnished with food and 
water for the day. That night John Blazer 
loaded his wagon with sacks of grain, covered 
it with a tarpaulin, and started for the Ber- 
nadotte mill, the only institution of the kind 
patronized by the early settlers for years. But 
there had been spies around the farm watch- 
ing every move, and he had gone a mile before 
thirty or forty mounted men, headed by the 
aforesaid David Chrisman, overtook the wagon 



778 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



and accompanied Blazer several miles. The 
two were old acquaintances and talked as 
neighbors, not a word being said about ne- 
groes, and finally Chrisman became convinced 
that he was on the wrong track. After a 
consultation with his men he sent two of the 
number to accompany John Blazer a few miles 
farther, and, with the balance of the party, 
turned back to look for fresh trails. 

In the meantime, James Blazer had taken the 
fifteen fugitives and started on foot in a north- 
erly direction. When they reached the timber, 
then north of Industry, they were suddenly 
confronted by about forty men. Blazer shout- 
ed to the negroes to run for the timber; and 
they did, all save one reaching cover and es- 
caping. The one captured had been rendered 
unconscious by a blow on the head from a 
gun barrel, and was easily taken. The posse 
did not attempt to follow the balance of the 
party into the woods, as each desperate negro 
was armed with two revolvers and a bowie 
knife. Subsequently the fourteen fugitives all 
reached Canada in safety. 

Tradition has it that Chrisman retunied the 
captured slave to his master and claimed the 
reward, which was refused. The truth is that, 
at all events, Dave got nothing for his labor 
in the unholy traffic, and that none of his 
neighbors wore crape for him because of his 
disappointment. 

This was the largest consignment ever 
brought to the Blazers station, and all had to 
be cooped up in one small room by day. In the 
party was a child who had the whooping cough, 
and as the house was surrounded by spies 
every device was resorted to in order that 
the sound might be drowned. One fellow, a 
neighbor named John Potter, but a spy as 
well, would visit all day and eat with the 
family. His usual seat was a chair leaning 
against the wall of the room in which the ne- 
groes were confined, and when the child would 
take a fit of coughing the Blazer family would 
scuffle their feet around, move the chairs about, 
walk heavily over the floor, or do anything 
else to cover up the noise in the next room. 
There also the mother of the child might be 
stuffing a pillow in the child's mouth to smother 
the whoop. At all events the different schemes 
of allaying suspicion were completely success- 
ful, and Porter never dreamed how near he 
was to the game he sought. The fugitives re- 
mained ten or twelve days at the Blazer house 



before an opportunity was found for their es- 
cape, in the manner described above. 

McDonough County and the city of Macomb 
have several old colored citizens who were 
reared in slavery, and, becoming free, have 
settled down in peace and quietness; but they 
suffered and endured much on first coming to 
Illinois. One case — that of Milford Daniels — • 
by way of illustration: Daniels is now a citi- 
zen of Macomb, and quite an intelligent, well 
read man. Born in Montgomery County, Va., 
March 18, 1833, he remained in his native State 
until he was twenty-six years of age, when 
he was sold to a Mr. Daniels, of Mexico, Mo. 
The slave adopted the name of his master, 
becoming a portion of the property of the fam- 
ily estate and being publicly sold five times. 
He then became the property of a Mr. Ste- 
vens, who kept him two years, when he was 
repurchased by Mr. Daniels and remained with 
that master until the Proclamation of Emanci- 
pation, December 31, 1862. 

In March, 1863, Mr. Daniels came to McDon- 
ough County and rented a farm of Major 
George Yocum, who for many years had been 
a friend of the black race. It was located at 
Pennington's Point, and there he remained for 
ten years, with his wife and children. His 
wife, formerly Eliza A. Stevens, was a fellow 
slave, and he had married her with the con- 
sent of her owner. Their children, Eliza and 
Sam, were born in slavery, while Isabella and 
Oliver were born free. 

While Milford Daniels was on the farm of 
Major Yocum, one of the School Directors in- 
formed him that he must send his children to 
school. With some surprise he said that he 
did not know that they would be permitted to 
• attend ; but the Directors assured him that 
they would be admitted. So his children went 
to the district school, and it did not take long 
for the report to spread abroad. A few days 
thereafter a white man, named McGinnis, 
called on the teacher with a gun and requested 
her to turn the colored pupils out; although 
she demurred, she stated that she would in- 
form the Directors of his wishes. These offi- 
cials were Mr. Blackston, James Dickey and 
Henry Scott, prominent farmers of that dis- 
trict, and when they were informed of Mr. 
McGinnis' action, promptly had him arrested, 
instructing the teacher to receive the colored 
children and they would protect her. 

On the night of the arrest seventeen or 




MR. AND MRS. JACOB GEORGE 



APTOR T.FKOX 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



779 



twenty of these Southern sympathizers went to 
Daniels' cabin and threatened to shoot him, 
but finally gave him twenty-four hours in which 
to get out of the county. Knowing that he 
had the support of the Directors and of the 
respectable citizens of that section, instead 
of departing he at once built a rail fort and, 
furnished with arms and ammunition, awaited 
the coming of the self-appointed regulators. 
But, becoming aware of the reception which 
would greet tnem, they did not revisit Mr. 
Daniels or further molest him. 

Last Sl.wes on McDonourii County Soil. — 
On the evening of the 31st of December, 1S62. 
two negro men were taken from the eastern 
bound train of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad at the Macomb depot, by a citi- 
zen of this county who claimed they were 
runaway slaves. He felt it his duty — or privi- 
lege — to take them back and deliver them to 
the fatherly care of their master. It is im- 
possible to say whether he had heard of Pres- 
ident Lincoln's proclamation of that day, which 
went into effect at midnight; but he had the 
slaves taken from the railroad coach, and, 
having obtained their passes which they had 
received from their master, as well as their 
railroad tickets, he held them with a view of 
placing them aboard a train, then nearly due. 
which was going west to Quincy and thence 
to Missouri, for his interpretation and dem- 
onstration of the constitutional rights of the 
slaveowner he expected to receive a large re- 
ward; but the train happened to be late that 
night, and the captor and captives were obliged 
to loaf on the platform. 

At this juncture John Q. Lane, the City 
Marshal, and a man of cool nerve, appeared 
on the scene and engaged the colored people 
in conversation, soon gaining an insight into 
the state of affairs. When their manager was 
pointed out. Marshal Lane recognized him 
as a harsh proslavery fellow, and decided u|)on 
his course of action. Remembering that 
the Emancipation Proclamation would take ef- 
fect at midnight, and, notwithstanding the 



curses and threats of the constitutional citi- 
zen, he ordered the colored men to step into 
the bus of the Randolph Hotel, which was at 
the platform waiting for passengers. Accom- 
panied by Mr. Lane, the load was soon on its 
way to the hotel, and, after explanations to 
William H. Randolph, the proprietor, the black 
boys were comfortably distributed about the 
oflice. Mr. Randolph, also fearless and a warm 
sympathizer with the Marshal's plans, pledged 
his protection until the entire party were 
free men; and it is greatly to be regretted 
that such a man should have been killed by 
the cowardly slave-chaser (Bond) with whom 
he and Mr. Lane were now dealing, although 
that lamentable event was not connected with 
this episode. After showing the negro men 
to a room which they were to occupy until 
called, Mr. Randolph, with the City Marshal 
and others, stood guard at the door and the 
hotel office. 

In the meantime the injured captor, now in- 
flamed by whisky, went to the hotel and de- 
manded the fugitives, accompanying his de- 
mands with more curses and threats of vio- 
lence. Proprietor Randolph closed the incident 
by first ordering him from the house, and, as 
words did not have the desired effect, kicked 
him into the street. The next morning the 
doubly defeated party took passage on the 
first train going west to his home, and there 
doubtless attempted to discover for some time 
exactly "where he was at." 

The fugitives were held by their friends 
until 12 o'clock, and a few minutes over for 
good measure, when they were invited from 
their room and informed that, agreeable to 
the Presidential Proclamation, they were free 
men, and could go and come when and where- 
soever they pleased, and no man would dare 
to molest or make them afraid. The freed 
men expressed their gratitude to those who 
had protected them, and proudly departed the 
next morning for Galesburg. And thus was 
the soil of McDonough County forever freed 
of slavery, the proclamation of Abraham Lin- 
coln making the existence of the Underground 
Railroad forevermore unnecessary. 



78o 



HISTORY OF McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXVL 



OLD SETTLERS— OLD-TIME TALES. 



THE m'dONOUGH COUNTY PIONEER CLUB — IT HAS 
ITS OBKilN IN CHANCE MEETINGS OF OLD SET- 
TLERS — FORMAL ORGANIZATION TAKES PLACE IN 
1905 — LIST OF MEMBERS — STORY OF AN INDIAN 

SUICIDE — ALLEGED TREASURE YET UNFOUND A 

REMINISCENCE OF THE BLACK HAWK WAR HOW 

LINCOLN GOT HIS TROOPS 0\'ER A FENCE A JOKE 

ON JUDGE C. L. HIGBEE. 

There is probably no section of the State, in 
proportion to iiopulation. in which the old set- 
tlers are more fully represented than in the 
Pioneer Club of McDonough County, organized 
in August, 1905, and now containing a mem- 
bership of nearly three hundred, whose ages 
range from seventy to 101 years, and who are 
excusably proud of the hard fight for the es- 
tablishment of a splendid civilization in the 
"West through which they have passed and 
proved no small element in securing the vic- 
tory. The club originated in the habit of the 
more aged of the pioneers in the city of Ma- 
comb, of meeting before the store of James S. 
Grier for the purpose of friendly intercourse 
and recounting reminiscences, which naturally 
often drifted into tales and exchanged confi- 
dences of the past. These gatherings -became 
so popular that Mr. Grier placed chairs and 
settees at the disposal of the old-timers. In 
July, 1905, the press noticed and commented 
favorably on the disposition of the old settlers 
to get together and form an animated home 
historical society, and finally, at the sugges- 
tion of Mr. Grier, a group of twenty-four of 
the venerable fathers of the city and county 
were photographed. A larger and more rep- 
resentative group of forty-eight was later ta- 
ken and published by the city newspapers. 
About this time Blandinsville organized a club 
(an organization having already been effected 
at Macomb), and the time seemed ripe to ex- 
tend the scope of the local association so as 
to include the county. 

A formal resolution was passed to organize a 
County Club, and Alexander McLean, E. O. Cole 



and James S. Gash were appointed a commit- 
tee to place the movement on its feet, with in 
struction to report at the next meeting of 
the City Club. The result was an arrangement 
with the authorities of the McDonough County 
Fair, by which August 16, 1905, was to be Pio- 
neers' Day, the old settlers of the county be- 
ing admitted free and given complete use of 
the grounds. This was advertised in all the 
papers of the county, and the result was that, 
on the day named, which proved to be a gen- 
ial, clear summer day, there assembled in the 
grove some three hundred men and women, 
constituting an audience which, in all proba- 
bility, will never meet again on this side of 
the River. There were represented the pio- 
neers of this county, who helped to make a 
part of the imperial State of Illinois — the fa- 
tliers and mothers, aged from seventy to 101 
years of age. Mrs. Mariah Harden Neece was 
present, aged 100 years. She is the stepmoth- 
er of Hon. W. H. Neece, who delivered an ad- 
dress on his experience as one of the early 
settlers, which greatly pleased the audience, 
as it brought before them the scenes of old 
times vividly. It soon proved that many who 
came to this county from 1S21 to date were 
ready and willing to give testimony which 
would have been most valuable, but from lack 
of time it was agreed that any one who had 
something to contribute in that line, by giving 
a short sketch of his life and labors, be re- 
quested to do so, and that it be sent to the 
President of the Pioneer Club, and that such 
should appear in the papers of the day from 
time to time. 

The meeting, with Alexander McLean presid- 
ing, opened with the grand old Doxology, which 
was sung by the hundreds present and proved 
an incident of no little interest. These grand 
old jieople voiced with heartfelt sympathy that 
they had reason to "Praise God from whom 
all Blessings How." After prayer by Elder 
-J. C. Reynolds and the address of Mr. Neece, 
the exercises were interspersed with singing 
by the Nightingale Club, made up of old, well 
trained singers — Messrs. Gash, Mapes, Grier 
and Wilson — who selected and, in an admir- 
able manner, rendered appropriate old songs, 
which were heartily appreciated by the large 
congregation present. 

It was resolved unanimously that the Pio- 
neer Club of McDonough should be instituted 



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ASTOR, LENOX 
TILDEN FOUNDAT: 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



781 



and, for the purpose of carrying out the forma- 
tion of such a club, which includes men and 
women. E. O. Cole, of Emmet Township, was 
elected President, and A. B. Stickle, of Ma- 
comb, Secretary. This concluded the exer- 
cises. All present at once shook hands with 
Mrs. Neece and the picnic feature was entered 
into with gusto and pleasure. The entire af- 
ternoon was taken up in visiting and conversa- 
tion. Before the picnic, however, the pioneerii 
present, numbering some 200, proceeded to the 
amphitheater, and formed in two groups; the 
women forming one and the men the other. 
Thus grouped, a large picture was taken of the 
notable gathering. 

Although all residents of McDonough Coun- 
ty are entitled to become members of the Pio- 
neer Club, it will be noted that, with one ex- 
ception, they have passed the "three-score 
years and ten." Following is the roll of honor: 



Alexander V. Brooking, aged Tfi. born February 
25. 1829. at Princeton. Ky.. came to Macomb 1*34. 

•Charles D. Crlssey. aged 73. born October H. 1S:1L'. 
at Fairfield. Conn., came to Macomb October 
6. 185li. 

Abraham Switzer. aged 74. born October 23, 1831. at 
Stanton, Va., came to McDonough County IS.'it. 

Robert Horrell. aged SO. born March 19. 1.S25. in 
Adair County, Ky.. came to McDonough County 
1835. 

David Knapp. aged 72. born July 16. 1,S33, in 
Madison County. Ohio, came to McDonough 
county 1866. 

C. C. Gibson, agerl 73. born August 22. 1.S32. at In- 
dustry. 111., has resided here always. 

H. G. Bristow. aged 31. born .\ugust 21. 1824. in 
Cumberland County. Va., came to county 1827. 

Jonas VV. Everly. aged 71. born September 11, 1834. 
in Carroll County, Md., came to Fulton County. 
III.. 1837. 

William Robinson and wife, aged SO, born May 8. 
1824. :n Champaign County. Ohio, came to Illi- 
nois 1S33. 

■Charles Andrews, aged 79. born September 24, 1,'<26. 
in England, came to county 1,S50. 

Rey. J. C. Reynolds, aged 80. born December 15. 
1825 in Holt County. Ky.. came to Illinois 1839. 

Farnham B. Camp, aged 7U, born November 13, 1835, 
in McDonough County. 

.John D. Munger, aged .SO years, born April 25, 1824, 
at Saratoga, N. Y.. came to Ohio and Illinois 1S33 
and 1876. 

■George C. Meador. aged SO. born August 5, 182-1. at 
Nashville. Tenn.. came to county 1.S44. 

John H. Smith, aged 86, born July 26. 1819. in West 
Virginia, came to McDonough (.'ounty in 1S29. 

Garnett Wayland. aged 72. born November 21. is33. 
in McDonough (bounty. 

Henry Compton. aged 78. born November 28. 1S2S. 
in Fairfield County. Ohio, came to county 1845. 

'Christopher Wetzel, aged 74. born April 14, 1.831 at 
Augusta. Va. 

Amos Gillam. ageil 84. horn December 15. 1821. in 
Westmoreland (.'ounty. Pa., came to county 1843. 

James N, Johnson and wife, aged 70. born Febru- 
ary 19. 1835, in England, came to Illinois 1854. 

R. B. Helms, aged 74. born March 5, 18:!1. at Har- 
risonburg, Va.. came to Illinois 1854. 

Simon L. Sommers, aged S2, born October 23 1S23 
at Washington. D. C. came to Illinois 1855. 

Daniel Markham and wife, aged 72, born February 
2, 1833, at Cassopolis, Mich., came to Illinois 1860. 



Daniel M. Crabb. aged 79. born November 14, ISaj, 
in Montgomery County, Va., came to Illinois 1836. 

Talbott Jaggard and wife, aged 76, born April 15, 
1829. Cumberland County, N. Y., came to Illi- 
nois 1S56. 

W. M. Rexroat and wife, aged 75, born May 8, 1830, 
Russell County. Ky.. came to county 1846. 

Nathan Cheesman. aged SO, born March 16, 1825, at 
Philadelphia. Pa., came to county 1856. 

George Jones, aged 78. born July 5, 1827, at Win- 
chester, Va., came to county 1839. 

Philip Hesh. aged 70. born March 4. 1835, at Baden, 
Germany, came to county 1875. 

G. C. Gumbart. aged 81. bom May 14, 1826, at 
Frankfort, Germany, came to United States in 
1853, and to Macomb April 15. 1S64. 

Nathaniel Decker, aged 73. born December 2, 1832. 
in Ulster County. N. Y.. came to county 1849. 

Alexander Monger, aged 72, born January 17, 1833, in 
Warren County, Pa., came to county 1S54. 

John T. Gallagher and wife, aged 73. born March. 
1832. in Clarion County. Pa., came to county 1889. 

Nicholas Pearce. aged 78, born October 20. 1827, at 
Baltimore. Md.. came to county 1855. 

Thoma.s T. Smithers and wife, aged 76. born Jan- 
uary 29, 1830. Columbia, Ky.. came to county 183:!. 

Robert Booth, aged 71. born June 20. 1.834. at Phila- 
delphia. Pa., came to county 1843. 

J. B. Cummings and wife, aged .81. born January 
17. 1S24. in Cecil County. Md., came to county 
1851. 

Jacob Martin, aged 72, born August 29, 1S.33. in 
Wentworth County. N. C, came to county 1845. 

.Andrew J. Wilhelm, aged 72. born May 11. 1833, in 
\\ashington county. Ark., came to county 18.30. 

Henry J. Faukner, aged 73, born October :!0. 1S32. 
in Ohio, came to county 1854. 

James W. Jackson, aged 75. born December 6. 1830, 
at Warrensburg, Va., came to county 1836. 

N. H. Jackson, aged 71. born 1834, at Warrensburg, 
Va.. came to county 1836. 

William Jackson, aged .SO. born 1825, at Warrens- 
burg. Va.. came to county 1836. 

James Hendricks, aged 80. Ijorn 1825. in Ohio. Va. 

J. J. Kirk, aged 77. born December 10. 1828, in Ada 
County. Va.. came to county 18.34. 

John Owen, aged 72. born September S, 1.8.33. in Lick- 
ing County. Ohio, came to county 1.841. 

Thomas J. Dudman, aged 55. borii September 19. 
1850. in Hancock county. 111., came to McDon- 
ough County 1879. 

Fred N. Burt and wife, aged 77, born December 28, 
1828, at Saratoga. N. Y.. came to county 1855. 

A. Hanson, aged SO. born April 25. 1825. ' in Ross 
County. Ohio, came to county 1861. 

Rev. J. H. Morgan, aged 77. born January 24. 1828. 
in Warren County. Tenn., came to county 1.S39. 

Milford Daniels and wife, aged 72. born March 18. 
1.8:33. Montgomery County. Va.. came to county 
1S63. 

George Wetzel, aged 72, born June 18, 1833. at Au- 
gusta. Va.. came to county in 1845. 

H. L. McKee. aged 76. born October 2. 18.30. in San- 
gamon County. III., came to county 1839. 

William McMillan, aged 77. born February IS, 1828, 
Belfast, Ireland, came to county 18,51. 

Eliphalet Hickman, aged 74. born March 13. 1831. in 
Floyd County. Ind.. came to county 1,863. 

J. C. McClellan. aged 76. born April 1. 1829. at 
nonsburg. Pa., came to county 18:!5. 

Robert McCutcheon, aged 79. born August 26 1826 
at Port Patrick. Scotland, came to county 1851. 

Russell Jones, aged 70. born June 10. 18:!5. came to 
c<3unt.y 1851. 

Tillman L. Bowen. aged 73. born January 28. 18:32 

in McDonough County. 
Cyrus Walker and wife, age.1 73. born September 

25. 18.32, .\dair County. Ky.. came to county 1833 
John Watson, aged 79. born March 9, 1824. at Com- 

:)leton. Scotland, came to county 1851. 
Abe Watson, aged 78, born January 9. 1825. at Com- 

pleton. Scotland, came to county 1851. 
Allen Magruder. aged 70. born !S:35 in Kentucky 

came to county 1864. 

Neuman Foster, aged 70. born August 15, 18.^5 in 
McDonough County. 



Can- 



782 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



W. Bavmiller and wife, aged 75, born January 15, 
1830, at York, Pa., came to county 1856. 

David Maguire, aged 72, born October 20. 1S33. in 
Shelby County. Ky., came to county 1852. 

Rachel Spragtie, aged 71, born January W. LS34. in 
In(lia.na. 

D. Shumate, aged 78. born June 11, 1827, at Madison, 
Ky., came to county 1844. 

Alexander McLean, aged 72, born September 24, 
1833, .It Glasgow, Scotland, came to county 1849. 

Cornelius Falder and wife, aged 76, born in Ger- 
many. 

George W. Keithley, aged 74. born July 22. 1831, in 
Indiana, came to county 1839. 

S. P. Wetherhald, aged 73, born in Pennsylvania, 

Josiah McDonald, aged 7S. born in Ohio. 

1. W. Daily, age<i 75, born in Virginia, 

L.. F. Beard, aged 82. born in Pennsylvania. 
■^W. H. Hays, aged 81, born September 1 in Ken- 
tucky, came to county 1824. 

W, T. Brooking, aged 81, born at Princeton, Ky,. 
came to county 1834, 

Joseph Allen, aged 86, born in Connecticut. 

J. P. Logan and wife, aged 73, born October 24, 
1832, in Illinois. 

Clinton Jones, aged 73, born November 20, 1833. in 
Kentucky, came to county 1854, 

Ed Maguire, aged 75, born in Shelby County. Ky., 
came to county 1852, 

John Gesler and wife, aged 77. born March 2(1, 1828, 
in Germany, came to county 1855. 

T, S. Colbert and wife, aged 78, born April 12, 
1828, in Pennsylvania, came to countj- 1S59. 

James D. Machin, aged 81, born in New York. 

John M. Archer and wife, aged 78, born April 14, 
1827. in Ohio, came to county 1868. 

John Ewing, aged 87, born December 12, 1818, in 
Ohio, came to county 1853. 

J. S. Robertson and wife, aged 81, born in Ken- 
lucky, came to Adair County January 5, 1825, 

John Robinson, aged 74, born January 15. 1828, 
Adair County, Pa. 

D. L. Randolph, aged 80, born February 20, 1825, 
in Kentucky, came to county 1852. 

■•William Miller and wife, aged 72, born December 
15, 1833, in Tennessee, came to county 1852. 

Thomas C. Yard and wife, aged 74, born December 
4, 1830, in Connecticut, came to county 1832. 

James S. Gash and wife, aged 72, born in Ken- 
tucky. 

A. B. Stickle, aged 80. born April 25, 1826, in Penn- 
sylvania, came to county 1837. 

James Claxton, aged 70, born in England. 

Richard Tobin, aged 73, born in Ireland. 

O. F. Walker and wife, aged 75, born March 18, 
1830. in Indiana. 

William Ritter, aged 92, born in Pennsylvania. 

W. O. Sapp and wife, aged 78, born January 13, 
1S27, in Davidson County, N, C., came to Illinois 
1831, 

E. O. Cole, aged 72, born in Ohio. 

G. W. Pace, aged 70, born May 30, 18,35, in Illinois. 
Thomas Horton and wife, aged 73, born in England, 
William S. Bailey and wife, aged 84, born in Ken- 
tucky. 
George W. Eyres, aged 94, born in New Y'ork, 
R. O. Kirkpatrick, aged 80, born January 19, 1825, 

in Ohio, came to county 1866. 
Henry W. Gash and wife, aged 70, born January 20, 

1835, in Kentucky, came to Illinois 1835, 
A. B. Higginson. aged 71, born in Indiana, 
A. B. Newton, aged 94, bom in New York. 
James T. Shannon and wife, aged 74, born in Ten- 
nessee, 
John L. Hockinson, aged 86, born in W'est Virginia, 
John Axford and wife, aged 74, born May 2, 1.S31, 

in England. 
A. W. Greer, aged 71, born in Kentucky, 
Daniel W. Campbell, aged 89 years, born August 28, 
1826, Normal County, Tenn., married Adaline 
Jackson November 9, 1854, came to Illinois in 1827. 
John Harris Bushnell. aged 90 years, born March 
22, 1,S15, in Lincoln County, Ohio, moved to Illi- 
nois in 1827, 
J. T. Kirkpatrick. aged 72 years, born December 
2, 1833, in Morgan County, III., moved to McDon- 
ough County in 1855; married Elizabeth Low Sep- 
tember 30, 1856. 



Thomas J, Dudman, aged 55 vears, born Septem- 
ber 19, 1850, in Hancock County, 111. 

T, W. W'ilson, aged 70 years, born in Harrison 
county, Ind., March 28, 1835. moved to Illinois 
in ISM. 

John McMillan, aged 87 years, born in Trumbull 
(/ounty. Ohio. August 17, 1818, came to Illinois in 
18.S4; married Eliza E. Bruce. 

Mrs. Jesse Neece, aged 99 years, born in A\'ashing- 
tcin County. Ky.. March 21, 1806, mo^'ed to Illi- 
nois October 5, 1835: married Jesse Neece Septem- 
ber 28, 1838. 

<-'harles H. Kellough, aged 71 years, born May 16, 
18'M. in Cecil County, Md., moved to Illinois in 
1837 and to McDonough County in 1842. 
— t'harles C. Hays, aged 70 years, born May 24, 1835, 
in Clinton County, Pa., moved to Illinois in 1856; 
married Mattie Laughry, 

John Pearson, came to Illinois in 1849. 

Hugh McMillan, aged 74 years, born March 15, 1831. 
at Campbelltown, Scotland, moved to Illinois in 
1S4S, 

John Easton. born in 18,32 in England, came to Illi- 
nois in 1855. 

Jacob Grim, born in Fairfield County, Ohio, April 
1, 182f:. moved to McDonough County in 1853. 

John Hamilton. Macomb, aged 78 years, bc)rn in 
Miami Coiintj'. Ohin, January 9, "1827, moved to 
McDonough Coimty in 1845. 

Miles Schnatterly, aged 73 vears, born in Fayette 
County, Pa., September 12. 1833. moved to Mc- 
Donough County In 1870, 

Mrs. Cynthia Hall, aged 85 years, born in Ken- 
tucky in 1820. came to Illinois in 1836; married 
David Hall. 

Mrs. John O. Wilson (formerly Purdy), aged 95 
years, born in Kentucky, Julv 28, LSIO. came to 
Illinois in 183;i: married May 12, 1829. 

Mrs. W. H. Randolph, aged 87 years, born in 1818: 
married Januar.v 26, 1.8-37, came to Illinois in 1S35. 

Samuel Smith and wife, aged 76, born January 29, 
1829, in Cumberland County. Pa., came to State in 
1851. 

Edward Rix and wife, aged 71, born October 19, 
1834. in England, came to State in 1845. 

Dudley Lane, aged 70. born September 30, 1.S35, in 
Kentucky, came to State in 1836. 

John T. Franklin, aged 73, born January 25. 1832. 
in Cumberland Countv, Pa., came to State in 
1864. 

Allen Cooper, aged 82. born August 31, 1823, at 
Nashville, Tenn,, came to county in 1876. 

Ij. B. Mourning, aged 75, born July 17, 1.S30, in 
.\dair County. Ky.. came to county in 1837. 

Nathan Thorpe, aged 75, born 18.30, in Kentucky, 
came to coimty in 1876. 

-Allan Murray, aged 71, born October, 1834, in Ken- 
tucky, came to State in 1836. 

Nathan Kitch. aged 78, born 1827, in Philadelphia, 
came to county in 1865. 

ira N. Morrow and wife, aged 72, born April 6. 
1.S33, in Danville, VI.. came to county in 1901, 

S. A. Bugg, aged 71, fifty-two years in Illinois, 

Mrs. James Chamberlain. 

Elmer B. Lownes, 

.Adam Douglas, aged 72, born December 31, 18:i3, in 
Scotland, came to countv in 1S52. 

John Russell, aged 72, born April 28, 1833, in Au- 
gusta County, Va., came to county in 1842. 

E. P. Dawson, aged 87, born February 14. 1819. in 
England, came to county in 1865. 

Samuel Frost, aged 73, born October 10, 1832. in 
Licking County, Ohio, came to countv in 1854. 

John S. Campbell, aged' 89, born December 5, 1816, 
in Knoxville, Tenn., came to couniv in 1830. 

John N. Wetzel, aged 76, born May li, 1829, in Au- 
gusta County. Va,, came to county in 1846. 

Thomas Andrews, aged 81. born July 21, 1824, in 
England, came to county in 1849. 

Thomas L. Robison, aged 74, born February 10, 
1831, at Wooster, Ohio, came to county in 1856. 

Jonas Ringer, aged 72, born November 22, 1833, in 
Somerset County, Pa., came to County in 1856. 

John Calapatine. aged 70. born March, 1835, in Bel- 
gium, came to county in 1869. 

Michael Whalen, aged 84. born April 18, 1821, jn Ire- 
land, came to county in 1852. 



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HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



783 



James M. Rexroat, aged 77. born January 22, 1828, 

at Jimtown. Pa., came to county in 1853. 
Laura Hunter, born August 17, 1824, at Athens, 

Ohio, came to county in 1854. 
Mrs. Dr. C. Hayes, aged 84, born September 29, 

1821. in Kentucky, came to county in 1835. 
IMrs. Jane Mullan. aged 76, born May 12, 1829, came 

to county in 1860. 
Edward Maguire and wife, aged 77, born October 

29. 1829. in Kentuclty, came to county in 1853. 
Mrs M. H. Neece. aged IIX). 
. Samuel Thomas, aged 72, born March 8, 1833, m 
/ Pinckney, Oliio. 

J. B. Clugsten and wife, aged 81, born April 13, 
1824, in Chambersburg, Pa., came to county in 
1862. 
William G. Darlington, aged 78, 

Mrs. Malinda Atkinson, aged 83, born 1822. in Ken- 
tucky. 
Mrs. Talbot Jaggard. aged 67. 
Mrs. Catharine Lewis, aged 72. born Noyember 11, 

1833. in Kentuckv. came to county in 1875. 
William Bright, aged 78. born March 25, 1827, in 

England, came to county in 1850. 
Samuel Thomas, aged SO, born March 1, 1825, in 

Columbus, Ohio. 
Jeff Bayliss. aged 78, born March 27, 1827, in Knox- 

ville. Tenn.. came to county in 1851. 
Charles Stewart, aged 71, bom September 6, 18.34, 

in New York, 1856. 
W. W. Henderson, aged 73. born December 19, 1832, 
in Harrison County, Ohio, came to county in 1844. 
Willis Seward, aged 71, born June 13. 1834, in Lin- 
County, Ky., 1867. 
Mrs. Henry W. Twyman. 
John Barry, aged 77, born May 24. 1828, in Ireland, 

came to county in 1858. 
Dennis Burke, aged 76, born June 17. 1829. in Ire- 
land, came to county in 1865. 
William McLeod. aged 81. lx>rn March 25. 1825. in 

Winchester. Va., came to county in 1858. 
J. E. Lane, aged 70, born October 1. 1834. In Ken- 
tuckv. came to county in 1836. 
W. N. Byers. aged 70, born April IS, 1835, in Fayette 

County. Pa., came to county in 1854. 
Alvia B. Copeland. aged SO. born March 22, 1825, 

in Green County, Pa., came to county in 1854. 
Alfred Copeland. aged 80. born March 22. 1825, in 

Green County. Pa., came to county in 1854. 
Mrs. H. G. Martin, aged 82. born March 18. 1S23. 
in Miami County. Ohio, came to county in 1849. 
S. H. Black, aged' 79. born March. 1826. came to 

county in 1849. 
D. P. VanPelt. aged 88. Good Hope. 
David Campbell, aged S7. Good Hope. 
Dr. A. Hall, aged 92. Good Hope. 
J. T. I^wis. aged 73. Good Hope. 
James Statler. aged 74. Good Hope. 
S. R. Sapp. aged 74. Good Hope. 
Alexander Snapp. aged 72. Good Hope. 
T. J. Spicer. aged 76. Good Hope. 
John Amos, aged 80. Good Hope. 
Ben Murphy, aged 77. Good Hope. 
Frank i^raff. aged 72. Good Hope. 
Jolin Moniger. aged 74, Good Hope. 
J. J. Crowder, aged 74. Good Hope. 
J. W. Hiatt. aged 70. born August 12. 1835, in Stoke 

County, N. C.. came to county in 1S38. 
Mrs. Nancy Moore, aged 77, born February 28, 

1S2S. in Pennsylvania, came to county in 1860. 
H. W. Scott and wife, aged 82, born 1S22, in West 

Virginia. 
A. Fisher, born in Illinois. 
I. C. Bridges, aged 80, born August 20, 1825, came 

to county In 1830. 
J. H. Utley, aged 71, born March 21, 1834, came 

to county in 1852. 
Mrs. H. B. Avery, aged 77. 

G. W. Poling, aged 79, born June 12, 1826. in Brook- 
lyn. N. T.. came to State in 1838. 
Mrs. E. H. Murray, born February 1, 1837, came 

to State in 1845. 
James Blazer, aged 89. came to State 1830. 
Mrs. M. J. Randolph, aged 86, born 1818, came to 

county in 1834. 
Mrs. D. P. Wells, aged 76. born April 30, 1829, in 
Oneida, N. Y., came to State in 1834. 



Benjamin Morrow and wife, aged 75, born Febru- 
ary 4. 1830, in Ohio, came to State in 1844. 
William H. Morrow, aged 71, born December 26, 

1834, in Ohio, came to State 1844. 
J. J. Pierce, aged 89. born August 3, 1816. in In- 
diana County. Pa., came to State in 1863. 
Mrs. Marv Germond. aged 89. born February 24. 

1816, in New York, came to State 1900. 
Mrs. Charles M. Rav. aged 85. born January 17, 
1820, in Oneida County, N. Y.. came to State 1844. 
Mrs. Mary Payne Scudder. aged 72. born Novem- 
ber 15. 1833, in Butler County, Ohio, came to 
State 1854. 
David Burkhart. aged 81. born April 1. 1825. in Ford 

County. Ind.. came to State 1857. 
Joseph Watts, aged 71. born January 30. 1834, in 

Johnson County. Ind.. came to State 1865. 
Mrs. E. J. Greenup, aged 72, born June 6, 1833, In 

Illinois. 
Mrs. L. Stocker. aged 72. born January 2. 1833, in 

Germany, came to State 1853. 
Mrs. Susan M. Porter, aged S3, born February 22. 

1822. in Massachusetts, came to State 1856. 
James Finch, aged 77. born March 13. 1829, in Vir- 
ginia, came to State 1850. 
John W. Twaddle, aged 73. born April 18, 1832, in 

Ohio, came to State 1844. 
Marcen M. Twaddle, aged 70, born August 15, 1834, 

Ohio, came to State 1844. 
J. W. Jackson, aged 75. born December 6, 1830, in 

Virginia, came to State 1836. 
A. J. Flemming. aged 75. born January 27, 1830, in 

Virginia, came to State 1832, 
William Swearingen, aged 72. born July 20. 1833. in 

West Virginia, came to State 1852. 
George Gills, aged 77, born November 20, 1834, in 

Kentuckv, came to State 1856. 
P. VanPelt, aged 87, born September 29, 1817, in 

New Jersey, came to State 1871. 
William Darlington, aged 77, Dorn March 8, 1828, 

in Pennsylvania, came to State 1838. 
Thomas Lamb, aged 80. born December 2, 1824, in 

Ohio, came to State 1854. 
A. J. Hankins, aged 81, born March 10, 1825, in In- 
diana, came to State 1825. 
John Mourning, aged 73, born March 11, 1832, came 

to State 1856. 
Franklin Clark, aged 73, born February 17, 1833, in 

New York, came to State 1845. 
Rowan Simmons, aged 70. born April 24, 1836, In 

Kentucky, came to State 1850. 
Simeon Strader. aged 86. born January 5. 1819, in 

Ohio, came to State 1851. 
Wilford Keithley. aged 74. born February 4, 1831, 

in Indiana, came to State 1834. 
D. Chidister. aged 82. born July 10, 1823. in New 

Jersey, came to State 1S66. 
Garrett Wayland. aged 72. born November 21, 1833, 

in Illinois. 
Jacob Reedy, aged 70. born December 1, 1834, in 

Ohio, came to State 1856. 
W. R. VanAtta, aged 76, born December 23. 182S, 

in Pennsylvania, came to State 1866. 
Enoch Hall, aged 73. born March 25. 1832. in Ohio, 

came to State 1855. 
G. H. Cadwallader, aged 70. born July 8. 1835, in 

Illinois. 
David Hawn. aged 83, born April 22, 1822, in Ohio, 

came to State 1854. 
A. Downey, aged 71. born July 11, 1834, in Canada, 

came to State 1840. 
Lewis Wilson, aged 71, born May 10, 1834, in Penn- 
sylvania, came to State 1860. 
J. C. Thompson, aged 78, born January 31, 1827, 

in New Jersey, came to State 1855. 
C. M. Duncan, aged 80, born October 6, 1824, in 

Tennessee, came to State 1830. 
W. W. Hammond, aged 71. born May 27, 1834, in 

Tennessee, came to State 1855. 
Nathaniel Decker, aged 73, born December 2, 1832, 

in New York, came to State 1849. 
Mrs. Rebecca Henderson, aged 87, born 1818, in 

Ohio. 
Miss Mary Coppage, aged 72, born 1833, in Ten- 
nessee. 
W. H. Neece and wife, aged 74, born February 2, 
1831, in Illinois. 



784 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Mrs. Mary Jenkins, aged 70, 

Robert Crabb, aged 71, born 18:!4, in Ohio, came 

to State 1836. 
Mrs. Jolin Scott. 
Mrs. S. C. Collins, aged 7S, born July 20. 1823, came 

to county 1865, 

F. A. Woodmansee. aged 7.8. born November S, 
1827, came to county 1850. 

John T. Miner, aged 85. born September 22. 1820, 

came to county 1835. 
C. P. McDonald, aged 75, born December 16, 1830, 

came to county 1849, 
B, T. Hartsook, aged 75. born June 29, 1.S31, came to 

county 1854, 
A. B. Copeland. aged 83, born March 22, 1825. came 

to county 1854. 
Mrs, H. G. Martin, aged 82. born March 18. 1.S23. 

came to county 1849. 
J. P. Johnson, aged 75, slave. 
A. J. AV'ilhelm, aged 72. 
Shadrach Campbell, aged 81, born April 13, 1824, 

came to State 1828. 
Michael Hume, aged 71, born September 1, ISM. 

came to State 1863. 
T. B. Wilson, aged 72, born November 24. 1832, came 

to State 1834. 
S. A. Bugg, aged 72, born March, 1833, came to 

State 1852. 
Mrs. J. Eaton, aged 75, born February 11. 1830. came 

to State 1834. 

G. W. Welch, aged 76, born August 28, 1829, came 
to State 1849. 

William Miller, aged 75, born August 20, 1830, came 

to State 1854, 
O. W. Hinman, aged 70, born May 18, 1835, came 

to State 1856. 
George Mordue, aged 73. born September 29. 18.31, 

came to State 1857. 
William H. Champ, aged 70, born March 1, 1.8,35. in 

Illinois. 
J. W. Oakman, aged 76, born March 15, 1829, in 

Pennsylvania, came to State 1855, 
Mrs. M. J. Randolph, aged 87. born 1818. in Ken- 
tucky, came to State ISVi. 
Peter McBride, aged 72, born December 16, 1832, 

in Ohio, came to State 1852. 
Darius L. Sutherland, aged 77, born November 11, 

1,828, in Maine, came to State 1856. 
Wellington Kennedy, aged 75, born August 7, 18.30, 

in Kentucky, came to State 1848, 
Miles Schnatterly, aged 70, born September 12. 1.833. 

in Pennsylvania, came to county 1870. 
Jacob Grim, aged 74, born April 1, 1826, came to 

county 1853. 
Hugh McMillan, aged 74, born March 15. 1831, in 

Scotland, came to county 1848, 
John Easton. aged 73. born 1832 in England, came 

to State 1855. 
O. T. Walker, aged 75, born March 30, 18.30, in In- 
diana, came to county 1832. 
Mrs. H. C. Mullen, aged 76, born May 12, 1829. came 

to county 1860. 
Franklin Clark, aged 73. born February, 1832, 

RoM.vxTU' Ini)i.\x Si'iciDK. — There are sui- 
cides and suicides, but the following account of 
the self-appointed death of, perhaps, the last 
native Red Man of McDonough County to be 
buried within its limits, combines unusual ele- 
ments of pathos, humor and romance. The 
story is told by James Shannon, an early pio- 
neer: 

"Years and years ago there occurred 
an incident in the life of one of McDonough's 
early pioneers which he afterward told to me, 
and which I will always remember. I will let 
you draw your own conclusion of the truthful- 
ness of the narrative, but as far as I know 



there is every reason to believe the old gentle- 
man told the truth. His name I will not men- 
tion, 

"When the Indians left this country, going 
westward from the approach of civilization, 
there was one old warrior who was particu- 
larly attached to this section, which had been 
his home before the pale-face ever imagined 
a land with the wealth this possessed. This 
one Indian was the last of the Red Men to 
live in this county. He was too old to think 
of seeking the new hunting grounds of the 
West with the younger members of his tribe. 
He was like all the rest of us. He wanted, 
when his time came, to be laid to rest in his 
own native country. So this Indian stayed 
and made his home with an old pioneer and 
his family who, although they have gone to 
their rest, are still remembered by the older 
citizens of this city and county. 

"One day the pioneer and his Indian, who 
was a helper in clearing off the timber to make 
room for the raising of the ever-increasing 
crops, were about to cut down one of the gi- 
gantic trees of the forest when the Indian 
stepped up and said he would climb up and 
cut off a large limb where there was thought 
to be some honey. The request was granted, 
and the old chief climbed the tree like a buck 
of twenty years and commenced cutting on 
the limb, probably fifty feet above the .ground. 

"As the Indian worked he stepped on the 
outer side and continued to chop. The farmer 
warned him that he would fall with the limb 
and probably meet his death, but the old 
savage kept on at his work in his own way. 
Just as the limb was about to fall he turned 
to the farmer and said, 'You have been a true 
friend to me and 1 will tell you of a great 
secret. The b&rrel of gold that your govern- 
ment gave my i eople was buried on your land, 
as we knew we would have no use for money 
in a land where money is unknown. I was 
left here to guard it and it has never been 
touched; find it and you will be as rich as the 
richest." The farmer begged him to tell him 
where the money was hid, but the Red Man 
only smiled, gave the limb another chop, and 
came down with it with a crash, breathing his 
last in the farmer's arms. And this last Mc- 
Donough County Indian was buried beneath 
the fateful tree, which still stands. Though 
the farmer made several efforts to locate this 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



785 



immense wea'th he was unsuccessful. He has 
now gone to his reward, but some time before 
his death he tool^ me to this tree and told me 
this tragic tale. Although he had been un- 
successful in his hunt, he believed the money 
was still on his farm. How much, there is 
no way of telling, but if the present owners 
of this plot of ground, worth $150 per acre 
for farming puri>oses alone, knew of this story, 
they would, no doubt, turn their farm into a 
mining prospect and soon have a regular hon- 
eycomb in i)lace of a rich farm." 

