Full text of "History of Case county, Illinois"

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HISTORY

CASS COUNTY

ILLINOIS.

EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN.

ILIia^'FI^^fED.

CHICAGO:

0. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, LAKESIDE BUILDING.

1882.

459<:6U

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***'^>^'i ^ CHICAGO LEGAL N

PREFACE.

A FTER several months of laborious research and persistent toil, the history of Cass
-^-*- County is completed, and it is our hope and belief that no subject of general importance
or interest has been overlooked or omitted, and even minor facts, when of sufficient note to be
worthy of record, have been faithfully chronicled. In short, where protracted investigation
promised results commensurate with the undertaking, matters not only of undoubted record
but legendary lore, have been brought into requisition. We are well aware of the fact that it
is next to impossible to furnish a perfect history from the meager resources at the command
of the historian under ordinary circumstances, but claim to have prepared a work fully up to
the standai^d of our engagements. Through the courtesy and assistance generously afforded
by the residents of Cass, we have been enabled to trace out and put into systematic shape the
greater portions of the events that have transpired in the county, up to the present time, and
wo feel assured that all thoughtful persons interested in the matter will recognize and appre-
ciate the importance of the work and its permanent value.

A dry statement of facts has been avoided, so far as it was possible to do so, and anecdote
and incident has been interwoven with plain recital and statistics, thereby forming a narrative
at once instructive and entertaining.

To those who have assisted our corps of writers in gathering material, or who have fur-
nished, direct, matter incorporated in the work, our thanks are due, and to Hon. J. Henry
Shaw and Judge Jno. A. Arenz, of Beardstown, we acknowledge special indebtedness.

September, 1882. THE PUBLISHERS.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

Page.

CHAPTER I,— Cass County— Early Notes on Illinois— The
French Travelers and Esplorers — Tlie Indians-
Wars of tlie Iroquois and Eicltapoos— Legend of
Monsoela — Different Owners of Illinois — Beards-
town Mound— ;Purcliase of the Country from the In-
dians— Miscellaneous, etc U

CHAP TEE II.— Settlements of the Country Not Included
in Cass County— Somo of the Pioneers and VVIrmb
They Settled— The Sangamo Country— Its Fertility
—Prairie. Schooners — First Land Entry— Beard's
Ferry— Beard & Marsh's Entry of Land— First Set-
tlers of Beardstown— Deed of Defeasance— Going to
Egypt for Corn— Arrival of Other Settlers— The En-
try of Land, etc 18

CHAPTER I.— Increase of Population— The Deep Snow
of 1830— The Blaolc Hawk War— Rendezvous of Sol-
diers at Beardstown- Cause of Dr. Chandler's Settle-
ment— Meeting Between Him and Abraham Lincoln
—Business of Beardstown in 18St— The Early Log
Cabins— Yanltees and Yankee Tricks— Corn Bread,
etc 26

CHAPTER IV.— Organization of Cass County— The Con-
vention at Rushville— Legislative Act Creating the
County— Other Acts— First Election for Oflioers—
The Numberof Voters— An Incident of aWolf— The
Cold Day of 1837— Location of the County Seatr-
Scarcity of Money— The County Machinery Put in
Motion- The Coturts— Trouble from Horse Thieves-
Eugene Honorius— The Census, etc „ 36

CHAPTER v.— Fertile Lands of Cass— Its Geological For-
mations-Coal Measures— Different Deposits— Coal
—Building Stone— Legislative Representatives from
Cass County— Principal County Oflioers Since For-
mation—Illinois River Items, etc 52

CHAPTER VI.— Agricidtureof Cass County— Farming in
the Primitive Tunes— Improved Farm Implements
—Agricultural Fairs and Associations— Lists of Offi-
cers— Cass Countj' Park Association— Its Organiza-
tion, etc.— Fine Stock of the County— Short Horn
Herds, etc.— The Railroads, etc 66

CHAPTER VII.— Virginia Precinct-Description, Bound-
aries and Topography— Wes-tern Pioneer Life— Set-
tlement of the Precinct by White People— Character
ofthe Pioneers— Their Trials, Troubles and Hard-
ships—Early Improvements and Industries— Roads,
Bridges, etc^— Schools— The First School-houses-

Early Teachers— Present Educational Facilities-
Churches and Preachers— Old Shiloh Church— Mis-
cellaneous, etc 72

CHAPTER VIII.— City of Virginia— Its Birth, Location
and Growth— Sale of Lots, and Additions to the
Town— Dr. Hall, Founder of Virginia— First House
andStore- Public Square and Court House — Busi-
ness in the West End— The Present Business Center
—Hotels, Mills, etc.— Doctors and Lawyers— Bank-
ing Business — Incorporation ofthe City — Municipal
Offices — Summary, etc 79

CHAPTER IX.— Virginia— Its Growth and Develop-
ment as a City— The Era of Railroads— Project of
Building the Illinois River Railroad— The Ohio and
Mississippi, etc.— Newspapers of Virginia— First
Paper Established in the Town— The Present City
Press— Court Houses and the County Seat Question
—The Jail— Miscellaneous, etc 91

C H APTER X. — Virginia — Religious History — First
Churches and Preachers— The Different Denomina-
tions and Their Temples of W(jrship — Sunday
Schools, etc.— Educational— The Early Schools of
Virginia— Pioneer Teachers— The Public Schools—
C. P. College— War History— Secret and Benevolent
Institutions, etc 97

CHAPTER XL— Beardstown— City and Precinct— Laying
OutoftheTown— Its Location — Organization— First
Officers— The County Seat Question— Churches—
Schools— The Press— Railroads— The Professions-
Early Settlers— Business Interests— War Record,
etc 103

CHAPTER XII.— Chandlerville Precinct— Topograph-
ical Features— Pioneer Times— Early Families-
Educational— Societies— Mills— Village of Chand-
lerville 122

CHAPTER XIII.— Ashland Precinct— Physical Features
—Early Settlers — Pioneer Times — Schools and
Churches -The Village of Ashland 133

CHAPTER XIV.— Arenzville Precinct— Its Early History
—The Three Mile Territory— Early Residence of the
Settlers- Emigrants from Germany— School-houses
and Chtirches in the School Districts— The Village
of Arenzville— First Lots Surveyed— Business of the
Town— Churches and School-houses in the Villages
—Some of the Prominent Men of the Time— Francis
Arenz, John L Cire, Dr. George Engelbach, and
Others — Miscellaneous, etc 143

CHAPTER XV.— Princeton Precinct— General Descrip-
tion-Boundaries. Topogrupliy and Surface Feat-

CONTENTS.

I'AGE.

urea— The Early Settlement— Pioneer Hardsnips—
First Mill, and other Improvements— \Valnut Grove
School-house — Present Schools— Churches — Old
Princeton, and its Business Enterprise— Little In-
dian Village — —•.- 155

CHAPTER XVL— Richmond Precincts-Physical Features
—Indians— Pioneer Times— Early Settlers— Schools,
Churches and Stores 160

CHAPTER XVn.— Philadelphia Precinct^Descriptive—
Topography and Physical Features— Organization
as a Precinct- The Settlement of the Whites— Their
Life on the Frontier— Pioneer Improvements-
Churches, Schools, etc.— Philadelphia and Lan-
caster—A Lost City, etc 166

CHAPTER XVIII.— Monroe Precinct — Description —
Physical Features— Settlement and Pioneer Times—
jrowth and Improvement— Churches, Schools,
etc ITO

CHAPTER XIX.— Oregon Precinct— Description and
Settlement— Pioneer Life— Indians— Churches and
Schools 178

CHAPTER XX.— Hickory Precinct— Physical Features-
First Settlement and Subsequent Growth — Progress
of Industries and Improvements — Churches and
Schools 183

PABT n.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Virginia— City and Precinct 193

Beardstown— City and Precinct 227

Page.

281

303

313

Chandlerville Precinct

Ashland Precinct

Arenzville Precinct

Indian Creek Precinct. .. . ..» ~

Princeton Precinct 7. 327

Richmond Precinct 3.S0

Philadelphia Precinct 337

Monroe Precinct *W

Oregon Precinct _ 347

Hickory Precinct 355

PORTRAITS.

Arenz, J. A •.• *">

Boone, N. H '^

Brauer, Frederick - i->J

Campbell, William 207

Carr, David 189

Chandler, Charles 63

Ore, L. J !*1*

Crum, James 153

Decker, John 117

Engelbach, Herman. 243

Leeper, W. D 351

Linn, William 333

Lohmann, Frank -61

NoUsch, GottUeb 297

Peteflsh. S. H 81

Shaw, J. Henry 27

Skiles. Ignatius 99

Tureman. J. H 171

W^ner, David 225

"(^^

A I N n

a H V N 3 lAi fOD 9NVS

O I

PART I.

HISTORY

C^SS COUNTY

CHAPTER I.

CASS COUNTY*— EARLY NOTES ON ILLINOIS— THE FRENCH TRAVELERS AND EXPLORERS—
THE INDIANS— WARS OF THE IROQUOIS AND KICKAPOOS— LEGEND OF MON-
SOELA— DIFFERENT OWNERS OF ILLINOIS— BEARDSTOWN MOUND
—PURCHASE OF THE COUNTRY FROM THE INDIANS-
MISCELLANEOUS, ETC.

ILLINOIS dates its white settlements among
the first in North America. Four years
prior to the settlement of Plymouth, Le Baron
had explored Upper Canada, and twenty
years later the hardy and ambitious French
traders and voyageurs and zealous mission-
aries had erected trading posts and missions
along the rivers and upon the lake shores,
now within the jurisdiction of Illinois and
Wisconsin.

^t that period the surface of Illinois was
much lower, geologically considered, than it
is at the present time. Since its creation,
the thin crust of the earth has been under-
going slow mutations, breathing, as it were,
bv centuries, elevating and depressing in the
lapse of ages under the influence of its
mighty lungs of fire, sinking slowly and im-
perceptibly beneath their former level con-
tinents and islands, and as gradually raising
others above the waste of waters.

While the countries bordering upon the

* The Chapters on the County at large are written for this
work by lion J. lien y Shaw, of ceardstown.

Levantine seas have been gradually en-
croached upon by the water, there has been a
corresponding rise in the earth's surface here.
Two hundred years ago the white settlers
of Illinois navigated the Mississippi and Illi-
nois rivers to the great northern lakes.
French pirogues and Indian canoes found no
difBculty in passing through the portages of
the North to Hudson's Bay. The routes from
the Mississippi river — up the Wisconsin and
down the Fox to Lake Michigan; and up the
Illinois Or " River of the Mianiis," as it was
then called, to Chicago river; or up the Kan-
kakee and down the St, Joseph — were well
known and navigated. Indeed, but a few
centuries since, these rivers were the south-
ern outlets for the waters of the great lakes,
and the Illinois penitentiary, near Joliet, now
stands upon a ledge of rocks over which a
great river once flowed in rapids similar to
those of the Upper Mississippi.

1 n the southern part of the State, at that
point now known as Tower Rock, this great
river was dammed up by a wall of rock, over

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

which it fell one hundred feet, forming a
cataract of such volume and height as to rival
even Niagara. But the continual wearing
power of the water, aided materially by earth-
quakes, which have left their sign in the vicin-
ity, finally opened the present channel of the
Mississippi, and gave an outlet to the ocean of
waters that lay stagnating in the swamps,
now prairies, above, and causing the present
agricultural productiveness of the ancient beds
of these great waters.

Two hundred years ago Northern and
Central Illinois was inhabited by two power-
ful nations of Indians, the Illinois and the
Miamis. The latter occupied the northern
part of the present State and part of Wiscon-
sin, and their chief town was upon the present
site of Chicago.

The Illinois tribe occupied the country
bordering upon the Illinois river, called by
the French the " River Seignelay, " and all the
country between that and the " River Col-
bert," or Mississippi.

The principal tribe of the Illinois %vere the
Muscootens, and their town was upon the
present site of Beardstown, on the east bank
of the river, at the foot of Muscooten Bay,
and was called by the French the "Mound
Village." The Peorias, another of the Illi-
nois tribes, generally occupied that portion of
the country between the rivers, having their
town on the west bank of the Illinois river,
four miles above the Muscooten village, upon
the bluffs back of the present town of Fred-
erick. The present site of Beardstown was
at that time an island, surrounded on the
north, east and south by almost impassable
swamps, containing dangerous quicksands
and quaking bogs, and which could be cross-
ed only in canoes, or by Indians jumping
from hillock to hillock of the turf grass with
which these swamps were interspersed, and on
the west by the Seignelay or Illinois River.
The Indian town of the Muscootens was a

beautiful place. It was built upon a series of
mounds, covered with grass, and partially
shaded by tall trees, which stood like sentinels
upon the hills, or ornamental trees upon a
lawn, so scattered as not to obstruct the view
of the whole town from the river. The island
had evidently been selected, not only on ac-
count of its natural beauty, but for its easy
defense and safety from enemies.

By two bends in the river, forming two ob-
tuse angles, the allied villagfes of the Peorias
and the Muscootens stood at the two elbows,
in ]>lain sight of each other, the broad river
forniin'T a straijjht sheet of water between,
while north of the Mound Village, and in
front of the Peorias, spread the wide and
glassy surface of Muscooten Bay, separated
from the river by a narrow peninsula. Back
of the swamp which protected the rear of the
town, was a wide belt of rich prairie bottom
land, and beyond, six miles, loomed up the
Sangamon Bluffs, looking like miniature
Andes in the distance, between which and the
island, in the day time, all approaching foes
could be discerned.

This island town was a favorite resting
place with the weary vovageurs and devout
missionaries; a large cross was erected here,
and friendly relations established between the
" children of the forest" and the white men.
This favoritism on the part of the French
towards the Illinois Indians, excited the jeal-
ousy of the Miamis, and they determined
upon revenge. In vain did the missionaries
try to prevent animosities. The Miamis in-
vaded the country of the Illinois, and took
some prisoners.

At this time the Chevalier La Salle, who
had built a fort called Creve Coeur, or the
Broken Heart, where the present city of
Peoria now stands, in order to prevent further
hostilities, made a journey alone down the riv-
er to the Muscooten Village, but his efforts
were without avail, and the war continued.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The Muscootens believed that La Salle -was
acting as a spy for the Iroquois, whose chief
town was then where Buffalo, N. Y., now is,
and who were the most powerful Indian nation
upon the continent. This impression seemed to
be confirmed when it became known to them
that the Iroquois and Miamis had formed an
alliance for the purpose of exterminating them.

Many battles were fought between these
hostile nations, but, by the superior numbers
of their enemies, the Illinois were worsted and
besieged in their towns. The Peorias forti-
fied themselves with earthworks upon the
bluffs at their village, and passed men down
the river in canoes, as necessity required, to
the Mound Village, or received help from
there, the river being protected from the
arrows of the enemy by marshy ground on
one side and the bay on the other, which for-
bade their near approach.

The Muscootens were beseiged in their
island town. Occasionally they were assailed
by parties of their enemies, who, more coura-
geous than their fellows, crossed the swamps
in the night, on the grassy hillocks, with the
help of poles. On these occasions fierce bat-
tles were fought, and none of the daring as-
sailants survived to recross those trembling
hillocks. At each defeat the Miamies and
Iroquois became more enraged. In the night
time, when out of danger from arrows, the
allied Indians out grass and small trees, and
gathered floating wood, and built a causeway
across a part of the swamp. When it was
completed, with the aid of canoes disguised
1)V branches of trees, in the night time, they
rushed upon the island, and for several days
the l)attle raged fiercely. There was no
quarter given or asked. Death was dealt by
unsparing hands on l)oth sides. They had
been rendered doubly savage by hunger and
delay. Their revenge had long been at
usury, and they were now satisfying principal
and interest.

The battle at intervals temporarily sub-
sided, but only when the combatants became
exhausted, and was resumed when rest
brought returning strength. Those who from
fatigue were unable to rise, were scalped and
tomahawked, entering from the dreamland of
life to the dreamland of death.

At length, exhausted and overwhelmed by
superior numbers, the Muscootens began to
fall back towards the river, when with yells
of victory their allied enemies rushed upon
them, and with tomahawks and scalping
knives ended the battle. A few of the un-
fortunate Muscootens swam the river, and
concealed themselves until night in the high
swamp grass beyond, and a small number of
men, women and children fled in canoes to
the village of the Peorias, and soine were
taken prisoners.

The battle being over, then came the
mourning for the slain. Funeral rites, in
which the missionaries took part, were per-
formed, and in the great mound on the bank
of the river, which had been raised centuries
before by a long forgotten race, they buried
the slain warriors with their bows, arrows and
tomahawks, together with the silver and flint
crosses of the missionaries.

After these ceremonies were concluded,
the Iroquois returned to their own country.
The Miamis, with their prisoners, encampeii
upon the present site of Chandlerville, where
game was plenty, and attended to their sick
and dying, great numbers of whom did not
survive their wounds.

Those that died were buried in the bluffs near
by, and long after the settlement of Chand-
lerville their ghastly skeletons lay in white
rows, exposed to the sun, laid bare by the ac-
tion of the wind upon their sandy covering.

Many years ago, at the request of a young
friend, the writer put into verse and rhyme
one of the incidents related above, which is as
fo lows :

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

THE LEGEND OF MONSCELA.

Far, far into the long ago. and upon the very place
Where Beardslown stands, there lived and loved and

died a noble race.
Where pretty lawns and spacious streets and lofty

buildings stanii,
Monscela's Indian village stood upon the hills of sand.

It was an island then, and round the hills on v/hich it

stood
The river ripples wandered in a long continuous flood;
While over all the tall oaks waved in foliage bright

and green,
And the trees and tents »vere mirror'd on the broad

and glassy stream.
Far above the stars were shining, bathed in clouds of

silv'ry light,
And the gentle breeze of summer-day had slumbered

into niiiit;
The murmur of the wavelets flowing, and hum of in-
sect wings,
Fell lightly on the sleepers' ears, nor waked their

slumberings.

Three weary moons two Indian tribes had been in

ileadly strife.
And Miamis and Muscoutens had yielded many a life ;
Till the ailles of the Muscoutens had left tbem all

alone,
And the Miauiis besieged them upon their island home.

Slowly, at night, across the waters upon the southern

side.
The Miamis were paddling up their canoes against the

tide ;
While in advance of every boat was held a branching

bough.
Which from the gaze of watching eyes might shield

the aiivancing prow.

Upon the island, faint and tired, the Muscoutens lay at

rest.
All witless of the coming foe as the flowers which

they pressed ;
They had fought them day by day, their watchfires

burning night by night,
Until glimmered on their ashen beds the last faint

rays of light,
.lust as the distant glittering beams that led the morn-

Sat lightly nn the yellow knobs of the bluffs of

Sangamon,
A yeU as «f a thousand fiends fell on the startled

ears.
And sleepers woke to sleep again pierced by the foe-

mens' spears.

Monsoela then, Muscouten's Chief, raised high the

battle cry,
And bade hisjvarriors follow him and win the fight or

die;
Now on the left, now on the right, his ponderous war-
club fell,
And many an Indian skull crushed he, and stifled

many a yell.
Now backward borne, now pressing on, Muscouten's

wavering braves
Proved that the blood that nerved their arras was never

meant for slaves ;
'Till overpowered, and rank by rank fell weltering in

their blood.
The brave Monsoela fought alone amidst the crimson

flood.

Then the oh' chiefs daughter, White Wing, ran

through the rift of spears ;
'Though gentle as a fawn, that day she showed no

childish fears ;
Pierced to the heart, into his arms she threw herself,

a shield,
He grasped her lifeless form and slowly bore her from

the field.

Where the golden grass was waving on the river's

western shore,
Monscela's birchen shallop touched the flowery bank

once more ;
There oft before the same proud chief had pushed his

light canoe,
With warriors in sinewy keels — three hundred bravt

and true.

Near two hundred years have entered into the dreamy

past
Since the chief of the Muscoutens on his village looked

the last —
One longing, lingering look he gave toward his island

home.
Then drew his mantle round him and wandered forth

alone.

Some years later, Mound Islatid was taken
posses. ion of by the Kickapoo Indians, upon

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

■which they built a village, known as " Kicka-
poo Town," although still remembered by the
French Missionaries as the "Beautiful Mound
Village." This became a favorite trading
post and missionary station, and contiaued in
the possession of the Kickapoos until its set-
tlement by Thomas Beard, in 1830, after
whom the present city of Beardstown was
named.

A few years later the great mound in
Beardstown began to be encroached upon by
the spade and pickaxe of the avaricious
white man. Still later, Horace Billings built
upon its river front a huge mill, for tlie pur-
pose of grinding corn, bolting it fine like
wheat flour, kiln-drying, sacking it, and ship-
ping it to Europe as bread stuff. This build-
ing was five stories high, a massive frame, and
the mound was so excavated with winding
roads that teams could be driven to three
different stories, to load and unload.

This enterprise proved a ruinous failure.
The drying process destroyed the vitality of
the meal, and prevented its sale. The build-
ing was destroyed by fire. The earth, of
which the mound was compossd, and which
is supposed to have been taken by its builders
from the bottom of the river, was stolen away
by wagon-loads to cover house lots and streets
with, and its site was finally reduced to the
level of the adjacent streets.

The decaying bones of the red warrio 's, as
they lay in their quiet and lovely resting
place, with the implements of war around
them; the silver and flint crosses of the mis-
sionaries, even the beautiful mound itself,
which as an ornament and historic feature to
the town and river, should have been held
sacred, could not restrain the money-making
white man from destroying it, and it is now
recollected only by the old settlers, who used
to sit upon its summit and watch the passing
away of the last of two races — the Indian in his
canoe, and the French voyageur in his pirogue.

In 1700, Illinois was a part of the territory
owned by the French government, and was
called New France.

In 1720, all the country west of the Missis-
sippi River belonged to Spain, with Santa Fe
as its capital.

In 17G3, Illinois was ceded by Franco to
Great Britain, after a " seven year's war,"
Many French inhabitants, rather than live
under British rule, joined La Clede and set-
tled in St. Louis, then French territory.

In 1778, the Illinois country was conquered
from Great Britain by troops from the State
of Virginia, under the command of General
George Rogers Clark, which was an inde-
pendent military enterprise of that State; and
on the 4th day of July of that year. General
Clark and his troops took pessession of Kas-
kaskia, the capital of the British possessions
west of the Alleghenies, and declared the
Illinois country free and independent of Great
Britain, thus making the 4th day of July the
natal day of this State as well as of the Na-
tion. In that year, Illinois was created a
county of Virginia, and Timothy Dernanbrun
was appointed by the governor, Patrick Henry,
a justice of the peace, to rule over it; which
was probably the most extensive territorial
jurisdiction that a magistrate ever had.

In 1794, the legislature of the Nortliwcst
Territory divided it into two counties, l!iin-
dolpii and St. Clair.

In 1809, Illinois was declared a separate
territory.

In 1812, Madison County was organic, "d
from St. Clair, and then contained all of the
present State north of St. Clair and Randolph.

In 1818, Illinois was admitted into the
Union as the twenty-second State.

In 1821, Green County was formed from
Madison County.

In 1823, Morgan County was formed from
Green County, which included the territoiy
now known as Cass County.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Daring the first quarter of the present cen-
tury, immigration to the Illinois country was
ri?t;irded by frequent earthquakes; indeed,
from ISll to 1813 they were as severe as ever
hapj3ened on this continent, and the few set-
tlers then here were in constant dread from
these disturbances. New Madrid, a flourish-
ing town near the mouth of the Ohio, was
utterly destroyed and partially swallowed up.
But in 182.5, the Erie Canal was completed,
and steamboats had been introduced upon the
Mississippi and its tributaries, and immigration
received a new impulse and flowed in vigorous-
ly. This immigration excitement was called
east of the Alleghenies, the "western fever; "
and it carried many a good man off — west.

Another circumstance which prevented im-
migration into central Illinois during the
same period was, that all that portion of it
that lay south of the Kankakee, east of the
Illinois, west of the Wabash and north of a
line drawn from the mouth of the Illinois
eastward to the Wabash, including the present
Cass County, was owned and in possession of
the Kickapoos, a powerful and warlike tribe
of Indians, who conquered this territory about
the middle of the last century from the Illi-
nois Indians. The Kickapoos, while friendly
with the French, looked with extreme jeal-
ousy upon the Americans, and discouraged
their settlement in this territory. This wide
scope of country, included the best and most
fruitful portions of Illinois, and pioneers were
anxious for the general government to pur-
chase it of the Kickapoos, and open it to set-
tlement. Several efforts were made by the
government to treat with them for their lands,
but being of a haughty spirit, no satisfaction
could be obtained from them, until Gen. Har-
rison defeated them at the battle of Tippe-
canoe, which so diminished their vanity that
they sought to treat, but Gen. Harrison re-
fused. Shortly afterward they were again
defeated by Col. Zachary Taylor, and in Octo-

ber, 1813, Co!. Russell defeated thematKick-
apoo Town, on the Illinois River, the present
site of Beardstown, and again, in November
Col. Hopkins destroyed one of their towns on
Wildcat Creek. They then sued for peace,
and their chief. Little Otter, met Gen. Harri-
son. The treaties of Portage des Sioux (Sept.
2, 1815) and Fort Harrison (June 4, 1816), fol-
lowed. These treaties being indefinite in
their results, the Kickapoos still retaining
their lands, many of them religiously believ-
ing and maintaining that they were granted
them by the Great Spirit as their possession
forever, and that he would be angry if they
sold them; the following order was issued by
the general government, addressed to Gov.
Wm. Clark, Indian Superintendent at St.
Louis, and to Gov. Ninian Edwards, Gov-
ernor of the Territory of Illinois:

" Departmp:xt op War, Nov. 1, 1817.

" Gentlemen: — I have the honor to enclose
you a commission, for the purpose of treating
with the Illinois, the Kickapoos, the Potta-
watomies and other tribes of Indians within
the Illinois territory. The object of this nego-
tiation is to obtain a cession from the tribes
who may have a claim to it, of all that tract
of land which lies between the mo.st north-
eastern point of boundary of the lands ceded
by the Kaskaskias in August, 1803, the San-
gamo and the Illinois rivers; and which tract
of land completely divided the settled parts
of the Illinois Territory from that part which
lies between the Illinois and Mississippi
rivers, and which has been lately surveyed for
the purpose of satisfying the military land
bounties, a circumstance which makes the
acquisition of this tract of country peculiarly
desirable.

" If either of the tribes who have a claim
to the land is desirous of exchanffing their
claim for lands on the west of the Mississippi,
you are authorized to make the exchange, and
your extensive local knowledge of the coun-

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

try will enable you to designate that part of it
where it would ba most desirable to locate
the lauds to be given as an equivalent. To
other tribes who may not wish to remove, you
will allow such an annuity, for a fixed period,
as you may deem an adequate compensation
for the relinquishment of their respective
claims. To enable you to give the usual pres-
ents on such occasions, you are authorized
to draw on this department for $6,000.

" The contractor will furnish, on the re-
quisition of either of you, the rations that
may be necessay for the supply of the Indians
while attending the treaty. Your compensa-
tion will be at the rate of eight dollars per
day for the time actually engaged in treating
with the Indians; and that of the secretary,
whom you are authorized to appoint, will be
at the rate of five dollars a day.

"I have the honor to be, with great respect,
"Your obedient servant,

"Gboege Graham,
"Acting Secretary of War."

Under these instructions, such negotiations
were had with the Kickapoo Indians, that on
the 30th.-day of July, 1819, that tribe ceded
to the United States all the above descriljed
tract of land. The final treaty was signed on

the part of the government by August Choteau
and Benjamin Stevenson, and by twenty-three
chiefs of the Kickapoos, who reluctantly
placed their awkward but significant sign-
manuals thereto. Among other things, and
together with many presents and much amuni-
tion, the United States agreed to pay them
$2,000 a year for fifteen years, and assigned
them a large tract on the Osage. From the
date of the treaty they began to remove from
the State, but very slowly and reluctantly,
and in 1823 there were still four hundred
Kickapoos remaining in Central Illinois, and
up to ] 821, quite a large number of them
remained within the present limits of Cass
County, and at their town on the present site
of Beardstown. A few of them, who had
connected with the French by marriage, re-
mained in Beardstown and on the islands
near by, many years afterward.

This purchase from the Kickapoos, opened
the most beautiful portion of the State to set-
tlers. That part of it now included in the
counties of Cass, Morgan, Scott, Mason, Men-
ard, Sangamon, Logan, Macon and souio oth-
ers, was known far and near, as the " Sanganio
Country," and its fertile soil soon attracted
great numbers of actual settlers, who made
farms, laid out towns, built roads and bridges.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER n.

SETTLEMENTS OF THE COUNTRY NOT [NCLUDED IN CASS COUNTY— SOME OF THE PION-
EERS AND WHERE THEY SETTLED— THE SANGAMO COUNTRY— ITS FERTILITY-
PRAIRIE SCHOOXERS— FIRST LAND ENTRY— BEARD'S FERRY— BEARD &
MARSH'S ENTRY OF LAND— FIRST SETTLERS OF BEARDSTO"\.VN—
DEED OF DEFEASANCE— 001 N6 TO EGYPT FOR CORN-AR-
RIVAL OF OTHER SEriLERS- THE ENTRY OF LAND,
ETC., ETC., ETC.

IN 1818 a man by the name of Pullam
settled upon Horse Creek, a tributary of
the Sangamon river, and later, in November
of that year, Seymour Kellogg first settled
the country afterward included in Morgan
County, and it was at his house that the first
white child of the Sangamo country was born.

The first actual and permanent white set-
tler within the limits of the present city of
Beardstown, was Thomas Beard, who came
here on horseback when it was a Kickapoo
town, ia 1819, and made it his home as a
trader among the Indians.

Martin L. Lindsley, together with his wife
and two children, John C. and Mary A., and
Timothy Harris and John Cettrough, settled
in Beardstown in 1830, and afterward located
in " Camp Hollow," a mile east of the present
county farm, where Mr. Lindsley built a cabin,
and the first white child born in this (after-
ward) Cass County, was added to his family.

During the year 1820, a family named Eg-
gleston settled on the site of Beardstown.

Major Elijah lies, now a resident of Spring-
field, 111., landed in 1819 where Beardstown
now is, on his way to the " Keeley Settle-
ment," afterward named Calhoun, and now
Springfield, the State capital. He says that at
that time there was a hut at Beardstown, built
of birchen poles, standing on the bank of the
river, but unoccupied. As the Indians lived
in tents, this hut was probably erected by the

French traders nearly a quarter of a century
before the landing of Major lies.

Archibald Job settled first at Beardstown,
and then at Sylvan Grove, in the north edge
of North Prairie, in the spring of 1821, sur-
rounded by Kickapoo Indians.

There were other pioneers who temporarily
settled here about that time, whose names we
have not learned.

In 1821, there were but twenty white fam-
ilies within the present limits of Morgan,
Cass and Scott Counties.

