Full text of "History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois"

LIBRARY

OF THE

U N I VER.S1TY

OF 1LLI NOIS

977.38
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™. VAistov^ Survjey

HISTORY

Bond and Montgomery Counties,

ILLI NOIS.

EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN.

Illustrated.

CHICAGO:

O. L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers, Lakeside Building.

1882.

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PREFACE.

nr^HK history of Bond and Montgomery Counties, after mouths of persistent toil and research,
-L is now completed, and it is believed that no subject of universal public importance or
interest has been omitted., save where protracted effort failed to secure reliable results. We are
well aware of our inability to furnish a perfect history from meager public documents and
numberless conflicting traditions, but claim to have prepared a work fully up to the standard of
our promises. Through the courtesy and assistance generously afforded by the residents of these
counties, we have been enabled to trace out and put on record the greater portion of the important
events thai, have transpired in Bond and Montgomery Counties up to the present time. And we
feel assured that all thoughtful people in these counties, now and in future, will recognize and
appreciate the importance of the work and its permanent value.

A dry statement of facts has, as far as possible, been avoided, and incidents and anecdotes
have been woven in with facts and statistics, forming a narrative at once instructive and
interesting.

To those who have kindly assist ed our corps of writers in gathering material, and furnished
us data of historical value, we acknowledge our indebtedness ; and to Williamson Plant, Esq., of
Greenville Judge A. N. Kingsbury, of Hillsboro; H. A. Coolidge, Esq., of Litchfield ; and Rev.
T. E. Spiln'ian, of Nokomis, our thanks lor able contributions are especially due.

August, 1882. THE PUBLISHERS.

CONTENTS

PART I.

BOND COUNTY.

Page.

CHAPTER I.— Introduction to Bond County— The Early State
of the Country — Difficulties of Occupying It — Coming of
the Pioneers — Hill's Station and Jones' Fort— Perils of
the Wilderness — Timber and Prairie— Prairie Kirns —
Hard Fare of the Settlers 11

CHAPTER II.— Trials of the Pioneers— Skins asa Circulating
Medium— War of is 12 — Murder of Cux and His Sun-
Progress of Emigration — Early Manners and Customs 19

CHAPTER [II.— Organization of Bond County-Its Present
Boundaries ind Topography— Courts Organized — County
Seat at Perryville — Jail Building — Lynching — Lawyers
Lost in the Prairie — Permanent Location of the Seat of
Justice 25

CHAPTER IV.— Early Agricultun — Hug Raising— Difficulties
of Teaming — Roads to St. Louis and Springfield — Ser-
mon on a Load of Apples— Building Mills and Manufac-
tories 33

CHAPTER V.— Early Society— Whisky and Fighting— Work-
ing Frolics — Gold and Silver Mines — Gaylord's Swindle —
Slavery — Magoou Kidnaping Case— Early Physicians 39

CHAPTER VI.— Religion— First Preachers and Churches-
Methodists j'.nd Presbyterians — Moody's Camp-Ground —
Sunday-Schools — "The Jerks" — Temperance — Education
— The Improvement in Schools — Statistics — The People
aud the State Debt— War History 47

CHAPTER VII.— Railroad History— The Internal Improve-
ment System — Old National or Cumberland Road — Mis-
sissippi & Atlantic Railroad — The Present Vandalia Line
and Its Officers — The Press of Bond County 54

CHAPTER VIII.- Greenville Precinct— Boundaries and Con-
figuration — Early Settlement — Pioneer Industries and
Improvements — Sketch of William S. Wait— Villages —
Gold and Sip er Mines — Educational — Religious 67

CHAPTER IX.— C ty of Greenville— Locating the County Seat
at Perryville— Its Removal to Greenvilb — Laying-out of
Greenville — The Name— Early Settlers of the Town— The
Kirkpatrick- and Others — First Business Men and Prom-
inent Citizens — The Roll of Pioneers 73

CHAPTER X.— Grleenville— Sato of Lots— Building a Court
House — Public Buildings of the County — Taverns and
Their Changes — Uncle Jimmy's Grocery — County Officers
—The Water Supply— War History of Greeuville and
Bond County ■ -The Ililliard Rifles, etc 101

Page.

CHAPTER XI. — Greenville — Educational — 1 k>mmon Schools —
Almira College — Religious — Presbyterians and Method-
ists — Erection of Church Building— Secret aud Benev-
olent Orders, etc 109

CHAPTER XII.— Retrospective— Building of Jails— Situation
of the City — More of Early Business and Business Men—
Agricnl in ml Warehouses— Banking Business— Shops and
M i hanics — Summary 1-1

CHAPTER XIII.— Ripley Precinct— Topography— Early Set-
tlers—Old Ripley— Churches— Schools— Villages 129

CHAPTER XIV.— Mulberry Grove Precinct— Its Configura-
tion — Early Settlements — Bev. J. B. Woolard and
Other Pioneers — First Birth, Marriage, etc.— Churches
and Schools — Village of Mulberry Grove 133

CHAPTER XV. — Pocahontas Precinct— Topography, etc.— Pio-
neer Settlers— The Plants and Johnsons— The Old Meth-
odist Church — Town of Pocahontas— Other Villages—
Schools and Churches 140

CHAPTER XVI.— Beaver Creek Precinct— General Description
— Manners and Customs of Pioneer Times — First Post Of-
fice, Blacksmith, Stores, etc.— Hills and Carding Ma-
chines — Villages — Educational and Religious 145

CHAPTER XVII. — Fairview Precinct — Descriptive— The
Name— Isam Reaves and Other Pioneers— First Elec-
tion — Early SchoolB— Religious— " Old Hurricane" and
Other Churches — Village of Fairview 151

CHAPTER XVIII.— La Grange Precinct— Boundaries, etc.—
Its N.Ul.-niriit by White People— Pioneer Hardships-
Churches and Schools 158

OH VI'I'KK XIX.— /.ion Precinct— Its Topography— Earlj Set-
tlements—Life on the Frontier — Pioneer Industries —
" i tld Zion " Camp-Ground— Village of Woburn— Schools
and Churches 162

CHAPTER XX.— Cottonwood Grove Precinct— Early History
—The M< ■C.iidn and Kuhit, nuns— old Shoal Creek Church
— Village of Bethel — Schools and Churches 166

CHAPTER XXL— Okaw Precinct— Description and Topogra-
phy — The Pioneers' Habits and Modes of Living —
Schools, Churches, etc 160

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.— Introductory— Descriptive and Topographical
—Varieties of Timber— Geological Features— Limestone
and Sandstone— Coal Measures — Quality of Coal— Quar-
ries— Climatology— Past Compared with Present 173

CONTENTS.

Page
CHAPTER II.— Early Occupation of the Country— The Mound-
Builders — Their Remains and Fortifications — The Indi-
ans— Coming of the Whites— Difficulties Encountered
by Emigrants on the Way— Growth and Development of
the Country 1W

CHAPTER III.— Organization of Montgomery County— The
Act of Legislature Creating it— Early Officers and Courts
—Location of the County Seat— Court Houses and Public
Buildings — Divisions into Precincts and Townships —
Convenience of Township Organization — The Poor Farm
— Politics and Parties 186

CHAPTER IV.— Early Religious History— Educational, Past
and Present, with Statistics — Compulsory Education and
its General Effects— The Press 194

CHAPTER V.— Agriculture— Improved Methods, and Imple-
ments — County Agricultural Association — Offices, Fair
Grounds, etc. — Railroads 199

CHAPTER VI.— War History of Montgomery County— The
Black Hawk War — Muster Rolls of Companies — The
Mexican War — The Great Civil War— Regiments, Officers,
etc. — Litchfield's Participation — Incidents, etc 205

CHAPTER VII — Hillsboro Township — Description— Bounda-
ries and Topography— Early Settlement— The Mc Adamses,
Rutledges, Bonnes and other Pioneers — Primitive Cus-
toms, etc. — Mills, Roads and Bridges — Early Schools,
Churches, etc 215

CHAPTER VIII— City of Hillsboro— Its Laying-out, Loca-
tion and First Sale of Lots — Streets and Additions — Judge
Rountree and other Pioneers — Stores, Mills, etc. — Manu-
factories — Grain and Railroads — Incorporation, etc 221

CHAPTER IX.— Hillsboro— Its Religious History— The Meth-
odist Church — Organization, Members and Preachers
— The Presbyterians — Other Religious Organizations —
Benevolent Institutions— The Masons — Odd Fellows, etc, J.;j

CHAPTER X. — Hillsboro — Educational — Pioneer Schoolhouses
— Hillsboro Academy — The Public Schools — Newspapers
— Ups and Downs of the BusineHS — The A 7 t»'s and the
Journal of To-day 242

CHAPTER XL— North Litchfield Township— Description and
Topography— Character of Soil —Early Settlements — The
Briggs Family — Other Pioneers — First Preachers and
Churches — Schools and Teachers — Pioneer Incidents —
Tax Receipts, etc. — Early Diseases and Deaths- Ell"' ts
of the War 218

CHAPTER XII. — South Litchfield Township— Its Description,
Boundaries and Topograph} — Settlement of White People
— Early Customs and Industries — Facts and Incidents —
Educational and Religious— Miscellaneous Topics 255

CHAPTER Mil —City of Litchfield— First Settlers— Laying
out a Town — Growth and Development — Public Sale of
Lots — Improvements and Increase of Business^-Popula-
tion in 18:"i7 — First Circus — Pioneer Business Men — The
Machine Shop and Mill ot Beach, etc , 260

CHAPTER XIV.— Litchfield — Increase of Population— Early
Politics — The Journals — Douglas and Lincoln — Incorpo-
ration asadty — Late Business Men — Physicians — Dur-
ing the War-Fires— Removal of Railroad Shops, etc 275

Page.

CHAPTER XV.— Litchfield — Educational — The Press— The
Journal — the Monitor and other Papers— Banking Inter-
ests — The Coal Business— Sanitary Condition of the City 289

CHAPTER XVI.— Nokomis Township — Position and Bounda-
ries—Surface, Soil, Streams — Forest Growth— Agricult-
ural Products — Early Settlements — Roads— Schools-
Churches, etc 303

CHAPTER XVII— Town of Nokomis— Its Location and Settle-
ment—The First Stores, Mills and Other Business — Grain
Trade — Manufacture of Agricultural Implements —
Schoolhouses, etc.— The Press— Religious History— The
Different Churches, Preachers, etc 307

CHAPTER XVIII.— East Fork TownBhip— Boundaries— Water
Courses— Early Settlers— Mills— Cattle Raising— Roads-
Churches — Schools — Secret Societies 311

CHAPTER XIX.— Fillmore Township — Boundaries — First
Growth— Pioneers— Mills— Schools— Churches, etc..

CHAPTER XX.— Butler Grove Township— Boundaries— Soil-
Timber— Early Settlers— Roads— Educational and Re-
ligious—Village of Butler— Business Interests— Secret
Societies, etc.