How Lincoln Got His Tbooi'.s Over thic 
Fenck. — Through the Hon. Tom Henderson, of 
Princeton, late member of Congress, comes 
the following story, which is another illustra- 
tion of Lincoln's fertility of resources: It seems 
that during the Douglas debates, in I.S.5.S. Mr. 
Henderson was conveying Lincoln from Prince- 
ton to a neighboring town, where the latter 
was advertised to speak. As they proceeded 
on their journey the future President observed 
that he had been through that section of the 
country some years before, when he was in 
command of a company of troops during the 
Black Hawk War. While his troops were 
tramping northward, he said, to the seat of 
war, they encountered a fence which lay di- 
rectly across their line of march. As they ap- 
proached it Captain Lincoln, who was more 
versed in civil law than in military tactics, 
was rapidly considering how he should get him- 
self and his boys over the fence in regulation 
style. At lait, being unable to recall the 
proper military order to accomplish the move- 
ment, he shouted, "Boys, break ranks. You are 
dismissed, to meet on the other side of the 
fence, in five minutes — there to form in order 
of company." The boys did so, and the ob- 
stacle was passed, although with perhaps the 
same loss of military dignity as accompanied 
Lincoln's recital of the circumstance. 

"Onk" on Judge Higbee. — Elijah Wayland, a 
noted wag and still living, rather got the bet- 
ter of the late Judge Higbee, who was a lead- 
ing attorney of the McDonough County bar, 
and particularly excelled in drawing from a 
witness all there was in the case. The suit 
was brought by the Railroad against Willis Way- 
land, the father of Elijah, and Mr. Higbee was 
the attorney for the plaintiff. During the trial. 



Elijah, who was then a lad, was called upon 
for the especial purpose of ascertaining if his 
father could read. The son promptly answered 
that his father could not, and further ques- 
tioning brought out other details. In the 
cross-e.xamination Judge Higbee quietly, and 
with seeming Indifference, asked the boy if 
his father used any books. With equal prompt- 
ness Elijah answered, yes; that his father 
used the family Bible on Sunday mornings. 
The Judge at once called his attention to the 
fact that he had already testified that the old 
gentleman could not read. With seeming inno- 
cence, Elijah answered that his father never 
read the Bible; but he found its leather covers 
pretty good for razor straps when he was about 
to shave on Sunday mornings. The laugh 
which followed was general and hearty, and no 
one entered with more zest into the joke than 
did Judge Higbee. 



CH.\PTER .\X\'II. 



NOTED VISITORS AND RESIDENTS. 



DISTINGUISHED MEN WHO II.WE Vl.SITED m'dON- 
OUGH COUNTY — ■ ULYSSES S. GRANT, ANDREW 
.JOHNSON, RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. WILLIAM 
M'KINLEY and THEODORE ROOSEVELT ON THE LIST 
— LINCOLN, DOUGLAS, COL. E. D. BAKEB, LYMAN 
TRtTMBULL. SCHUYLER COLFAX, TOM CORWIN, 
RICHARD .7. OGLESBY, WAR GOVERNOR RICHARD 
YATES, SHELBY M. CITLLOM AND OTHERS WHO 
HAVE ADDRESSED m'dONOUGII COUNTY AUDIENCES 
— LIST OF MOST NOTED RESIDENTS. 

While Macomb is but a small interior city, it 
has been honored with visits from many men 
of national reputation. It would be difficult 
to give dates, but the circumstances, which 
are of more importance, are reproduced. 

Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Ruther- 
ford K. Haye.^, William McKinley and Theo- 
dore Roosevelt, Presidents of the United 
States, have all made short addresses at Ma 
comb. On two occasions Abraham Lincoln 
addressed large audiences here. 



786 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Colonel E. D. Baker, member of Congress 
from this district and one of the most brilliant 
men connected with the history of the country, 
visited Macomb on more than one occasion. 
He was afterward United States Senator from 
Oregon, and in 1861 resigned to enter the 
army, being killed in action at Ball's Bluff. 

Stephen A. Douglas, as a member of the 
Supreme Court, presided over the Circuit Court 
of this county, his name frequently appearing 
in its records. He was afterward elected to 
Congress and to the United States Senate, and 
was Lincoln's opponent in the great joint dis- 
cussion of 1858, as well as the Democratic 
candidate for the Presidency in 1860. 

Senator Trumbull was in the city on several 
occasions, when a candidate for the United 
States Senate and the Governorship. Previ- 
ous to the Civil War he was a Democrat, was 
subsequently elected to the United States Sen- 
ate as an opponent of the Kansas-Nebraska 
Act and as a Republican, and continued to 
support that party until 1S72, when he a^ain 
became associated with the Democratic party. 

Vice-President Schuyler Colfax twice visited 
the city, one of the lectures which he deliv- 
ered being his celebrated address on Abraham 
Lincoln. 

Hon. Tom Corwin. the "wagon boy," of Ohio, 
and one of the most eloquent and humorous 
members of Congress, was here during a gen- 
eral election campaign, and made one of his 
characteristic speeches to an immense audi- 
ence. 

Gen. Phil Sheridan and Gen. William T. 
Sherman were in the city and each addressed 
large audiences. 

"Uncle Dick," Richard J. Oglesby, spoke in 
this city on several occasions. With its peo- 
ple he was always the most popular candidate 
for Governor, or any other office he desired. 
"Dick" was three times elected Governor, once 
United States Senator, and was a General 
in the Civil War, being wounded at the battle 
of Corinth. In every way he was a stanch, 
loyal American, and thoroughly beloved by the 
citizens of Illinois. 

Richard Yates, Sr., the War Governor, was 
a visitor to Macomb. He was elected to the 
gubernatorial chair in 1860, served one term 
and at its close was elected United States Sena- 
tor. He was also called by his friends "Dick," 
and proved one of the most loyal and energetic 



Governors in the United States. He provided 
well for the Illinois Volunteers, and often visit- 
ed the soldiers in their camps and fields of 
battle. 

Senator Shelby M. Cullom has many times 
addressed McDonough County audiences, and 
is much beloved by its people, who believe him 
to be a man of great persona! integrity and a 
statesman of the first class. 

Governors Fifer, Tanner, Yates (the young- 
er) and Deneen have often addressed the citi- 
zens of Macomb and McDonough County, and 
have always received the hearty support of its 
citizens. 

Orville H. Browning, late of Quincy, and a 
member of President Johnson's Cabinet as head 
of the Interior Department, practiced before 
the courts of McDonough County. He was an 
elegant gentleman, always friendly and polite, 
and at the same time a profound lawyer. 

Robert G. Ingersoll, the noted lecturer and 
lawyer, attended the Circuit Court, and was 
much admired for his professional ability. 

William J. Bryan, Democratic candidate for 
the Presidency in 1900, addressed the people 
of this city during the campaign, and Senators 
Hopkins and Mason have both delivered 
speeches on political issues. 

Noted Residents. — McDonough County has 
had many prominent citizens within its borders 
who have held high rank in the State Legislature 
and National Congress, and made brilliant and 
substantial records as lawyers and jurists. 
Among the first in law was T. Lyle Dickey, 
Judge of the State Supreme Court, who stud- 
ied law under Cyrus Walker and opened his 
first office in Macomb. 

In the days of the early settlement of the 
county and State, Cyrus Walker was the lead- 
ing member of the Illinois bar, and for several 
years maintained that position. He was learn- 
ed in the law, and had a thorough knowledge 
of men and measures. 

Pinckney H. Walker, who for over a quarter 
of a century was Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court of Illinois, began his legal career in Ma- 
comb, and was afterward Judge of the Circuit 
Court of the county. He was accounted one 
of the leading Judges in the West. 

Damon G. Tunnicliff, for many years one of 
the leading attorneys of the county bar, was 
elevated to the bench of the Illinois Supreme 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



787 



Court, in which position he acquitted himself 
with honor to the State and county. 

Hon. William H. Neece, one of the oldest 
members of the bar, has served in both Houses 
of the State Legislature, in the last State Con- 
stitutional Convention and two terms in Con- 
gress. Like most of the early settlers he en- 
joyed but few educational opportunities, but 
by his perseverance and indomitable will, he 
became one of the leading members of the bar, 
and still occupies that position. 

Hon. J. Ross Mickey was Judge of the County 
Court for a number of years, and, while on 
the bench, was elected to the National House 
of Representatives, serving one term in Con- 
gress to the entire satisfaction of his constitu- 
ents. He is still a member of the McDonough 
County bar. 

Hon. , I. N. Pearson was for years Circuit 
Clerk, and served one session in each branch 
of the General Assembly, this service being 
followed by his election for one term as Secre- 
tary of State. In every position which he has 
filled he has acquitted himself honorably and 
ably, and is now living in the esteemed retire- 
ment to which his long and faithfully per- 
formed services entitle him. 

Hon. Lawrence Y. Sherman, a prominent 
and learned attorney, began his legal practice 
in Macomb, and soon forged to the front ranks 
He served for years as County Judge and four 
consecutive terms as Representative in the 
State Legislature, being Speaker of the House 
for two terms. In 1904 he was elected Lieu 
tenant-Governor on the ticket with Governor 
Deneen. Throughout his life, Mr. Sherman has 
demonstrated what can be accomplished by a 
persevering, ambitious man, under adverse cir- 
cumstances. 

Alexander McLean, for the past thirty years 
one of the Trustees of the University of Illi- 
nois and for some years President of the 
Board, was chosen Presidential Elector on the 
Republican ticket in 1876 and selected as the 
messenger to carry to Washington the electoral 
vote of Illinois in faor of Rutherford B. 
Hayes tor President. For four years he served 
as Mayor of the city of Macomb. 

Hon. C. V. Chandler, a native of the city, is 
President of the Bank of Macomb, and for 
many years was one of the Republican leaders 
in Illinois. He served one term in the Legis- 



lature, and proved to be an efficient business 
member. 

Hon. H. R. Bartleson, a prominent Democrat , 
of the county, served one term in the State 
Legislature, and with his usual industry and 
ability, took an active part in its business. 

These are some of the more prominent citi- 
zens of the county, whose records and person- 
alities are worthy of remembrance. 



CHAPTER .\X\1II. 



FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS— CLUBS. 



SECKET AND SOCIAL ORtiA.\IZATIONS IN M DONOUGH 

COl'XTY MASONIC AND KINDRED ORDERS 

KMCHTS TEMI'I.AR AND KOYAL ARCH MASONS 

INDEI'E.XDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS KNIGHTS 

(IK I'YTHIAS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC AND 

woman's RELIEF CORI'S MISCELLANEOUS OR- 
DERS — RELIGIOUS, HO<'IAL AND BUSINESS CLUBS. 

Following is a list of the principal secret and 
fraternal societies, social and business clubs 
(if McDonough County, classified under the 
names of cities and towns with which they are 
resiiectively identified: 

MACOMB ORGANIZATIONS. 

Masonic Lodge No. 17, A. F. & A. M., was or- 
ganized under a dispensation issued January 30, 
1S43, to Charles Hays, Rezin Naylor, James 
Chandler, Jr., John Anderson, Thomas J. Smith, 
.Alexander Simpson and O. M. Hoagland. The 
first meeting was held February 24, 1843, when 
there were present Levi Lusk, S. G. W. M.. 
and W. M. pro tem., with the following officers: 
Charles Hays, S. W. ; James Chandler. Jr., J. 
W.; John Anderson, Secy.; James M. Walker, 
Treas.: Rezin Naylor, S. D. ; Thomas Smithers, 
J. D. ; George H. Rice, Tyler, and Thomas A. 
Hrooking. The first regular officers installed 
were: Rezin Naylor, W. M. : Charles Hays, 
S. W.: James Chandler, Jr., J. W. Cyrus 
Walker, one of the eminent lawyers of this 
State, was the first member initiated, which 



788 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



occurred at ttiis first meeting. At a meeting 
held February 25, petitions were received from 

^ PinUney H. Walker (who afterward, for more 
than twenty-five years, was a^ .Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of Illinois), William Ervin and 
Joseph E. Wyne, and the second and third de- 
grees were conferred on Cyrus A. Lawson, one 
of the principal merchants of Macomb. The 
lodge received its charter dated October 2, 1843. 
The following persons have held the office of 
W. M. of the lodge: James Chandler, Joseph 
E. Wyne, Pinkney H. Walker, William Ervin, 
Thomas Brooking, James B. Kyle, J. L. N. Hall, 
C. N. Harding, C. S. Churchill. Albert Eads, 
J. H. Fuhr, William C. Johnson, C. A. Flack 
and A. F. Fisher. There may have been others 
not now remembered. In 1867 a few members, 
headed by Drs. Kyle and Hammond, petitioned 
for charter U. D.. which was granted and 
named Kyle Lodge. After an existence of about 
ten j'ears, this organization surrendered its 
charter and a large majority of its members 
returned to the parent lodge. The present 
membership Is upward of 150, and the condition 
of the lodge is most excellent. It owns a beau- 
tiful brick block, three stories in height, within 
which is a neatly fitted-up lodge-room. The 
building, 26 by 80 feet, was erected in 1881. 
The lower rooms are occupied as a store and 
offices. The interior is finely frescoed, pan- 

'eled with Masonic emblems, and overhead in 
the east end is a well proportioned arch with 
appropriate motto. The ceiling is studded with 
stars representing the starry heavens. The 
lodge-room proper is 26 by 60 feet in size, with 
examination and ante-rooms. The present offi- 
cers are: L. W. Johnson. W. M.; S. P. Oden- 
weller, S. W.; Charles .Martin. J. W.: W. E. 
Dudman, Secy.; J. W. Wyne. Treas.: and 
George Holmes, Tyler. 

Morse Chapter No. 19. Royal Arch Masons, 
was organized under dispensation in .\ugust. 
1854, and the first meeting was held .\ugust 
28. The following is a list of the original 
members: G. M. Huggins, William Ervin, J. L. 
N. Hall, James B. Kyle, Cyrus A. Lawson, J. 
M. Westfall, Thomas I. Garrett, Ralph Harris. 
O. M. Hoagland, Charles Hayes and D. G. Tun- 
nicliff. Of these not one is now living. The 
first officers were: Ralph Harris, M. E. H. P.: 
James B. Kyle, E. K. : Cyrus A. Lawson, E. S.; 
G. M. Hug,gins, C. H.; J. L. N. Hall, P. S.; Wil- 
liam Ervin. R. A. C: L M. Westfall, M. F. V.; 



Charles Hays, M. S. V.; D. G. Tunnicliff, S.; 
Thomas I. Garrett, G. The Chapter at present 
has over 100 members, and has been known 
since its organization as one of the best in the 
State, and still continues in a flourishing con- 
dition. The present officers are: W. C. John- 
son, H. P.; T. McFadden, King; S. P. Oden- 
weller. Scribe; A. L. Brockway, Treas.; B. T. 
Whitson. Secy.: T. H. Mapes, C. of H.; W. E. 
Dudman. P. S.; J. E. Norton, R. A. C; W. R 
Jenkins, M. of 3d V.; E. McLean. C. of 1st V.; 

A. E. Purdum, C. of 2d V.; N. L. Butcher, Tyler. 
Macomb Commandery No. 61. Knights Tem- 
plar, was organized U. D. December 18, 1891, 
by S. O. Spring. Grand Commander, the follow- 
ing constituting the first membership: Albert 
Eads, William C. Johnson. Lorentus A. Penny- 
witt. Alexander McLean. Lawrence Y. Sher- 
man, Edmund Lawrence. Thomas M. Hall, 
James Statler, William Prentiss, Reuben Pow- 
ell, James O. Peasley. Q. C. Ward, .\braham 
Horrocks, I. N. Pearson, N. H. Jackson, Joseph 

B. Bacon, H. R. Patterson, J. L. Bailey, E. A. 
Lane. J. W. Booth. S. D. Mills. William W. 
Smith. .A. Fisher, J. M. Jackson, Samuel Park 
and H. B. Sikes. The first conclave was held 
December is, ],S9l, with the following officers: 
Albert Eads, E. C; William C. Johnson, G.; 
L. A. Pennywitt. C. G.; J. L, Bailey, P.; J. O. 
Peasley. S. W.: L. Y. Sherman, J. W.; Q. C. 
Ward. Treas.; Alexander McLean, Recorder: 
H. R. Bartleson, Standard Bearer; Louis Stock- 
er. Sword Bearer; E. A. Lane. Warden, and Ed. 
Lawrence, Sentinel. 

On .N'ovemher 18. 1892. R. E. G. C. J. P. 
Sherman, as proxy for the Grand Commander, 
was present and presented a regular charter 
for the Commandery dated October 27, 1892, 
and the Commandery was declared duly insti- 
tuted. At this meeting the officers, as stated 
above, were duly elected and apiwinted, with 
the addition of Trustees, who were .\. Eads. 
W. C. Johnson, L. W. Pennywitt, A. K. Lodge 
and C. V. Chandler. This Commandery now 
numbers 130 members, and has been an active 
and ijrosperous organization to the present 
time. The present officers are: James W. Bai- 
ley, E. C; William C. Johnson, G.; L. W. John- 
son, C. G.: F. Y. Vernon, S. W.; J. L. Scott, 
J. W. ; A. Fisher, P.; A. L. Brockway, Treas.; 
-MexHnder McLane. Recorder. The ai)pointe1 
officers are W. E. Dudman, Warder; A. A. 
Messmore. Standard Bearer; E. A. Lane, Sword 



^io i^lDr\JriC\ i 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



789. 



Bearer; N. L. Butcher. Sentinel; and Sir 
Knights J. W. Bailey. William C. Johnson, L. 
W. Johnson. A. Eads and F. R. Kyle, Trustees. 

Macomb Chapter No. 123. Order of Eastern 
Star, A. F. & A. M., was organized February 20, 
1888, by W. O. Butler, D. D. G. M. W. The 
first officers were as follows: Sister Mary C. 
Eads, W. Matron; Albert Bads. W. Patron; 
Mrs. Mina Lodge, A. M.; Mary E. Bailey, Con- 
ductress; Mrs. William Odell, Treas., and Bro. 
R. W. Bailey, Secy. From its organization this 
was an active and enthusiastic Chapter, and 
continues as such to the present time, having 
nearly 100 members. The present officers are: 
Sister Henrietta Campbell, W. Matron; Bi-o. 
W. R. Jenkins, W. Patron; Sister Idella Rex- 
roat. Associate Matron: Mrs. Uriah Flack, Con- 
ductress; Eugenia Henderson, Associate Con- 
ductress; Mrs. Emily Adcock. Treas.. and Miss 
Jennie Norton, Secy. Regular meetings are 
held on the fourth Friday of each month. 

Military Tract Lodge No. 145. I. O. O. F., 
was organized October 12, 1854, with the fol- 
lowing charter members: 1. M. Westfall. I. M. 
Ma.ior, Abram Rowe, V. H. Weaver, James Stu- 
art. Samuel Bunker and J. B. Pearson, all ot 
whom have passed over the river. The present 
membership numbers over 250. and it has been 
one of the most efficient working lodges in the 
State. It has a three-story brick building erect- 
ed on the north side of the Public Square. 22x 
70 feet, completed in October, 1884, and on the 
third floor it has a beautiful lodge room, with 
tasteful decorations, properly displaying the 
emblems of the order. It is under contempla- 
tion to enlarge the building by adding one story 
to the store-room adjoining. The present offi- 
cers are: Ira Miller, N. G.; Guy Lemmer, V. 
G.; W. H. Wilson, Secy.; P. C. Campbell, Treas. 

Washington Encampment No. 39, I. O. O. F.. 
was instituted March 25, 1857, by A. C. Marsh. 
P. C. P., with the following charter members: 
I. M. Westfall, A. G. Burr, William S. Bailey, 
Charles W. Dallam. W. L. Imes, B. F. Broad- 
dus and J. W. Atkinson. The first officers 
were: I. M. Westfall, C. P.; J. W. Blount, H. 
P.; B. F. Broaddus. S. W.; C. M. Ray, J. W.; 
J. W. Atkinson. Secy.; A. G. Burr, Treas. The 
first initiates were: Joseph W. Blount, Joseph 
Head. V. H. Weaver and C. M. Ray. For many 
years this was a prosperous working organiza- 
tion, but of late years it has languished. At 
present writing, it is having a revival of inter- 



est, and will yet be a good working body. All 
the charter members, save A. G. Burr, have 
gone to their reward. Its present officers are: 
Alexander McLean, C. P.; D. Knapp, Secy., and 
F. Smith, Lodge Deputy. 

Montrose Lodge No, 104, Knights of Pythias, 
was organized in May, 1882, under dispensation. 
On October 18, of the same year, a charter was 
granted to the following members: C. V. Chan- 
dler, A. K. Lodge, C. H. Whitaker, J. M. Down- 
ing, I. N. Pearson, G. H. Wyne, Charles Mapes, 
R. Leach, J. E. Lane. George Trubel, George 
Gadd, G. W. Willis, C. Mustain, E. A. Lane, W. 

E. Martin, W. F. Wells, G. W. Howard, R. T. 
Quinn, Fred Newland, C. N. Ross, William Ra- 
gon. Duncan McLean. R. Lawrence, G. C. Trull, 
William Venable. J. S. Gash. P. H. Garrettson, 

B. F. Randolph. I. Fellheimer, J. L. Bally. M. P. 
Agnew. D. M. Graves, J. M. Ervin, T. Philpot, 
D. Ray. J. L. Wilson, C. J. James, G. W. Bailey. 
M. OMara, F. Ralston and C. W. Dines. This 
has always been a wholesome, working lodge, 
and numbers nearly two hundred members. 
The present officers are: Ed. McGuire, C. C; 
Clarence Imes, V. C; Fred Ralston. K. of R. 
and S.; Frank Hunter. M. of Ex.; Martin Price. 
M. of Fin.; George Hoskinson. Prelate; S. 
Churchill, M. of Arms. 

Rebecca Degree Lodge No. 342, I. O. O. F., 
has been in existence for over ten years. Pres- 
ent officers: Miss Lottie Randolph, N. G.; Mrs. 

C. B. Smithers, V. G.; Mrs. Thomas Lush, 
Secy.: Mrs. C. B. Smithers. Rec. Secy., and 
John F. Shannon, Treas. 

Macomb Lodge No. 29. A. O. U. W., was or- 
ganized November 23. 1876, by M. W. Newton. 

D. D. G. M. W.. with the following charter 
members: W. F. Bayne. B. J. Head. W. J. 
Boyd, I. N. Pearson. J. B. Venard. N. Butcher. 
James Knapp. A. V. Brooking. Charles Kline, 
Joseph S. Gamage, Alexander McLean, L. W. 
Scott, Dr. V. McDavitt, Leroy Cannon. S. P. 
Brewster, H. A. Tuggle. B. T. Whitson, T. W. 
Willis, W. F. King, H. K. Smith. L. A. Ross. A. 
L. Stowell, J. P. Karr, M. H. Case. J. W. Yeast, 
C. H. Hays. L. A. Hoopes. A. Holmes, and C. 

F. Westfall. The first officers were: W. F. 
Bayne, P. M. W.; Alexander McLean. M. W. ; 
Charles Kline, F.: J. S. Gamage. O.; I. N. Pear- 
son, Rec. Sec; D. Knapp. Fin. Secy.; B. F. 
Head. Receiver; J. W. Venard. O. W.; L. W. 
Scott. I. W.; Brooking, McDavitt and Shatterly 
as Trustees. This for many years was one of 



790 



HISTORY OF McDONOUGK COUNTY. 



the most prosperous working lodges in the 
State, but for the past five years has lan- 
guished, and now but few members belong to 
the lodge. The present officers are: Alexander 
McLean, Master Workman; David Knapp. Fi- 
nancial and Recording Secretary: and J. P. 
Campbell, Treasurer. 

McDonough Post Xo. 103, Grand Army of 
the Republic, was organized August S, 1881, 
with the following as original members: .J. B. 
Venard, T. J. Martin. G. L. Farwell, R. Law- 
rence. N. A. Chapman, J. E. Lane, J. C. Em- 
mons, R. R. McMullen, William Venable, J. C. 
McClellan, S. Frost. K. McClintock. W. G. Mc- 
Clellan, .1. T. Russell. J. M. Hume, E. A. Lane, 
J. A. Gordon, F. Newland, F. A. Luthey, J. Fos- 
ter. T. J, Farley, I. C. Hillyer and M. M. Mc- 
Donough. The first officei's were: William 
Venable, Commander: R. R. McMullen, Senior 
Vice-Commander; T. .). Farley, Junior Vice- 
Commander; S. Frost, Chaplain; R. Lawrence, 
Q. M.: G. L. Farwell. Officer of Day; W. A. Chap- 
man, Officer of Guard: W. G. McClellan, Adju- 
tant: J. M. Hume. S. M.; and T. J. Martin, Q. 
M. S. This has proved to be a good, working 
branch of the G. A. R., and its membership 
has steadily increased. The present officers 
are: Albert E. Eads, Commander; W. J. Frank- 
lin, S. V. C; James Eyre, J. V. C; George W. 
Reid, Chaplain; Nat Decker, Officer of the Day: 
C. B. Teal. Q. M.; A. B. Campbell. Adjutant; S. 
Thompson, J. Adjt. ; Orin Peck. Surgeon; and 
William Lephart. Officer of Guard. 

McDonough Lodge No. 34. Woman's Relief 
Corps, of Macomb, was organized January, 1886, 
with the following list of officers: Elizabeth 
Eyre, President; Hester Morgan, S. V. Prest.; 
Adelaide HoUenbeck, J. V. Prest.; Albertine 
Martin, Secy.; Rebecca Maguire, Treas.; Mary 
Ruckle, Chaplain; Anna Stodgell, Conductor; 
Sarah Peck, Guard: Anna Loman, P. Inst.; Jen- 
nie Dill, Press Cor.; Color Bearers, Lucy Kel- 
lough, Sarah Stowell and Martha Hillyer. 
Meetings are held on the fourth Friday of each 
month. 

Loyal .Americans. — Macomb Assembly No. 
196 of this order meets on the second and 
fourth Tuesdays of each month. It is a mutual 
benefit order. 

Mutual Protective League. — Phoanix Council 
Xo. .520, M. P. L., meets on the first and third 
Tuesdays of each month. 

Mystic Workers of the World. — Macomb 



Lodge Xo. 160, of this order, meets on the first 
and third Thursdays of each month in the G. A. 
R. Hall. 

American Mutual Benefit Association. — Ma- 
comb Local Council No. 19 meets in the G. A. 
R. Hall on call of the officers. 

Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. — Ma- 
comb Lodge No. 1009. B. P. O. E.. meets on 
Friday evening, at Elks' Hall on the east side 
of the Public Square. 

BUSHNELL. 

T. J. Pickett Lodge No. 307, A. F. & A. M., 
of Bushnell. was organized January 15, 1859, 
with the following members: J. H. Smith, J. 
Seaburn. Hiram Conover, J. W. Kelly. J. Ewald. 
J. Wells. W. Reims, R. Lindsay and E. P. Liv- 
ingston. The lodge-room is well fitted for Ma- 
sonic work, being 45x50 feet. This has always 
been a vigorous and healthy working lodge. 
The present officers are: M. L. Walker, W. M.; 
Ira Applegate, S. W.; A. H. Mitchell, J. W.; 
James Hudson, Treas.; J. H. Johnson. Secy. 

Bushnell Lodge No. 322, I. O. O. F., was or- 
ganized in November, 1S65, with the following 
members; G. C. Ridings, J. B. Cummings, I. N. 
Pearson, Charles West, W. W. Travis, John 
Willis, E. J. Dunlap, George Schaffer, F. C. 
Grimm. Thomas Pairman and J. Stoke. The 
first officers were: J. B. Cummings, N. G.; G. 
C. Ridings. V. G.; I. N. Pearson. R. S.; Charles 
West, P. S.: and J. Willis. Treas. The lodge 
has an excellent and well-furnished room for 
meetings. The present officers are: George 
W. Cole, N. G.; W. .L Nessell, V. G.; B. W. Ir- 
vin. Secy.; J. A. Devore. Fin. Secy.; and James 
McDill, Treas. 

McDonough Encampment No. 79, I. O. O. F., 
was organized in Bushnell. October 23, 1867. 
with the following charter members: J. B. 
Cummings, J. P. Dimniitt, G. C. Ridings. I. N. 
Pearson, S. L. Abbott, J. A. James. G. A. Kai- 
ser. F. C. Grimm. J. Cole and J. E. Miller. The 
first officers were: J. B. Cummings. C. P.; G. 
C. Ridings. H. P.; J. P. Dimmitt, S. W.; I. N. 
Pearson, J. W.; J. A. James, Scribe; and S. L. 
Abbott, Treas. The present officers are: Jesse 
Ingram, C. P.; George W. Cole. H. P.; J. W. 
Madison. Rec. Scribe; C. D. Baiighman, Fin. 
Scribe; D. C. Neff, Treas. 

Bushnell Uniform Degree Encampment No. 
15 was organized in January. 1883. The first 
officers were: J. B. Pearson, Commander; 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county 



791 



Thomas Fairman, Vice-Commander; J. D. Mur- 
phy, OfRcer of the Guard: J. E. Cummings, Sec- 
retary, and G. A. Kaiser, Treasurer. We are 
unadvised as to the present condition of the 
organization. 

Chevalier Ijodge No. 101, Knights of Pythias, 
of Bushnell, was organized October 18, 1882, 
with the following charter members; J. Her- 
ring, J. Frisbee, T. H. B. Camp, L. O. Gould, 
M. L. Walker, T. F. Seibert, J. E. Chandler, 
J. Varner, G. M. Rose, T. .J. Sorter, A. H. Mc- 
Gahan, M. J. .Johnson, J. D. V. Kelly, D. E. 
Zook, A. T. McEIvain, M. L. Hoover. H. H. Ro- 
man, J. W. Parks, E. K. Westfall, A. W. Van 
Dyke. L. Schamp, T. B. Morton, J. C. Thomp- 
son, Ira Applegate, H. T. Clarke, J. C. Cad- 
walladerr H. M. Harrison. S. H. Parvin. C. T. 
Coulter. A. B. Cooper. .J. F. Cowgill, W. M. 
Scott, A. Reed. W. Pontifex. C. S. Bird, G. M. 
Ball, J. M. Ball, H. Kaiser, E. Durst, W. H. Wil- 
son, J. W. Hayes, C. C. Branson, C. J. Mariner 
and H. L. Benson. The first officers were; A. 
H. McGahan, P. C; T. J. Sorter, C. C; J. Her- 
ring, V. C; Rev. S. H. Parvin, P.; T. T. Sei- 
bert, M. of E.; M. L. Walker, M. of F.; T. H. B. 
•Camp, K. of R. and S.; J. F. Cowgill, M. of A.: 
M. L. Hoover. I. G.; C. F. Coulton, O. G. It is a 
good working lodge. The present officers are: 
A. W. Sperry. C. C. : B. G. Russler. V. C; W. H. 
H. Miller, Prelate: Ira Phillips, M. of A.; C. E. 
Oblander, K. of R. and S.; E. Durst, M. of 
Fin. : T. H. Wheeler, M. of E. ; Harry Voorhees. 
I. G.: .1. C. Young. O. G. 

Phrenix Lodge No. 17, A. O. U. W., located 
at Bushnell, organized October 2, 187ti, with 
thirty-two members. The first officers were; 
G. A. Kaiser, P. W. M.; Charles West, M. W.; 
T. Fairman, Foreman; J. Leib, Overseer; O. C. 
Hick, Rec. ; W. A. Spader, Fin. Secy.; F. Craig. 
Receiver: H. D. Brooks, G.; C. Nessel, I. W.; 
C. E. Weyman, O. W. This lodge has been on 
the wane for several years and scarcely has a 
working organization. 

Carter Van Vleck Post No. 174, G. A. R.. at 
Bushnell. was organized January 3, 1883. with 
forty-six charter members. The following offi- 
•cers were elected: J. B. Pearson, Com.; C. C. 
Morse, S. V. C; A. E. Barnes, J. V. C; E. F. 
Currier, Adjt.; H. H. Nance, Q. M.; J. Living- 
ston, O. of D.; and W. F. Wilson, Chaplain. 
The present officers are: Christopher Wetzel. 
Commander; L. J. Barber. S. V. C; William 
Swartz. J. V. C; J. M. Gale. Chaplain; J. C. 



Young, Adjt.; E. K. Westfall, Surgeon; Peter 
Klein, O. M.; John Stine. Officer of the Day. 

BLANDINSVILLE. 

Blandinsville Lodge No. 233, A. F. & A. M., 
was organized October 7, 1857, with the follow- 
ing charter members and first officers; R. D. 
Hammond. W. M.; J. E. Hndson, S. W. ; Henry 
G. Bristow, .L W. : C. Gillan, Secy.; C. A. Hume, 
Treas.: W. F. Frost, S. D.; and M. C. Parkin- 
son, J. D. The present condition of the lodge 
is excellent. It owns a building, erected in 
1877, at cost of $2,000, in which its hall is sit- 
uated. The present officers are; Thomas Wil- 
son. W. M.; W. A. Grigsby, S. W.; Dr. H. Mar- 
kee, J. W.; Dr. B. F. Duncan, S. D.; Samuel 
Slusher, J. D. : F. Cunningham. Secy.; Guy 
Huston, Treas. 

Blandinsville Chapter. Royal Arch Masons, 
was organized some five or six years ago. The 
present officers are; C. W. Carroll, H. P.; C. 
J. Sanders, K.; S. A. Webb. Scribe; J. A. Bro- 
key, Secy.; George B. Huston, Treas.; B. F. 
Duncan, C. H.; .L O. Oakman, P. S.; T. E. 
Thompson, R. A. C; Mike Garvey, M. of 3d V.; 
M. Coffman, M. of 2d V.; and H. Fowler, M. of 
1st V. It is a wholesome, good working or- 
ganization, composed of the best members of 
the community. 

Blandinsville Lodge of the Eastern Star, A. F. 
& A. M.. located at Blandinsville, has for its 
present officers Miss Lizzie Hensley, W. M.; 
Mrs. Ria Coffman. Asso. M.; C. W. Carroll, W. 
P.; Mrs. Louise White, Secy.; Mrs. Lizzie Wil- 
son, Treas.; Mrs. Jessie Grigsby. Asso. Con.; 
Mrs. Florence Cunningham, Con.; Mrs. AUie 
Huston, Chaplain: Mrs. Jane Metcalf, Ada; 
Mrs. Kate Markee, Ruth; Mrs. Saida Huston. 
Esther: Mrs. Lucille Murphy, Martha: Mrs. 
Stella Hainline, Electa; Mrs. Mary Burkhart, 
Warden: George Lyons, Sentinel; W. A. Grigs- 
by. Marshal. This lodge is composed of many 
of the most influential citizens of Blandinsville 
and vicinity. 

New Hope Lodge No. 2fi3, I. O. O. F., was or- 
ganized in Blandinsville, October 15, 1858, with 
the following charter members; Henry T. Gil- 
frey. Thomas Lindsay, D. Wood. C. W. McEl- 
roy and Delavan Martin. In 1867 the lodge 
erected a building for their own use at a cost 
of $1,000. This has been a good working lodge. 
The present officers are; Jesse Griggs. N. G.; 
Jwhn Bayless. V. G.; R. B. Markland. Secy.; 



792 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



James A. Hainline, Warden; George Grigsby, 
Treas. ; and William Bodine, Conductor. 

Blandinsville Degree ot Rebecca, I. O. O. F., 
has been in existence for some years, and has 
been a good working organization. The pres- 
ent officers are: Bessie White, N. G. ; Etta 
Gibbs, V. G.; Margaret Bodine, P. G.; Fannie 
Berthoff, Chaplain; Mrs. Dr. Beacom, R. S. to 
N. G.; Mrs. Caleb Sanders, L. S. to N. G.; Mrs. 
Dr. Markee, R. S. to V. G. ; Mrs. Sarah Badger, 
L. S. to V. G.; Jessie Thompson, Warden; Ber- 
tha Berthof, Conductor; Erma Farris, Secy.; 
Bertha Griggs, Treas.; Mrs. Charles Fowler, I. 
G. ; Lucy Squires, O. G. 

O. P. Courtright Post No. 267, G. A. R., was 
organized at Blandinsville in June, 1883, with 
thirty members. The post still maintains its 
organization. 

BARDOLPH. 

Bardolph Lodge No. 572, A. F. & A. M., was 
organized May 28, 1867. The charter members 
were: Charles Wells, William J. Merritt, O. M. 
Hoagland, T. J. Means, Lyman Porter, W. S. 
Hagar, Milton Darr, Charles Dallam, W. S. Hen- 
dricks, Asahel Russell and N. H. Jackson. 
When a charter was obtained the following offi- 
cers were elected: Charles Wells, W. M.; W. 
S. Hagar, S. W.; A. Russell. J. W.; O. M. Hoag- 
land, Treas.: N. H. Jackson, Secy.; L. Porter, 
S. D.; J. C. Bond, J. D.; W. H. Foster, Tyler. 
This lodge was a vigorous, active body and 
erected a hall costing $1,500, which subsequent- 
ly was burned down, but a good new hall was 
since erected. The following are the present 
officers: Frank Bethel, W. M.; J. A. Roberts, 
S. W.;- J. M. Eastin, J. W.; W. W. Harris, 
Treas.; H. A. Maxwell, Secy.; and W. F. Rob- 
erts, Tyler. 

Bardolph Lodge No. 371, I. O. O. F., was or- 
ganized June 30, 1868, by William L. Imes, D. D. 
G. M. The following were charter members: 
H. C. Mullen. L. Wilson, J. L. Getty, J. S. Mar- 
tin and William Kirkpatrick. At their first 
meeting the following officers were elected: J. 
L. Getty, N. G.; William Kirkpatrick, V. G.; L. 
Wilson, Treas.; J. L. Martin, Secy. The lodge 
has a tasteful, comfortable room, 30x18 feet, of 
which it owns two-thirds. The present officers 
are: H. N. Jackson, N. G.; E. H. Hendricks, 
V. G.; Glenn Walker, R. Secy.; W. L. Ritter. 
Fin. Secy.; and W. G. Smith, Treas. 



COLCHESTER. 

Colchester Lodge. A. F. & A. M., Colchester, 
was organized October 6, 1887. Its present offi- 
cers are: Ralph Hall, W. M.; M. Rice, S. W.; 
John Shields, J. W.; C. P. Whitten, Secy.; A. 
J. Smith, Treas.; D. R. L. Thompson, S. D.; 
Richard Curnow, J. D. It has had a career of 
over a quarter of a century, and has always 
been an active fraternal organization worthy of 
the order. The Stevens brothers, of Chicago, 
were active members of this lodge. 

Colchester Chapter No. 121, Eastern Star, 
\. F. & A. M., was organized February 27, 1888. 
Its officers are: Elinore Thompson, W. Ma- 
tron: J. N. Boyd. W. Patron; Mary Boyd, Asso. 
M.; Jessie Parnall, W. Con.; Mrs. Flora N. 
Terrill, Asst. Con.; E. D. Wear, Secy.; A. J. 
Smith, Treas.; Mrs. J. Young, Warden; R. Cur- 
now, Sentinel; Mrs. Laura Hunter, Esther; 
Mrs. E. Hall, Martha; Mrs. Orval Woolley, 
Electa; Mrs. C. P. Whitten, Chaplain; James 
Parnell, Marshal; Mrs. Jessie Wear, Organist. 
Like other secret societies in Colchester, this 
Chapter is an excellent working organization, 
composed of reputable and Influential citizens. 

Colchester Lodge No. 714, I. O. O. F., has 
been in existence over twelve years. Following 
are the present officers: J. M. Dunsworth, N. 
G.; Thomas Kipling, V. G.; J. A. Kavanaugh, 
Rec. Secy.: W. S. Brummell, Secy.; Henry Ter- 
rill, Treas.; Trustees — John Hoar, F. P. Rhodes, 
S. A. Valentine. J. R. Terrill and T. M. Boyd. 

Good Will Lodge No. 91, K. of P., Colchester, 
has for its present officers: H. O. Rundle. C. 
C; James Reynolds, V. C. ; John Hunter, J. K. 
of R. and S.; G. A. Falder, M. of Finance: D. 
E. Terrill. M. of E.; Trustees — B. F. My res, 
J. O. .Moon and Niles A. Pearson. It has been 
an enthusiastic lodge since its organization. 

A Fraternity Building was erected at Col- 
chester in 1900 by Good Will Lodge No. 91. 
K. of P.. and Colchester Lodge No. 714, 1. O. 
O. F., jointly. The building is a three-story 
brick, with basement, and the first floor is 
lilanned for. and used by. the National Bank of 
Colchester, and a store for general merchan- 
dise. The second floor front is used for of- 
fices, and a large rear room for secret socie- 
ties. The third floor Is fitted and kept exclu- 
sively for the use of the two orders above 
named, and kindred organizations. The build- 




'9i'J^c:^^.A^W 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



793 



ing is quite a handsome structure, and has al- 
ways been an excellent paying Investment. 
The indebtedness on the building now amounts 
to only a few hundred doHars, and is held by 
the members of the two orders. It is the home 
of all the secret orders in the city, except the 
Masonic and Eastern Star. 

Pearson Post No. 40S, G. A. R.. at Colchester, 
has for its present officers G. A. Bliven, Com- 
mander; William Burford, S. V. C; O. J. 
Flourry, .1. V. C; Thomas Berry, Q. M.; G. D. 
Fletcher, Chaplain; Burr Foster, Adjt.; David 
Bayless; Officer of Guard; P. Averill, Officer of 
Day. Other members of the post are; W. 
Tone, S. Burton, C. Harder, J. Bales, John Bur- 
dett, William Adkinson, Allen Bugg, Milt 
Elcliles, G. W. Meeks, William Wayland and 
Marion Docker. 

PRAIRIE CITY. 

Golden Gate Lodge No. 248, A. F. & A. M., 
was organized in Prairie City, June 2, 1857. 
The charter members were: J. B. Robinson, 
R. H. McFarland, C. H. Hemenover, J. C. Ham- 
ilton, J. C. Brinkerhoff, H. Phillips, S. Lancas- 
ter and C. H. Payne. The first officers were; 
J. B. Robinson. W. M.; R. H. McFarland, S. 
W.; C. H. Hemenover, J. W.; J. C. Hamilton, 
Treas. ; and J. C. Brinkerhoff, Secy. The lodge 
erected a handsome brick block, 24x70 feet in 
size and two stories in height, in 1884, and 
fitted up a neat lodge room in the second story. 
The cost of the building and furniture was 
$4,300. The hall was dedicated by General 
John Carson Smith, D. G. M., December 30, 
1884. The present officers are; H. C. Spur- 
geon, W. M.; F. McGrew, S. W.; Charles Bo- 
lon. J. W. ; L. T. Turpin, Secy.; and Jefferson 
Louk. Treas. 