But when the reputation of the " Sangamo
Country" for unrivaled fertility, and that the
Indian title to it had become extinguished,
and the lands would soon be surveyed and
offered for sale by the government, had
reached Kentucky and Tennessee, the sturdy
and enterprising farmers of those States be-
gan to remove thereto in great numbers.

There was at that time in common use, a
craft known as the "prairie ship," or as some
called it the " prairie schooner," and nothing
similar to it ever flouted or moved in or
upon or between the waters of the earth. It
was constructed with four huge wheels, upon
which was a great bed or box, formed like a
quarter of a moon, with the bend hanging be-
tween the fore and aft wheels. The solid
running gearing, well and fantastically ironed,
the broad felloes heavily tired, the tongue
arranged for a propelling power of either

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

horses or oxen, its high end-boards and curv-
ing side-boards, ribbed and barred and riveted,
glaring in red or blue paint, was not gotten
up merely for show. It made no pretensions
to beauty. It was thoroughly a substantial
craft. What has become of the old "prairie
ship," with the four horses before it, and the
driver in his saddle dn the near wheel-horse,
twitchintr at a sing-le rein?

The old "prairie ship," with its great white
cover and flapping curtains, looking at a dis-
tance on the prairie like a ship on the ocean,
was the great original of the emigrant wagon
of the West. This craft was of vast capacity.
It contained ample bedding for a large fam-
ily, made up of all ages and sexes. It held
cooking utensils, provisions, ammunition,
tubs, buckets, besides the family. The wagon
box or bed was fitted with flat iron staples,
about eighteen inches apart, along its sides,
and in those were placed ashen hoops which
bended over from side to side of the wagon
box, leaving a roomy space inside about five
feet high and twenty feet more or less long,
which when covered with canvas, looped over
at the ends, made a comfortable room, high,
dry and safe from storms. Upon the sides of
the wagon box were cleats to secure the crow-
bar, axes, spades, mattocks, chisels and
augurs; and underneath hung the kettles, tar-
bucket, water-bucket and baskets. An extra
log-chain was coiled around the coupling pole
under the wagon for use in emergencies,
which frequently happened.

It was in these prairie schooners that most
of the first settlers of Cass (then Morgan)
County emigrated from the older States. These
journeys were not altogether pleasure trips, al-
though there were pleasant features connected
with them, and they were usually terminated
with every member of the family in robust
health, sickness very rarely afflicting those who
traveled in this way, yet they were sometimes
attended with dangers, hardships and " hair-

breadth 'scapes," which were profitably re-
counted by the participants in after life to the
rising generation. There were but few roads
and bridges at that time, and the prairies had
to be crossed on Indian trails, the rivers
forded where there were no ferries, and the
creeks and brooks, where the banks were
steep, were still rnore difficult to cross.
In such case, sometimes a bridge was impro-
vised, or a tree was felled across it, the limbs
removed, the wagons taken all apart, and
each separate piece and article of freight
carried by hand across over the fallen tree,
and set up and loaded on the other side.
Sometimes a single " mover " would do all,
this alone. But, for convenience, these
"movers" would sometimes travel in com-
panies or caravans, and in that case assist each
other, and thus make the journey much more
pleasant, safe and expeditious. It was a
common sight upon the Illinois prairies in
those days to see such a caravan, the white
canvas tops of the prairie schooners looking
in the distance like a fleet at sea under sail.
These emigrants generally drove along with
them a few head of cattle, or led some brood
mares, so that in the new country they were
prepared to raise cattle and horses. Some
also brought in a coop lashed to the wagon, a
few fowls, for the purpose of raising chickens
in the new home.

Let us suppose several of these prairie
schooners, in the early "twenties," have
reached the northern part of Morgan County
(now Cass), and, enraptured with the view,
unhitch the teams and look around. The
land was surveyed and offered for sale by the
government for the first time in November,
1823, so that all those who settled here pre-
vious to that date were only "-squatters " on
the public lands, waiting for the time to come
when they could pre-empt or buy. Our im-
aginary immigrants, having looked around
find there is a navigable river, the Illinois, a

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

few miles distant, which will insure them a
future market for their produce. They find
good, rich prairie land for their farms, and
plenty of timber for housing and fencing.
They conclude this will do. Having selected
the tract of land that suits them, they go to
some distant town for a surveyor, who comes
and gives them the numbers and metes and
bounds. They then make a weary journey on
horseback of a hundred miles to Edwardsville,
where the government land office is located,
to enter or buy the land. Having secured the
land — the family having domiciled in the
wagon in the meantime — the men-folks pro-
ceed to build a log cabin, in the structure of
which not a nail, or bit of iron or glass is used.
The outside walls are made of round or hewn
logs, fitted together at the ends and chinked
with chips and clay between them. The floor
is made of split logs. The roof is covered
with rived weather-boards, kept in their
places by poles laid across them. The chim-
ney is made with logs and sticks and clay.
The doors are made with split boards, fas-
tened together with wooden pins, swung on
wooden hinges, and fastened Only with a
wooden latch. Bedsteads are improvised of
poles, and benches of split logs on sapling
legs.

Thus the " first families " of Cass County
started in life, and most of the great farms
within its borders had such a bearinninnr.

The first land " entry" (i. e. purchase from
the government,) was made by Thomas Beard
and Enoch C. March, jointly, upon the north-
east quarter of Section 15, in Township 18,
Range 12, September 23, 1826. It was upon
this fractional quarter section that Mr. Beard's
cabin was built. It was placed upon the
steep bank of the river, at the present foot of
State street, near where he afterward built
his brick hotel. In the following spring it
was discovered that this cabin had been built
over a den of snakes, and thousands of them.

of many kinds, came out upon the opening
of warm weather.

The first licensed ferry across the Illinois
river was established June 5, 1826, by Thomas
Beard, and a license was granted him by the
county commissioners of Schuyler county,
upon his paying six dollars per annum into
the treasury of that county. That ferry is ia
ojjeration yet by the assigns of the Beard
heirs, at Beardstown, where it was first lo-
cated. There was at that time no road from
Beardstown through Schuyler county, but
blazes on the trees was made out as far as
where Rushville now stands. Schuyler county
had been organized, and the county seat had
been located near where Pleasant View now
is, and, strangely enough, that was named
Beardstown, too. Why this was so named,
so soon after Thomas Beard had named his
town, is now past finding out. But the location
was soon after removed to Rushville, or Rush-
ton, as it was first called. •

Thomas Beard's ferry-boat was managed by
himself alone, the propelling power being a
pole in his strong hands. It was so small
that only one wagon and two horses could be
crossed at one time, and then very little stand-
ing room was left for passengers.

On the 28th day of October, 1827, Beard
and March entered the northwest quarter of
section 15, township IS, Range 12, which ex-
tended their river front down below the great
mound.

Thomas Beard individually entered the
west half of the southwest quarter of section
15, township 18, Range 12, October 10, 1827;
and John Knight entered the east half of the
southwest 15, 18, 13, July 17, 1828. Thus
there were three men entered the entire sec-
tion upon which the original town of Beards-
town was located, in the years 1836, 1837 and
1828.

The orisrinal town of Beardstown consisted
of twenty-three blocks, fronting on the river,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

three tiers of blocks deep, reaching from Clay
to Jackson streets, of which block ten, lying
between the Park and Main street, and State
and Washington, is the central one. It was
laid out and platted by Enoch C. March and
Thomas Beard, and acknowledged before
Thomas B. Arnet, a justice of the peace of
Jacksonville, Sept. 39, 1839, and is recorded
on page 338 of Book B of the Morgan County
Records, a transcript of which is in the Cass
County Records.

Among the first settlers in Beardstown,
after it became a town site, were Francis
Arenz and Nathaniel Ware, who purchased
an interest and became joint landed proprie-
tors with Beard and March. The town was
named after Thomas Beard.

The first deed from March and Beard upon
record of lands within the present limits
of Beardstown, was made before the town
was laid out, and is dated August 31, 1838,
to "Charles Robinson, of New Orleans," for
the consideration of one hundred dollars,
being for a " part of the fractional part of the
northwest quarter of Section 15, Township IS,
Range 13, beginning at a forked birch tree
on the Illinois river bank, marked as a cor-
ner, running thence down the river meanders
thereof, so as to make two hundred yards on
a straight line, and from thence running out
from the river at both ends of the above line
by two parallel lines, until they strike the
north line of the east half of the southwest
quarter of Section 15, Township 18, Range
13, supposed to contain twelve acres.

Immediately following this deed upon the
record is this singular " deed of defeasance,"
executed by Charles Robinson :

DEED OF DEFEASANCE.

"I having this day bought of Enoch C.
March and Thomas Beard and his wife, Sarah,
a piece of land on the river below the ferry
of the above Beard, and have this day re-

ceived from them a deed for the same; 1
hereby declare that it is my intention to do a
public business on the said land between this
date and the first day of October, next year,
and if I have not upon the land by that date,
persons and property to effect the same, or
actually upon the way to do so, I will return
the above deed, and transfer back the land to
them upon receiving the consideration given
them for the same. The above public busi-
ness means a steam mill, distillery, rope-walk
or store. Witness my hand and seal, this 31st
day of August, 1838.

"(Signed) Charles Robinson, [seal]"

The certificate upon this deed shows it to
have been acknowledged August 1, 1838,
before Dennis Rockwell, clerk of the circuit
court of Morgan County; recorded June 39,
1839, in Book B of deeds, page 180. The
land described in the deed from March and
Beard to Robinson is part of the original
town of Beardstown.

Mr. Charles Robinson, party to these deeds,
now dead, was until recently a resident of
Cass County, near Areiizville. On the 8th
of February, 1873, he wrote a letter to the
Chicago Journal, from which we make this
extract:

" Fifty years ago, or in the summer of 1831,
there was not a bushel of corn to be had in
Central Illinois. My father settled in that
vear twenty-three miles west of Springfield.
We had to live for a time on venison, black-
berries and milk, while the men were gone
to Egypt, to harvest and procure breadstufFs.
The land we improved was surveyed that
summer, and afterwards bought of the gov-
ernment, the money being raised by sending
beeswax down the Illinois river to St. Louis,
in an Indian canoe. Dressed deer skins and
tanned hides were then in use, and we made
one piece of cloth out of nettles instead of
flax. Cotton matured well for a decade,
until the deep snow of 1830."

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The southern part of the State, referred to
by Mr. Robinson as " Egypt," received this
appellation, as here indicated, because, being
older, longer and better settled and culti-
vated, it " gathered corn as the sand of the
sea," and the immigrants of the central part of
the State, after the manner of the children of
Israel, in their want, " went thither to buy
and bring from thence corn, that they might
live and not die."

In the early years of the white settlements
here, wheat was not to be had, and corn meal,
the only bread-stuff, was exceedingly hard to
obtain, as mills were scarce. Jarroe's Mill,
on Cahokia Creek, was for a long time the
only one accessible to our pioneers. In 1821,
a small horse-mill was erected on Indian
Creek by Richard Sheppard. Then a horse-
mill was put up at Clary's Grove. Still later.
Ogle's water mill was built on Indian Creek.
To these mills the boys of the families had to
make frequent and tedious journeys on horse-
back, to procure corn meal for bread. The
corn for this purpose had to be shelled by
hand, as there were no corn-sheller machines
then. Each boy could take but one sack,
containing two or three bushels of corn. If
the sack got misplaced on the horse, or fell
off, the boy was in trouble, as he had not
strength sufficient to replace it. For this rea-
son, several boys of a neighborhood would
club together in going to mill, and thus light-
en their labors and responsibilities. When
at the mill, the boys must wait their turn, and
when great numbers were in before them,
would have to frequently stay all night at the
mill, and sometimes two days, depending
upon parched corn for sustenance after their
lunches, which they had brought with them,
had become exhausted.

Reddick Horn, a Methodist preacher, settled
at Boardstown in 18''3, and entered lands
near the bluffs; after Cass county was formed
he became clerk of the circuit court.

The Cottonwood school house, in the San-
gamon bottom, was built in 1830, and is still
known by that name.

The exact date of the arrival of each of
the settlers is very hard to obtain, as those of
them now living differ in their recollections
of those who have precedence; but, by tak-
ing a conspicuous event, as, for instance, the
deejy snoio, which occurred in the winter of
1830-31, it becomes more easy to decide who
then lived in the different neighborhoods.
At the time of the deep snow, upon the
Sangamon Bottom road there were the follow-
ing named settlers : The first above Beards-
town was Solomon Penny, in Section 10, 18,
11, where Richard Tink nowlives. The next
was John Wagoner, who lived where the
Bottrell farm is now. Above him were the
Carrs — Elisha, William and Banjamin — and
their father; Elisha lived on the present Ken-
dall farm. Next above the Carrs was Grandpa
Horrom. Then Jerry Bowen, where Calvin
Wilson now lives. Next, the widow Stewart.
Next, Shadrach Richardson, on the present
Brauer farm. Then Thomas Plaster, Sr.,
where Jep:ha Plaster's farm is now.

These were all that then lived below where
Chandlerville is now, on this road. The first
above these was Robert Leeper, on the Cleph.
Bowen place. Next, William Myers ; next,
Henry McHenry; and in their order above
him were Peter Dick, John Taylor, William
Morgan, 'James Hickey, Amos Ogden; and
then Isham Reavis, who afterwards moved
below Chandlerville. Jamis McAuley and
Elijah Garner settled in 1832.

Among the earliest settlers in the vicinity
of Arenzville were Henry McKean, John Mc-
Kean, Alexander Pitner, William Pitner, John
Melone, William McHenry, Jamos Davis,
George Bristow, Aquilla Low, J. A. Arenz,
Richard Matthews, Charles Robertson, James
Crum, Christian Crum, Peter Hudson, Charles
Wiggins, David Black, Alexander Huffman,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

15 Ml j:iinia Matthews, William Summers, Ang
drew Williams, and Richard Graves. Most of
these persons came about 1830.

John, Stephen and .Jasper Buck and .John
Sliafer were also early settlers. John Savage
came in 1828.

In 1830, there was a water-mill for grinding
corn at Arenzville, where Engelbach's steam-
mill now stands. The power was obtained by
changing the channel of Indian Creek fully a
quarter of a mile north from the bed where it
now runs. There was formerly an ancient
Indian town and burial place on Prairie Creek,
about three miles north-east of Arenzville.

Among the first settlers in the centre of
the county, near where Virginia now stands,
were Captain Jacob Yaple, who set out the
first apple orchard in the county; Henry
Hopkins, Elijah Carver, Charles Brady, John
Do Webber, Thomas Hanby, John Dawsy,
Samuel Way, William Weaver, Thomas Gat-
ton, Halsey Smith, a preacher named Cham-
bers, and others. Some of these settled as
soon as the lands were offered for sale by the
government at the new land oflBce at Sjjring-
field, others a few years later.

The next installment of settlers, ranging
fiom 1826 to 1832, were James Stephenson
and his five grown sons, Wesley, James, Wil-
liam, Robert and Augustus ; Charles Beggs,
Jacob and .John Epier, .John Hiler, Rev.
John Biddlecomo, Isaac Mitchell, William
Kinner, Jesse Allred, Nathan Compton ;
John C, Peter and William Conover ; and a
widow Pratt, and her four sons — William,
Charles, Rogers and Haramel. A school-
liouse was built of logs in this neighborhood
in 1829. Samuel Thompson built a horse
mill in 1830. James Richardson built the
first blacksmith shop in 1826. Peter Conover
and Elizabeth Marshall were the first to marry
here, which was in 1827. The southeast part
of the county was settled early by James,
Davis, who made an improvement on the

farm now owned by Travis Elmore, at the
head of Little Indian Creek. He sold out to
Strother Ball, and he to Isaac Bennett. B mi-
nett sold to William Grove, who entered the
land in 1826. Eli Cox settled here as early
as 1820, in Cox's Grove, so named from him,
and entered the land as soon as it came into
market, in 1823. William Cooper, a negro
with a white wife, settled hero also ; and
Stephen Short, with his four sons, James
Benjamin, George and Albert, Stephen I^ee,
Tilman Hornbuckle, and Dr. Stockton, settled
in Panther Grove in 1830. John Miller,
James Thompson and Daniel Blair settled
near by on the prairie. Stephen Short was
the first justice of the peace. Rev. William
Crow, the first preacher.

Further north, on the east side of the
county, among the first settlers were George
and John Wilson, in 182-1: ; William Daniels,
in 1S25; Barllett Couyers, .John Lucas, John
B. Witty, and Robert Hawthorn, in 1826.
The first child born in this neighborhood was
Lucinda Daniels, in 1828. The first marriage
was Miles Hamilton and Barbara Baoger. In
the northeast part of the county, on and near
the Sangamon Bottom, the first settlers were
Amos Ogden, in 1830, who built a house of
hewn logs in 1831, and rode three days to get
eight men to help him raise it. The men who
helped him were those other old settlers:
Joseph Hickey, James Watkins, John Hickey,
James Hiekey, Ishara Reavis, Daniel Ater-
bury, and a Mr. Mounts.

The first school-house was of logs, built on
Amos Ogden's farm. The first blacksmith
shop was owned by Matthew Holland in 1835.
The first mill was a small specimen of a
water-mill, owned by James Watkins in 1832.

The five Dick brothers, William Lynn and
William P. Morgan, settled here in 1831; and
Dr. Charles Chandler, Marcus Chandler and
Mr. Inglis, in 1832. Dr. Chandler's cabin
was in the centre of where the present town

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

of Chandlerville now is, where the first Con-
gregatiunal Church now stands, the land be-
ing'^subsequeutly donated by the doctor for
that purpose. South of the Chandler settle-
ment, on the Sangamon Bottom, were David
Clopton, Robert Leeper, William Myers,
Oliver Coyne, William McAuley and Mark
Cooper, in 1831 and 1833. The first preach-
ing there was by Rev. Levi Springer.

List of all thosu: wuo Entered Land. —
The following is a list of those who entered
land (i. e., bought from the government),
within the present limits of Cass County, 111.,
including the " three mile strip," before the
deep snow in the winter of 1830-31; and in
what township and in what year the entry
was made. Where a person entered land in
more than one township, his name is given
for that tract only which he first entered.

18 12, Thomaa Beard 1826 17, II, Thomas Wiggins 1829

'••' Enoch C. March 1826 " George K. Miller 1S23

•' John Knight 1828 " Henry McKean 1S29

17, 12. Freeman SKinnor 1830 " Daniel T. Matthews. I82S

'••' Kimball & Knapp 1830 " John McKean 1829

" Asa C. New 1830 " Daniel Kicliards 132'J

18 11 Henry Summers 1830 " John Cuppy 1830

'•' Richard Gaines 1830 " Patrick Mullen 1827

" John S. Warfield 1830 " Shadrick Scott IS23

•• Robert Farrell IS30 " Benjamin Matthews.. 1827

•• John Farrell 1830 " Samuel Grosong is2fi

" Temperance Baker....l829 •' William S. Rauhy 1S2(1

17, II, James Orchard 1826 IS, 10, John E.Scott 1.S16

'•' Oswell Thompson, jr.l830 " John Do Weber 1<2<

•• Jos. L. Kirkpatrick...l830 " A. S. West 1826

•• Joseph C. Christy 1829 " John Ray 1826

•• Frederick Troxcl 1823 '• Joshua Crow 1826

" Peter Karges 1830 " Bonj.amin Striblins....IS3n

" D.ivid Black 1829 " John G. Bergen 1828

•• .lames Smart 1827 " Phineas Undoi wood... .1826

•■ John R. Sparks 1828 " Henry M.idison 1828

Aiiuilla Low 1827 17, in, Jacob Taple

•• Abraham Gish 1S2S

'• Charles Robertson 1823

'• Peter Taylor I.-iZ?

'• Mru-tin Robertson 1828

" James n. Richards.... 18;!0

•' Jonah H. Case 1826

" Daniel R. Scaffer 1829

•• Thomas Clark 1.831

•• David B. Carter 18.10

" Jiimes Davis 1826

" ATidrew Williams 1827

" Alexander Huffman. ...IK27

" William .Summers is2r

•• L. L. Case 1826

•• John Savage 1830

" Dennis Rockwell I82i

'■ AuiiU'Atus B;irber 1826

•• Joseph P. Croshw.iit..lS30

19. 9, David McGinnis 18;".o

" Slcphen Handy 18.al

'• Thos. Plaster 1828

" William Linn 18:10

'• Richard McDonald....I829

" Wilson Runyon 1830

" William D. Leeper. ...18.10

" William Myers 1.830

" John Taylor 1829

" Elias Rogers 1830

" Jesse Armstrong 18-10

18. 8, William Holmes 1.826

" John Lee I.«30

" Joseph Lee '8.10

'• Robert Nance 1830

" James Fletcher 1829

17, 9, John Hushes 1827

*' Susanna Walker 182:i

" Solomon Redman 1826

•' Henrv Kittuer 1826

" Martin Hardin 1827

1S2J

Aleian.ler D. Cox 1.S26

Henry Madison 1826

James Marshall 1826

Jesse All red 1.8-'6

Isaac Mitchell 1.829

Thomas Redman 1826

George Tureman 1.827

Edward Fuller l.«n

Levi Springer 18-10

William M. Clark 1827

George Freenmn 1827

Thomas Payi c 1-830

Lucinn T. Bryant 13.10

William Lamme 1826

Silas Freeman 1828

Isaiah Piuichall 1828

Littliberry Freeman. .1830
^^i^ls Freeman 1828

17, 10, William Porter 1826

*' Jacob Lawrence 1826

" Cai-rollton E. Gatton..lS26

" Thomas Gatton 1826

" Archibald Job 1-826

" Peter Conover 1826

•• William Conover 1826

" Abner Tinnen 1826

■• Nathan Compton 1826

" Joseph T. Leonard 1826

'• Bazaleel Gillett 1810

" George T. Bristow 1826

'• William H. Johnson. -1830

•• Willi.am Breeden 1827

" Peter Taylor 1829

■• John Ream lS-'.0

" Samuel Way 1828

" Archer Herndon 1827

'• Evin Martin 1827

" James Sturgis 1827

" Jonathan Atlierton... -18.10

" Josiah Fliiin 1826 17. 9. Burton Litton 1-830

•• David Manchester 1831 " Page A. Williams 1826

•• William .Miller 1326 " Morris Davis 1826

•• Strother Ball Is26 " Josiah Sims 1826

" Samuel Montgomery.. 1830 " Robert Fitzhugh 1.826

13. II, William W. Babb 1829 " Jesse Gum IS27

•' Elred Renshaw 1-830 " Thomas Atkinsou 1826

18, II, Sam'l B. Crewdson. ...1-829 " John Vance 1826

'• .Solomon Penny 1-828 " James Welsh l-'i27

•• Benjamin Carr 1829 " Richard Jones 1826

" Amos Eager 1830 " James Fletcher 1.829

•• Rcddick Horn 1826 " Andrew Beard 1.827

" Elisha Carr 1829 " John Bridges 1826

•' John Waggoner. 1829 " John Creel 1827

" James Scott 1829 " Joseph McDonald 1.326

17. 11, Alexander Pitner 1-829 "• Gersham Jayne 1829

•' John Thompson 1-330 " Jonas McDonald 1^23

18, 10, William Myers 1827 " Anthony M. Thomas. .1.326

" Thomas Gatton 1829 " Alexander Beard 1.829

" James Mason 1829 " John Robertson 1829

" Nathan Compton 1828 " Felix French 1829

" John Robertson 1.328 " Richard A. Lane 1830

" Street* Bland 1-327 " John McDonald 1828

•■ Susan W.ashburn 1^27 19,-3, l«ham Reavis 1,830

'• Henry Traughber 1826 " Lohert Taylor 1830

1 " William McCord 1-8.10 ", Wm. P. Morgan 18.10

' •' Robert Alexander 1,329 18, 8, .^anmol ReiJ 1828

" Ralph Morgan 1830 " Robert Elkins 1829

•• John Biddlecome 1-3.10 " Ralph Elkins 1829

■• Zadoc W. Flynn 1-329 " Henry Williams 1828

" Peter Carr 1828 " Eiiton Nance 1R28

" William Ci.rr 1828 " John Lucas 1829

" William D. Sturgis.. ..18.10 " Susan Washburue 1828

" Shadr'h Richardson.... 18.10 " David Williams 1.329

" Robert H. Ii'ers 1830 " Joel Kagsdale IfS29

" Josiah Rees 1830 17, 8, James B. Watson 1826

" Joseph Baker 1829 " Wm. Cooper 1826

" Thomas Plaster 1.830 " Stephen Short 18.10

•• William Sewall 1830 " Wm. Crow 1.826

17, 10, William Chambers 1826 " Lewis Farmer 1.830

" John 0. Conover 1827 " Stephen Lee 1,830

" Susanna Pratt 1826 " Eli Cox 1821

" D-ivid Black I8',0 " Robert Johnson 182i

•• James Marshall 1,326 " G, W. WiNon 1.329

•' Jacob W.ird 1829 " Wm. T. Hamilton 1,S26

These make 3l5i persons who entered land
in what is now Cass County, previous to the

deep snow.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER III.

INCREASE OF POPULATION— THE DEEP SNOW OF ISM-THE BLACK HAWK WAR— RENDEZ-
VOUS OF SOLDIERS AT BEARDSTOWN— CAUSE OF DR. CHANDLER'S SETTLEMENT-
MEETING BETWEEN HIM AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN— BUSINESS OF BEARDS-
TOWN IN 1834— THE EARLY LOG CABINS— YANKEES AND YANKEE
TRICKS— CORN BREAD— ETC., ETC., ETC.

BY the year 1830, the population of the
State had increased to 157,447, and was
confined mostly to the borders of rivers and
creeks and woodlands. As yet but few set-
tlements had been made anywhere in the open
prairies.

The early settlers were apprehensive of a
future scarcity of wood, and carried their
fears to such an extent, that much of their
money was invested in useless woodland, which
they needed to begin farming with. But
their fears in this respect seems now to
be allayed, as it has been shown that the sup-
ply increases rather than diminishes. Many of
those who for the sake of a near and conven-
ient supply of wood, settled in and along the
borders of the timber-lands, got the poorest
of the farm lands, and when they supposed all
the good lands had been taken up, later set-
tlers came in and entered the dry, rolling
prairie lands, and thereby got the best farms,
and were in no want for plenty of timber
either.

The winter of 1830-31 was a remarkable
one, and will always be remembered by old
settlers as the most terrible for suffering with-
in their memories. The snow fell at first
about thirty inches deep, then the weather
settled, and another snow fell, and anotheri
until it was from four to six feet deep. In
drifts it was much deeper. Fences were cov-
ered and lanes filled up. There was much
suffering everywhere. Stock died for want
of food. Deer stood in their tracks and died.
Prairie chickens and quails having alighted

in the snow, could not get out. Man was
the only animal that could walk, and game
alone, of the food kind, was all he had in
plenty. That could be had for the picking
up from the snow, for it was helpless. But
finally, even game became so poor from
starvation that it was unfit for food. The
snow staid on the ground all winter, until
March, and people ran short of everything,
particularly fuel. Thomas Beard, recollect-
ing a widow with a small family living at the
bluffs, generously walked out there, and
found her and her family on the verge of
starvation, and hovering over the last rem-
nants of a fire, she having used all her fuel.
Mr. Beard tore up some fencing and chopped
a large pile of wood for her, and afterwards
carried provisions to her through the snow on
foot, a distance of seven miles, as a horse
could not travel.

What little corn had been raised in the
county, was generally ungathered when the
snow came, and yet in the fields, and men
took sacks and waded out into their fields
and gathered and carried it on their shoul-
ders to their cabins, and to their horses, cat-
tle and hogs, feeding it to them as they best
could. The snow that fell first, thawed a
little on top, and then froze, forming a crust
which would break upon being stepped on
by man or beast. Upon this there fell two
feet or more of snow, which went through
the same process of thawing and freezing,
leaving a c:ust on top not strong enough to
be r much weight. Through this no animal

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

but a man could walk. The black-jack tim-
ber surrounding Beardstovvn for miles, had
been a favorite resort for vast numbers of
deer, and here they were caught in this ter-
rible snow, and died, being unable to travel.
From this time, the climate changed percept-
ibly colder. Previous to 1831, the most of
the pioneers raised sufficient cotton for their
own use, and it ripened well, but subsequent
to the deep snow, all efforts to raise it in this
State were futile. We have no means of in-
formation as to the extent of country covered
by this deep snow, as not a history of Illinois
even mentions it, which leads us to conclude
that it was not general, but confined to cen-
tral Illinois, or, perhaps, even to so compar-
atively small a surface as the Sancramon
country.

In 1831 the Indians became very troublesome
in this State, and threatened to overrun the
white population. They were led by Black
Hawk, their chief and prophet, who pretended
to have power given him by the Great Spirit
to destroy the pale-faces. He attacked the
whites with so much vigor that militia com-
panies were formed for self-protection. A
battalion of this militia, of 275 men, com-
manded by Major Israel Stillman, of Fulton
County, was, on the 11th of May, 1832,
attacked by Black Hawk on a small branch of
the Sycamore Creek and badly defeated and
cut up. This was called the battle of " Still-
man's Run." The first call which Gov. Rey-
nolds made for troops was in May, 1831, for
all able-bodied men who were willing to fight
the Indians, to the number of seven hundred,
to rendezvous at Beardstown, on the 10th day
of June. On that day they assembled in
Beardstown in three times that number. Gov.
Reynolds organized them at once by appoint-
ing Joseph Duncan, of Jacksonville, brigadier-
general, and Enoch C. March, of Beardstown,
quartermaster. March was equal to the oc-
casion. He was so well acquainted with this

vicinity that he soon furnished the necessary
supplies. But Gov. Reynolds was at a loss to
know how to arm those who had not brought
rifles. In this emergency, Frances Arenz
came to the rescue. He was a merchant in
Beardstown, and had previously purchased
some light brass- barreled fowling-pieces,
which had been manufactured in the East for
a South American government, and not an-
swering the purpose for which they were made
they were shipped West to shoot birds with.
These answered excellently for arms for light
horsemen and skirmishers. The troops were
encamped above town, where the saw mills
now stand, until they took up their march.
In their ranks were some of the best men of
the country.

The whole brigade was organized into two
regiments and two battalions. The first regi-
ment was commanded by Col. James D.
Henry, Lieutenant Col. John T. Stuart,
Major Thomas Collins, Adjutant Edward
Jones, quartermaster, and Thomas M. Neal,
paymaster. The captains were Adam Smith,
William F. Elkin, A. Morris, Thomas Carlin,
Samuel Smith, John Lorton and Samuel C.
Pearce.

The second regiment was commanded by
Colonel Daniel Lieb, Major N. Butler. The
captains were H. Mathews, John Hanes,
George Bristow, William Gilham, Capt.
Kendall, Alexander Wells and William
Weatherford, usually called " Old Buck," of
Morgan County.

The odd battalion was commanded by Major
N. Buckmaster, James Semple, adjutant,
Richard Roman, surgeon, and Joseph Gilles-
pie, paymaster. .