CHAPTER XXI.— Raymond Township — Boundaries— Early
Settlement — Schools — Churches— Busiuess Interests—
The Fire — Secret Societies..

CHAPTER XXII.— Irving Tow i ship— Boundaries— Soil— Pio-
neer Settlers— Schools— Churches— Physicians and Mer-
chants

CHAPTER XX1IL— Zanesville Township— Position— Bounda-
ries, etc.— Soil and Products— Pioneer Settlements— Roads
and Mills— First Election and First Birti— Schools and
Churches— Village of Zanesville— Its Groivth and Decay 362

CHA PTER XXI V.— Walshville Township-Ten. toiy Embraced
—Soil and Timber— Crops— First Settlements— Schools—
Elections— First Marriage— Religion, etc 368

CHAPTER XXV.— Witt Township— Soil, Timbnr and Configu-
ration— schools, Past and Present— The Circuit-Rider—
Churches and Sunday Schools -
dustries

CHAPTER XXV I.— Hurvel Township— Position and Boundaries
—Topography— Productions— Pioneers -,- Schools —Vil-
lage ofHarvel— Industries— Churches— Sdcret Soi ietiea.

CHAPTER XXVII— Rountree Township— Soil and Drainage-
Timber— Firsl White Man— Pioneers-
Various Denominations

CHAPTER XXVIII.— Bois D'Arc Township— lloundaries and

Topography— Its Early Settlements— First Deaths— Early

Roads, Churches and Schools

CHAPTER XXIX.— Grisham Township— Location —Soil and

Drainage— Early Settlers— Religious— Secret Societies,

etc

320

327

340

360

-Mills and Other In-

378

384

Sc lools — Roads -

CHAPTER XXX.— Pitman Township — PoBitio i and Bounda-
ries—Physical Features— Productions— En rly Settlers and
Mills— Schools and Churches— Sei ret Societies- Robot ry,
etc -

CHAPTER. XXXI.— Audubon Township— To] ographical and
Descriptive— Physical Features— Early Settlements—
First Birth, Death and Marriage— The Littles— Cln
and Schools— Old Town of Audubon, e*

301

PART I

H ISTORY

BOND AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES.

CHAPTER L*

INTRODUCTION TO BOND COUNTY— GENERAL OBSERVATIONS— THE EARLY STATE OF THE COUN-
TRY—THE DIFFICULTIES OF OCCUPYING IT— COMING OF THE PIONEERS— HILL'S STATION
AND JONES' FORT — PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS — TIMBER AND PRAIRIE — THE
LATTER SHUNNED AS A DESERT— PRAIRIE FIRES— AN INi [DENT— HARD
FARE OF THE SETTLERS— HOW THEY LIVED, ETC.

" Time though old is swift in flight,
And years go fleetly by."

THE advantages to be derived from the
study of history are numerous and im-
portant. There is something in the breast of
almost every individual which makes him de-
sirous of examining the past, and ascertaining
what has been, in relation to his own, as vvell
as other countries. Man is anxious to look
back and inquire into the transactions of the
generation which immediately preceded him :
this creates in his mind a desire to know some-
thing of the one preceding that, and so he
goes on inquiring back from one generation to
another, and from century to century, until he
arrives at his origin — Adam — in the Garden of
Eden, fresh from the hand of his Maker.
Knowing this general desire of the human
race, men have written histories, in every age
of the world, from the time of Moses down to

*By R. 0. White.

the present, in order to perpetuate the sayings
and doings of their fellow-beings.

The words and actions of man, either for
weal or woe, constitute the most important
feature in all histories ; there is no portion of
the habitable earth that has not been made or
ruined to a certain extent by his management.
Christianity, the arts and sciences, peace and,
as a consequence, civilization, render the earth

"One great garden of her God,
Bright with beauty and girt with power;"

but when infidelity, ignorance, bigotry, super-
stition and war prevail, barbarism is the result,
aud the earth becomes, changed into a wilder
ness. Such has been the case in the past, and
if it is any criterion by which to judge the
future, it is certainly of great moment, that we
become well acquainted with the history of all
countries, more especially that of our own ;
when we peruse its pages and find there re-
corded the former errors and virtues of our

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

race, whether considered as individuals, com-
munities or states, or, in a political, social, or
religious point of view, there are many instruct-
ive lessons to be learned. One of the first is
to studiously avoid any course of action which
has been fraught with evil consequences, and
to earnestly strive for those principles that
have been most productive of good, to all
classes of society.

Among all grades of history, none is more
instructive or sought after with a greater
eagerness than that which truthfully deline-
ates the rise and progress of the State, com-
munity, or even county in which we live.
There is pleasure as well as profit to every
well-educated and inquiring mind, in contem-
plating the struggles of the early settlers in all
portions of the great West ; how they encoun-
tered and overcame every species of trial, hard-
ship and danger to which human beings were
ever subjected. But these things strike us
more forcibly and fill our minds with more
immediate interest when confined to our own
little county of Bond, where we can yet occa-
sionally meet with some of the now gray -haired
actors in those early scenes, with whom life's
rugged day is almost over, whose bravery in
encountering the troubles and misfortunes
incident to a frontier life has borne an impor-
tant part toward making our county what it
now is, and whose acts in connection with hun-
dreds of others in the first settling of our vast
domain, have compelled the civilized world to
acknowledge that the Americans are an invin-
cible people.

It may appear, to some, rather small and in-
significant work to record the history of a
diminutive county like Bond, but it will be
remembered that our vast republic is com-
prised of States that are made up of counties,
each of which contributes its share toward the
general history of the country. Though occu-
pying but a small portion of the State of
Illinois, yet Bond County has a history that is

fraught with interest to its own citizens, at
least, besides many of those in adjoining
counties.

How little do many of the present genera-
tion, when they behold the " old settler," as he
is termed, either realize or appreciate the hard-
ships through which he has passed, or the part
he has performed in reclaiming our country
from the rule of the wild and savage tribes
that roamed at will over all parts of it.
" Young America," as he passes the old settler
by, without so much as nodding his head, little
dreams that he has spent the bloom of his life
in helping to make this country what it now is,
or rather, in preparing it for the reception of
all those modern improvements and business
which surround us on every side. The old
settler and his deeds should be remembered
and appreciated by all. Every lover of self-
sacrifice and undaunted energy cannot but
admire that adventurous spirit, united with
cool determination, which influenced the hardy
pioneer to leave the civilization of the older
States, and locate in this wild region, far re-
moved from the influence of the schoolhouse
and the church, driving back the savage, and
paving the way for the great advantages we
now so fully enjoy. And what must be the
reflections of the old settler himself, as he
looks upon this country and contrasts the
present with the past — for he knows some-
thing of the past. He looks over the thriving
county of Bond, which may be termed almost
one vast farm, and calls to mind the time when
all those prairies, now teeming with grain,
fruits and vegetables, were thickly covered
with grass six feet in height, where the deer
and wolves held high carnival, undisturbed,
save by the stealthy Indian, or the occasional
appearance of a white hunter passing from one
to another of the settlements or forts that
were ''few and far between." He views our
elegant homes, telling of wealth, ease and com-
fort, and remembers the time when there was

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

not a glass window in the whole comity — not
over two dozen dwellings, all of them log
cabins with weight - pole roofs and wooden
chimneys. He beholds neat churches, fine
schoolhouses and colleges, and thinks of the
time when there was not a church or school-
house in the county. He looks at our court
house, provided with its comfortable rooms for
the accommodation of various county officers,
and remembers the holding of the first court
that ever assembled in the county, which met
in a rude log house, the jury room being in the
woods. He contemplates with wonder and de-
light the railroad, one of the grandest achieve-
ments of human enterprise, and as he beholds
the numerous trains of crowded cars rapidly
conveying passengers and freight from one
point to another, his mind reverts back to those
early days when there were no railroads, and
not even tolerable wagon roads in all this
country, the means of transportation being ox
teams, the only market St. Louis, then a small
town, while in some portions of the year the
mud was many feet in depth. He sees our fine
flouring mills in all parts of the county, and
thinks of the days when there were no mills
here of any kind, and the inhabitants lived on
hominy and bread made of pounded corn. He
is delighted with our various agricultural im-
plements, and recollects the hardships of farm-
ing, when there was not a seed-drill, corn-
planter, reaper, mover, or thresher in the State.
when scythes and sickles cut down the harvest,
and flails or horses' feet, threshed or trod out
the grain. He looks back to the first advances
that were made here in improvement and civil-
ization — the early schools, their teachers and
many incidents connected with them ; the sing-
ing-schools, where the young men brought their
sweethearts behind them on the same horse ; of
camp-meetings in the olden time, and promi-
nent individuals and circumstances connected
therewith ; of old-fashioned muster and elec-
tion days, and the heroes of the various fights

which there occurred, the result of old grudges
and bad whisky. These, and a thousand other
reflections must pass in review through his
mind as he looks around upon the Bond
County of to-day in contrast with that of fifty
years ago.

It will be the object of the following pages,
to describe as accurately as possible the rise
and progress of Bond County, and the incidents
and characters pertaining thereto, from the first
settlement within its limits down to the present
time. In doing this, the great aim will be to
present facts, so far as it is possible to obtain
them. Many of these must necessarily be
gleaned from individuals now living, who emi-
grated to the county in an early day, and either
witnessed, or were actual participants in the
scenes connected with its early history, there
being no written account to which we can go for
information.

The task will be a pleasant one, both to the
reader and the writer, to go back to the period
when this county, along with other portions of
the State of Illinois, was a wilderness unmarked
by the hand of man. and note the advent of the
first white families, and contemplate the numer-
ous and apparently insurmountable difficulties
with which they were surrounded. But to give
precise dates in all cases of the early histor}- of
Bond County will be almost impossible, as
there are but few of the old pioneers now liv-
ing. The lapse of fifty-five or sixty years has
not only swept from the theater of life most of
those heroes of the old and perilous time, but
has dimmed the in -m >ries of those who yet re-
main, so that some of them have forgotten the
exact time when many events, appertaining to
our history, transpired. II >wever, by a careful
comparison of the different statements and
dates, they are given with sufficient accuracy
for general utility, even in the instances where
there is any lack of coincidence.

The first settlement made within the present
limits of Bond County was at Hill's Station,

HLST011Y OF BOND COUNTY.

or fort — (called also White's Fort) — ■ about the
year 1S12. This fort was situated about eight
miles, in a southwesterly direction, from where
the town of Greenville now stands. One mile
and a half south of this was another station,
one called Jones' Fort, built near the same time.
These buildings were erected by the white inhabi-
tants, as shelters not only to protect them from
the inclemencies of the weather, but from the
incursions of the Indians, with whom the
county was infested, it being considered unsafe
for one family to reside at a distance from
others. These settlements were all made within
a year or two of the same time, and during the
last war with England.