McDonough Lodge No. 205, I. O. O. F., Prai- 
rie City, was organized October 17, 1856, with 
the following charter members; Samuel L. 
Stewart, Alonzo Barnes, S. L. Babcock, C. H. 
W^yckoff, W. A. Martin and A. T. Irwin. The 
lodge was allowed to become defunct in 1862, 
on account of a large number of its members 
having enlisted in the army. It was rein- 
stated August 5. 1875, by D. G. M. Kaiser, on 
petition of J. A. Hamilton, J. Humphrey and 
A. T. Irwin, former members, and S. T. Gosse- 
lin, of No. 322, and W. T. Magee, of No. 44. 
The following officers were then elected: J. 
A. Hamilton, N. G.; S. T. Young, V. G.; A. T. 
Irwin, Secy.; W. T. Magee, Treas. The pres- 
12 



ent officers are: G. L. Bostwick, N. G. ; A. L. 
Jared, V. G.; E. D. Fisk, Treas.; Avery Wor- 
den. Secy.; and W. L. Kreider, Fin. Secy. 

Royal Douglas Post No. 179, G. A. R., Prairie 
City, was chartered January 17, 1883. Us first 
meeting was held January 24, with the follow- 
ing members: D. Taylor, G. C. Steach, W. T. 
Magee, G. Wiley Martin, E. A. Boynton, O. M. 
Hoagland, j; D. Hughson, T. Carroll, C. D. Hen- 
dryx, H. Phillips, S. W. Dallam, R. M. Cox, A. 
H. Wagoner, T. E. Bivens and W. C. Rush. 
The first officers were: D. Taylor, Com.; D. 
C. Steach, S. V. C; W. T. Magee, J. V. C; W. 
C. Rush. Surgeon; C. D. Hendryx. O. D.; H. 
Phillips, Adjt.; E. Boynton, Q. M.; R. M. Cox, 
O. G.; and T. Carroll, Chaplain. The present 
officers are: Alfred Mead, Commander; G. L. 
Bostwick, S. V. C; R. M. Cox, J. V. C; J. H. 
Belville. Chaplain; J. T. Vaughn. Q. M.; W. D. 
May. Officer of the Day; William Bryte, Offi- 
cer of Guard; W. H. Ferguson, Adjt. 

INDUSTRY. 

Industry Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Industry, 
111., was first organized in 1856. and a charter 
granted in 1864. The following are the pres- 
ent officers: J. M. Pennington, W. M. ; O. E. 
Kinkade, S. W.; George McKamy. .T. W.; L. D. 
Wilhelra, Secy.; and J. A. Butcher. Treas. 

Industry Lodge No. 913, I. O. O. F.— The of- 
ficers of this lodge are: George H. Meyers. 
N. G.; Claude Lucas. V. G.; J. E. Vail, Secy.; 
Reece Snowden, Treas.; F. E. Vawters, Fin. 
Secy. The lodge was organized April 27, 1904. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 

Good Hope Lodge No. 617, A. F. & A. M., of 
Good Hope. 111., has been in existence over 
twenty years. The following are the present 
officers; Frank Harden, W. M. ; Arlington 
Reed, S. W.; C. James, .1. W.; William H. 
James, Secy.; James Statler, Treas. The lodge 
owns its hall, which is tastefully furnished and 
suitable for Masonic purposes. 

Sciota Lodge, I. O. O. F., located in Sciota, 
has as its present officers: J. E. Solomon. N. 
G.; L. G. Huff, V. G.; E. T. Reynolds, Secy.; 
and George E. Bryan, Treas. The lodge has 
been in existence over twenty years, and, for 
the size of the town, is a fairly representative 
organization. 

Knights of Columbus. — Pierre Gibault Coun- 
cil No. 682, K. of C, is a Catholic organization 
for mutual benefit, organized April 10. 1903. 



794 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



The present officers are: Peter A. Kennedy, 
G. Knight; Fergus Whalen, D. G. Knight; John 
Manning, Chancellor; Arthur Dougherty, 
Treas.; Ed. Rlordan, Fin. Secy.; John Quinn, 
Rec. Secy.; John Dougherty, Lecturer; Leo 
Worley, Warden; George Arnold, Advocate; 
Henry Dorgan, J. G. ; H. Frening, O. G.; with 
David Gallagher, S. Icocle and L. Burlie, Trus- 
tees; and Rev. F. G. Lentz, Chaplain. There 
are thirty-three members in good standing. It 
is a mutual insurance order, but social mem- 
bers are admitted. 

Improved Order of Red Men. — Tahlequah 
Tribe No. 125. I. O. R. M., was organized some 
ten years ago, but of late years has become 
dormant. 

Knights of Khorassan. — Rosel Hadd Temple 
No. 72, organized ten years ago. meets at call 
of the Grand Vizier. It is an adjunct of the 
Knights of Pythias, and meets only when a 
number of applicants are to be initiated. 

CLUBS. 

Macomb Chautauqua .\ssociation was organ- 
ized June, 1906, with H. C. Wyne as President; 
W. K. Sutherland, Vice-President; W. C. Miner, 
Secretary; J. O. Peasley, Treasurer; and I. M. 
Fellheimer, W. W. Ernst, Harry Blount and A. 
Eads, Directors. The annual meetings of the 
association are held at the McDonough County 
Fair Grounds, and it is well sustained by the 
citizens of the county. 

The McDonough County Pioneer Club meets 
at the Fair Grounds in September of each year. 
William H. Neece is President, and Alexander 
McLean Secretary and Treasurer. The club 
was organized in 1906. 

The Elks Club, of which Charles S. Carter is 
ex-Ruler and Clarence Imes, Secretary, meets 
at the club hall on the east side of the Public 
Square. 

Macomb Court of Honor No. 146 meets on the 
second and fourth Thursdays of each month. 
in G. A. R. Hall. 

Macomb Business Men's Club, with a mem- 
bership of over one hundred, has rooms on 
the west side of City Park. The present offi- 
cers are: F. A. Fisher, President; George Ker- 
man, Vice-President; H. W. Gash. Secretary; 
George H, Scott. Treasurer; Duncan McLean, 
Steward. 

Macomb Gun Club, George D. TunriiclifE, 
President; Charles Gilmore, Secretary; R. R. 



Campbell, Treasurer; and Charles Worley, 
Captain, meets at the call of the President. 

The Macomb W. C. T. U. meets on Saturday 
afternoons at the homes of members. 

The Y. M. C. A. has been in existence over 
twenty years, and is a healthy, earnest work- 
ing body of men. Their rooms, over the post- 
office on North Lafayette Street, are fully 
equipped with gymnasium, baths and reading 
matter. L. F. Gumbart is Vice-President; E. 
T. Walker, Treasurer; and J. S. Damron, Gen- 
eral Secretary. Sunday meetings are held at 
4. p. m., and the reading room is open every 
day. 

Macomb has two well known and popular 
Women's Clubs — the Anna L. Parker and the 
Fortnightly Clubs. The former holds its meet- 
ings on alternate Tuesdays at Hotel Chandler, 
and the latter, on alternate Wednesdays, at 
the homes of members. 

The Ministerial Association meets on the 
first and third Mondays of each month, at the 
Y. M. C. A. rooms. 

Macomb has two Burial Associations — the 
Harrison Mutual, at 132 North Randolph Street, 
with James S. Hainline, Business Manager, and 
the National Co-operative, at 202 North Lafay- 
ette Street, W. E. Martin, Manager. 

M.\coMi! Building and Loan Association. — 
This association was organized in 18S2. The 
following are the officers: George Gadd, Pres- 
ident; J. O. Peasley, Vice-President; B. F. Mc- 
Lean, Secretary; C. V. Chandler, Treasurer; 
Directors — George Gadd. H. H. Smith, B. F. 
McLean, J. M. Keefer, George Kerman, J. O. 
Peasly, C. V. Chandler and I. M. Fellheimer. 
The following statement shows the cash ac- 
count of the association for January, 1906: 

RECEIPTS. 

B.ilanre in Treasury July 31. 1905 $ S24.01 

Dues collected 34.723.75 

Interest collected 10.S02.85 

Premiums collected 471.75 

Pines collected 222.10 

Transfer fees collected 56.75 

Taxes and insurance repaid 52.76 

Loans repaid 22.050.00 

Real estate contracts 168.50 

Total $69,372.47 

DISBURSEMENTS 

Jjoans $48,800.00 

Kxpenses S43.55 

\\'ithdrawn and matured stock (dues paid) 10,883.25 
Withdrawn and matured stock (int. and 

profit on same) 4,933.43 

Taxes and insurance 36.92 

Interest 104.73 

Treasurers balance 3,770.59 

Total $69,372.47 





•e^a-r>ilA^ /r /Y ^^i^.<.^rL.^<_-<i.^^^^T^\]r 



7" 



ASTOR 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



795 



This association has l)een, up to date, one of 
the most successful and profitably conducted 
Building and Loan Associations in the State, 
and has proved of great benefit in promoting 
the growth of the city. 



CH.\PTER XXIX. 



CRIMINAL HISTORY — NOTED MURDERS. 



THE DYE MURDER CA.SE — THE M FADDEN MURDERERS 
PAY THE LIKE PENALTY — A CIVIL WAR MITRDER — 
THE EDMONSON MURDER THE MAXWELL OUT- 
LAWS AND THEIR NUMEROUS CRIMES JAILS AND 

JAIL ESCAPES KILLING OF A BOY PRISONER — 

OTHER ITEMS OF LOCAL CRIME HISTORY. 

In giving this history of some of the noted 
murders and other crimes committed in Mc- 
Donough County, it is not the intention to 
represent its population as containing a large 
proportion of criminals or to prove that, as a 
whole, it is a blood-thirsty community; on the 
contrary, the county has had an unusually 
small percentage of violent deaths. But inas- 
much as the youth have been told by their 
parents of murders here and there, in the early 
times, and the actual facts of the cases have 
become quite mystical, this sketch is prepared 
from the public records and from interviews 
with those who actively participated in some 
of the stirring events narrated. The narra- 
tives cover four of the most noted murders 
in the history of McDonough County. It should 
be added that no hanging has ever occurred in 
the county. 

Thb Dye Murder and Scandal. — The most 
sensational murder in the history of McDon- 
ough County was, without doubt, the killing of 
James Dye, a wealthy farmer living on what is 
known as the Prentiss farm in the west part 
of the county. The arrest of his wife as the 
murderess and Rev. D. B. Burress as an ac- 
complice, charges of undue intimacy between 
them, theft, conspiracy by the sons to have 
their father murdered, the trial of the woman 
for her life, the escape of Burress from jail. 



went to make an event that, at the time of the 
deed, and for years afterward, for that matter, 
was the sensation of this and ajoining coun- 
ties. 

James Dye was a well-to-do farmer living 
with his second wife, by whom he had three 
children, having had twelve children by his 
former wife. Trouble came up between Dye 
and his sons by his first wife, and they were 
practically disowned and, as a result, hard feel- 
ing arose between the parties. Others took a 
hand in the affair and there were anonymous 
communications and threats of various kinds 
passed around. Dye also had some trouble 
with Burress just the day before he was mur- 
dered, the difficulty arising over the planting 
of some corn. This was said to have been 
adjusted, but that was never known. 

On the night of May 27, 1854, about 9 o'clock, 
the alarm was given that Dye had been mur- 
dered. The news was noised rapidly through 
the neighborhood. Suspicion at once rested on 
Burress and Mrs. Dye, and they were arrested 
the day following on the finding of the Coro- 
ner's jury, and were held in jail without bail. 
S. P. Ray was also held on the same charge, 
but was afterward released, as there was no 
evidence against him. When the neighbors 
were summoned. Dye was found in bed with 
his knees bent and his limbs then stiff. Bur- 
ress had an alibi ready, as he attended meet- 
ing that evening. Ray was at the house and 
gave the alarm to the neighbors. 

Mrs. Dye's Story. — When they assembled 
Mrs. Dye was found crying and told her story. 
She claimed that that evening she and another 
woman, Mrs. Burress, were doing the milking, 
they became frightened at a man but could not 
see close enough to tell who it was. The man 
opened a gate which attracted their attention. 
Dye was then in the house. They retired about 
8 o'clock and she was awakened by a ringing 
sound in her ears. She saw her husband stand- 
ing by the bed and grabbed him and pulled 
him down again. She heard a man running 
and heard a horse running afterward like the 
man had left the house and mounted the horse. 
She then save the alarm. That was in sub 
stance her story. 

The Trial. — The evidence against the woman 
was purely circumstantial, which fact alone 



796 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



prevented her hanging and, even as it was, 
at one time eight of the jury were for convic- 
tion. The circumstances showed the relations 
between her and Burress as being very intimate. 
When the neighbors arrived the body was part- 
ly stiff. Then the wounds — which consisted of 
a slug shot in the body, supposedly from a big 
revolver, and the fracture of the skull — bled 
freely on the bed and yet there was not a drop 
of blood on the carpet, which would have been 
the case if he was standing when she awoke 
and pulled him back on the bed. Again, the 
blood from the gun-shot wound went to show- 
that the slug was fired into the body after life 
had departed. The physicans also testified that 
the gun-shot wound was such that he could 
not have arisen after it was Inflicted. There 
were three savage dogs kept at the house and 
it was claimed by the prosecution that no one 
except the members of the household could 
have entered the house and committed the mur- 
der. Also it was claimed the revolver belong- 
ing at the house was empty, but showed it had 
been recently cleaned. 

Then the defense proved that Dye had re 
ceived a threatening letter, and he had attrib- 
uted it to his sons and had expressed fear from 
that source. The sons were active in the pros 
ecution, and the defense claimed they had the 
old man killed to prevent his willing the prop- 
erty to the wife and her children — as he had 
had so much trouble with them, they expected 
that was what he would do. 

The prosecution claimed it was the intention 
of Burress and the woman to do away with 
the old man and thus prevent trouble over their 
illicit relations, then they would get what 
money they could and leave the country togeth- 
er. There was always a question as to wheth- 
er any of the old man's money disappeared on 
that night, both sides claiming that he always 
kept a large amount of money in the house and 
that it disappeared the night of the murder. 

The prisoners endeavored to obtain their re- 
lease on bonds by habeas corpus proceedings, 
which were held in Schuyler County. In this 
they were unsuccessful. Mrs. Dye then got a 
change of venue to Fulton County where her 
trial was held, lasting some ten days. The 
counsel comprised the very best legal talent in 
this part of the State. Goudy, of Fulton, Wheat, 
of Adams, and Schofield & Mack, of Carthage, 
prosecuted, while Manning, of Peoria, Kellogg 



& Ross, of Fulton, and Cyrus Walker, of Mc- 
Donough, defended. The trial was hotly con- 
tested from the start. The jury, after fifteen 
hours' deliberation, standing eight for convic- 
tion and four for acquittal, finally agreed on a 
verdict of manslaughter and the woman was 
sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. 

Mrs. Dye was taken to the penitentiary, but, 
on the recommendation of the Warden, she 
was pardoned long before her time had ex- 
pired. She returned to this city and made this 
her home the rest of her life. She died in 
1874. 

In the meantime, Burress had procured a 
change of venue to Warren County. On the 
night of August 11, 1855, he escaped from the 
old log jail here, but, after being absent some 
ten days, returned and gave himself up. He 
became dissatisfied again, however, and on the 
night of November 10, 1855, again escaped. He 
was tracked to Indiana but eluded the officers 
and was never heard from again. 

McF.\l)l)KN Ml RllKKKKS HaXGEI) IX SciHYI-EB 

CouNTT. — -The second murder In the history of 
this county, but the first of which we have 
any authentic particulars, was the murder of 
John Wilson by the McFaddens. Ellas McFad- 
den was one of the earliest settlers near Ma- 
comb. His son David, and his son-in-law Wylie, 
were also near neighbors. From what can be 
learned of them they were of a quarrelsome 
disposition, and had considerable trouble with 
their neighbors. 

One of their neighbors was John Wilson, a 
bluff, good-natured man and utterly fearless. 
Some trouble arose between the McFaddens 
and Wilson over a piece of timber land, and 
the latter was warned to look out for them, 
as they were dangerous. Wilson, however, 
was fearless and gave no heed to the warnings, 
not thinking the cause was enough to incite 
any deed of violence. 

About the first part of November, 1834, Hen- 
ton & Robinson, two merchants of this place, 
secured judgments against Elias McFadden and 
an execution was procured and placed in the 
hands of Deputy Sheriff Nelson Montgomery. 
The McFaddens lived on the farm just west of 
the present fair grounds and just south of the 
St. Francis Hospital, the house being near the 
site of the one now located there. On the 
day in question Wiley was not at home and as 




»-^^ iX/fc'^tX^ lyih' ^^X't'A.^-^t^^^fi^^- 



Utii^iL LJ,£ihAr-v 



ASTOR, LF- 

tjld:i;.n FOU^. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



797 



it afterward developed he was in Rushville 
consulting with an attorney to see it they had a 
right to Icill Wilson it they found him on their 
land. This fact, that he was away from home, 
alone saved him from the same fate that the 
other two McFaddens met. 

On the road to the McPadden homestead the 
officer passed the Wilson residence and asked 
him to take his team and accompany him, as he 
wanted to haul back the things on which h^" 
levied. Wilson, thinking nothing of danger, 
accompanied him. The two got in the wa,gon 
and drove to McFadden's. They met the old 
man there and the officer informed him of his 
errand. McPadden made some remark and 
succeeded in decoying the two men to the 
north side of the house. As the wagon stopped 
a shot was fired from the window of the house. 
Wilson reeled and. with a gasp, fell toward the 
Sheriff, who caught him in his arms and ten- 
derly laid him down. He then removed him to 
the wood house and rushed off for aid. 

Soon a crowd assembled and, as they ap- 
proached the house, found the old man McFad- 
den fixing a fence, as unconcerned as though 
nothing had happened. Wilson was found ly- 
ing where the officer had left him. i-le was 
seen to be mortally wounded, but had received 
no care whatever from McFadden during the 
absence of the officer. McFadden was at once 
placed under arrest and a search of the prem- 
ises was instituted. An examination of th^ 
house showed that a pane of glass had been 
broken in the north window. Near it stood an 
empty rifle and on the window sill was a book, 
both the sill and the book showing plainly 
recent powder marks. No trace of anyone could 
be found, but a trail was followed which tracked 
David to his own house where he was found 
coolly working at his shoemaker's bench. He, 
too, was placed under arrest and, on his return, 
Wylie was also charged with the crime. 

In May, 183.5, the case was called at Rush- 
ville — the McFaddens having obtained a change 
of venue. Cyrus Walker, one of the best 
known lawyers of the early days, prosecuted 
and Judge Minshall defended. The trial was 
hotly contested, but a verdict of guilty was 
returned as to Ellas and David, but Wylie was 
discharged. The day for the execution was a 
sort of holiday, and a big crowd assembled to 
see the two men dropped into eternity. The 
scaffold was built in a large hollow near Rush- 



ville by Thomas Hayden, who was Sheriff, the 
banks on the side forming a sort of amphi- 
theater. The deputy's son acted as hangman 
and pulled the drop. For this work he pre- 
sented a bill for $1.50 to McDonough County. 
There was always some trouble over the bills 
for the trial and execution of these men, but 
if all the bills were as reasonable as this one, 
they certainly should have been paid. 

A Civil W.\b Mubder. — The killing of W. H. 
Randolph by the Bonds, at Blandinsville, in 
the fall of 1864, was the most notable murder 
in the history of the country. The affair took 
on a sort of political nature and, as partisan 
feeling was running at the boiling point — the 
Presidential election being but a few days off 
and the country in the midst of a great war — 
for a time it seemed as though a collision with 
all its fearful attendant bloodshed would break 
out among our own citizens. It is to their ever- 
lasting credit that the level-headed ones on 
both sides prevailed over the excited feelings 
of the hotspurs, and only one murder was com- 
mitted where our citizens were close face to 
a hundred. 

Mr. Randolph, who was a leading citizen and, 
at the time, owner of the Randolph House of 
Macomb, had been appointed Deputy Provost 
Marshal to superintend the drafting of soldiers 
in this county. John Bond, among others, had 
been drafted. He was opposed to the war and 
refused to come into the recruiting headquar 
ters, as he should, and Randolph went out to 
Blandinsville to arrest him, as in those times 
a man who failed to report after being notified 
that he was dratted was the same as a de- 
serter. Bond was a powerful man and reck- 
lessly bold. Randolph, though small, knew not 
the woj-d fear, and went alone to make the ar- 
rest. Bond had publicly declared Randolph 
could not take him and, when that of- 
ficer placed his hand on his snoulder and told 
him he was a prisoner, and knowing the offi 
cer's determination. Bond drew a pistol and 
fired it at Randolph and ran. Randolph re- 
turned the fire and followed after his man. 
John met his brother Miles coming to his aid 
with a gun, and both fired at Randol|)h, who 
went a few steps and fell, with four wounds, 
from which he died some hours afterward. 
James Bond, a third brother, was also charged 
with abetting the killing, but did not fire a 



798 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



shot. The three Bonds, immediately after fir- 
ing the fatal shots, mounted horses and fled. 
Although a reward of over $5,000 was offered 
for their capture, nothing was heard of them 
for years. Finally Frank E. Fowler, a citizen 
of Macomb and in detective service, succeeded 
in locating and capturing Miles Bond at So- 
nera, Hardin County, Ky., in June 18G8, where 
he was going under an assumed name. He was 
brought to trial the following October term, 
took change of venue to Schuyler County, where 
the following May he was tried and acquitted 
on the following grounds: First, there was no 
record of the draft kept; second, the quota was 
full before John Bond was drafted; therefore, 
Randolph had no right to arrest John Bond; 
third, in attempting to arrest, Randolph tran- 
scended his duties and John Bond had a right 
to resist; fourth. Miles, the accused, seeing his 
brother's life in danger, under the law was 
justified in shooting his antagonist. There 
was much discussion, pro and con, over the 
justness of the verdict, but it was the end of 
the law. 

Two years later, in 1S70, Macomb was sur- 
prised one morning by a man coming into town 
with James and John Bond in custody, he hav- 
ing arrested them, as he said, in Missouri. IL 
was the general belief that the two men, having 
grown tired of being fugitives and seeing that 
their brother had been cleared, voluntarily sur- 
rendered so as to get back and risk acquittal. 
At any rate, they were two as peaceable pris- 
oners as were ever confined in jail. They not 
only gave no trouble to J. E. Lane, then the 
Sheriff, but made themselves useful in doing 
any chores that he desired them to do, and 
were ready to assist him in the prevention of 
any outbreak of any other prisoners who might 
have attempted it. In 1871 at the September 
term of court, their trial came off. In addition 
to the same defense that was made in Miles' 
case, that individual went upon the stand and 
swore that he fired the shot that killed Ran- 
dolph. As he had been acquitted, his testimony 
greatly strengthened the case of the brothers, 
John and James, who were also declared "not 
guilty" by the jury. The only one of the broth- 
ers living now is Miles, who resides in the 
northwest part of the county, a law-abiding 
citizen, and today probably regrets the awful 
tragedy as much as anyone. 

Mrs. Jane Randolph, of this city, "Aunt 



Jane," as she Is familiarly called by all who 
know her, is the widow of the murdered man, 
and she, above all others, has been the wronged 
and stricken one over the death of her hus- 
band, whose patriotism and courage was a mod- 
el, even in those heroic days when men were 
iron with nerves of steel. 

Another Murderer Escapes De.\th Penalty. 
— The most prominent murder in what may be 
called later years — having occurred March 17, 
1S82 — was that of Thomas Edmonson, a well- 
known citizen of Good Hope, who was shot by 
Edward Gick, the only man ever sentenced to 
death in this county, but who escaped, through 
the fact that Judge Shope, the presiding Judge, 
did not want to sentence a man to die. 

To sum up the story of the killing, which is 
still fresh in the minds of many, two men 
named Gick and Payne, and possibly another, 
named Davis, had been behaving in a shameless 
manner in Good Hope the day previod* with a 
notorious woman. Edmonson was a law-abid- 
ing citizen and denounced the affair in strong 
terms, and it is said, threatened to have them 
arrested. On the night in question, Gick was 
looking for Edmonson, and boasted that he in- 
tended to "slug" him. Gick and Payne claimed 
they were going toward Dr. Sanders' residence, 
Gick having charge of his horses, when they 
met Edmonson, and Gick asked him in a 
friendly way "what he had it in for him for." 
At that Edmonson turned, and drawing his 
knife, said he would show him. Gick then shot 
three times, inflicting a wound from which 
Edmonson died in a few minutes. Jule Davis 
was with the other two, being on the way to 
his home, and had been on intimate terms 
with both. 

Other stories of the affair differed materially. 
There were two bruises on Edmonson's face 
which were made by some blunt instrument 
and could not have been inflicted when he fell, 
for he dropped into the arms of Mark Clark, 
who had just separated from him. Edmonson 
called out after he was shot, "Oh, Mark, come 
quick, arrest that Gick, he has shot me. I'm 
dying." Mrs. Yeast, -who lived nearby, said 
she heard Edmonson say, just before the shoot- 
ing, "Don't you give a man a chance to de- 
fend himself?" 

From these statements it was generally con- 
sidered that Gick and Payne, and possibly 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



799 



Davis, had intended to slug Edmonson; that 
they had not intended murder; but the shot 
tools effect, and death ensued. 

William Prentiss was the Prosecuting At- 
torney. The verdict of the jury was murder 
in the first degree and hanging the penalty. 
The Judge did not sentence Gick for a few 
days thereafter, and the sentence was finally 
"the penitentiary for life." The murdei-er 
served a sentence of some six or seven years, 
when he was pardoned, returned to the county 
and thereafter was a peaceable citizen. 

The Maxwull Outlaws. — Two of the most 
noted outlaws this county ever produced, and 
who at one time attained a national reputa- 
tion by their murderous deeds, were the Max- 
well brothers who were raised in this county 
and who here commenced their career which 
ended in the lynching of one, but not until af- 
ter he had killed many men and defied an 
entire company of militia. 

Along in 1869 or 1870, a mover with two 
boys and a girl stopped near the residence of 
Elijah Hicks in Macomb, and wanted to oc- 
cupy an unused house near their place for 
awhile, as he wanted to find work. The priv- 
ilege was given him and he remained, not 
only for a time, but tor years. This mover's 
name was Maxwell, the father of Ed and Lon. 
The boys as youths did not attract any par- 
ticular attention unless it was the adaptability 
of the younger in learning scripture, he having 
won a prize for having committed 3,00(1 verses 
of Scripture. The teaching of the verses he 
committed did not seem to have much effect 
on him, however, as at an early age the boys 
would steal chickens for cooking while out on 
a lark and commit petty depredations. 

On February 10, 1874, Ed Maxwell first com- 
menced his career of crime which ended only 
when he was lynched by an infuriated people, 
and most of his subsequent years were spent 
in the penitentiary. On the day mentioned the 
clothing store of Dines & Co., of which Charles 
Dines, for years County Clerk here, was one 
of the proprietors, was robbed. Maxwell was 
suspected of the robbery, just why it was not 
learned, and a day or two later Dines and an- 
other man went to the farm where Maxwell 
was employed, to investigate. Maxwell was 
evidently looking for them, or at least recog- 
nized them, for he disappeared as they rode up 



and tied their horses, both being on horseback. 
They entered the house and there found the 
missing articles. Then Maxwell gave the first 
evidence of tnat spirit of devutry and bravado 
that afterward earned him a national reputa- 
tion. He slipped up to the horses, while the 
men were in the house, mounted the best one 
and with a whoop and yell was off on the full 
run. Then followed a chase that was the 
talk of that section of the county for some 
weeks. The other rider hurried to Blandins- 
ville and organized a posse and gave chase. 
Through Blandinsville, Sciota and Emmet Town- 
ship went the fugitive and the pursuers, there 
being some twenty armed men in the hunt. At 
last Maxwell struck for Spring Creek and fol- 
lowed it to where it empties into Crooked 
Creek. Here he found the creek too high to 
ford and turned north again, but the pursuers 
thought he had forded. The horse was later 
found at Good Hope and from that place he 
was tracked to Roseville, where he was 
arrested, brought back to Macomb and sent 
to the penitentiary for three years. 

Up to this time the Maxwells were unknown, 
so to speak, being quiet and never having done 
anything to particularly attract attention ex- 
cept the one escapade of Ed's, and as he had 
offered no resistance at that time, his desperate 
character was unknown After he had served 
his time, being released in 1876. he returned 
to this county and then commenced the worst 
reign of terror as to thievery this section has 
ever undergone. He had for a pal a man sup- 
posedly named Post, but who, in fact, was his 
brother Lon. The two would steal a couple 
of horses and strike out through the county 
robbing houses. They scoured Emmet, Sciota, 
Blandinsville and Hire Townships, and con- 
tinued their depredations on into Henderson 
and Hancock Counties. They would make a 
trip like Santa Claus, starting in the night, 
visiting nearly every house on their road, steal 
what they could and then disappear, selling the 
horses or turning them loose. They visited 
La Crosse in daylight, defied arrest, subdued 
the officer with their revolvers and left at their 
pleasure. 

On one of their last trips they stole two 
horses from E. S. Smith, a farmer of Sciota 
Township, the animals being found some time 
later near Hamilton, III., badly used up. 
They raided the houses of a John Isom, F. Fer- 



8oo 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



ris, S. B. Davis, L. English, James D. Griffitli, 
and otliers, receiving a considerable amount, 
taking money from under the pillow at one 
place while a man was asleep. This last raid, 
however, awoke the community to a state of 
action and a man hunt was started, a reward 
of $500 being offered for their capture. The 
hunt was unsuccessful, however, but it served 
to keep them away until they were brought 
back in irons by an officer. 

For some time the outlaws eluded the officers 
but they heard from them occasionally. The 
Maxwells supposed the officers did not know 
Lon was the big man of the two, but thought 
they were looking for a man named Post. At 
last the officers received a tip that they were 
going down the Illinois River in a boat, so they 
waited for them at Beardstown. The boys 
landed there and Ed went uptown to buy 
some supplies, Lon remaining in the boat. The 
officers waited until Ed entered a store and they 
stepped in after him. They grabbed him when 
he was off his guard, but at that he put up a 
desi>erate fight, kicking, biting and cursing 
and it required the combined strength of three 
officers to hold him. At last he was ironed, 
however, and the others went after Lon. Lon 
was still in the boat and seeing the men, asked 
them if they did not want to buy the skiff they 
liad attached to the other boat. They said they 
■did and came down to look at it, that giving 
them the desired opportunity. They jumped on 
lion when he was not looking, but he grabbed a 
revolver and fired one shot but was disarmed 
ibefore he could do any harm. .\n examination 
showed both boys to be heavily armed with 
revolvers and knives and they had rifles in the 
hoat. At Bushnell they were ironed together 
but quietly slipping oft their boots they made 
a dash for liberty while chained together, and 
it required about a seventy-five yard sprint 
by the officer to bring them back. They were 
then landed in .iail without further trouble. 

Then followed the escape from jail by Ed., 
particulars of which are given in the account 
of the escapes from jail given elsewhere. Lon 
was sent to the penitentiary and Ed was after- 
ward recaptured at Stillwater, Minn., his 
.dare deviltry attracting attention up there, and 
investigation was made as to where he was 
wanted, there being a reward of $350 offered 
for his arrest. He was decoyed into a stable 
and arrested, brought back to Macomb, taken 



from the train to the court house, pleaded 
guilty and was off for Joliet in less than twenty- 
four hours to serve a six years' sentence. 

After serving their time they were released 
and came back to this county, but except for 
one short trip of robbery through this part, 
they did not remain long, being too well 
Icnown. On their last trip they stole a horse, 
then a horse and buggy, and drove from here 
through to Fulton County and disappeared. 
Their description was sent all over the country 
by this time, and an effort was made to cap- 
ture them for horse-stealing, they having stolen 
a horse in Henderson County which they drove 
through here, .^.t Durand, Wisconsin, two men 
named Coleman attempted to arrest them on 
suspicion of their being the men wanted here 
for horse stealing, and both were killed. This 
was the first murder directly traceable to them, 
although they were accused of killing a Sheriff 
in another county in this State. A posse was 
called to arrest them for this double murder, 
but they whipped the posse off. The militia 
were ordered out to arrest them, and they too 
were beaten oack by the two outlaws. By 
boat, foot and stealing horses they at last 
eluded all their pursuers and disappeared for 
months. 

So daring were their deeds that they gained 
a national reputation and were the subject of 
stories in the dime novel trash. They were 
known in Wisconsin as the Williams brothers, 
and under this name were the heroes in the 
novels. The capture of Ed was affected at 
Grand Island, Neb., November 9, 1881, 
and was the result of more of an accident than 
anything else. The boys were rei)resenting 
themselves as hunters and were both heavily 
armed. Their actions aroused suspicion and 
the officers being notified, visited the house 
where they were staying and approaching them 
unawares, grabbed Ed and overpowered him. 
Lon was alarmed and got one shot at the offi- 
cers, but notwithstanding his wonderful skill, 
missed his man. The officers then ran for him 
but he turned and ran and was never afterward 
seen alive. 

Ed was fully identified as the man wanted, 
although he denied his identity. Brothers of 
the murdered men in Wisconsin accompanied 
the officers and i)Ositively identified him as the 
man who killed their brothers. He was taken 
back to Wisconsin, November 19, 1881, and 




UcL^^ ^. rj\l OAAyiJl^Ol^ , 






^iot'.jiti Y 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



801 



ttaken to the court house for trial. The work 
was short and swift, however, and justice 
speedily meted out. He was surrounded by a 
mob of men who threw a rope around his neck 
.and started down stairs supposedly to hang 
him to a tree. This was done but he was dead 
long before he reached the tree, as he was 
• dragged down stairs at the end of the rope. 
The coroner's jury viewed the body, examined 
the necessary witnesses and returned a verdict 
that he came lo his death by falling down the 
court house stairs, with which verdict tne 
courts were well satisfied. 

Lon's death was not so sensational but well 
did he pay for his misdeeds. He died in a box 
car in a western city, alone, unattended, with 
a black past to view and a blacker future to 
contemplate. 

Both of these boys were remarkably fine shots 
with gun and revolver. Lon was particularly 
skilled, and stories of their remarkable powers 
are told. Ed feared nothing, was more like a 
panther than a human. He was small and 
swarthy and as treacherous as the animals 
whose actions he imitated. He was an invet- 
erate liar and naturally mean and vicious. 
Sometimes he expressed a claim of intended re- 
formation on account of the love he bore some 
woman, but he never gave evidence that he had 
adopted a better life. 

Lon was an arrant coward when not with 
Ed and gave evidence of it when Ed was cap- 
tured. Had it been Ed who got away instead 
'Of Lon, the officers making the capture would 
never have reached the jail with their prisoner. 
Lon was big and strong, and effeminate in his 
actions. 

Much space has been given to the notorious 
Maxwell boys, for the reason they were the most 
prominent exam])Ies of the worst element of 
this section of the country. They were great 
readers of the yellow-covered literature, and 
became fully possessed with the idea that they 
were Dick Turpins, James Boys, and all the 
other list of degenerates. This account is given 
at length to show the natural end of such vio- 
lent, reckless lives. 

Jails .^nd Jaii. E,sc.\pes. — Jail escapes 

have been a fruitful subject for fireside tales, 

with the inevitable romancing and smothering 

■ of the real facts, but this sketch gives the cold 



facts, and should be made a matter of record. 
Other escapes than those noted have been ac- 
complished, but these are the most prominent 
and worth}' of preservation. 

The jail deliveries in McDonough County have 
been numerous and date back to the earliest 
history. In fact, the first man arrested for 
murder in this county, Thomas Morgan, broke 
jail and was never afterward heard of. Not 
only Morgan, but two others arrested on the 
charge of murder. Rev. Burress, for the Dye 
murder and Zack Wilson, for the McDonald 
murder, escaped and were never recaptured, al- 
though vigilant effort was made in both cases. 
There is no record of how Morgan made his es- 
cape from jail, but as the building was an old 
log affair, for years afterward used as the city 
calaboose and now located in the stray pen or 
pound, where it is doing duty as a store house, 
he probably had but very little trouble in mak- 
ing his escape. Burress made his escape from 
the sauie building, and it is not recorded how 
he made his egress. Wilson, however, made his 
escape from the present jail building on West 
Jackson Street and the manner in which he did 
this will be treated more fully later in this 
article. 

The second building used as a place of con- 
finement for the criminals of this county, was a 
square brick building located on the site of the 
present postoffice just across the street from the 
Journal office. When first used for a jail it was 
considered a modern building, but during the 
'seventies it was almost worthless as a jail 
building, and the Sheriff never knew when he 
retired, or for that matter at any other time, 
that he would have his birds with him the next 
time he called. For a number of years it was 
a butt for jokes and the subject of humorous 
remarks in the newspapers. 

TiiK FiR.sT Esc.\i'K of Record. — The first es- 
cape of which there is any record as to how it 
occurred was on the night of June 24, 1871. The 
prisoners succeeded in prying off an inch board 
from the window casing. With this they pried 
away the grating from the wall directly under 
the window. The work of removing the bricks 
was only a matter of a short time and a hole 
was made sufficient for them to escape. At that 
time there were seven prisoners confined, five 
for petty offenses and two for murder. Strange 



802 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



as it may seem, those held to answer to the 
graver charge refused to take advantage of the 
opportunity tor freedom and remained. These 
were the two Bonds, arrested for tlie murder of 
William Randolph at Blandinsville, some six 
years previous, and who had escaped to Ken- 
tucliy and had there been only recently re- 
captured. Not much effort was made to capture 
those who had succeeded in getting away, as 
their offenses were only minor affairs. 

Othlk Eisc.M'KS. — On the night of .lanuary 22, 
1S73, when Captain Sam Frost was Sheriff, an- 
other successful attempt was made. H. D. Har- 
ner and Henry Framby, held for robbing a mil- 
linery store at Table Grove, and Fred Watts, for 
threatening his step-daughter at Prairie City, es- 
caiied. They had cut away the iron floor in 
some manner — how they secured the instrument 
with which they did this having never been 
learned. They then crawled under the floor to 
the foundation, where they took out a stone 
and through the opening made their escape. The 
night was bitterly cold and a blinding snow- 
storm was falling. This made it almost impos- 
sible to locate the men. Later one of them was 
recaptured, but the others were never appre- 
hended. 

On the night of January 5, 1776, when the late 
Captain J. B. Venard was Sheriff, the prisoners 
made another attempt by exactly the same plan 
as the cne above described, but were discovered 
before they had gained their liberty and were 
marchod back to their cells. 

An Exciting Chase. — On the morning of Au- 
gust 20, 1876, three prisoners made their es- 
cape, but all were recaptui'ed that day, two of 
them before they had gone three blocks. The 
Christian church at that time stood in the park 
just across from the jail, and while the Sheriff 
was attending services some young boys, stand- 
ing in front of the church, saw three men drop 
from the high board fence that surrounded the 
jail and run east on Carroll Street. The boys 
at once gave the alarm and two of the prisoners 
were captured near the Presbyterian church, one 
by R. E. (better known as "Brk") Harris, and 
the other by Milt McDonald. The third made 
his escape but all that day posses scoured the 
city and adjoining fields. Late in the afternoon 
the fellow was found by Marshal McClintock 
hid in the weeds in a ravine near the present 



Third Ward school house. The prisoner had 
bribed a boy named Kegle, of Industry, who was 
awaiting trial for petty larceny, but who was 
sick and was used as a trusty, to hand them the 
key to the corridor, which hung on a nail in 
the hall. They had given him a dollar as a 
bribe. ■. 

EscAi'K OF En. Maxwixl. — The first escape in 
which there was a fight was that which oc- 
curred August 2S, 1S7G, and while no one was 
injured, it was only because the Maxwell boys, 
the most desperate outlaws ever confined in the 
local jail — or in any other jail, for that matter — 
were unable to procure weapons. Captain Ve- 
nard was Sheriff at the time, and on the night 
in question he went to lock up the prisoners in 
their cells, .lames Blazer standing as door guard. 
As the Sheriff stepped inside the corridor, Ed. 
Maxwell, who was standing back some distance 
from the door to deceive the Sheriff as to his 
intentions, started to walk away, throwing him 
off his guard. Maxwell suddenly turned with 
a spring like a cat and jumped on the Sheriff. 
Lon Maxwell at the same time sprang at him 
and Charles Roberts jumped for Blazer. An ex- 
citing tussle followed, but Ed. Maxwell and Rob- 
erts succeeded in getting away, Lon being held. 

The chase that followed for Maxwell is one 
well remembered by every old citizen. Alexander 
McLean was Mayor at that time, and. it so hap- 
pened he was just passing as Maxwell darted 
out the door. Instantly surmising what had 
occurred, he gave chase after the fleeing outlaw 
and the race, while it lasted, was an exciting 
one. However, Maxwell was the fleetest and 
was soon lost sight of. 

Instantly, almost, the town was aroused and 
gave Chase. Captain Farwell. Marshal Karr 
McClintock (both now deceased) and George 
Kink mounted horses and rode through the 
country notifying the farmers to be on their 
guard, as Maxwell would more than likely steal 
a horse, one of his old tricks, and endeavor to 
escape. Notwithstanding the warning he suc- 
ceeded in stealing one of Elijah Welch and made 
his escape. He was afterward recaptured at 
Stillwater, Minn., an account of which may be 
found elsewhere. 

Another Attempt Thwabted. — One of the 
boldest attempts at escape made was on Novem- 
ber 20, 1S76. The prisoners had in some man- 




^^/^l^-l^^-^/ZAuia^ yh Ct'^l^^^iy^'-^j^ 



[•UBLIC LIBkARi , 
ox 

TlLDt .: h::„. NIDATIONS 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



803 



ner nir.de a hole in the ceiling, which was ten 
feet high, and pulled off a balustrade with heavy 
black walnut posts. With these they succeeded 
in prying oft a cell door. Waiting until the 
Sheriff and his wife were away, they com- 
menced an attack on the door of the corridor, 
using the cell door as a battering ram. They 
were making good headway when a girl, em- 
ployed there, he.ird them and at once screamed 
for help. Captain Farwell was passing at the 
time and ran to the door and soon awed them 
into submission. 

Prisonkb Attemi'TS Siicide. — One of the pris- 
oners concerned was Vince Bowman, and as a 
result of his disappointment, attempted to com- 
mit suicide. The prisoners asked for a razor 
with which to shave. It was given them and 
after a lime one of them reported that Bow- 
man had attempted suicide with the razor. An 
examination showed that he had opened a vein 
in his wrist. A doctor was summoned and the 
wounds dressed. That night he tore off the 
bandages in an effort to bleed to death. The 
turnkey was aroused and told him to put his 
arm out of the cell door and he would ban- 
dage it for him. This Bowman refused to do, 
whereupon the turnkey, picking up a wash- 
basin near by, handed it in the cell and re- 
quested Bowman to bleed in that and not muss 
up the floor of the cell. Bowman then pushed 
out his arm and It was attended to. Later, 
however, he succeeded in escaping from jail, 
particulars of which are elsewhere given. 

Last Attempt at Oi.ii Jail. — The last attempt 
at escape from the old jail was made November 
25, 1876. The prisoners were moved to the new 
jail November 27. They had appeared very 
active for some time and very friendly. They 
told the Sheriff how kindly they felt toward 
him and how well he had treated them. They 
at the same time became much interested in 
the study of music and kept the French harps 
and tambourine going all the time. At last the 
Sheriff believed they had been given leeway 
enough, and he placed them in their cells and 
instituted a vigorous search, which resulted in 
finding four knives and some saws. 