The Spy battalion, was commanded by Gen-
eral Samuel Whiteside, Major Samuel F.
Kendall, Adjutant John S. Greathousp, and
Paymaster P. H. Winchester. Captains Wil-
liam B. Whiteside, William Miller and Solo-
mon P. Witt. The little army starVd on

-. /T^C'^-^-^>--'i-2>'<^^''^^

THE

NEW VORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

their campaign June 15, 1831, for Rock
Island.

We will relate one incident only, connected
with the Black-Hawk War, to show how it
affected the then future history, of at least a
portion of Cass County.

David Epler, a resident of North Prairie in
this county, came to Beardstown to purchase
two barrels of salt. He drove two beautiful
horses, well harnessed, and a good wagon;
altogether just what Col. March wanted for
war material. He accordingly seized them,
under that law so universally adopted in war
times, that "might makes right," and took
them from Mr. Epler, nolens volens. But
Mr. Epler refused to give them up, and, his
fane livid with anger, declared that he would
defend them with his life, and that the colonel
and his troops would have to walk over his
dead body before he would give up his favor-
ite team; at least, until he was paid their
value. Col. March then offered to pay for
them what two disinterested men should say
they were worth. This was agreed to. There
were then stopping in Beardstown two com-
parative strangers. Dr. Charles Chandler and
a man named Crawford; to them the cause
was referred. They, having come from the
East, were wholly unacquainted with the low
prices of this new country, and priced the
team at eastern values, which Col. March felt
in honor bound to aliide by, and the conse-
quence was Mr. Epler got $350 for his team,
which was a large price then.

This incident leads us to relate how Dr.
Chandler came here. He left Rhode Island,
where he had a good practice in his profes-
sion, and a new house which he had just built,
and started westward with his family, with
the intention of settling at Fort Clark, where
Peoria now stands.

When the steamer, upon which he came up
the Illinois River, arrived at Beardstown —
the hostile attitude of the Indians in the

vicinity, and the preparations for a general
Indian war, induced the captain to discharge
his passengers and freight at Bsardstown, he
thinking it unsafe to go any further north
witii his boat.

While here. Dr. Chandler took a ride up
the Sangamon Bottom with Thomas Beard,
and he was so well pleased with that part of
it where Chandlerville now stands, that he
determined to go no further north, but to
settle there. This was in the spring of 1833.
The bottom and bluffs had been burned over,
and the new, fresh, green grass and beautiful
flowers had sprung up; the trees, and vines and
shrubbery were dressed in their most inviting
foliage, and he had never seen so beautiful a
bight. In a short time he took his wife and little
daughter to see their future home, and they
were equally delighted with it. There was a
wagon road up the bottom, winding along the
bluffs, in about the same place it now does,
but so little was it traveled that it had not
hindered the fire passing over it, and in the
middle of the road, between the two horse-
paths, was a ridge of green grass mingled
with strawberry vines, which looked like a
row of cultivated strawberries, and these
right in the road; the doctor and his wife and
little daughter ate in abundance the large,
ripe berries. The doctor entered 160 acres of
land where the town of Chandlerville now
stands, and built his cal)in u])on the site of
the present Congregational Church. He
broke up three acres of land that spring, late
as it was, and raised a crop of buckwheat
upon it, without any fence around.

There was a universal custom among the
settlers at that time, that every man should
be entitled to 80 acres of land on each side of
the land already entered by him, until such
time as he was able to enter it, as it was
called, or, in other words, until he cuuld raise
money enough to buy it from the Government
at 81.25 per acre ; and it was considered as

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

mean as stealing for another man to enter it.

Shortly after the doctor had settled there,
a man stopped there named English, who was
so well pleased with the prospect that he con-
cluded to enter land and settle there. The
doctor assisted and befriended him all he
could, and, to induce him to stop, offered to
give up his claim to one-half of the eighty-
acre tract, next to the land that English
wanted, and let him enter it. English told
him that ho was going to Springfield and
enter the whole tract ; that he did not care
for the customs of the country ; and that
he was going to have it right or wrong,
and started for Springfield. All of Ur.
Chandler's expostulations with him did not
avail anything. The doctor went to his
cabin and looked over his little pile of
money and found that he had fifty dollars.
He thought that his neighbor McAuIy had
some money, and saddling his best horse, he
rode to McAuly's house and borrowed fiftv
dollars more. Thus provided, he took a dif-
ferent route through the woods and prairies
from that chosen by English, and putting his
horse to his best speed, started for the Land
Office.

When about ten miles of Springfield, he
overtook two young men on horse back, and
as his horse was foaming with perspiration,
and nearly tired out, he rode slowly along
with the young men, as well to rest his horse,
as to relate to tiiem the cause of his haste.
When he told them of the meanness of the man
English, one of the young men was so indig-
nant that he offered the doctor his own compar-
atively fresh horse, that he might make all haste
and thwart the efforts of English, while the
young man would ride the doctor's horse
slowly into town. But the doctor rode his
own horse, got safely to the Land Office and
entered the land before English got there.
Sometime after that he wanted to have his
land surveyed, and the county surveyor lived

at Jacksonville, but a neighbor told him that
there was a better surveyor living at Salem, in
Sangamon County, named Abraham Lincoln.
So the doctor sent for him, and when he
came with his implements to do the surveying,
the doctor found that Abraham Lincoln, the
surveyor, was the same young man who had
so kindly ofl^ered to lend him his horse, so
that he might defeat the rascallv man English.

Dr. Chandler wasthe first physician in Cen-
tral Illinois who adopted quinine in his prac-
tice as a remedy; the first who introduced
the practice of the infliction of bodily pain
as a remedy for overdoses of opium ; and
the first who opposed bleeding as a remedy.
When he went to Sangamon Bottom, he was
called into practice before he could build a
stable, and for weeks, when at home, tied his
horse to a tree and palled grass to feed hiin
on, having no scythe to cut it with. He built
the first frame house within the present limits
of this coimty. It was 10x13 feet, one-slory,
a!id shingled with split and shaved oak shin-
gles, which made a good roof for twenty-five
years — a* fact worthy of notice. He built it
for a drug store and office, and it is still in
existence. In 1836, he built his present large
residence. His reason for building so large
a house at that early day was, that it was ex-
actly like the one he had built and left in
Rhode Island; and as his family had sacri-
ficed so much in leaving their comfortable
home for the wilds of the West, he wished to
make a home as near like their former one as
possible.

In 1833, Jackson was President ; John
Reynolds, Governor; and Clay and Webster
were in their glory. Beardstown was quite a
flourishing town, and the port on the river
from which most towns in the interior of the
State got their supplies of goods, and from
which their produce was shipped to market.

In that year Francis Arenz began publish-
ing the first newspaper north of Jacksonville

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

and south of Chicago, entitled, The Beards-
town Chronicle and Illinois Military Bounty
Land Advertiser. This paper did the ad-
vertising for the counties of Mason, Warren,
Brown, Schuyler, MoDonough, Stark, Knox,
and Fulton, as there were no newspapers
printed in those counties. There were no
lawyers in Beardstown then, but those usually
consulted by our citizens were: John J. Har-
din, Walter Jones, Aaron B. Fontaine, Josiah
Lamborn, and Murray McConnell of Jackson-
ville, and William H. Richardson of Rush-
ville.

In 1833, there was not a single merchant
north of the Mauvistarre, outside of Beards-
town, and not one advertised in The Beards-
tovm Chronicle; and money was so scarce
tliat it was almost impossible for any kind of
business to be transacted. Francis Arenz
humorously ascribes the phenomenon of the
great meteoric shower of that year, to the
fact, that a day or two previously a subscriber
had paid him two dollars, all in cash, for a
year's subsci-ij)ti(in to the Chronicle^

The names of the steamers which navigated
the Illinois River in 1833-34, were the Peoria,
Exchange, Ottawa, Ceres, Utility, Cavalier,
Express, Black Hawk, and Olive Branch.

James B. Kenner kept the Bounty Land
Hotel at Beard's Landing, on the west bank
of the river, opposite Beardstown.

Prices of staples in 1833, at Beardstown,
were : Flour, imported, per barrel, $4."i!5;
wheat, in 90 days, per bu«hel, 50c.; wheat,
cash, per bushel, 45.; salt, per bushel, 75c.;
corn, per bushel, 13 to 16o.; beans, per bushel,
50c.; whisky, per gallon, 48c.; poi-k, per lb.,
2^c.; butter, per lb., 10c. ; beef, per lb., 34-c.;
cigars, per lO'JO, $1; cigars, per box, best, $1.

The business men of Beardstown in 1834,
were: Francis Arenz, L. W. Talmage & Co.,
T. & J. S. Wibourne, J. M. Merchant & Co.,
Hay wood Read, J. Parrott & Co., merchants;
John Alfred, M. Kingsbury, and Liscomb &

Buckle, tailors; J. Roulston, hat maker; Henry
Boemler, cabinet maker; M. McCreary, cooper;
Maluny & Smith, forwarding and commission
business; Knapp and Pogue, steam mill; Gat-
ton, Judson & Elliott. There were also: Dr.
J. W. Fitch, Dr. Owen M. Long, Dr. Chas.
Hochstetter, and Dr. Rue.

As descriptive of the business of Beards-
town, we will quote the following extract
from an editorial in the Beardstown Chron-
icle of March 1, 1834:

" Since the opening of the river, there has
been shipped from this place, 1,503 barrels of
flour and 150 barrels of pork. Ready for
shipment at the warehouses at this time, 581
barrels of flour, 400 barrels of pork, and 150
kegs of lard. This is a fair commencement
of exporting surplus produce from a country
where a few years ago many of such articles
were imported. Two steam flouring mills
and one steam saw mill are now in operation.
A large brewery and distillery are being built,
with a grist mill. Besides, arrangements are
being made for building ware, store, and
dwelling houses. Four years ago only three
families, residing in log huts, lived in this
place, and now, we venture to assert, more
business is transacted in this town than any
other place in the State."

The old brick school house in Beards-
town, since a part of Dr. Theo. Hoffman's
premises, was built in 1834, by Beard and
Arenz, and presented by tliem to the inhabi-
tants, and for many years was the only place
for public meetings.

At that time great stress was laid upon the
nagavibility of the Sangamon River, as boats
frequently passed up and down that stream.
In 1833, a steamboat of the larger class went
up the Sangamon to within five miles of
Springfield, and discharged its cargo there.

The farm houses, just pievious to the or-
ganizing of Cass County, were mostly built of
logs, and in many cases, innocent of glass.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The doors were made of puncheon or split
logs, as saw mills were few and far between.
The fire-places were made of logs filled up
with clay d\ig from beneath the floors. A
temporary wall would be built about two feet
inside the log wall; the space then filled with
earth, and wetted, was pounded or rammed
down solid. The inner wall was then taken
away and a fire built inside, which baked the
jams like brick. Then this was surmounted
with a stick an J clay chimney, a pole was run
across to hang kettl-s on; and the chinks be-
tween the logs of the house were filled up
with stJL'ks, clay, and chopped straw. The
doors and roof of the house were made of
split boards, and frequently not a nail or any
iron was used in the whole house. The roof-
boards were kept in their places by logs
weighing tliem down; the doors, held together
by wooden pins, hung on wooden hinges, and
latched with wooden latches. The houses
generally had but one room and two doors,
but no wii.d^w. Usually one door of the
house was left open, no matter how cold the
weather was, to admit light; and rarely both
doors were closed, except when the family
were about to retire to rest. So habituated
were people to open doors, that that custom
prevailed even after the introduction of glass
into the cabins, for windows. It is related,
that on a very cold d.iy, an eastern man who
was visiting a friend at his log cabin, proposed
to close the door to make the liouse warmer.
The proprietor expressed his surprise at the
proposition, but did not object to try it as an
experiment. After the door had been shut a
few minutes, he seemed much pleased with
the result, and said, " Well, I declare! I be-
lieve it does make a difference."

A rural poet has truthfully stated that —
'■ In every country village where

Ten cliiraneys' smoke perfume the air
Conticriious to a steeple,

Great gentle-folks are found a score,

Who can't associate any more
With common country people."

So even in our early days we had some
aristocrats. Occasionally a man was found
that built his house of hewn logs, and had
sawn planks for his floor, and perhaps a glass
window. And then some ambitious neigh-
bor must overtop him, and the wonderful pal-
atial double-log-house, with a porch between,
appeared. By the youngsters this seemed ex-
travagant and useless ; but the surprise of
everybody was Dr. Chandler's large, well-fin-
ished frame house. Even beds were more
accommodating then than now, and would
hold matiy more occupants. There was one,
usually, in each of two corners in every log
cabin, and under each of these was a trundle-
bed which pu7/cd out at night ; and then
there was bedding to spare in most houses,
and when friends called and stayed all night,
which they usually did, a. field-bed was made
that accoramodated all. When meal time
came, a large amount of good wholesome
provender would be supplied, considering the
few cooking utensils that were used. Even
in well-to-do families the articles for cooking
consisted of a Dutch oven, which was simply
a shallow kettle, with a cover made for
holding hot coals, in which first the bread
and then the meat was cooked, a coffee-
pot, and a kettle to cook vegetables, when
they had any. Wheat bread was scarce, and
corn bread was universally used. When
bread was spoken of without a prefix, corn
bread was meant ; any other kind being des-
igtiated as wheat bread or rye bread. I rec-
ollect a circumstance which will illustrate
how corn bread was respected. When Major
Miller kept the Western Hotel in Jackson-
ville, in 1836, there was a saloon, then called
a o-rocery, under it called " Our House." A
Yankee, who had been stopping with the
Major, called into the grocery to get his bit-
ters, and outraged the thirsty customers at the
bar by an offensive allusion to the corn bread
I he had had set before him at the hotel table,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

stating among other remarks, that corn bread
•was only fit for hogs to eat. At this an irri-
table native took offense ; he jyeeled off his
coat, and squared his brawny shoulders before
the astonished Yankee, and said, " See yer,
stranger, I don't know who you are, and I
don't keer a durn, nuther ; but I'll have
you understand that the man that makes fun
of corn bread makes fun of the principal
part of my living." It was with considerable
difficulty that a fuss was prevented, and then
only by the Yankee apologizing and treating
the crowd to the drinks.

While speaking of Yankees, I might just
as well say, that this part of Morgan County
was settled principally by citizens from south
of the Potomac and Ohio rivers; and a strong
prejudice was felt against people from New
England, who were all denominated " Yan-
kees ; " and, to be just, candor compels me to
admit that the representatives of the descend-
ants of the pilgrim fathers, who peddled
clocks and tinware, and notions, and essences,
and the like, through this part of the country
at that time, were not calculated in every
instance to inspire any high respect for them
as a class.

Fitz Greene Halleck, the poet, writes of
them as

" Apostates, who are meddling
With merchandise, pounds, shillings, pence, and

peddling ;
Or, wandering through southern countries, teaching

The A, B, C, from Webster's spelling book ;
Gallant and godly, making love, and preaching,

And gaining, by what they call "hook and crook,"
And what the moralists call overreaching,

A decent living. The Virginians look
Upon them with as favorable eyes
As Gabriel on the devil in paradise."

In fact, a mean trick was always expected
from a Yankee ; while there is reason to be-
lieve that, really, there were sometimes just as
mean things done by persons from other por-
tions of the nation. To illustrate : About

forty-five years ago, I attended a wolf hunt on
Indian Creek. There were about a hundred
of us, on horseback, up on a rise in the tim-
ber, waiting to hear from the hounds, and
passing the time in conversation. The sub-
ject of discussion, a not unusual one, was the
Yankees, and each man had a story to tell of
some Yankee trick. Finally, old Uncle Bob
Martin, who had but one eye, but was, never-
theless, quite an oracle in such matters, had
his say in this wise : "Well, gentlemen, I'll
tell yer what it is: I've seed a heap 'er Yan-
kees in my day, and I know all about 'em.
I know 'em like a book, inside and out, and I
tell yer what it is, gentlemen, all the Yankees
don't come from New England, nuther, not
by a durn sight. And the meanest Yankee I
ever seed, gentlemen, was a Kanetucky
Yankee."

I said corn bread was the principal article
of diet then. But there were various kinds
of corn bread. That most in use was corn
dodger. This was simply made of corn meal,
hot water and a little salt, stirred together to
the consistency of dough; then a double hand-
ful was rounded, flatted, and placed in a hot
Dutch oven, surrounded with glowing embers.
An oven would hold three or four of these,
and they were cooked so quickly that a woman
could keep quite a large number of hungry
men in business. Then there was the pump-
kin bread, made by mixing pumpkins and
meal, and the pone. This last was considered
suitable for kings, and I must tell you how it
was made. It was thus: Take as much corn
meal as is wanted for use; sift it; put it in an
iron kettle and pour on it boiling water; stir
it till it becomes well mixed and quite thin;
this being right, let it remain in the same ves-
sel till morning, and if kept warm it will be
well fermented (which is necessarv); then put
it into a hot Dutch oven, it being heated be-
fore the dough is put in it; apply good live
embers on the lid of the oven as well as under

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

it, being careful not to burn it. These were
sometimes baked in iiot ashes and embers,
■without an oven. These were called ash-
pones.

Butter was not common, except in the
spring and summer; but large quantities of
fat bacon and hams were used instead, which
were kept the year round, in the smoke houses,
one of which every family had. Potatoes were
unknown for many years; and when they
wore introduced, they were at first very un-
popular. People that ate tlrem were stigma-
tized as Irish. Deer, prairie-chickens and
otiier game, as well as domestic fowls, were
very plenty and much used for food.

The principal clothing worn by the men
was of Kentucky and homemade jeans, made
into pants and hunting shirts. Under-clothing
was hardly ever worn, even in winter, and
overcoats, never; yet men seemed as warm and
comfortable then as they do now, with under-
garments and overcoats. The ladies dressed
principally in linsey of their own weaving.
I well recollect when calico was first gener-
ally worn. Patterns with large flowery fig-
ures were preferred; and although our prairies
were covered all over in profusion with the
most beautiful of flowers, like unto a garden
of the gods, yet, I must admit, the prettiest
flowers or, at least, the most attractive were
those printed upon calico. And I might ad-
mit further, that they are not altogether dis-
pleasing to most men even now. At the
huskings, weddings, meetings, and merry-
makings, the girls looked as pretty then, in
their home-made suits as they do now, though
arrayed in all the gaud and glory of the mil-
liner.

Tlie principal occasions of great public
gatherings were political discussions; for,
either fortunately or unfortunately (and which
it is is a great moral question), there never
was a man hung within the limits of this
county at the hands of justice, so the public

have never been called together out of curi-
osity on that account. Among our public
speakers at that time were: Lincoln, Hardin
Baker, Lamborn, Richardson, and more lat-
terly, Yates and Douglas, besides many from
a distance. Besides these occasions, we had
preaching in the schoolhouses and barns and
groves. Often have some of us, now living,
listened to Re Idick Horn, Cyrus Wright
Peter Cartwright, " Old Man Hammaker," of
North Prairie, and many others. How many
of the old settlers recollect Old Father Doyle,
who used to shout " power " until the far-oif
woods rang, and the hills sent back the echo.
Oh ! those public meetings in the woods;
how grand they were ! Bryant sings of them
and says —

" The groves were God's first temples.

Ah ! why should we in the world's riper years neglect

God's ancient sanctuaries, and adore

Only among the crowd, and under roofs

Tliat our frail hands have raised."

There used to be a famous camp meeting
ground for many years at " Uncle " William
Holmes', northeast of Virginia, and people
attended it from twenty miles around. When
this county was first formed, there were but
few farms on North Prairie, except those
skirting the edge of the timber; and a man
could cross it anywhere on horseback, led
only by Indian trails, or the points of timber.
For instance, a man could start from the
Jacksonville road at Yaples or Peterfish's
farm, south of where Virginia now is, and go
straight to Holmes' camp ground, a distance
of about ten miles, northeast, and not pass a
fence.

In 1835, the Beardstown and Sangamon
Canal Company were incorporated, and there
was considerable interest taken in that work.

In 1836, on the 16th day of June, Dr. H.
H. Hal! laid out and platted the town of Vir-
ginia, he having entered the land upon which
it stands a short time previously.

HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY.

At this early date, before there were any-
other towns than Beardstown, localities were
known by other names, as for instance, Rob-
inson's Mills, Panther Creek, Miller's Ferry,
Schoonover's Ford, North Prairie, Jersey
Prairie or Workman Post-office, Panther or
Painter Grove, as it was called; Painter
Creek Post-office, where Chandlerville is now;
Little Painter, Middle Creek Settlement, Fly
Point, Sylvan Grove, Puncheon Camp, Lynn
Grove, etc.

la 1835, The Jacksonville & Meredosia

railroad was incorporated by the legislatiire
of Illinois, which was the first railroad built
west of the Alleghenies.

About this time, the Sangamon and Spoon
rivers, and Crooked Creek to Henly's mill
were declared navigable by the State.

The manner of voting at that time was
viva voce, the elector announcing to the judges
and clerks of the election, in plain voice, the
man or measure he intended to vote for, so
that it was publicly known how each man
voted.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

• CHAPTER TV.

ORGANTZA.TION OF CAPS COUXTY-THE CONVENTION AT RUSHVILLE-LEGISLATIVE ACT
CREATING THE COUNTY-OTHER ACTS-FIRST ELECTION FOR OFFICERS-THE NUM-
BER OF VOTERS-AN INCIDENT OF A WOLF-THE COLD DAY OF 1837— LOCA-
TION OF THE COUNTY SEAT— SCARCITY OF MONEY-THE COUNTY
MACHINERY PUT IN MOTION— THE COURTS-TROUBLE FROM
HORSE THIEVES— EUGENE HONORIUS— THE CENSUS, ETC.

State, Vandalia or Alton would gain it. The

ABOUT this time there became a gradually-
growing feeling of dissatisfaction in this
the northern part of Morgan County, with the
management of county affairs at Jacksonville.
It seemed to the people here, that Morgan
County was ruled by Jacksonville, and that that
village was ruled by a clique, or ring, as it
would now be called. This feeling became
more conspicuous,as at that time the removal of
the State capital was being worked up. It was
provided in the Constitution of 1818, while the
capital was at Kaskaskia, that the Legislature
should locate a new town, which should be the
capital for twenty years. This the Legislature
did, and named the place Vandalia. The
constitutional limit of that location was fast ap-
proaching, and a new seat of government was
to be selected.

A statute was passed February 5, 1833,
providing, that after the expiration of the
time prescribed by the constitution for the
seat of government remaining at Vandalia,
the people should vote for one of the follow-
ing named places for the permanent seat of
government, to- wit: "The geographical centre
of the State," Jacksonville, Springfield, Alton,
Vandalia, and Peoria, and the point receiving
the highest number of votes should forever
remain the seat of government. The south-
ern part of the State was at that time most
thickly settled, and it soon became evident
that, unless the people of Central Illinois
united upon a town in their portion of the

people in the northern portion of the State
were willing to sacrifice Peoria, but the people
of Central Illinois were divided between
Springfield and Jacksonville. There was a
growing feeling, however, in favor of Spring-
field, as being the most available ; and a con-
vention was called by the central and northern
counties, to meet at Rushville, on the 7th day
of April, 1834, to unite on one point to sup-
port for the State capital. Jacksonville was
opposed to this, and favored the deferring
the removal of the seat of government to
some future time, hoping to gain strength by
this line of policy. Consequently, Jackson-
ville refused to take part in the Rushville
convention, while the northern part of the
county met at Beardstown, decided to take part
in the convention, and elected Archibald Job
and Thomas Beard to represent them there,
which they afterwards did. This occasioned
a discussion between the newspaper of Jack-
sonville, conducted by Josiah Lamborn, and
the Chronicle on the part of Beardstown,
by Francis Arenz.

To show the state of this feeling as early as
1831:, the following is from the Chronicle
of March 25th, of that year:

" In the ' Chronicle,' No. 35, we published
the preamble and resolutions adopted at a
public meeting held in Beardstown on the
20th of February last. In one of the resolu-
tions, x\ichibald Job and Thomas Beard were

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

appointed to attend as delegates at Rushville,
on the first Monday of April next, to repre-
sent the wishes of the people in the northern
part of Morgan County.

" In our last number we published the pro-
ceedings of a meeting held in Jacksonville on
the 3d inst. One of the resolutions adopted
at that meeting, declares, that ' from the neu-
tral position of Morgan County in relation to
locality and interest, it is inexpedient, at this
time, for citizens of our county to send dele-
gates to the convention proposed to be held
on the first Monday of April next.'

"We also published a letter from J. Lam-
born, Esq., to the editor of this paper, ex-
planatory of the views and feelings of those
attending the Jacksonville meeting towards
their fellow citizens of the northern part of
Morgan County, who composed the Beards-
town meeting; but as this letter was not part
of the proceedings at Jacksonville, and the
resolutions adopted are contrary and in op-
position to the friendly feelings privately ex-
pressed by Mr. Lamborn, we have to take the
sentiments as expressed by the meeting.

" The meeting at Beardstown was composed
of freemen. They acted for themselves, and
appointed two delegates to represent their
wishes at the proposed convention, leaving
four delegates to be chosen in other parts of
Morgan County. If our fellow citizens at
Jacksonville, and in the southern and western
parts of the county, did not choose to send
delegates, no objection or dissatisfaction
would have been entertained; but a meeting
composed of about one hundred and fifty indi-
viduals at Jacksonville and vicinity (being ac-
quainted with the sentiments expressed here),
have assumed to indicate in their resolution
that it is i/iexpedient, at this time, for (he
citizens of our county to send delegates. To
this decree the citizens of the north will not
submit. We unhesitatingly say, that two
delegates will attend and represent their

wishes. We believe the time has gone by
when a few leaders of Jacksonville controlled
the votes of Morgan County; and we would
advise those who have influence in and about
Jacksonville, to use it with discretion. The
people north of Indian Creek, and we doubt
not in other parts of the county, understand
their own interest, and will act accordingly."

The convention was held at Rushville at the
appointed time, and such united action was
taken as eventuated in the passage of a
statute on the 3d day of February, 1837,
which permanently located the seat of gov-
ernment at Springfield, and Archibald Job,
of this county, A. G. Henry and Thomas
Hunghan were appointed commissioners to
superintend the erection of the State House.

At the very same session which removed
the capital, on the 3d day of March, 1837, a
bill was passed that the people of Morgan
County should, on the third Monday of April
of that year, vote for and against the division
of that county, on the line running through
the middle of townships seventeen, north,
and in case the vote favored it, all north of
that lino to constitute a new county, to be
called the county of Cass ; that the county
seat should be at Beardstown, until the peo-
ple should permanently locate the county
seat by election; and the school fund should
be divided according to the number of the
townships between the two counties.

We will here insert this, and other statutes
concerning the early history of Cass county,
for the reason that the books in which they
are contained are probably not to be found
in Cass county, outside of our library, and
are not for sale anywhere, and they will proba-
bly never be reprinted, and are very rarely
found except in the State libraries. By re-
printing them here they will be preserved.

AN ACT FOK THE FOEMATION OF THE COUNTY
OF CASS — IN FORCE MARCH 3, 1837.

Sec. 1. He it enacted hy the people, of the

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

State of Illinois, represented in the General
Assembli/, That all that tract of country
within the following boundaries to wit: Be-
ginning at a point in the centre of the main
channel of the Illinois river, where a line
running through the centre of townships
seventeen north intersects the same, in range
thirteen, west of the third principal meridian,
thence east with said line to the east side of
the county of Morgan, from thence north to
the centre of the main channel of the San-
gamon river, thence down said river to the
centre of the main channel of the Illinois
river, thence down said river to the place of
beginning, shall constitute a new county to be
called the county of Cass.

Sec. 2. The county aforesaid is created
upon the following conditions: The people
of the county of Morgan as the same is now
organized, shall meet at the several places for
holding elections for Representatives and
Senators in said county, on the third Monday
of April next, and proceed to vote in the
same manner of voting for Representatives
and Senators to the general assembly, whether
said county shall be created or not. The
judges of elections in said county shall give
twenty days' notice of the time and place of
holding said elections, by posting notices
thereof at six public places in the county, and
on said day shall open a poll book at each
election precinct, in which they shall rule two
columns, in one of which they shall set down
the votes given for the creation of said county,
and in the other column the votes given
against the same, and said judges shall conduct
said election, and make returns to the clerk of
the county commissioners' court of Morgan
County, in the same manner as is now pro-
vided by law in the case of elections for Sen-
ators and Representatives for the general as-
sembly, and said returns shall be opened and
counted in the same manner as in such elec-
tions, and if a majority of all the votes given

at said election shall be in favor of the crea-
tion of said county, a certificate thereof shall
be made by the clerk of said county com-
missioners' court, under the seal of said court,
and transmitted by him to the oflBce of the
Secretary of State, of the State of Illinois, to
be filed in his office as evidence of the exist-
ence of said county, and said clerk shall make
a like certificate and file the same in his of-
fice, which shall be entered of record at the
next succeeding term of the said County
Commissioners Court, and shall be sufficient
to prove the facts therein stated, after which
said county shall be one of the counties of the
State of Illinois. The Clerk of the Commis-
sioners Court of Morgan County shall cause
a notice of said election to be published in all
the newspapers published in the County of
Morgan.

Sec. 3. If said county shall be created as
aforesaid, the legal voters of said county shall
meet on the first Monday of May next, at the
several places of holding elections in said new
county, and vote for the place where the county
seat of said county shall be located, and the
place receiving the greatest number of votes
shall be the permanent seat of justice of said
county, and on the first Monday of August
next said county shall proceed to elect all
county officers for said county, to be commis-
sioned and qualified as in other cases.

Sec. 4. The owner or owners of the land
where said county seat shall be located, shall
donate and convey to said county of Cass, at
least fifteen acres of land at the place where
said seat shall be located, which may be dis-
posed of in the manner the county commis-
sioners' court of said county shall deem
proper, the proceeds whereof shall be applied
to the erection of the court house and jail,
and clerk's offices of said county, but if the
county seat aforesaid shall be located at
Beardstown in said county, the corporation of
said town shall, within one year from the said

HISTORY OF UASS COUNTY.

location, pay into the county treasury of said
count}', not less than ten thousand dollars to
be applied in the erection of said public
buildings.

Sec. 5. Said county shall vote with the
county of Morgan for Senators and Represent-
atives until the next apportionment, and said
county shall make a part of the first judicial
circuit, and so soon as said county shall be or-
ganized, the clerk of the county commission-
ers' court of said county shall notify the judge
of the said circuit, and it shall be his duty to
appointa clerk and hold a court in said county
at such times as said judge shall appoint.
The seat of justice of said county shall be lo-
cated at Beardstown, until the public build-
ings are erected. But if the county seat shall
be located at Beardstown, and said corpora-
tion of Beardstown shall not pay to the treas-
mer of said county, said ten thousand dollars
for the purpose of erecting said public build-
ings within one year after the location of said
county seat, then the county commissioners'
court of said county shall locate the county
seat at some other point near the center of
said county, when the quantity of land men-
tioned ih the fourth section of this act shall
be donated as therein provided.