When we view the present prosperous condi-
tion of the country, it seems scarcely credible
to believe that no longer age than the period
under consideration, the entire population of
Bond County was comprised of only two feeble
bands of adventurers, each containing but a few
families, shut up within the walls of a fort, out-
side of which it was dangerous to venture any
distance. These forts, stations or block-
in mses, as they were variously called, were
located in the edge of the timber, and were con-
structed of hewed logs. They would not, it is
true, present a very formidable resistance to
the military arrangements of the present day,
but when considered as a protection against the
implements of savage warfare, they proved
quite efficient.

The only land cultivated was a few acres im-
mediately surrounding or near the stations.
These farms, or patches, as they would now be
termed, were in the timber also, and planted in
cotton, tobacco, corn, pumpkins, melons, pota-
toes, and a few other vegetables. Wheat, for
the first few years, was not cultivated, as there
were no mills ; hence, it would have been of
little service. Most of the first settlers were
from Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina,
where all the laud is timbered, and the prairies,
they viewed as uninhabitable deserts. The

idea of hauling rails, fire-wood and building
timber, several miles was not to be thought of
b}' them. It was a current remark by the
people then, that " the greatest drawback to
this country was scarcity of timber."

In the autumn of 1816, a few families of emi-
grants were crossing the prairie east of Beaver
Creek, in the southern part of this county.
The grass had nearly all been burnt off, afford-
ing a fine opportunity for viewing the soil and
situation of the country. An old gentleman
belonging to the part}' was walking along be-
hind the wagons, in company with a few others,
who, like himself, had become fatigued with
riding and got out to walk. The old man gazed
with wonder and delight on the boundless ex-
panse of prairie spread out before him in all its
original beaut}-. Taking up handfuls of the
rich, black soil, he would examine it minutely,
then toss it aside with the exclamation, "Ah
me, how rich it is ; what a pity there's no tim-
ber to fence it." He greatly deplored the
strange freak of nature, which deprived a vasl
extent of country of trees, otherwise so produc-
tive, evidently believing this arrangement one of
the mysterious workings of an All- Wise Provi-
dence, in creating a soil where trees would not
grow, and that it would be of no avail to ever
plant them, for if the Almighty had so intended
it, they would have been found growing there
of their own accord.

It is stated by one who belonged to this party,
that some of the old ladies felt afraid to enter
the first prairie they ever beheld ; fearful that
the ground might give way and the}' be swal-
lowed up as if in quicksand ; or that night
might overtake them before getting across, and
they have to wait in the darkness without wood
or water until morning.

It was the general opinion that, on account
of the scarcity and inconvenience of timber,
the prairies would remain as vast pastures, and
hence the first farms were made in or near the
edge of the timber. A heavy growth of coarse

HISTORY OF BOND COUXTY.

grass from four to eight feet high covered the
prairies and all the upland portion of the tim-
ber, as well as much of the bottom land ; its
place in the woods is now supplied by scrubby
underbrush. When the grass became dry in
autumn, or killed by the frost, it furnished ma-
terial for vast conflagrations annually, sweep-
ing over the country with destructive force,
consuming everything of a dry nature in their
pathway, and in some instances burning up
wild animals overtaken by them in their devas-
tating course. These fires broke out some-
times by accident, but were often put out on
purpose to burn the grass on", so that people
could see to hunt to better advantage.
Farms or settlements being few, this was not
objected to. The neighbors united on a certain
day agreed upon, and " burnt the woods,'' as it
was termed, first making their farms or clear-
ings secure by setting tire to the edge of the
grass next to the farm and carefull}- watching
it until a space was burnt all around it suffi-
ciently wide to prevent the fire passing over.
Fires were on some occasions set out by the
Indians, many miles from the white settlements,
and, driven before the wind, spread over exten-
sive tracts of country, destroying everything
in their course. As may be imagined from
the height of the grass, a tire on the prairie at
that time was a grand and fearful spectacle,
more particularly at night. When fanned b} T
a strong wind, the flames rose to a height of
thirty or forty feet, presenting in the large
prairies an unbroken wall of flame several
miles in extent, having the form of a semi-circle
with the convex side in front, and sending forth
a roar that could be heard at a great distance.
With a heavy wind, the flames advanced so
rapidly that many instances occurred where
persons, even on horseback, barely escaped
being overtaken before reaching a place of
safety.

On one occasion, a party of hunters from the
settlements near Greenville, returning home

with a wagon load of honey and venison, when
about a mile east of where Elm Point now is,
set fire to the grass, for amusement. As the
wind was from the south and blew the flames in
a direction opposite to the way they were going,
no danger was apprehended. After enjoying
the sight to their satisfaction, they started on,
when, in a short time, the wind changed to a
strong gale from the north, bringing the fire
directly toward them in all its fury, and so
rapid was its advance, that they were forced to
cut the horses loose from the wagon and, with
all possible speed, escape for their lives. By-
great exertion they managed to outrun it, but
the wagon, harness, venison and honey were
consumed. Quite a number of marvelous ad-
ventures of this nature were related by the
early backwoodsmen, detailing feats of horse-
manship in comparison with which John Gil-
pin's perilous ride was mere child's play. In
eveiy public crowd would lie found indi-
viduals who loved to hunt, and tell of their
adventures, or listen to ihose of others. There
was nothing wrong in this, perhaps, so long as
the truth was kept in view, but as every such
collection contained some " hard cases," es-
pecially when warmed up with whisky, they
soon entered the regions of fancy, trying who
could tell the " biggest tale," betting "drinks
for the crowd " on the result. The narrators of
these stories told them so often, that they grew
into the belief that they were actually true.

One of these will be sufficient to give the
reader. Its truth is not vouched for. but the
substance of what the old hunter stated is
here given. The hero of the adventure went
by the name of " old Slaymush," and was ac-
knowledged to be the " biggest liar " in Bond
County at that time, with but one or two ex-
ceptions, which was saying much for him in
that respect, for in those early times there were
some here " hard to beat " on frontier incidents.
The old fellow said he had been out huuting
" in the fall of the year, over on the Okaw, and

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

there was a heap of bear and deer over thai',''
but it seemed like " luck was agiu " him, hav-
ing shot several deer, but failing to kill them
instantly, or " drap them in their tracks," as
he " ginerally done," they ran off and he lost
them. He •' snapped " six times at the " big-
gest bear that ever was seen," when the animal
took fright and ran oh". Attributing his bad
luck to some newly-purchased powder, and ex-
pressing the modest desire that the individual
who sold it to him might be safely domiciled
in a region where powder would ignite without
flint and steel, he started home, taking a west-
erly course through the prairie lying in the
eastern part of this county. It was about 2
o'clock in the afternoon, and he was within two
miles of the timber, on the west side of the
" perara," when thick clouds of smoke ap-
peared, stretching to some distance along the
edge of the woods. At the first glance he
" knowed the perara was a-fire, and that old
Slaymush and his boss would have to git out
o' thar, or be roasted alive," and as there was
a high wind from the west, something had to
be done immediately. Putting whip to his
horse, he set out in a northern direction, hop-
ing, by this flank movement, to get around the
fire to a place of safety, but this was soon
found to be unavailing, for the flames extended
too far in that direction, and had already ap
proached so close that the heat and smoke
almost stifled him. The only remaining chance
was to turn back and keep ahead of the fire to
the Okaw timber — a distance of six miles. He
said he never was as " nigh skeered " in his
life as when he "seed " the race that was before
him. Wheeling his horse, he took out his
hickory rammer to urge him on, but his " boss
was the worst skeered of the two," and when
he " sort o' leaned forred and fetched a big
yell, the critter actually cum very nigh jump-
ing from under " him, causing him to " drap his
ramrod and lose his cap ;" but holding on to his
gun " like a possum to a simraon-tree limb," he

sped on like the wind, with the fire advancing
and roaring behind him like a hurricane. It
often got so close that " great rolls of it, big-
ger than a kivered wagon, would bust loose "
and run past him " roarin' like all natur,"
sometimes on one side and sometimes on the
other. Occasionally one of these " big rolls "
would rush " clean over " him, when he would
throw himself forward on the neck of his horse
till it passed over and then straighten up again.
Fortunately, none of the fiery billows happened
to envelop him entirely, and, with the jaws of
destruction snapping at his heels, he flew on-
ward, leaping gullies, one of which was " forty
foot wide." In crossing this, he and the fire
were side by side, and "jest the instant his
boss struck t'other bank, it was thar too."
Thus he went on with his fearful race, anxious-
ly looking ahead for the timber, near which the
grass had been burnt some weeks before, know-
ing that there he would be in a place of safety.
Though nearly blinded and suffocated with
smoke, he thought of making one more desper-
ate efl'ort to increase the speed of his horse,
although he seemed to be doing his very best
already. So leaning forward and straining his
voice to the utmost, he " fetched another big
yell," when the animal "jumped clear from
under" him. When he struck the ground, the
momentum caused him to roll over two or
three times and lose his gun, besides stunning
him considerably. On rising to bis feet, he
found himself on the open, burnt ground, and,
of course, safe. The fire having ceased in a
few moments, he looked around a little, and
found his gun, which had received no further
damage than being discharged as the fire
passed over it. He saw his horse standing at
a distance of a hundred yards, gazing at him
most intently ; going up in front of the faith-
ful animal and looking at him, he seemed un-
hurt — not a hair showed the least sign of
having been in the proximity of fire ; for this
he was thankful, as also, his own preservation

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

— " there was not a bar of his head even
singed." He took his horse by the bridle and
turned him round, when a sight presented
itself that was horrible to behold. Every par-
ticle of hair and skin was burnt off his tail and
hind legs, the tail itself being literally roasted.
The hair was also burnt off his hips and back,
as far forward as the loins, but no farther !
The old man would relate this story whenever
the subject of prairie fires was mentioned,
evidently believing it to be the truth, for if any
of his hearers showed any signs of incredulity,
he appeared much offended.

There being no mills in the country at the
time the forts were occupied, and for sev-
eral years afterward, the inhabitants used
much less bread than at present ; it was all
made of corn meal, procured in the following
manner : A large block of wood, two or three
feet in length and from one to two feet in diame-
ter, was set up endwise on the ground, the up-
per end being scooped out so as to make a hol-
low capable of holding from a peck to a half
bushel of grain. The corn was put into this
and pounded with a maul, or other heavy weight
made on purpose. This was, in the fullest
sense of the term, " earning bread by the sweat
of the brow," but there being no other chance,
it was better to procure it in that manner than
to do without. These " machines," called " mor-
tars," were sometimes made in the stump of a
tree when conveniently situated. Hominy was
much used, being considered a saving of bread.

The inhabitants, at first, depended rnostty for
meat on the game, with which the country
abounded. Nearly every article of clothing
worn by either male or female, was manufact-
ured at home by the women, on the old-fash-
ioned spinning-wheel, cards and loom. The
man dressed buckskins, out of which were made
pantaloons, hunting-shirts, moccasins, and oc-
casionally pillow-cases, and dresses for the
women.