That evening the Sheriff handed in their coal, 
opening the door for that purpose, as the aper- 
ture for the passing of the victuals would not 



permit it to be passed through. As the coal 
was handed in two of the prisoners stepped out 
and took hold of the buckets and at the same 
time dumped them in the doorway so the door 
could not be pulled shut. Then a pulling match 
ensued, in which the Sheriff and the guard were 
pitted against four prisoners. Help soon came, 
however, and they were marched back to their 
cells. Later one of the prisoners attempted to 
decoy the Sheriff inside the corridor, but was 
foiled, the intention being to make an outbreak. 
The following Monday they were moved to the 
new jail. 

First Escape From New Jail. — The jail build- 
was the pride of McDonough County. Built at 
a cost of $2C,()(tO, it was deemed impregnable. 
Along in January there were four prisoners 
confined for petty offenses. All at once they 
became repentant of their evil way and desired 
to lead better lives. Rev. James S. Gash, then, 
as now, always anxious that the erring may see 
the error of his ways, and repent and live an 
u|)right life, was active in their reformation and 
finally succeeded in getting them to express re- 
pentance for their sins and take up the cause 
of their Master. 

On the evening of February 2, 1877, Sheriff 
Hays went to tell the boys goodnight and see 
that they were safely tucked away for the night 
in their little cots. He called them, but they 
did not appear and he received no answer. 
Thinking they were hiding to play a joke on 
him, he went among the cells and there dis- 
covered a window with the grating sawed and 
pried away until a hole was made about a foot 
square. A blanket, waving in the breeze, told 
how they had made their descent to the ground. 
However, not wishing to appear ungrateful, the 
following touching note was left to the Sheriff, 
which is reproduced verbatim as to punctuation, 
capitalization, etc.: 

"Feb. 2d, 1877, Macomb .Tail. McDonough. 

"Mr. Hays. Dear Sir: I think I will quit 
boarding with you, not that I have anything 
against you nor j'our folks for you all have 
treated me very kind. But I dont like to sponge 
on the county for my board for I am able to 
work for It. I am very thankful to Mr. Gash 
and folks for there kindness to me and the 
good advice for I think It will do me good, 
don't Blame Charley for he did not know Knoth- 



.•8o4 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



Ing about this, we worked wheu he was out. 

So good by, from yours 

"VixcE Bowman, 
"Jas. M. Hall, 
"Haeky Re.\d, 
"Jos Ibia Ray." 

A PuisoNEB Killed. — In September, 1S78, Rob- 
■ert L. Morgan, a lad of about eighteen years, 
was killed in the jail by a shot from a revolver 
in the hands of Sheriff Hays, who was then 
engaged in a fight with another prisoner, who 
was attempting to escape. 

A short time previous to this four tramps 
were brought to jail here and locked up for 
•some trivial offense, and Morgan was one of the 
number. Of all the men confined in the jail, 
these were about the meanest and most trou- 
blesome of any that have ever boarded within 
the iron walls. What they could not think of 
in the shape of meanness would not be worth 
relating. 

They would yell and swear at the top of their 
"voices, curse citizens passing along the streets, 
apply all kinds of indecent remarks to the Sher- 
iff and his deputies at all times, insult ladies, 
and all in all made themselves about as obnox- 
ious as possible. 

On the day of the killing the Sheriff or- 
dered them all into their cells. Three went 
and were locked up, but the fourth refused to 
go. The Sheriff went inside to force him into 
■obedience, and a tussle ensued. During the 
struggle the prisoners in their cells yelled en- 
■couragement to their comrade and emptied the 
slojjs from their cells on him. Finally, when 
the officer found he could not subdue the man. 
he pulled his revolver and fired Into the air 
to scare him. This had the effect and the fel- 
low went to his cell. 

Presently the Sheriff heard a groaning and 
went to the cells. There he found young Mor- 
gan prostrate with a bullet through his abdo- 
men. This was the first intimation that the 
Sheriff had that any one was injured, as he 
had not aimed toward the cells. The bullet had. 
however, struck Morgan, who was standing at 
his cell door, and inflicted a fatal wound. 

For a time Morgan was defiant. He cursed 
the oificer and every one who came in reach, de- 
clared the Sheriff had deliberately aimed at him 
■and tried to kill him while he was locked In his 
'Cell. Later, when his condition was revealed to 



him and he was told he must die, he repented 
and admitted that the Sheriff was blameless. 
He then told his parents' names, they being 
highly respected people in Quincy. 

The mother came by the first train to the bed- 
side of her erring boy to nurse him back to life 
if possible. The meeting was a sad one, the 
mother not having known the whereabouts of 
her son for some time. To have found him in 
this condition was a shock indeed. Everything 
possible was done for him but of no avail. The 
sorrowing mother sat by the bedside of her 
loved boy, and watched the flickering breath 
grow fainter and fainter until, at last, it stopped 
and she was left alone with her grief and her 
dead. 

Escape of Z.\^ck Wilsox. — On the evening of 
March 1. 1879, seven prisoners escajied from the 
county jail and all but one — and he the most 
wanted — were recaptured in a short time. This 
one was Zack Wilson, who was in jail awaiting 
trial for the murder of a man named Thomas 
McDonald at Plymouth. The trouble between 
these men is said to have occurred over Mc- 
Donald's daughter, she blaming her condition on 
Wilson and he denying the charge. One even- 
ing as Wilson was riding home McDonald 
stopped him and cursed him and threatened to 
lick the whole family. A few days later Wilson 
and two of his orothers were in Plymouth, and 
so was McDonald and his brother. Wilson got 
a gun and went after McDonald, finding him in 
a store. He told McDonald to defend himself 
and fired, killing McDonald instantly. Later 
he met McDonald's brother and snapped the gun 
at him, but it missed fire. McDonald then drew 
his revolver and fired at Wilson five times, but 
missed him. 

Wilson was captured some time after that and 
brought to jail at Macomb, the crime being 
committed in Hancock County. On the night 
of the escai)e. Sheriff Winslow Taylor was at 
Industry, and his deputy — the late Joseph Hays 
— was also away, the only man at the jail being 
Hugh Walker. One of the prisoners asked for 
some water and the turnkey brought it in the 
long-spouted bucket used for the purpose of 
pouring water through the V-shaped door. He 
opened the outer steel door to pour the water 
and. at that instant, the V door was jerked 
open by the prisoners and Walker was pulled 
inside and left. Mrs. Taylor and other ladies 




C'^<t<Uc<-> e/^ /^ ci^-rn. ^ (f t-^^ 



PUBLIC LIB. 



ASTOR 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



805 



gave the alarm, and a posse was soon hunting 
the prisoners. Five of them were speedily re- 
captured, in fact making but little effort to get 
away. Speeney and Wilson were the two who 
in reality made their escape, but the former was 
recaptured some time later. 

Wilson was never recaptured, but about fif- 
teen years ago a man was brought back to this 



city who, it was claimed, was Zack Wilson. 
This was one of the most amusing things of the 
time to see the people who had known Wilson 
attempt to identify him. Some declared it was 
Wilson, and do to this date, just as many others 
were equally positive that it was not him and 
looked nothing like him. The man was later 
released, as his identity could not be proven. 




BIOGRAPHICAL 



CHAPTER XXX. 



THE PART OF BIOCJKAI'HY IN GENERAL HISTORY — 

CITIZENS OF m'DONOUGH COUNTY I'ERSONAI. 

SKETCHES ARRANGED IN ENCYCLOPEDIC ORDER. 



The verdict of mankind har: awarded to the 
TWiisp of History the highest place among the 
Classic Nine. The extent of her office, how- 
ever, appears to be. by many minds, but im- 
perfectly understood. The task of the historian 
is comprehensive and exacting. True history 
reaches beyond the doings of court or camp, 
beyond the issue of battles, or the effects of 
treaties, and records the trials and the tri- 
umphs, the failures and the successes of the 
men who make history. It is but an imperfect 
conception of the philosophy of events that fails 
to accord to portraiture and biograi)hy its right- 
ful position as a part — and no unimportant part 
— of historical narrative. Behind and beneath 
the activities of outward life tlie motive power 
lies out of sight, just as the furnace flres that 
work the piston and keep the ponderous screw 
revolving are down in the darkness of the hold. 
So, the impulsive power which shapes the 
course of communities may be found in the 
moulding influences which form its citizens. 

It is no mere idle curiosity that prompts 
tnen to wish to learn the private as well as the 
public lives of their fellows. Rather is it true 
that such desire tends to prove universal broth- 
erhood: and the interest in personality and 
biography is not confined to men of any partic- 
ular caste or vocation. 

The list of those to whose lot it falls to play 
a conspicuous part In the great drama of life 
is comparatively short; yet communities are 
made up of individuals, and the aggregate of 



achievements — no less than the sum total of 
human happiness — is made up of the deeds of 
those men and women whose primary aim, 
through life, is faithfully to perform the duty 
that comes nearest to hand. Individual influ- 
ence upon human affairs will be considered 
potent or insignificant according to the stand- 
point from which it is viewed. To him who, 
standing upon the seashore, notes the ebb and 
flow of the tides and listens to the sullen roar 
of the waves, as they break upon the beach 
in seething foam, seemingly chafing at their 
limitations, the ocean appears so vast as to 
need no tributaries. Yet, without the smallest 
rill that helps to swell the "Father of Waters," 
the mighty torrent of the Mississippi would 
be lessened, and the beneficent influence of the 
Gulf Stream diminished. Countless streams, 
currents and counter currents — sometimes 
mingling, sometimes counteracting each other — 
collectively combine to give motion to the 
accumulated mass of waters. So is it — and so 
must it ever be — in the ocean of human action, 
which is formed by the blending and repulsion 
of currents of thought, of influence and of life, 
yet more numerous and more tortuous than 
those which form the "fountains of the deep." 
The acts and characters of men, like the sev- 
eral faces that compose a composite picture, are 
wrought together into a compact or hetero- 
geneous whole. History is condensed biogra- 
phy: "Biography is History teaching by exam- 
ple." 

It is both interesting and instructive to rise 
above the generalization of history and trace, 
in the personality and careers of the men from 
whom it sprang, the principles and influences, 
the impulses and ambitions, the labors, strug- 
gles and triumphs that engross their lives. 

Here are recorded the careers and achieve- 
ments of pioneers who, "when the fullness of 
time had come." came from widely separated 
sources, some from beyond the sea. Impelled 



8o8 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



by divers motives, little conscious of the import 
of their acts, and but dimly anticipating the 
harvest which would spring from the sowing. 
They built their primitive homes, toiling for a 
present subsistence while laying the foundations 
of private fortunes and future advancement. 

Most of these have passed away, but not 
before they beheld a development of business 
and population surpassing the wildest dreams 
of fancy or expectation. A few yet remain 
whose years have passed the alloted three score 
and ten, and who" love to recount, among the 
cherished memories of their lives, their remin- 
iscences of early days. 

Among these early, hardy settlers, and those 
who followed them, may be found the names 
of many who imparted the first impulse to the 
county's and the city's growth and homelike- 
ness; the many who, through their identifica- 
tion with commercial and agricultural pursuits 
and varied interests, aided in their material 
progress; or skilled mechanics who first laid 
the foundations of beautiful homes and pro- 
ductive industries, and of the members of the 
learned prosessions — clergymen, physicians, edu- 
cators and lawyers — whose influence upon the 
intellectual life and development of a commu- 
nity it is impossible to overestimate. 

Municipal institutions arise; Commerce 
spreads her sails and prepares the way tor 
the magic of Science that drives the locomo- 
tive engine over the iron-rails. Trade is organ- 
ized, reaching forth to the shores of the Great 
Lakes and stretching its arms across the prai- 
ries to gather in and distribute the products 
of the soil. Church spires rise to express, in 
architectural form, the faith and aspirations of 
the people, while schools, public and private, 
elevate the standards of education and of artis- 
tic taste. 

Here as some of the men through whose 
labors, faith and thought, these mangnificent 
results have been achieved. To them and to 
their co-laborers, the McDonough County of 
today stands an enduring monument, attest- 
ing their faith, their energy, their coura.ge, and 
their self-sacrifice. 



[The followinp itemp of ])ersonal and family historv 
having been arranged in encyrlopedic (or alphabetical^ 
order a.s to names of the individual subjects, no special 
index f(j this part of the work will be found necessary.] 



ADCOCK, Joseph T. (deceased), formerly a 
well-known and popular grocer of Macomb, Mc- 
Donough County, 111., was born in Washing- 
ton County, Ky., June 25, 1836, a son of Elijah 
and Jemima (Clark) Adcock, natives of Ken- 
tucky. The subject of this sketch attended 
public school in his boyhood, and enlisted in 
the Union Army during the Civil War, serving 
in the Tenth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer 
Infantry, being promoted to the second lieu- 
tenancy and taking part in all the battles par- 
ticipated in by his regiment. He received a 
gun-shot wound which disabled him for further 
service, was honorably discharged, and on recov- 
ering from this injury, came to Macomb in 
1865. In that year he established himself in the 
grocery trade, in which he continued until his 
death. He died of pneumonia April 7, 1891, 
and he was buried in Oakwood Cemetery. 

On September 13, 1866, Mr. Adcock was 
united in marriage with Nancy A. Pace, who 
was born in McDonough County, 111., where 
in her youth she attended public school in 
her neighborhood. Two children, Winnie R. 
and Ardie M., were the offspring of this union. 
The parents of Mrs. Adcock, William J. and' 
Sarah (Vawter) Pace, were born in Kentucky. 
In political affairs, Mr. Adcock gave his sup- 
port to the Democratic party. His term of 
service as President of the School Board cov- 
ered eight years in the aggregate. He was a 
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Macomb, in which he officiated as 
steward. His fraternal affiliation was with the- 
Masonic order. The life of Mr. Adcock was be- 
yond reproach. In business affairs he was 
diligent, upright and courteous. As a citizen he 
was public-spirited and useful, and the high 
esteem in which he was held by all who knew 
him attested the pure traits of his character. 

AGNEW, Henry Clay (deceased), formerly a 
prominent lawyer of Macomb, 111., was born in 
Bethel Township, McDonough County, October 
4, 1852, a son of Samuel and Mary (Wilson) 
Agnew. the former a native of Pennsylvania, 
and the latter of Columbiana County. Ohio. His 
maternal grandparents were Samuel and Sarah 
(Crow) Wilson. Mr. Agnew received his early 
education in the public schools of McDonough 
and Warren Counties and at the old Normal 




f>A /^a^^VC*^^ 



r UDi-ii^ i.. 



AST' 

TTT.Drr 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



809 



College, Macomb. From 1870 to 1S76 he was 
engaged in teaching school in McDonough, 
Warren and Tazewell Counties. In 1876 he en- 
tered the law department of the Iowa State 
University at Iowa Cit.v, and was graduated 
from that institution in June, 1877. Until 
1879 he taught school, and then commenced the 
practice of law in Macomb. Politically, Mr. 
Agnew was a Republican and was influential 
in the councils of his party. In 1882 Mr. Ag- 
new was elected City Attorney of Macomb, and 
in 1884 was elected to the office of State's At- 
torney of IVlcDonough County. He served as a 
member of the Macomb School Board and City 
Council, and at the time of his death, was serv- 
ing as Master in Chancery. 

On July 18, 1894, Mr. Agnew was united in 
marriage with Josephine Cleveland. Two chil- 
dren resulted from their union, namely: Nel- 
lie J. and Henry Clay, Jr. Fraternally, the sub- 
ject of this sketch was a member of the A. O. 
U. W., M. W. A., I. O. O. F. and K. of P. Mr. 
Agnew died September 28, 1902, leaving a 
stainless record behind him. As a lawyer, his 
standing was high; in his public career he 
was faithful to duty; in domestic life he was a 
model husband and father; socially, he was 
greatly esteemed, and his death was deeply 
lamented. 

AGNEW, Oral M., who is successfully engaged 
in the livery business in the village of Indus- 
try, McDonough County, was born in Schuyler 
County. 111., February 4, 1858, the son of James 
and Delilah (Hudson) Agnew — the former a 
native of Pennsylvania and the later of Indi- 
ana. In early youth Mr. Agnew attended the 
common school in his neighborhood, and at the 
age of seventeen years left home to work on a 
farm. He continued thus until he reached his 
ma.iority, then worked at home one year, after 
which he was employed for six years on a farm 
north of Industry. After spending a year in 
Schuyler County, he worked two years in In- 
dustry, and then was employed two years on 
his father's farm. In 1878, Mr. Agnew moved 
to Industry, and was engaged in various occu- 
pations for two years. In 1899, he started in 
the manufacture of soft drinks but sold out in 
1902. In that year he went into horse dealing 
and trading, in which he continued until Au- 
gust 8, 1904, when he bought the livery busi- 
13 



ness of A. S. Ellis, which he now conducts, 
and which is the only extensive business of this 
kind in Industry. Mr. Agnew is very energetic, 
attends closely to his stable and stock and en- 
joys a profitable patronage. 

On February 15, 1881, Mr. Agnew was united 
in marriage with Henrietta Lewis, who was 
born and schooled in Schuyler County, 111. 
She died June 24, 1892, leaving one child, Clin- 
ton D. Mr. Agnew married as his second wife 
Eliza Sullivan, who was born and educated in 
Industry. The iiolitical opinions of Mr. Agnew 
are in accordance with the principles of the Re- 
publican party. 

ALEXANDER, Samuel J. — Among the positive 
and vigorous characters that have made their 
impress on the business and social life of 
Bushnell, 111., and upon the agricultural con- 
ditions of McDonough County, not the least 
in point of example and influence is Samuel 
J. Alexander. In his composition are notably 
manifest those qualities of rugged manhood, 
strict probity, tenacious persistence and intelli- 
gent discrimination, which constitute a potent 
force in advancing the development of any com- 
munity which is fortunate in being the sphere 
of their activity. Mr. Alexander was born in 
Wayne County, Ind., July 10, 1821, a son of 
James and Permelia (Adams) Alexander, grew 
up to manhood on the paternal farm, and in 
early youth received a good common-school ed- 
ucation. When twenty-three years old he went 
to Ohio, where he engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits in the village of New Westville. After 
remaining there one year, he returned to In- 
diana, and there followed the same business 
in Boston, Wayne County. Two years later, 
he was engaged in a similar enterprise in 
Darke County, Ohio, in which he continued un- 
til his removal to the vicinity of Bardolph, Mc- 
Donough County, 111., where he devoted his 
attention to farming on rented land. After 
being thus engaged for one year, he bought a 
farm in Macomb Township, which he cultivated 
until 1868, when he took up his residence in 
Bushnell and there established a grocery. In 
1SC9 he entered into partnership with E. D. 
C. Haines in the lumber trade, building up a 
large and profitable business. He sold his in- 
terest in this concern to his partner in 1880, 
and withdrew from active business, and has 



8ro 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



since spent his time looking after liis property 
Interests and negotiating loans of his surplus 
funds. 

Mr. Alexander did his full share In the pio- 
neer work of the early days in McDonough 
County, clearing and breaking up the wild land, 
and with his worthy spouse, enduring the dis- 
comforts, privations and hazards incident to 
that period. His resolute, persevering, resource- 
ful and discerning qualities, as well as his in- 
domitable energy, gradually led to merited 
prosperity. He is a man of attractive appear- 
ance and genial deportment, simple in manner 
and speech, never assuming an aggressive at- 
titude, but winning the good will, respect and 
confidence of every one with whom he has busi- 
ness or social relations. He has always been 
inspired by a high public spirit, and has advo- 
cated, and supported with substantial contri- 
butions, all measures designed for the general 
welfare, generously aiding many worthy and 
beneficent institutions, especially churches, 
schools and charitable institutions. In i>ol.itics 
he is a firm Republican, but is always discrim- 
inating and conscientious in scrutinizing the 
merits of civic policies and of candidates for 
political preferment. In fraternal circles he is 
identified with the Masonic Order. His busy, use- 
ful and exemplary career is a strong incentive 
to all who are entering upon the threshold of 
active life. At the age of nearly four-score and 
ten years, he is still clear in mind and sound 
in body. 

The marriage of Mr. Alexander occurred in 
New Westville, Preble County, Ohio, August 
24, 1845, when he wedded Hannah Cowgill. 
who was born in Fremont, Ohio, August 7, 1828. 
Thrice fortunate was Mr. Alexander in select- 
ing a life-companion to share his domestic joys 
and sorrows, and to supplement his arduous 
exertions in acquiring a competency of this 
world's goods and developing the character 
which had dignified his later career. Together 
with her husband, her parents and only brother. 
Mrs. Alexander made her home in McDonough 
County, HI., where, in Bushnell and in its vicin- 
ity, all of their married life was passed, with 
the exception of four years' residence in Rich- 
mond, Ind., during the period intervening be- 
tween 1886 and 1890. Her union with Mr. Alex- 
ander resulted in five sons, all of whom were 
overtaken by death when quite young. Mrs. 
Alexander was in most respects a remarka- 



ble woman, and one who with the favoring aid of 
more thorough educational facilities in early 
youth, and with less of unobtrusiveness and 
attachment for the quietude and matronly du- 
ties of the home circle, would naturally have 
lieen a conspicuous figure in that line of un- 
selfish public endeavor, graced by many of 
her sex. who thereby attained wide and en- 
during reputation. She ixjssessed exceptional 
strength of character, and was animated by 
deep convictions in matters of right and wrong, 
which no considerations or surroundings could 
induce her to disregard or suppress. In the 
conduct of household work, she was a model 
of order, tidiness and thrift. Her downright 
honesty in forming, maintaining and exi)ress- 
ing opinions on radically important subjects, 
was recognized with sincere respect throughout 
a wide circle of acquaintances, and the fidelity 
with which she fulfilled the obligations of 
friendship won her the respect of all who 
knew her. To her, evasion, prevarication, 
disingenuousness and every form of hypocrisy, 
were an abomination and utterly reimlsive. 

The final sickness of Mrs. Alexander was 
protracted and painful, but through all the 
agony of slowly approaching dissolution, she 
manifested an unswerving faith in her Savior, 
and a cheering assurance of the blissful rest 
awaiting her in the heavenly mansions pre- 
pared for the peoi)le of God. She was a zealous, 
devout and active member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and. her self-denying exertions in 
church work are gratefully remembered as a 
shining example by the surviving membership. 
After lingering upon the bed of sickness nearly 
two years, in a condition of suffering beyond 
any (except temporary) relief from medical 
skill, and unmitigated by even a faint hope of 
recovery. Mrs. Alexander passed peacefully 
away on December 1, 1902, and the memory of 
her life of self-sacrifice and benevolence will 
long be cherished by those who knew her in the 
intimacies of daily companship. 

ALLEN, John, who was formerly a successful 
farmer in Mound Township, McDonough Coun- 
ty, 111., and is now a retired citizen of Macomb, 
that county, was born in Pulaski County, Ky., 
.July 23, 1841, and there attended public schooj. 
His father. Rufus T. Allen, was born in the 
same county, and his mother, Rhoda (Adams) 
Allen, was a native of the same State. His 




"of^^-^Ma. ^ ifoA/c. 



cL^n 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



8ii 



paternal grandparents. David and Patsie ( Har- 
ris) Allen, were born, respectively, in South 
Carolina and Virginia, and his grandfather on 
the maternal side, James Adams, was a Ken- 
tuckian. The grandmother was originally a 
Miss Carr. Rutus T. Allen and his wife had 
three children, of whom their son John was the 
eldest. In 1S54 the family went to Missouri, 
and in 1863, they came to Walnut Grove Town- 
ship, McDonpugh County, 111., where the father 
purchased a farm. John Allen remained with 
his parents until he was thirty-two years old. 
when he bought the Mound Township farm. 
There he was engaged in general farming and 
stock raising until the spring of 1901, when he 
retired from active business and removed to 
Macomb. Here he built a fine residence on 
East Carroll Street, where he enjoys ample 
leisure. 

On February 12. 1874, Mr. Allen was united 
in marriage with Mary L. Derby, who was 
born in Brimfield, 111., where she attended the 
district school. The children resulting from 
this union are: Rosa Belle (Mrs. O. G. Thomp- 
son), Daisy May (Mrs. E. H. McCullough), and 
Bessie Irene, formerly a teacher in the Macomb 
Preparatory Normal School, now the wife of 
Prof. O. B. Read, who holds the Chair of Sci- 
ences in Winnebago College. Minn., in which 
institution both will hereafter continue their 
educational work. 

Politically, the subject of this sketch is a 
Democrat and served for six years as Treas- 
urer of Mound Township. His religious con- 
nection is with the Free Will Baptist Church. 
As a farmer he pursued intelligent and thrifty 
methods, as a public official he was faithful to 
his trust, and as a citizen, he is highly es- 
teemed. 

ALLISON, H. Austin, a prominent citizen of 
Good Hope, McDonough County, 111., who is 
there successfully engaged in the banking busi- 
ness, was born in Ross County, Ohio, on Feb- 
ruary 2, 1849, son of Wiliam and Margaret 
(Eakle) Allison, natives of the State of Vir- 
ginia. William Allison was a farmer and sur- 
veyor by occupation. He came to McDonough 
County in 1852 and carried on farming. The 
subject of this sketch was educated at Cherry 
Grove Academy and Lincoln College, III., and 
was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Good 



Hope until 1890, when. In connection with J. 
H. Cummings and Q. C. Ward, he organized 
the Bank of Good Hope, with a capital of $20,- 
000. It is a private banking concern and has a 
membership in the State Bankers' Association 
On September 2, 187.5, Mr. Allison was united 
in marriage with Mary J. Campbell, who was 
born in McDonough County, a daughter of 
David and Winifred (Bridges) Campbell. Two 
children have resulted from their union, .41vah 
and Charles. 

Politically, Mr. Allison supports the Demo- 
cratic party. He served two terms as Super- 
visor of Sciota Township, and has held the 
office of President of the Village Board. He is 
an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, representing that church in the Gen- 
eral Assembly of 1902. He bears the reputa- 
tion of a sound and perspicacious financier. 
Mr. Allison was made a Mason In 1870, and is a 
member of Good Hope Lodge, No. 617, A. F. & 
A. M., and has filled several offices In the organ- 
zation. 

ANDERSON, Richard Berry, who resides at 
No. 901 West Carroll Street, Macomb, was 
born in Perry County, 111., June 9, 1853. 
He is the son of Berry and Eliza (Marlow) An- 
derson, natives of Illinois, where the former 
was born in Kaskaskia in 1805. Amos and 
Tabitha Anderson, the paternal grandparents, 
were natives of Virginia. The grandparents on 
the mother's side, Richard and Sarah Marlow, 
were born in Illinois. Perry County, 111., was 
organized at the home of Berry Anderson. 
He was a liberal-minded, public-spirited 
man, a firm friend of education, and de- 
voted much of his time and means to the edu- 
cation of his family. The subject of this 
sketch considers his father the greatest teacher 
he has ever seen. Richard B. Anderson at- 
tended the public schools in the neighborhood 
of his early home, and supplemented his pri- 
mary education by courses in the Illinois Ag- 
ricultural College and the National Normal 
School at Lebanon, Ohio. At the age of twenty 
years he began teaching. He was Superintend- 
ent of Schools at Pickneyville, 111., for six 
years. County Superintendent of Perry County 
(111.) schools four years. Superintendent of 
Schools at Carlinville, 111., five years, and of the 
Bushnell (111.) schools seven years. For two 



8l2 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



years he occupied the Chair of Sciences in 
Shurtleff College. He has been a member of 
the Illinois State Teachers' Association for 
twenty-five years, of the Southern Illinois 
Teachers' Association from its organization, 
and of the National Teachers' Association for 
ten years. He has read the proof-sheets of 
many text books before they were finally pub- 
lished, has been a contributor to many educa- 
tional magazines, am? has been much engaged 
as Institute Instructor and lecturer on edu- 
cational and social topics. On August 14, 
1879, Mr. Anderson was married to Henrietta 
Bowman, who was born in Tennessee, where in 
girlhood she attended the public schools. Mr. 
and Mrs. Anderson have one child, Elma Veva, 
who is a graduate of the high school under her 
father's supervision, and also of Know Con- 
servatory of Music. The religious belief of Mr. 
Anderson is based on the creed of the Baptist 
Church. On political issues his views are in 
accordance with the policies of the Republican 
party. 

ANDREWS, Charles, a well known and thrifty 
farmer of Chalmers Township, McDonough 
County. 111., was born in Somersetshire, 
England, September 24, 1S26. His par- 
ents were John and Ann (Biddlecomb) An- 
drews, natives of England. William Andrews, 
his paternal grandfather, married a lady named 
Williams, both being of English nativity. 
Thomas and Mary (Locky) Biddlecomb, of 
English birth, were the maternal grandparents. 
Charles Andrews and his brother, Henry, came 
to Philadelphia, Pa., May 4, 1850. They 
journeyed on foot and by canal and wagon to 
McDonough County, 111., where they engaged 
in farming on rented land for thirteen years. 
In 1856 Charles went back to England, where 
he remained six months. Returning to Mc- 
Donough County, they operated rented farms 
until 1864. In the fall of that year, Mr. An- 
drews bought a farm of eighty acres in Sec- 
tion 24, Chalmers Township, to which he 
moved May 6, 1864. Ten years later he bought 
forty acres more adjoining his farm. He 
cleared the tract of all timber, built a comfort- 
able house and made other improvements, and 
now has one of the finest farms In the town- 
ship. The religious faith of Mr. Andrews is 
based on the creed of the Presbyterian Church. 
On political issues he is affiliated with the 



Republican party. His brother Henry never- 
married, and died in November, 1902, at the 
home of his brother-in-law, Joseph Bown, in 
Scotland Township. 

ANDREWS, Charles, who is successfully en- 
gaged in farming in Industry Township, Mc- 
Donough County, III., was born in this town- 
ship September 21, 1865, and here received his 
early education in the public schools. He is 
a son of Thomas and Sarah (Garland) An- 
drews, whose biographical record appears on 
another page of this volume. The subject of 
this sketch was the seventh of ten children 
born to his parents of whom three girls and 
five boys are living. He remained at home 
until he was twenty-eight years old, when he 
rented a farm in Chalmers Township for two 
years. At the end of that period he purchased 
a farm of 120 acres in Industry Township, and 
to this has added from time to time until he Is 
now the owner of 210 acres of excellent farming 
land in Section 5. His main crops consist of 
corn, wheat and oats, and he also raises norses, 
cattle and hogs. 

Mr. Andrews was united in marriage Feb- 
ruary 28, 1894, to Jennie Curran, a daughter 
of Nicholas and Maria (Teal) Curran, natives 
of Ireland and Illinois. They resided in Mc- 
Donough County near Industry until their 
death and Mrs. Andrews herself was born and 
schooled in Industry Township. Five children 
have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Charles Andrews, namely: Lena Ruth, Ethel 
May, Charles William, Beulah Viola and Earl 
DeLoss. Mr. Andrews is a supporter of the 
principles of the Republican party, and frater- 
nally is identified with the I. O. O. F. He 
and his family are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. He holds a high place in the esteem 
of his neighbors and is considered one of the 
substantial members of the community. 

ANDREWS, John T., a well-known resident of 
Chalmers Township, McDonough County, 111., 
where he is successfully engaged in stock- 
raisin.g, was born in McDonough County. April 
27. 1855, a son of James and Rosanna (Bown) 
Andrews, natives of Middlezoy, England. His 
parents came to McDonough County in the fall 
of 1S54, and settled in Scotland Township, where 
they remained four years. The family then 
moved to Chalmers Township, where the father 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



513 



bought a farm, the cultivation of which occu- 
pied him until his death March 26, 1903. 

John T. Andrews is the eldest of a family of 
eleven children born to his parents. In early 
youth he attended public school, and remained 
on the home farm until he reached the age of 
twenty-five years. He then entered into matri- 
mony and conducted a rented farm six years. 
At the end of that period he bought seventy 
acres of fanning land in Section 2G, and eighty 
acres in Section 25, Chalmers Township. Here 
he devotes his attention to raising Shorthorn 
cattle and thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, 
with corn and grain for feeding purposes. 

On December 23, 1S79, Mr. Andrews was 
joined in wedlock with Mary M. Johnson, who 
was born in Franklin County. Ohio, and at- 
tended school in Illinois. Of this union eight 
children have been born, namely: Mary Leona. 
who died in infancy; Amy Ethel, Rose Malinda. 
James Johnson, John Clifford, Mary Lenora, 
Laura. Mildred and Ada Lois. In politics the 
subject of this sketch gives his support to 
the Republican party. He has served as Su- 
pervisor, and was elected Highway Commis- 
sioner in the spring of 1903. His religious 
faith is founded on the doctrines of the 
Lutheran Church. Mr. Andrews is thorough 
and systematic in the conduct of his work, and 
the results produced attest the close and in- 
telligent attention he bestows upon It. 

ANDREWS, Thomas, who has been for more 
than half a century engaged in farming in 
Industry Township, McDonough County. 111., 
was born in Somersetshire, England, July 21, 
1823, a son of .lohn and Ann (Biddlecomb) 
Andrews, also natives of England. William 
Andrews, the paternal grandfather, and I homas 
Biddlecomb, the grandfather on the mother's 
side, were also of English birth. Thomas An- 
drews, who is the second of nine children born 
to his parents, received his education in the 
common schools and worked on a farm until 
1849. At that period he came to the United 
States and located in Ohio, where he continued 
in farm work for nine months. He then came 
to Schuyler County, 111., and was employed 
for one year in the same occupation, after 
which he located in McDonough County and 
worked four years with his two brothers. In 
1859, Mr. Andrews bought a farm of forty 
acres in Industry Township, to which he added 



from time to time until his farming possessions 
now amount to 350 acres of land. This is 
situated in four townships, viz.: Scotland, 
Industry, Bethel and Chalmers. Of late years 
he has lived on his original farm in Industry 
Township, Section (i. When he first came to 
this vicinity all his land was in timber. The 
whole region was a wilderness, and deer were 
abundant. Mr. Andrews cleared all of his land 
but about forty acres, and has made all the 
improvements. 

Three weeks before Christmas, in 1S47, Mr. 
Andrews was married to Sarah Garland, a na- 
tive of Somersetshire, England, who has borne 
him ten children, namely: Eliza (Mrs. Cobb); 
Ellen (Mrs. Venard); William; Joseph, of Ma- 
comb, 111.; Annie (Mrs. Stevens); Charles, 
George. Frank and two who died in infancy. 
In political contests, Mr. Andrews ranges him- 
self on the side of the Republican party, and 
is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. 

ANDREWS, William, who has been success- 
fully engaged in farming in McDonough Coun- 
ty, 111., for more than half a century, is still 
carrying on his customary work in Chalmers 
Township, where he worked by the day in the 
middle of his "teens." He was born in Somer- 
setshire, England, February 2, 1.S3.5. and is a 
son of John and Ann (Biddlecomb) Andrews, 
natives of England, the father's birthplace be- 
ing the city of London. The grandparents on 
both sides — William and Sarah (Williams) An- 
drews and Thomas and Mary (Lockyer) Bid- 
dlecomb — were all of Ens;lish ()ria;in, as were 
the paternal great-grandparents, David and 
Mary (Morgan) Andrews. 

William Andrews, the subject of this sketch, 
is the seventh son of his parents, and had two 
younger sisters. He obtained his schooling 
partly in England and partly in McDonough 
County, 111., where he arrived in 1853. He at 
once started to work on a farm in Scotland 
Township, seven years later removing to Chal- 
mers Township. Two years afterwards he 
bought a farm of 120 acres in Section 26 and 
27 of the latter township, which was all in 
timber. This he cleared, and subsequently pur- 
chased 160 acres in Section 27. At present Mr. 
Andrews is the owner of 2S0 acres of land, on 
which he raises cattle, hogs, and horses. His 
principal crops are corn and grass for use in 
feeding. 



8i4 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



In June, 1862, Mr. Andrews was married to 
Rowena McCormick, who is a native of Ken- 
tucliy, where she received her early mental 
training in the common schools. The children 
resulting from this union are: Emma (Mrs. 
Leslie Baty); John Oliver; Ida (Mrs. Alfred 
Sturgeon); Inez (Mrs. Alonzo Baymiller); and 
Blanche (Mrs. Michael Sullivan). In politics, 
Mr. Andrews is a Republican. He has held the 
office of School Trustee four terms, and has 
served as School Director for many years. 

APPLEGATE, James T.— As a prosperous 
mine operator, and President of the Applegate 
& Lewis Coal Company, James T. Applegate is 
rounding out a career of varied experience, 
resulting in a wide knowledge of business tac- 
tics and ethics, and ready adaptation to the 
general needs of twentieth century existence. 
Born on a farm near Rushville, Schuyler Coun- 
ty, 111., June 26, 1831, Mr. Applegate is a son 
of Richard P. Applegate, who was born in 
Simpsonville, near Louisville. Ky., in 1793, and 
grandson of Benjamin Applegate, who spent 
his entire life in Louisville. His mother, Ta- 
bitha (Hawley) Applegate, was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1799, and died in Illinois in December, 
1871. 

Emerging from a youth uneventfully passed 
on the old homestead, and in which work in 
the fields was interspersed with attendance at 
the district school, Mr. Applegate found him- 
self a victim of the western fever, which un- 
settled half the wage-earners between tne two 
oceans during the middle of the last century. 
Lured by the prospect of a quickly made fortune 
in the gold fields on the Pacific coast, he 
reached the Mecca of his dreams under cir- 
cumstances that would have dismayed the most 
ambitious Argonauts. Leaving home in Jan- 
uary, 1852, he left Panama the following March 
in a sailing vessel, the British bark "Emily" 
destined for eighty-four days upon the deep 
before reaching the port of Mansanillo, Mexico, 
where they stopped four days laying in sup- 
plies of food and water, as they were short of 
both. They then coasted up to San Bias, where 
they remained forty-seven days waiting an op- 
portunity to secure passage on another vessel, 
as the "Emily" had been declared unseaworthy. 
Through the American Consul the passengers 
finally secured passage on the "Archibald 
Gracia," a sailing vessel, which was little 



better than the "Emily." On this vessel they 
were on the ocean forty-five days more before 
reaching San Francisco on September 11, 1852. 
During this time thirty-nine of two hundred and 
fifty passengers died from various causes, and 
for the greater part of the voyage half-rations 
of food and a pint of water constituted the 
daily allowance. After reaching his destination 
Mr. Applegate engaged in mining in different 
parts of California, continuing his residence in 
the West until returning to Illinois in the fall 
of 1867. 

From a comparatively small beginning Mr. 
Applegate engaged in the stock-business for 
many years in Illinois, and in 1881 accompanied 
Dr. Westfall to Europe, repeating the trip the 
following year, and on both occasions brought 
back with him high grade horses. He has dealt 
extensively in horses, cattle, hogs and grain, 
and has bought and sold town and country 
properties, at present owning two thousand 
acres of land in Kansas and Nebraska. At 
Moline, 111., in 1895, in company with Mr. 
Keefer, he purchased 160 acres of coal lands, 
which since have been operated with gratifying 
success. Dr. Lewis bought Mr. Keefer's interest 
in 1897 and The Applegate & Lewis Coal Com- 
pany was organized with Mr. Applegate as Pres- 
ident, Mrs. Applegate as Vice-President, and Dr. 
Robert E. Lewis as Secretary. Dr. Lewis for- 
merly was a general practitioner in Macomb 
for fourteen years, and gave up a business of 
$4,000 to $5,000 a year to look after the grow- 
ing interests of the coal company. The firm 
owns mines at Cuba and Hanna City, 111., em- 
ploys about two hundred and twenty-five men. 
and has a mining capacity of 1.500 tons of coal 
a day. Formerly Mr. Applegate had an inter- 
est in the sewer-pipe concern now operating 
under the name of Dickey & Company, of 
Kansas City, and which have several concerns 
engaged in the manufacture of sewer-pipe in 
different parts of the country. The plant at 
Macomb, III., in which Mr. Applegate was inter- 
ested, burned in 1896 with a loss of $40,000 
above the insurance and was almost immediate- 
ly rebuilt. 

Politically, Mr. Applegate is a Republican, 
and fraternally is connected with the Macomb 
Lodge No. 17, A. P. & A. M. December 24, 
1864, he married Lucinda Murry, a native of 
Schuyler County. III., and a graduate of the 
Rushville high school. Mrs. Applegate is a 




JAMES HARRIS ,J R . 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



815 



daughter of Allen and Sarah (Marvin) Murry, 
natives of New York and Vermont, respectively. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Applegate have been born two 
children, of whom Fannie died at the age of two 
years, and Addie L. is the wife of Dr. Robert 
E. Lewis, of Macomb. Mr. Applegate is a man 
of strong and forceful character, and through- 
out an e.xtended and busy career has evinced 
the most important and fundamental requisites 
of success. 

ARCHER, John M., formerly a prosperous 
farmer in Macomb Township, McDonough 
County, 111., now living In retirement in Ma- 
comb, was born April 14, 1827, in Warren Coun- 
ty, Ohio, where he enjoyed the limited ad- 
vantages of the common schools of that period. 
He is a son of John and Rachel (Hillman) 
Archer, natives of New Jersey, the father hav- 
ing been born in Camden County. John M. 
Archer was the youngest of six children born 
to his parents. In his youth he learned the 
plasterer's trade, which he followed from 1847 
to I86.5. Afterward, until 186S, he worked at 
farming. The period between April, 1868, and 
January, 1869, he spent in Bushnell. Early in 
18G9 he bought a farm in Macomb Township, 
on which he lived until 1882, when he located 
in Macomb. Here he bought a tract of three 
acres, on which he built a house and made all 
necessary improvements. These premises he 
now occupies in comfortable retirement, free 
from the strain of active exertion. 

On May 2, 18^2, Mr. Archer was married 
to Mary E. Parshall, whose birthplace was In 
Wood County, Ohio, where she attended public 
school. Her parents, James G. and Margaret 
(Staley) Parshall, were born in Allegheny 
County, Pa. This union resulted in the follow- 
ing children, namely: Rachel Elmy (Mrs. M. 
L. Harris), born in 1853 and now living in 
College Springs, Iowa; Florence Belle (Mrs. 
John P. Booth), deceased, born in 1855; Mary 
E. (Mrs. George Smith), born in 1857; G. 
Franklin, born in 1860; John W., born July 
20, 1863, and Elizabeth G., born March 8, 1865, 
who became the wife of Elmer E. PoUick, of 
California. In politics Mr. Archer is a Repub- 
lican. He has served as Supervisor for one 
term, and as member of the City Council from 
the Third Ward for three terms. Fraternally, 
he belongs to the Masonic order, Macomb Lodge, 
No. 17. Mr. Archer spent about thirty-five 



years in earning the repose which he now 
enjoys, conscious of having well performed the 
duties of life. ._, 

ARGENBRIGHT, Henry L., one of the most 
enterprising and substantia! farmers in Blan- 
dinsville Township, McDonough County, 111., 
was born in Crawford County, Ind., on Feb- 
ruary 14, 1855, and there in boyhood attended 
the public schools. He is a son of August and 
Catherine (Bryles) Argenbright, natives of In- 
diana. August Argenbright came to Blandins- 
ville at an early period, and carried on farm- 
ing. The subject of this sketch arrived in Mc- 
Donough County in 1871, and located in Hire 
Township. He engaged in farming until 1880, 
when he purchased twenty-six acres of land in 
Section 2 of that township. In 1898 he bought 
his present place in Section 35, Blandinsville 
Township, and now owns 242 acres in this 
Section, and in Sections 1 and 2, Hire Town- 
ship. On this land Mr. Argenbright has made 
all the improvements. He has always followed 
agricultural pursuits, has been one of the most 
extensive feeders of stock in this section, and is 
also engaged in breeding Percheron horses. 
He has one of the finest homes in McDonough 
County, equipped with all modern improve- 
ments. 