Sec. 6. The school funds belonging to the
several townships in said county, and all
notes and mortgages pertaining to the same,
shall be paid and delivered over to the school
commissioners of said county of Cass by the
school commissioners of the county of Morgan,
so soon as the said county shall be organized,
and the commissioners of school lands shall
be appointed and qualified according to law,
together with all interest arising out of said
money, that has not been heretofore expended
for schools within that part of Morgan County
now proposed to be set off into the county of
Cass. This act shall take effect according to
the conditions thereof, from and after its pas-
sage.

Sec. 7. In case said county of Cass shall
be created under the provisions of this act,
then until the next apportionment of Senators
and Representatives to the General Assem-
bl}', the said county shall be entitled to one
Representative to the General Assembly, and
shall at the next election vote with the county
of Morgan for one Senator, also at every suc-
ceeding election for said Senator, and the
county of Morgan shall be entitled to five
Representatives and two Senators. Approved,
March 3d, 1837.

The election was had; the feeling between
the northern and southern sides of the
county was such that the election was favor-
able to division, and the northern townships
immediately called an election for officers
with which to organize the new county of
Cass.

There were then but three voting precincts
in this part of Morgan County, which was
about being formed into a new county; they
were: Beardstown, Virginia and Richmond,
and the following are the names of every
man that voted at that election, with the
names of the precincts they voted in:

Poll Book at an election held at the house
of Moses Perkins, in the Beardstown Pre-
cinct, in the County of Cass, Ills., August 7,
1837. Thos. Beard, James Arnold, John
Scheffer, judges; T. U. Webb, C. W. Clarke,
clerks.

John F. Bailey,
Alex. King,
Ben. Beasley,
Christ. Shanks,
Jerem. Wilson,
Jordan Marshall,
Jos. Britton,
Geo. Bryant,
Jas. King,
Geo. McKay,
John C. Linsley,
Elizur Anderson,
Edmund Ensly,

C. F. Kandage,
Elisha Marshall,
John Marshall,
Jos Seaman,
Isham Revis,
Nich. Parsons,
Lewis G. Lambert,
Wm. Cox,
Frankl. Stewart,
Sam. Hunt,
Jas. Pounds,
Fredy White,
Landerick Kale,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Evan Jenkins,

Nich. Rheim,

Jn. Miller,

I'red. Krohe,

T. C. Mills,

Moses Derby,

Lewis Haines,

Caleb Lee,

Wm. Turkyiiuvo,

Jas. Bonnett,

Phil. Schaffer,

Thos. Carroll,

J. W. CrewJson,

Curtis Hager,

Gottlieb Jokisch,

Phil. Kuhn,

Thos. Haskins,

Dan. Wells,

Jn. H. Treadway,

G. Kuhl,

Anilr. Keltner,

Hy. P. Ross,

John Richardson,

John Rohn,

Araasa Keeves,

Hy. Kemble

Christ' n Kuhl,

Jac. Downing,

Chr. Boyd,

Edw. Saunders,

John Holkmon,

Dav. Tureman,

Jos Haskioa,

Adolph Shupong,

Seymour Coffren,

Dav. Spence,

Hilton Parmele,

G. Ruhl, 2d

Wm. Home,

Moritz Hallenbach,

John Quail,

Henry T. Foster,

Thos. C. Black,

Hy. Boemler,

Bernard Deist,

Wm. Bfymt,

Owen Clemens,

Dav. Emerich,

Ben. Britton,

Dav. Marshall,

Bradford Rew,

L. H. Wilkey,

Geo. Cowan,

B.uford Haines,

Lewis Cowan,

Thos. J. Moseley,

J. N. Jenkins,

Hy. Schaff'er,

Nich. Coteral,

Joel K. Bowman,

Dan. Britton,

Thos. Pierce,

Gottlieb Jokisch,

Wm. W. GiUet,

Sam. Groshong,

Jacob J. Brown,

Jn. Cuppy,

Wm. W. Hemminghouse,

John Kettely,

Jackson Stewait,

Godfr. Gutlet,

Fred. Kors,

Wm. Quigg,

Jos. Canby,

John C. Scott,

John Decker,

Marcus Chandler,

Geo. Garlick,

Wm. H. McKanley,

Chs. Garland,

Leander Brown,

Jas. Dickinson,

Alex. Ratcliff,

John Brackle,

Jas. Garlick,

Westley Payton,

Math. McBride,

Chr. Hell,

Dan'l Boyne,

Isaac Short,

John Burns,

Elisha Olcott,

Thos. Proctor,

Amasa Warren,

John Bridgewater,

Absalom Spence,

Eich'd Graves,

Geo Schaffer,

John A. Thomas,

Wm. Ritchie,

Rich'd Wells,

Asa Street,

John Buck,

Hy. Miller,

George Brown,

Jas. Roach,

Wm. R. White,

M. Kemper,

Ben. Horom,

Jas. A. Carr,

Jn. W. Anderson,

Wm. Moore,

Jos. H. Clemens,

John Haram,

Henry Collins,

Sam. Shaw,

Jas. Neeper,

Zach. Bridgewater,

Hy. Roha,

Jos. McClure,

Jackson Scott,

Wm. Moore,

Wm. Bassett,

Wm. Dougall,

Stephen Buck,

Wm. R. Parks,

Jas. Davidson,

Wm. Holmes,

Wm. Shutem.an,

John P. Dick,

Robt. Lindsay,

Lewis Nolte,

Edward Salley,

Joshua Jlorris,

Wm. Cross,

Wm. Clark,

Demsey Boyce,

Wm. W. Clemens,

Jn. Wilbourns,

B. W. Schneider,

Aaron Powell,

J. Philippi,

John McKean,

Francis Rice,

Jerm. Bowes,

Jas. Scott,

Jas. Logan,

Aug. Knapp,

Jas. Case,

Jas. Cook,

Jos. Baker,

Dan. Scott,

A. Philippi,

John Gutliff Berger,

Christ. Newman,

Martin F. Higgins,

P. Philippi,

Fred. Krohe,

Thos. Stokes,

Dudley Green,

W. W. Gordon,

Aug. Krohe,

Jasper Buck,

Thos. Wilbourne,

Hy. Havekkift,

J red Inkle.

Jas. Davis,

Hy. Braker,

Jac. Fisal,

Louis Sudbrink,

Jas. Bell,

0. Long,

John Newman,

Adam Krough,

E. R. Gilletfc,

John Schaeffer,

John Yokes,

Montela Richardson,

J. B. Pierce,

T U. Webb,

Orriu Hicks,

Rucy Richardson,

Harmon Byrnes,

J. Blackman,

John Waggoner,

W. Moody,

Joshua Alexander,

Pet. B. Bell,

Thomas Cowan,

Sam. Fletcher,

Edw'd Treadway,

Morgan Kemper,

John Hicks,

L. H. Treadway,

Chs. Chandler,

Thos. Bryant,

Dav. Newman,

John Price,

Peter Light,

Otto Wells,

G. A. Bonny,

Reuben Alexander,

Wm. B. Gaines,

J. W. Lippincott,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Wm. Rhepard,
Sam. Thompson,
Hy. Heudricker,
Rob. Moore,
Wm. Sewell,
Sam. McKee,
T. A. Hoffman,
Reuben Ilager,
John Duchardt,
Wm. L. Felix,
John Ayers,
Hammer Oatman,
Thos. Saunders,
A. WilJiams,
J. B. Wilson,
Thos. Payne,
Wm. B. UlsMe,
Dan, Sheldon,
John McLane,
Lewis Kloker,
F. Arenz,
Moses Perkins,
Hy. Plieboe,
BuUcr Arnold,
Isaiic Plasters,
Z. 1*. Harvey,
Wm. H. Williams,
Ralph Morgan,
J. P. Crow,
Austin .Shiitenden,
C. W. Clark,
John Cusliman,
J. S. Wilbourne,
Wm. Scott,
E.lw. Collins,
John Pierson,
Lewis Piper,

Jn. Steele,
Arn. Arenz,
Pet. Douglas,
Hy. Kashner,
J. M. Quate,
Jn. W. Gillis,
Dav. Jones,
Jos. W Hardy,
Wm. Miller,
Christ. Trone,
Jessie Ankrom,
John McKowan,
Hy. Whitiick,
Carlton Logan,
Wm. Butler,
H. Smith,
J. 0. Spence,
Nieh. Kelly,
Wm. W. Bolt,
Wm. DeHaven,
Hy. Wedeking,
Dan. Riggle,
G. F. Miller,
C. J. Norbury,
T. Graham, .Ir.,
Lemuel Plaslera,
Jac. Anderson,
Hy. McKean,
John W. Pratt,
John Bull,
Lewis Stoner,
Thos. Beard,
J. Arnold,
N. B. Thompson,
A. Batoage,
Dav. While,

Poll Book at Riclmiond Prec net election of
1337.

Mat'w Soundsberry, Jr
John HillLs,
Wm. T. Kirk,
Thos. Lockermand,
Azariah Lewis,
Levy Dick,
Gibson Carter,
David Pratt,
John r'ancier,
Henry Nichols,
Jacob Bixler,

Obadiah Morgan,
Horatio Purdy,
Jerry W. Davis,
John Roberts,
John Chessliire,
Thomas Plasters,
Abner Foster,
Peter Dick,
Cary Nance,
Wm. Linn,
Enoch Whcelock,

John Wilson,
Oliver Loge,
Wm. Lucas,
Aaron Wright,
John Pryor,
Standley Lockerman.
Henry S. Dutch,
Robert Nance,
Wm. Myers,
Wm. Myers,
Amos Dick,
Henry Dick,
Jonathan N. I.oge,
John Hathorn,
Col man Gaines,
.John Davis,
Daniel Robinson,
Jolin Lucas,
Robert Leeper,
John Taylor,
Robert B. Taylor,
James B. Conner,
Willis Daniels,
Wm. S. demons,
Robert Carter,
James Wing,
Washington Daniels,
Ely Cox,
James Hickey,
John Baldiii,
Ashley Hickey,
John B. Witty,

Calvin Wilson,
Charles Scaggs,
Wm. P. Morgan,
. Eiley Claxton,
Zachariah Hash,
John Cook,
Clinton Wilson,
Henry Mcllenry,
John Johnson,
Mathew Loundsberry,
Frederick McDonald,
John Leeper,
Pleasant Rose,
Geo. Fancier,
James Bonnet,
Cyrus Elmore,
Thomas Jones,
Henry D. Wilson,
John L. Witty,
Henry Taylor,
Alfred Daniels,
Marcus Cooper,
John B. Thompson,
Eaton Nance,
James Hathorn, -
John Pratt,
H. W. Libbeon,
Sylvester Sutton,
Robert G. Gaines,
Amos Bonney,
James Roles,
Cyrus Wright.

Election at the house of John Dj Weber,
in the Virginia Precinct, in the County of
Cass, Illinois, August 7, 1837. This cer-
tificate is added: " The County not being or-
ganized, and, of course, no Justice of Peace,
or appointed Judge, Mr. Win. Clark admin-
istered the oath to the other acting judges
and Mr. .lames Daniel administered it to him
and to the clerks. Subscribed by us,

" Wm. M. Clark,
"James Danikl."

Louis Thornsberry,
Wm. Paton,
Wm. Graves,
Levi Springer,
P. S. Oulten,

John Slack,
Ezra Dutch,
Young Phelps,
John Craig,
L. B. Ross,

HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY.

Thos. Plaster, Sr.,

Beiij. Corby,

John Glover,

P. Underwood, Jr.,

Perry G. Price,

Thos. J. Joy,

John Daniel,

\Vm. B. Kirk,

Jeremiah Northern,

Jos. McDaniel,

Felix Cameron,

Robt. Davidson,

H. O.sborne,

liencdici Cameron,

Anderson Phelps,

Zeb. Wood,

Jesse Spicer,

Wm. Craig,

Jas. Bland,

L. Carpenter,

Jolin Clark,

L. Clark,

Geo. Cunningham,

Michael Reed,

Green H. Paschal,

Onslow Watson,

John McDonald,

Joel Home,

Charles Brady,

Wm. Daniels,
W. P. Johnstone,
W. P. Finch,
John Carpenter,
Thos. Lee,
Thos. G. Howard,
Joshua Price,
Green Garner,
Aaron Bonny.
Amos L. Bonny,
Ephraim Moseley,
Jas. Ross, Sr.,
T. S. Berry,
A. Bowen,
John Long,
Evan Warren,
John Cunningham,
Jas. Holland,

Wm. Fields,
Alex. Bain,
Jas. Garner,
John Biddies,
Phillip Cochrane,
11. II. Hall,
A. Elder,

A. S. West,
Wm. M. Clark,
Wm. Blain,
Titus Phelps,
Jas. Williams,
Henry Hopkins,
Thos. lioicourt,
John Robinson,
George Shaw,
J. M. Ross,
Pleas. Scott,
Jas. Biddle,

J. T. Powell,
John De Weber,
Reddick Horn,
Archibald Job,
George Beggs,

B. Stribling,
Chas. P. Anderson,
S. Steveson,

Jas. Daniels,
James B. Davis,
John Redman,
Elias Matthew,
Thos. Finn,
Daniel Cauby,
L. B. Freeman.
J. M. McLean,

B. A. Blantin,
Jos. Jump,

C. H. Oliver,
Alex. Huffman,
Jonas McDonald,
John Peirce,
John Biddlecome,
Jas. Berry,

M. O'Brien,
Isaiah Paschal,
M. H. Biddies.

Pfobate Jitaticfi.
2G; Jas. Berry, 15.

CANDIDATES.

J. S. Wilboarne, 6-5; Wm. Scott,

Sheriff. Lemon Plaster, 81 ; M. F. Higgins, I'j; J.
B. Bueb,/70.

Recorder. N. B. Thompson, 30 ; Thos. Graham, 1 ;
Dr. 0. M. Long, 7 ; Alfred Elder, 64.

Ooiitil.i/ Commissioner.^' Treasurer. Thos. Wilbourn,
14; J. C. Spense, 84.

County Commissioners' Clerk. J. M. Pratt, 52 ; R.
G. Gains, 49.

County Commissioners. Amos Bonney, 60 ; G. F.
Miller, 16: H McKean, 30; Beuj. Stribling, 95;
Henry McIIenry, 7.

County Suroeijor. Wm. Holmes, 86; Wm. Clark, 19.

Coroner. C. Rew, 27 ; J. Anderson, none ; Ilalsey
Smith, 75.

The election was held on the first day of
August, 1837, and the following named officers
were elected: Jo>ihua P. Crow, Amos Bonnoy,
and George F. Miller, County Coniniissioners;
.John S. Wilbourne, Probate Justice of the
Peace; .John W. Pratt, Clerk of Countj- Com-
missioners' Court; Lemon Plaster, Sheriff.
These men were sworn into office by Thomas
Poafue, a Boardstown magistrate.

On the 14th day of August, 1837, the
county commissioners met and organized Cass
County. At this first meeting of the board,
the new county was divided into six precincts,
which were named : Beardstown, Monroe,
Virginia, Sugar Grove, Richmond and
Bowens.

When this county was organized there was
not a house, built exclusively for religious
worship, in it, and not one in all Morgan
County outside of Jacksonville. Physicians
were scarce, and fever and ague quite com-
mon. Game was plenty, some of which was
very disagreeable, particularly wolves, and an
occasional panther. The wolves very sel-
dom did violence to human beings; but when
the weather was cold and stormy, and the
ground frozen, they were so bold and threat-
ening, that nobody cared to risk himself out
alone at night. The only instance of violence
to a man within our recollection, was the caso
of Esquire Daniel Troy, living near Bethel

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

who was walking home one night from town,
carrying a quarter of beef on his shoulder.
He was attacked by a gang of wolves, the
beef taken away from him, and he very
roughly handled.

There were a few large gray wolves also,
that were very much feared. One cold, bright,
moonshiny night, we heard an uncommon
fuss with our dogs, and opened our cabin
door. A favorite little black dog immediately
pounced into the house, and the largest gray
wolf, we ever saw, which was after him, tried
to follow. The door was open, and we had
no time to get our rifle. The only weapon
at hand was a stick of fire wood, but with this
we did good execution, and Mr. Wolf had to
beat a retreat. So severely had we beaten
him, that he immediately left our premises.
We afterward heard a fuss among the dogs
at a neighbor's, Armstrong Cooper's house,
and then the crack of a rifle, and in a short
time we hoard the dogs and another rifle at
Mr. Lamb's house, and then all was still. We
found next morning that these shots of Cooper
and Lamb had killed him. He was a mon-
ster, and measured nine feet and nine inches,
from his nose to the end of his tail.

At that time there was very little litigation
among the country people, and personal alter-
cations were usually settled by a resort to
blows.

It was in the v;inter of 1830-37, we be-
lieve, although we defer our recollection to
others, if they think we are mistaken,
that we had what we called the " sudden
change " in the weather, the most remark-
able one we ever saw, heard of, or read
of. On Saturday morning there was snow
on the ground. The following Sunday
was a very warm day, and Monday, until
about one o'clock p. m., was still warmer,
and on both days there was considerable rain.
The snow had melted into slush and water,
which was standing in -ponds on the level

ground, and roaring down declivities. At
that hour the weather turned suddenly very
cold. In one hour after the change began
the slush and water was frozen solid; and in
two hours from that time, men were hur-
riedly crossing the river on the ice. A vast
amount of cattle, fowls and game, and many
persons, were frozen to death. We heard
of one man, who ■ was crossing a prairie, on
horseback, who had killed his horse and
taken the entrails out of him and then
crawled inside of him for protection, was
found there frozen to death. We don't
know how the thermometer stood, for we had
none.

On Monday, during this sudden change, Dr.
Chandler was returning home from a pro-
fessional trip up the bottom. His overcoat
was covered with slush and mud, and in a
few minutes aftsr the change began his coat
was frozen stiff, anil he felt that he was in
danger of being frozen. He stopped at the
store of Henry T. & Abner Foster, at Rich-
mond, on the land since owned by John P.
Dick, where he was warmed up and thawed
out. He then mounted his horse and started on
a gallop for home, about six miles distant, but
soon found himself freezing again. He
stopped at another house, and warmed, and
started again, with like results. He thus was
forced to stop at four different houses, be-
tween Foster's store and his house, to prevent
freezing to death. When he arrived within
sight of his own house his horse fell dowji,
and left him helpless on the ice, and his
family dragged him, in a helpless condition,
into the house.

At the special session of the Legislature,
in the summer of 1837, was passed a pream-
ble and statute to the following effect :

Whereas, at an election held in the county
of Morgan, according to the provisions of
" An act for the formation of the county of
Cass," it appeared that a majority of the

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

voters of said couiitv voted for the creation
of said county ; and, whereas, at an election
for the county seat of said county. Beards-
town received the highest number of votes for
the county seat, and whereas, some doubts
have been expressed as to the legality of the
proceedings of said election, now, therefore,
to remove all doubts on that subject :

Sec. 1. He it enacted by the people of the
State of Illinois represented in the General
Assembly, That the county of Cass, as desig-
nated and bounded in the " Act for the
formation of the county of Cass," approved
March 3d, 1837, be, and the same is hereby de-
clared to be, one of the counties of this State.

Sec. 3. The county seat shall be located
at the city of Beardstown, in said county ;
Provided, however, that the provision of the
act above referred to, shall be comjilied witii
by the citizens, or a corporation of Beards-
town, in relation to the raising the sum of
• ten thousand dollars, to defray the expenses
of erecting public buildings for said county.

Sec. 3. The corporation of Beardstown
shall be allowed the period of one, two, and
three years, for the payment of ten thousand
dollars, aforesaid, to be calculated from the
passage of the law aforesaid, which sum shall
be paid in three equal payments. The County
Commissioners' Court of said county shall
make their contracts for erecting the pulilic
buildings in said county, so as to make their
pa^'ments thereon when the said installments
aforesaid shall become due and payable.

Sec. 4. The court house of said county
shall be erected on the plat of ground known
as the public square, in said town of Beards-
town.

Sec. 5. Returns of the elections for the
county officers of said county, to be elected
on the first ISIonday of August next, shall be
made in Beardstown, to O. M. Long and
Thomas Poyne, notaries public in Beardstown,
who shall open and examine the poll books of

said election in the presence of one or more
Justices of the Peace in and for said county ;
and said notaries public, after due inspection
and examination of the poll books, according
to the laws of this State, shall make out certi-
ficates of election of those persons wiio have
received the highest number of votes, which
certificates shall be such as those required to
be made by the Clerks of the County Commis-
sioners' Court, and shall receive and be en-
titled to the same effect in law.

This statute also provides how the school
fund of Morgan County shall be divided with
Cass County.

At the session of 1839, on the 2d day of
March, the Legislature made this preamble
and statute :

" Whereas, it was provided, by the act for
the formation of the county of Cass, that, in
case the county seat of said county should be
located at Beardstown, the corporation or in-
habitants should, within one year after the
location, pay into the county treasury the sum
of ten thousand dollars, to be applied to the
erection of public buildings; and whereas, by
the act passed 21st of July, 1837, in relation
to said county, further time was allowed said
corporation to make said payment, the said
corporation having failed to pay the said ten
thousand dollars, and not having complied
with, or agreed to comply with the provisions
of the last recited act, the County Commis-
sioners of said county, under the provisions of
the first recited act, located the county seat at
Virginia, and contracted for the erection of a
court house and jail in said county; and doubts
being entertained as to the true construction
of the act last recited in relation to the rights
of said corporation, and the duties of the
County Commissioners, therefore:

" Sec. 1. Be it enacted' by thej>eople of the
Slate of Illinois represented in the General
Assembly, That the county seat of Cass
Courlty shall be and remain at Virginia, and

^9k

--.^'^

W'^'Mr^'^':

^JY.t/^u^

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

tlie courts of oaiJ county shall hereafter be
held at that place; and the several county
officers, who are required to keep their offices
at the county seat, are required to remove
their respective offices, and all bonds, docu-
ments, books and papers pertaining to the
same, to Virginia, on or before the first day
of May next, and thereafter hold and keep
their respective offices at that place; and in
case one or more of said officers shall fail, or
r "fuse to comply with the provisions of this
act, such officer shall forfeit his office."

In the years 1838 and 1839, was built, as we
believe, the first railroad west of the Alle-
ghany Mountains, running from Meredosia to
Springfield. We particularly recollect this
great enterprise, for two reasons: first, we took
a trip in 1838 from Meredosia to Jacksonville,
on the first passenger train that ever ran on that
road; and second, because it was built by the
State, and was a part of that great internal
imnrovement ]iolicy, which bankrupted and
disgraced the State, and spread misery among
the people. Of all the fiard times that the
peopje of Cass County, and indeed of the
whole State, have ever seen, these were the
hardest.

This was caused by a passage of a bill in
the Legislature, providing for a general sys-
tem of internal improvements by the construc-
tion of nearly 1,300 miles of railroad, and the
improvement of various rivers. These im-
provements never paid the interest on the
money they cost, and in 1840, after a short
but eventful life of three years, fell the most
stupendous, extravagant and almost ruinous
folly of a grand system of internal improve-
ments that any civilized community, perhaps,
ever engaged in, leaving a State debt of S14,-
237,348.00, and a population of less than half
a million to pay it. For this the people
could not blame the Legislature, or the poli-
ticians, for the people themselves had de-
manded and clamored for it, and the Legisla-

ture only obeyed their behest in granting it.
At the same time, the State banks suspended,
and left us with a depreciated currency.
The State Bank of Shawneetown collapsed
with a circulation of $1,700,000, and the State
Bank with §3,000,000. The people were left
destitute of an adequate circulating medium
and were not supplied until the ordinary pro-
cess of their limited commerce brought in
gold and silver and bills of solvent banks
from the other States, which was very slow.
Even immigration was stopped, owing to the
general financial embarrassment, high taxes,
and disgraceful condition of the State.
When money was abundant, credit had been
extended to every body. With the vast sys-
tem of internal improvements, and the large
circulation of the banks, this was the condi-
tion of our people. They were largely in
debt on account of speculations, which proved
to be delusions. Contracts matured, but no-
body paid. The State had sold and hypothe-
cated her bonds until its credit was exhausted.
Then no further effort was made to pay even
the interest on the State debt. Then the
State bonds went down, down, until they
were worth but fourteen cents on the dollar.
The people were unable and unwilling to pay
higher taxes, and what might almost be called
a general bankruptcy ensued. The people
owed the merchants; the merchants owed the
banks, and for goods purchased abroad; while
the banks, having suspended specie payment,
owed everyone who carried one of their rags
in his pocket. None could pay in par funds,
for there were none to be had. In this dilemma
the Legislature tried to come to the relief of
the people, but instead of relieving them
from their wretched condition by summary
legislation, they, as such bodies usually do, in
like circumstances, only made matters worse.
Among other statutes passed with this gener-
ous object, was one that "we have no doubt
many citizens of Cass will recollect, which was

HISTORY OF CASS COUXTY.

known among the people as the stay law, or
two-thirds law. It serves to illustrate both
the hard times and the inconsiderate and un-
just legislation of that day, although done
with the intention of affording relief to the
debtor class, without apparently thinking that
it was at the expense of the creditor. This
law provided that property levied upon by
execution should be valued as in "ordinary
times;" the valuation to be made by three
householders summoned by the officer
holding the writ of whom the debtor,
creditor, and ofiicer should each choose one,
thus placing it in the power of the officer to
favor either party at his option; the property
was not to be sold unless it brought two-thirds
of its valuation; no way was provided by
which the creditor if two-thirds of its valua-
tion was not bid, could hold his lien; thus
forcing him to stay collection or suffer dis-
count of 33J per cent. This law was made
applicable to all judgments rendered and con-
tracts accruing prior to the 1st of May, 1S41,
without reference to the legal obligations of the
time when contracts were entered into; being
in violation of that clause of the constitution
of the United States, declaring that "no law
shall be passed impairing the obligation of
contracts." In the case of McCracken v.
JIoiBard, 2d Howard, 608, the Supreme Court
of the United States subsequently held this
law to be unconstitutional. But, in the mean-
time, the law had performed its mission, and
had rendered the collection of debts almost
impossible. The condition of our people was
truly distressing. There was an utter dearth
and stagnation of business. Abroad, the
name of the State was associated with dis-
honor. There were no immigrants but those
who had nothing to lose; while people here,
with rare exceptions, were anxious to sell out
and flee a country presenting no alternative
other than exorbitant taxation or disgrace.
But property would not sell, nor was there any

money to buy with. Indeed, money, as a
means of exchange, became almost unknown.
Payment was taken in trade, store 2:>ay, etc.
Merchants and other dealers issued warrants
or due bills, which passed for so much on the
dollar in trade. Even the county commission-
ers' court of Cass County came to the relief
of the people, and had a plate engraved, and
issued vast quantities of county warrants, or
orders, in the similitude of one dollar bank
bills. But these county orders, and others
like them, were made invalid by an act of the
legislature passed in the interest of the banks;
so that even this charitable act on the part of
our county commissioners to relieve the local
scarcity of money, failed in its office.

At this time money was so scarce tliat it
was with great difficulty that farmers, owning
good farms, could get tiie money to pay their
postage. It was not necessary then to prepay
postage. Domestic letters cost from five to
twenty-five cents apiece, according to the
distance they had come; and foreign letters
were still higher.

What was worse, they must all bo paid for
in silver, and it often occurred that a letter
would lie in the office for weeks before its
owner could get the silver to redeem it. If
the farmers wished to get goods from the
store, they were forced to buy on credit, and
pay in grain or other produce, or take butter,
egcrs, poultry, game, honey, wood, or other
articles, to exchange for store goods.

Produce continually fluctuated in price,
even in store pay. We have seen corn sell at
six cents often, and have heard farmers re-
mark that ten cents in cash was all that
corn ought to and probably ever would
bring, and that farmers could get rich at
that price. We have sold wheat in Beards-
town at thirtj'-five cents per bushel, and pork
often at one and one-quarter cents per pound.

One of the first acts of the County Com-
missioners' Court after the organization of

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

this county, was to arrange for raising' a rev-
enue, and they passed an order that the fol-
lowing kinds of property be taxed at the rate
of one-half per cent.: Town lots, "inden-
tured or registered negro or mulatto servants"
(fur this had not ceased to be a slave State at
that time), pleasure carriages, stocks in trade,
horses, mules, " and all neat cattle over and
under three years old," hogs, sheep, wagons
and carts.

A public notice was given to "all persons
trading in Cass County " to procure a license
according to law. Under this notice, at the
September Term, 1837, Spence & Foster, T.
& J. T. Wilbourn, and Parrot & Alcott, got a
license to sell goods, wares, and merchandise
iii Beardstown ; and Beasley & Schafer, a sim-
ilar license at Monroe ; and all such licenses
were fixed at five dollars each. Tavern li-
censes were granted at seven dollars each. At
the same term, a license to keep a ferry-boat,
for one year, at B.^ardstown, was granted to
Thomas Beard for twenty-two dollars.

The first county order drawn on the treas-
urer, was for twenty-two dollars and fifty
cents, in favor of N. B. Thompson, for the
books of the County Commissioners' Court.
The second was in favor of N. B. Thompson,
for thirty dollars, and was for three county
seals, in full, September 6, 1837.

The first term of the Circuit Court of Cass
County was held in Beardstown, November
13, 1837, in a one-story frame building stand-
ing at the corner of Main and State streets,
v.'here Seeger's hall now stands. Present :
the Hon. Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., judge of the
First Judicial Circuit ; Lemon Plaster, sheriff;
and as the Circuit Clerk was not an elective
office at that time, N. B. Thompson was ap-
pointed clerk by the judge.

The grand jury at that time consisted of
Thomas Wilbourn, foreman, Isaac Spence,
Augustus Knapp, James H. Blackman, Alex-
ander Ilulfman, Robert Gaines, Richard

Graves, William Shoopman, Benjamin Strib-
ling, John Daniels, Phineas Underwood, Eph-
raim Moseley, John Roliinson, Elijah Carver,
John P. Dick, William McAuley, Marcus
Ciiandler, Henry S. Ingalls, .leremiah Bowen,
Amos Hager, and Jeremiah Northern.

There was no petit jury at this term, but
talismen were drawn as they were wanted.