They made shoes from leather tanned at

home by themselves. To do this a tree, three
or four feet in diameter, was cut down, and as
large a trough as possible dug out of it ; this
constituted a kind of vat, into which the hides,
after being duly prepared, were placed along
with oak bark, broken to pieces, and pulverized
a little by pounding, the whole being filled up
with water. They were kept in this condition
until tanned. Some of the leather manufactured
in this way was very good, but most of it rather
indifferent. These, primitive tanners put no
blacking on their leather, for the very good
reason that lampblack could nowhere be ob-
tained. Of course this kind of material made
rather a rough shoe, but being the best that
could be procured, the people were content. In
fact, such shoes best suited the rough jaunts
taken on foot by many of the pioneers, through
brush, briers, swamps and grass, wet with dew
and rain. Boots were seldom worn, except in
the towns, and then only by professional men ;
no better evidence could be adduced of a man
being a preacher, doctor or lawyer, than his
appearing in public with boots on. This scarcity
of boots continued for several years. Many old
ladies seemed disposed to consider them as
belonging especially to the legal fraternity,
styling every man who wore them a " dandy
lawyer."

Everything not manufactured at home was
termed a " store " article, as " store shoes,"
" store hat," " store bonnet ;" and any one wholly
or even partially attired in " store " articles,
excited envy in the breasts of the younger and
more shallow-brained portion of the community,
and many a young lass, when appearing in
public, considered herself highly honored, if so
fortunate as to secure the attentions of a " feller
with store clothes on," furnishing an instance
of that weakness in human nature, too common
even yet, judging persons by external appear-
ances.

The scarcity of the necessaries of life will not
be wondered at, when we consider that St. Louis

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

was the only market, and a very poor one at
that, being then a small town of only a few
thousand inhabitants, having but two ways of
obtaining everything of foreign growth or manu-
facture, one by keel-boats rowed or pushed by
poles up the Mississippi from New Orleans ; the

other from Philadelphia, by means of wagons
across the Alleghany Mountains to Pittsburgh,
thence down the Ohio Kiver, in keel-boats, float-
ing with the current to its mouth, and from this
point, pushed up the Mississippi in the same
manner as from New Orleans.

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

CHAPTER IX*

TRIALS AND HARDSHIPS OF THE PIONEERS— SKINS AS A CIRCULATING MEDIUM— THE WAR OF
181'.'— ITS EFFECT UPON THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS PORTION OF THE COUNTRY— MURDER
OF COX AND HIS SON— THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE— PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION-
BUILDING OF CABINS— EARLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS— PIONEER COURT-
SHIPS AND OTHER SOCIAL EVENTS.

right," as they expressed it, one of them
slipped back where the pile of skins lay, took

"Oh, the waves of life danced merrily,
And had a joyous now,
In the days when we were Pioneers,
Fifty years ago !" — Gallagher.

FROM the time the first settlements were
made in what is now Bond County until
the close of the war of 1812, money was
scarcely ever seen. Skins of the mink, musk-
rat, raccoon and deer composed the circulating
medium of the country. Tobacco, powder,
lead and whisky were the principal articles
purchased, and the merchant or grocery- keeper
when asked the price of an} - of his goods,
replied by stating a certain number of skins
per pound or gallon.

A story is told of a party of fellows on a
Christmas spree, who, finding themselves about
out of whisky, and not having the wherewith
to replenish, hit upon the following expedient
to obtain a supply : They went one night to a
little grocery, having one raccoon skin with
them. This paid for whisky enough to furnish
them all a drink or two round, including the
proprietor, who of course was fond of the article
and imbibed rather freely, soon becoming quite
hilarious from its effects. The party observed
this, and each one, on placing the liquor to his
lips, merely tasted it, but the grocery-keeper,
whenever it came his turn, took a good drink ;
consequently objects soon began to assume a
confused appearance to his vision. This was
just what they wanted, and getting him " about

* By R. 0. White.

one and put it through a large crack in the
wall of the hut, to the outside ; then going out
at the door he went round, took up the skin,
and after waiting a few minutes came in —
being saluted by the others as a fresh arrival,
— and presented his raccoon skin in payment
for a certain amouut of whisky. This offer
was readily accepted, the whisky measured out
and the skin thrown back on the heap with the
rest. This feat was repeated every few min-
utes till they obtained all the whisky the}'
wanted, having actually sold the grocery-keeper
his own raccoon skin six or seven times in a
few hours. After the close of the war money
was brought into the country and gradually
took the place of skins.

At one time during the war Hill's Station
and Jones' Fort were abandoned, on account of
Indian hostilities, and all the white inhabitants
left the country except one man named Kenson,
— generally called "Old Kenson." There is no
account given of this man " showing whence
he came or whither he went," but we are told
he loved the spirit, but whether he was born of
it or not is quite another question. He was
as impervious to the angelic smiles and charms
of the softer sex, and had never realized the
truth, that

" The world was sad, the garden was a wild,
And man the hermit sighed till woman smiled."

but lived in the enjoyment of single blessed-

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY,

ness, in a large hollow sycamore tree, situated
in Shoal Creek Bottom, near where the Van-
dalia Railroad now crosses. "Old Henson"
remained alone in this primitive residence to
look after his hogs and hunt, returning to his
tree each time by a different route, to avoid
being tracked by the Indians. He stayed
there unmolested until the rest of the people
returned to the neighborhood, after which no
further trace of him can be found. But the
presumption is that he joined some band of
Rocky Mountain trappers, spending his life in
the wild seclusions of the land of sunset.

While the war of 1812 was in progress, but
few emigrants came to the county, and these
settled in the vicinity of the forts, or stations,
on account of the hostile incursions of the sav-
ages. Occasionally a settler erected his cabin,
and made a " clearing " at quite a distance from
the station, remaining there with his family as
long as there were no signs of Indians about
but as soon as the}' made their appearance in
the neighborhood, he would remove, with all his
responsibilities and household goods, into the
fort for safety, returning home when the danger
had passed. Families thus situated moved to
and from the forts, perhaps, several times in a
year, and, while living at their homes, were in
constant danger of being attacked by Indians ;
yet they appeared contented, and in the enjoy-
ment of more happiness than seems possible,
under the circumstances.

There was a man named Cox, who, in spite of
the warnings and entreaties of others, persisted
in staying at home instead of coming with his
family, into Hill's Station, the savages being then
encamped on Indian Creek, four miles nearly west
from Greenville. His house was near Beaver
Creek, a little below where Dudleyville is now
situated, and several miles from the station,
but he insisted there was no danger. As a re-
sult, however, of his imprudence, the Indians
attacked his house one day during his absence,
stole several articles of value, captured his

daughter, Sally Cox, and carried her off with
them. Intelligence of this melancholy event
reached the station in a few hours. A party of men
was instantly raised, the savages pursued, over-
taken, and the girl rescued and brought back safe
to her parents, all within the space of twenty-four
hours from the time of her capture. After this
occurrence, Cox was willing to remove his family
to the fort, especially in times of imminent dan-
ger, but, notwithstanding the remonstrances of
others, he would go out to his house once or
twice a week, " to see how things were getting
along." On one of these occasions he was ac-
companied by his sou, a small boy, both being
on horseback.

When they came within a short distance of
his residence, he sent 1 the boy to water their
horses at the creek, while he proceeded on foot
to the house. As he approached he noticed In-
dian tracks, which aroused his suspicions, but
being a brave man he went on, almost fearing
to enter. The savages were concealed in the
house, standing on both sides of the door with
rifles cocked and presented, ready to shoot him
the moment he entered. He came up to the
door, and on opening it. was shot by an Indian
and instantly killed. They then ran down to
the creek where the boy was, and gave him to
understand they would not hurt him, that they
only wanted the horses. Being greatly fright-
ened he endeavored to ride toward them, or hold
the horses so that they could come near enough
to take hold of the bridles, but the poor ani-
mals were so alarmed at the Indians he could
not manage them. Hence, quite a struggle en-
sued ; the Indians trying to get to the horses
and they struggling away from them, while the
boy was using every exertion to hold them, no
doubt thinking his life depended on his efforts
to do so. In this manner they gradually got
farther from the creek, when, suddenly emerg-
ing into the prairie, the boy thought to escape,
and started off at a rapid pace. The Indians
perceiving this, one of them leveled his gun

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

and shot the little fellow off his horse as he ran.
The house in which this tragedy occurred was
standing but a few years since.

The particulars of the murder of Cox and his
son were related by the Indians themselves, at
the treaty made near die close of the war. He
was a large, powerful man, an experienced In-
dian fighter, and had sent many a "brave" to
the " happy hunting grounds." Had he cer-
tainly known they were concealed in the house,
it would have cost them many lives to have
taken his, for he was considered a match for
two or three Indians at any time. Most of
them knew him, and acknowledged that, as they
watched through a small crevice in the house,
and perceived, from his looks and actions, that
he had discovered their tracks, and vet was
boldly approaching the door, they felt afraid of
him, although ten to one in numbers.

An incident occurred at Jones' Fort, about
the time Cox was killed, which is of interest
in this connection. At a little distance from
it stood a large elm tree, which at the height of
several feet separated into three prongs, all
branching out at the same distance from the
ground. Each of these being very large
afforded sufficient shelter to conceal a man
standing in the space thus formed. An Indian,
observing this, conceived the idea of climbing
up into the ambuscade thus furnished and
shooting at persons inside the fort. From this
elevated position, he could see over the wall
and fire on the people, which was impossible
from the ground. One evening, near sunset,
he ascended the tree and took his station ; soon
the report of a rifle was heard and one of the
men in the fort fell dead. This was so sudden
ami unexpected that no one could tell from
whence the firing proceeded, though all were
satisfied it came from an Indian concealed
somewhere outside the inclosure. This was
repeated on several evenings until four or five
white men had been shot down without any one
being able to find out the whereabouts of the

murderer. He was finally discovered, however,
in his hiding place, and shot by a man watch-
ing for him.

Another attack by Indians took place at
Hill's Station in the latter part of August,
1814. As there have been several versions of
this fight already published it is but proper to
mention that the following statement is in no
particular derived from any of them, as they
are not entirely correct. It coincides with them,
however, in man}- of its details. It is obtained
direct from persons now living who had the
scene described to them by those residing in
the station at the time of its occurrence, be-
sides from the statement of the hero of the
conflict himself, and may be considered relia
ble.

A few rangers, under the command of Maj.
Journey, were stationed at the station in order
to afford the settlers better protection against
the savages. Benjamin Henson, a resident in
the station, while out hunting one day, saw an
Indian, which circumstance he related on his
return in the evening, adding that he believed
they were in danger of an attack. This story-
was discredited by many, both officers and
men, who believed he had manufactured the
whole thing merely to get up an excitement
and alarm. On the evening of the day in ques-
tion some of the women found grains of
parched corn scattered about the spring, situat-
ed a little distance from the station, and as
none of the white people had been using any at
that time, this was conclusive evidence that the
" red skins" were about.