On December 25, 1877, Mr. Argenbright was 
married to Ellie Davidson, who was born in 
La Grange County, Ind. Five children have 
resulted from this union, namely: Frank 
(deceased at the age of ten years); Fanny, 
Mabel, Ethel and Gilbert. Politically, Mr. 
Argenbright is a Democrat. Religiously, he 
leans toward the Methodist Church. Frater- 
nally, he is identified with the Modern Wood- 
men of America. Mrs. Argenbright's parents, 
John and Nancy (Gilbert) Davidson, were born, 
respectively, in Ohio and New York, and, com- 
ing to McDonough County in 1854, located on 
the farm where she now resides. 

ARGENBRIGHT, Isaac, who is successfully 
engaged in farming in Hire Township, Mc- 
Donough County, 111., and one of the most sub- 
stantial representatives of the agricultural ele- 
ment in this region, was born in Crawford 
County, Ind., April 30, 1847, a son of Augustus 
and Catherine ( Bryles) Argenbright, natives 
also of that State. The subject of this sketch 
came to McDonough County, in 1870, and 



8i6 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



worked at farming here and there for six years. 
Being economical and frugal, he accumulated 
a sufficiency to begin farming on his own re- 
sponsibility, and bought forty acres of land in 
1877, locating in Section 1. Hire Township. 
To this he has made additions, as opportunity 
offered, until he is now the owner of 600 acres 
of choice land. On this he has made most of 
the improvements, having built his present 
residence twelve years ago. He follows general 
farming and stock-raising, breeding Shorthorn 
cattle and Percheron horses, and ranks among 
the most extensive and successful agriculturists 
in McDonough County. 

On November 19, 1876, Mr. Argenbright was 
joined in wedlock with Harriet F. Locke, a na- 
tive of Indiana. Four children have blessed 
their union, namely: Vernon. Zella, Hazel and 
Genevan. The religious connection of Mr. 
Argenbright is with the Christian Church. Po- 
litically, he is a supporter of the Democratic 
party. He has rendered good service to the 
township as Road Commissioner, and held the 
office of Supervisor in 1900-02. 

r 

ARMSTRONG, Frederick S., who is Superin- 
tendent of the Gas and Electric Light Plant of 
Macomb, McDonough County, 111., was born in 
'Greene County, 111., January 20, 1863. His 
father, Joseph R. Armstrong, was born in Rog- 
ersville, Tenn., and his mother, Anna E. (Whip- 
ple) Armstrong, in Marietta, Ohio. His pa- 
ternal grandfather, Clinton Armstrong, was 
also born in Rogersville. His grandfather on 
the mother's side was E. Augustus Whipple. 
Mr. Armstrong attended the common schools 
of Carlinville, 111., and afterward pursued a 
course of study in Blackburn University, also 
located in that city. Two years after he com- 
pleted his education he applied himself to 
civil engineering, in which he was occupied for 
ten years, being employed by the Government 
for two years in Utah, and also in Kansas and 
Illinois. He was afterward engaged in mer- 
chandising in Bardolph, 111., for three years, 
a.nd in engineering at Peoria for two years. 
(On October 1, 1901. he came to Macomb, to 
take charge of the Electric Light and Gas 
Works, and has continued in this capacity 
since that period. 

Mr. Armstrong was married May 7, 1891, to 
Nellie Provlne, who was born and schooled 
in Macomb, and they have one child, Anna E., 



born October 5, 1S94. Politically, Mr. Arm- 
strong is a Republican, in religious faith is a 
Presbyterian, and his fraternal affiliations are 
with the Masonic Order, and the Modern Wood- 
men of America. 

ARTER, Daniel, formerly an energetic and 
successful farmer in Prairie City Township, 
McDonough County, 111., where he now lives in 
comfortable retirement, was born on January 
6. 1836, in Richland County. Ohio. He is a 
son of Henry and Susanna (Musselman) Arter, 
natives of Pennsylvania. The subject of this 
sketch moved from Ohio to Iowa in 1858, and 
in 1859 came from Iowa to Illinois and settled 
in Warren County. In 1878 he came to Mc- 
Donough County, buying 120 acres of land in 
Section 8, Prairie City Township, and later, 
240 acres west of the first purchase and eighty 
acres in Section 16. He followed farming 
and stock-raising with success, but has now 
practically left the operation of the farms to 
his sons. All the buildings on his land were 
put up by him, and he made all the improve- 
ments on the place where he now lives. 

On September 21, 1S6.5. Mr. Arter was mar- 
ried in Richland County, Ohio, to Samantha 
Mitchell, who was born in that county, and at- 
tended the common schools in her youth, as 
did her husband. Six children blessed their 
union, of whom the following are living: 
Frank L., Roy, Pearl B. and Guy. Politically, 
Mr. Arter is an adherent of the Republican 
party, and both he and his wife affiliate with 
the Methodist Church. Mr. Arter is a man 
of upright character, and bears an unblemished 
reputation. Mrs. Arter is a daughter of Eph- 
raini and Cynthia (Eustick) Mitchell, both born 
in Ohio and passed their lives in their native 
State. She was the fifth in a family of eleven 
children and came west after her marriage. 

ARVIN, James (deceased), for many years a 
successful, influential and highly-esteemed 
farmer in Schuyler County, HI., and later a 
resident of Macomb, McDonough County, 111., 
was born in Garrard County, Ky.. August 30, 
1822, and received his early education in the 
country schools of his neighborhood. His fam- 
ily was of Scotch descent, and he was a son of 
Starling and Elizabeth (Leysher) Arvin, na- 
tives of Nova Scotia. The subject of this 
sketch was the youngest of ten children. At 






ayTyiy\^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



817 



the age of seventeea years he came to Schuyler 
County, 111., where he was engaged in farming 
until 1892, when he moved to Macomb, where 
he died, June 26, 1904. When he began life 
for himself he possessed very little means, but 
by Industry, economy and thrift, he acquired 
considerable property. 

On. May 17. 1S.S2. Mr. Arvin was united in 
marriage with Margaret E. Wheat, who was 
born in Littleton. Schuyler County, 111., where 
in girlhood she attended the district schools, 
afterward pursuing a course of study in the 
Branch College. Macomb. One child, James, 
resulted from this union, who died September 
9. 1901, at the age of seventeen years. The 
political views of Mr. Arvin were in harmony 
with the policies of the Republican party. Re- 
ligiously he was an active and useful member 
of the Baptist Church in Macomb, and con- 
tributed liberally toward the construction of 
the new church edifice of that denomination, 
his donation of two thousand dollars being the 
largest one made for that purpose in Macomb. 
In every relation of life, James Arvin was an 
upright and conscientious man. He took faith- 
ful and affectionate care of his parents as long 
as they lived and fulfilled every obligation rest- 
ing upon him with a high sense of duty. 

Mrs. Arvin was a daughter of John Wheat 
and Julia A. Snyder, who were natives of Ken- 
tucky, the mother being of Irish descent and 
the father German. They came from Kentucky 
to Schuyler County. 111., located on a farm, 
and later moved to Littleton. 111., where the 
father died March 26. 1902. The mother still 
survives, arid Is living at Littleton. Mrs. Arvin 
was one of fourteen children, of whom only 
five are now living. 

ASPLUND, Herman A., who is engaged in 
farming in the vicinity of Prairie City, Mc- 
Donough County. 111., is a native of Sweden, 
where he was born on February 9. 1867, a son 
of Charles and Sophie (Johnson) Asplund, also 
natives of Sweden. Mr. Asplund came to the 
United States in 1870, and settled near New 
Philadelphia. 111. He then moved to a farm 
northwest of Bushnell. 111., where he remained 
until 1903. At that period he took charge of 
the farm of James Leard, of Prairie City, 111., 
on which he lived for two years. He is the 
owner of a farm near Macomb, III. On July 3. 
1889, Mr. Asplund was married to Nellie Harold, 



who was born in Fulton County, 111. Three 
children have blessed this union, namely: Ed- 
ward. Mary and Ethel. Politically, Mr. Asplund 
is a member of the Republican party, and fra- 
ternally is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen 
and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

ATHERTON, William B.— After many years 
of successful farming in Scotland, and New 
Salem Townships. McDonough County, 111., the 
subject of this sketch withdrew from his active 
labors on November 24, 1904. Mr. Atherton was 
born in Dallas City, Hancock County, 111., 
March 14, 1842. He is a son of Joseph Ather- 
ton. who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, 
and Eliza (Simonson) Atherton, who was born 
in the State of New Jersey. The grandfather, 
Iseial Atherton. and grandmother, Nellie 
(Campbell) Atherton. were natives of Hamilton 
County. Ohio. Joseph Atherton moved from 
Hancock County during the Mormon War, in 
1845, to Stark County, 111. Of the four boys 
and seven girls born to his parents, William 
P. Atherton was the fifth in order of birth. In 
boyhood he attended school in Stark County, 
where he lived until 1872. In February, 1865, 
he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth^Regi- 
ment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with 
Sherman at Johnston's surrender, at Raleigh, 
N. C. At the end of the war he returned to 
Stark County, where he was the owner of an 
eighty-acre farm, which he then sold and pur- 
chased 120 acres of land in Scotland Town- 
ship. In this and New Salem Township, he 
finally acquired 250 acres of land. Eighty acres 
of this he gave to his daughter, and sold eighty 
acres in 1904, leaving ninety acres in his name 
on his retirement from active pursuits. He 
then moved to Macomb, where he bought a 
residence on North Lafayette Street. 

On March 3. 1868. at; Toulon, 111., Mr. Ather- 
ton was married to Amelia C. Atherton. who 
was born at Cape Girardeau. Mo., April 15, 
1858, where in her youth she attended the public 
school. The offspring of this union was four 
children, namely: Nellie E. (Mrs. Ambrose 
Harlan), born at Lafayette. Stark County, 111., 
March 12. 1871; Mary Abigail, born February 
14. 1875, and died October 19, 1878; Emma, 
born December 27. 1883, who died at the age of 
six years, January 28, 1890; and Joseph A., 
born September 3, 1889, at Pennington's Point, 
McDonough County, and who remains under 



8i8 



HISTORY OF McDGNOUGH COUNTY. 



the parental roof. Mrs. Atherton died Feb- 
ruary 1, 1901, and was buried at Pennington's 
Point. Although not active in politics, the 
subject of this sketch gives his support to the 
Democratic party. 

BACON, Joseph Barnes, M. D.— A near ap- 
proach to an ideal standard in medical attain- 
ments and practice is manifest in the career 
of Dr. Joseph B. Bacon, of Macomb, McDonough 
County, III., whose reputation as a physician 
and surgeon is not circumscribed by the limits 
of that city and county. Beyond these local 
environments has spread a recognition of the 
breadth of his scientific research, and the 
effective use he has made of exceptional ac- 
quirements. The acknowledged status reached 
by Dr. Bacon in his chosen sphere of endeavor 
is abundant evidence of the possession of those 
traits of mind and character which are essen- 
tial to the achievement of distinction in the 
medical jirofession. His success is attributable 
to a keen perceptive faculty, firmness in de- 
cision, constancy of purpose, a spirit of thorough 
investigation of all biological problems, a de- 
termination to keep fully abreast of modern 
developments in pathology, and a rigid ob- 
servance of the strictest rules of ethics. During 
the institutional training of his prei)aratory 
Iieriod he brought to bear upon the successive 
courses of study pursued a degree of assiduity, 
diligence of application and concentration of 
mental force that constituted an augury of 
future prominence, and although he became 
through this instrumentality uncommonly well 
versed in medical theory, he has never ceased 
to be a student. Even after he had developed 
into a practitioner of established repute, he 
was not content until he had sought other 
sources of instruction in noted universities of 
the Old World. Thus perfecting his mental 
resources by persistent delving into the mys- 
teries of his calling, he has acquired a degree 
of theoretical and practical skill adequate to 
meet all the emergencies arising in critical 
stages of intricate and complicated maladies. 

Joseph Barnes Bacon was born in the village 
of Tennessee, McDonough County, 111., January 
14, 1854, and is a son of Larkin Crouch and 
Hanor (Durbin) Bacon. His father was a na- 
tive of Tennessee, having been born at Jones- 
boro in that State, in 181S. His mother was 
born in Louisville, Ky., February 24, 1825. 



Larkin Crouch Bacon was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and a man of notable intelligence and 
admirable traits of character. In boyhood, 
Joseph B. Bacon made himself useful as best 
he could on the paternal farm, meanwhile at- 
tending the district school in the vicinity of his 
home. Later in youth he became a pupil in 
the Branch Academy, at Macomb, and after- 
wards pursued a course in the Northwestern 
University at Evanston, 111. In 1S79, he applied 
himself to the study of medicine in the Texas 
Medical College, at Galveston, following this 
in 1881 by a course in the Chicago Medical 
College. On graduating from the institution 
last named, he devoted his attention to the 
jjractice of his profession. In 1884, he went 
abroad, and in that and the year following, 
took post-graduate courses at Heidelberg and 
Vienna. Dr. Bacon subsequently acted in the 
capacity of Instructor in Gynecology at the 
Northwestern Universit.v Medical School, Chi- 
cago, and at a still later period, was connected 
with the Chicago Post-Graduate Medical 
School as Professor of Diseases of the Rectum. 
In 1902, he founded the St. Francis Hospital 
at Macomb, of which he is Surgeon-in-Chief. 
His discharge of the important functions de- 
volving upon him in this institution has en- 
hanced his reputation, already high, and he 
ranks among the most skillful surgeons in that 
section of the State. 

On September 12, 1888, Dr. Bacon was united 
in marriage with Elizabeth Lisle Bailey, who 
was born at Macomb, 111., October 25, 1865. 
Two children are the result of this union, 
namely: William Sutherland Baconi, born Feb- 
ruary 23, 1891, and Dorothy Lisle Bacon, born 
February 18, 1896. 

Politically, Dr. Bacon was a Republican until 
1896, when he allied himself with the Demo- 
cratic party. In fraternal circles he is identi- 
fied with the A. F. & A. M., in which he is a 
charter member of the Macomb Commandery, 
Knights Templar. Professionally, he holds 
memberships in the American Medical Associa- 
tion; the American Association of Obstetri- 
cians and Gynecologists; the Illinois State Med- 
ical Society; the Chicago Gynecological Society, 
and the Chicago Academy of Medicine. 

BAGLEY, Stephen J., who is successfully en- 
gaged in farming in Chalmers Township, Mc- 
Donough County, 111., was born in Manchester, 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



819 



England, March 12, 1854. His parents, Samuel 
and Elizabeth (Skaret) Bagley, were also of 
English origin, the former's birthplace being 
Manchester, banniel Bagley came to the United 
States and proceeded to McDonough County, 
111., settling on a farm in Chalmers Township. 
Stephen J. Bagley is the eldest of four children, 
two of whom were boys. He made his home 
with his parents until he was twenty-seven 
years old. He then rented a farm of Thomas 
Gilmore, on which he was engaged in farming 
for twenty-one and one-half years. In the 
meantime he had purchased 200 acres of land 
in this township, and carries on general farm- 
ing, and raising cattle, horses and hogs. In 
early life he learned the carpenter's trade, at 
which he often worked. 

On December 25, 1878, Mr. Bagley was mar- 
ried to Emma Cale, a native of Ohio, where 
in girlhood she received a common school edu- 
cation. The issue of this union was nine chil- 
dren, as follows: Alice (Mrs. Lawrence Clug- 
ston) ; Fred, who married Annie Hill; George, 
Jennie, Mamie, Pearl, Loutllous, Ralph and 
Irene. Mr. Bagley is a member of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. Since 1887, he has 
been Vice-President of the County Sunday 
School Association. Politically, the subject of 
this sketch is a Republican, and has served 
as School Director since 1894. 

BAILEY, George W., President Electric Light 
and Gas Company. Macomb, was born in Ma- 
comb, 111., August 24, 183S, the son of W. W. 
and Elizabeth M. (Walker) Bailey, natives of 
Virginia and Kentucky, i-espectively, who came 
to Illinois about 1S33. They were the parents 
of ten children of whom the subject of this 
sketch was next to the youngest. George W. 
Bailey was educated in the common schools of 
Illinois, and at the age of twenty-one opened 
a grocery store, which later he sold to embark 
in the dry-goods trade. On February 20, 1861, 
he was married to Eliza M. Worthington, of 
Rushville, 111., and of this union three children 
have bSen born: Roland W., Anna B. Blunt 
(a dentist residing in Chicago), and James W. 
In 1901, Mr. Bailey disposed of his dry-goods 
stock, and retired from active labor. Three 
years later (1904). he was made President of 
the Macomb Electric Light and Gas Company, 
a position which he still fills to the satisfaction 
of patrons and the company. In his political 



affiliations Mr. Bailey is a Republican, and is 
also a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

BAILEY, William Washington (deceased).— 
Among the most prominent and highly re- 
spected citizens of Macomb, 111., at an early pe- 
riod, was the subject of this sketch. He was 
born near the Natural Bridge, in Virginia, No- 
vember 25, 1797, and died in Macomb on March 
22, 1872. He was a son of William Schreve Bai- 
ley and wife, who were natives of Virginia. 
After living in his native State until 1818, he 
removed with his father's family to Adair 
County, Ky., where his father, who was a farm- 
er by occupation, passed the remainder of his 
life. Mr. Bailey attended the district schools 
in his youth, whenever opportunity offered, and 
lielped his father in the operation of the farm. 
As his father was a slaveholder, he assistod in 
the supervision of the place after the latter's 
death. In 1833, he came to Illinois, and en- 
gaged in the dry -goods trade in Macomb, con- 
ducting the second store of this kind opened 
in the town. In this line he continued nearly 
all his life. Although he owned the farm which 
is now the property of his son, William S. Bai- 
ley, he gave it little personal attention. He 
was one of the early stockholders of what is 
now the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railway, 
and was also one of the principal promoters 
of the movement to determine the location of 
the old McDonough College. 

About the year 1819, Mr. Bailey was united 
in marriage, in the State of Kentucky, with 
Elizabeth Walker, who was a member of a 
prominent family in that State, some of whose 
members came to Illinois, and are related to the 
Walker family of McDonough County, includ- 
ing Cyrus Walker, a distinguished member of 
the bar. Ten children resulted from this union, 
three of whom died in infancy. Those who 
reached mature years were: James. William 
S., Joseph, Samuel, Mary, George and Henry. 
The last named died in the army in 1861 Of 
the entire family, the sole survivors are Wil- 
liam S^*and George, who are prominent citi- 
zens of Macomb. Mrs. Bailey died in August, 
1S56, and on May 5, 1864. Mr. Bailey was mar- 
ried to Hannah A. Dean. This union was with- 
(uit issue. Mr. Bailey's second wife, Hannah A. 
Dean, came to Macomb from Woodstock, Conn., 
in the fall of 1854, to teach in the old McDon- 
ou.gh County College, Rev. J. Pillsbury being at 



Xr J>. IS^X.. 



-820 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



that time President of the institution, and she 
.continued teaching until her marriage, for a 
pai-t of the time being connected with the pub- 
lic schools, and becoming one of the most wide- 
ly known teachers in IVIcDonough County. She 
still resides in Macomb and retains in her pos- 
session the records of the historic old college 
with which she was connected fifty years ago. 
In politics, Mr. Bailey was an old-time Whig, 
and afterward a Republican. Religiously, he 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church in 
Macomb, with which he united one year after 
its organization on June 9, 1832, and in which 
he was an elder for about forty years. He was 
a man of marked intelligence, high character, 
and genial temperament, and his influence was 
always exerted for good. He was one of the 
most substantial and useful of the early resi- 
. dents of Macomb. 

BAKER, John H., a thoroughly competent and 
successful druggist of Macomb, 111., was born 
in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, Decem- 
ber 18, 1861. His father. Ephraim Baker, was 
born in Baltimore, Md., and his mother, Mary 
(Goar) Baker, was a native of Kentucky. Mr. 
Baker received his early mental training in 
the public schools of McDonough County, and 
also attended a business college at Di.\on, 111. 
He is the youngest of eleven children born to 
his parents, who came to this county when 
he was five years of age. He staid on the 
farm until the spring of 1885, and then spent 
a short time in Kansas. Returning to Illi- 
nois, he was engaged In the grocery business 
three and a half years in Plymouth, Hancock 

'County, and was one and a half years in a 
general store. He then sold out and went into 
the drug business, in which he continued until 
189G. This he disposed of and bought a drug 
store at Fandon, McDonough County, which he 
conducted four years and a half, when he sold 
this also and came to Macomb. Here he 
started a new drug-store March 8, 1901. which 
he sold in April, 1903. and then established 
another. 

Mr. Baker was married June 25, 1891, to 
Maggie Kitchens, who was born and schooled 
at La Harpe, 111. Their children are Eulalie 
and Onlta Ruth. In politics, Mr. Baker acts 
with the Republican party, and fraternally is 
connected with the Masonic Order, K. of P. 

:and M. W. A. 



BAKER, Jonathan H. (deceased), whose span 
of life covered years of eminent usefulness to 
the community of which ne was a very promi- 
nent and infiuential member, was born in Wal- 
]K5le. Cheshire County, N. H., May 8, 1817. He 
was a son of Edward and Anna (Haskell) 
Baker, natives of Massachusetts. At the age 
of seven years Mr. Baker was left an orphan, 
and "bound out" to a farmer named Edmond 
Walker. When he was eighteen years old his 
guardian allowed him to enter the employ of 
a merchant in the vicinity, where he worked as 
clerk until he came to Illinois. The journey 
westward was made overland, and a period 
of twenty-seven days was consumed in reaching 
Macoml). After working one month in a brick 
yard in 1X38. he became a clerk for James M. 
Campbell, with whom he remained two years. 
In January, 1811, he went into the grocery busi- 
ness in company with J. P. Updegraff. In 
1845, he was appointed Postmaster of Macomb, 
and held the office four years. During this pe- 
riod ho was also engaged in the mercantile trade 
in company with Charles Chandler, continuing 
in this line until 1855, when he embarked in 
real-estate business. In 1858 he was appointed 
County Clerk to fill a vacancy caused by the 
death of Isaac Grantham, and in the following 
year was elected to that office, serving one 
term and continuing his real-estate operations 
in the meantime. In 1865 he entered upon the 
practice of law in partnership with Mr. Neece, 
under the firm name of Baker & Neece. In 
1877 he was elected County Judge, and was re- 
elected in 1882. 

As a citizen. Judge Baker maintained a high 
standing, and, as a jurist, was clear, firm and 
impartial. He possessed in a marked degree 
those qualities which fitted him for the judi- 
cial function. On March 2. 1843. Judge Baker 
was united in marriage to Isabella Hempstead, 
a daughter of Stephen Hempstead. She was 
born in Missouri, and came to Illinois when a 
child. Four children resulted from their union, 
namely: Clara K.. wife of C. V. Chandler; 
Mary C. widow of E. L. Wells: Isabella, wife of 
George D. Tunnicliff, an attorney, of Macomb, 
and Joseph H. Judge Baker's decease occurred 
December 31, 1891. 

In politics. Judge Baker was an unswerving 
Democrat and cast his first vote for Stephen 
A. Douglas, candidate for Congress in 1838. 
In religious belief, he was a Universalist, and 




^.e-rtJl^4^, 



a-'tA^iy^^ 



1 

1 A^TOT^- ^^'^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



821 



was identified with the church of that denom- 
ination in Macomb. Fraternally, he was one 
of the first members of the I. O. O. F. in the 
city of his residence. While not demonstra- 
tive or aggressive in his mental characteris- 
tics, the subject of this review was a man of 
remarkable self-))oise, lucid' in perception and 
vigorous in logical deduction, and occupied a 
rank second to few, if any, in the admirable 
succession of jurists who have adorned the pro- 
fession ot law in McDonough County. 

BALL, Ira D., founder of the carriage and 
wagon-making establishment of Ball Brothers, 
in Bushnell, McDonough County, 111., is a native 
of the State of New Jersey, who, coming to 
Bushnell in 1S63, there engaged in the business 
of wagon-making. This he followed for many 
years, and, as his sons grew up they became 
associated with him in the enterprise, which 
has constantly increased in its proportions. 
The wife of Mr. Ball was formerly Anna Dean, 
a native of Ohio. His sons, Ira M. Ball, F. L. 
Ball, and J. J. Ball, constitute the firm of Ball 
Brothers, who now direct the business in- 
augurated by their father, and manufacture 
and sell all varieties of carriages, wagons, har- 
ness, etc. 

The subject of this sketch is a man of sound 
judgment, superior business capacity, and, in 
the development of the manufacturing enter- 
prise with which he has so long been asso- 
ciated, has displayed notable energy and dili- 
gence. In this connection, his sons have fol- 
lowed worthily in his footsteps. The manufac- 
tory of Ball Brothers, under which style the 
concern has been conducted since 1891, is one 
of the most extensive and thoroughly equipped 
of its kind in the country. The present main 
building, 60 by 100 feet in dimensions, located 
on Main Street, was erected in 1S95. Subse- 
quently the firm built another factory 60 by 
50 feet and still later another — a two-story 
structure — 60 by 100 feet in size. The firm 
does all kinds of repair work, blacksmithing 
and woodwork. 

BARCLAY, John. — No one need be deeply 
versed in the history of family names to fix 
upon the nationality of the Barclays. In truth, 
not only were the paternal grandfather, .lohn, 
and the father, James, sons of sturdy Scotland, 
but Mary Paul, the grandmother, was born 



there, as also were Agnes Binnie, the mother 
of the subject of this sketch, and her grand- 
I)arents, Robert and Mary (Eady) Binnie. John 
Bar-lay is himself a native of Falkirk, Scot- 
land, where he was born July 25, 1833. 
On June 6, 1861, he was married to Miss 
Nancy Kelly, of Argyleshire. Mrs. Barclay's 
grandparents, James and Eflie (McDonald) 
Kelly and Charles and Elizabeth (Thompson) 
McNeil, were unswerving Scots, and her par- 
ents. James and Elizabeth (McNeil) Kelly, 
stood in the same firm ranks. The following 
named children of Mr. and Mrs. Barclay ma.v 
therefore claim as pure a strain of Scotch blood 
as can be found anywhere in the State. Mar- 
garet Elizabeth (Mrs. R. Paschal, Cass County. 
III.). Nannie C. (Mrs. W. Allison. McDonough 
Coimty), James L., Charles W. and John A. — 
the three last named being residents of Scot- 
land Township. 

Mr. Barclay left the land of his birth and' 
of his ancestors, on the 25th of April, 1850,. 
landing in New York City, whence he traveled 
ina the Erie Canal to Buffalo and thence by 
lake boat to Chicago. The old Michigan Canal 
bore him to La Salle, and then he came on to 
McDonough County, where his parents pur- 
chased a farm in what is now Scotland Town- 
ship. John remained with his parents until a 
year before his marriage, when he bought 
eighty acres as the nucleus of an independent 
homestead. Until his marriage in 1861, his- 
sister kept house for him. At this location he 
lived, prospered and established himself as a 
useful and honorable citizen, adding to his- 
possessions from time to time, until he was the 
proprietor of 200 acres of improved land. In 
March, 1894, he retired from his farm, and' 
removed to Macomb, purchasing property on 
East 'Washington Street and erecting thereoa 
a tasteful residence. 

During his active life as an agriculturist, 
as well as during his less strenuous experience 
at Macomb, Mr. Barclay was repeatedly called 
upon to perform public service of an im- 
portant character. For two years he served 
as Highway Commissioner of Scotland Town- 
shin, was School Director for a period of twen- 
ty years. Supervisor for two years, and Town 
Clerk, Assessor, and School Treasurer sue 
cessively for a period of three years each, re- 
si.gning the latter office on his removal to Ma- 
comb. In that city he has also been a member 



822 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



of the City Council for thlie Tliiid Ward for two 
jears. In politics, he has always been a 
Republican and, as is quite natural from his 
unadulterated Scotch ancestry, as well as 
from his individual convictions, he is a firm 
adherent to the tenets of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

BARLEY, Elias A., a retired farmer of 
Macomb Township, McDonough County, 111., 
now living in Macomb, was born in Marion 
County, Ind., February 1, 1842. His father, 
William Barley, was a native of Virginia, and 
his mother, Emeline (Adsit) Barley, was born 
in the State of New York. His paternal grand- 
father, John Barley, was a native of Mary- 
land, and his grandfather on the maternal 
side, Elias Adsit, was a New Yorker. William 
Barley and his wife moved to Warren County, 
Ohio, when their son, Elias, was an infant. The 
latter was the second of three children born to 
them. In his boyhood, the subject of this 
sketch enjoyed the advantage of the common 
school, and worked on a farm in Ohio until 
187-3, when he came to McDonough County. 
There he rented a farm of 160 acres in Macomb 
Township for two years. This he afterward 
purchased and cultivated it until 1892. At 
that period retiring from active labors, he 
moved to Macomb and bought a home on East 
Carroll Street. He had previously sold his 
farm and purchased another of 160 acres nearer 
Macomb. He was a diligent and careful farmer, 
and his labors brought forth satisfactory re- 
sults. 

Mr. Barley was married September 1, 1863. 
to Elizabeth Hadden. a native of Warren 
County, Ohio, where she attended the public 
and high schools. Eight children resulted from 
this union, as follows: Carrie (Mrs. W. H. 
Allen), of Ohio; Bessie (Mrs. William New- 
land): Lee: Georgia; John; Catherine; Wini- 
fred (deceased); and Fred. Politically, Mr. 
Barley is a Republican. He served the public 
as School Director of Macomb Township for 
ten years, and was Road Commissioner for 
eight years. After his removal to Macomb, he 
represented the Second Ward In the City Coun- 
cil three years. In 1899 he was elected City Su- 
pervisor, and was re-elected, his time expiring in 
April, 1905. Fraternally, he is connected with 
the I. O. O. F. In all the relations of life, Mr. 



Barley has been faithful and dutiful, and he is 
now enjoying the comfortable retirement mer- 
ited by a career of industry and probity. 

BAUMGARDNER, William, who, since 1859, 
has been successfully engaged in farming in 
Hire Township, McDonough County, 111., was 
born on October 22. 1837, in Germany. He 
is a son of Jacob and Mary (Brant) Baum- 
gardner, natives of the same country. His father 
was a baker by trade. The subject of this 
sketch was brought to the United States by his 
parents when he was five years of age, the fam- 
ily locating at Chillicothe, Ohio, where he 
worked as a cabinet-maker until he was twenty 
years old. He then came to Macomb, where he 
worked at his trade until, at the age of twenty- 
one, he rented and farmed land in Tennessee 
Township. In 1S59 he settled in Hire Town- 
ship, also in McDonough County, where he now 
lives in Section 35. Here he bought a tract 
of land, to which he has added until he is now 
the owner of 246 acres. On this he is engaged 
in general farming and stock feeding. He is 
a thorough farmer, and applies himself closely 
and diligently to the task before him. 

On March 19, 1865, Mr. Baumgardner was joined 
in wedlock with Martha McClure. who was born 
and schooled in McDonough County. She was a 
daughter of Rutherford and Sarah (White) 
McClure. natives of Ohio. The children re- 
sulting from this union are nine in number, 
and named as follows: Wallace, Fred. Thomas, 
Dock, Lawrence, Ray, Carrie (Mrs. Luther 
Chandler), Lorena (Mrs. Frank Schryke) and 
Lizzie (wife of William R. Chandler, a carpen- 
ter of .Macomb). Politically, Mr. Baumgardner 
is an adherent of the Democratic party. He 
served six years as Road Commissioner and 
held the office of Township Supervisor for one 
term, and his public services are regarded by 
the community as having been conscientious 
and efficient. The religious belief of Mr. Baum- 
gardner is in accordance with the creed of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

BAYLESS, John H., editor and publisher, 
Blandinsville, McDonough County, was born on 
a farm near Blandinsville, January 13. 1875, the 
son of Jefferson and Susan L. Bayless and ob- 
tained his primary education in the local 
schools. After graduation from the public 




/^^^^^^ 



PU.^i 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



823 



school, he entered the Western Illinois Normal 
College at Macomb, graduating from the latter 
in June, 1900, and also from the Macomb Busi- 
ness Institute. He then entered as a student 
the law office of Elting & Qamp, practicing at- 
torneys of Macomb, where he remained until 
1901, when he removed to Blandinsville, and 
there engaged in the real-estate, loan and in- 
surance business, and was also employed as 
manager of the telephone system for nearly 
two years. In January, 1903, he purchased the 
"Blandinsville Star Gazette," to which he has 
since given his entire attention as editor and 
publisher, building up a prosperous business. 
The "Blandinsville Star" was established in 
1893. and the "Gazette" in 1887. the two papers 
being consolidated in 1900 under the name of 
the "Star-Gazette." Mr. Bayless was married 
at Blandinsville, June 4. 1902, to Allie J. Wil- 
son, and they have two sons — Keith W. and 
Blake C. In politics Mr. Bayless is a Republic- 
an, and to the principles of his i)arty gives a 
zealous support in the colums of his paper, in 
the publication of which he has shown much 
enterprise and ability. His entire life has been 
spent in his native county, in which he enjoys 
an extensive social and business acquaintance. 

BEAN, Joseph. — One of the most substantial 
and highly esteemed farmers of Hire Township, 
McDonough County, HI., is he whose name 
heads this sketch. Mr. Bean was born in Mc- 
Donough County, on September 4, 1836, and is 
a son of Robert R. and Martha (Crouch) Bean, 
both natives of Tennessee. Robert R. Bean, who 
was a farmer by occupation, came to Mc- 
Donough County and located in Tennessee 
Township in 1830. He afterwards moved to 
Chalmers Township, where he devoted his at- 
tention to farming and also plied his trade of 
blacksmithing. Here he passed the remainder 
of his days, dying January 20, 1859, at the age 
of fifty-nine years. The mother died in Decem- 
ber, 1842. Robert R. Bean assisted in the or- 
ganization of Tennessee and Chalmers Town- 
ships, and served as County Commissioner sev- 
eral terms. He also held the offices of Justice 
of the Peace and Town Clerk. 

Joseph Bean is the seventh of a family of 
ten children. He was a twin. He grew up 
on the paternal farm, assisting in the work, and 
at intervals attending the public schools in 
the vicinity. In early manhood he crossed 



the plains three times— in 1859, 1862 and 1863. 
In 1864 he located in Chalmers Township, Mc- 
Donough County, and in 1868 moved to Hire 
Township, where he bought eighty acres of 
land in Section 25. Here he broke the land 
and made all the improvements, and has since 
been engaged in general farming and raising 
Shorthorn cattle. He is now the owner of 
213 acres of fine land in Hire Township. On 
April 16. 1864, Mr. Bean was married to Mary 
F. Welch, who was born and schooled in Mc- 
Donough County. Three children blessed their 
union, namely: Ella (Mrs. Joseph Welch), 
Bert and Belasco. Politically, Mr. Bean is a 
Democrat. He was elected Township Super- 
visor in 1896, and. through re-election, served 
six years. His church membership is with the 
Baptist denomination. He has been a member 
of that church for thirty years, and for twenty- 
five years has acted as Superintendent of the 
Sunday school. The subject of this s^ketch is 
looked upon as a good rejjresentative of the 
best element in agriculture and citizenship of 
McDonough County. 

BEELEY, John Allen, who is successfully en- 
gaged in the jewelry business in Blandinsville, 
McDonough County, 111., was born in Morgan 
County, 111., near Arenzville, on January 19, 
1860, a son of Joseph and Martilla (Houston) 
Beeley, the father being a native of England, 
and the mother of Illinois. Joseph Beeley came 
from England to the United States and jour- 
neyed to the State of Illinois, where he settled 
in Morgan County in the 'forties. There he 
devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, 
and is now living on the old homestead farm 
in Morgan County, one-half mile south of Arenz- 
ville. John A. Beeley was reared on his 
father's farm, and in his youth attended the 
public schools of Mor.gan County. In early 
manhood he learned the trade of a jeweler in 
Springfield, after which he located at Mere- 
dosia. 111., where he remained four years. In 
1890 he established himself in the jewelrj' and 
optician line in Blandinsville, where he has 
since conducted a store. In 1902 he moved 
into his present place of business, where he 
does all kinds of repair work and handles a 
full line of fine jewelry, sewing machines, graph- 
ophones and fine stationery. He gives close 
attention to his customers, and is meeting 
with merited success. 



824 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



On January 10, 1900, the subject of this 
sketch was joined in wedlock with Grace Er- 
mine Hitch, who was born and schooled in Mc- 
Donough County. One child, Helen, has re- 
sulted from this union. Mrs. Beeley is a daugh- 
ter of Mr. and Mrs. .Tames P. Hitch, of Bland- 
insville. Mr. Beeley professes the religious faith 
of the Christian church. Politically, he is a 
Prohibitionist, and fraternally is connected 
with the A. F. & A. M. 

BEGHTOL, William, who formerly carried on 
farming on an extensive scale in Eldorado 
Township, McDonough County, 111., but is now 
living a retired life in Industry, 111., was born 
in Bullitt County. Ky., August 24, 1829. He is a 
son of Abraham and Sarah (Pohon) Beghtol. 
The grandparents were Henrj' and Elizabeth 
(Horine) Beghtol and William and Elizabeth 
(King) Pohon, of whom the maternal grand- 
father was of English birth. The subject of 
this sketch came to Schuyler County, 111., in 
1853, and worked there one year on a farm. 
He came thence to McDonough County and 
bought 160 acres of land in Eldorado Township, 
where he lived from 1854 to 1873. In the last 
named year he went to Rocky Ford, Bent 
County. Colo., and became associated in busi- 
ness with his brother-in-law, George W. Swink. 
In 1876 he sold out his interest in this concern 
and returned to the home place in McDonough 
County. There he lived until May, 1897, when 
he retired from farming, moved to the town of 
Industry and purchased a residence, which he 
now occupies. He is the owner of 680 acres of 
land, comprising three farms in Eldorado Town- 
ship, one in Industry Township, and one in 
Bethel Township. On April 25, 1854, Mr. Begh- 
tol was united in marriage with Martha .1. 
Swink, who was born and schooled in Breck- 
enridge County, Ky., and their union resulted 
in the following children: Ballard, of Dodge 
City, Kan.; Maria (Mrs. Meaton), George W., 
Alice, Abigail (Mrs. Miller), and Samuel E. 
(all of McDonough County), and Ulysses G. 
and Anna, both of whom died in infancy. In 
politics Mr. Beghtol is an Independent. He 
has been one of the most enterprising, ener- 
getic and successful farmers of McDonough 
County and now, in the prime of life, is enabled 
to rest in the enjoyment of the fruits of his 
vigorous endeavors. 



BELL, John (deceased), who, i)rior to 1862, 
was successfully engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits in central Ohio, was born in M^aryland, 
September 11, 1810, a son of Joseph and Sarah 
( Bell ) Bell. He came to McDonough County 
in 1862 and located in Macomb, where he spent 
the I'emainder of his life in retirement, dying 
March 21, 1892. Mr. Bell was three times mar- 
ried. His first wife was Elizabeth Barton, a 
native of Maryland, by whom he had three 
children, namely: Susan (Mrs. Styler), of In- 
dianapolis. Ind.. David and M^illiam. The mother 
died in 1869. Mr. Bell was again married Feb- 
ruary 18, 1870. wedding Mattie Madison, of 
Vermont. Fulton County, 111., who died in 1S71. 
The third wife of Mr. Bell was Ann Bailey, to 
whom he was married Oct. 30, 1877. She was a 
daughter of Henry and Mary (Foulke) Bailey. 
In politics Mr. Bell advocated the principles of 
the Republican party. In religious belief he 
was a llniversalist. He was a man of much 
intelligence and force of character, and was 
widely respected in the community of which 
which he was a member for more than thirty 
years. 

BENNETT, John Riley, a i)rosperous farmer 
in Industry Township, McDonough County, 111., 
was born in Wa.rren County, Ohio, January 10, 
1845. He is a son of George and Matilda 
(Brown) Bennett, both natives of Ohio, the lat- 
ter having been born in Warren County. The 
maternal grandfather was John Brown, a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania. George Bennett moved 
with his family, in a three-horse wagon from 
Ohio to McDonough County, 111., in 1850, and 
settled on a 120-acre tract of land which he 
bought in Industry Township, also becoming 
owner of ninety acres of timber land in Industry 
Township. He met his death in 1885, through 
an accident caused by the running away of a 
pair of horses, and his widow died two years 
afterward. 

Mr. Bennett was the only child of his par- 
ents, although he has a halt-sister. Belle (Mrs. 
Miner!, living near Knox City. Mo., who is the 
mother of two children, Blanche and Georgia. 
Mr. Bennett remained with his father until the 
latter's death, when he bought his half-sister's 
interest in the farm. He has always lived on 
this place with the exception of one year spent 



r u D 1- 



ASTOR, LENOX j 

TILDEN FOtlNDAT16N£| 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



825 



on another farm in the same township. In 
early youth he attended the common schools 
of his neighborhood, meanwhile working on the 
home farm. On July 4, 1S66, he was united in 
marriage with Columbia Anna Sanders, born 
in Rushville, 111., where she received her early 
education in the public graded schools. She is 
the daughter of James and Maria (Lewis) 
Sanders, natives of Illinois and Alabama, re- 
spectively. Her maternal grandparents were 
Abram and Elizabeth (Davis) Lewis, natives of 
the latter State. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had one 
child, Edgar, who was born November 4, 1S67, 
and who died at the age of two years and five 
months. They also have an adopted daughter, 
Cora (Mrs. A. E. Rush), wife of A. E. Rush, a 
jeweler of Macomb, and who is the mother 
of two children: Bennett, aged ten years, and 
Alfred aged seven. Mr. Bennett is held in 
high esteem as a man of strict integrity and a 
useful member of the community. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and politically, a Republican. 

BERRY, Archie J., who is among the most en- 
ergetic and progressive of the younger farmers 
of Eldorado Township, McDonough County, 111., 
was born in Eldorado Township December 12, 
ISSO, a son of James J. and Mary (Campbell) 
Perry, his father being a native of the same 
township, and his mother, of Oquawka, Hen- 
derson County, 111. His grandfather, Thomas 
Berry, was of English birth, and the maiden 
name of his grandmother was Harris. Archie 
J. Berry is the second of a family of four 
children born to his parents, three of whom 
were boys. He received his early education in 
the public schools of his neighborhood, and 
then took a course in the university at Lincoln, 
111., and the Metropolitan Business College, 
Chicago. He spent two years as a student in 
the university and completed the mercantile 
college course. After finishing the latter he 
returned to the paternal farm, -wnich he has 
been conducting for three years, his father's 
family having moved to Decatur, 111. He is en- 
gaged in general farming, and his intelligence, 
careful method, and diligent application to the 
task which he has undertaken are manifest in 
the results already produced. The beginning 
of his agricultural career seems bright with 
the promise of notable success in this sphere 
of labor in future years. 
14 



The subject of this sketch was united in mar- 
riage on January 12, 1905, with Blanche Johns, 
who was born in Ackley, Iowa, and after un- 
dergoing a preliminary scholastic training in 
the public and high schools in the vicinity of 
her home, pursued a course of study in Ells- 
worth College, at Iowa Falls, Iowa. Politically, 
Mr. Berry casts his vote and exerts his influ- 
ence in favor of the Republican party. Fra- 
ternally, he is affiliated with the K. of P. 