At the May term, 1838, Nathan alias
Nathaniel Graves, was indicted for the mur-
der of an eastern man lamed Fowle, which
murder took place at what was known as
Miller McLane's grocery, kept in a log house
which stood on the present site of Philadel-
phia. Fowle and Alec Beard were sitting
down on a log outside the grocery, talking in
a friendly manner. There was quite a num-
ber of persons around. Graves and Richard
McDonald came riding up on horseback from
different directions about the same time.
Graves dismounted, leading his horse towards
Fowle, drew a pistol and shot and killed him.
He was so near Fowle that the fire burnt his
clothes. The men standing around were so
surprised that they stood still while Graves
mounted his horse and started to ride away.
At this time McDonald cried out, " Men, why
don't you arrest him?" and rode after him.
When Graves saw that McDonald was about
to catch him, he drew a knife and turned
around. McDonald caught him by the throat
and choked him till he surrendered, but was
himself badly, almost fatally, wounded in the
struggle. Graves took a change of venue to
Green County, where, breaking jail, he escaped
to Kentucky, where he died a natural death.

In 1839, the town of Arenzville was found-
ed by Francis Arenz.

Thus matters stood from 1837 to 1843, dur-
ing which time there grew a feeling of dis-
satisfaction among the people of the southern
half of the townships seventeen and other
parts of Morgan County, with Jacksonville;
and there was such effort made to dissever

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

their relations, that two statutes were passed
by the Legislature in the session of 1843,
which provided for the accomplishment of
three objects: one of which was that a vote
be taken whether Murgan County should be
divided into two counties, one of which was
to remain by the name of Morgan County,
and the other by the name of Benton; second,
that the tier of half townships, known as
seventeen, or the " three mile strip," on the
north side of Morgan County, be added to
Cass County; and third, that Cass County
should vote for the selection of a permanent
county seat. The election on the first propo-
sition was held in Morgan County on the first
Monday in August, 1843, and resulted unfav-
orably to the creation of the county of Benton
The proposition to annex the " three-mile
strip," was held in the four different precincts
in that strip of territory, on the first Mon-
day in May, 1845, and stood as follows:

For attaching to Cass. Against attaching.

Arenzville 115 5

At tlie house of Henry Price 70 14

Princeton 41 35

At the house of Wm. Berry 20 24

M ijority for attaching the "three-mile strip"
to Cass, 1(38.

On the first Monday in September, 1843,
there was an election held in Cass County to
determine the permanent location of the
county seat, at which election the vote stood
as follows:

Precincts. For Bear(isto\vn. For Virginia.

Virginia 2 234

Richmond 21 34

Monroe 17 7

Beardstown 413 13

Majority for Beardstown, 165.

The county seat was removed to Beards-
town, and on the eighth day of February,
1845, the town of Beardstown presented the
county commissioners' court with lot one, in

block thirty-one, in that town, with the court

house and jail thereon completed. On the
sixth of March, 1846, Keddick Horn sold his
farm, consisting of 134 acres, in sections
twenty-eight and twenty-nine, in township
eighteen, range eleven, to the county of Cass,
for a " home for the poor of the county," for
$1,500.

By the breaking out of the Mormon war,
in 1845, Beardstown again became the rendez-
vous for the State forces called out to coerce
into obedience to our State laws that peculiar
people. The troops were under the com-
mand of Brigadier-Gi'neral John J. Hardin,
of Jacksonville, Illinois.

The towTi of Chandlerville was begun in
1848, by Dr. Charles Chandler; and Ashland
in 1857"

From 1850 to 1852, Cass County was in-
fested by horse thieves, who resided in the
county, some half dozen of which were ar-
rested in the latter year, and brought before a
magistrate for examination. One of the
number was a large, powerful, good-looking
young Hungarian, named Eugene Honorius.
We were prosecuting the case, and felt satis-
fied from what we could learn, that he had no
heart in that nefarious business, but was in-
duced to stay with the gang out of love for
the sister of one of them. Not having suf-
ficient testimony, we pressed him into the
service as witness, and by a rigid examina-
tion, extorted all the necessary facts from him
sufficient to hold the rest of the gang, who
were committed to jail.

Before the sitting of the Circuit Court,
however, they all broke jail, and fled to Kan-
sas; from whence the girl to whom Honorius
was attached, wrote back to a friend the
statement: That by an arrangement with the
gang, after they had escaped from jail, one
Sunday she asked the Hungarian to go to a
religious meeting with her, down on Indian
Creek. That they started on horseback, but
that she decoyed him away down on Hog

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Island, where they met the gang, who shot
and killed him in revensre for his having;
'^peached" on them; and that if the prose-
cutors wanted to use him for a witness again
they could find him at a certain place on Hog
Island, and designated it.

Upon being informed of this, John Craig
and the writer rode down there, and at the
place designated in the girl's letter, we found
the bones of a man, evidently about the large
size of Honorius, but so much torn to pieces
and broken by animals, that we could find
but three whole bones, the two thighs and the
jaw bone, which we have yet in our posses-
sion. The perpetrators were never re-taken,
but the county was not troubled with horse-
thieves for a long time afterwards.

By virtue of the State Constitution of 18-18,
a statute was passed by the legislature of 1849,
abolishing the County Commissioners' Court,
and the office of Probate Justice of the Peace,
and creating instead the County Court, con-
sisting of one judge and two associate justices
of the peace.

The first court elected under the new law
was: James Shaw, judge; Wm. Taylor and
Thomas Plaster, associates.

At the same session an act was passed
authorizing counties to adopt township organ-

ization, if a majority of the citizens should
favor it. An effort was made at that time,
and several others by a vote of the people
have been made since, to adopt that form of
county government in Cass County, but have
failed; the people in every instance prefer-
ring to remain under the old form of organi-
zation.

In the same year, 1849, Beardstown was
incorporated as a city, with the same charter
as those of Springfield and Quincy. In this
year also occurred the third election for loca-
tion of the county seat, which was decided
in favor of Beardstown. Another election
was had in 1857, and another in 1868, for
the same purpose, but the county seat still
remained at Beardstown. Another election
was held in 1872, under the Constitution of
1870, and a new general statute governing re-
location of county seats. The history of this
last election and its results is too fresh in the
memory to need repeating now. By it the
county seat was removed to Virginia, where
it now remains.

The first census taken after Cass County
was formed, was in 1840; it then had a total
population of 2,981. In 1850, it had 7,25.3;
in 1860, 11,325; in 1870, 11,580; in 1880,
14,493.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER Y.

FERTILE LANDS OF C.YSS— ITS GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS— COAL MEASURES— DIFFERENT

DEPOSITS— COAL— BCILDING STONE- LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM CASS

COUNTY — PRINCIPAL COUNTY OFFICERS SINCE FORMATION — ILLINOIS

RIVER ITEMS, ETC.

CASS County, being highly favored with fer-
tile lands, and all which, with industry,
goes to make up wealth, has prospered ever
since it was formed. In the beginning it had
but little developed wealth. A few farms
scattered along the edges of the timbered
lands or in the river bottom-lands and the
little town of Beardstown was about all.
But notwithstanding its small territory, it has
bounded along and now competes with its
most progressive neighbors. Its prairie and
bottom lands are now in cultivation, and
great farms and substantial farm houses now
stand where a few years since were waste
places. A few years ago the barren lands,
(so-called because a former growth of timber
was supposed to have exhausted the soil) were
unsettled, and considered almost worthless,
but now they are known to be very produc-
tive, especially for wheat, and have been all
taken up and mostly cultivated. Also the
sand-ridges scattered along the river bottoms
are found to be profitable for the production
of melons, sweet potatoes, beans, etc., and
have been turned to account for these pur-
poses. Our cities and towns are in a prosper-
ous condition, having their fair share of
manufactories, and commerce and other
means of continued prosperity. We have
the Illinois river and abundance of railroads
for business and pleasure ; the St. Louis &
Rock Island, Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville,
and Chicago & Alton R. R.'s running north
and south, and the Beardstown and Spring-

field branch of the O. & M., running east and
west.

The history of the present generation of
the prominent and representative people of
Cass County will be found in the biographies
and in the description of its cities, tovvns and
business, as set forth in other parts of this
work, and which will form a continuation of
this history.

Cass County is bounded on the north by
Mason County, on the east by Menard County,
on the south by Morgan County, and on
the west by the centre of the channel of the
Illinois river. Its superficial area is about
four hundred and sixty square miles. The
level of its high prairie lands is about six
hundred and thirty feet above that of the
ocean, forty-five feet above the level of Lake
Michigan, and three hundred and forty feet
above low water at Cairo, in the Illinois
river.

The surface of the county is, for the most
part, gently undulating, becoming hilly and
broken only along the courses of the streams.
In the western part, along the Illinois river,
there is a strip of bottom land, varying in
width from three and one-half to five miles.
This extends also along the Sangamon river,
on the northern border.

The soil of the prairie portion of this county
is the same as that in the whole of this por-
tion of the State, a dark-colored loam with a
lighter colored clay sub-soil. On the ridges
and bluffs which skirt the streams, we find

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

this sub-soil everywhere, except upon the
Loess formation, exposed at the surface of
the ground, and generally bearing a heavy
growth of timber. On the bottom lands the
soil is an alluvial arenaceous loam, and, ex-
cepting in localities where the sand too
greatly predominates, is an excellent and
productive soil.

The principal kinds of timber noon the up-
lands are the common varieties of oak, hickory,
elm, sugar maple, black and white walnut,
linden, and various species which are rather
less frequent. On the bottoms there are the
willow, soft maple, ash, sycamore, cottonwood,
water oak, etc., in addition to some of the be-
fore-mentioned species, forming a consider-
able proportion of the timber. The propor-
tion of prairie to wooded land is probably
nearly evenly divided.

The geological formations in this county
consist of the Quaternary deposits, the Loess
and Drift, and the Coal Measures, which alone
of the older formation underlie the surface
beds of clay, gravel, etc. The Loess forms
the bluffs aloner the Illinois and Sansramon
bottoms. Its general features here are the
same as in the other river counties, and it
forms the same bold bluffs that are seen in
other localities along the Illinois and Missis-
sippi Rivers. The material here is an ash or
buff-colored marly sand, containing fossil
fresh-water shells of existing species. Tiie
thickness of the formation is considerable,
some sixty or seventy feet immediately at the
bluffs, but it rapidly thins out in the back
country, in many places disappearing entirely
within a very short distance. It appears to
extend the farthest inland along the Sanga-
mon River north of Virginia, and several good
sections of this deposit may be seen in the
cuts on the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville
Railroad, between that place and Chandler-
ville.

The Drift Deposits consist of brown, yellow

and blue clays, with boulders, while sand and
gravel seams are of frequent occurrence amid
the mass. The thickness can hardly be esti-
mated, as experiments have not been made,
but will probably range between forty and
one hundred feet. ,

Coal Measures, so far as developed, com-
prises a thickness of over three hundred feet
of the middle and lower portion of the series,
and contains two or three seams of coal of
workable thickness. The principal exposures,
commencing with the lowest, are as follows:

In the southwest part of section 21, town-
ship 18, range 11, where the wagon road be-
tween Virginia and Beardstown comes down
through the bluffs to the bottom lands along
the Illinois river, there are several old coal
shafts, only one of which (late Mr. Kinney's)
is now worked. This is reported to have
afforded the following section:

1. Soil (Loess) 15 feet.

2. Brownish sandstone, containing many vegeta-

ble impressions 13 ''

3. Limestone (" Blue Rock ") 2 "

4. Clay Sliale(" Soapstone") 12 ''

5. Coal (No. 1 of Illinois river section) 3 "

6. Fire clay, very hard 4 "

No. 3 of this section crops out alono- the
bluff road, at the edge of the bluffs, and a
few rods farther west, in ledges several feet
in vertical exposure. It is a soft micaceous
sandstone, of a light brown or whitish brown
color, and appears slightly crumbling at this
locality. About a quarter of a mile further
north the coal seam No. 4 is reported to have
been reached by digging in at the foot of the
bluff and worked by stripping. Still farther
to the northward, in the northwest quarter of
the same section, in an old quarry on the side
of the bluff, a little to the right of the wagon
road, is an exposure of about ten feet in
thickness, of a heavy bedded sandstone, the
same as that which is met with in the shaft,
and exposed on the roadside near by. A lit-

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

tie farther northeast, near the eastern line of
section 16, the coal seam is said to appear
again, and to have been worked to a slight
extent in the side of a ravine about half a
mile from the road.

Above the north line of section 21, the
bluffs, for about two miles, are mostly of
Loess, and it is necessary to go up the side
ravines in order to see the exposures of
rock. About half a mile up the large ra-
vine, which cuts through the bluffs in the
southern part of section 10, on the eastern
side, there is another exposure of the sand-
stone (No. 2 of the section), and a little above
this, near the northwest corner of section 14,
there is about ten feet exposed of the shales
No. 4, capped by a single layer of limestone
two feet thick (No. 3).

The coal seam must be very near the bot-
tom of the ravine at this point, but it is not
exposed.

The outcrops of the sandstone continue up
this ravine and its branches in the eastern
part of section 14 and the western part of
section 15, for about three-quarters of a mile
above this point, and then disappear entirely.
The rock is, in most respects, the same as in
the localities before described, a soft, even
textured sandstone, varying in color from
brownish red to a dirty white, and in some
portions having a light bluish tinge and a
slightly variegated appearance.

It contains a great abundance of fossil
vegetable remains, calamites, etc., but from
the nature of the rock very few are found in
a good state of preservation.

From the mouth of this ravine, for a short
distance to the northeast, along the face of
the bluffs, there are no very good exposures
of any of the beds. There seems to be here,
however, a low anticlinal, the strata having
gradually risen until, at this point, the coal
seam No. 4 has been worked by drifting into
the side of the bluff almost midway between

the base and summit. The crown of the arch
is very near this point, and the direction of
the axis of the fold must be, judging from ap-
pearances, about southeast.

The seam of coal is said to be about three
feet thick at this point, but at present only
the entrances to tlie old drifts and the debris
can be seen, no work having been done here
for a number of years.

A short distance further along the liluif
road, nearly on the line between sections 10
and 11, another large ravine opens out, and
the rock again appears. The coal seam was
formerly worked also at this point, at a level
some fifteen or twenty feet above the road,
though its outcrop is not now visible. Just
below the level of the old drift there is an
outcrop of what appears to be a nodular ar-
gillaceous limestone, which is probably just
underlying the fire-clay.

Above the opening of the drift the Shale
No. 4 appears, and still higher up the bank
the Limestone No. 3 has been slightly quar-
ried, and above all the sandstone No. 2 ap-
pears, but at present the debris of the sand-
stone and shale covers all the lines of junc-
tion, and no very reliable measurements of the
thickness of the beds can be taken. The
sandstone continues to appear in the sides of
the ravine, and in the bed of the small stream
which occupies it for upwards of half a mile.
Its total thickness, although in no place so
fully exposed as to afford an opportunity for
accurate measurement, can hardly be less
than fifty or sixty feet.

East of the mouth of this ravine, through
the northern half of sectiou 11, this sandstone
appears in ledges in the bluffs, at an elevation
of fifty feet or more above the road, and has
been quarried in some of the small ravines.
In one of these ravines, in the Northeast
quarter of section 11, there was a single out-
crop of the coal seam, the exposed thickness
of which is about three feet. This is on the

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Northeastern slope of the anticlinal, and only
a little further on the Loess and Alluvium
come down to the road, and the exposures of
rock oease to appear for the distance of sever-
al miles.

Leaving the last mentioned localities, and
continuing eastward along the base of the
bliiflFs, the next prominent exposure is met
witji near the center of the western part of
section ten, township eighteen, range ten, on
the left bank of Job's creek, just above the
point where it comes out of the bluffs and enters
the bottoms. Here the Sandstone No. two
has been quarried in the hillside, some thirty
feet or more above the water, presenting pre-
cisely the same appearance as at the other
localities already mentioned. The lower beds
of limestone and shale, and the coal seams, if,
indeed, they occur above the bottom of the
ravine at all, are completely hidden by the
frao-ments and debris from above. The sand-
Stone appears again at one or two points
further east, within the distance of one mile,
in the northeast quarter of section ten, and
almost on the line between sections ten and
eleven.

The only remaining locality in Uass County,
where the older rocks appear at the surface,
or are artificially exposed, is on Panther creek,
near Chandlerville, in sections five and six,
township eighteen, range nine. A shallow
coal shaft in the southeast quarter of section
six, afforded the following section :

feet, inches.

1. .Surface soil 4

2. Gravel (blue bind) 4

3. Black slate 2

4. Clny shale (soaiisl one) 13

5. Coal 2 6

6. Fin- clay, passing downward into

nodular limestone 2

7. Clay, penetrated 2

The shale and slate appear in the bank of
the creek for upwards of half a mile above the
coal diggings, seldom rising more than two
or three feet above the water's edge. No

fossils were discovered. It seems quite prob-
able that this seam of coal is the same as that
in the expostires further west, although from
the lack of continuity in the exposures, and
other sufficient evidence, it may, perhaps,
be best to refer to it only provisionally.

Coal. — All parts of Cass County appear to
be underlaid by the coal measures, which here
include the horizon of four or five different
seams of coal. It seems highly probable, in-
deed, that there is no portion of the county,
excepting the bottom lands along the Illinois
and Sangamon rivers, that is not underlaid by
at least one coal bed of workable thickness.
The lowest of these seams, which is exposed
or worked anywhere in this region is prob-
ably the coal No. 1 of the general sec-
tion of the State, identical with the Exeter
coal of Scott County, although it is possible
that it may prove to be No. 2 of the general
section, or the same as the NeeleyviUe coal in
Morgan County.

The absence of black slate in the roof and
the great thickness of the sandstone above,
are fa?ts which seem to slightly favor this
view, but are, however, not conclusive.

The absence of exposures in the southwest-
ern portion of Cass County is to be regretted,
as not affording the means of positively de-
termining this question.

This seam of coal is now actively worked ■
at only one or two points in Cass County, al-
though it was formerly much more extensively
mined along its out-crop on the side of the
bluffs of the Illinois and Sangamon rivers.
The seam will average three feet in thick-
ness, and is of fair quality. The discontin-
uance of the most of the mining operations
was mainly due to the small local demind
and the competition of other mines in the
adioining counties on the Illinois rivej.

BuiLDiXG Stone. — The brownish sandstone
which occurs in very heavy beds above the
roof shales of coal No. 2, promises well for

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

this purpose. It is usually of a reddish-brown
color, though in some places it approaches a
dirty white, or has a bluish tinge, is very soft
and easily dressed when first quarried out,
but is said to harden on exposure. At the
junction of this rock and the underlying
shales there is generally from one to three
feet in thickness of limestone, which has been
also quarried to soma extent at a few points.
The quantity of this sandstone is such that it
is practically inexhaustible; it is probable, how-
ever, that all parts of it will not be found to
answer equally well as a building stone.

Other Building Materials. — Limestones
suitable for the manufacture of a fine article
of quicklime are found wherever limestone
can be obtained for building stone. Some
selection, however, has to be made among the
beds at some points for a material which will
afford an article of lime suitable to supply
the local needs.

Cla}' and sand for brick making are found
in abundance in all parts of the county, and
will probably become one of the chief sources
of building material in those parts distant
from available stone quarries.

The general surface configuration and soils
of the county have been noticed in this
sketch, and but little more need be said on
that branch of the subject. The soil of the
upland prairies takes rank with the best in
Central Illinois in general agricultural value.
The soil of the timbered portions is also pro-
ductive when properly cultivated.

Along the Illinois and Sangamon rivers, in
the bottom lands, there are occasional sandy
tracts or ridges, generally covered, before
being put into cultivation, with a dense
growth of stunted oak and black-jack, and
frequently with prickly pears, which are, of
course, inferior in richness of soil, but which
are of late years being successfully used in
the cultivation of melons, sweet-potatoes,
beans, grapes, etc.; but, as a general thing, the

soil of these bottoms is a deep rich arenace-
ous loam, which, when sufficiently elevated,
or properly drained, or guarded with dykes
to prevent overflows of water from the rivers,
is one of the most productive soils iu the
State.

One of the greatest difficulties which a
large portion of the farmers of Cass County
will have to encounter in the future, is the
washing of hilly uplands by heavy rains,
and the consequent covering and ruin of rich
bottom lands by sand and poor clay silt. Al-
ready much damage and many lawsuits have
grown out of it, and unless some concerted
and united action is had by the parties inter-
ested, the future will bring much greater
damage and increased litigation. Another
important matter that should be taken into
consideration, is the frequent and destructive
overflow of the creeks. This could be rem-
edietl in most instances by straightening the
creeks by cutting channels across the bends,
and removing the drift wood from the bed,
by a combination of neighborhoods, all those
interested working together for the common
good ; or a remedy could be had under the
drainage law.

But the above remarks are sufficient for a
general description of the county and its
wealth-producing qualities. For the geo-
loo-ical facts herein contained I have mostly
drawn on the " Economical Geology of Illi-
nois," a work of undoubted authority.

The following are the names of the resident
representatives of Cass County in the Legis-
lature :

William Holmes for the years 1838-40

Amos S. West " " 1840-42

David Epler " " 1842-44

John M. Pratt " " 1842-46

Francis Arenz " " 1844-46

Edward W. Turner " " 1846-48

Richard S. Thomas " " 1848-50

Cyrus Wright " " 1852-54

Samuel Christy " " 1856-u8

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Hy. E. Dummer, Senator .

Frederick Rearick

James M. Epier

James M. Epler

James M. Epler, Senator ,

William W. Easley

John F. Snyder

John W. Savage.

J. Henry Shaw

1860-6i
1860-62
1862-64
1866-68
1868-72
1870-74
1878-80
1878-80
1880-82

Tiie principal officers of Cass County since
its formation, are as follows :

COUNTY COMMISSIONEBS, OASS COUNTY.

, [eI(

Joshua P. Crow.

Amos Bonney 1- Elected August 7, 1837.'

George F. Miller

Joshua P. Crow.

Amos Bonney.

Isaac C. Speuce. . . .Elected August 6, 1838.

Amos Bonney.

John C. Scott. Elected August 3, 1840, for 3 years.

Marcus Chandler. . . " " 2 "

John C. Scott.

Marcus Chandler.

W. J. DeHaven Elected August, 1841.

John C. Scoit. • •

W. J. DeHaven.

Robert Leeper Elected August, 1842.

John C. Scott.

W. J. De Haven.

Henry McHenry . . .Elected December 26, 1842.

W. J. DeHaven.

Henry McHenry.

Jesse B. Pence Elected August 7, 1843.

Henry McHenry.

J. B. Pence.

George B. Thompson . Elected August, 1844.

J. B. Pence.

George B. Thompson.

Wm. McHenry. ..Elected Ist Monday of August, 1845.

J. B. Thompson.

"William McHenry.

Henry McHenry. .Elected 1st Monday of August, 1846.

■William McHenry.

Henry McHenry.

George H. Nolle. .Elected 1st Monday of August, 1847.

Henry McHenry.
George H. Nolle.
Geo. W. Weaver. .Elected 1st Monday of August, 1848.

COUNTY COURT, ESTABLISHED 1849.

James Shaw, Judge -v

William Taylor, Associate \ Elected November 6, 1849.
Thomas Plaster, Associate J

James Shaw, Judge.

Thomas Plaster, Associate.

Jacob Ward, Associate Elected May 19, 1851.

John A. Arenz, Judge.,,, ■>

Isaac Epler, Associate,,,, >■ Elected November, 1853.

Sylvester Paddock. )

John A. Arenz, Judge.

Sylvester Paddock, Associate.

John M. Short, Associate. . . .Elected November, 1855.

H. C. Havekluft, Judge... -.

Wm. McHenry, Associate. [ Elected November, 1857.

G. W. Sliawen, Associate. J

F. H. Rearick, Judge Elected November, 1861.

Wm. McHenry, Associate.

G. W. Shawen, Associate.

John A. Arenz, Judge ■»

Jennings G. Mathis, Associate !• ElectedNovember,1865.
Samuel Smith, Associate. ... J

Alexander Huffman, Judge ■»

Andrew Struble, ^ssoci'aie. > Elected November, 1869.

Jeplhah Plaster, Associate. J

F. H. Rearick, Judge Elected February 24, 1872.

Andrew Struble, Associate.
Jepthah Plaster, Associate.

John W. Savage, Judge Elected November, 1873.

Jacob W. Rearick, Judge Elected November, 1877.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

Wm. Campbell . . i

John H. Melone. (• Elected Nov. 1873.

Robert Fielden. . )

William Campbell.

John M. Melone.

Luke Dunn Elected November, 1875.

John M. Melone.

Luke Dunn.

Robert Crum Elected 1876.

HlSTUitV OF CASS COUNTY.

Luke Dunn.

Robert Crum.

Kobert Clark Elected 1877.

Robert Crum.
Robert Clark.
Thomas Knight Elected 1878.

Robert Clark.

Thomas Knight.

Robert Crura Re elected 1879.

Thomas Knight.

Robert Crum.

Lewis C. Hackman Elected 1880.

Robert Crum.

Lewis C. Hackman.

Luke Dunn Re-elected 188L

PROBATE JUSTICES — 18.37 TO 1849.

John S. Wilbourne Elected August 7, 1837

Joshua P. Crow " " 1839

Alexander Huffmann " '' 1841

H. E. Dummer " " 1843

Hulett Clark " " 1847

H. E. Dummer " May 13, 1849

SHERIFFS.

Lemon Plas ters Elected A ugust 7, 1 83 7

John Savage '• " 1841

Joseph M. McLean " " 1848

J. B. Fulks " November, 18.50

William Pitner " " 1852

James Taylor " " 18-54

James A. Dick '• " 1856

Francis H. Rearick " " 18.58

James Taylor " " 1860

Charles E. Yeck " " 1862

James A. Dick " " 1864

Charles E. Yeck " " 1866

Thomas Chapman " " 1868

Horace Cowan " " 1870

George Volkmar " " 1872

William Epler " " 1874

A. H. Seilschott " " 1876

" " 1878

" " " " 1880

CLERKS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.

John M. Pratt Elected in 1837

H. H. Carpenter " 1845

Lewis F. Sanders " 1847

CLERKS OF THE COUNTr COURT.

Lewis F. Sanders, elected in 1 849

Allen J. Hill, " 1857

James B. Black, " 1873

CLERKS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.

Nathaniel B. Thompson, appointed by the Judge 1837
James Berry, " " "

date of appointment not known.
Reddick Horn, appointed by the Judge, date of

appointment not known.

Thomas R. Sanders, elected in 1848

Sylvester Enimons, " 1852

James Taylor, " 1856

Henry Phillips, " 1860

C. F. Diffenbacher, " 1868

Albert F. Arenz, " 1872

Thomas V. Finney, " 1876

Finis E. Downing " 1880

SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Richard S. Thomas 1845

John B. Shaw, 1849

Frank Holenger, 1857

J.ames K. Vandemark, 1861

Harvey Tate 1869

John Gore 1873

Allen J. Hill 1877

ST.iTE's ATTORNEYS.

Linus C, Chandler, elected in 1872

.\rthur A. Leeper, " 1876

Reuben R. Hewitt, " 1880

COUNTY ASSESSORS AND TREASURERS.

*Thomas Wibourne, ■>

Isaac W. Overall L 1837-1838

William W. Babb, J

•Note.— Thomas Wilbourne « as elected Treasurer, Aug.
7, 1837, and afterward resigned, and Isaac W Overall was
elected Decemb t 16. 1857, to till the vacancy, and took pos-
session of the office and entered upon its duties, but his elec-
tion was contested by William VV. Babb, and Babb was de-
clared the rightful incumbent.

JIartin F. Higgins was re-elected .\ssessor and Treasurer.
November S, 183:1. but died shortly afterward, and Phtneasr
T Underwood was elected to fill the vacancy, and re-elected
in 1S5.3.

John L. Cire died during his last term of office, and John
Rahn w.as appointed by the County Commissioners to fill the
viif ancy. and he was elected by the people November ISsI, to
fill a constitutional interim of one year.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

William H. Nelms. 1838-1839

Koberf, G. Games, 1839-1847

John Craig, 1847-1851

Martin F. Higgins, term of office 1851-1853

Phineas T. Underwood, " 1853-1857

Frank A. Hammer, " 1857-1859

David C. Dilley, " 185 J-1871

Pliillip H. Bailey, " 1871-1873

JohnL. Cire, " 1873-1881

John Rahn, " 1881

Illinois River Memoranda. — The follow-
ing we have collected from various sources, as
well as largely from our own observation:

1640. — Twenty years after the settlement
of Plymouth Colony, the Illinois river was first
navigated by white men in pirogues and birch
canoes, and Illinois was colnoized by French-
men, and added to the French Dominion.

1073. — Marquette and Joliet with five fol-
lowers, crossed Wisconsin in canoes to the
Mississippi river, down that stream and up the
Illinois to Lake Michigan, the point of their
departure, the entire route being at that time,
and for a hundred years later, navigable for
pirogues and canoes, the route being via Green
Bay, and the Wisconsin, Mississippi, Illinois,
Kankakee and St. Joseph rivers. There was
another navigable connection, during the
whole of that period, between the Illinois and
Like Michigan, by means of the DesPlaines
and Chicago rivers, which men now alive
h:;ve traveled in pirogues, all the vvay.

1G70, Dec. — The Illinois, Kinkakee and St.
Joseph route was navigated by La Salle and
thirty-three followers.

1081, Aug. — ■Illinois, Kankakee and St.
Joseph route again navigated by La Salle
and party.

1083. — La Salle and party navigated the
waters from Lake Michigan, across Wiscon-
sin, down the Mississippi, up the Illinois,
Kankakee and St. Joseph, to the lake. At
that time Boardstown was upon an island,
the water surrounding it the year round,
perm inently.

1G87, Sept. — The Illinois, Kankakee and
St. Joseph route navigated by seven French-
men, mutineers and murderers of La Salle,
on their way from Arkansas to Lake Michigan.

1693. — Gravier and his followers settled at
Kaskaskia, Cohokia and Peoria, and from this
time for fifty years the Illinois was continually
navigated by canoes, pirogues, and other small
boats.

1735 — The first of the four greatest floods
of the Westen rivers.

1750 — Vivier says that forty vessels from
the Illinois River landed at New Orleans,
laden with lumber, brick, beef, tallow, cotton,
myrtle, wax, leather, tobacco, lead, iron, cop-
per, wild game, tar, skins, furs, pork, bears'
oil, flour, and other articles of produce.

From this time on for many years, the
principal part of the produce received at New
Oi leans was shipped from the Illinois River.

K03 — LaClede founded St. Louis, which
gave a new impetus to commerce in the Illi-
nois River, it being a nearer market. At
this time the Illinois country was ceded by
France to Great Britain, which closed the
French war.

1772 — Second great flood.
1778 — Illinois was conquered and taken from
Great Britain by Virginia, and was added
to that State, and named Illinois Cout)ty.

1785 — A great flood on the Illinois and all
Western Rivers, the third highest ever known.

1786 — Another great flood. The Ohio rose
fifty-nine feet above low water mark. The
stage of water in the Illinois River is not
recorded that I can find, but known to be
very high.

1792 — Another great flood. The Ohio rose
sixty- three feet above low water mark. Stage
of the Illinois not recorded, but very high.

1800 — The population of Illinois, on the
borders of its rivers, 3,000.