Strange as it may seem, however, some of
the rangers still refused to believe that there
was any danger. One Lieut. Boucher, on hear-
ing Henson's statement, called him a liar to his
face, and treated with contempt every sugges-
tion of danger.

After disputing and quarreling awhile over
the matter, they decided to send out a squad of
men on the following day to look for Indians.

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

Next morning Maj. Journey started out, taking
all the men with him, thus leaving the fort in a
defenseless condition, the gates all wide open
and the women milking the cows, apparently
unconscious of danger. The part}' of rangers
proceeded along a narrow path leading down a
narrow ravine, when they were suddenly fired
upon by a large party of Indians, concealed
behind trees and in the grass on both sides of
the path. Maj. Journey, Capt. Grotz and two

of the privates, ■ Lynn and William Pruitt,

were instantly killed. The fifth man,

Thomas Higgins, was shot in the thigh and fell
from his horse, which ran off. The others,
seeing danger ahead, left the path immediately,
scattering in different directions and taking po-
sitions at some distance from each other, man-
aged to engage the enemy as best they could
Having seen Higgins fall from his horse with
the other four, they supposed him killed also
and took no further notice of him at that time.
There was a small field of corn close to the
fort, on the north side, in which several Indians
had concealed themselves, for when the firing
commenced the women saw three or four run
out of this field and pass round to the scene of
conflict. They had doubtless been watching
the whites, intending to commit some depreda-
tion as soon as the men all left. Immediately
after Higgins fell from his horse he was
attacked by three Indians armed only with
spears, evidently believing him entirely within
their power. His wound had disabled him so
that it was with difficulty he could stand with-
out support, but the knowledge that his life
was at stake seemed to give him super-human
strength. Cocking his rifle, he presented it
whenever one approached nearer than the
others, as if intending to shoot, determined,
however, not to do so until he could make sure
of his game. The Indians, being uncertain
whether his gun was loaded or not, were afraid
to rush on him. Thus he held them at bay
for a short time ; but they kept circling round

trying to get on both sides of him, each time
coming a little closer and closer, whirling about
in various ways or falling down fiat in the grass
and weeds whenever he seemed likely to fire.
Occasionally one gave him a thrust with his
spear, when they would all laugh to see him
dodge and writhe with the pain, but were
afraid to advance near enough to take hold of
him. He still reserved his fire knowing that his
only chance for life was to kill one " dead" at
the first and only shot he would get. He said
that one of them was the " biggest Injun" he
ever saw, and he thought if he could only kill
him first his chance for life would be much
better. At length feeling himself growing
weaker, and receiving a severe wound in the
mouth and jaw from the spear of the largest
Indian, who also was the boldest, Higgins
leveled his rifle at him as he pulled the spear
from the wound and fired, killing him dead on
the spot.

The other two, knowing that his gun was
discharged, now advanced on him without fear.
His success in killing the most formidable one
inspired him with fresh courage, and not having
time to reload his rifle, he seized it by the
muzzle, arid as they rushed upon him with loud
and triumphant yells, struck the foremost one
with all his power over the head, knocking out
his brains and killing him immediately. The
force of the blow broke the gun off at the
breach and the barrel flew out of his hands to
some distance in the thick grass.

He now fell exhausted, and being unable
to rise to his feet, commenced crawling to-
ward the gun-barrel, his only means of defense,
in order to obtain it before the remaining In-
dian, who had also started to search for it.
The savage succeeded in getting it first, and
with a tremendous yell, came slowiy up in front
of him, brandishing the weapon in his hands, as
if to give him all the anguish possible, before
striking the final blow. Having reached a small
tree, he raised himself by means of it to a

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

standing position, leaning back against it for sup-
port, feeling that his time had come when, to his
great joy, he beheld two white men — William
Pursley and David White — on horseback, com-
ing to his rescue. They were coming up behind
the Indian, who was too much elated with the
idea of capturing his victim to observe them.
As soon as Higgins saw them he exclaimed,
• Pursley, for God's sake, don't let him kill
me."

The Indian still believing no one near.
and that this was a cry of despair, laughed
tauntingly in his face, and mimickingly repeated
his cry in bad English. The words had scarcely
passed his lips when the men were upon him
with rifles leveled. Instantaneously he com-
menced a series of the most vigorous and ludi-
crous gymnastic exercises, but they finally suc-
ceeded in killing him.

A portion of this fight was witnessed by the
women in the fort, and one of them — Mrs.
White — when she saw Higgins likely to be over-
powered, seized a gun, mounted a horse, and
started to his assistance. She had not pro-
ceeded far, however, when, perceiving Pursley
and her husband hastening to his relief, she re-
turned to the fort. Higgins was taken to the
station, where his wounds were dressed and
cared for until his recover}-. He died, a few
years since, in Fayette County, having been a
perfect specimen of a frontier man iu his day.
He was once assistaut door-keeper of the House
of Representatives of Illinois.

Such are the scenes through which some of
the pioneers of Bond County passed during its
first settlement. Our citizens should cherish
the memory of those victims who fell at Hill's
Station, Jones' Fort, and other places iu the
county. Their graves lie neglected, and some
of them unknown. This ought not to be. The}*
should all be found, if possible, neatly inclosed,
and a monument erected to their memory.

At the close of our last war with England, a
treaty of peace was made with the Indians as

well as with the English, thus bringing peace
to the pioneer. After the conclusion of this
treaty, the forts in Bond County were aban-
doned, though with some misgivings on the
part of the whites, lest the Indians should fail
to observe the terms of peace. In a short time,
however, the people becoming more satisfied of
the peaceful intentions of the savages, " scat-
tered out " from the different stations, forming
settlements several miles apart.

Emigrants came to the country but slowly,
so that by the year 1816, Bond County num-
bered not over twenty-five dwelling-houses, if
their pole cabins could be called dwelling-
houses. The people then managed to get along
without nails, glass, sawed lumber or brick, for
the reason they could not procure them. Their
houses were small, consisting of one story, built
of logs or poles, in many cases unhewed, with
the ends projecting from six inches to two feet
at the corners, the crevices between them being
daubed with mud or clay, and the whole struct-
ure covered with clapboards, held on by heavy
poles called " weight-poles." The same kind of
boards, fastened to cross pieces by wooden
pins driven into holes made with a gimlet, con-
stituted the door shutters, generally constructed
to open outwards. The floor, when they had
any, was made of puncheons, pinned down or
laid on loose. These, when carefully dressed
and closely put together, constituted a very
good floor, but some of them conveyed the idea
that the settlers believed in ventilation, for they
left cracks so wide that the children, in pursuit
of their juvenile amusements, their little feet
often slipped through those dangerous trap-
doors, causing many squalls and bruises. A
wooden latch, raised by a string, served as a
fastening for their doors. This string had one
end tied to the latch and the other passed
through a small hole above it, and when the
door, fastened on the inside, was left hanging
out, the person wishing to enter having only to
pull it, iu order to raise the latch ; hence, to

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

leave the "latch-string hanging out," they con-
sidered synonymous with sociability and hospi-
tality. They built wooden chimneys, plastering
them inside with earth, making the jambs and
hearths also of the same material — except when
stone could be procured — beating the hearths
with a maul to make them solid. The fire-
places were from six to ten feet in width, and
two rocks or billets of wood served instead of
andirons. Though so wide, these fire-places
were, nevertheless, quite convenient, furnishing
a receptacle for most if not all the cooking uten-
sils of the family, and when crowded the chil-
dren, and in some families the dogs found ac-
commodations on each side, in company with
skillets, ovens and frying pans. But at one side
or the other of these capacious hearths, one
article always stood conspicuous, and that was
the kettle of " blue dye," as the old ladies called
it, in which they colored their "yarn " for weav-
ing. This kettle being covered with an old
barrel-head, or something of the kind, often did
service as a seat for some member of the family,
and even for visitors. Young fellows, when on
courting expeditions, sometimes found it a very
convenient seat, with the " idol of their heart "
in close proximity. Some of the best men
of our country wooed and won their brides,
seated on a kettle of " blue dye " by the blazing
fire of the backwoodsman's rude cabin. An in-
cident is related of a youthful swain seated on
a kettle of " blue dye," engaged in close con-
versation with a lass, whose love he hoped to
win, when the covering gave way. precipitating
him to the bottom of the vessel in a sitting

position. As he wore white pantaloons, the
results may be imagined.

Articles of household furniture were few and
rude. With the exception of those brought
from the States, chairs could not for several
years be procured, their place being supplied
by wooden stools, which, though answering
very well the purpose of seats, were easily
upset, a circumstance often causing much mer-
riment.

The tables and bedsteads were rude, the
former being constructed of the same kind of
material as the doors, and many of the latter
by boring two holes in the wall with a large
auger, six or seven feet apart ; into these,
pieces of wood were driven having the oppo-
site end of each inserted into an upright post,
this constituting a kind of frame work, which,
being covered with clap-boards, served as a
receptacle for the beds. Sofas, rocking-chairs,
center-tables, bureaus and all such articles
were not used except where some old lady or
whimsical old maid had refused to part with
these " household gods," and had them hauled
out to this wild region, over mountains, hills
and swamps, at much trouble and expense.

On the outside of the houses, it was no un-
common thing to see a goodly number of rac-
coon and deer skins stretched and hanging up
against the wall to dry, and occasionally the
skin of a wild cat, wolf or bear. The project-
ing ends of the logs at each corner of the cabin
served as places to hang the various utensils
used on the farm, such as hoes, rakes, bridles
and harness.

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

CHAPTER III.*

ORGANIZATION OF BOND COUNTY— THE TERRITORY FROM WHICH IT ORIGINATED— ACT OF THE
LEGISLATURE— THE COUNTY AS NOW BOUNDED, WITH ITS DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRA-
PHY—COURTS ORGANIZED — THE FIRST GRAND JURY AND COURT OFFICERS —
COUNTY SEAT AT PERRYVILLE— JAIL BUILDING— A CASE OF LYNCHING—
LAWYERS LOST ON THE PRAIRIE— PERMANENT LOCATION OF THE
SEAT OF JUSTICE, ETC., ETC.