BINNIE, Andrew (deceased), formerly- one of 
the prominent and successful farmers in Scot- 
land Township. McDonough County. 111., was 
born in Forfarshire. Scotland, March 3, 1844, a 
son of Andrew and Agnes (Waddill) Binnie, 
natives of Scotland. The paternal grandfather 
was Robert Binnie, also of Scottish origin, 
Andrew Binnie came from Scotland to the 
United States in 1847. He proceeded to Illinois 
and was first located at Astoria. Somewhat 
later he moved to Scotland Township, Mc- 
Donough County and settled on Camp Creek. 
The subject of this sketch staid at home until 
he was of age, when he bought 200 acres of 
land on Section 15, Scotland Township. He 
also owned eighty-five acres on Section 9, of the ' 
same township. Long before his marriage 
he lived on the farm on Section 15, and re- 
mained there until his death, which occurred 
February 3, 1905. He was buried in Oakwood 
Cemetery, Macomb, 111. 

On January IS, 1888, Mr. Binnie was married 
to Sarah Herndon, who was born and schooled 
in Morgan County, 111. Mrs. Binnie is the 
daughter of Allen and Frances (Cave) Hern- 
don, natives of Rockingham County, Va. 
Ezekiel Herndon and Reuben Cave, the paternal 
and maternal grandfathers, respectively, were 
Virginians. In infancy Mrs. Binnie was brought 
by her parents to McDonough County. Her 
father, a soldier in the Civil War. died in a hos- 
pital ac Nashville, Tenn., as a result of exposure 
in the service of his country, and she was reared 
by her mother. Mr. Binnie was a devout member 
of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he 
was a Republican and fraternally he belonged 
to the A. F. & A. M., being a member of In- 
dustry Lodge, Chapter No. 19, Macomb Com- 
mandery No. 61, and Eastern Star Lodge of 
Industry. Having rented her farm, Mrs. Binnie 
is to move to Macomb, 111., where she will in 
the future reside. 



826 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



BINNIE, Robert, one of the oldest and most 
substantial farmers of Scotland Township, ilc- 
Donough Count}', 111., was born in Falkirk, 
Scotland (one of the greatest cattle market 
towns), Maren 14, 1842. He is a son of Andrew 
and Agnes (Waddill) Biunie, natives of the 
same place, his father being bom in 1805. 
Robert Binnie. the paternal grandfather, was 
also of Scotch origin. On August 19, 1S49, An- 
drew Blnnle arrived with his family at Sharp's 
Landing, Pulton County, 111., and thence re- 
moved to Astoria, where they remained three 
months. He then settled on Camp Creek, in 
Scotland Township, where he purchased the 
well-known Bird Pyle farm and engaged in 
farming during the remainder of- his life. He 
died March 1, 1855, his widow surviving him 
until July 30, 1878. Robert Blnnle is one of 
twins, and is the eldest of a family of seven 
children. He attended public school in his boy- 
hood, and remained on the paternal farm until 
he was twenty-one years old, and then applied 
to farming in this township for two years. At 
the end of this period he bougut a tract of raw 
prairie land in the southwest quarter of Sec- 
tion 15, Scotland Township, where he has since 
lived. He has purchased other land in this 
township and now owns 360 acres, which, with 
the exception of eighty acres, is all in one tract. 
Mr. Binnie has witnessed the development of 
his township from a lonely wilderness to one 
of the busiest and wealthiest' farming communi- 
ties in the btate. On February 25, 1869, Mr. 
Binnie was married to Margaret J. Watson, who 
was born and schooled in Scotland Township, 
Three children resulted from this union, 
namely: Mary Adeline, born March 13, 1870 
(and now Mrs. Fred Knight): William A., 
born April 21, 1872; and ,James Robert, born 
June 19, 1875. Mr. Binnie is a consistent mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he 
is an independent — voting for the men and 
measures he thinks are to the best interests of 
all the people. 

BLACK, Isaac W. — Among the wide-awake and 
progressive farmers of Emmet Township, Mc- 
Donough County, 111., is the subject of this 
sketch. He was born January 24, 1863, in Sciota 
Township, McDonough County, the son of Sam- 
uel H. and Mary Bosler Black. His father was 
born in Clark County, Ohio, and his mother a 
native of Indiana. The father came to Mc- 



Donough County in 1S48. and lived eight years 
in Macomb, working at the carpenter's trade. 
He then bought a farm in Sciota Township, 
where he lived until 1903, when he retired from 
larmin.g, taking up his residence in the village 
of Good Hope, McDonough County. 

Isaac W. Black is the eldest of nine children 
born to his parents. In boyhood he attended 
the public school, and. later, the Macomb ISlor- 
mal School, but remained on his father's farm 
until he was twenty-nine years old. He then 
spent nine years in business at Good Hope, 
after which he conducted his father's Emmet 
Township farm one year, and also spent a year 
on the paternal farm in Walnut Grove Town- 
ship. In 1905 he returned to the farm in 
Emmet Township, where he is still engaged in 
general farming and raising full-blooded Short- 
horn cattle and also horses and hogs. He is 
an energetic and systematic fai'mer, and suc- 
cess has attended his efforts. 

On May 16. 1S94, Mr. Black was married to 
.lennie E. Brown, who was born in Walnut 
Grove Township, McDonough County, and re- 
ceived her mental training in the public and 
Macomb Normal Schools. Mr. and Mrs. Black 
have one child, Helen G., born April 4, 1895. 
In religious faith Mr. Black is identified with 
the Baptist Church. Politically, his influence 
and vote are cast in behalf of the Republican 
party. Fraternally, he is associated with the 
1. O. O. F. and M. W. A. 

BLACK, James, formerly a prominent and 
successful farmer of Bushnell Township. Mc- 
Donough County, 111., where he is now living 
in comfortable retirement, was born in Clark 
County, Ohio, on June 3, 1828. His parents, 
James and Catherine Black, were natives of the 
State of Virginia, and were born in 1789 and 
1790. respectively. James Black, Sr., went 
from Virginia to Ohio in 1811, and followed 
farming there until his death. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on his 
father's farm and in boyhood attended the 
public school. In 1849 he came with his 
brother to McDonough County, 111., traveling 
on horseback by way of Chicago and Rock 
Island. Mr. Black purchased 260 acres of land 
in Bethel Township, on which he followed 
farming for eleven years. In 1865 he sold this 
farm, and in 1866 bought 160 acres in Bushnell 
Township, on which he built and followed 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



827 



farming and stock-raising until 1S99, wlieQ he 
retired from active lite. For a time he worked 
at the carpenter's trade near Macomb. 

Mr. Black was first marijed in Ohio, in 1852, 
his wife dying January 20, 1853. One child, 
Cyrus, was the offspring of this union. On 
July 4, 1854, he was married to Mary Alexan- 
der, who was born and reared in Virginia, and 
eleven children were born of this union. Mr. 
Black's children are: Cyrus (born of the first 
marriage), who is in the newspaper busi- 
ness at Hickman, Neb.; Ida (Mrs. Morris), of 
Bradshaw, Nebraska: C. A., land appraiser 
for the Union Pacific Railroad Company at 
Omaha, Neb.: Mattie (Mrs. McNaughton), of 
Bushnell Township: Catherine Swisher, a 
widow living in Bushnell: and George, who is 
on a farm in Bushnell Township: four who died 
in infancy ; Anna ( Mrs. House ) , now deceased, 
and Marie, also deceased. The subject of this 
sketch was the first Town Clerk of Bethel 
Township, on its organization, and served two 
terms as Supervisor tor that township. In his 
long and busy life, Mr. Black has been faithful 
to his conception of the requirements of duty, 
and has done his full share in promoting the 
material prosperity of McDonough County. 

BLACK, S. H. — That the pursuit of agricul- 
ture is conducive to sound health and pro- 
longed physical vigor is manifest in the large 
proportion of men engaged in that occupation 
who live to advanced years in the enjoyment of 
the full vigor of their bodily faculties. The close 
companionship with nature incident to a fann- 
ing life sei-ves, moreover, to stimulate that re- 
flective mood, which tends to strengthen the 
moral character and invigorate the mind. An 
apt illustration of the truth of this statement is 
notable in the career of the subject of this 
sketch, who is now living in comfortable and 
healthful retirement at Good Hope, McDonough 
County, III., after more than three score of his 
mature years have been spent in tilling the 
soil. Mr. Black was born in Clark County, 
Ohio, on March 19, 1826, a son of James and 
Catherine Black, natives of Virginia. James 
Black was a farmer in the "Old Dominion," 
from which he moved in 1811 to the State of 
Ohio, where he still continued farming, and 
was also engaged in milling. Thus occupied, 
he passed the remainder of his days. He was 
a man of amiable disposition and correct de- 



portment, and his record was free from re- 
proach. His son, S. H., attended the common 
schools of Ohio in boyhood and assisted in the 
operation of the home farm until he was about 
twenty-three years of age. In 1849. accompanied 
by his brother, he traveled on horseback to Chi- 
cago, proceeding thence to Rock Island, and 
after visiting Iowa, came to Emmet Township, 
McDonough County, where he tarried for a. 
short time. Subsequently, he spent about four 
years in carpenter work at Macomb, 111., 
arter which he went back to the Buckeye 
State. Returning in 1857 to McDonough County, 
he purchased 183 acres of land in Emmet 
Township: and also bought ninety acres in Sol- 
ota Township, where he lived most of the time 
during the rest of his active life. His labors were 
attended with successful results until, having 
acquired a competency, he retired from active 
pursuits and made his home in Good Hope. 
Nearly all the improvements on his farms were 
made by himself. 

On December 4, 1856, Mr. Black was united 
in marriage, in Miami County, Ohio, with Mary 
M. Bosler. who was born in Indiana, and there, 
in her youth, enjoyed the advantages afforded 
by the public schools. The following named 
children resulted from their union, namely: 
Ella (Mrs. Huckley); Isaac, who carries on 
farming in Emmet Township; James, a resi- 
dent of Newark, Ohio; Elizabeth (Mrs. Run- 
yan), whose home is in McDonough County; 
and William, who occupies the homestead 
farm. In politics, Mr. Black is a supporter of 
the Democratic party. Previous to the Civil 
War. he held the office of Assessor of Sclota 
Township, and also sei-ved as School Director 
and Commissioner of Highways. He subse- 
quently filled the positions of Supei-visor and 
School Trustee ■ of Sclota Township. The 
duties of these several public trusts were dis- 
charged by him with ability and fidelity, and 
to the entire satisfaction of the people of the 
township. In religious belief Mr. Black ad- 
heres to the faith of the Baptist Church. 

BLACKSTONE, Stephen, one of the oldest and 
most prominent farmers of McDonough 
County, 111., who carries on farming and stock- 
raising on an extensive scale in New Salem 
Township, was born in Lafayette County, Wis., 
January 17, 1S3S. His father, Beverley Black- 
stone, was born in Madison County, N. Y., and 



828 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



his mother, Elizabeth (Blisset) Blaclistone, was 
a native of England. His grandfather, Stephen 
Blackstone, was born in Branford, Conn. The 
subject of this sketch was the eldest of three 
children born to his parents, and the only 
son. in 1S40 he came with his father and 
mother to McDonough County, whei-e, later in 
boyhood, he attended the district schools in 
the vicinity o£ his home, and assisted his 
father In work on the farm. The latter died 
January 2, 1861. Mr. Blackstone has always 
followed farming, in which he has been very 
successful, having acquired about 800 acres of 
the finest land in New Salem Township, Mc- 
Donough County, all of which is highly im- 
proved. In 1860, he began to feed and raise 
cattle and hogs, which he has continued to a 
considerable extent. In March, 1896, he met 
with a serious accident which has since in- 
capacitated him for much of the ordinary work 
of the farm. His right arm was caught in a 
corn and coD-crusher and so badly mangled as 
to necessitate amputation about three inches 
below the elbow. 

On March 2, 1866, Mr. Blackstone was united 
in marriage with Mahala E. Smith, who was 
born in Casey County, Ky., and received her 
early education in McDonough County, 111. 
iilve children were the issue of this union, 
namely: Beverly, Elizabeth, George, Nettie 
and Clara. Mrs. Blackstone's parents, Reuben 
and Mary (Tinsley) Smith, natives of Ken- 
tucky, came to McDonough County in 1848, and 
settled near Bardolph. Her father died in 1873, 
but her mother still survives, and is living with 
her son and daughter. In i)olitics, Mr. Black- 
stone is a Prohibitionist. In 1885 he served as 
Supervisor of New Salem Township and was 
School Director for twelve years. His religious 
connection is with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is a man of high character and a 
useful and much respected member of the com- 
munity. 

BLANDIN, Charles A., one of the oldest and 
most highly respected residents of McDonough 
County, was born in Westminster, Windham 
County. Vt, December 30, 1829, the son of 
Joseph L. and Cenith (Holden) Blandin, both 
of whom were natives of Vermont. Joseph L. 
Blandin was a farmer by occupation. He left 
his native State at a very early period, and 
emigrating to Illinois, located in McDonough 



County, where the town of Blandinsville now 
stands. The journey consumed three weeks, 
and was made by way of canal, lake and river. 
Before starting on the journey, he had secured 
a patent for a tract of Government land, on 
which he laid out the town of Blandinsville in 
1842, giving away lots in order to promote the 
growth of the new settlement which was 
named after him. All the material used in im- 
proving the place, was hauled from Warsaw, 
111., and all goods and merchandise were car- 
ried by wagon to and from that town. After 
founding Blandinsville, Mr. Blandin built 
brick blocks and a hotel there, and was suc- 
cessfully engaged in farming in the vicinity 
until the time of his death. For a while he 
made his home in a log cabin, which he built, 
and all his grain, together with that raised by 
the other early settlers of the neighborhood, 
was marketed in Warsaw. The farm house 
afterwards erected by him was located just 
back of Main Street, and was the first frame 
dwelling in that part of the county. He was 
the father of four children, namely: Joseph 
C, Captain Hume, Julia H. (Mrs. Lyon), and 
Charles A. With the exception of the last 
named, who is the subject of this sketch, all 
are deceased. Politically, the elder Blandin 
was first a AVhig, afterwards becoming a "Free- 
Soiler." He was a man of untiring energy and 
remarkable force of character, and was widely 
known throughout the Military Tract for his 
many excellent qualities of mind and heart, and 
his faithful wife was in every respect worthy of 
such a husband. 

Charles A. Blandin received his early train- 
ing in his native town, and had just entered his 
"teens" when brought by his parents to Mc- 
Donough County. For some time, he assisted 
his father on the farm and otherwise, and in 
1S50 entered the mercantile business, in which 
he continued five years. At the end of that 
period he sold out and v.'ent to Oquawka. 
111., where he was engaged, for two years, in 
the lumber and sawmill business. He then dis- 
posed of this also, >sind in company with his 
brother, built a mill at Burlington, Iowa, 
which they conducted until 1860. Mr. Blandin 
next applied himself to farming on the paternal 
estate. He also bought 320 acres in Section 1, 
Hire Township, McDonough County, which he 
improved to some extent, and there cjirried on 
general farming, together with raising and 





Oi^nyVUL^ 




HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



829 



shipi)ing stock, in which he is still interested. 
He now devotes his attention mainly to man- 
aging a small farm, where (he is engaged in 
feeding and raising Poland-China hogs. 

In 1858, Mr. Blandln was united in marriage, 
at Oquawka, 111., with Lydia A. Wadleigh, a 
native of Canada, and a daughter of Luke and 
and Phosbe (Rowell) Wadleigh, also Canadians 
by birth. Her father located in Oquawka, 111., 
in 1*55, and was engaged in the lumber trade 
there. Mr. and Mrs. Blandin became the par- 
ents of seven children, of whom five are living, 
as follows: Samuel W., a resident of Chicago; 
Phcebe (Mrs. Smith); Nellie (Mrs. Black- 
hurst), who lives in Racine, Wis.; Grace (Mrs. 
Burris), whose home is in Houston, Texas; and 
Charles L., of Blandinsville, who carries on 
farming. In politics, Mr. Blandin is a stanch 
Republican, having been an unswerving sup- 
porter of that party for many years. For 
three years during the Civil War, he served as 
Postmaster of Blandinsville, to which office he 
•was appointed by President Lincoln. 

Mr. Blandin has led a long, honorable and 
usef\]l life. He has borne an important and 
creditable part in all the arduous labors at- 
tending the development of McDonough County, 
and in his declining years, enjoys the con- 
sciousness cf duty done and of the warm re- 
gard and profound veneration of all the peo- 
ple of the region he has wrought so faithfully 
to upbuild. 

BLOUNT, Asher Benjamin (deceased), former 
highly respected citizen of Macomb. Mc- 
Donough County, 111., was lx)rn in Ellisbur?, 
.Tefferson County, N. Y., May -s". 1S19, a son of 
Ambrose and Betsy (Wood) Blount. The 
father was a native of Connecticut, and the 
mother of Middletown, Vt. Ambrose Blount 
was a teacher and a magistrate. In 1814 he 
was enrolled as a "Minute Man," but was never 
called into service. Betsy Wood, the mother, 
was a sister of Hon. Reuben Wood, a former 
Crf)vernor of Ohio. In boyhood Mr. Blount en- 
joyed but limited educational opportunities. At 
a later period, however, he took a course of 
study in a select school, subsequently taught 
for eight or ten seasons and was County Super- 
intendent for a long time. In ,Iefferson County, 
N. y., he was engaged in farming, blacksmith- 
ing and carria.ge making. He came to Illinois 
in 18(i6, and entered into the lumber business 



in Macomb, continuing thus until his retire- 
ment from active life. He was for a long time 
President of the Macomb Stoneware Company, 
and the Macomb Building and Loan Associa- 
tion. He was the possessor of one of the 
choicest and most complete libraries in 
Macomb. 

The first wife of Mr. Blount was Roxanna 
Miles, to whom he was married April IS, 1848, 
at Watertown, Jefferson County, N. Y. She 
was born in that county and died in June, 1860, 
having borne three children, namely: Mary E. 
(Mrs. J. W. Hosman, who resides with Mrs. 
Blount ) : Frank J. ( Director of the Blount Pot- 
tery, of Macomb ) ; and Fred P., who is farming 
in Kansas. March 25, 1868, Mr. Blount was 
united in marriage with Cynthia S. Barney, 
also a native of Jefferson County. N. Y. This 
union resulted in two children: Harry, who 
owns two shoe stores in Macomb; and Myra, 
wife of Dr. Frank Lane, of Macomb. Mrs. 
Blount's parents were from Vermont. Her 
father was born in 1801, and he had a clear 
recollection of the War of 1812. He was a 
clothier by occupation, but on account of his 
health turned his attention to farming. Mrs. 
Blount completed her education at Falley Sem- 
inary, Oswego, N. Y., and afterward became a 
teacher in that institution, coming with her 
husband to Macomb in 1868. She is the young- 
est of five children, who are all living, and 
that she comes of a long-lived family is further 
evident from the fact that her parents survived 
until they were over eighty years of age. In 
politics. Mr. Blount was a supporter of the 
Republican party, in which he had been promi- 
nent and influential. In Jefferson County, N. 
Y., he sei-ved as Inspector of Schools, Township 
Superintendent and Township Clerk. He had 
twice held the office of Mayor of Macomb. In 
all of these public trusts, he discharged the 
duties devolving upon him with signal ability 
and fidelity, and throu,ghout his prolonged 
career enjoyed the confidence and respect of 
the entire community. Religiously, he was 
allied with the XTniversalist Church. The 
genealogical record shows that both the Blount 
and Barney families came from England to 
New Salem, Mass., just a year apart. Lord 
Blount, who figured conspicuously in the battle 
of Shrewsbury, was an ancestor of the Ameri- 
can branch. His death occurred October 29, 
1899. 



830 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



BLOUNT, Harry Asher, a well-known dealer in 
boats and shoes and gent's furnishing goods in 
Macomb, McDonough County, 111., was born in 
that city September 2, 1872, a son of Asher and 
Cynthia (Barney) Blount, natives of Jefferson 
County, N. Y. The grandparents on both sides, 
Ambrose and Betsy (Wood) Blount, and Hart 
and Betsy (Newell) Barney, were ah natives of 
Jefferson County, that State, except the pater- 
nal grandfather, who was born in St. Lawrence 
County, N. Y. Great-grandfather Asher Blount 
was of Vermont origin. Harry Asher Blount 
attended public school and Lombard College, at 
Galesburg, III., completing his college course at 
the age of twenty-one years. He then returned 
to Macomb and was employed in the pottery 
line for one year. For one year he was secre- 
tary of the Tennessee Pottery Company, at 
Tennessee, 111. He then engaged in the real- 
estate business in Macomb, in which he is still 
interested. A year after engaging in real-es- 
tate operations, together with Benjamin Griffiin, 
he purchased the boot and shoe concern of 
George Kernian. On January 9. 1905. Charles 
Stapp bought the interest of Mr. Griffin. In 
December, 1903, Mr. Blount purchased a stock 
of boots and also a stock of gent's furnishing 
goods, which he handles under the firm name 
of Blount & Company. He is a competent busi- 
ness man and is developing a flourishing trade. 
In social circles he is quite popular, and his 
early life is bright with promise. In politics, 
Mr. Blount is a supporter of the Republican 
party. Fraternally, he is a member of the K. 
T., K. of P. and Phi Delta Theta. 

BLYTHE, Robert Frank, well-known as the 
proprietor of a department store in Bardolph, 
McDonough County, 111., was born near Nor- 
wich, England, February 21, 1870, the son of 
William and Mary (Starry) Blythe, also 
natives of England. His parents came to the 
United States, and located near Macomb, 111., 
in 1S72, the father there engagin.g in agricul- 
tural pursuits. Robert F. Blythe. who is the 
fourth of nine children born to his parents, 
was reared on his father's farm in Walnut 
Grove Township where he remained until he 
was twenty-two years old. During this period 
he received his early education in the public 
schools. He continued on the home farm for 
two years after his marriage, and then moved 
to Macomb, where he lived until the spring of 



1899. At that period he took up his residence 
in Bardolph, and on August 29th of that 
year went into the grocery business. A year 
later he put in a stock of shoes and dry 
goods, and in the fall of 1904 established a de- 
partment store. He occupies two stores and 
conducts the largest establishment in town, 
handling a full line of groceries and canned 
goods, boots, shoes and rubbers, dry goods, 
hardware, patent medicines, etc. 

On December 31, 1891, Mr. Blythe was mar- 
ried to Frances Lillian Chrisenger, who was 
born and received her education in Macomb. 
Two children have blessed their union: Vivian 
Ulmont. born December 21. 1892: and Lillian 
Juanita, born July 21, 1894. In his religious be- 
lief. Mr. Blythe is a Presbyterian, and polit- 
ically Is a pronounced Republican. He was ap- 
pointed Postmaster of Bardolph February 21, 
1901, and re-appointed in February, 1905. He 
is considered a very capable business man, and 
an efficient Postmaster. Fraternally, the sub- 
ject of this sketch is identified with the A. F. & 
A. M., Macomb Lodge No. 17, Morse Chapter No. 
19. Macomb Commandery No. 61, and is also 
affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and M. W. A. 

BOGUE, Henry, who owns and operates one of 
the finest eighty-acre farms in McDonough 
County, 111., situated in Eldorado Township, was 
born in Fulton County, 111., October 10, 1S53, a 
son of Joel and Sarah (Freeman) Bogue, the 
former having been born in Ohio. His paternal 
grandfather. Job Bogue. was also a native of 
Ohio. Marshall and Europa (Stafford) Freeman 
were the grandparents on the maternal side. Joel 
Bogue came to Illinois with his father, who 
was one of the earliest settlers in Fulton 
County, where he located on a farm just east 
of Vermont. He afterwards went to Kansas, 
and lived on a farm in Woodson County, that 
State, about ten years. Returning to Fulton 
County, he remained there about three years 
and then went to Oregon, where he died in 
February, 1902. He was twice married. His 
first wife died a short time before he went to 
Kansas, and he afterwards married Ella Mor- 
ley, a native of the State of Pennsylvania. 

Henry Bogue returned to Illinois in 1877. and 
worked o\it for five years in McDonough 
County, after which he lived two years on a 
rented farm. In 1884 he bought his present farm 
of eighty acres in Section 10, Eldorado Town- 




JAMES W. HAYS 



1- f~. N n X 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



831 



ship, and moved there after his marriage. When 
he purchased this farm there were no improve- 
ments on it, and he has built all the fine build- 
ings which now make it an attractive place, 
enclosing it with fencing, and tiling the whole 
of it. It is now, owing to its owner's intelli- 
gence, energy and enterprise, one of the best 
improved farms in the county. 

On February 12, 1S85, Mr. Bogue was united 
in marriage with Cora Snowden, who was born 
in Eldorado Township, where, in her youth, she 
attended the common schools. Five children 
have been born to them, namely: Glenn R., 
Freeman S., Travus Lee, Floyd T., and J. R. In 
politics, Mr. Bogue is a supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party, and served as Supervisor of the 
township in 1903-04. Fraternally, ne is affil- 
iated with the M. W. A. 

BOLLES, Edgar, M. D. (deceased), who was 
for a score of years a successful physician, of 
high repute, in Macomb, McDonough County, 
III., was born in Sandusky, Ohio, January 12, 
1837. He was a son of William K. and Sarah 
(West) Bolles, of whom the former was born 
in New London, Conn., in 1807. and the latter 
in Hillsdale, N. Y., in the same year. Being 
desirous of bettering their fortunes they jour- 
neyed to LaGrange County, Ind., making the 
trip in an old-fashioned lumber wagon with an 
ox-team. They discovered, however, that the 
new region was much infested with malaria 
and chills and fever, and therfore returned to 
Hillsdale. N. Y. Remaining there about one 
year, they came to Blandinsville, 111., in 1853, 
and moved to Emmet Township, McDonough 
County, .in 1866. 

The subject of this sketch remained on the 
farm with his father until he was twenty-one 
years old, assisting in the farm work during 
the summer and attending district school dur- 
ing the winter. On attaining his majority he 
entered the seminary at Blandinsville, where 
he studied two years. He then taught school 
and worked in various ways in order to secure 
the means to pursue a medical course. In 1863 
he came to Macomb and read medicine with 
Huston & Hammond. In 1868 he attended lec- 
tures at the Long Island College Hospital, 
Brooklyn, N. Y., for one term. Next he took a 
course in the Detroit Medical College, from 
which he received his degree in medicine and 
surgery in 1869. After graduating he returned 



home and taught school for one term. In 1870 
he went again to Detroit, where he sei-ved aS 
assistant to Professors Weber and Jenks, JO 
the departments of anatomy and diseases of 
women and children. Subsequently he was oc- 
cupied for a time as assistant in the office of 
Dr. Jenks, after which he located at Penning- 
ton Point, McDonough County, 111., where he 
remained until 1881. In that year he moved 
to Macomb, where he spent the remainder of 
his life, dying May 14, 1900. He was very 
highly regarded as a physician and as a man 
and citizen, building up an extensive practice 
and enjoying the confidence of his patients and 
the general public. On various occasions Dr. 
Bolles traveled widely throughout the United 
States, and when seized with his final sickness 
had completed preparations and secured tickets 
for an ocean voyage, in order to make an ex- 
tended tour abroad. He had accumulated con- 
siderable means, and held stock in both the 
sewer-pipe companies in Macomb. 

On May 15, 1872, the subject of this sketch 
was united in marriage with Fannie Penrose, 
at Macomb, where her family was among the 
pioneer residents. This union resulted in two 
children, one of whom died in childhood, and 
the other, Howard W., is now serving as 
Deputy Sheriff of McDonough County. On 
political questions, Dr. Bolles was in accord 
with the policies of the Republican party. Reli- 
giously, although not connected with any de- 
nomination, he leaned toward the Methodist 
Episcoi>al church. In fraternal circles, he was 
identified with the A. F. & A. M., being a Mason 
of high standing, a Knight Templar and a 
Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He was also affili- 
ated with the dramatic order. Knights of 
Khorassan and the Knights of Pythias. 

BOSTWICK, George L., a veteran of the Civil 
War, who is successfully engaged in the lum- 
ber business in Prairie City, McDonough 
County, III., was bom in the vicinity of Green- 
bush, Warren County, III., on March 16, 1844. 
He is a son of Alanson and Abigail (Crissey) 
Bostwick. natives of Connecticut, the father 
born at New Canaan in that State in 1814. He 
was one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois, to 
which State he came about 1838, locating near 
Greenbush. In New Canaan, Conn., he was 
married to Abigail, a daughter of Abraham 
Orissey. After remaining in Greenbush for two 



832 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



years, he went back to Connecticut, where he 
also staid two years. He then returned to 
Greenbush, where he followed farming until his 
death in 1870. His wife, who was born in 
1816, passed away in 1845. Mr. Bostwick en- 
listed in early manhood in the aiighty-third 
Reg'iment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
served three years. After he returned from 
the war he became a pupil at Lombard Col- 
lege, Galesburg, and also took a course in the 
Quincy Business College. Before entering the 
army he attended the district school in his 
neighborhood, and Greenbush Academy. He 
came to Prairie City in 1878, and in connec- 
tion with Mr. Crissey bought out the lumber 
concern of A. Burr. The purchasing firm was 
known as Crissey & Bostwick until 1SS4, when 
Mr. Bostwick bought Mr. Crissey's interest, and 
has since conducted the business alone. 

On December 29, 1878, Mr. Bostwick was 
united in marriage with Minta L. Rounds, a 
native of Ohio. The children resulting from 
this union are Victor A. and Mabel C. Polit- 
ically, Mr. Bostwick is a Republican. He has 
served one term as Village Trustee, and was 
elected School Director in 1900. He is regarded 
as one of the most substantial and progressive 
business men in McDonough County, and has 
built up a flourishing trade. 

BOWEN, Tillman L., who is among the oldest 
of the pioneer farmers of Chalmers Township, 
McDonough County, 111., and certainly one of 
the most highly respected, was born in the 
township named, on the farm where he still 
lives, January 28, 1832, and here utilized the 
meager opportunities of the primitive schools 
of that period. His father. Truman Bowen. was 
a native of Indiana, and his mother, Nancy 
(Lewis) Bowen, -was born in Columbus, Ohio. 
Truman Bowen came to McDonough County in 
1831 and entered 280 acres of land, which 
lie was engaged in clearing at the time of his 
death, in that year. He was buried in the 
old cemetery west of Macomb, but one burial 
having previously been made there. 

Tillman L. Bowen, who was the youngest of 
eleven children, lived with his mother until 
her death in 1858. He and his brother. Jesse, 
bought 200 acres of the farm from the other 
heirs, retaining 100 acres for himself. To this 
he added fifty-seven acres, and continued to live 
j)n the home place. He notes the fact that in 



his early youth one gallon of hominy supplied 
the children of nine families with food for 
one day. After a while he made a trip with 
ox-teams to the Salmon River gold mines in 
Idaho, being six months on the way. Eighteen 
months later he returned and remained at home 
until 1884, when, in an effort to improve the 
health of his wife who was sick with consump- 
tion, he took her and his family to Califor- 
nia. He reached that State December 17, 1S84, 
and went by stage to Jacksonville, Ore., a jour- 
ney of 310 miles, which consumed three days 
and two nights. The death of Mrs. Bowen oc- 
curred October 12. 1885. Mr. Bowen continued 
to live there until the latter part of 1887, 
when he brought his family back to the old 
home, where ne remained until 1897 engaged 
in farming. At that period he bought a hack, 
and with a team of mules drove to Maryville, 
Mo. There he sold the outfit, and with two 
of his sons and a neighbor's boy, took a train 
to Boise City, Idaho. While prospecting here 
and there in Idaho and Southeastern Oregon, 
Mr. Bowen found one of his sons at a place 
named Peril. They sojourned in that region 
two years. Mr. Bowen spending most of the 
time in Jackson County, Ore., engaged in han- 
dling fruit with the rest of the company. At 
the end of two years, with his two sons he re- 
turned to the home farm, where he has since 
remained. 

On October 18, 1855, occurred the marriage 
of Mr. Bowen with Lydia Ann Rich, who was 
a native of Ohio, where, in her youth, she was 
educated in the public schools. The offspring 
of their union was as follows: William Tru- 
man; Nancy D. (Mrs. Robert Wilson), of Ore- 
gon; Frances Belzora (Mrs. McGraw), of Ari- 
zona: Emma, who died in infancy; John W., 
of Colorado; Henry E., of Oregon; and G. 
Howard and Lewis, who are with their father. 
In politics, Mr! Bowen is a Democrat. He 
has held the office of Justice of the Peace for 
twenty years, for a number of years served 
as School Director, and was Highway Commis- 
sioner three years. The religious connection 
of Mr. Bowen is with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. The subject of this sketch can look 
back over his long and busy life with little 
of regret. As a man and as a citizen he has 
done his duty, and the consciousness of en- 
joying the implicit confidence and sincere re- 
spect of the entire community attends his de- 
clining years. 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



833 



BOYD, Isaac N. — The career of Isaac N. Boyd, 
•Cashier of the Bank of Colchester, is character- 
ized by rare devotion to high purposes, and 
more especially to those civic enterprises which 
tend to the enlightenment of a community of 
which he Is a product and development. In his 
makeup are me best qualities of an Irish-Scotch 
ancestry. His great-grandfather, born in Ire- 
land in 1731, blazed a new path for subsequent 
bearers of tne name by immigrating to Amer- 
ica before the Revolutionary War, and his son, 
William, the next in line of succession, took 
up his abode in Northampton County, Pa., 
where the second William, father of Isaac N., 
was born, leaving there at the age of eight 
years and emigrating to Highland County, Ohio, 
where he lived until coming to Illinois. In 1S53 
William. Jr.. married Martha C. Vest, a native* 
of Tennessee and granddaughter of a Scottish 
voyageur who early claimed the protection of 
the Stars and Stripes. In 1839 William Boyd 
came to Illinois and eventually Ideated in Col- 
chester, where his son, Isaac N., was born Oc- 
tober 24, 1860. In his youth Isaac N. Boyd 
felt the pressure of necessity, and 'recognized 
the utter impossibility of rising from his nar- 
row groove save through his unaided efforts. 
He was of studious habits, and, appreciating 
the value of mental training as a general 
business asset, succeeded in gaining an edu- 
cation in the Colchester public schools, finish- 
ing at the Branch Normal School of Macomb. 
During the following four years his knowledge 
was turned to good account as a teacher in 
McDonough and Hancock Counties. 111., and he 
then turned nis attention to learning the bar- 
ber's trade, which he followed for about twenty 
years. He invested his humble and useful 
calling with thoroughness and honesty, and 
while establishing a credit which was to be of 
immense benefit to him later on, aspired to a 
yet broader life and took an important i)art in 
general town affairs. Stanchly on the side of 
the Democracy, Mr. Boyd has supported this 
political platform for the past quarter of a 
century, or since casting his first presidential 
vote. He was an Alderman of Colchester sev- 
eral years. Police Magistrate four years, and 
was defeated for Supervisor in 1902. He was 
elected Mayor of Colchester in April, 190.5, and 
is now filling this office in a town having a 
Republican majority of one hundred and twenty. 
Ever since its organization in 1895, he has been 



a member of the Board of Education of Col- 
chester, has been Secretary of the Board for 
the past ten years, and in the history of that 
organization has never missed a meeting. Mr. 
Boyd is a believer in social diversions, and is 
emphatic in his support of fraternal organi- 
zations, being a member of the Colchester 
Lodge No. 496. A. P. & A. M.; the Colchester 
Chapter No. 121; the Eastern Star, of which 
his wife is also a member; Good Will Lodge 
No. 91, K. of P., of which he is Deputy Grand 
Chancellor; and the Court of Honor. 

In 1902, Mr. Boyd stepped into his present 
position as Cashier of the Bank of Colches- 
ter. He represents a number of reliable in- 
surance companies, and is Secretary of the Col- 
chester Building and Loan Association. There 
are few enterprises of importance in the town 
to which he has not lent material or moral 
support, and his business sagacity and fore- 
thought are regarded as a valuable municipal 
possession. He is a member and Trustee of 
the Universalist Church, and a teacher in the 
Sunday-school. The wife of Mr. Boyd, whose 
maiden name was Mary Wagstaff, is a native 
of the vicinity of St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. 
Boyd are the parents of four children: Charles 
Wayne, Bonnie B., Nellie and Tona. As one 
of the foremost men of the community, Mr. 
Boyd has led an active and well directed life, 
has drawn around him friends who admire his 
character and depend upon his judgment, and 
has laid the foundation for many years of fu- 
ture prominence and usefulness. 

BRANT, John M., head of the firm of .1. M. 
Brant & Company, which is engaged in the 
machine business in Bushnell, McDonough 
County, III, was born in Hamilton, 111., Feb- 
ruary 24, 1863. The mental training of his 
youthful years was received in the public 
schools of Quincy, 111. Mr. Brant first applied 
himself to farm work, which he followed until 
he was eighteen years of age, when he went 
into the machin'e business. In 1899 he came 
to Bushnell and opened a shop and sales-room, 
handling all kinds of heavy machinery. He 
deals in engines, threshers, clover-hullers, sow- 
ing machines and well drillers, besides doing 
the work of rebuilding and repairing. The 
plant furnishes employment for fifteen men, be- 
sides those who travel for the firm. Through 
the energy and ability of Mr. Brant, the firm 



834 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



has acquired a large volume of business, which 
is steadily increasing. In 1SS5, Mr. Brant was 
united in marriage with Lurinda D. Bennett, 
who was born and scliooled at Sonora, 111. Four 
children — Nellie. Ethel, Jennie Blanche and 
Bennett — resulted from this union. Mr. Brant's 
fraternal affiliation is with the K. of P. 

BRINTON, Edward D. (deceased).— In the 
death of Edward D. Brinton, May 16. 1905, Mc- 
Donough County lost one of its early and most 
zealous pioneers, and one who embodied, in 
his excellence of character and sincerity of 
purpose, much that was noble and worthy of 
emulation. A lad of thirteen when he arrived 
here in 1844, his career was marked by that 
steady progress which accompanies the labor 
of the clear-headed and industrious man of « 
average ability, a man of simple tastes and 
deep moral convictions, desiring always the 
best interests of the community in which he 
lived. The Brinton forefathers dwelt for many 
years in Pennsylvania, the home of Edward 
Brinton, and .lames, his son. grandfather and 
father of Edward D. The grandfather served 
in the Revolutionary War under General Wash- 
ington, his widow drawing a pension up to the 
time of her death for his services. James 
Brinton was born in Chester County, Pennsyl- 
vania, as was also his wife, Isabella (Hansley) 
Brinton. They had a family cf five children, 
and Edward D., the second oldest, was born 
on the battle-field of Brandy wine (of Revolu- 
tionaiy fame), Chester County, July 20, 1831. 
Courage and ambition were qualities which 
combined to disquiet the heart of James Brin- 
ton, leading him from, the settled condition 
in the Quaker State to the far-off prairies of 
Illinois, where, in the fall of 1844, he settled 
in Astoria, Fulton County. He soon afterward 
bought a farm near the town, but was not per- 
mitted to realize his dreams of large owner- 
ship, as death claimed him April 15, 1853, his 
wife surviving him until March 30, 1886. Ed- 
ward D. profited by the public schools of both 
Pennsylvania and Illinois, and after his fa- 
ther's death succeeded to the management of 
the home farm. He lived with his mother 
until his marriage. April 13, 1870, to Louise 
Horner, of York County, Pa., after which he 
purchased a forty-acre farm adjoining the old 
place. On i'ebruary 26, 1891, he bought and 
moved to the farm where the widow now lives, 



the place consisting of two hundred acres, on 
Sections 23 and 24, Eldorado Township. He 
was engaged in general farming, and also de- 
rived a liberal income from the raising of cat- 
tle, hogs and shsep. Ht was methodical and 
painstaking, and his house, out-buildings, im- 
plements and general improvements evidenced 
the man who put not off until tomorrow what 
was better accomplished today. While thor- 
oughly absorbed in his home tasks, he yet took 
a keen interest in the general affairs of the 
townshi]!. upheld its best political standards, 
and loyally filled the offices of Road Commis- 
sioner, Justice of the Peace, to which he was 
elected on the Democratic ticket. For years 
he was associated with the Masonic fraternity, 
and in his life bore testimony to its beautiful 
and inspiring teachings. 

Mrs. Brinton, who came from York County, 
Pa., with her parents in 1854, settling in Ful- 
ton County, this State, has, with the assistance 
of her children, conducted the home farm since 
the death of her husband. She is the mother 
of eight sons and daughters: John H., Bell, 
Eva Anna (wife of Brower Pontious, and resid- 
ing on a farm near Adair, HI.): Phoebe, Docia, 
George E., Milton M. and Nellie D. The Brin- 
ton hoipe is one which welcomes progress and 
enlightenment, and which brings within its 
doors the diversions and pleasures, as well as 
the labors, of country life. Mr. Brinton him- 
self was a promoter of education and peaceful 
existence, and a believer in keeping pace with 
the happenings in the world about him. He 
had a large store of information concerning 
the early days of the county, and he liked well 
to recall his martial experience during the Civil 
War, in which he served in Company F. One 
Hundred and Third Illinois 'Volunteer Infan- 
try, from October 2, 1862, until the close of 
hostilities. 

BROOKING, Alexander V., formerly a promi- 
nent breeder of live-stock, in which he dealt 
extensively, and a well-known resident of Ma- 
comb, McDonough County. 111., was born Feb- 
ruary 25, 1829, at Sulphur Springs. Ky., where 
he enjoyed the advantages of the primitive 
schools of early days. His father, Thomas 
Brooking, a son of Thomas V. Brooking, was a 
native of Richmond, 'Va.. and his mother, Mary 
(Threshley) Brooking, was born near Lexing- 
ton, Ky. In 1834, Alexander V. Brooking came 




BIGGER HEAD 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



835 



with his parents to Macomb, where his father 
taught school and practiced , law. The latter 
bought a land claim of 150 acres, which he 
worked, teaching school during the winter sea- 
sons. The subject of this sivetch is the ninth 
in a family of twelve children born to his 
parents. He remained with his father until 
he was twenty-two years of age, and in con- 
nection with the latter, increased the extent 
of the farm to 550 acres. He took half of the 
farm, and, in 1854, bought the remainder from 
his father, and lived there eleven years. In 
1S64, he came to Macomb, where he took charge 
of the Randolph Hotel, which he still retains. 
Having sold the homestead and bought an- 
other farm, he engaged in stock-raising and 
feeding horses. He retired from the business 
in 1904, having paid over $9,000 for fine stal- 
lions, which he brought to his place (the Chick- 
amauga Stock Farm) two and one-half miles 
from Macomb. 

Mr. Brooking was married Migust 27, 1S51, 
to Elizabeth H. Randolpn, a native of Ohio, 
who attended public school in Illinois. She 
died in August, 1862, leaving three children — 
Thomas A., Melvina R. and Anna Louisa. On 
May 1, 1864, Mr. Brooking married Mary E. 
Butler, who was born in Illinois. The issue 
from this union was Frederick V., Ethelin, Es- 
tella v., Brainerd B., and Winnie Viola. In 
his political views. Mr. Brooking is a Repub- 
lican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ma- 
sonic Order (Macomb Lodge No. 17 and Morse 
Chapter No. 19) and the A. O, U. W. His ca- 
reer has been long, active and successful, and 
he is now enjoying a period of well-earned 
i-epose. 