1810— Great flood in all the Western
rivers. The Ohio at Pittsburg higher than

HISTORY OF CASS COUXTY.

ever before known. Stage of the llliuois not
recorded. Steamer " Orleans," the first on
Western rivers, built.

1811 — On the 16th day of December began
the most remarkable phenomena that ever
occurred in North America : an earthquake,
the continued shocks of which lasted for the
space of three months, a longer period than
ever before known ; the effects of wliich
were felt in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee,
Kentucky and Arkansas, the focus of which
seemed to be about the mouth of the Ohio.
It made great commotion in the rivers, the
banks of which caved in by whole acres at a
time. Large islands disappeared under the
waters. The town of New Madrid, Missouri,
was destroyed, and the river now runs over
part of its former site. The balance of it is
lower by twenty-five feet than it was before.
The bed of the river just below the mouth of
the Ohio raised up like a bow and turned up
stream, until its pent-up waters with accumu-
lated force swept over the barrier and poured
into the craters and fissures of the ground,
when they were again thrown out in huge
streams higher than the trees.

The river was navigated at that time bv
many flat-boats from the Illinois, Upper
ISIississippi and Oliio Rivers, some of which
were swallowed up in the great chasms of
tiie river. There was much loss of life and
property. Fortunately at that time the coun-
try was sparsely settled; for no building could
have withstood its fury.

This calamity checked the commerce of the
Illinois River, as indeed also the general pros-
perity of the Western States. All immigra-
tion stopped, and the impression became gen-
eral in the Eastern and Middle States that
Illinois and Missouri were so subject to earth-
quakes, as to be forever unsafe as a place of
lubitation. But in a few years this impres-
sion with its attendant fears wore away, and
immigration aojain was resumed.

There have been but two earthquakes in
Illinois since that time, one in 1840 and the
other in 1862; both slight shocks; the one in
1810, however, doing some little damage to
brick buildinofs and chimneys.

181.5 — The steamer " Enterprise " built, and
run from New Orleans to Louisville, the first
steamboat which ever run up stream in
the Western rivers. The "Orleans" was
able only to run down stream, and
had to be cordelled back. From 1815, steam-
boats multiplied very fast, and the pirates,
who in large numbers had infested the west-
ern rivers, began to disappear, and finally
ceased their depredations altogether.

1826, June 2. — The Illinois and Mississippi
were higher than before known for forty years.
The river was up to Main street, in St. Louis,
which caused great destruction of property.

1827.— Steamer "Mechanic," John S.
Clark, captain, first steamboat ever up the Illi-
nois river.

1828. — Another great flood, supposed to be
as great as that of 1792.

1829. — Beardstown was founded by Thomas
Beard.

1830, 31. — The great snow, six feet deep.

1836.^The Illinois and Mississippi again
flooded. The water at St. Louis was fifty-
four feet above low water mark, being nine
feet ten inches higher than in 1810.

18 )7. — Steamer "\^'ave " burned near Peru;
one man lost, a passenger, who was drowned.

1814. — This was the greatest flood on rec-
ord in this or any other country, since the
days of Noah. Every river west of the Alie-
ghanies and north of the gulf of Mexico, rose
simultaneously, and the channel of the Jliss-
issippi was unable to pass out the vast amount
of water which came into it. Four hundred
human beings, and a great number of horses
cattle and other stock lost their lives.

The water was one foot deep on Main
Street, in Beardstown, and tliis city again

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

became an island, with ten feet depth of water
between it and the bluifs. The water rose
to a level with the second story windows on
Front Street, St. Louis. A great many towns
were inundated and houses washed away.

The four greatest floods on the Mississippi
River and its tributaries, within the last 150
years, are those of 1735, 1773, 1785 and
1814.

1848 — "Planter" exploded and burned at
Jones' Ferry on the Illinois River. Five
persons were killed and many scalded, some
of whom afterward died. The captain
escaped harm, but was shortly afterward
killed by the explosion of the " Saluda," on
the Missouri River.

1849- -Another flood this year. The water
was on a level with Main Street, in Beards-
town, and again it became an island. The
people on the lower Mississippi suffered more
than in 1844, on account of crevasses, their
losses araouiiting to $00,000,000. The water
was ten feet deep in some of the streets of
New Orleans. At this time, and for several
years afterward, steamboating on the Illinois
River arrived at the zenith of its glory and
jjrosperity. During these years it boasted
the finest vessels which ever floated on its
waters ; among which were the Die Vornon,
Pi-airie State, Cataract, Garden City, Ocean
Wave, Belle Gould, Polar Star, and many
others ; they were truly floating palaces, and
the travel was upon the river and canal ex-
clusively, there being no railroad convenient
for that class of travelers. On May 17th of
this year, occurred the great confligration in
St. Louis, by which several whole blocks of
buildings and twenty-three steamboats were
burned, among which were the Prairie State
and Acadii, Illinois River packets.

1S50 — Financier, an Illinois River packet,
exploded at Alton. Seven lives lost.

1851 — August 20, Dacotah exploded at
Peoriii; eleven lives lost. November 27, Die

Vernon and Archer collided three miles above
the mouth of the Illinois River; the Archer
sank immediately; twenty-three persons were
drowned, whose names were known, also quite
a number on deck, whose names were un-
known. In this year there were two floods,
the two continuing so long as to cause more
damage than any former one. The water was
highest on the 11th of June, when it was four
teet nine inches lower than the high water
mark of 1844.

1853— Prairie State No. 2 exploded April
25th, at Pekin; twenty lives lost. In April,
the Illinois was very high, but no unusual
damage was done. The Ohio rose as high as
in 1833, doing an immense injury to prop-
erty.

1856— Illinois River on a level with Main
street, running over at one place, Lafayette
Street. March 33, Tropic and Challenge
first boats up. Ocean Spray burned. De-
cember 14, river closed.

In 1853 and 1856, during the high water,
first-class steamboats went entirely around
Beardstown without any difficulty.

1857— February 18, Brazil first boat up.
River moderate. November 19, river closed.
December 1, opened and remained navigable
until Fe'iruary 19, when it closed.

1858 — March 11, river opened; Adriatic
first boat up. River did not close again.
Prairie State collapsed a flue; one man killed.
This spring the river was very high, being
nearly as high as in 1844. The water crossed
over Main Street, and all the lower parts
covered. The city again an island, and a first-
class steamer, loaded with passengers, went
around it.

1859.— January 21, River closed for the
first time. Open to St. Louis on the 28th.
February 3, closed again. February 16, F.
X. Aubry first boat up. December 15, closed.

I860.— February 2], Polar Star first boat
up. Belle Peoria burned. November 24

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

river closed. December 7, Sara Young came
up. December 13, river closed. January 1,
deep snow ; very cold ; railroads generally
blocked up ; mails stopped ; and traveling
suspended two weeks.

ISGl.— February 16, Polar Star first boat
up. Still very cold ; some ice running. Feb-
ruary 22, Minnesota Belle came up. Decem-
ber 36, river closed.

1862.- -March 12, Minnesota Belle first
boat up. December 6, river over the Schuy-
ler bottom lands, and closed. December 12,
river op?n. La Salle first boat up.

1863. — February 3, river closed until Feb-
ruary 13. Lacon first boat down. December
9, river closed.

1864. — February 2, Schuyler first boat up.
February 16, river closed. February 22, riv-
er open. From September 1 until October
13, only two feet of water in channel, and nav-
igation suspended. December 9, river closed

1865.— February 20, City of Pekin first
boat up. December 13, river closed. De-
cember 31, thermoneter 14° below 0, Fahren-
heit. December 33, 14° below.

1866. — January 31, six o'clock p. si., ther.
mometor 4° above, with heavy rain, freezing
as it fell, and heavy thunder and lightning
mercury falling rapidly meantime, until nine
o'clock p. M. it stood 8° below, where it stood
until morning. Thunder and lightning listed
one hour, say until seven o'clock P. >t. It
will require a skillful meteorologist to exphiin
these phenomena. February 15th, thermom-
eter 26° below at BearJstowii, which was the
coldest day ever known in this county. In
the northern counties of this State it ranged
from 30 to 40° below. February 16, ther-
mometer 16° below. March 1, Schuyler first
boat up; river over bottom lands. Steamer
Farragut collided with the Meredosia bridofe,
wheri'by the canal boat Ajax, with entire
cargo was lost, and John Quigg drowned.
The Ajax was in tow of the Farragut. March

17, thermometer 7° above, but river remained
open. Fall quite warm and pleasant until
December 11; turned cold, mercury 8° above.
December 12, 4° above, and ice running thin.
Illinois run down in the morning, cutting her
way through. Same day river got clear of ice
and Farragut went down. December 15,
snowed six inches; weather moderate; 36°
above, but ice running; 17th, 3° below; 19th,
river opened and boats run until Christmas;
25th, ice running; and 26th, river closed, 3
above.

1867.— February 9th and 10th, thermome-
ter 10^ below. March 8, river clear of ice;
Farragut and Gem started down. Boats run
all the week. March 13, weather turned sud-
denly cold, 6° below, ice running; and March
14, river closed. March 20, river open; water
all over the low lands and within three feet
of the surface of Main street, Beardstown.
June 14, Peoria City's last trip down; low
water began. July 20, Illinois' last trip
down. August 8, City of Pekin's last trip
down. Gem collapsed a flue; two men
killed. September 18, Lancaster's last trip
down. December 1, Lakin's last trip down.
December 5, Beardstown's last trip up. River
closed.

1868. — March 4th, river open ; Schuyler
first boat up. March 5, City of Pekin up.
March 9, Beardstown up. March 10, Illinois
up. July 7, Low water began; Schuyler's
last trip down. July 13, Illinois' last trip
down. November 15, river in good stage;
Illinois began regular trips. December 4,
snow six inches; thermometer 33° above".
Belle Pike burst a cylinder; one life lost, one
woinided. December 9, 4° below; river
closed. Illinois last boat up. December 12,
Mercury 10*^ below. The second week in this
month was the coldest week ever exjierienced
in this State, the mercury 26' below, Fahren-
heit.

1809. — January 1, weather warm. January

^>t^-7^

^:'^U^^

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

6, river opened; Pekin up. April 3, river
moderately high, and ferry-boat raa to Fred-
erick. River continued gradually to rise
until August 3, when it reached its highest,
being on State street, in Beardstown, veithin
one foot of the level of Main street. The
rainiest season ever known. River open to
navigation until January 7, 1870.

1871. — November 11, river closed, and re-
mained closed all winter.

1873. — January 28, coldest night ever
known in this State. Early in the morning
the thermometer stood 40° degrees below
zero, Fahrenheit. Mercury congealed. Snow
16 inches deep.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER YI.

AGRICULTURE OF CASS COUNTY— FARMING IN THE PRIMITIVE TIMES— IMPROVED FARM

IMPLEMENTS— AGRICULTURAL FAIRS AND ASSOCIATIONS— LISTS OF OFFICERS-

CASS COUNTY PARK ASSOCIATION— ITS ORGANIZATION, ETC.— FINE STOCK

OF THE COUNTY— SHORT HORN HERDS, ETC.— THE RAILROADS, ETC.

CASS County has the reputation of being
a fine agricultural region, and indeed
the larger portion of the county is as choice
land as may be found in the State. Its
claims to superiority are well founded.
While some counties may show more of rich
soil, and while other counties may be
better adapted to some specialty, yet
it is safe to say that there are few counties
that can lay claim to all the advantages in
climate, soil, water, timber and general health-
fulness that are possessed in a great degree
by this. While in some sections a certain
specialty, may, with propriety, be claimed as
peculiar, we believe that no county combines
so many natural advantages. In some of the
more northern counties we iind perhaps larger
crops of corn, and in some of the more south-
ern, a greater amount of fruit; but these
specialties, even in the localities named, are
not a certain crop. The farmer's safest course
is a diversity of products, and Cass County
furnishes an example of soil and climate
which makes it in an eminent degree fitted
for such pursuits. For a number of years,
the natural advantages of this region were
scarcely appreciated, as the farming was car-
ried on in such a manner as to obtain results
far below those now realized. Better farm
machinery, better methods of planting and
cultivation, and the adoption of crops better
suited to the soil, have wrought great changes.
.In an especial iiinnnpr is tliis true in regard

to methods of planting, cultivating, harvest-
ing and taking care of products.

The way our fathers performed their farm-
ing operations, is so little known to the
present generation who depend mostly upon
farm machinery, requiring the horses to do
all the work which men, women and children
formerly did, that a description of the olden
way, gathered from conversations with some
of the oldest farmers still living, can not prove
otherwise than interesting to some of our
young farmers of the present time. Just
banish from the farm all such modern innova-
tions as reapers, mowers, corn-planters, hay-
rakes, threshing-machines, sulky-plows, riding
corn-cultivators, and a slight conception can
be formed of primitive farming facilities. To
])repare the ground for planting corn it was
plowed over with a wooden-mold board plow,
which had to be cleaned every few rods with
a paddle which hung to one of the handles ; it
was then scratched over with a wooden-toothed
harrow, after which it was "laid-off" both
ways with the one-horse shovel-plow. It
was then ready for planting. This was done
by the boys, the women, children and men ;
the smallest of the children dropping the
grains of corn in the " crosses," where it was
covered with hoes by the men and larger
boys and women. After the planting, and
wlien the corn had come up, then came the
hoeing, now superseded by the improved
cultivators. Plowina: corn with the sino-le-

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

sliovel-plow, was common until a few years
ago, but it has liad to take its place with the
old spinning-wheel and loom, and they are
now counted as relics of a past age. Cutting
wheat, rye, oats and grass was formerly a
laborious process. Even within the recollec-
tion of comparatively young men of the
county, the scythe and cradle were con-
sidered as improved implements of husband-
ry ; but the reaper and mower now in use
not only do a much better job but transfers
the hardest of the labor to the horses.

The old methods in vogue three thousand
years ago, treading out wheat with oxen or
knocking it out with flails, were scarcely im-
proved upon until within a comparatively
recent date. In the early history of this
county these ancient methods prevailed. By-
and-by, came the old thresher — the ground-
hog, as it was called — that merely knocked
the grains from the chaff, leaving the same to
be separated by some other process. One
of these marvelous old machines has not
been seen in Cass County for many a year ; but
in its place we now have the steam thresher,
which not only separates the grain from the
chaff and straw, ready for the mill, but sacks
and counts the number of bushels, and the
next improvement will doubtless be to grind it
and bake it into bread.

It is difficult to comprehend how, with corn
at from six to ten cents per bushel, oats but
little more, wheat at from thirty to fifty, and
other products in proportion, with the market
at Alton, Chicago and St. Louis, a farmer
succeeded in obtaining enough for his products
to pay for saving them. It is not so difficult
to understand why so much of the county lay
for so many years without an occupant. Of
course, the farmers in those days did not ride
in carriages, pay heavy taxes, wear fine
clothes or indulge in many luxuries ; but they
rode to meeting on horseback or in the farm-
waaron, wearing their every-day clothes done

up clean for Sunday, and paid the preacher
with a bag of corn or potatoes, or not at all,
as they felt able. Yet, to say that they did
not live comfortably and independently, would
be a great mistake. The rifle supplied, from
the timber, vension and other game, an 1 the
actual needs of life were all satisfied, though
it would seem a great hardship to go back to
what some are pleased to call the " good old
times."

Cass County has kept up with the improve-
ments, not only in farm machinery, but in the
new methods of farming, and no section of
the State, perhaps, can boast of a finer state
of agriculture than this county. Agricultural
fairs and associations have been organized
for the general improvement of stock, farm
machinery and agriculture.

The Cass County Agricultural Society, was
organized in the court house, at Beardstown,
January 5, 1856. A preliminary meeting had
been held previously, at which a committee on
constitution and by-laws had been appointed.
The committee made a report at this meeting
which was accepted, and at a meeting held in
Virginia, June 15, the Constitution, as report-
ed by the committee, was adopted. Ten acres
of ground were purchased of Robert Hall, ad-
joining the town of Virginia, at a cost of
$-tOO, for Fair Grounds. A Fair Ground
Association was formed, which leased to the
Cass County Agricultural Society, the grounds.
The Fair Ground Association was incorporat-
ed by special act of the Legislature, approved
February 18, 1857. The Association and
the Agricultural Society were composed
mostly of the same individuals (but were two
distinct corporations), and frequently the same
set of officers were elected in both.

The first officers of the Agricultural Society
elected, wore as follows : Francis Arenz, Pres-
ident; Ezra J. Dutch, Treasurer; John W.
Sweeney, Secretary; and .lohn W. Seaman,
James Hickey, Milton Stribliiig, John Prunty,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

and Ebenezer Fish, Directors. At the next
meeting, March 6, 1858, the election resulted
as follows: William Stevenson, Presidetit;
Henry S. Savage, Secretarj'; Z. W. Gatton,
Treasurer; and William Stevenson, David
Epler, Thomas Plasters, John W. Seaman, Z.
W. Gatton, E. W. Turner, and John Prunty,
Directors. March 5, 1859, the old officers
were re-elected, and William Stevenson, J.
M. Hill, William Petefish, John Prunty,!. M.
■^tribling, Z. W. Gatton, and John W. Seaman,
Directors. At the election March 3, 1860, J.
M. Hill was elected President; .John W. Sea-
man, Vice-President; Z. W. Gatton, Treas-
urer; H. S. Savage, Secretary; and J. M. Hill,
N. Seaman, D. J. Cole, J. M. Epler, A. G.
Angler, John Prunty and Z. W. Gatton, Di-
rectors. No officers were elected in 1801; but
on the 2il day of March, the following Di-
rectors were elected: John Prunty, William
Stevenson, E. W. Turner, J. M. Hill, D. J.
Colo, I. M. Stribling and H. H. Hall. March
1, 1SG2, John M. Epler was elected President;
I. M. Stribling, Vice-President ; Z. W. Gat-
ton, Treasurer ; H. S. Savage, Socretarv ; and
John M. Epler, I. M. Stribling, H. S. Savage,
Z. W. Gatton, H. H. Hall and A. G. Angler,
Directors. March 7, 1863, Isaac M. Stribling
was elected President ; D. J. Cole, Vice-
President ; Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer ; H. H.
Hall, Secretary; and I. M. Stribling, D. J. Cole,
H. H. Hall, Z. W. Gatton, J. M.' Epler, S. H.
Petefish, A. G. Angier and John Prunty, Direc-
tors. The next fair was to be held on the 1st
and 2d days of the following September.

At tiie election held March 5, 1861, D. J.
Cole was elected President ; Z. W. Gatton,
Treasurer ; H. H. Hall, Secretary ; and Wm.
Petefish, A. G. Angier, John Prunty, John
W. Seaman, S. H. Petefish and H. S. Savage,
Directors.

April 1, 1865, John Prunty was elected
President ; I. M. Stribling, Vice-President ;
Z. W. Gatton, Treisurer; H. H. Hall, Secre-

tary; and John Prunty, I. M. Stribling, Z. W.
Gatton, William Stevenson, John W. Seaman,
J. Dunnaway, James L. Beggs and Samuel
Petefish, Directors.

March 3, 1866, John Prunty was re-elected
President ; Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer ; Rufus
Rabourn, Secretary ; and John Prunty, I. M.
Stribling, J. H. Bates, A. G. Angier, J. Dnn-
nawa}', H. H. Hall and W. Petefish, Directors.
An order was passed to sell the grounds, but
there is no further record in regard to such
sale.

March 2, 1877, J. W. Seaman was elected
President ; A. G. Angier, Vice-President ; R.
W. Rabourn, Secretary; Z. W. Gatton, Treas-
urer; and I. M. Stribling, William Stevenson,
J. H. Bates, J. A. Petefish and H. H. Hall,
Directors. There is no record of an election
of officers in 1868.

March 6, 1869, J. W. Seaman was elected
President; A. G. Angier, Vice-President; R.
W. Rabourn, Secretary ; E. T. Oliver, Treas-
urer; and Z.W. Gatton, I. M. Stribling, S. H.
Petefish, Robert Hall and D. J. Cole, Direc-
tors.

March 5, 1870, old officers re-elected, and
Joseph Black, John Prunty, J. A. Petefish,
William Stevenson and Robert Hall, Direc-
tors.

March 4, 1871, old officers re-elected, and
John Prunty, William Stevenson, I. M. Strib-
ling, Robert Hall, and J. A. Petefish, directors.

March 2, 1872, I. M. Stribling was elected
President; J. A. Petefish, Vice-president; E.
T. Oliver, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn, Sec-
retary, and John Prunty, A. G. Angier, Rob-
ert Stevenson, Robert Hall, and William
Stevenson, Directors.

March 1, 1873, Robert Stevenson was elect-
ed President; J. M. Epler, Vice-president;
Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn,
Secretary; and Robert Hall, John Prunty, I.
M. Stribling, A. G. Angier, ami J. W. Sea-
man, Directors.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

fi9

March 7, 1874, J. M. Epler was elected
President; P. A. Baker, Vice-president; R. W.
Rabourn, Secretary; J. A. Ejiler, Treasurer;
and T. J. Crum, Robert Hall, T. J. Stribling,
and Robert Stevenson, Directors. The time
set for the next fair was the 1st, 2d, 3d and
4th of September following.

March 6, 1875, J. M. Epler was elected
President; T. J. Crum, Vice-president; J. A.
Epler, Treasurer, R. W. Rabourn, Secretary;
and John Pruiity, T. J. Stribling, Robert
Hall, Morrison Graves, and Robert Stevenson,
Directors.

March 4, 1876, J. W. Seaman was elected
President; T. J. Crum, Vice-president; Mor-
rison Graves, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn,
Secretary, and the old directory was re-
elected.

March 3, 1877, Morrison Graves was elected
President; Robert Hall, Vice-president; R.
W. Rabourn, Secretary; S. H. Petefish,
Treasurer, and John Prunty, J. B. Stevenson,
Oswell Skiles, Robert Hall, C. M. Savage, T.
J. Stribling, and M. Graves, Directors.

March 2, 1878, Morrison Graves was elect-
ed President; T. J. Crum, Vice-president;
R. W. Rabourn, Secretary; S. H. Petefish,
Treasurer, and M. Graves, O. Skiles, John
Prunty, T. J. Crum, C. E. Lippincott, Robert
Stevenson, and W. S. Vance, Directors.

March 1, 1879, J. M. Epler was elected
President; P. A. Buraker, Vice-president;
O. Skiles, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn, Secre-
tary, and .1. M. Epler, C. W. Savage, Henry
Campbell, P. A. Buiakcr, I. M. Stribling, W.
H. Thompson, and Robert Hall, Directors.

March 13, 1880, J. M. Epler was elected
President; O. Skiles, Treasurer; R. W. Ra-
bourn, Secretary, and G. A. Beard, T. J.
Striblng, C. W. Savage, A. G. Eplar, Robert
Hall, Henry Campbell, and John W. McCul-
lough, Directors. The time for holding the
next fair was set for the 17th, 18th, 19th and
20th of August following.

March 3, 1881, Oswell Skiles was elected
President; W. C Barkley, Vice-president;
George Conover, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn,
Secretary, and Oswell Skiles, W. S. Vance, T.
J. Stribling, W. C. Barkley, G. W. Rawlings,
George Conover, and Morrison Graves, Direct-
ors.

The officers for the present year (1882) are
as follows: J. M. Epler, President; John A.
Jones, Vice-president; G. L. Warlow, Secre-
tary; George Conover, Treasurer, and J. M.
Epler, J. A. Jones, M. Graves, R. W. Ra-
bourn, W. S. Vance, J. B. Stevenson, and F.

E. Downing, Directors. The next fair will
be held September 12, 13, 14 and 15, follow-
ing. The superintendents of departments, at
the next meeting, are as follows: Fine Art
Hall — F. E. Downing, and Assistant — Mrs.

F. E. Downing; Fruit and Vegetables — Tho-
mas Dunnaway; Preserves, Jellies, etc. — C.
W. Black and Alice Dwelle; Agricultural
Hall— J. F. Black; Poultry— J. N. Gridley;
Sheep and Swine — Robert Stevenson; Horses
and Mules — A. G. Epler; Cattle — Watson
Sinclair. From preparations already being
made the coming meeting will be an interest-
ing one.

The Cass County Park Association was or-
ganized a few years ago. This association
purchased and now owns the grounds, and
leases them out for fairs, races, and for other
purposes, as may seem legitimate to the
Board of Directors.

The fine stock interest is taking high nude
in Cass County, and has grown to large ]jro-
portions, particularly that of fine cattle.
The writer has seen all the fine herds of Short-
horn cattle in the famous blue grass region
of Kentucky, and in his capacity as historian
has visited many of the stock farms of that
world-renowned section, but he has seen some
cattle in this county that are unsurpassed by
Kentucky, or any other state. The herd, for
instance, of William Stevenson is, probably,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

without a superior in quality in any country.
His Short-horn bull, Duke, was purchased of
Hutchcraft, one of the most extensive herd-
ers of Bourbon County, Kentucky, for $1,000,
when a yearling, and is one of the finest ani-
mals of his kind, while Mattie Belle, 2d,
calved June 30, 1877, is the finest cow we
have seen in the State. But to do justice to
Mr. Stevenson's herd would be to particular-
ize every one. He makes a specialty of rear-
ing Short-horns, and like the larger breeders
■of Kentucky, lias his annual sales of all those
aside from his regular breeders.

C. E. Lippincott took an active interest a
few years ago, In breeding Short-horns, but
did not remain long in the business. Mr. J.
M. Epler, also, has a small herd of very fine
animals, and devotes considerable attention
to breeding; also, Watson Sinclair, doing
something in the same line, and has several
fine animals. The time, doubtless, is
near at hand, when Cass County will become
famous as a fine stock region, and noted for
the rearing of Short-horn cattle. The start
made has proven its adaptability to the in-
dustry, and shown the value of the business.

A writer on Kentucky Short-horns has the
following on the genuine breed: "Sliort-
horns of a true type and good shape, that is
to say, level backed, wide crops, wide hips,
swelling sides, fine bone, fine tail, neat blood-
like appearance, straight lines across the hips,
straight from the point of the hock to point of
hip near the tail, straight along the belly
from the brisket to the end of the flank,
smooth shoulders, not sinking at the girt, soft
elastic skin, good handlers, placid, calm eye,
short in the legs, short tapering horns, waxy
horns well set on, quiet disposition, good
milkers, clean, clear muzzle, solid colors,
either red or roan, these have long been
sought after, bred for and purchased when
attainable, and breeders with pride in their
stock have endeavored to produce thom from

the earliest known period in Short-horn liis-
tory, and it is not surprising that breeders
have in the main owned many that were
never defeated in the show ring. And as
such stock has been the result of much trou-
ble and experiment, so it has and ever will
deservedly command high prices. Re(|uiriiig
several generations of judicious crossing,
weeding out defects, meting out to the
breeders many blanks with the prizes, it is a
fascinating pursuit, and is increasing daily
the number of its votaries."

It is worth while to notice, in passing, the
change in the colors of Short-horns. Most
every one, who has paid attention to the mat-
ter, can remember that there was a time with-
in their memory that Short-horn cattle were
uniformly white and roan, with here and there
a red. Take, for example, one of the leading
herds of the country in 1851, 1853 and 1853,
of fifteen head recorded in Volume II, A. H.
B. Eight were roans and seven whites. The
same breeder would not allow a white animal
to be used on his herd for a bonus of $3,000 a
year. Who knows but the style and fashion
may change back again into its former chan-
nel? It is well to observe that the scarcer
and more rare Short-horns of peculiar quali-
ties become, the higher prices they are held
at in some quarters. While on the other
hand, it is with satisfaction that we observe
many new beginners whose names appear at
the annual sales, from New York to Califor-
nia, and from Minnesota to Texas, indicating
that the people, as a mass, are beginning to
appreciate the value of an infusion of thorough-
bred blood into scrub herds, and to at last
acknowledge that a two-year old thorouo-b
bred, or even high grade, is equal to a three-
year-old of common, or mongrel stock.

There is an increasing attention yearly tc
the improving of other stock in Cass County
as well as to cattle. Many thoroughbred
horses from Kentucky are being introduced.

HISTC'KY OF CASS COUNTY.

among which we have noticed some members
of the Mambrino family, one of the finest
reared in Kentuck}'. The original Mambrino
Patchen, sold for 835,000, and Mambrino
King, sold at Lexington, Ky., a few weeks
ago, for 815,000. Fine sheep and hogs, also,
are being greatly improved, and many of the
farmers are devoting special attention to rear-
ing the best breeds of these animals. It is
then, not saying too much, to predict for Cass
County a brilliant future as a stock-raising
region. The start is made, and perseverance
will accomplish the rest.

The railroads of the County will be written
up in other chapters of this volume. Rail-

roads are the great features that make a
country powerful and add to its material
wealth and prosperity. The railroads inter-
secting Cass County, are the Peoria, Pekin
and Jacksonville; the Springfield division of
Oliio and Mississippi; the St. Louis division
of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; and
the Western division of the Chicago and
Alton. Thus it will be seen the County is
well supplied with these useful internal im-
provements.

The press of the county, and the war his-
tory also, will be found in other and appro-
priate cha]5tors, together with other subjects
of local and general interest.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER YK

VIRGINIA PRECINCT— DESCRIPTION, BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY— WESTERN PIONEER
LIFE— SETTLEMENT OF THE PRECINCT BY WHITE PEOPLE— CHARACTER OF THE
PIONEERS— THEIR TRIALS, TROUBLES AND HARDSHIPS— EARLY IMPROVE-
MENTS AND INDUSTRIES— ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC.— SCHOOLS— THE
FIRST SCHOOL HOUSES— EARLY TEACHERS— PRESENT EDU-
CATIONAL FACILITIES— CHURCHES AND PREACHERS-
OLD SHILOH CHURCH— MISCELLANEOUS, ETC.

IT was a beautiful seatiment of Goethe
when he compared our little round of being
to a summer watering place: " When we first
arrive, we form friendships with those who
have already spent some time there, and must
soon be gone. Their loss is painful, but we
content ourselves with the second generation
of visitors, with whom we spend some time,
and daily become more intimate; but these
also depart, and we are left alone with a third
set, who arrive just as we are prepared for our
departure." This is not inapplicable to the
settlement of this section of the country.
It is a sad realization of the inscrutable de-
cree that, " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt
thou return," when we come to collect the
history of a county or people. Here, in Vir-
ginia Precinct, we look around us for the
pioneers, and find most of them sleeping in
the quiet graveyard. The first generation of
visitors to the " summer watering-place " are
mostly gone, and the second and third, and
even the fourth generations are crowding on
to fill their places. Those of the " first set "
who still linger, are bent with age, and a few
more rolling years will take them from our
sight for ever. Wonderful are the changes
wrought since they first beheld this beautiful
land, once the home of the lordly savage, and
the hunting ground of his kindred. The
pioneers, who braved the dangers of " flood
and §eld," to open these broad and product-

ive plains and valleys, have melted away like
mists before the morning sun, and are now
gathered to the land of dreams. From the
few still left, we have gleaned a few facts
pertaining to the early settlement of this
section, and to pioneer life, which form the
subject-matter of this chapter.