AS the country settled up and population in-
creased, it became necessary to form the
territory into smaller divisions for the purpose
of convenience and the better administration
of the laws. It may be of interest to the read-
er to give a few of the territorial changes of
the country in which we now live. Illinois was
taken from the British in 1778, by conquest of
Gen. George Rogers Clark, and became a
county of Virginia. It then embraced what is
now the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michi-
gan and Wisconsin, with the seat of government
at Kaskaskia.t In 1784, Virginia ceded it to
the United States Government, and by the or-
dinance of 1787 it became the Northwestern
Territory, with its capital first at Marietta, and
then at Cincinnati. Ohio. This continued until
1800, when it was made a part of the Indiana
Territory, with the seat of government at Vin-
cennes, Ind., and embraced the present States
of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
In 1809, that portion now forming the States
of Illinois and Wisconsin, became the Territory
of Illinois, and in 1818, Illinois became a State
of the Federal Union, with her capital at the
ancient town of Kaskaskia. The Southern
part of the State was settled long before the
central and northern part, and here the first
counties were formed, even before the State was
admitted into the Union. The country within

*By R. O. White.

fNe.ir Chester, the peat of the New Southern Penitentiary.

the boundaries of the present State of Illinois
extending northward to the mouth of the Little
Mackinaw Creek, was organized into a county
in February, 1790, and named for His Excel-
lency, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the
Northwestern Territory. Other counties were
formed, as population increased. In 1795, Ran-
dolph was created, and Madison in 1812. Bond
County, comprising a large extent of territory,
and from which several counties have since
been formed, was organized in 1817. The fol-
lowing is the act of the Legislature, or that
part of it pertaining to the subject, which gave
it a legal existence.

An act forming a new county out of the
county of Madison, approved January 4, 1817 :

Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and
House of Representatives of Illinois Territory, and
it is hereby enacted by authority of the same, that
all that tract of country within the following
boundaries, to wit:

Beginning at the southwest corner of Township
3 north. Range 4 west ; thence east to the southeast
corner of Township 3 north. Range 1 east, to the
third meridian line ; thence north to the boundary
line of the Territory ; thence west with said bound-
ary line so far that a south line will pass between
Ranges 4 and 5 west ; thence south with said line to
the beginning. The same shall constitute a separate
county to be called Bond, and the seat of justice
for said county shall be at Hill's Fort until it shall
be permanently established in the following man-
ner, that is to say, there shall be five persons ap-
pointed, to wit : William Roberts, John Powers,
Robert Gillespie, John Whitley, Sr., and John

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

Laughlin, or a majority of them being duly sworn
before some Judge or Justice of the Peace of this
Territory to faithfully take into view the situation
of the settlements, the geography of the county,
the convenience of the people and the eligibility of
the place, shall meet on the first Monday in March,
next, at Hill's Port, on Shoal Creek, and proceed to
examine and determine on the place for the perma-
nent seat of justice and designate the same. Pro-
vided that the proprietor or proprietors of the land
shall give to the said county, for the purpose of
erecting public buildings, a quantity of land at the
said place, nut less than twenty acres, to be laid off
in lots and sold for the above purpose. But should
the proprietor or proprietors refuse or neglect to
make the donation aforesaid, then, in that case, it
shall be the duty of the Commissioners to fix upon
some other place for the seat of justice as conven-
ient as may be to the present and future settlements
of said county, or should the said Commissioners
fix it upon lauds belonging to the United States, in
that case, the Judges of the said county, or any two
of them, may apply to the Register of the Land
Office for that district, and in behalf of the county
purchase one-quarter section for the use ofgthe
county, and the seat of justice shall be established
thereon, and the county shall be bound for the
purchase money, which place, when fixed upon aud
determined, the said Commissioners shall certify
under their hands and seals, and return their certifi-
cates of the same to the next County Court in the
county aforesaid ; and as a compensation for their
services they shall each be allowed $2 for every day
they may be necessarily employed in fixing the
[foresaid seat of justice, to be paid out of the coun-
ty levy, which said court shall cause an entry
thereof to be made on the records, etc.. etc.

The remainder of the act, which is a very
long one, is taken up with matters which have
no reference to Bond County. It will be seen
by this act that the county was much larger
at the time of its formation than it is now. As
at present constituted, it is bounded on the
north by Montgomery, on the east by Fayette,
on the south by Clinton, and on the west by
Madison.

It contains nine entire townships, in a
square, aud five fractional ones on its north-
ern and western sides, comprising about three
hundred and seventy-eight square miles. The

population is fourteen thousand, being thirty-
seven to the square mile.

Shoal Creek and its tributaries water the
western and central portions, and the Okaw
River and Hurricane Creek the eastern part.

Shoal Creek rises in the northern part of
Montgomery County, and crosses the line of
Bond at the north half-mile corner of Section
28, Township 7, Range 4, and. (lowing nearly
south through the county, leaves it near the
southwest corner of Section 36, Town 4, Range
4. It has on both sides a fine body of timber,
varying in width from two to five miles. Its
principal tributaries in Bond County are the
Dry Fork, Indian Creek, East Fork, Locust
Fork, Beaver Creek aud the Lake Fork.

The largest of these streams is the East
Fork, which rises in the northeastern part of
Montgomery County, and, running southwest
into Bond, empties into Shoal Creek, in the
southwest quarter of Section 36. The timber
on this stream is of a good quality, aud several
miles in width. Beaver Creek rises a few miles
northeast of Greenville, and, flowing nearly
south, crosses the line into Clinton County. The
whole length of this creek is about twenty-five
miles ; it is a muddy, sluggish stream, and wa-
ters a fine portion of Bond County. When
the Government Surveyors first came to this
stream, they found a dead horse in it, and from
this circumstance called it "Stinking Creek,"
a name which appears on some of the older
maps. Lake Fork enters the county a few rods
south of the uorthwest corner, flows in an
easterly direction near the north line for a little
over a mile ; then, turning north and northeast,
1 Kisses into Montgomeiy County and empties
into Shoal Creek. It is noted for being a rapid.
rocky, stream, furnishing numerous quarries of
a By R. O. White.

pair of horses or oxen usually served in their
place. As there were no seed drills of any
kind, the grain was all sown by hand, and cov-
ered by brushing or harrowing. Horse-collars
were made by plaiting and sewing together
corn-husks. They were constructed without
opening at the upper end, and put on the horse
by being pushed over his head, a feat some-
times difficult to accomplish, especially for
boys. The hames were much heavier than
those now used, and not plated with iron. A
raw hide or buckskin strap fastened them
together. When chains could not be procured
for traces, raw-hide, hickory withes, bark ropes
or dressed deer-skin served instead. These
were held up in proper position by a strap or
back-band made of the kind of material most
convenient, a piece of rope passed over the
back of the horse and tied to each trace, or a
strap of leather or hide two or three inches in
width and, in some cases, cloth obtained by
taking strips of the best parts of worn-out
pantaloons and other garments, sewing them
together and forming a band of the required
length and strength.

In addition to the lack of good plows and
harness, the early farmers were much troubled
and hindered by horse-flies, which annoyed
their horses during the plowing season to such
an extent that it was often impossible for them
to work except during a small portion of each
day — early in the morning and late in the even-

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

ing. The flies were most numerous in the
prairies and vicinity.

Some seasons, during •' fly-time," it was im-
possible to ride across any of the prairies. In
going a hall-mile, or mile at farthest, the
horse's neck and shoulders would be literally
covered with flies, which would cause him to
rear and jump about, or lie down and wallow to
get rid of them, so that the rider could not
maintain his seat. These flies were of a gray
color, with green heads, by which they attained
the name of " green-head flies." With the
rude plows and harness of the time an acre was
as much ground as one team would break up
in an entire day ; and hindered as they were
by flies in the spring of the year, the amount
plowed per day was much less. But, to com-
pensate for this want of culture, the wild land
was more productive than it is now, and the
people raised the most abundant crops, in pro-
portion to the ground cultivated.

.Most of the early inhabitants of Bond County
had emigrated from sections where corn was
the principal grain, and continued its cultiva-
tion here as their main crop, raising but little
wheat, notwithstanding it was of good quality
and fair yield. But, little as they did raise, it
was just about as much as could be harvested
with the implements they then had. For sev-
eral years after the first attempt at wheat-rais-
ing, the only means of harvesting was the old-
fashioned sickle or " reap-hook," as some called
it — a slow process — the man that could cut and
bind one acre per day being considered an
extra good hand. During harvest the people
in a neighborhood would unite, on the principle
that " many hands make light work," and be-
ginning at the farm where the wheat was ripest,
proceed to reap first one field and then another,
till all the grain was cut. They looked upon
harvest as a time of social enjoyment as well as
profit ; when the neighbors, male and female,
met together and had a good time generally.
Sickles were succeeded by grain-cradles, which

continued in use until superseded by reapers
and mowers.

Wheat was threshed by beating it with flails,
or laying the bundles down in a circle and
tramping them out by horses. As barns were
very scarce, the operation of threshing was per-
formed mostly on the ground, scraped off and
swept for the purpose. The grain was cleared
by slowly pouring it from a half bushel, or sift-
ing through a coarse riddle, in the wind, and
when this proved insufficient, an artificial cur-
rent of air was produced by two men holding a
sheet or coverlet at each end, and bringing it
round with a peculiar swing ; this served to
blow away the chaff and render the wheat toler-
ably clean. In consequence of the scarcity of
wheat, flour bread was quite a rarity, some
families having none at all, others enjoying the
luxury of biscuits for breakfast only on Sunday
morning.

The following incident will show the scarcity
of wheat bread, and how highly it was prized
by some persons : At a wedding party, the
bridegroom, after the Justice had pronounced
the words which bound two hearts together, for
" weal or woe," called him to one side, and
whether he gave him any money or not is un-
known, but he took from his capacious coat-
pocket six biscuits, with either of which one
could knock a man down at a distance of twenty-
paces, and giving them to him, exclaimed, " Here,
Squire, take these home with you, and keep
them expressly for yourself and the old woman ;
hide them away somewhere, so the children
can't get them, for you know what children
are." The bridegroom is yet living in Boud
County, and represents one type of the "old
settler."

Some of the first apple and peach orchards
in the State were planted in Boud County. For
many years it was noted for producing more
and better fruit than any of the adjoining coun-
ties, and at the present time, according to popu-
lation, it produces more apples than any other,

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

although the fruit is not as good as in former
years, owing to the severe droughts.

As most of the early emigrants settled in the
timber where nuts and acorns were plenty, they
paid but little attention to the raising of any
kind of stock except hogs. There was then but
one breed, a lank, sharp-nosed, long-legged,
ravenous hog, that ran in the woods at least
three-fourths of the year. Near the commence-
ment of winter, the settlers usually began to
hunt up their hogs for the purpose of convert-
ing them into pork.

These hogs, when found in the fall, were
more or less shy, many of them being half or
entirely wild. After finding them, the first en-
deavor was to tame them in the woods, and when
considered sufficiently gentle for the purpose,
they were brought home and put into an inclos-
u re, and afterward butchered.

Such was the commencement of hog-raising
in this county. Great improvements have been
made in this kind of stock in late years, both in
the breeds now reared and in the taking care of
them. Hog raising has become an extensive
as well as a valuable industry with our farmers.