BROOKING, William T.— Not only are the ag- 
ricultural fortunes of McDonough County insep- 
arably associated with those bearing the name 
of Brooking, but practically every war of im- 
portance in the country which has caused the 
spirit of indeiiendence to rise with renewed 
strength above the smoke of its battle-fields, has 
counted among its valiant soldiers men of this 
family of pioneers. William T. Brooking, a re- 
tired farmer of Macomb, all but ten of whose 
eighty-three years have been passed within the 
boundaries of this county, upholds the char- 
acter and ideals of his forefathers. Born May 
6, 1824, in Union County. Ky., he is a son of 
Thomas A. and grandson of Thomas V. Brook- 



ing, both natives of Richmond, Va,, and the 
latter of whom married Elizabetn Sherwin. 
His mother, Mary Louise (Threshly) Brooking, 
was born on a farm near Frankfort, Ky., a 
daughter of William and Lucy (Upshaw) 
Threshly, natives of Kentucky and JDngland. re- 
spectively. The father of Thomas V. Brooking, 
and the father of his wife, Elizabeth Sherwin, 
were both Colonels in the War of the American 
Revolution. Thomas A. Brooking and his fa- 
ther also both shouldered muskets in the War 
of 1812. 

Thomas A. moved in early manhood to Ken- 
tucky, married there, and in 1834 went over- 
land to McDonough County, 111. There he found 
silent prairies, uncrossed by fences or directing 
roads. The red men's tepee still adorned the 
landscape. Chicago, then the mart of the Cen- 
tral West, was a log-hut settlement, populated 
by about one hundred whites and half-breeds 
and seventy soldiers. Yet the Virginian's heart 
quailed not, and he bravely took up his life 
of self-sacrifice and consecration to the unfold- 
ing of the resources around him. Entering 
eighty acres of land, he added thereto until he 
owned at one time 500 acres. A man of educa- 
tion and refinement, he engaged in school teach- 
ing for one year at Mucomb, and he subse- 
quently established a brick manufactory on the 
site of the present Catholic cemetery. His 
farms were his chief concern and most ready 
source of income, however, and upon his retire- 
ment from active life to the village of Macomb, 
he was the possessor of large wealth — as wealth 
was counted in those days. His death occurred 
in February, 1S5S, while yet men were arriv- 
ing who called themselves pioneers, yet who 
could never realize the trials and privations 
to which he himself had been subjected. He 
was the parent of four sons and seven daugh- 
ters. 

William T. Brooking lived at home until he 
was twenty-six years old — or until his marriage, 
March 7, 1850. to Louisiana Walker, who was 
born in Indiana in 1833. Up to this time his 
life had been devoted to hard work, and even 
the meager schooling of the early subscription 
institutions was acquired with difficulty, owing 
to the tasks which pressed around his youth. 
A break in the monotony of farming presented 
itself in the disturbance at Nauvoo. in 1845, 
when the Mormons were driven out of the 
town. Mr. Brooking was on tne scene at the 



836 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



time, but taking his departuie at eleven, in tlie 
morning, he escaped the riot wliich followed the 
killing ot Joseph and Hyrum Smith the same 
evening. With his young wife he established 
his home on 160 acres of land across the road 
from his father's homestead, but disposed ot 
this tract in 1S64, and soon after purchased 270 
acres of the old place, upon which he moved 
In the spring of IStJG. In 1S85 he thought to 
retire permanently from farming, sold all his 
land, and engaged in the grocery business in 
Macomb. The peace of the country again called 
him in 1893, and he settled on a farm recently 
purchased, consisting of eignty acres, which 
remained his home until retiring from active 
life to Macomb in 1S9S. 

While no partisan, Mr. Brooking has always 
been a stalwart Republican. His official serv- 
ices extended back to the early history of the 
county. In 1870 he was Assessor of Macomb 
Township, and for twenty years was a mem- 
ber of the School Board. For many years he 
has been a prominent and popular member of 
the Masonic fraternity. The shadow of logs 
fell across his life January 5, 1902, when the 
wife who had shared his struggles and suc- 
cesses for fifty-two years passed away. There 
■were six children born of this union: W. A.; 
Lucian Threshly; Dolly, wife of W. M. Wins- 
low; two who died in infancy, and one who 
died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Brooking's 
career has given direction and character to the 
development ot Macomb Township. His under- 
takings have been invested with consei-vatism 
and resulted in substantial success. As an ag- 
riculturist and business man, his well known 
integrity and good judgment have materially 
smoothed his path, and brought him an unas- 
sailable confidence. He is kindly in manner 
and generous of heart, and those who have 
l^nown him for many years are still his friends 
and well wishers. 

BROOKS, Frank W., who is engaged in the 
banking business in Blandinsville, McDonough 
County, 111., was born in Henderson County, 111.. 
October 1, 1S47, and there received his edu- 
cation. He is a son ot Benjamin F. and Eliza 
(Kertz) Brooks, of whom the former was born 
in Geneseo, N. Y., and the latter in Harris- 
burg, Pa. His father was engaged in the 
lumber business at Oquawka, 111., and Hannibal, 
Mo., but is now deceased. The mother now re- 



sides with Mr. Brooks. The subject of this 
sketch started out for himself in the lumber 
line about the year 1877, and continued thus 
for fifteen years before he became interested 
in banking. Before establishing himself in this 
trade in Blandinsville, he was likewise occu- 
pied in Sciota and Henderson, 111. In the bank- 
ing business he has been associated with 
Grigsby Bros. & Company tor ten years. 

On October 29, 1S7S, Mr. Brooks was mar- 
ried to Lizzie Gillihan, a native of Blandins- 
ville and a daughter of William \V. Gillihan; 
her mother was a Miss Porter. This union 
resulted in three children, namely: Jessie E. 
(Mrs. E. Grigsby); Florence O. and Chauncey 
G. Politically, Mr. Brooks is a Republican, and 
fraternally, is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., 
being a member of Blandinsville Lodge, No. 
233; Blandinsville Chapter, No. 208, and St. 
Omer Commandery, No. 15, Burlington, Iowa. 
He is very favorably known throughout Mc- 
Donough County as an able and successful 
business man. 

BROWNING, (Dr.) Martin Perry, who is suc- 
cessfully engaged in the practice of osteop- 
athy in Macomb, McDonough County, 111., was 
born April 6, 1879, in Scotland County, Mo., a 
son of William Perry and Esther (Harrington) 
Browning, both of whom were ix)rn in Pike 
County, 111. His paternal and maternal grand- 
fathers were, res|)ectively. William Browning 
and Martin Harrington. In liis boyh(X>d Dr. 
Browning attended the public school in his 
neighborhood, and in the spring of 1899 com- 
pleted his course in the normal school. Sub- 
sequently he entered the American School of 
Osteoi)athy, at Kirksville, Mo., from which he 
was graduated in 1902. He commenced the 
practice of his profession at Griggsville, 111., 
where he enjoyed a good patronage. Desiring, 
however, a wider field of effort, he transferred 
his practice to Macomb, January 24, 1904. He 
has been the only practitioner of the osteo- 
pathic school located in Macomb for the past 
two years, and has already rendered profes- 
sional service to a large number of patrons, 
which is constantly increasing. In November, 
1905, he formed a partnership with Dr. O. E. 
Bradley, of Memphis, Mo., and they have estab- 
lished themselves in the Gamage Building at 
Macomb. 

On January 1, 1901, Dr. Browning was united 




MRS. BIGGER HEAD 



L'l^iU i^lDA^ii-j 1 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



837 



in marriage to Cora W. Bradley, who was 
born in Scotland County, Mo., and pursued her 
early studies in the district school and at the 
normal school at Kirksville, Mo. One child 
has resulted from this union, Pauline Lucille, 
born January 19, 1902. The religious connec- 
tion of Dr. Browning is with the Christian 
Church. In politics, he belongs to the Repub- 
lican party, and fraternally, is identified with 
the I. O. O. F. The brief period of his en- 
deavors in Macomb gives assurance of a suc- 
cessful professional career. 

BRUNER, Millard F., a well-known and promi- 
nent citizen of M>cDonough County, 111., who is 
engaged In general farming and stock-raising 
just west of Macomb Normal School, was born 
in that county, .lanuary 9. 1857. a son of David 
and Rhoda (Hills) Bruner, of whom the father 
was a native of Kentucky, and the mother born 
in Schuyler County, 111. The paternal grand- 
parents were Jacob and Maria (Bechtold) Bru- 
ner, the former having been born in Kentucky, 
and on the maternal side the grandparents 
were Ishmael and Elizabeth (Wright) Hills. 
David Bruner, the father, came to McDonough 
County in 1S43 and settled in Eldorado Town- 
ship, where he lived about twenty-four years 
engaged in general farming. He then sold out 
and bought a farm in Industry Township, which 
he cultivated until his i-emoval to Table Grove 
in 18S8, where he resided until his death in the 
spring of 1894. The deceased was an old-line 
Whig, and afterward joined the ranks of the 
Republicans. In his religious faith he was a 
member of the Predestination Baptist Church. 
His wife, the mother of Mr. Bruner, is still 
living. 

Millard F. Bruner was the fifth in a family 
of eight children. He spent the first ten years, 
of his life on his father's farm in Eldorado 
Township, and after the family moved to In- 
dustry Township attended public school as op- 
portunity offered. There he remained until 
1876, and then bought a farm of 106 acres three 
miles south of the paternal homestead, where 
he spent eight years. After his father moved 
to Table Grove, he went back to the latter's 
farm, where he stayed until the fall of 1898. 
He then sold the property in Industry Town- 
ship and purchased a farm of 192 acres in 
Emmet Township, which he rented, and thence 
removed to Macomb in the fall of 1903, making 



his home on his present farm. He also bought 
ISO acres in the same township. Mr. Bruner 
built a fine residence and outbuildings and 
made many improvements. His home is hand- 
some and modern, being located opposite the 
State Normal School. 

Mr. Bruner was married February 10, 1S76, 
to Ida L. Downen, who was born and schooled 
in McDonough County. Three children, David,, 
Thomas and Frederick, resulted from this 
union. Politically, Mr. Bruner is a Republican. 
In 1898 he was elected Sheriff of McDonough 
County, and made his residence for four years 
in the county jail. Before settling on his pres- 
ent farm he also lived one year in the east 
part of Macomb. Fraternally, Mr. Bruner is 
connected with the Masonic Order (Industry 
Lodge. A. F. & A. M.), Modern Woodmen of 
America and Mystic Workers. The subject of 
this sketch is one of the most intelligent and 
substantial citizens of McDonough County, and 
is respected by all who know him. 

BURNHAM, Charles Edgar, a prominent and 
successful farmer of McDonough County, 111., 
was born in Schuyler County, that State, Oc- 
tober 3, 1864, a son of Edgar and Caroline 
(Armstrong) Burnham. the former born in the 
State of New Hampshire, and the latter In 
Pennsylivanla. The maternal grandfather. John 
Armstrong, was also a native of the Keystone 
State. The subject of this sketch is the fourth 
of fourteen children born to his parents. He 
was born on the home farm, where he lived 
until he was eight years of age. His parents 
then moved to McDonough County, where their 
son, Charles, enjoyed the advantages of the 
common schools. Charles and his brother John 
bought the home farm when the former was 
twenty-three years old, and he lived there until 
two years after his marriage. In 1896. he sold 
his interest in the homestead, and purchased 
the farm which he now operates. He is en- 
gaged in general farming and stock-raising, and 
his energy, industry and systematic methods 
have resulted in prosperous conditions on his 
property. 

On February 7. 1894, Mr. Burnham was united 
in marriage with Minnie Wilson, who was born 
and schooled in Industry Township, McDon- 
ough County, and is a daughter of Hugh and 
Harriet (Hobart) Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Burn- 
ham have been blessed with four children. 



838 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



namely: Hugh Wilson, Edgar Wilson, Roy 
King and Carl Hobart. In politics, Br. Burn- 
ham upholds the principles of the Republican 
party. 

BURPEE,_ George W. (deceased), who was for- 
merly a prosperous merchant of high repute 
in Bushnell, McDonough County, 111., was born 
in Mount Morris, Livingston County, N. Y., Jan- 
uary 18, 1838, a son of Elijah and Myra (Bai- 
ley) Burpee, natives of Sterling, Mass. Elijah 
Burpee was a cabinet-maker by trade, and 
moved west with his family to Rockford, 111., 
in 1853, where the subject of this sketch com- 
pleted his education in the public schools. Dur- 
ing the Civil War, Mr. Burpee responded to the 
call to serve his country, and enlisted in the 
One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, in which he served about two 
years. In 1863 he located in Bushnell and en- 
tered into the grocery business with N. T. 
Mairs, of Galway, N. Y. At a later period he 
formed a partnership with Walter R. Webster, 
of Bushnell, in the grain business. In 1871 he 
went to Waterloo, Iowa, where he was en- 
gaged in the grocery business for two years, 
when he went to Chicago and there became a 
member of the Board of Trade. At a later pe- 
riod he represented the grain and commission 
firm of Milmine, Bodman & Comi)any, of Chi- 
cago, with which he was identified until Jan- 
uary 1, 1894, when he became connected with 
the grain firm of P. B. and C. C. Miles, of 
Peoria, 111. He was a man of superior busi- 
ness ability, diligent in application to his work, 
and of unswerving integrity. Those who knew 
him intimately testify emphatically as to the 
fine sense of honor which dominated all his re- 
lations in life. 

On November 22. 1SG6. Mr. Burpee was united 
in marriage with Mary L. Webster, a native of 
Gowanda, N. Y., and a daughter of Walter R. 
and Mary H. (Johnson) Webster, natives of 
New York. In politics, Mr. Webster was a 
strong Republican, and traternally was affil- 
iated with the Masonic fraternity. His death 
occurred at his residence in Bushnell, Octo- 
ber 5, 1894. 

BUSSERT, John Allen, who follows the trade 
of a carpenter in Macomb, III., and is also 
known as an expert player on musical instru- 
ments, was born in Hocking County, Ohio, Feb- 
ruary 5, 1S3(), and there attended the public 



schools. His father, William Bussert. was born 
in Pennsylvania, and his mother, Catherine 
(Helms) Bussert, was a native of Maryland. 
Andrew Bussert, his paternal grandfather, was 
a native of Germany. 

John A. Bussert is the youngest of a family 
of thirteen children, of whom he and one 
brother are the only survivors. He remained 
at home until his marriage, and, in September, 
1861, enlisted as musician in the Sixty-first 
Regiment Ohio .Volunteer Infantry, which was, 
a year later, consolidated with the Fifty-eighth 
Ohio, all the musicians being mustered out. 
He then enlisted as a private in the Thirtieth 
Ohio Volunteers, in which he served two 
months, when he was taken out of the ranks 
and put into the Third Brigade, Second Divi- 
sion, Fifteenth Army Corps. Here he served 
one year as a musician, when he was mustered 
out and returned home. Shortly afterward he 
enlisted as a private in the Eighty-eighth Reg- 
iment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was as- 
signed to service as a musician at the post 
in Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained until 
the end of the war. In 1864 he sei-ved as Dep- 
uty Provost Marshal and was engaged in ar- 
resting deserters, whom he delivered to the 
Provost Marshal. After the war Mr. Bussert 
returned home and worked at farming. He 
went to Missouri in 1865, and farmed there 
until 1873. Then he moved to Macomb, where 
he followed teaming for five years, when he 
I'esumed work as a carpenter, and has followed 
this trade ever since. He is a fine musician, 
being especially proficient with the horn, on 
which he plays first baritone. During his res- 
idence in Ohio he gave lessons in all the mu- 
sical institutions of the State. 

Mr. Bussert was married in 1859 to Maria 
Robey, who was born and educated at Tarl- 
ton, Ohio. He and his wife have three chil- 
dren: Burt, who resides in Macomb, 111.: Car- 
rie (Mrs. Walter E. Quimby), who lives in 
Maine, and William, a resident of Macomb. 

In politics, Mr. Bussert is an earnest Re- 
publican, and fraternally is an active member 
of the G. A. R. He is highly regarded in the 
community and his presence is familiar to al- 
most every one. 

BYERS, Earl M. — Viewing the world from the 
slielter of his fine and self-earned farm in Wal- 
nut Grove Township, McDonough County. Earl 
M. Byers may well congratulate himself that 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



839 



his linas have fallen in pleasant and profitable 
places, and that his occupation is one for which 
nature and inclination have admirably fitted 
him. A native son of Illinois and born in Han- 
cock County November 3, 1S61, he is the oldest 
of the three sons and one daughter of William 
and Emily (Tucker) Byers, the former born 
in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Illinois. 
William Byers moved with his family from 
Hancoclc to McDonough County In 1874, and 
there conducted general farming until his re- 
tirement from active life to his present home in 
Macomb in 1891. His children all are living, 
but he has been a widower since the death of 
his wife, April 10, 1905. With such aids to 
hack him as a common school education and 
thorough agricultural training under his father. 
Earl M. Byers embarked upon a self-supporting 
life on a farm east of Raritan, Henderson 
•County, this State, where he remained three 
years. In the spring of 18S7 he purchased 161 
acres of land in Section 17, Walnut Grove 
Township, which land he has greatly improved, 
adding, besides a variety of modern implements, 
a residence constructed in 1902, and a barn of 
more recent date, costing ?2,000. Besides rais- 
ing grain and other products which thrive in 
the Central West, he is an extensive breeder 
■of Shorthorn cattle, and in addition to the fa- 
cilities required for successfully conducting his 
business, has surrounded himself and wife with 
the comforts and even luxuries of existence. 
His home is unexcelled for architectural and 
general appropriateness In the township, and 
his standing as a farmer and citizen is an 
enviable one. 

On September 10, 1SS5, Mr. Byers was united 
in marriage to Bessie Dean, a native of Illinois, 
and the seventh in order of birth of the six 
daughters and two sons of Michael and Susan 
(Cummings) Dean. Mr. Dean was born in 
Bath County. Ky., and his wife is a native of 
the vicinity of Greenoch. Scotland. The latter 
came to America with her parents when five 
years old. and was married in Fulton County, 
111., March 10, 1S42. In 185G the family moved 
to their present home in Warren County, where 
was solemnized the marriage of their daughter, 
Bessie and Mr. Byers. In politics. Mr. Byers 
is a Democrat. A broad minded and intelligent 
farmer, a promoter of education and morality, 
he is a capable exponent of the highest tenets 
■of agricultural science. 



CAMP, Farnam B., a well-known farmer of 
Chalmers Township, McDonough County, 111., 
was born in Section 3, of that township, No- 
vember 13, 1836, a son of Israel and Anna 
(Barnes) Camp, natives, respectively, of New 
Hampshire and Connecticut. Israel Camp 
came to McDonough County in 1*835 with his 
wife and two sons, who were quite young, and 
settled on the northwest quarter of Section 3, 
Chalmers Township, having bought the property 
from a Mr. Anderson. The family came from 
Brookfield. Orange County, Vt., by wagon and 
team, sixty-four days being occupied in making 
the trip. They commenced their long overland 
journey in April, 1835, and located where Far- 
nam B. Camp now lives, starting life in a rude 
log cabin and with little improved land. The 
father was a man of many practical accomplish- 
ments, being a farmer, a carpenter, a mill- 
wright, a cooper and a fair doctor (for the 
times). He erected his hut in the thick tim- 
l)er. and made his way the first year by building 
bridges and cultivating his small tract of cleared 
land with a wooden mold-board and single shovel 
plow, and other primitive implements. After- 
ward he formed a partnership with George 
Rice, built a saw-mill on Spring Creek and did 
a thriving business. In 1840 he made a kiln 
of brick, and, in 1841. built a frame house 
which was as good a residence as any in the 
county at that time. He was altogether a ca- 
pable, industrious and useful citizen. 

The subject of this sketch attended the sub- 
scription school in the neighborhood when a 
youth, and continued to live with his parents 
until he was of age. He was the youngest 
of three boys and, when old enough, started 
out to work with his brother at carpentering 
and farming. This lasted one season, when 
he returned home and in connection with his 
other brother, purchased a mill-site and op- 
erated a saw-mill for eight years. At the end 
of this period he again engaged in carpenter 
work and farming, and bought a little land 
now and then, until he now owns fifty acres, 
on which he is carrying on farming. On May 
1, 1890, Mr. Camp was married to Elizabeth 
A. Taylor, who was born in Chalmers Town- 
ship, where in girlhood she attended public 
school. In politics, the subject of this sketch Is 
a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He 
has lately completed a term of four years as 
Justice of the Peace, and served as School Di- 



840 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



rector twenty-one years, and one year as Asses- 
sor. Mr. Camp is a man who enjoys the con- 
fidence and respect of his neighbors to a large 
degree, and is an exemplary citizen. 

CAMP, John R., publisher of the "Bushnell 
Record." in Bushnell, McDonough County, III., 
was born in the county named, February 6, 
1862. He is a son of S. P. and Samantha 
(Harris) Camp, the father a native of Tennes- 
see and the mother of Illinois. The former 
came to McDonough County in the 'fifties, and 
followed the occupation of a farmer. John R. 
Camp received his elementary education in the 
common schools, and at the age of sixteen 
years began to learn the printer's trade in 
the office of what is now the "Bushnell Rec- 
ord." The paper was established by D. G. 
Swan, in 18G5, as the "tJnion Press." In 1868, 
its name was changed to the "Bushnell Record. " 
On January 12, 1883, Camp Brothers succeeded 
Taylor & Camp in its management, and, since 
1897. it has been conducted by John R. Camp. 
The "Record has a weekly circulation of 1,100 
copies, and the office is equipped with three 
modern presses. 

Mr. Camp was married, January 1, 1885, to 
Lnra Kornal. Mr. and Mrs. Camp have one 
child, Zolene, and an adopted daughter, Rita 
Yockey. The subject of this sketch served one 
term as Township Collector, and one term as 
President of the Board of Education. From 
1898 to 1902, he was Postmaster of Bushnell. 
He is now a School Trustee of the township. 
Fraternally, Mr. Camp is a member of the 
Masonic Order, the Eastern Star, I. O. O. F. 
(three branches), M. \V. A.. Court of Honor 
and Mystic Workers. 

CAMPBELL, David, one of the oldest farmers 
and merchants in McDonough County, 111., and 
one of the most highly respected citizens of 
Good Hope, in that county, where he is now 
living in retirement, was born in Greene Coun- 
ty, Tenn., on June 15, 1819, a son of Alexander 
and Mary W. (Strain) Campbell, the former 
being a native of Virginia where he was born 
in Augusta County. Alexander Campbell moved 
from Virginia to Tennessee at an early period, 
and in 1829 started for McDonough County, 
III., stopping, however, in Kentucky until Sep- 
tember, 1830. He then continued his journey 
until he reached Camp Creek, 111., where he 



remained eight years. There he bought a 
tract of Government land, for which he paid 
$1.25 per acre. This he sold in the spring of 
1836 and. with his two sons-in-law, A. H. and 
Qulntus Walker, purchased Section 16 in M'al- 
nut Grove Township. At that time the law re- 
quired that there must be at least forty in- 
habitants in a township before the sixteenth 
section could be advertised for sale. On mak- 
ing a count it was discovered that the popula- 
tion fell somewhat short of the requisite num- 
ber, and. in order to comply with the provisions 
of the statute, Mr. Campbell and the Messrs. 
Walker hired rail-makers to come and make up 
the deficiency. 

Alexander Campbell carried on farming in 
Section lH after clearing, breaking up and im- 
proving the land. It was the only settlement 
between Ellisville, 111., and what was then 
known as Job's Settlement, being eighteen miles 
from the former, and twelve from the latter. 
Mr. Campbell and the Messrs. Walker built 
and dwelt in log houses, and their homes 
furnished the only stopping places in a long 
distance for people traveling from Ohio and 
Indiana for the purpose of settling in Iowa. 
In that day it was necessary tor the residents of 
the neighborhood to haul all their grain and 
pork either to Beardstown or Warsaw, 111., and 
this consumed considerable time. The wife of 
Alexander Campbell was formerly Mary W. 
Strain, whom he married in Tennessee on Oc- 
tober IS, 1808 or 1809. She and her husband 
reared a family of three boys and four girls, 
of whom the sons are still living. Mr. Camp- 
bell continued to live in Section IG, Walnut 
Grove Township until his death in 1856. He 
filled the office of Justice of the Peace for a 
number of years, occupied several minor public 
positions, and was prominent in the work of 
organizing the township. He was a man of 
remarkable energy, superior judgment and 
strict probity. 

David Campbell accomi)anied his parents 
from Tennessee to Illinois, being then about 
ten years of age. He has a clear recollection, 
of the time when his father conducted a Sun- 
day School in the log cabin which constituted 
the family home. When twenty-two years old, 
the subject of this sketch applied himself to 
farming on his own account, on eighty acres 
of land which he had purchased in Section IG, 
Walnut Grove Township, and at a later period 




ABRAHAM HORROCKS 



ASTOR, LI 1 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



841 



he bought forty acres more in Section S, ad- 
joining. In 1S69 he sold his farm, intending to 
move to Kansas, but instead of carrying out 
his original purpose, established his residence 
in Good Hope, in the fall of that year. His son 
E. T. went to Kansas, but returned somewhat 
dissatisfied with the outlook there. The family, 
therefore, determined to remain in Good Hope, 
where the father and two of his sons bought an 
agricultural implement and dry-goods store, 
which they conducted for a number of years. 
In .Tune, 1842. Mr. Campbell was united in 
marriage with Winifred Bridges, who was born 
in Tennessee, but whose parents were early 
settlers of Industry Township, McDonough 
County. Six children were the offspring of 
this union, namely: Cornelia (Mrs. Durell), 
born September 3, 1842; John, born April 14, 
1S47, who lives in Kansas; Ebenezer N. (de- 
ceased), who was born January 8, 1849, and 
was a physician; Margaret Louisa (Mrs. Cru- 
ser), born April 17, 1851, a resident of Missouri; 
Mary Jane (Mrs. A. Allison), born June 16, 
1853, whose home is in Good Hope, HI., and 
Ira Bridges, born February 28, 1856, who re- 
sides in Missouri, at Kansas City. Ebenezer 
and Ira were associated with their father in the 
mercantile enterprise already mentioned. In 
politics, the subject of this sketch is an old- 
time Republican and served five years as Post- 
master of Good Hope. His son, Ebenezer N., 
had previously held that office for two years, 
but resigned in order to study medicine, and 
was succeeded by the father. Mr. Campbell 
has been a member of the Presbyterian Church 
since he was nineteen years of age, and has 
had a long, useful and honorable career. No 
citizen of McDonough County is held in greater 
esteem than David Campbell, who is regarded 
on all sides with profound veneration. 

CAMPBELL, J. James, who has successfully 
conducted a jewelry store in Bushnell, Mc- 
Donough County, 111., since 1882, was born in 
Macomb, 111., May 21, 1845, and there enjoyed 
the advantages of the public schools. He is a 
son of James M. and Louisa (Farwell) Camp- 
bell, his father having been born in Frankfort, 
Ky., in 1803, and his mother being a native 
of Vermont. James M. Campbell was the first 
of the pioneer settlers of McDonough County, 
coming there by official appointment for the 
purpose of organizing the county in 1831. This 
15 



organization he assisted in perfecting, as well 
as that of the town of Macomb, the streets of 
which he laid out. In 1835 he was appointed 
County Recorder, was the first Postmaster of 
Macomb, being appointed in 1842, and held 
the office of County Clerk for eighteen years, 
receiving his commission as Recorder and Coun- 
ty Clerk from Governor Reynolds. In politics, 
he was a Democrat and was very prominent 
and influential in the local councils of his party, 
having held almost every office in the town and 
county. He died at Macomb in 1891, at the 
age of eighty-four years. 

J. James Campbell, the son, came to Bush- 
nell in 1882, and established himself in the 
jewelry business, which he has conducted con- 
tinuously ever since at his present location, 
affording evidence of his stability of character 
and persistent adherence to his undertakings. 
He is known to nearly all of his fellow citizens, 
enjoys a fine patronage and commands the con- 
fidence and respect of those with whom he 
comes in contact. 

On August 19, 1872. Mr. Campbell was united 
in marriage with Martha Lipe, who was born 
and educated in McDonougti County. The chil- 
dren resulting from this union are: Lula, 
Mary and Maude, the first and last of whom 
are married. In politics, Mr. Campbell is a 
Democrat, rie has served as Township Col- 
lector, and was a member of the School Board 
for nine years. Fraternally, he is a member of 
the order of Loyal Americans, the I. O. O. F., 
K. of P. and M. W. of A. 

CAMPBELL, Newton S., a well-known lawyer 
of Blandinsville. McDonough County, 111., was 
born in Monroe County, Ind., June 14, 1845, 
and there received his early mental training 
in the public schools. His father, Howard 
Campbell, was born in Rowan County, N. C, 
and his mother, Hannah L. (Gibbons), was a 
native of Indiana. Howard Campbell was a 
farmer by occupation. He came to Blandins- 
ville Township in 1S62. and carried on farming. 

Newton S. Campbell was reared on his fa- 
ther's farm. From the farm he went into the 
law office of C. R. Hume, where he studied law, 
and since his admission to the bar, has prac- 
ticed in Blandinsville. In connection with his 
law practice, he conducts a collection and in- 
surance office. In 1882, Mr. Campbell was mar- 
ried to Mary E. Burr, who was born in Indiana, 



842 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



and four children have blessed their union, 
namely: Ralph and Ruth E. (deceased), Anna 
R. (Mrs. Warner), and .Mary M. Fraternally, 
Mr. Campbell is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. 

CANON, James H., who owns and cultivates a 
fine farm in Mound Township, McDonough 
County, 111., is a son of James A. and Rachel 
(Sullivan) Canon, and a grandson of Robert 
Canon and Joseph Sullivan, on the paternal and 
maternal sides, respectively. His father was 
a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Wash- 
ington County, Pa. James A. Canon came to 
McDonough County with his parents in 1834, 
Robert Canon having purchased eighty acres 
of land there. The latter lived on this land 
the rest of his life. His son, James A., lived 
there some years and sold out in 1857, going 
to Iowa. On returning, six weeks later, he 
bought 160 acres of land in Mound Township, 
where he lived until his death, in January, 1900. 

James H. Canon was born in Chalmers Town- 
ship, McDonough County, December 17, 18.54, 
where in boyhood he enjoyed the advantages 
of the district school. He was the fourth in 
a family of five children, and lived with his 
parents until he reached the age of nineteen 
years. He then left home and did farm work 
by the month for two years, after which he 
operated a farm for himself. In the spring of 
1883, he bought 102i/4 acres of land, which con- 
stitutes the main portion of his present farm. 
To the first purchase he added until he now 
owns 170 acres, on which he carries on gen- 
eral farming and raises cattle, horses and hogs. 
He is an energetic and painstaking farmer, and 
his labors are attended with good results. 

Mr. Canon was first married in May, 1876, 
to Nancy J. Amos, who was born in Kentucky. 
This union was the source of five children, as 
follows: Estella, Astoria, Abner E., Joseph A. 
and James B. McK. The second marriage was 
to Mynea C. Jackson, who was born in Mound 
Township, McDonough County, and received 
her early mental training in the district school. 
One child, Lola Mary, is the offspring of this 
union. Politically, Mr. Canon casts his vote in 
favor of the Republican party, and has sei-ved 
the township one term as Road Commissioner. 
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the M. W. A. 

CANOTE, William Henry, formerly a diligent 
and successful farmer of Colchester Township 



and now living at leisure in the village of Col- 
chester, McDonough County, 111., was born in 
Putnam County, Ind., May 22. 1831, a son of 
Henry and Peachie ( Mumpine i Canote, natives 
of Kentucky. The grandfathers on the paternal 
and maternal sides were Jacob Canote and 
Wilson Mumpine. Henry Canote, the father, 
came with his family to McDonough County in 
1836, and settled in what is now Colchester 
Township, where he entered eighty acres of 
Government land, on which he lived the re- 
mainder of his life. 

The subject of this sketch was the fourth of 
a family of five children born to his parents, 
four of whom were boys. In boyhood he re- 
ceived his mental training in the public 
schools. He bought the interests of the other 
heirs of his father's estate and lived on the 
home farm until 1898, when he retired to Col- 
chester, where he had purchased property. He 
owned 290 acres of land in one tract, besides 
twenty-five acres of timber and the homestead 
of eighty acres, of which he sold all but the 
290 acres. 

On December 18, 1856, he was united in mar- 
riage with Hester M. Monk and their union 
resulted in three children. Of these John, who 
was born in Colchester Township January 8, 
1859, is the only one now living. Mrs. Canote 
died December 14, 1862, and on April 17, 1864, 
he was married to Mary J. Burford, who died 
February 18, 1904, having borne him four chil- 
dren, namely: Calvin, who resides in Col- 
chester: .Jessie, Mrs. Oscar J. Linstrum, of 
Girard, HI.; Effie, wife of William Perkins, 
of Colchester Township: and Birdie, Mrs. 
Geor.ge Fulder, of Colchester. March 17, 1905, 
he married as his third wife, Mrs. Lucinda 
(Frank) White, with whom he is now living in 
Colchester. Mr. Canote endorses the principles 
of the Democratic party, but in local affairs 
supports the measures which he believes to be 
for the best interests of the whole people. 

CARROLL, Charles William, a prosperous 
grain-dealer of Blandinsville, McDonough Coun- 
ty, 111., was born in Newark, Licking County, 
Ohio, April 12, 1834, a son of James and Allen 
(Lauhrey) Carroll, natives of the State of 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Carroll came to Bureau 
County, 111., with his parents when an infant. 
In youth he was employed as a clerk, and 
afterward followed farming. In 1856 he en- 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



843 



gaged in the grain trade in Annawan, Henry 
County, 111., whence he removed in 1867 to Chil- 
licothe, Peoria County, 111., where he spent 
eleven years in the same line of business. After 
being engaged for ten years in the grain busi- 
ness in Henry, 111., he moved to Clarinda, Page 
County, Iowa, where he dealt in grain one 
year, then returned to Chillicothe, 111., for one 
year. He next resided at Galesburg, 111., where 
he took charge for a year of F. H. Peavey & 
Company's grain business between Chicago and 
Kansas City. Next he went to Media, Hen- 
derson County, 111., where he built an elevator 
and remained one year. In 1892 he came to 
Blandinsville and bought J. M. Davis' grain 
and coal business, including the elevator with 
a capacity of 15,000 bushels. He handles all 
kinds of grain and coal. 

On December 28, 1875, Mr. Carroll was mar- 
ried to Olive Amelia Wilmot, who was born in 
Northampton, Peoria County, 111., and two chil- 
dren. Ralph Waldo and Kdward, have resulted 
from this union. Ralph Waldo married, De- 
cember 3, 1902, Miss Louise Bushnell. He as- 
sists his father in the grain business. Re- 
ligiously, Mr. Carroll is identified wfth the Bap- 
tist denomination, politically is a Democrat, and 
has served one year as Mayor of Blandins- 
ville. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the A. 
F. & A. M. as member of Blandinsville IjOdge. 
No. 233; Blandinsville Chapter, No. 208; Peoria 
Comniandery. No. 3, and Eastern Star Chap- 
ter, No. 108. 

GATES, Richard, a prominent and successful 
stock dealer residing in Prairie City. McDon- 
ough County, 111., was born in Wayne County, 
Ind., February 27, 1836, a son of Daniel and 
Sarah (Cramer) Cates, who were natives, re- 
spectively, of Knoxville, Tenn., and the State 
of North Carolina. The father was born in 
1818 and died in 1896, the mother dying in 1901. 
Daniel Cates moved from Tennessee to Wayne 
County, Ind., in 1825, still later to Howard 
County in the same State, and from there to 
Centerville, Iowa. He then went to Mercer 
County, Mo., and subsequently to Southwest- 
ern Kansas, where he owned considerable land. 
From that State he returned to Howard County, 
Ind., where he died. Richard Cates came to 
Illinois in 1862. locating first at Fairview, Ful- 
ton County, 111., and at Prairie City in 1868. 
He soon afterward engaged in the stock busi- 



ness, which he has since followed continuously 
for thirty-five years, buying and shipping cat- 
tle. He has also dealt considerably in real 
estate. 

The subject of this sketch was united in mar- 
riage, April 5, 1857, with Amanda E. Smith, 
who was born in Ohio, March 9, 1841. Four 
children resulted from this union, namely: 
Alice, Josephine, Jesse and Charles Melville. 
The mother passed away in 1902. In political 
matters Mr. Cates gives his support to the 
Democratic party. In 1894 he was elected 
Township Assessor. Throughout his long res- 
idence in this vicinity, Mr. Cates has enjoyed 
the reputation of being a man of honorable 
character, and the many with whom he has had 
business relations are accustomed to speak of 
him with unvarjing respect. 

CHAMPION, Thomas M., long and successfully 
engaged in agricultural pursuits in Emmet 
Township, McDonough County. 111., and now on 
the verge of retirement from active labor, was 
born in Washington County, Ky., April 4, 1836. 
He is a son of Edward and Joanna (Mitchell) 
Champion, who were born in Washington 
County. Ky. His paternal grandparents, 
Thomas and Martha (Cannon) Champion, were 
natives of Virginia. The maternal grand- 
father, Daniel Mitchell, was born in South Car- 
olina, and his grandmother, Jane (Berry) 
Mitchell, was a native of Kentucky. Thomas 
M. Champion is the eldest of six children, and 
was born on the home farm, where he lived 
with his parents until he was twenty-one 
years old, attending the common school in his 
boyhood. On October 16, 1856, he came to 
Emmet Township, and worked for six years, 
with his uncles, Mankin and Jacob Champion. 
His uncle Mankin died, and when the estate 
was settled the subject of this sketch bought 
the interests of some of the heirs, amounting 
to 160 acres, which constitute a part of his pres- 
ent farm. It was mostly timber land and used 
for pasture. Mr. Champion has cleared and 
now cultivates about thirty acres of this tract. 
He has added to the original place until he now 
owns 460 acres, nearly all of which is tillable 
land. He keeps fifty head of cattle, and also 
raises horses and hogs, but is making arrange- 
ments to sell out and retire from active work. 
He has been a very careful and diligent farmer 
and has met with merited success. 



844 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



On January 13, 1874, Mr. Champion was 
married to Sadie Stickle, who was born in 
Emmet Township in 1852 and pursued a course 
of study in the University at Normal, 111. 
Three children have blessed this union, namely: 
George E.; Eleanor, a music teacher, of 
Blandinsville. 111.: and Mattie Thomas (Mrs. 
Charles Griffith). Mrs. Champion left school 
in 1874 but she had taught five years pre- 
viously, in Hire, Chalmers and Emmet Town- 
ships. Her parents, George and .Julia (George) 
Stickle, were born in Pennsylvania. Her 
grandparents, Abram and Susanna (Bentley) 
Stickle, and William and Martha (Burnett) 
George, were also born in that State. Her 
great-grandmother, Holipeter, was a native of 
Germany. Politically, Mr. Champion is an aa- 
herent of the Republican party, and served one 
term as Collector in Emmet Township. 

CHANDLER, (Col.) Charles (deceased).— 
Among the names of jiioneers by whom citi- 
zens of a former generation were wont to con- 
jure, and to which its citizens of the present 
generation look with veneration akin to that 
of the devotee toward his patron saint, is the 
one whose name stands at the head of this 
sketch. Charles Chandler was born in Alstead, 
Cheshire County, N. H., August 28, 1809. On 
both sides of the family, he was descended from 
most prominent and worthy ancestors. His 
father, James Chandler, a farmer by occupa- 
,tion, was a native of New Hampshire, where 
he was born in 1771, and nis mother, Abigail 
(Vilas) Chandler, was born In Massachusetts, 
in 1775. The former died November 18, 1857, 
and the latter passed away November 29, 1854. 
The subject of this sketch worked for his 
father on the farm until he reached the age of 
nineteen years. At that period he obtained the 
parental consent to go to Boston, where he se- 
cured employment in a mercantile concern. 
In 1831 he came west to Cincinnati, and, in 
1834, arrived in Macomb, 111., the field of his 
future endeavors. Here he was employed as 
clerk in a store of which his brother, Thomp- 
son, who had preceded him, was part proprietor. 
For two years he remained with this concern, 
and then established himself in business on his 
own account, which he conducted three years. 
This brought him to a period when the devel- 
opment of farming lands and the enhancement 
of realty values constituted an inducement to 



enter the real-estate business. This he under- 
took and met with fair success. He then 
branched out into extensive land transactions, 
and bought and sold large tracts in various 
airections. In a few years he became the 
owner of vast acres, which the extension of 
different railroads lines made quite valuable. 

In 1858 Mr. Chandler engaged in the banking, 
business and continued thus until the time of 
his death, December 26, 1878. When he estab- 
lished his bank in Macomb failures of banks 
and business houses were of almost daily occur- 
rence throughout the country, yet the people of 
McDonough County reposed in Colonel Chan- 
dler implicit confidence. The general stringency 
prevailed until 1861, when the money market 
was drained of silver and gold, and no change 
was available tor the settlement of local busi- 
ness accounts. In this emergency Mr. Chandler 
issued scrip to the amount of several thousand 
dollars, in denominations of five, ten and 
twenty-five cents, to meet the demand for 
small currency. Specimens of this opportune 
and useful medium are doubtless scattered 
throughout the country, which have been care- 
fully preserved as souvenirs of those days. Mr. 
Chandler conducted a private banking business 
until 1865, when the First National Bank of 
Macomb was organized, of which he became 
the President, establishing it on a solid founda- 
tion. He aided also, in 1865, in forming a pri- 
vate banking institution at Bushnell, which 
subsequently developed into the Farmers" Na- 
tional Bank. In this he was a stockholder and 
director until his death. Mr. Chandler took a 
deep and active interest in whatever pertained 
to the public welfare. At the time of the Civil 
War he was past middle age and his health, 
which had been for years somewhat frail, pre- 
vented him from entering service in the field. 
He was, however, so zealous in arousing others 
to action that Governor Yates, the "War Gov- 
ernor" of Illinois, commissioned him Colonel of 
State Militia, with authority to recruit a regi- 
ment of home guards. 

Colonel Chandler richly deserves a niche of 
honor among the representative men of Illi- 
nois. Although he exercised a dominating in- 
fluence in the conduct of extensive financial 
transactions, in which he attained signal suc- 
cess, his kindly instincts were never smothered 
by the acquirement of wealth, and he remained 
to the Jast an affable and courteous gentleman. 




fci^.^^^M ^^^ 



CTi.^.^^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



845 



companionable with al! who were worthy of 
his acquaintance. He listened readily and with 
quick response to every appeal in behalf of a 
deserving cause, although he avoided indiscrim- 
inate charity. His benevolent nature would 
not permit him to refuse succor in cases of in- 
dividual distress. He made the "Golden Rule" 
the criterion of his course in life. His personal 
honor was absolutely without a blemish, and 
not a whisper was ever heard in question of 
his business integrity. 

In physical mold, Colonel Chandler was five 
feet, six inches in height, and weighed 160 
pounds. He was smoothfaced, spotlessly neat 
in attire and alert in carriage. The im])airment 
of his heath in later years compelled him to 
seek much recreation in travel. He was ac- 
customed to spend the winter seasons in the 
Southern States, and in touring South America, 
Central America, the West Indies, California 
and Mexico. While going thus from place to 
place, he maintained a keen observance of con- 
ditions and opportunities, and made occasional 
business ventures which added profit to 
pleasure. 