Virginia Precinct is rather large, and con-
tains portions of townships 17 and 18, in
ranges 9 and 10, west of the 3d principal me-
ridian. It is generally level or undulating,
resembling somewhat the swell of the ocean
after a storm, and originally comprised both
timber land and prairie. On the north it is
bounded by Husted Precinct, or Hickory, as
now called, and Chandlervilie Precinct, on
the east by Oregon and Princeton Precincts, on
the South by Princeton Precinct and Morgan
County, and on the west by Monroe Precinct.
It is drained and watered by Clear Creek,
Prairie Creek, Little Indian, Job's, Little
Panther and Lost Creeks, all tributaries of the
Illinois River. The Peoria, Pekin and Jack-
sonville railroad (now a part of the Wabash
system), and the Springfield division of the
Ohio and Mississippi railroad, intersect it,
crossing at the City of Virginia, the capital
of the County, and afford ample accommoda-
tions in shipping and transportation.

The settlement of Virginia Precinct dates
back to the year 1831, when the first whites
came in and commenced the improvement

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

of the lands. Pioneer life, in all time, has
been characterized by incidents peculiar either
to the locality or the make-up of the pioneers
themselves. Western pioneer life has been
subjected to conditions common to the experi-
ence of all early settlers. The primary ele-
ments in the composition of those who have
taken their lives in their own hands and battled
successfully with the privations and hardships
incident to settlements in the wilderness, with-
out companions, save their " household gods,"
away from the echoes of civilization, depend-
ing for subsistence upon their own good
right arms, were will-power, physical vigor
and energy. Thus endowed, the brave pioneer
boldly cuts loose from the moorings of civili-
zation, turns his face toward the wild, un-
known West, and after days and weeks, per-
haps months, of weary journeying over
trackless prairies, tangled woodland, rocky
steeps and through rushing torrents, at last
determines the spot where his future home
shall be, at once makes a start by erecting a
little cabin, breaking a small patch of ground
and planting a little corn. Soon he is joined
by others, and the feeble settlement becomes
the foundation of one of those prosperous
communities which are to-day the pride and
boast of our western country. But we are
digressing from the more specific part of
our subject.

Archibald Job, Henry Hopkins and Thos.
Redmon, were early settlers in Virginia Pre-
cinct. Mr. Job was a native of Maryland, and
settled in what he called Sylvan Grove, now
the present site of Virginia, in Cass County,
in 1830. From an article, in the Jacksonville
Journal^ written by William Thomas in 1874,
we extract most of our information concern-
ing Mr. Job. In 182 3 he was elected to the
legislature from the district, composed of the
county of Greene, and the territory afterward
included in Morgan County, and again in
1834, fromthe counties of Morgan and Greene.

In 1826 he was elected to the Senate from
the district composed of the counties of Mor-
gan, Pike, Adams, Schuyler, Fulton and
Peoria. During this service of eight years,
his constituents never had cause to regret his
election, nor to complain of his want of
devotion to their interests. He maintained
the character of an honest, fearless, intelligent
and industrious representative. In 1830, he
was again a candidate for the Senate, but was
defeated, not because of any complaint of his
previous action, or of any want of confidence in
his ability and integrity, but because the Whig
party, with which he was identified, was in
the minority. Upon the passage of the law
providing for the building of the State House
at Springfield, because of his known integrity
and intelligence, he was appointed one of the
State house commissioners. At the time of
his death he was about ninety years of age.
Mrs. Job, it is said, never saw the face of
a white woman for six months after landing
in this county. She used to say that she had
very good neighbors among the Indians, who
were then numerous in this section. Their
nearest neighbors lived fifteen miles distant,
and St. Louis was their post ofiice. Mr. Clark
came in 1827 and settled at North Grove, three
miles west of the present town of Virginia.
In 183G he moved to Iowa, but in 18 re-
turned to Cass County, and settled again in
the neighborhood. He afterward removed to
Bluff Springs, where he died in 1853.

Hopkins was a native of Delaware, and emi-
grated first to Woodford County, Kentucky,
then to Clarke County, Indiana. From there
he removed to Morgan County, Illinois, in
1825, and located in Sugar Grove the next
year, and which was in Virginia Precinct un-
til a few years ago, when Philadelphia Pre-
cinct was formed. He lived there until in
1875, then removed into Virginia, and died
in 1879, at the age of eighty-five years. He
was married in 1817, and his widow still sur-

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

vives him at the age of eighty-four, and is
the mother of twelve children, ten of whom
are now living.

About the year 1825-26, William Holmes
came to the precinct, and was followed the
next year by Thomas Redmon, Benjamin
Stribling, and a man named Street. Holmes
was from New York, and made his home with
Hopkins until his marriage, in 1828-29. They
improved their land in common, and for
several years farmed in partnership. He was
a man of intelligence, of considerable public
spirit, and a graduate of an Eastern college ;
probably the first college graduate who ever
settled in Cass Countj\ He commenced his
public career as a school teacher in his own im-
mediate neighborhood. He served as county
surveyor, and as the first representative in the
legislature from Cass County, after its forma-
tion in 1837. Redmon settled about half a
mile south of Hopkins', and was from Logan
County, Kentucky. Although a man of quite
ordinary intellect, he was very pious, upright,
a kind of exhorter or local preacher of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and took an
active part in molding the society of his day
and generation. He died about 1840, and is
without relatives or descendants now in this re-
gion. Stribling was also from Logan County,
Kentucky, and first located near the present
village of Liter, now in Morgan County, but
in 1829 bought out Street, who had settled
and improved the farm now owned bj' J. JL
Stribling. After selling out to Stribling,
Street moved about a mile and a half west,
and improved another place, upon which was
built one of the primitive grist mills of Cass
County. He left about 1834, and went to
Iowa, where he was lost sight of long since.
None of his descendants now live in the
county.

Among other pioneers of this precinct, may
be mentioned Anthony Thomas, Col. A. S.
West, Joshua P. Crow, Thomas S. Berry,

Benjamin Cauby, Berry Freeman, a man
named Paschall, and others whose names are
now forgotten. Anthony Thomas came about
1827-28 and located on what is now known
as the Frotter farm, lying on the south side of
Sugar Grove. He sold out in 1840 and re-
moved with his family to the Rock River
Country. Sugar Grove and Sylvan Grove,
which have been several times referred to,
were two bodies of timber, situated about three
or four miles southeast of the present city of
Virginia.

Col. West came in about 1828, and im-
proved the farm now owned by Cain Owens,
lying north of the city, and partly inside of
the corporate limits. He was a very enter-
prising and active business man, and was the
second representative in the legislature, from
Cass County, succeeding Mr. Holmes in that
august body. He was for a time a merchant
in the town of Virginia, and traded extensive-
ly in cattle and pork, a business he com-
menced in 1839. Like many other good
business men, he failed in the financial crash
of 1840-42. Crow first settled where William
Campbell now lives, in 1828-29, to whom he
sold out, and afterwards moved to Missouri.
He served for a number of years as a justice
of the peace. In 1843, he was the Demo-
cratic candidate against John W. Pratt, for
the State Legislature, but was defeated by 27
votes.

Thomas S. Berry emigrated to Cass County,
from near Fredericksburg, Virginia, a distance
of about nine hundred miles. He came
through on horseback, with his entire posses-
sions in a pair of saddle-bags, and reached Ben-
jamin Stribling's in November, 1829, where
he spent the winter. He assisted Stribling
in gathering corn in the field, and bringing it
in to feed stock, and the remainder of his
time he spent in hunting. He taught school
about two years, worked on a farm by the
month, and in August, 1833, assisted his father.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

William S. Berry, to remove his family to
Cass County. In 1834, he bought a farm in
Virsrinia Precinct, on which he resided until
his death in 1847. James Berry came to Cass
County in 1830, from Orange County, Virgin-
ia. He taught school and worked on a farm
until 1833, when he purchased land of L. T.
Bryant; he died in 1819. Benjamin Cauby
came to Virginia Precinct in 1830, and was
a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. He
organized, or rather reorganized old Shiioh
Church; was a zealous Christian and an able
minister. He died in 1845, in the prime of
life. Freeman and Paschall were brothers-in-
law, and settled a little northeast of town,
about 1830. They were both thrifty and in-
dustrious men, and bore an active part in
subduing the country, and opening it up to
civilization. The only son of Freeman was
a lieutenant in Company D, One Hundred
and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, in the late
civil war, and was captured at Guntown, Miss-
issippi. Ho was put on a train with other
captured officers, and started south to prison,
but jumped from the train while running at
the rate of twenty miles an hour, and made
his escape from the guards. After spending
a week in wandering through the country, ho
finally found his way to a camp of Union
soldiers, and was sent at once to his regiment,
with which he served until the close of the
war.

Charles Oliver, Thomas Gatton, John Epler
and Jacob Petefish, were also early settlers of
Virginia Precinct; but first located on Little
Indian, in what is now Princeton Precinct,
where they will be further noticed. Epler
came from Pennsylvania, and has a good iuany
descendants still in the county. Gattou came
from Maryland, and was one of the early
merchants of the county. Oliver came to
Virginia in 1835, and was for a time a clerk
for Dr. Hall. Mr. Petefish also has a num-
ber of descendants in the county. There are

many others, doubtless, who deserve mention
among the early settlers of the precinct, but
their names have faded from the memories of
the pioneers still left among us. Many, in
fact most of the first settlers of the precinct
who were prominently indentified with its
early history, have passed away " as a tale
that is told." A few have scattered to other
lands, but far the greater number have gone
to the land of dreams.

When the first settlements were made here
game was plenty, and the people deprnded
mostly on it for meat; game and corn-bread,
with wild honey, constituted the almost uni-
versal diet for several years. The clothing
worn by both the male and female members
of the family, was manufactured at home by
the women, on the old fashioned spinning-
wheel, cards and loom. The men dressed
deer skins, out of which were made panta-
loons, hunting shirts and moccasins; they
made shoes from leather tanned at home by
themselves; of course this kind of material
made rather a rough shoe, but being the best
that could be procured, they 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.

Everything not manufactured at home was
termed a " store " article, as " store shoes,"
" store hat," etc., and any one attired in
"store clothes," excited envy in the younger
members of the community, and many a
young lass, when appearing in public, consid-
ered herself highly honored if so fortunate
as to secure the attention of a " feller " ar-
rayed in " store clothes," furnishing striking
instance of that weakness in human nature,
quite as common in this enlightened age — ■
that of judging persons by external appear-
ances.

In those early days, the people managed to
get along without nails, glass, sawed lumber

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

or brick, for the reason they could not procure
them. Their houses were smalJ, consisting of
one story, built of logs or jjoles, unhewed,
with the ends projecting from six inches to two
feet at the corners, and the cracks between the
logs were filled with sticks and daubed with
clay. The doors were made of boards fast-
ened in place with wooden pegs and hung
with wooden hinges. A wooden latch raised
by a string, served as a fastening ; the string
had one end tied to the latch and the other
passed through a small hole above it, and
when the door was fastened, one end of the
string was hanging out. "The latch-string
out" was the pioneers' emblem of hospitality.
The fireplaces were from six to ten feet in
width, and in them large logs blazed on win-
ter nights, warming the entire household. At
one side of these capacious hearths, one ar-
ticle always stood conspicuous, viz : the kettle
of " blue dye," with which the old ladies
colored their "yarn" for weaving. This
kettle being covered with an old barrel head,
or something of the kind, often did service as
a seat for some members of the familj-, and
even for visitors. Young fellows, when on
courting expeditions, sometimes found it a
very convenient seat with the objects of their
affections in close proximity. "Some of the
best men or our country," an old gentleman
informed us, who had probably been there
himself, "wooed and won their brides, seated
on a kettle of 'blue dye,' by the blazing fire
of the backwoodsman's rude cabin." On the
outside of the houses, it was no uncommon
thing to see a goodly number of raccoon and
deer skins "stretched" against the wall to
dry, and occasionally the skin of a wild cat,
wolf or bear. The projecting 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, or "gears," as they were then called.
The first improvement of importance to the

pioneer, after he has erected a shelter for
himself and family, is a mill, an industry that
always advances with civilization. Judge
Shaw tells us in his centennial address on
Cass Count}', that the first mill accessible tc
the pioneers of the county was Jarvoe's mill
on Cahokia Creek, and that in 1821 a mill was
erected on Indian Creek, and later a horse-
mill was erected at Clary's Grove, in Menard
County. These mills served the people in
this section until able to build mills for them-
selves. One of the first in this precinct, of
wh'ch we have any account, was built by a
Mr. Street, about 1831-2, on the southeast
quarter of section 29, town 18 and range 10.
It was a primitive affair, but, as we were in-
formed, was "better than none at all." H.
H. Hall built a water grist mill some two
miles northeast of the present city of Virginia,
about 1S3S, on Job Creek. It was for grind-
ing corn and wheat, and had but one run of
burrs, driven by a horizontal water-wheel
with upright shaft. Its capacity was about
eight to ten bushels per hour. As population
increased,'and the community became wealthy,
other mills were built for the accommodation
of the growing population. Other improve-
ments were made in the precinct. Roads
were laid out, and put in order, thus render-
ing travel a less task than formerly, and where
they crossed streams and sloughs, bridges were
built. Good roads now pass through the
precinct in every direction, diverging from
the county seat, and while they do not com-
pare with macadamized roads, they are about
as good as Illinois soil will make without
artificial aid.

The pioneer fathers were alive to the ad-
vantages of education, and lost no time in
establishing schools in the different settle-
ments. ]Mr. Keiling Beiry is authority for the
fact that a school was taught in the precinct
as early as 1830. During the first few years
after settlements were made, there were no

HISTOUY OF CASS COUNTY.

schoiilhouses or churches built in the precinct.
Schools were taught in abandoned cabins,
.■in<l conducted on the subscription plan.
The teacher made out his proposition on pa-
per, and the parents " signed " as many-
scholars as they had, or could afford to pay
for, agreeing to pay a specified sum for tui-
tion a certain number of months. The first
school taught in the precinct, so far as we
have learned, was taught by William Holmes,
in one of these abandoned cabins, at Sugar
Grove, Mr. Berry says, about the year 1830.
KeiKng Berry himself taught a subscription,
or on the select school plan, from November
19, 1839, to September 1, 1840, in a log cabin
still standing on the southeast quarter of the
southeast quarter of section 27, township 17,
and range 10. This is doubtless the oldest
building now standing in the neighborhood,
used as a temple of learning. The Angier
school house which stood on the northwest
corner of section 4, is believed to have been
the first built in the precinct, especially for
school purposes. It was erected by the people
of the community by their own mutual labor,
and afterward became the property of the
district. It was burned some eight or ten
years ago.

School facilities increased with the advanc-
ing tide of immigration, and new houses were
built as they were needed. At the present
time there are some half a dozen school houses
in the precinct outside of the city of Virginia.
These are good, comfortable houses, fitted up
with modern furniture, and present quite a
contrast to those of fifty years ago.

There are at present two churches in Vir-
ginia precinct outside of the city. Shiloh
Cumberland Presbyterian Church is located
some three and a half miles west of the city
of Virginia, and was built in 1857. The con-
gregation was organized at the house of
Nathan Compton, in Jersey Prairie, in Mor-
gan County, in the fall of 1827, by the Rev.

J. M. Berry. After the congregation was
permanently organized, it was attached to the
Sangamon Presbytery, and was represented in
the semi-annual meetings of that body, from
time to time, until about the year 1835.
Hitherto the church had been supplied with
preaching, chiefly by Revo. Berry and William
M Cord, the latter of whom died in August,
1833. Rev. Benjamin Cauby, who moved
into the bounds of the church about the year
18.30, began to preach to this and neighboring
s:)cieties after Mr. McCord's decease. Mr.
Compton, one of the first elders, had moved
away, and the records of the church were
either lost or mislaid. Under this state of af-
fairs, Rev. Cauby d>eined it proper to re-or-
ganize the congregation, which was done in
1837, at the Shiloh meeting house, and which
had been built upon land donated by Mr.
Cauby for that purpose. The f Uowing reso-
lution was adopteil : " W/i've'is, We, the
undersigned, believe it to be our privilege and
duty to attach ourselves to some branch of
the church of God. and, so far a we have read
and examined, the government and discipline
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church also
believing that it agrees with our views most
in accordance with Apostolic mode, do and
hereby order our names to be enrolled as
members of the Mount Pleasant Congregation
of the Presbyterian Church." Following are
the names of those who signe 1: Rev. Benja-
min Cauby, Joseph Cauby and wife, Abner
Tining, Richard Matthews, Sarah Street,
Susan and Mary Beasley, Nancy Morgan, D.
A. McCord, Ann, Elizabeth, Sarah and Eliza
Jane Mc(^ rd, Elizabeth Thompson, Sarah
Fraesell, James B. Thompson, William and
Sarah Lowrance, Margaret Schaffer, Richard
D. and John B. Thomps n, Amanda Matthews,
Samuel B., Matilda, Matilda J., and Sarah .1.
Thompson, Catharine Pratt, and H. S.
Schaffer.

The present elders of ihe church are: L.

HISTORY OF CAS3 COUNTY.

McNeil, Henry Bierhause, and Daniel Bid-
dlecome. The church has now forty mem-
bers, under the pastorate of Rev. J. E. Roach,
and a o;ood comfortable cimrch buildino-.

A Sunday-school of about twenty-five pupils
is carried on in connection with the church.
Daniel Biddlecome is the present superinten-
dent, a position he has held for the past
twelve years. The school was held at the
Union school-house until within the past two
years, when it was removed to the church
where the church organ adds a pleasant ac-
companiment to the singing and to the gen-
eral interest of the school.

Bethlehem Methodist Church is located

about three miles south of Virginia, on the
road to Jacksonville. It was built more than
thirty years ago, and was originally a kind of
union church, being used by several denomi-
nations, hut for many years has been occupied
only by the Methodists.

Virginia Precinct contains the county-seat
of the county, and as is usually the case, much
of the history of the precinct centers in the
county seat, leaving but little to say in the
preliminary chapter, beyond the mere settle-
ment of the precinct, and the mention of a
few minor topics. With this brief sketch of
Virginia precinct, we will close this chapter,
and in a new one take up the city's history.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER Yin.

CITY OP VIRGINIA— ITS BIRTH, LOCATION AND GROWTH— SALE OF LOTS, AND ADDITIONS
TO THE TOWN— DR. HALL, FOUNDER OF VIRGINIA— FIRST HOUSE AND STORE-
PUBLIC SQUARE AND COURT HOUSE— BUSINESS IN THE WEST END— THE
PRESENT BUSINESS CENTRE— HOTELS, MILLS, ETC.— DOCTORS AND
LAWYERS— BANKING BUSINESS— INCORPORATION OF THE
CITY— MUNICIPAL OFFICES— SUMMARY, ETC., ETC.

IN historic annals we are enabled to meas-
ure social progress. Society, as it circles
outward from a common centre, has a ten-
dency to degenerate from its original and
higher type to one of a lower tone and stand-
ard. History reveals the fact that every re-
ceding circle of civilization has lessened the
forces forming and completing a perfect state
of society. On nearly every wave of immi-
gration some good seed is borne to grow up
in the opening soil of the new country. The
good seed is visually sufficient to begin the
work of raising society to a higher level of
civilization, and their transforming power
counteracts those demoralizing influences
which tend to social degeneration and disrup-
tion, as the lawless and vicious seek the
frontiers, where there is less restraint from
civil power. This good seed becomes the
nucleus around which gather those influences
necessary to carry society onward to a state
of comparative perfection. By a comparison
with the rude and rough scenes of the past,
we may see how much has been done in this
respect. The moral and social standard of
the community afford unbounded evidence
tliat much good seed has fallen in this local-

■'ty-

The city of Virginia, to which this chapter
IS devoted, and the county seat of Cass
County, is beautifully situated in a fine re-
g on of country, near the geographical cen-

tre of the county, and is surrounded by some
of the best and most productive farms in the
State. The Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville
Railroad, and the Springfield division of the
Ohio & Mississippi, cross here, and furnish the
citizens of the place, and the farmers of the
adjacent neighborhood, ample facilities for
shipping, as well as travel.

Virginia was laid out by Dr. H. H. Hall,
who owned the land upon which it is lo-
cated. It was surveyed by Johnston C. Shel-
ton. May 17, 1836, and the original plat oc-
cupied a portion of township 17, range 10,
west. The first sale of lots was made Au-
gust 6, 1836, and the records show that Joel
Horn purchased lot 5; E. B. Gentry, lot 6;
George Garlick, lot 7; M. H. Beadles, lots 8
and !); Isaiah Paschal, lot 10; J. B. Gentry,
lot 11; Zebedee Wood, lots 12, 18, and 19;
Franklin Marshall, lot 20; William S. Horn,
lot 21; Henry T. Foster, lot 22; L. S. Saun-
ders, lot 24; Joel Horn, lot 28; William
Quigg, lot 33, etc., etc. Dr. Hall made an
addition to the town, which was surveyed and
platted, July 1, 1837, and on the 2 jth of Au-
gust the sale of lots in this addition took place.

A number of them were sold on the day of
the sale, and the remainder before the close
of the year. The town, for a new place, in
a sparsely settled district, grew rapidly, and
bid fair to become a place of considerable
business.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Dr. Hall, the proprietor and founder of
Virginia, was a native of Ireland, and a reg-
ular graduated physician. He served for a
time as surgeon in the British navy, and in
that capacity came here in the war of 1812,
remaining in this country after its close, and
in 1818 settling in Virginia. He remained a
citizen of the Old Dominion until his removal
to Illinois in 1835. He first visited the West
in 1831, and during his stay entered several
hundred acres of land, upon a portion of
which the city of Virginia now stands. Re-
turning to his home, he remained there until
1835, when he removed to Illinois and settled
upon the lands he had already entered here,
and the next year laid out the town of Vir-
ginia, which he called after the State he had
first chosen for his home after becoming a
citizen of the United States. Up to the time
of his death, which occurred in 1847, he was
the ruling spirit of the growing town, and one
of its chief business men, fully alive to its in-
terests, as well as to those of the county, and
manifesting his zeal by encouraging all enter-
prises looking to the development and im-
provement of the common country and to
his own county. He built the first house
within the present limits of the city, and
prior to the laying out of the place. It stood
on what is now Springfield street, one block
east of the public square, and was a frame
building a story and a half high. He was not
only the first settler of the town of Virginia,
but was also the first merchant, and opened
the first store in the place in 1836, having for
a clerk at the time Charles Oliver, afterward
a prominent merchant himself. The first
sale made from Dr. Hall's store was by Mr.
Oliver, and consisted of three pairs of shoes
for the family of Wm. S. Berry, and the pur-
chase of which was made by his son, Keiling
Berry, still a well known citizen of Virginia.

An addition of public grounds was made
by Dr. Hall, surveyed by "Wm. Holmes, coun-

ty surveyor, on the 21st of June, 1838. Vir-
ginia had then become the county seat, and
Mr. Holmes drove down a stake in the cen-
ter of the public square, as the spot whereon
the court house should be built. The addi-
tion comprised fifteen acres, donated by Dr.
Hall, and deeded to the commissioners of
Cass County for public buildings. A court
house was erected on the square, and after
the county seat was moved back to Beards-
town, the house and grounds were sold to the
town for school purposes, and with the house
rebuilt, are still so used. Originally the bus-
iness section was in the western part of town,
and there still remains many traces of the
old business houses around the square, now
the school grounds, as the laying out of a
square and the erection of a court house drew
the business around it.

Hall & Thomas made an addition to Vir-
ginia, May 15, 1839; surveyed and platted
by John Clark, county surveyor. The same
parties made another addition June 12,
1856; it was surveyed by John Craig, and ac-
knowledge before Henry Rabourn, a jus-
tice of the peace. Robert Hall has made
several additions; one surveyed by John
Craig, June 26, 1856, and another platted
by the same surveyor August 29, 1859,
and acknowledged before Squire Henry
Rabourn. Barton & Wood made an addition
June 21, 1856; surveyed by R. C. Crunipton.
H. H. Hall, Jr., made an addition March 5,
1SG6, which was surveyed by J. T. Dunbar,
county surveyor. Several other additions have
been made by different parties, until at the
present day, Virginia covers enough ground
for a city of ten thousand inhabitants.

When the court house was built in the
square now occupied as the city school, the
business was drawn around it as it is now
around the present square, and as we have
said, some of the old business houses are still
standing, and there are traces of others. No

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

one with an eye for the glorious and beauti-
fil can see any improvement made, either in
location or beauty, by the removal from the
" West End Square " to the present business
location. Hall's, we have seen, was the first
store opened. Charles Oliver was a clerk in
Hall's store, but in a year or two went into
business on his own account. He kept the
second store in Virginia, and remained a mer-
chant of the place for many years. His store
was on the southwest corner of the old square,
south of Beardstown street, while N. B.
Thompson — probably the next merchant —
liad his store on the same corner, but north
of Beardstown street. Portions of these old
buildings are still standing, but with changes
are now dwellings, or parts of dwelling-houses.
Dr. Hathaway opened a drug-store on the
northwest corner of the old square, the first
one in Virginia. Other branches of business
were established, and other stores were open-
ed. The house, or the brick part of it, where
Harry Thompson now lives, was a store-house
with a hall in .the second story, that used to
witness strange events during the late un-
pleasantness. The old-fashioned brick, a little
iurther east from Thompson's, and on the
same side of the street, was also a store-house.
Thus, a quarter of a century ago, was a busy
town, where now are but a few private resi-
dences around a beautiful square, in which
stands a rather dilapidated looking temple of
learning.

Charles Oliver, the second merchant, sprang
from a family of merchants. His father was
a heavy importer, and two uncles — brothers
of his father — -were wholesale merchants of
Philadelphia, while four of his sons were
merchants. One of these sons — William A.,
opened the first store on the south side of the
present public square, in the Mead building,
now occnpied by J. O. Ham'uer as a saloon.
He had entered Dr. Hathaway's drug store,
:i:id after becoming familiar with the business,

not having means to go into the drug busi-
ness, his father divided his own stock of goods
with him, giving him some five or six hun-
dred dollars worth of goods out of his store,
which he opened out, as we have said, on the
south side of the present square. Influences
were at work then, which eventually resulted
in the removal of the business to its present
location, affording at least one instance of the
star of empire moving eastward instead of
westward.

Jake Dunnaway, who was a mail contractor,
had purchased the stage-stand in Virginia,
which was then kept in what is now the Virginia
house, or a part of it, and this was one of the
influences in moving the business in this di-
rection. The proposed Illinois river railroad
was another. These, together with other in-
ducements, which finally culminated when
the county-seat was moved to Beardstown,
accomplished the change. N. B. Thompson,
whose store we have mentioned as standing
on the sonthwest corner of the old square,
and a man of keen penetration in business
affairs, saw the tendency of the town to move
eastward, and built a store house on the south
side of the present square. He did not occupy
it, however, but rented it to other parties,
and continued at his old stand sometime
longer. Finally he moved his store house,
now a part of the city hotel, from the old
square, to the site of the hotel on the north
side of the present square, and opened his
store in it, though there was no other house
then in the vicinity. But, he said, his trade
would follow him wherever ho went, an asser-
tion that proved true, as he was one of the
successful merchants of the town for many
years. Milton Trotter built the first brick
store house on the present square, which is
known on the plats as " Washington Fount-
ain Square." It comprises two stores below
and Trotter's hall above. After this time
business built up rapidly in the new locality.

HISTORY OF CASS COUXTY.

and business houses were erected, until the
present state of improvement was reached.
The war between the east and west ends,
which was carried on with considerable ardor
at times, after the removal of the county-seat
back to Beardstown, in 1845, gradually sub-
sided, and the east end became the establish-
ed scene of business and trade.

Mr. Hall, besides building the first store
house and residence, built also the first tavern
in the town, which was first kept by Powell
& Beadles. With many changes and im-
provements, modernizations, etc., until but
little of the original building is left, it is now
the Virginia House, and is kept at present by
J. B. Craft. It, and the City Hotel, kept by
the jolly and genial John Gore, are the hotels
of the town.

A post-office was established at Virginia,
and L. F. Sanders was appointed postmaster.
It was a primitive affair, with its one and two
mails a week, presenting quite a contrast to
Mr. Wilson's well-arranged and lucrative
office.

The first steam mill within the corporate
limits of Virginia was built by N. B. Burs.
It was a modern two-run mill, and did good
work until 1852-3, when it was burned. The
city was without a mill then until the present
one was built by Armstrong & Beasley, some
twenty years ago. It became the property
of Jacob Dunnaway, who sold it to Mr. Cos-
gro, the present owner, in 1871. He re-
modeled and improved it in every respect,
and made it thoroughly a first-class mill.
Originally it had but one run of buhrs, but Mr.
Cosgro has added two more, and all the latest
improved machinery, purifiers, Moline clean-
ing machinery, etc. He makes the patent
process flour as well as straight grade flour,
and turns out at the rate of forty barrels every
twelve hours. The production of his mill is
consumed mostly at home, though he ships
considerably at certain seasons of the year.

and grinds winter wheat altogether. Mr.
Cosgro learned the milling business in New
York State, at Albany, Oswego, etc., and
came West in 1860, stopping at Peoria, where
he was engaged in the Fort Clark and City
Mills, coming to this city in 1871, as stated
above.

There is an inevitable meanness in every
grand event, and homeliness of detail in each
heroic life, which time does not wholly erase.
We go a thousand miles away to get the
mountain's height, and we are, it may be, too
near the men and things of which we write.
It is difficult to compose a history of the city
on perspective, and, like a Chinese draughts-
man, leave the background and shadow out.
Any one can be wise for yesterday, for he has
results to guide his judgment. But Virgin-
ia's yesferday is long gone by, and her history
has lost much of the morning freshness. The
incidents of its first years, however, are as
freely canvassed as those of the present. Each
feeling and prejudice has been nursed to
keep it warm.

Dr. Hall was the first physician. Although
he had graduated from the best schools and
colleges of Europe, and had served in the
British navy, he never practiced his profes-
sion after settling here, except in case of ex-
treme emergency, but devoted himself to
other business interests. Dr. M. H. L.
Schooley was the next physician, and com-
menced practice about 183(3. He was the first
who opened a doctor's office, as Dr. Hall did
not practice. He graduated at Philade'phia
Medical College, and continued in practice in
Virginia until 18G7, when he removed to Cass
County, Mo., where later he died. Dr. Lord
came about 1846, and practiced some three
j-ears in partnership with Schooley. Dr. Tate
came in 1841. He was a graduate of the
Medical College of Ohio (Cincinnati), in the
classofl840. Dr. Hathaway came in 1844, and
kept the first drug store opened in the town;

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Dr. Snyder came in 1863. Tlie last named
has a fine museum which he values very
highly, and indeed, there are very few such
private collections to be found in the country.
At the present time there are six practicing
physicians in Virginia, viz.: Drs. Tate, Gooil-
speed, Snyder, Huisbard, C'ollarlay, and S;nitii.