The same imperfection and rudeness of con-
struction of other farm implements applied also
to wagons, which were clumsily and heavily
made, and drawn almost exclusively b} 7 oxen.
liuggies. and the lighter kinds of carriages, were
not used. When horses were worked to wagons,
the harness was of but little better quality than
that already described. Lines were ignored in
those days ; the driver rode the lead-horse, and
either held the reins of the other in his hand or
hung them on the hames of the leader. A
wagon, team and driver fitted up in the style of
fifty-five years ago, if now driven through the
streets of Greenville, would present quite a
grotesque and ludicrous appearance. When
people first began to drive with lines some of
the settlers ridiculed them, saying it was out
of the question for a man to drive horses as ac-
curately in that way as to ride one of them ;

that a horse could pull more, and with greater
ease with a man on his back than without, and
that it was all laziness, but notwithstanding
their misgivings, the new way of driving soon
became general, as everything always has done
which tends to ameliorate, or to do away with
an} 7 portion of manual labor.

The largest part of the hauling to and from
St. Louis — our only market at that time— was
done with ox teams. Wagons intended to be
drawn by oxen, were much more stoutly made
than others, in order to stand the rough usage
on the road, for it was no uncommon thing to
see six or seven yoke of oxen attached to one
wagon going to market in the spring, when
the mud was tough and almost bottomless.
The business of teaming necessarily increased
as the country became more populous, for this
was the only way in which produce could be
sent off, or merchandise procured. When
people first began to haul to and from St. Louis,
and for several years afterward, there were no
bridges across the streams on the route ; so the
reader can imagine some of the difficulties at-
tending those engaged in this business during
the spring or breaking up of winter. Even
after bridges were built over the larger streams
it was, at certain seasons, a serious undertaking
to perform the trip from Greenville to St. Louis
and back, and usually occupied from two to four
weeks, according to the state of the road. Per-
sons were often under the necessity of unload-
ing their wagons before going through a deep
mud-hole, and after driving through reloading
on the other side, carrying the load over by
peacemeal on their shoulders ; or worse than
this, undertaking to go through loaded, the
wagon would mire down, every wheel sinking to
the axle in the tough mud, and they be com-
pelled to wade through it knee deep or more,
and carry the loading out to solid ground.

After orchards were planted and apples be-
came an article ot produce, the settlers hauled
them to other points besides St. Louis. Being

II [STORY OF BOND COUNTY.

scarce, they always commanded ready cash,
and for several years it was not unusual to see
teams from Bond County taking them to
Springfield, a distance of eighty miles, over a
worse road than that to St. Louis.

The writer heard a sermon delivered about
twenty-seven years ago, by one of the primi-
tive preachers of Bond County, wherein he
related a case of miring down on the road
with a load of apples, about the year 1836, in
which he and another individual were the
principal actors. As nearly as can be recol-
lected, he described it in the following lan-
guage :

" M3- dear brethring and sisters, I'm a going
to tell you of a circumstance that happened to
your poor, unworthy speaker on the road to
Springfield with a load of apples. It is one
that I love to tell to my d3 T ing hearers, when-
ever I'm called upon to stand up and try, in my
stammering and imperfect manner, to preach
about the mysterious workings of Providence
toward the poor fallen sons and daughters of
men and wimmin-ah. Oh, my hearers, when I
think of that awful winter night, when we lay
out on the big prairie, with the wind and snow
and sleet a pourin upon us-ah ; and when we
had no fire and only about a quart of whisky
to keep us from freezing, I feel, nry dying con-
gregation, jest like the Lord had retched His
hand down from the shinin cauopits of heaven
and jerked me right out from between the very
jaws of death-ah. We were on the road to
market, my dear brethring, with a load of
apples. They were ' big Romanite ' apples,
put up in barrels, and were the finest apples I
ever saw-ah. We had my big wagon and four
yoke of oxens, and had on about forty hundred
pounds ; we had got along very well and were
making great calculations on gettin a good
price for our apples-ah. And right here, let
me tell you, my dying hearers, I learnt what it
is to feel disappointment and have all our cal-
culations blasted-ah. Along in the evening,

my brethring, it commenced raining a cold
rain, that soon wet us from head to foot, and
just about that time the wind turned to the
north, and the first thing we knowed it was
blowing and snowing and freezing, with all the
combined fury of the elements-ah. Then, my
congregation, we came to a big mud-hole,
where the ground had froze a little on top, but
not sufficient to hold up the wagon and team-
ah. When we drove into it, my hearers, the
wagon and oxens went in plumb up to the
hub-ah, and the poor unworthy worm of the
dust that stands before you to-day, my breth-
ring, was soon in the same deplorable condi-
tion-ah. But, my dear friends, we believed
we would get out safe, for we had a noble team
— all except the off ox at the wheel. Some-
times he was a little tricky and wouldn't pull
when it came to the pinch-ah ; and now, my
dear brethring and sisters, when we needed all
the help we could get, it seemed as if Satan
entered into that ox as he did into the swine of
old, and he stopped stone still and wouldn't
pull a pound-ah. So, my dear brethring, we
had to unload and carry them barrels of apples
about a hundred yards on our shoulders from
the wagon to the dry ground and lay them
down in the open prairie-ah ; and my dear,
I dying hearers, as we carried them barrels
through the mud, water, snow and ice, we sunk
in up to our knees at every step-ah. Then,
my dying congregation, we drove the wagon
and team out, and crawled into it, wet, cold
and hungry-ah ; and wrapped up and kept
ourselves alive with that little bottle
of spirits till morning-ah. When morn-
ing came, my dear brethring and sisters,
all our apples and two of the oxens' tails were
froze hard and were fit only to be taken back
and made into cider-ah. Thus you see, my
dear congregation, that it is through the mys-
terious workings of a spiritual power that your
unworthy servant stands before you to-day."
When the spring rains ceased and the roads

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

became dry, hauling was attended with fewer
difficulties. One of the greatest troubles, how-
ever, was the failing of the water-courses, which
became quite low in summer ; some of them
drying up entirely, and others having water
standing only in holes. This being the only
chance for watering teams, it was often a source
of much inconvenience. After traveling many
miles through the heat and dust, the oxen, of
course, grew very hot and thirsty ; in this con-
dition, all who are acquainted with their nature,
know that some of them are almost unmanage-
able when coming within sight of water. At
such times, they would start with a rush, not
stopping until the whole four or five yoke,
wagon and all, were in the water, or mud and
water, as deep as they could get, notwithstand-
ing the driver used every exertion to prevent
them from so doing. Sometimes they turned
so abruptly out of the road into the stream as
to upset the wagon in the operation, and some-
times the driver, fatigued with walking, would
be carelessly' seated on his wagon, when he
would find himself suddenly roused by the
sudden start of his team, and fearing an upset,
would be forced to jump from his seat, alight-
ing up to his knees, or coming down sprawling
in mud and water.

Such scenes as teamsters passed through in
the " olden times " until the building of rail-
roads, may truly be termed the times that tried
not onlyvmen's souls, but their temper and re-
ligion. The remark was often made, though
perhaps intended as a joke, that an}' one, not
even excepting a preacher of the Gospel, who
could drive an ox team through the mud to St.
Louis and back without swearing, would be re-
garded as one of the most remarkable men of
the age.

The price of hauling varied with the condi-
tion of the roads and the distance ; from Green-
ville to St. Louis it varied from 50 cents to a
$1 or more per hundred ; to Vaudalia it was
from $1 upward. This mode of transporta-

tion, although attended with so many incon-
veniences, was the only means of obtaining sup-
plies for a large scope of territory, and as late
as the year 1840, it was no uncommon thing to
see ox teams, in gangs of five or six from Effing-
ham County, passing through Greenville on
their way to St. Louis. They were noted for
offering venison hams for sale along the route ;
hence, some gave that county the appellation
of " Venison Ham County," a name which it
has long since lost the ability to sustain.

For several years after the first settlements
were made in this county, the pioneers were
compelled to do without mills of any kind.
The sparsely settled country did not justify the
expenditure required to erect mills even for
grinding corn. The nearest place for having
grain ground was at Edwardsville. For several
years after corn- mills were first built in this
section, the people had to take their wheat there
to have it ground into what they called flour,
though it would hardly be so considered at the
present day. Most of the people were content
if they had plenty of pork and corn bread, or
" hog and hominy," as they called it. Warm
corn "dodgers" and "johnny-cake," stewed
pumpkins, fresh spare-ribs and backbones, with
plenty of gravy, usually called " sop," varied oc-
casionally by a dish of wild game, were con-
sidered the sum total of good eating by the
early backwoodsmen.

In the year 1817, the first mill ever in Bond
County was built by Paul Beck, on quite a
primitive plan. It stood in the southwestern
part of Greenville, near the cemetery, and is
more particularly noticed in the history of
Greenville. The fine spring near this mill was
called " Beck's Spring." In a few years, other
mills were built, some of which ground wheat,
being supplied with a bolt turned by hand.
The first water-mill in the county was put up
on Shoal Creek, at Old Ripley, by Samuel Lee,
about 1819 or 1S20. E. R. Wheelock and
Wyatt Stubblefield erected mills on the East

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

Fork of Shoal Creek shortly after. Both of
these mills, together with their owners, have
long since passed away.

Most of the mills for grinding, in Bond
County, for a number of years, were horse-
mills, similar to Beck's, with the improvement,
however, of a large cog wheel instead of a raw
hide band, but they ground very slowly. Every
man had to hitch his own team to the machine
and grind his own grain. The large wheel was
furnished with two levers, so that either two or
four horses could be worked to it. The work
being much easier for four horses it was com-
mon for two neighbors to join teams, each put-
ting in a span of horses, and grind both their
grists. As an illustration of the inconven-
iences under which the people then labored to
obtain meal, some of them carried their grain
in sacks, on horseback, eight or ten miles to an
old horse-mill, where they sometimes had to
wait two or three days for their grinding.

Other manufactories were few in number
and on a par with mills in quality and impor-
tance. The first settlers being mostly from
the Southern States turned their attention early
to cotton-growing, and hence establishments
must necessarily be erected for its manufacture.
So, in the 3-ear 1820, Thomas Long put up a
cotton-gin not far from Stubblefield. A year
or two afterward Samuel White and Moses
Hintou put in operation a spinning-machine in
Greenville. Neither of these establishments
had a very extensive run, however, for their
owners had built them with the expectation of
obtaining supplies from the products of the
surrounding country. But it was found im-
possible to supply them with material, as it
was soon demonstrated that cotton would not

grow to do an} - good upon the soil of Illin-
ois. A tannery was started by Samuel White
in 1820, at the spring west of Greenville, the
first in the county. In 1822, James B. Ruther-
ford commenced the manufacture of hats in
Greenville, which he carried on for several
years. Other establishments of the kind were
started up from time to time. Somewhere
about 1823-24. Milton Mills started a wool-
carding machine in the county near Wisetown.
Many other small manufacturing establishments
were started, most of which, however, had but
a brief existence.