On December 15, 1836, Colonel Chandler was 
rinited in marriage with Sarah K. Cheatham, of 
Macomb, who was born October 19, 1819, the 
daughter of Samuel G. and Martha Cheatham, 
natives of Kentucky. She died September 29, 
lS5o. and her loss was keenly felt throughout a 
wide acquaintance, as that of a most estimable 
woman, a dutiful wife and fond mother. Seven 
children blessed the union of this worthy and 
tioniored husband and wife, four of whom 
passed away in infancy or childhood. Thoae 
surviving are Martha Abigail, widow of Henry 
C. Twyman, of Macomb: Charles Vilasco, Presi- 
dent of the Bank of Macomb, and .Tames Edgar. 
of St. Louis, Mo. After the death of his wife 
the heart of the father seemed to go out with 
still more ardent affection toward the bereaved 
children and their offspring, in whose compan- 
ionship he found great solace and comfort, and 
whose idol he was to the last. 

On political issues Mr. Chandler was first 
a Whig and afterward a Republican. He 
neither sought nor desired political prefer- 
ment, however, as his mind was fully occupied 
with matters of weightier importance. In ac- 
cepting certain local offices at various times, 
he simply yielded to the pressure of public 
opinion. He was Coroner for two years; School 



Commissioner, four years; Justice of the Peace, 
several terms; member of the City Council, 
and Mayor one term. In estimating the charac- 
ter and significance of a career like that of 
Colonel Chandler, words of mere encomium 
seem quite superfluous. His lite speaks for 
itself. Its impulses, thoughts, and actions are 
indelibly impressed on the material, moral, edu- 
cational and social life of the community. As, 
in days of antiquity is was said in relation to 
an eminent Roman who excelled in virtuous 
and beneficent deeds, so may it be said in 
Macomb, by way of tribute to the character of 
the lamented Charles Chandler: "It you seek 
his monument, look around you." 

CHANDLER, Charles V. — One of the most con- 
spicuous figures in the activities of this and the 
preceding generation in McDonough County is 
represented in the name wnich constitutes the 
caption of this biographical sketch. It is a 
familiar name in this section of the State of 
Illinois, and will pass into futurity in the annals 
of the city of .Macomb, as that of her most cher- 
ished son. Charles V. Chandler was born in 
Macomb, McOonough County, 111., January 25, 
1843. His father. Col. Charles Chandler, who 
died December 26, 1878, was a prominent 
banker of Macomb and a sagacious financier. 
( .\ memoir of Colonel Chandler will be found 
in the preceding sketch.) The primary educa- 
tion of the subject of this sketch was received 
in his native city. Subsequently he attended 
school at Danbury, Conn., and still later be- 
came a pupil in the Lake Forest (111.) Academy. 
When he was on the point of entering Williams 
College in order to complete his education, he 
found himself no lofiger able to ignore his 
country's call for defenders, and in 1862 re- 
turned to Macomb and enlisted in Company I, 
Seventy-eighth Regiment Illinois Vonunteer In- 
fantry, in which he served as a private for nine 
months. He was then promoted to be Second 
Lieutenant. At the battle of Chickamauga, 
September 20. 1863, he was severely wounded, 
a rifle ball passing through both thighs. A few 
months afterward another ball penetrated one 
one of his thighs. He was the last member of 
his company who received a wound. He had 
just grasped a small hickory tree for support 
and had remarked to the First Lieutentant, "I 
guess we are through all right," when the ball 
struck him. Pressing his hand on the wound. 



846 



HISTORY OF McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



he uttered the words, "I guess I've got another 
guess coming." Mr. Chandler afterward cut 
down the hickory tree and now has a cane 
which was made from it. He returned to 
Macomb on a furlough and nursed his wounds 
until March 1, 1S64, when he went back to the 
regiment and was pleased to learn that he had 
been promoted to the ad.iutancy, his com- 
mission dating from the day of his wound. 
Finding himself incapacitated for service, how- 
ever, by reason of his injuries, he resigned his 
commission, returned home and became teller 
in the private banking house of his father, 
which was afterwards changed to the First Na- 
tional Bank. In this capacity he served until 
his father's death, when he became President 
of the bank, and has continued thus since 
1S79. He was one of the incorporators of the 
first pottery works in Macomb. He is an ex- 
tensive property owner in the city, being the 
builder and owner of the Opera House Block, 
which is known as Chandler's Block, the 
Chandler Hotel, the Post-office Building, and 
other business blocks, as well as residence and 
farm properties. For the past three years, he 
has been Treasurer of the Western Illinois 
Normal School, located at Macomb. He is the 
projector and promoter of the Macomb & West- 
em Illinois Railroad, of which his son is Sec- 
retary and Treasurer. 

On August 28, 1866, Mr. Chandler was mar- 
ried to Clara A. Baker, of Macomb, a daughter 
of the late .ludge J. H. Baker, whose bio- 
graphical record appears elsewhere in this 
volume. Six children have resulted from this 
union, namely: Charles .1.. who died in in- 
fancy; Clara, the wife of Frank H. Mapes, 
Assistant Cashier of the Bank; Mary; Ralph, 
Cashier of the Macomb Bank; George, Assist- 
ant Cashier of the Macomb Bank, who married 
Alice Chandler, a daughter of C. G. Chandler, 
and Isabella, who is a pupil in Wellesley Col- 
lege, Mass. In politics, Mr. Chandler is an 
earnest Republican. In 18S7 he was appointed 
City Treasurer, and held that office several 
years. He was appointed by Gov. John R. Tan- 
ner a member of the Board of Directors of the 
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, at Quincy, 111., and 
by that body was elected its President. He was 
elected to the State Legislature in 1900, and 
served one term, being a member of the Com- 
mittee on Banks and Banking, Ways and 
Means, and Appropriations. Fraternally, he is a 



Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Macomb Lodge, 
No. 17; Morse Chapter, No. 19; and Macomb 
Commandery, No. 61. He is also a member of 
the K. of P., I. O. O. F. No. 145, and A. O. U. 
W., and of McDonough Lodge No. 103, G. A. R., 
of which he was Commander many years. 

Among the beneficent deeds for which the 
subject of this sketch will long be remembered 
is his donation to Macomb of its beautiful City 
Park. But there is one act above all others 
which will stand as a source of perpetual honor 
to his name in the community on which his 
splendid gallantry on tne field of battle shed 
unwonted luster. As a fitting and appropri- 
ate termination of this narrative it seems 
proper to recount the particulars of the event 
commemorating this act. With a lofty pur- 
pose Mr. Chandler laid aside the pension which 
the Government awarded him on account of 
wounds received in defense of the Union. The 
purpose thus nobly entertained was to erect a 
monument to the memory of the McDonough 
County soldiers who gave their lives for their 
country. That monument now stands as an en- 
during testimonial to the heroism of these 
worthy dead. A portraiture of the commem- 
orating shaft, together with portraits of Lieu- 
tenant Charles "V. Chandler, appears on other 
pages of this volume. The pension above men- 
tioned represents an accumulation of fifteen 
years, with interest, together with an additional 
amount which had been saved from other 
sources of income for twenty years, in further- 
ance of this patriotic resolve. Until 1898 (at a 
meeting of the Grand Army Post) the intention 
of Mr. Chandler in this regard was never dis- 
closed. The monument is from an original de- 
sign by O. D. Doland, since deceased, who was 
the proprietor of the Macomb Marble Works. 
It rests on a foundation seventeen feet square, 
of the best limestone, with a base of seven feet 
square and a second base of five feet square, 
the shaft rising twenty-two feet above the 
level of the ground. The memorial, which cost 
about $4,000. was dedicated August 3. 1899, with 
a parade composed of 274 veterans of the war, 
various military organizations and civic soci- 
eties, bands of music, and a host of deeply in- 
terested citizens of Macomb. In fitting phrase. 
Lieutenant Charles 'V. Chandler presented the 
monument to the city of Macomb. After an 
invocation by Rev. Mr. Bratton, of Macomb, 
introductory remarks by Judge W. J. Franklin, 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



847 



Commander of the local Grand Army Post, and 
vocal and instrumental music by the Macomb 
Band and others, the shaft was unveiled by 
George Chandler Mapes, grandson of the donor. 
Maj. R. W. McClaughry then delivered the 
dedicatory address. Chairman Berry, of the 
Board of Supervisors, and Mayor Switzer, of 
Macomb, accepted the monument oh behalf of 
the old soldiers and citizens of Macomb, and 
Comrade Wesley Clowes, of St. Mary's, 111., 
read a poem in eulogy of the veterans. This 
was followed oy appropriate music by the band, 
and the benediction was pronounced by Rev. J. 
H. Morgan. Thus transpired an event which 
constituted one of the most imposing and sig- 
nificant ceremonials ever witnessed in Macomb. 
On the day of the dedication Lieutenant Chand- 
ler was surprised by a gift from the old sol- 
diers, consisting of a solid gold Grand Army 
Badge. 

CHEEK, Isaac H., who is engaged in farming 
in Bushnell Township, McDonough County, 
111., was born in Havana, 111., on August 30, 
1856, a son of Silas and Nancy (Ingraham) 
Cheek, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Cheek re- 
ceived his early education in Canton, 111., and 
came to McDonough County In Marcjh. 1S86. 
On January 31, 1884, he was married to Amanda 
J. Myers, who was born in Farmington, 111. 
Five children have resulted from this union, 
namely: Herbert W., Bruce E., Ralph H., N. 
Jay and Silas Allen. Religiously, Mr. Cheek 
is a Baptist, and politically, he gives his sup- 
port to the Republican party. His fraternal 
affiliation is with the K. of P. and the M. W. A. 

CHURCHILL, Cadwallader Slaughter, an early 
citizen and. for a time, one of the most promi- 
nent merchants in Macomb, was born on the 
old Miller farm, called the "Churchill Farm," 
five miles north of Macomb, April 25, 1834. 
His parents, Richard Henry and Sarah M. 
(Brown) Churchill, were natives of Kentucky. 
Richard H. Churchill, who was engaged in the 
dry-goods business, died when his son, Cad- 
wallader 3., was three years old, and his widow 
returned to Kentucky, with her family, where 
they remained on a farm near Hodginsville, 
until the subject of this sketch had nearly 
reached maturity, when he went to Pittsfleld, 
111., where he spent two years. In early boy- 
hood his mother had given him his mental in- 



struction, but afterwards he earned his school- 
ing. He attended the school in Pittsfleld for 
two years, and then returned to Kentucky, 
where he taught in a seminary at Hodginsville, 
He had become a good Latin scholar, and after- 
wards assisted Professor Hewett in this branch, 
in his institution at Ellzabethtown, Ky., mean- 
while pursuing his studies at night. During 
his early life, he was always inclined towards 
literary pursuits. After finishing his studies 
and teaching for a time, he came to Macomb, 
and entered the employ of Iverson L. Twyman 
in the real-estate business. Subsequently, he 
was employed as a clerk in George M. Wells' 
dry-goods store, and. still later, entere4 into 
partnership with Josiah Burton in the dry- 
goods business. Disposing of his interest in 
this, he went into the lumber tiade in company 
with Henry C. Twyman. His interest in this 
concern he later sold and spent the period of 
the "gold fever" in the West. 

On April 3, 1860, in Macomb, Mr. Churchill 
was united in marriage with Mary Evelyn Twy- 
man. a daughter of one of the most prominent 
citizens of Macomb. Mr. Twyman was ex- 
tensively engaged in the dry-goods business, 
and in real-estate transactions. He held several 
county offices and also served as Postmaster 
two terms. To Mr. and Mrs. Churchill wei'e 
born three children, namely: Nancy Willis 
(Mrs. Scott), deceased; Alfred Brown; and 
Iverson Louis. Politically, Mr. Churchill was 
a Democrat, and for twelve years he held the 
office of Clerk of the Circuit Court. Reli- 
giously, he was a member of the Christian 
Church, and fraternally, was affiliated with the 
A. F. & A. M. He was a man of strict recti- 
tude of character, of cheerful, kindly disposi- 
tion, and was universally esteemed. 

CLARK, William Harvey.— Among the well- 
known farmers of McDonough County. 111., 
whose birthplaces were the farms which they 
now severally cultivate, is the subject of this 
sketch. He was born in Scotland Township, 
McDonough County, October 10, 1866, a son of 
James and Margaret Ann (Watson) Clark, na- 
tives of the State of Virginia. His grandfathers, 
John Clark and James Watson, were 
of Scotch nativity. James Clark came to Illi- 
nois in 1834 with his parents, who located in 
Cass County. A year later he entered land in 
McDonough County, when he moved to Scot- 



848 



HISTORY OF McDONOUGH COUNTY. 



land Township. The father bought eighty acres 
of land in Section 2S, and added to this until, 
at the time of his death in 1903, he owned 230 
acres of farming land In one tract, and seventy 
acres of timber land. 

William H. Clark is one of a family of three 
children born to his parents, the others being 
girls. In boyhood he received a district school 
education in the vicinity of his home and as- 
sisted in the work of the farm. On this farm 
he grew to manhood and has remained ever 
since. His portion of the estate, after his 
father's death, was 100 acres, and this he de- 
votes to general farming, and the raising of 
horses, hogs and cattle. Mr. Clark was united 
In marriage, March 15, 1894. witli Elizabeth 
McMillan, wno was born in Scotland Town- 
ship, where she attended the public school. 
One child. May Ellen, has resulted from this 
union, born May 20, 1S95. In religious belief, 
Mr. Clark is a Presbyterian, politically, he 
casts his lot with the Republican party, and 
in his fraternal relations, belongs to the Mystic 
Workers. 

CLARKE, Davis H., a prosperous farmer and 
stock-raiser of Emmet Township, McDonough 
County, 111., and who is the owner of the home- 
stead farm oought by his grandfather from a 
soldier of the Revolutionary War, was born in 
Emmet Township. October 19, 18.51. He is a 
son of Samuel and Nancy A. (Hardin) Clarke. — 
who was born in Washington County, Ky., — and 
a grandson ot James and Mary (Lewis) Clarke, 
the former being a native of Lincoln County, 
Ky., and the latter, of the State of Virginia. 
Davis and Eliza (Webster) Hardin, the ma- 
ternal grandparents, were born in Virginia and 
the District ot Columbia, respectively. The 
great-grandfather, John Clarke, who was a sol- 
dier in the War of the Revolution, married a 
lady whose maiden name was Ann Whitten. 
The maternal great-grandfather, Harry Hardin, 
was a native of Virginia. 

Grandfather James Clarke came to Mc- 
Donough County in the spring of 1830, and for 
several years held official positions which 
brought him prominently before the people. In 
Washington County, Ky., he had learned the 
trade ot a hatter, which he followed a number 
ot years. He bought land in Emmet and Sci- 
ota Townships, living in the former, where he 
built what was called at that time the finest 



log house in the county. He afterwards moved 
to Macomb, where he lived the rest of his life. 
He sold the Emmet Township property to Sam- 
uel Clarke, who lived there until he died in 
18(i2. 

Davis H. Clarke, who is the eldest of a family 
of four children, was a mere child ' when his 
father died, and after that event, he remained 
with his mother until he was twenty years old, 
living five years of the time on another farm 
in Emmet Township. In his twenty-flrst year 
he came to the homestead farm, where he had 
an interest and has since bought out the other 
heirs. On the original homestead, first owned 
by a veteran of the Revolutionary War, he has 
one of the finest country residences in Mc- 
Donough County, containing all city conveni- 
ences. On December 16, 1875, Mr. Clarke was 
married to Melinda Russell, who was born in 
Emmet Township, where she pursued her 
youthful studies in the district school. Two 
children are the offspring of this union, namely: 
Myrtle, who is the wife ot M. M. Burkhart, a 
farmer of Sciota Township, and James W. 

In religious faith, Mr. Clarke is identified 
with the Baptist denomination. In political 
matters, he takes an independent course. Fra- 
ternally, he is connetfted with the I. O. O. F. 
He is one of the most substantial and progres- 
sive farmers in his vicinity, and is a man of 
much stability of character. 

CLEVELAND, Charles, D. D. S., who is suc- 
cessfully engaged in the practice of dentistry In 
Bushnell, McDonough County, 111., was born in 
Ripley, Brown County, 111., September 15, 1S68, 
a son of W'illiam and Eliza (Woolsey) Cleve- 
land. His father was born in Indiana, and his 
mother in Ohio. Dr. Cleveland came to Mc- 
Donough County with his parents at a very 
early age. After his school days were over he 
pursued a course of professional study in the 
Western Dental College, at Kansas City, Mo., 
from which he was graduated in dentistry in 
1898. Shortly afterward he opened an office in 
Louisiana, Mo., where he practiced his profes- 
sion for two years. Subsequently, he was en- 
gaged in practice at Roodhouse, III., for a 
period of five years. In July, 1904, he pur- 
chased the business of Dr. Morrow, in Bush- 
nell, and has since continued in dental practice 
there. He is well informed on general sub- 
jects, and is thoroughly equipped in a pro- 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



849 



fessional sense. His patronage has steadily in- 
creased and his careful and conscientious worli 
has secured for him an excellent reputation. 

On December 29, 1.S9S, Dr. Cleveland was 
m.arried to Grace Pearson, who was born and 
received her education in Bushnell. One child, 
Charles Pearson, has resulted from their union. 
The fraternal affiliation of Dr. Cleveland is 
with the Modern Woodmen of Amercia. 

CLINE, Andrew J. (deceased), who was suc- 
cessfully enga.ged in farming on Section 2S, 
Macomb Township, McDonough County, 111., 
was born in Fleming County, Ky., September 
14, 1831, the son of William and Martha (Ful- 
ton) Cline, natives of Kentucliy. His paternal 
grandfather was John Cline and his grandfather 
on the maternal side was Isaac Fulton. An- 
drew J. Cline was the second born of five chil- 
dren, composing his parents' family, and was 
reared (Sa the home farm, attending the com- 
mon school in his boyhood. At the age of nine- 
teen years, he came to McDonough County with 
his mother and the rest of the family, his father 
having died June 7, 1847. -His mother bought 
140 acres of land in Section 28. Macomb Town- 
ship, and later twenty acres more, with other 
additions until there were 290 acres, and the 
son assisted her until her death, November 18, 
1864. He owned the home farm from 1890, 
having bought out the other heirs. In 1902, he 
bought thirty-four and a half acres of land in 
Section 33, across the railroad southwest from 
the homestead, and now his estate comprises 
314 acres of land. Politically, Mr. Cline was a 
Democrat but never aspired to any office. He 
was a man of upright character, and enjoyed 
the respect of all who knew him. Mrs. Malinda 
Albee, a niece of Mr. Cline, kept house for him, 
and J. E. Albee, his nephew, assisted him in the 
management of the farm for several years. Mr. 
Cline. after a short illness, died of pneumonia 
November 15, 1906, thereby decreasing the 
ranks of the early pioneers. 

Only two children of Mr. Cline's family now 
survive — Thomas F. Cline, of Twin Falls, Idaho, 
and Mrs. Martha Patterson, of Macomb Town- 
ship. Elizabeth F. Cline died August 10, 1887, 
and Isaac F. Cline, December 10, 1889. 

CLINGAN, Robert T., who is successfully en- 
gaged in farming in Scotland Township, Mc- 
Donough County, III., was born in Woodsfield, 



Ohio, April 2.5, 1883, the son of George B. and 
Catherine (Sabin-Amos) Clin.gan. His father 
was born in Woodsfield, Ohio, and his mother, 
in Lebanon, N. Y. On the paternal side, his 
grandfather, Robert Clingan, was a native of 
Belmont County, Ohio, and his grandmother, 
Elizabeth (Van Horn) Clingan, of Philadelphia, 
Pa., — the Van Horn branch of the family be- 
ing descended from Hollanders. His great- 
grandfather, John Clingan, was also a native of 
Holland, and his great-grandmother, Mary E. 
(Armstrong) Clingan, was a native of Ireland. 
On the maternal side, Robert T. Clingan's 
grandparents, Chester and Caroline (Thayer) 
Sabin. were natives of Lebanon, N. Y. The 
maternal great-grandparents, Nathaniel and 
Margaret (Rhinedollar) Sabin, were natives of 
Philadelphia. 

Elizabeth (Van Horn) Clingan came from 
Pennsylvania to Ohio when she was seventeen 
years old. Her union with Robert T. Clingan's 
grandfather resulted in six children, of whom 
George B. Clingan was the eldest, the others 
being girls. At the age of twenty-one years, 
George B. began to work for himself, being em- 
I)Ioyed on a rami and in a grist mill. In 1886, 
he came to Macomb and bought a farm of 156 
acres in Scotland Township and there the son, 
and subject of this sketch, Robert T., received 
a common school education. 

George B. Clingan has been twice married. In 
1867, he wedded Catherine Sabin, by whom he 
had one child. Elizabeth Jane, wife of Augustine 
Decker, a druggist of Macomb. The mother 
died July 29, 1873. He subsequently married 
Catherine (Sabin) Amos, and one child, Robert 
T., resulted from their union. George B. is now 
retired from active life. Fraternally, he is 
affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. 

Robert T. Clingan is a member of Troop H, 
First Regiment Illinois Cavalry, First Brigade, 
in which he has been First Sergeant for two 
years. The troop, organized in 1900, is com- 
manded by Capt. Frank M. Russell, and the 
regiment, by Col. W. C. Young, who was Colonel 
of the First Regiment Illinois Cavalry during 
the Spanish-American War. Politically. Robert 
T. Clingan is a Republican, and his religious 
associations are with the Universalist Church. 
Fraternally, ne is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. 
In his early manhood Robert T. gives promise 
of a useful and successful career, and is looked 
upon as a worthy scion of worthy ancestors. 



850 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



CLUGSTON, John Byers.— Although the le- 
tirement trora active life of John Byers Clugs- 
ton took place as long ago as 1S70, his services 
as saddler, venireman, and groceryman are re- 
called as important to the communities in which 
he lived, and more especially to Macorah, with 
which he has been connected since 1S62. Mr. 
Clugston comes of a fine old Irish family, es- 
tablished in this country by his paternal grand- 
father, Robert Clugston, who was born in Bel- 
fast, Ireland, and to whom ambition spoke in 
no uncertain tones of the greater opportunities 
existing on the other side of the Atlantic. This 
courageous sire made settlement in Franklin 
County, Pa., and when the thirteen American 
Colonies revolted against tyrannical English 
rule and asserted their independence, he en- 
listed under the banner of Washington at the 
beginning of hostilities in 1775, and served un- 
til the surrender of the main British army at 
Yorktown in 17S1. Thomas Clugston. who was 
a farmer by occupation, died in his native State, 
and when John Byers was twelve years old he 
was brought by his mother to Trumbull County, 
Ohio, where they remained two years. At the 
age of fourteen John Byers learned the trade 
of saddlery, and from 1852 until 1862 engaged 
as a journeyman saddler, traveling with his kit 
of tools through Tennessee and Kentucky. 
Upon leaving the road he located in Macomb 
and worked at his trade for Jerry Haskins, and 
a few years later went to Pittsburg, Pa., where 
he was employed by the Government on sad- 
dlery work for a year and a half. Returning 
to Macomb in 1865, he worked as a venireman 
for a couple of years, and in 1868 established 
a saddlery business from which he permanently 
retired in 1870. The following year he en- 
gaged in the grocery business with Thomas 
Farley, and at the end of a year bought out Mr. 
Farley and continued the business alone for 
another year. Since then he has lived in a 
comfortable home at No. 421 South Lafayette 
Street. On January 8, 1851, Mr. Clugston mar- 
ried Alice T. Reed, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., 
and of the union five children have been born: 
Laura E., wife of C. P. Mustain; Emma W., 
wife of Frank L. Watson; Charles R., Fannie, 
wife of Judge J. Ross Mickey, and Lilly Dell, 
who died at the age of two yeai-s. Mr. Clugston 
is popular with his associates, and he has an 
extensive and interesting fund of information 
concerning the early history of the town of 
which he is an honored and genial citizen. 



COFFMAN, Marion, who is successfully en- 
gaged in the clothing business in Blandinsville, 
McDonough County, 111., was born in Hancock 
County, 111., on January 10, 1849. His father, 
Alfred Coffman. was bom in Kentucky, and 
his mother. Sarah (Pemberton) Coffman, in 
Missouri. When the subject of this sketch was 
one year old, his parents moved to Blandins- 
ville Township, McDonough County, where as 
he grew up he received suitable mental train- 
ing in the public schools of his neighborhood, 
meanwhile assisting his father on the fann. 
After he left the farm the first occupation of 
Mr. Coffman was that of clerking for M. A. 
Terry, by whom he was employed in 1875. He 
was next engaged in the grocery line until 1880. 
Subsequently he went into the dry-goods busi- 
ness as a member of the firm of McCord & Coff- 
man. which he continued for fifteen years, and 
after its dissolution, he conducted the concern 
alone for ten years longer. For a short period 
he was also associated with Matt Huston in the 
real-estate line. The business qualifications of 
Mr. Coffman are of a superior order, and his 
energy and close application are manifest in 
the successful results attending his efforts. 
The residence which he now occupies he built 
in 1900. 

On November 15, 1876, Mr. Coffman was 
united in marriage with Maria Taylor, a native 
of Indiana. Four children have resulted from 
this union, namely: Mamie (Mrs. Grigsby), 
Roy, and Lucille and Luella (twins). Politi- 
cally. Mr. Coffman is a Democrat. He has 
served as Town Clerk and Township Collector, 
and for five years following 1892 he filled the 
office of Township Supervisor. Fraternally, Mr. 
Coffman is affiliated with the Masonic Order 
and the Mystic Workers. 

COLE, Emory 0. — Recognition of the fact that 
the tillage of the soil is the natural and most 
desirable occupation to which man is heir, and 
to which every other is subsidiary and all else 
in the end must yield, is increasingly manifest 
in all classes of human society, and is sup- 
ported largely by the thought and effort of men 
foremost in the councils of the nation, and by 
that most important factor of all, the wide- 
awake, thoughtful and resourceful agriculturist 
himself. Of those who incorporate science and 
invention into their labor as upbuilders of pros- 
perous communities, none are more favorably 
known in McDonough County than Emory O. 





^/^^^^^^v/V-T^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



851 



Cole, who, after varied business and political 
experiences in other parts of the country, set- 
tled on his present farm of five hundred acres in 
the fall of 1883. Born in Streetsboro, Portage 
County, Ohio, June 4, 1833, Mr. Cole is a son of 
N. W. and Samantha (Osgood) Cole, natives of 
Connecticut and New York, respectively, the 
former of whom started upon his independent 
career as a singing master in New York State. 
Ambitious, after his marriage, of improving his 
prospects, the elder Cole located at an early 
day in the vicinity of Streetsboro, Portage 
County, Ohio, and in 1846 moved to East Troy, 
Wis., near where he purchased land and en- 
gaged in farming until the death of his wife in 
1851. Thereafter the family was divided, the 
father and his son. Emory O., remaining on the 
old place until the former enlisted in the Civil 
War in a Wisconsin regiment. It was his fate 
to die amid the shot and shell of battle, and to 
fill a hero's grave in the little cemetery at East 
Troy, Wis. Of his three sons and two 
daughters, four are still living- Emory O. ; Wil- 
son M.. general agent for the Rochester Nursery 
Comi)any at Salt Lake City, Utah; J. E., a 
resident of Colorado Springs, Col.; Elhira B., a 
resident of Spokane Falls, Idaho. 

Emory O. Cole was thirteen years old when 
he moved with the rest of the family to Wiscon- 
sin, and he there began his independent career 
as operator of a threshing machine, which line 
of work he continued about fourteen years in 
connection with general farming. He next en- 
gaged In teaming from East Troy to Milwaukee, 
before the era of railroads, and for a time was 
dn the grocery business on a small scale. On 
October 8, 1860, he united in marriage to Sarah 
A. Dickerman, who was born in New York, Jan- 
uary 11, 1833, a daughter of Henry and Cath- 
erine (Stafford) Dickerman, natives of Ver- 
mont and Connecticut, respectively, the farmer 
born October 7, 1799, and the latter. May 8, 
1795. The parents were married In February, 
1816, in Rockdale, Chenango County, N. Y., 
where Mr. Dickerman engaged in the lumber 
business for some years, about 1837 removing to 
Michigan, two years later to NapervlUe, 111., 
and still later taking up his residence near 
Chicago, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Cole located in Bur- 
lington, Wis., where the former operated a 
grocery store and subsequently engaged in the 
manufacture of brick. In 1872, a few months 
after the great fire, he removed to Chicago 



and engaged in the livery and undertak- 
ing business, succeeding later to the position of 
City Oil Inspector, to which he was appointed 
by Mayor Mt>nroe Heath. Two years later, upon 
the election of the Democratic Mayor, Carter 
Harrison, he engaged in the grocery business, 
and in 1883 traded his store for his present 
farm in McDonough County, the same having 
been formerly the property of the pioneer, 
Horace Head. Of late years Mr. Cole has prac- 
tically retired from active life, and his farm is 
operated by his son, George ivi., who makes a 
specialty of high grade cattle, horses and hogs. 

Mr. Cole cast his first presidential vote for 
Abraham Lincoln, and ever since has stanchly 
supported the Republican party. His public 
spirited, extended experience, good judgment 
and executive ability have made Mm an im- 
portant and useful local political factor, and 
he has served six years as Township Treasurer, 
four years as a member of the Board of Super- 
visors, several years as Chairman of the County 
Central Committee, and also has been Secretary 
of the latter organization. Mr. Cole is Presi- 
dent of the Pioneer Club of McDonough 
County, and is also President of the Deland 
Tourist Club, of Deland, Fla. In this capacity 
he has annually taken his family to Florida for 
the past seven years. Fraternally, he is con- 
nected with the Richard Cole Lodge No. 697, of 
Chicago, and of which he is a Past Master. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cole are social as well as home- 
making factors in their township, and represent 
the best in Its progressive life. Both represent 
famjlles of marked musical tendencies, Mrs. 
Cole's father being a violinist of merit. She 
herself was a teacher of music in Wisconsin 
prior to her marriage, and is a graduate of the 
first Female College of Chicago, the educators 
thereof having come from the Emma Willard 
School, at Troy, N. Y., now a branch of Vassar 
College. She still retains a vital and absorbing 
Interest in music, being an ardent admirer of 
Wagner and other great composers. Five chil- 
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cole, two 
of whom died in infancy. Frederick E., the 
oldest son, born March 26, 1865, married, in 
1905, Dorothy Ethel Peak, a stenographer, and at 
present is employed by the James H. Rice Paint 
Company, of Chicago; George, the twin of 
.\rchie, is represented eleswhere in this work; 
and .\rchle is a traveling salesman for the 
James H. Rice Paint (Company, of Chicago. 



•852 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



COLE, George M., a prominent and successful 
farmer of Emmet Township, McDDnough 
■County, 111., was born in Burlington, Wis.. Au- 
gust 2, 1868, a son of Emory O. and Sarah 
(Dickerman) Cole, the former a native of 
Streetsboro, Ohio, and the later, of Jefferson, 
111. In 1872 Emory O. Cole moved to Chicago, 
where he was engaged in the livery and under- 
taking business, and also kept a grocery. For 
two years he served as City Oil Inspector under 
Mayor Heath. In the fall of 1SS3 he spent a 
year in Macomb, and purchased a farm of 480 
acres in Emmet Township. He moved with his 
family to the farm in 1884, and conducted it 
until 1893. 

George M. Cole (one of a pair of twins) is 
the second of the family of children born to 
his parents, three of whom are now living. In 
boyhood he received his education in the Chi- 
cago public schools, and assisted his father on 
the farm until 1891, when he married and took 
charge of its operation. His farm is conducted 
in a systematic manner, and with the best re- 
sults, and he is looked upon as a representative 
of the best agricultural element in McDonough 
■County. 

On October 15, 1891, Mr. Cole was joined in 
matrimony with Mary E. Guy, who was bom 
in Emmet Township, and attended the public 
and Macomb Normal schools. They have be- 
come the parents of three children, Florence 
M., A. Donald and Emory F. Religiously, the 
subject of this sketch is connected with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is 
an earnest and active Republican, and for the 
past six years he has been prominent on 
campaign committees. He has served as Chair- 
man of the County Central Committee of his 
party. 

COLE, George W., of Hushnell. McDonough 
County, 111., who is successfully engaged in the 
banking and grain trade, was Ixirn in that city 
March 25, 1870, the son of James Cole, whose 
biographical record appears in this volume. In 
youth and early manhood Mr. Cole graduated 
from the high school with the class of 1887. and 
later took a two years' course in the Bushnell 
Normal School. He then located in Chicago and 
was employed for six years in the Illinois Trust 
and Savings Bank and the American Trust and 
Savings Bank, after which he filled the posi- 
tion of cashier in a wholesale drug store. Relin- 



quishing this position in 1897, he returned to 
Bushnell and became a Director in the First Na- 
tional Bank and entered into the grain business 
with his father. In 1903 he undertook the grain 
business at Bushnell alone, purchased the ele- 
vator at Adair and, in 1905, a half-interest in the 
firm of the Cole & McDonald, grain dealers at 
Walnut Grove, 111., and has since conducted 
their operations. In addition to this occupation 
he organized and successfully established the 
Chilian Remedy Company, which manufactured 
and placed upon the market a number of eye 
remedies. In 1905 he sold out his interest in 
this company, and now devotes his entire time 
to the management of Cole's Savings Bank (of 
which he is Vice-President) and to the grain 
business. He is a careful and energetic busi- 
ness man. 

On .A.pril 11. 1892, Mr. Cole was united in mar- 
riage with Marie Louise Williams, a native of 
Chicago. Two children have been born of this 
union, namely: Beatrice Marie and Helen 
Rernice. Politically, Mr. Cole is a member of 
the Republican party, and fraternally is con- 
nected with the I. O. O. F., McDonough En- 
campment. M. W. A., and N. A. U. 

COLE, James. — The position of a reputable 
bank President warrants the conclusion that 
the incumbent is a man of character, purpose 
and integrity. Isolated cases which discredit 
his calling, and plunge the country into 
paroxysms of alarm, fail to disprove the as- 
sumption that every man who has in him the 
making of a successful banker possesses these 
strong and fundamental requisites. Banking is 
not a business to attract the frivolous or im- 
patient. The centuries have added no frills 
to its methods, or softened, by a single shade, 
its somber and accuracy-compelling require- 
ments. In some instances, mahogany counters 
and costly furnishin.gs may relieve the eye, but 
they do not lift the austere obligation from 
the shoulders of those who hold In trust and 
manipulate the deposits of their fellowmen. 
Nine cases out of ten the bank President has 
been under observation in the community for 
many years, and through ri.ght living has 
gained unquestioned confidence — his most es- 
sential asset. No exception to this generality 
is found in James Cole, former President of the 
First National Bank of Bushnell; a man to 
whom an Introduction were superfluous, who 




fH^y^..^^ Atm^ 



/rx<^ 




.. ^i^it LiJLJi'vAlil i 



ASTOR, LENOX 

TILDEN FOUND.^.TION 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



853 



has lived in the town for half a century, has 
been a banker for twenty-three years, and who, 
in his rise from humble conditions, furnishes 
an inspiring example of the compelling power 
of high ideals, and the worth of homely, 
sterling virtues. The pressure of necessity, 
that greatest developing force of youth, fell 
heavily upon the childhood of James Cole. For 
a short time only he knew the redeeming 
grace ot a mother's love, nor did a father's help 
and counsel accompany him to the threshold 
of his independent career. 

Born in Berkeley County, Va., August 20, 
1824. Mr. Cole is one of the six children of 
William Cole, a blacksmith by trade and a 
native also of Virginia. So meager were the 
family resources that, after the death of his 
mother, the boy James was taken in hand by 
the Overseer of the Poor, and bound out for a 
term of years to one Philip Stone, with whom 
he remained until his fifteenth year. During 
this time his educational opportunities were 
represented by three months' attendance at a 
school in Middletown, Va. However, to the far- 
seeing and ambitious all things reasonable are 
possible, and the lad, who had wearied of his 
narrow, restraining environment, ran away to 
labor henceforth according to the dictates of 
his expanding nature. To the ambitious poor 
come always the most interesting experiences, 
and to the friendless and alone the rivers and 
ocean have ever sent out an alluring call. As 
a deck-hand on a steamer plying all the navi- 
gable rivers of the Middle West, the boy of 
fifteen winters felt something of the freedom 
and . joy of summer while performing his 
menial tasks, and after a time lie was advanced 
to a position of cook, and later still to that of 
barkeeper. At the age of twenty-one he found 
that the river had nothing further to teach 
him, and, as his most practical accomplishment 
at that time was cooking, he settled in St. 
Louis and engaged in operating a restaurant. 
Later he followed the same calling in Chicago 
for a couple of years, and still later had a 
restaurant in Quincy, 111., for nine years. 

Mr. Cole was thirty-one when he arrived in 
Bushnell in 1855. As in all parts of the Cen- 
tral West at that time there was a crying need 
of men who could mold circumstances rather 
than be molded by them; who could go out to 
meet and turn to good account the opportuni- 
ties unfolded by the zeal and suffering of early 



settlers, his energies gravitated toward mer- 
chandising as the most feasible of occupations, 
and for thirty-one years his success was in- 
creasingly manifest in that direction. At the 
same time he engaged in a grain business, thus 
encouraging the raising of this product in the 
surrounding country. Econopiy and the ca- 
pacity for saving projected him into the ranks 
of capitalists, and in 1882 he established the 
bank of James Cole & Company, which, ten 
years later, became the First National Bank of 
Bushnell, the only national bank in the town. 
Of this bank Mr. Cole was elected President; 
Augustus Kaiser, First Vice-President; Mack 
M. Pinckly, Second Vice-President; J. M. Gale, 
Cashier; and Charles E. Henry, Assistant 
Cashier. The concern has advanced to one of 
the strong and reliable monetary institutions 
of the State, and is recognized as an extremely 
conservative force in banking circles. Its re- 
port of May 29, 1905, showed a capital stock 
of $50,000; surplus and undivided profits, $13,- 
990.52, circulation, $50,000; and deposits, $321,- 
593.99. On January 1, 1906, Mr. Cole resigned 
the presidency, thus severing his connection 
with the First National Bank, and with his 
son, George W. Cole, organized the Cole's Sav- 
ings Bank, of which he is now the President. 
This new institution is receiving the support 
of the community and of Mr. Cole's many staid 
and old financial friends, and is doing a very 
prosperous business. To his pronounced busi- 
ness qualifications Mr. Cole joins a predilection 
for public affairs, more especially those things 
which directly affect the good order of the 
community, and its advancement in education 
and citizenship. Through refusal to identify 
himself with any particular political party, he 
has been free to exercise judgment of a particu- 
larly liberal and far-sighted nature. Formerly 
a Wihg, his later sympathies have been with 
the Republican pary, and he was warmly sup- 
ported Theodore Roosevelt in the past, and will 
in the future, should opportunity permit. He 
has held pratically all of the offices within the 
gift of the people of Bushnell, including that 
of Chief Executive for three terms, and School 
Trustee and President for seven years. He 
early conceived a faith in the appreciation of 
Bushnell realty, and from time to time has 
made investments which attested his level- 
headed business judgment. Several substantial 
buildings have been erected by him, which have 



8S4 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough COUNTY. 



materially added to the appearance and re- 
sources 01 the city. He is not unmindful of the 
value of social diversions, or of the moral up- 
lift derived from thirty years' association with 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and 
more than twenty years with the Knights of 
Pythias. Since, early manhood he has found 
a religious home in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and in addition to other church offices 
has held that of Trustee for many years. 

It would be a difficult undertaking to enu- 
merate the local undertakings which have di- 
rectly or indirectly owed their success to the 
support of Mr. Cole. He is a generous donator 
to worthy causes, and his genei'osity is tem- 
pered and guided by that unavoidable discre- 
tion which becomes a part of the man who 
has swung his bark to profitable moorings 
through an infinity of shoals, and after many 
grinding hardships. If the span of life is 
measured by ideas, by new sensations, by the 
ceaseless development of latent capacities, the 
life of this man is longer than that of the 
patriarchs who drew out centuries amid the 
monotony of the deserts in the dull round of 
pastoral pursuits. Measured by years, his 
moderation, maintenance of reserve force, con- 
stant exercise of faculties and serenity of mind, 
have brought him into the company of the 
borrowers of time, to four-score years and two; 
a man of bright eye, alert step, and sound and 
quiet judgment; a careful student of the facts 
and philosophies of human interest not taught 
in the schools, but wrought in persistent and 
thoughtful self-education. The straight-for- 
ward simplicity of the deck-hand is not lost 
in the captain of industry, and it is safe to 
say that no man whose name stands for the 
best in financiering in McDonough County has. 
to a greater extent, the qualities of unostenta- 
tion, approachableness, sympathy and courtesy 
which are the hall marks of true dignity and 
worth. 

On the first of .January. 1906, Mr. Cole ten- 
dered his resignation of his position in con- 
nection with the First National Bank of Bush- 
nell. thus severing his connection with that 
institution, and in conjunction with his son. 
George W. Cole, organized Coles Savings Bank, 
of which he is now the President. The new 



institution is receiving the support of the com- 
munity and Mr. Cole's friends and is developing 
a very prosperous businoos. 

COMER, Joseph, who was formerly success- 
fully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Eldo- 
rado Township, McDonough County, 111., but 
is now living in comfortable retirement in 
Macomb, was born in the above-named town- 
ship August 23, 1839, and there attended pub- 
lic school. He IS a son of Robert and Nancy 
(Wilkinson) Comer, both natives of Ohio, the 
father having been born in the vicinity of Chil- 
licothe. Jesse Comer, the grandfather, was 
a native of North Carolina. But one of Robert 
Comer's brothers and two sisters came to Illi- 
nois. All are now deceased. Robert Comer 
and his wife had ten children, his son Joseph 
being the fifth in order of birth. He remained 
on the farm with his parents until he was 
thirty-two years old, when he married and 
moved onto a tract of seventy acres of land in 
the same township, which his father had given 
him for services rendered. To this farm he 
added until he was the owner of 316 acres in 
one farm, which is still his property. It is 
all fine farming land, free from incumbrance, 
and nearly all tiled. "While living there Mr. 
Comer was engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising, and for twenty years fed from 
one to two carloads of cattle per year. In 
September. 1902. he moved to Macomb, where 
he had bought a residence. Here in ease 
and contentment, respected by all, he is en- 
joying the fruits of many years of toil. 

Mr. Comer was married October 31, J872, 
to Frances Craig, who was born and schooled 
in Industry Township. The children result- 
ing from this union are as follows; Gilbert R., 
Mary L., Reta M., George W.. Charles E. and 
Walter A. Politically, Mr. Comer is a Demo- 
crat. He was School Director of his township 
for fifteen years, and also served as Road Com- 
missioner. In religious belief, he is a Presby- 
terian, and fraternally, is affiliated with the 
Masonic Order. 

COMPTON, William Alexander.— Among the 
younger representative men of McDonough 
County, none stand higher in the estimation of 




^<^ .7^. J^CIX^ 



HISTORY OF Mcdonough county. 



855 



the people, or those who are intimately ac- 
quainted with him, than does he of whom we 
now write. William Alexander Compton was 
born i