In the years that have gone, since the first
occupation of Bond County by the whites,
rapid strides have been made in every depart-
ment of life. Scarcely a trace now remains of
the old customs of the people. We are sur-
rounded by conveniences never dreamed of
fifty years ago. Instead of Beck's primitive
mill with its quaint " findings," we have a num-
ber of as fine mills as may be found anywhere.
We no longer have to wade through mud, snow
and rain with slow-going ox-teams to St. Louis,
but the iron-horse brings the best markets to
our very doors. It is no longer necessary to
go to Edwardsville for a physician ; every com-
munity has one of its own, always ready to
alleviate, so far as is possible, the ills of suffer-
ing humanity. Children are not compelled, as
of yore, to sit all day in a close, ill-ventilated
log-cabin, " to learn to cipher," but comfortable
schoolhouses are found in eveiy neighborhood.
Churches, with their lofty spires pointing to
heaven, dot the country everywhere. When
we view all this, we are forced to acknowledge
the Americans a progressive people, and the
present an age of improvement.

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

CHAPTER V.*

THE STATE OF SOCIETY IN EARLY TIMES — DAILY' USE AND MANUFACTURE OF WHISKY-
DRUNKENNESS, FIGHTING, AND OTHER INNOCENT AMUSEMENTS— SHOOTING MATCHES-
WORKING FKOLICS — GOLD AN1> SILVER MINKS OF THE COUNTY — GAYLORDS
SWINDLE— NEGRO SLAVERY — THE MAGOON KIDNAPING CASE — EARLY
PHYSICIANS, ETC., ETC.

IN the early history of Bond County, whisky
was considered as almost one of the neces-
saries of life, or at least " good in its place."
This "place" was nearly everywhere, embrac-
ing all occasions and applying to nearly every
condition of life. Of course, no one presumed
to uphold or advocate drunkenness, but a tem-
perate use of spirituous liquors, was not only
considered harmless, but in many cases abso-
lutely beneficial. Hence, distilleries were
erected, and the manufacture of whisky begun
soon after settlements were made in the coun-
try.

The first distillery in what is now Bond
County, was put in operation, in 181'J. by
George Donnell, at a spring about two miles
north of Greenville. Within a few years suc-
ceeding the erection of this one, several others
were built in different portions of the county.
one of which was at Beck's Spring, near the
graveyard (a very appropriate place for a dis-
tillery). The manufacture of whisky at these
distilleries was not carried on to a great extent,
nor for any considerable length of time. And
to the honor of Bond County be it recorded,
that there is not now an establishment within
its limits for the manufacture of ardent spirits.
At the time these distilleries were in operation,
and for several years after, intemperance pre-
vailed to an almost alarming extent. It is not
exaggerating to say, that whisky was in use,

*By B. 0. White.

either moderately or otherwise, by more than
one-half of the people in the county. On pub-
lic occasions, drunken men were so common,
that sober men seemed to be the exception.
At any time between the years of 1830 and
1845, it was nothing unusual to see twenty or
thirty men at one time, on election or muster
day, in Greenville, drunk, swearing and yelling
like Indians, the majority of them with coats
off and sleeves rolled up, wanting to resent an
insult which they fancied they had received
from some one whom they were trying to find.
Sometimes a fellow staggered against a tree, or
post, or came in collision with another indi-
vidual, and feeling the concussion, imagined
that somebody had struck him. In an instant
he would shed his coat and hat, and go rush-
ing through the crowd, endeavoring to find his
supposed enemy, and swearing that he was " a
boss," and could " whip his weight in wild
cats." And woe be unto the luckless indi-
vidual who was mistaken for the aggressor.
Many an inoffensive, respectable citizen re-
ceived rough treatment under such circum-
stances, and astonished his better-half by
returning home from an election, or muster,
with a smashed hat, black eye, or bloody nose,
to satisfactorily account for which, required, in
some instances, no ordinary amount of ex-
planation.

At the time of which we are writing, all the
the voting at a general election was done in

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

Greenville. On these occasions the people
from all portions of the county congregated
together and proceeded to settle their old
grudges. Quarrels were renewed, and fought
out, under the exhilarating influence of whisky.
People looked upon fights as inevitable on
public days, especially at elections, and were
disappointed if they did not occur. It was not
uncommon to see two or three fights in prog-
ress at the same time on an election day in
Greenville. These contests were conducted on
the regular old-fashioned "fist and skull"
st3'le — knives and pistols being seldom used.
Men prided themselves on their physical
strength, and for one to declare himself the
best man in the crowd was considered an in-
sult to be resented b} T everyone present. This
expression, " best man," had no reference to
anything further than mere bodily powers —
the finer feelings and nobler qualities of the
mind were not taken into consideration. It
may with safety be said that Main street, in
the old part of Greenville, has been the scene
of more hotly-contested fist-fights, louder yells
and oaths, and more brutal, as well as ludicrous
drinking revels, than all other places in the
county put together. On that street were
located the dram-shops where liquid ruin,
dealt out by glasses, quarts and gallons, sent
misery and destitution to all portions of the
community.

Other amusements, not quite so rough as
fighting, were engaged in by the inhabitants
on public days, such as wrestling, jumping,
running foot-races and shooting with the rifle.
Main street was, chiefly, the theater of these
sports, except shooting. The scenes connected
with them were more interesting, and occasion-
ally somewhat ludicrous, and numerous inci-
dents of the latter might be given, but space
will not permit.

Shooting with the rifle was practiced just
outside of the town, that there might be no
ihinger attending it. Certain individuals spent

the greater portion of every public day in this
exercise ; and many of them became ex-
pert marksmen, and very proud of their skill.
Shooting-matches were then of frequent occur-
rence. A beef was " put up," at a certain
price, to be shot for, each man paying a stipu-
lated amount — usually 25 cents— for every
shot. The best shots took the first choice of
the beef, the next best, the second choice, and
so on. About Christmas times, a live turkey,
fastened on a stump or fence at the distance of
a hundred yards, was sometimes put up and
shot at, the first man that drew blood taking
the turkey.

Bond County, as we have already stated, at
the time of its early settlement, abounded in
all of the wild animals common in this lati-
tude — bears, panthers, lynxes, wolves, cata-
mounts, wild cats, deer, and many kinds of
smaller game. Bears and panthers, however,
were not very numerous, and soon became ex-
tinct. A bear was killed in 1821, on Shoal
Creek, in the northwestern portion of the
county, which is the last account we have of
Bruin in this part of the State. But many of
the other animals remaining until a much later
date, gradually leaving the country, however,
as the settlements increased. A few deer and
turkeys are yet found in two or three localities
on Shoal Creek, where there are large bodies
of timber. As the wild animals disappeared
before the advance of the pioneer, a certain
class of people left also, or changed their mode
of living to the greater credit of the com-
munity.

The inhabitants were, for several years, an-
noyed by the ravages of wolves, which de-
stroyed many of their sheep and pigs. Wild-
cats and catamounts were also troublesome —
killing many young pigs and lambs. Wolves
continued so destructive that, as late as the
year 1842, wolf-hunts were organized, in order
to rid the country of these troublesome ma-
rauders. The writer attended one about that

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

time, in the prairie northwest of Greenville, a
description of which we will give as a sample.
The people assembled on horseback, and formed
a circle six or eight miles in diameter. At
a certain hour, all commenced moving toward
the center, and as the circle contracted, their
line became more compact.

The plan did not succeed well, only one wolf
being killed during the hunt. Wolves are very
suspicious of danger, and in nearly every case,
before the hunters got close enough together to
prevent it, they broke through the circle to the
outside, and escaped. This sport was both ex-
citing and amusing, and was often indulged in
by the earl}' settlers.

In those early times, the people were more
dependent on each other than at the present
day, and, as a consequence, more social and
accommodating. It was the general custom
for the neighbors all to meet and assist each
other in performing their heaviest work, such
as harvesting, log-rolling, house-raising, corn-
husking, etc., etc. In opening a farm, a great
many logs had to be burned, or taken off the
ground, before it could be plowed, hence log-
rollings were common. At these annual gath-
erings, the logs were collected in large heaps
suitable for burning, and men took special
pride in testing their manhood at the end of a
handspike.

At corn-huskings and various other gather-
ings common in those early days, lively, social
times were experienced by both sexes. When,
ever men met to roll logs, husk corn, or raise a
house, the ladies would have a quilting, " sew-
ing-bee," or something of the kind at the same
place. When night came, it was not uncom-
mon for the youngsters to have a dance or play.
The dances were old-fashioned reels, and were
sometimes continued till a late hour, and occa-
sionally they

"Danced all night till broad day light,"

when the young swains, with love-stricken

hearts, and warmly-beaming affections, deemed
it their duty to

" Go home with the girls in the raoruing."
Plays of various kinds, were as much in
vogue as dancing, but they have long since be-
come obsolete. Many persons, however, now
living, can look back to the scenes of those old
plays with pleasant memories. Who can think
of the old lines,

" Oh, sister Phebe, how merry were we,
When we sat under yon juniper tree."
Or,

" We're marching down to Quebectown,
And the drums are loudly beating.
The Americans have gained the day,
And the British are retreating,"

without thinking also of the " lads and lasses"
assembled on such occasions. Many delight-
ful reminiscences are connected with those
scenes, when memory calls them up from the
far distant past.

A great excitement was created here many-
years ago from a belief in the existence of the
precious metals in Bond County. Both silver
and gold were believed to be deposited at vari-
ous points in the middle, western and south-
western parts. Tales were related by some of
the old settlers, giving accounts of fabulous
quantities of silver ore being obtained here by
the French and Indians, more than a hundred
years before. The people credited these stories
and dreamed of future wealth and luxury.

Kobert Gillespie, living on Shoal Creek, a few
miles above Pocahontas, found shining particles
in the sand of a spring near his house, and
washing out a quantity, showed it to some fel-
low in St. Louis, who pronounced it pure gold.
This was enough ; the demand for Gillespie's
" dust " was such, that small quantities of it
were in the possession of various persons, in
order to compare it with such as might be found
on their own premises. About this time, a
man by the name of Gaylor, who was supposed
to know something about minerals, being a

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

" water witch," astonished the neighborhood by
announcing that he had discovered an inex-
haustible mine of silver on the land of Samuel
Hunter, near Indian Creek, about four miles
from Greenville.

A furnace was erected at the expense of Mr.
Hunter, and Gaylor went to work manu-
facturing silver. The business was carried on
for some weeks, producing but little silver, how-
ever, in proportion to, the amount of ore smelted.
Specimens of the metal had been tested by com-
petent judges, and found to be silver, and men
became almost insane with excitement, as they
beheld the treasure issue from Gaylor's cruci-
ble. Some individuals actually neglected their
business, spending days in wandering up and
down creeks, branches and ravines, and return-
ing at night with their pockets crammed full of
little pieces of the substance known as " horn-
blende," the shining particles of which they be-
lieved to be gold and silver.

Several of Hunter's neighbors, believing the
whole thing to be a deception, went, one after-
noon, to the furnace, where Gaylor was at work,
expressing a desire to see him smelt some ore
taken from the mine in question. He did so
producing a small quantity of metal which was
pronounced silver by all present. But while
stirring the mass of pulverized ore


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