" When lawyers take what they would give;
When (loclors give what the^' would take;
******
Till then let Cummmings blaze away.

And Miller's saints blow up the globe;
But when you see that hap ly day,
Then order your ascension robe."

The first lawyer was Mr. Friend, who open-
ed an office here in 183(5. He was licensed
to practice, and was a very successful lawyer.
R. S. Thomas, probably the next lawyer,
came in 1839, and was a brother to Judge
Jesse B. Thomas, one of the early United
States senators from Illinois. R. S. Thomas
was a man of considerable energy. He
was president of the old Illinois River Rail-
road Co.; was elected to the legislature in
1847, and for a time was editor of a Whig
paj)or, the Cass County Times. He remained
in Virginia until 18(55, when he removed to
Chicago, where he died about 1869. Mark
W. Delaha was another of the early la'Ayers,
and located in Virginia in 1844. He was a
man of ability, a fine orator, and a most radi-
cal Whig, and edited, for a while, the first
paper established in Virginia, The Chroniele,
an ultra Whig paper. Lee Carpenter, .1. N.
Gridley and R. W. Mills came in at a later
date. The bar of Virginia comprises now some
nine members, as follows: J. N. Gridley, R.
W. Mills, A. A. Leeper, G. L. Warlow, Henry
Philips, George Martin, W. H. Thacker, C.
M. Tinney and Charles Martin.

The banking business is represented in
Virginia by three banks, firmly established,
and comprising considerable capital.

The Farmers National Bank, of Virginia,

was organized in lSG-5, with the following
officers: S. S. Vance, president; H. H. Hall,
vice-president, and John H. Wood, cashier;
the first board of directors were S. S. Vance, H.
H. Hall, I. M. Stribling, William Stevenson,
John A. Petofish, N. B. Thompson and A. G.
Angier. The capital was originally $oO,UO(),
and the circulation $15,000, but in 1869 the
capital was increased to $1.50,000, and the
circulation to $14.5,000. In 1876, Mr. Woo 1
resigned his position as cashier, and organized
the Centennial National Bank, and Mr. J. T.
Robertson was appointed cashier in his stead,
which position he now holds.

July 16,1867, H. H. Hall was elected presi-
dent, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the re-
signation of Mr. Vance, which position he
held for two years. A. G. Angier succeeded
Mr. Hall; John A. Petefish and John Robert-
son held the position of president one year
each, succeeding Angier. Then George Gat-
ton for one year, Angier again for one year,
then Gatton for three years. In January,
1874, George Virgin was elected president,
and has continued in the position to the pre-
sent time. The present board of directors
are: George Virgin, William Stevenson, Z.
W. Gatton, Robert Taylor, J. G. Roxrout,
John Robertson and J. T. Robertson. Z. W.
Gatton, an old resident of the county, has been
connected with the bank almost from the time
of its organization to date, as a director or
officer.

The bank building which this bank now
owns, is as good a banking-room as may be
found in Central Illinois. A pleasing feature
of the institution is the kind and courteous
book-keeper. Miss Virgin, whose pleasant face
is always to be seen above the book-keeper's
desk.

Petefish, Skiles & Co., is one of the leading
banking houses in Cass County, and was or-
ganized as a private bank in 187 , by Samuel
H. Petefish, Ignatius Skiles and Jacob Epler.

HISTOKY OF CASS COUXTY.

It commenced business under rather unfavor-
able circumstances at that time, having to
contend veith old established banks in adjoin-
ing towns, as well as with a local bank. The
office was placed in charge of Mr. R'chard
Elliott, as cashier, wlio continued with the firm
for two years. At the end of the first year,
Mr. Epler retired, and the business was con-
tinued for some eight months, when Mr.
George Virgin was admitted as a partner.
In September, .8 2, the management of the
business was transferred to Mr. E. T. Oliver,
who was also admitted as a member of the
firm, anil who has continued to act as cashier
up to the present time. The copartnership
continued until April, 187 J, when Ignatius
Skiles, one of the leading members of the
firm died, leaving interest in the business
which was continued by his administrator un-
til September, 1875, when Oiwell Skiles was
admitted as a member of the firm to take his
brother's place. In March, 1S76, Mr. George
Virgin retiied, and Messrs. William Campbell
and George Crum became members of the
firm — it being composed of Samuel H. Pete-
fish, Oiwell Skiles, E Iward T. Oliver, Will-
iam Campbell and Gjorge Crura, who have
composed the firm from the latter date up to
the present time. Although numerous changes
of personal members, the firm name has re-
mained the same from the first, and it has be-
come as thoroughly known and establishde in
the county as any public institution.

The bank has had a varied career in point
of business ; it has gone through panics, de-
pressed and prosperous times, and through all
has maintained its high standard of credit and
fair dealing, at all times paying particular at-
tention to the development of the local indus-
tries and enterprises, as well as aidinof its
customers to successfully manage their private
business. While not being organized as a
corporation, it has always been rated as high
in credit and business ability as any of the

leading banks in Central Illinois, and at all
times employing sufficient capital to supply
the legitimate demands of business men who
are dealing with it. The private means of
the members of the firm are stated at over
three hundred thousand dollars, composed of
personal property, moneys and credits, and
unencumbered real estate, of the latter of
which thev own near five thousand acres of
the best improved lands in the county, and all
of which represents their credit in the bank-
ing business, as they are individually liable
for all the business transacted at the bank-
counter. This fact alone has added largely
to their long list of customers, as they well
know no financial crisis can affect their
interests when so thoroughly protected by
private weahh.

In February, 1881, the firm bought out the
banking house and business of Messrs. H. T.
Chandler & Co., of ChandlerviUe, and re-
ceived as a local member of the firm at that
place, Mr. W. K. Mertz, who had been in the
office for some nine year.-;, an 1 opened the
doors of the new firm of Petefish, Skiles &
Mertz, February 1, 1881. Having placed the
business upon a firm financial basis, and prac-
ticnlly ch mged the workings of the former
office, the public soon appreciated the efi"orts
the new firm were jnaking to furnish them
first-cla-is banking facili ies, and the rapid
increase of business has attested the value of
their regard. The business is under the im-
mediate management of Mr. Mertz, but the
general direction is from the heal fi.m at
Virginia, whose large acquaintance an 1 busi-
ness experience enable them to furnish all ac-
commodatioTis needed, and to supply all de-
mands in a proper manner.

For some time it had been apparent to the
home office that a bank was needed at Ash-
land, and acting upon their own judgment
in the m.itter, in addition to urgent requests
from the business men of that place and vi-

HISTOUY OF CASS COUNTY.

cinity, they, in September, 1881, estaWisheJ
a private bank in that town, under the firm
name of Skiles, Rearick & Co., being com-
posed of the present firm at Virginia, and re-
ceiving as an additional member, Mr. Walter S.
Rearick, of Beardstown, who for some eight
years had been connected with the Cass
County bank at that place. Being successful
in securing the services of a practical business
man, the office was, upon September 5,1SS 1 , op-
ened to the public; not having time to provide
a suitiible office for transacting their business,
the firm for three months occupied the rear
part of a drug store in the place, during
which time the builders were rapidly at work
erecting a neat office building, which was oc-
cupied by the firm about the 5th of Decem-
ber. The immense corn business at that
point, and the mercantile trade growing out
of it, demanded good banking facilities, and
the satisfaction of the customers of the bank
shows it has been rendered equal to all
demands. Like the Chandlerville office, the
immediate management of the business
is conducted by the local member, Mr. Rea-
rick; but the control and direction of it pro-
ceeds from the home office, and the firm feel
very well pleased with the present business
now in their hands at that place, and only hope
their efforts to accommodate their present line
of customers may be the means of enlarging
their list of patrons.

Such is a short synopsis of the business of
this firm, which has grown from a small be-
ginning to be the most extensive in Cass
County, and equal to the largest in other im-
portant counties. Its business interests di-
versifies into all the different neighborhoods
in the county, and its credit is now as well-
known abroad as it is at home. With ample
means and unlimited credit, it is so situated as
to thoroughly put through any business en-
terprise it may undertake, and the business
ability of the individual members of the firm,

gives increased confidence to its patrons. To
Mr. Samuel H. Petefish, the only living mem-
ber of the original firm, is due in a great part
the present prosperity of the business, and
who at all times has the interest of the county
as his objective point. Being the prime
mover in the organization of the bank, he
naturally feels very proud of its present pro-
portions, and at is all times ready to advance
the interests of its customers.

Each member of the firm feels the respon-
sibility resting upon him, in having the sur-
plus wealth of so many of the citizens of the
county deposited with them for safe keeping,
and to keep their honor and credit untar-
nished, and attend properly and in a business
manner to the demands of their patrons, is
their chief aim in the management of the
business.

The Centennial National Bank was incor-
porated April 11, 1876, with the following
officers and directors, viz: A. G. Anffier.
John A. Petefish, Daniel Biddlecome, T. J.
Crum, J. H. Bates, A. Struble, Robt. Hall, W.
L. Black and Thomas Dunnaway. John A.
Petefish was elected president, and John H.
Wood, cashier. The original stockholders
were, John Fielding, D. R. Downing, W. M.
Gorellery, Thos. Dunnaway, Daniel Biddle-
come, Wm. Lindsey, John A. Petefish, A. G.
Angier, Cyrus Crum, G. W. Goodsj>eed, .lohn
Epler, A. G. Epler, Wm. Epler, John A.
Jones, N. W. Spillman, Geo. A. Woodworth,
P. M. Petefish, J. F. Black, Joseph Wilson,
James Thompson, T. J. Crum, .f. W. Savage,
W. L. Black, Geo. A. Beard, J. H. Bates,
Henry Quigg, Amos Cox, Robert Hall, A.
Struble, John Edwards, J. H. Tureman, K.
W. Mills, Mrs. M. S. Caldwell, A. C. An-rier,
Jno. H. Melone, Mary E. Henderson, John D.
McHenry, E. A. Gridley, T. J. Nesbitt and
A. S. Montgomery. A portion of the above
names are not on the rolls now, and in addi-
tion to those given, are the following, who

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

have since come in: Maria Cunningham, B.
Fielding, Martha B. G. Downing, Henry
Philips,'^Mrs. E. J. H. Tomlin, Thos. Mead, A.
Petefish and G. W. Crum. The capital stock
was $60,000 until 1877, when it was reduced
to $50,000, with a circulation of $45,000. The
bonds were bought when they were high, and
depreciated to such an extent, that they ab-
sorbed the earnings of the bank up to 1879,
when the first dividend was declared, which
was ten per cent. An annual dividend has
been declared every year since of eight per
cent. During the past four years the business
of the bank has more than doubled.

John A. Petefish continued as president
until his death, May 24, 1880, when A. G.
Angler became president, a position he still
holds. T. J. Crum is vice-president at pre-
sent. John H. Wood continued cashier until
June 15, 1878, when he resigned, and the pre-
sent incumbent, Mr. James B. Black, took his
place.

We have noted the beginning of business
in Virginia, and traced it from an insignificant
village store to the present large and increas-
ing business and trade.

The town boasts no manufacturing enter-
prises, to speak of, unless it be the tile fac-
tory, now in the course of construction, and
which will be, when completed, a good thino-
for the city, as it will be the beginning of
manufacturing industries. It is manufactur-
ing that makes a town, and the discovery re-
cently of a fine vein of potter's clay in the
vicinity of Virginia, ought to lead to the
erection of works for the making of stoneware
at no distant day.

The business of Virginia is strictly retail,
and considering the comj)etition it has in the
neighboring towns, and the close proximity
of Springfield, Jacksonville, and even St.
Louis, it is large. The class of business
houses are good for a town of this size, and
are a credit to the business men ; banking

facilities are excellent, many of the residences
are handsome, and the churches are spacious
and commodious.

An item of interest that should not be
overlooked, is the set of abstract books of J.
N. Gridley. He has devoted much time, and
expended about $10,000 in money, to the
compiling of one of the finest and most
complete sot of Abstract books in the State
of Illinois. They contain a correct copy of
the entire records of Cass County, showing
all the titles and all transactions afiTecting the
titles of any and all real estate in the county,
together with plats of all the towns, cities
and villages, certificates of organization of
all societies and incorporations, which exist or
have existed, and much other valuable infor-
mation. The entire set of records are sup-
plemented with an official certificate, by the
proper officer over the county seal, vouching
for their correctness. It is not an easy mat-
ter to estimate the value of this set of re-
cords, particularly if the original records of
this county ever be destroyed. The records
were made almost entirely by Miss Mary E.
Hill, one of the most efficient penwomen and
thorough book-keepers in Virginia. As a
work of art alone, they are worthy of perusal.

The Virginia Building and Savings Asso-
ciation was chartered by the Legislature in
1876, with a capital of $500,000. The object
of the association is to purchase and Ijuild
city residences, thus aiding specially the
working classes. The first officers were:
James Thompson, President; John McHenry,
Vice President; M. Graves, Treasurer, and
R. W. Rabourn, Secretary. Directors: Jo-
seph F. Black, P. H. Bailey, Robert Hall, M.
Graves, and E. T. Oliver. It has already
built about forty residences, and loaned out
some $40,000. The association is composed
of about one hundred of the best citizens of
Virginia.

Virginia was incorporated as a village,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

August 19, 1857. The first board of trustees
was as follows: Alexander Sam])le, Stephen
P. Gwinn, S. W. Neely, J. E. Haskell, and J.
B. Thompson. The first officers were: C. H.
Oliver, President; John W. Naylor, Town
Clerk; L. S. Allard, Treasurer; James H.
Harris, Town Constable, and John A. Giles,
Street Commissioner. The town remained
under this style of government until 1873,
when on the 23d of August, of that year, it
was incorporated as a city, and the first sot of
officers elected, were as follows, viz.: J. A.
Petefish, Mayo-; E. M. Dale, Clerk; J. N.
Wilson, Treasurer; R. W. Mills, Attorney,
and Messrs. E. T. Oliver, A. E. Wyatt, John
Rodgers, Joseph Wilson, and Morrison Graves,
Councilnien. Since then the following gen-
tlemen have served as Mayor of the city, viz:
J. A. Petefish (two terms), ISl'Z-S; Dr. G. W.
Goodspeed, 1874; D. N. Walker, 1875; W.
W. Easley, 1876; P. H. Bailey (two terms),
1877-8; John A. Petefish, until his death,
wiiich occurred in May, 1880; and J. T. Rob-
inson was elected to fill out the unexpired
term, until April, 1881; P. H. Bailey, 1881,
and served until he moved away, when A. G.
Epler was elected, and is (1883) the present
incumbent. Other officers are R. W. Ra-
bourn. Clerk; J. B. Craft, Treasurer; R. W.
Mills, Attorney, and Marlin Cosgro and Reu-
ben Lancaster, Councilraerh from the First
Ward; George E. Harris and Dr. D. G. Smith,
Councilnien from the Second Ward; W. W.
Bishop and Oswell Skiics, Councilmen from
the Third Ward, and Daniel Murray, City
Marshal.

The last premium list (1883) of the Cass
County Fair Association, issued from the of-
fice of the Virginia Enquirer, contains an
historical sketch of the county, and of the
city of Virginia, from which we make a brief
extract, in conclusion of this chapter. It is
a kind of peroration of the writer's article on
Virginia, and shows the business and imuort-

ance of the city at the present time. It is as
follows:

"Forty-six years laden with sorrows and
joys, bright anticipations and vanquished
hopes, have added both age and dignity to
our little town since it was first laid out.
Many of the old citizens who were wont to
dream pleasant dreams over what the town
would some day be, are quietly sleeping their
last sleep. The boys and girls of those early
times are boys and girls no longer. They
have taken the places of men and women in
the ranks, and are earnestly endeavoring to do
the work laid out for them. The reflections,
however, of what they were in their youthful
days, can be seen in the many bright and
happy faces of the scholars who attend the
public schools. During all these years, Vir-
ginia has steadily gained in financial strength,
and it is to-day not only one of the solidest
but one of the most beautiful little towns in
Central Illinois. Nature has freely laid her
golden ofF>rings at our feet, but only those
found on th surface have as yet been utilized.
Some day in the future, perhaps, we may
muster sufficient courage to investigate the
mysteries beneath our feet, and when the light
of day is once permitted to shine upon them,
a transformation of our little town will take
place, equally as amazing as those accom-
plished by Alladin and his wonderful lamp.

"The business enterprises of the little city
DOW include nine grocery stores, eight dry
goods stores, three drug stores, two hotels,
five churches, two millinery stores, four black-
smith shops, two merchant tailoring establish-
ments, one first-class clothing house, two bar-
ber shops, two livery stables, one flour mill,
one brick yard, three boot and shoe shops,
five saloons, one dairy, two hardware stores,
two stove and tinware establishments, two
wagon manufactories, one meat market, three
banks, one bakery, two restaurants, two har-
ness shops, two furniture stores, two under-

HISTORY OF CASS COLTNTY.

takers, one lumber yard, two agricultural
implement dealers, three grain dealers, one
photograph gallery, three sewing machine
agencies, two title abstract offices, nine law-

yers, six physicians, two jewelry establish-
ments, one book store, two dentists, three
painters, three contractors and builders, one
marble shop, and two printing offices.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER IX.

VIRGINIA— ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AS A CITY— THE ERA OP RAILROADS— PRO-
JECT OF BUILDING THE ILLINOIS RIVER RAILROAD— THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI,
ETC.— NEWSPAPERS OF VIRGINIA— FIRST PAPER ESTABLISHED IN THE
TOWN— THE PRESENT CITYTRESS— COURT HOUSES AND THE COUNTY
SEAT QUESTION— THE JAIL-MISCELLANEOUS, ETC., ETC.

IN the preceding chapter we have seen how
Virginia grew and developed into a pros-
perous town, and then into a lively little city,
governed by city rules, laws and regulations,
and with a rapidly increasing population is
quietly gliding on in the full tide of "success-
ful experiment." Her growth and develop-
ment, unlike many towns and cities of the
West, have been rather slow, but all the
more sure for being slow, and it requires no
prophet to foresee her prosperous future, if
her business men keep their eyes open and
continue to do their whole duty. "A city
that is set on a hill cannot be hid," and one
that contains a plentiful stock of business
energy cannot fail to prosper.

The railroads have added very materially
to the growth and prosperity of Virginia, as
they must do to every community through
which they pass. A brief sketch of the roads
passing through the city will not be out of
place in this connection.

The Illinois River Railroad was agitated as
early as 1850, but it was some years later
before the project assumed a tangible form.
In 1852, Gen. Ruggles of Mason County, was
elected to the State Senate, from the district
comprising the counties of Sangamon, Men-
ard and Mason, and at the first session in
1853, he preferred and secured the enact-
ment of the charter under which the road was
built. Under this charter Gen. Ruggles went
to work and procured subscriptions amount-
ing to over $100,000, and organized a com-

pany. At the first election. Judge William
Thomas, of Morgan County, R. S. Thomas,
of Cass County, J. M. Ruggles and Francis
Low, of Mason County, and Joshua Wag-
gonseller, of Tazewell County, were elected
Directors; R. S. Thomas was elected Presi-
dent; M. H. L. Schooley was elected Secreta-
ry; and Thomas Plasters, Treasurer. With
some slight changes this directory continued
until the road changed its name and owner-
ship. Of this directory, the Havana Herald,
of Sept. 11, 1857, said: "The election of direct-
ors of the Illinois River Railroad took place
at Chandlerville, on Saturday of last week.
A large number of persons were present
on the occasion, and an amount of stock was
represented equal to $350,000. Considerable
interest was manifested among those present,
in regard to who should be elected to the
directory, and as to how they should be ap-
pointed. But after the manifestation of con-
siderable feeling in regard thereto, matters
were finally arranged, as we presume, to the
entire satisfaction of all parties, and directors
were elected. The selection of a more effi-
cient Board of Directors could not have been
made. They are the very best men to be
found along the line of the road, and their
selection will meet the approbation of a large
majority of the citizens of the different coun-
ties through which the road will pass, and
give renewed confidence to the friends of
this great improvement."

The counties and principal towns through

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

which the road was surveyed, subscribed
liher.illy toward building it. Morgan County
voted 850,000 stock; Cass, $100,000; Mason,
§100,000— §.50,000 at two different times; Ha-
vana, the county-seat of Mason, voted §15,000;
Bath, in Mason County, §10,000, while other
cities did well in the same substantial manner.
W. G. Wheaton of Peoria, was the first en-
gineer employed, but soon developed a dis-
position to locate depots and speculate in
town lots, which led to a disruption with the
directory, and finally resulted in his discharge
from the employment of the company, and the
selection of another engineer.

The contract was let in May, 1857, for grad-
ing, bridging and furnishing cross-ties be-
tween Pekin and Jacksonville, a distance of
about seventy miles. Allen and McGrady, of
Indiana, became the contractors, and the work
began at Bath in September, 1857, and was
pushed forward rapidly until completed from
Pekin to Virginia, which was accomplished
in 1859. The section from Pekin to Peoria
was finished in 1864, and from Virginia to
Jacksonville in 1869; thus completing an un-
broken line from Peoria to Jacksonville. For
a local road it has always done a heavy busi-
ness. During the late civil war, the road
changed hands, by reason of a foreclosure of
first mortgage, and the name was changed to
that of Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Rail-
road, and for years, was operated for that com-
pany, by John Allen and J. F. Kelsey, who
gave very general satisfaction in their man-
agement. In 1878, the road went into the
hands of a receiver, Mr. John Allen, and some-
time after, the controlling interest passed to
the Wabash Railway, since which time it has
remained a feeder to that great system.

It is a matter of wonder to all strangers
who visit Virginia, and a source of consider-
able profanity to the majority of commercial
travelers, that the depot of this road, was lo-
cated almost as near to Springfield as it is to

Virginia, and " thereby hangs a tale." One,
however, which we shall not attempt to "un-
fold," further than that its being partly at
least, caused by the war then existing between
the east and west ends of the city, by little
under-currents of feeling, local prejudices, and,
in fact, wheels within wheels, which together,
resulted in the road being located be}'ond the
eastern limits of the city. It is of considerable
inconvenience to the citizens of the town and
to visitors, and the project now agitated to
some extent, of building a union depot, would
be hailed by all with unbounded pleasure.
However, what is a loss to the citizens and
traveling public is a gain to others — the bus
men.

The Springfield division of the Ohio & Mis-
sissippi Railroad crosses the Peoria, Pekin &
.lacksonville road at this place. It was char-
tered as the Springfield & Illinois Southeast-
ern, and was built through this section in 1871-
72. Cass County manifested her interest in the
enterprise by voting $50,000 stock, for which
bonds were issued of $1,000 each. Twelve of
these bonds have been paid. The road be-
came involved, and after the usual amount of
wire-pulling it was sold, and purchased by the
Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, March 1, 1875,
since which time, it has been known as the
" Springfield Division of the Ohio & Mississip-
pi." While it is not kept in the best condition,
yet it has been of great advantage to Virginia
in giving her a more direct outlet to Eastern
markets, and connections at Springfield with
several first-class roads. These two roads
have made Virginia what she is, and afford
her ample means of transportation and travel.

The Press. — No art save that of printing
can reproduce the original emanations of
genius in unlimited number, and as long as
time shall last. Statues, monuments, paint-
ings, molder and fade, and with them the
names of those they were intended to me-
morialize; but the volume of to-day may be re-

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

printed ten thousand years hence, if the
world shall endure so long, and the last copy
will bo, for all practical purposes, as available
as the first. In this age of refinement and
civilization, of education and letters; an age
ill which a Henry Clay rises from the humble
" Mill-boy of the Slashes " to the greatest
statesman the world ever saw, and an Abra-
ham Lincoln steps up by regular gradation
from a gawky rail-splitter to President of the
United States; in this age of advancement we
say, a town of any importance at all, without
a newspaper, would indeed be phenomenal.
It is to be regretted, however, that many sec-
tions of the country pay so little attention to
their newspapers, and contribute so little to
their support. Said Daniel Webster: "I care
not how unpretending a newspaper may be
every issue contains something that is worth
the subscription price." In Ohio it is a State
law that every newspaper published in the
county, shall be kept on file in the office of
the County Auditor, and at the end of each
year be bound in volumes at the public ex-
pense. This is a good move, and should be
followed in the other States. There is no other
way so correct of preserving the country's
history as through the medium of the press.
The very advertisements eventually become
historical facts, and sometimes of the greatest
value. The press of to-day, it can not be dis-
puted, is the ruling element, not only in the
political, but in the social world.

The newspaper history of Virginia dates
back to 1847, when the Chronicle was estab-
lished. It was an ultra Whig paper, and was
originally started by a Mr. Tilden, an own
cousin, it is said, of the Sage of Gramercy
Park, Samuel J. Tilden, of New York. Mark
W. Dellaha became the editor and proprie-
tor, and conducted the paper until 1852, when
he sold out to parties who removed the paper
from the town. Mr. Dellaha was a lawyer
of considerable prominence and ability, and

a fine orator. After selling out the Chronicle
he removed to Kansas, in 1853, and estab-
lished the first paper at Leavenworth, pub-
lished in the State. Subsequently he became
Judge of the United States District Court of
Kansas.

The Cass County Times was the next paper
established in Virginia, and sprang into exist-
ence about the year 1855, through the energy
and enterprise of Richard S. Thomas, one of
the most pushing, and live, wiSe-awake busi-
ness men in the town. Mr. Thomas conducted
the Times as a neutral paper until the cam-
paign of 1860,when it raised the standard of the
Republican party, as led by Abraham Lincoln
in the contest for the presidency. Thomas
disposed of the editorial management of the
Times to Prof. McDowell, by whom it was
operated until the close of the year 1860, or
beginning of 1861, when it was sold to Mr.
Naylor, and the office removed to Pekin, a
move which resulted in establishing the Taze-
well Republican.

During the- hotly contested and exciting
campaign of 1860, a company was formed
which started the Cass County Union, a
Douglas paper, edited by Lafayette Briggs,
who published it until the fall of 1864. It
had become the property of Jacob Dunnaway,
who sold it to a gentleman, and it was moved
to Beardstown, but was shortly after again re-
moved, and this time to El Paso. Virginia
was now without a paper, and remained so un-
til 1867, when a Republican paper was estab-
lished by John S. Harper and N. S. Pur-
viance. It was shortly after purchased by L.
S. Allard, who changed it, or commenced the
publication of the Cass County Courier.
While these changes were taking place, the
Democrats again established a county organ,
with a Mr. Friend as editor; it finally fell in-
to the hands of J. J. Bunce, who published
for a time the Jeffersonian; but later moved
the office to Chandlerville. The Courier was

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

published by L. S. Allard, until in February,
18 2, when he leased the office to his son, H.
C. Allard and W. M. Summers, by whom
the name of the paper was changed to the
Gazette^ and operated by the firm about one
year. Mr. Allard then retired and Mr. Sum-
mers became editor and proprietor of the pa-
per. The Gazette under the management of
Mr. Summers, at once took rank with the
best conducted newspapers of the State, be-
ing bold and fearless in its advocacy of what
its editor deemed right and just. Every issue
of the paper was eagerly read by an increas-
ing list of subscribers, and while many may not
have agreed with the editor in h\s polici/, or
endorsed his methods of treatinsrmen and
measures, all admitted his earnestness, and ad-
mired the bold and manly course he pursued
in treating of local issues andcounty affairs.

In the memorable contest over the removal
of the county seat, the Gazette was a staunch
and able advocate of the Virginia interest, and
in the county elections pending the contest,
to his efforts, more than to any other one man,
may be ascribed the successful issue of the
" People's movement," which placed in most
of the county offices men who were pronounced
for Virginia. To say that Mr. Summers was
without enemies would be to assert that which
is not borne out by the facts. A man of so
pronounced a character, so bold in speech, so
strong a hater, and so earnest a friend, must
needs have enemies, and they lost no oppor-
tunity to heap abuse upon him. Through all
the Gazette continued to prosper, and became
widely known as a fearless, able and out-
spoken paper. In February, 1876, Mr. Sum-
mers's health failed. He had suffered the
previous year with disease of the lungs, and
was unable at all times to attend to the duties
of his office. After vainly seeking health in
the cooling breezes of the north, he was com-
pelled to retire from the Gazette, which was
j)urchased by Messrs. Brownlee & Allard, who

assumed charge February 25, 1876. Mr.
Summers died in Petersburg, 111., in Novem-
ber following.

Mr. Allard, of the firm of Brownlee & Allard,
was, together with Mr. Summers, a founder
of the Gazette. Mr. Allard retired in Sep-
tember, 1876, and Mr. Brownlee continued
alone until August 17, 1877, when T. L. Mat-
thews and W. H. Thacker became proprietors.
Mr. Matthews bought out Thacker, January 18,
1878, and January 3, 1879, H. C. Allard again
became interested in the paper. During the
campaign of 1880, C. M. Tinney, the present
editor, had editorial control, while Mr. Allard
was in Fort Smith, Ark., conducting the JVeto
Era, owned by Hon. V. Dell, then United
States Marshal of the Western District of Ar-
kansas. April 29, 1881, Mr. Tinney bought the
Gazette, and assumed full control of it, whicli
position he has ever since maintained. Under
his management, the Gazette has lost nothing
of its former high standing as an able and
influential newspaper, but continues to im-
prove in character and excellence. It ranks
among the very best papers in Central and
Southern Illinois, and is the leading Repub-
lican paper in this section. Mr. Tinney is
an able and efficient writer, and a live, and
wide-awake newspaper man, deserving of
liberal support from the town and county.

The Virginia Enquirer is a weekly paper,
published in Virginia. It is the official organ
of the Democratic party in Cass County, and
an able and earnest exponent of the principles
of the Jacksonian Democracy.

The Enquirer was started by John S. Harper
and .1. J. Bunce, in the spring of 187-4, and
the first number was issued about the first of
August in that year. After an existence of
about two months, Mr. Bunce sold his half
interest to J. H. Remtsen. A few weeks later
Mr. Remtsen disposed of his interest to John
S. Harper. After running the paper seven or
eight months, Mr. Harper sold the establish-

HISTORY OF CASS C'OUXTV.

9.3

inent to a Democratic Stock Company, and
the management of the paper was entrusted
to C. A. Crandall and Thomas Thompson. In
the winter of 1876, the Stock Company dis-
posed of the property to William T. Dovvdall,
of the Peoria Democrat. In March, IS??,
John Frank, the present proprietor, purchased
the paper from Mr. Dowdall, and issued his
first number on the nineteenth of that mouth.
Mr. Frank gave the paper a new dress, put in
new job material, and otherwise increased the
facilities of the office. As time rolled on, the
business grew and prospered, and he was com-
pelled from time to time to enlarge the paper.
The subscription-list is, at this time, five times
as large as it was when Mr. Frank took pos-
session. The paper is a large seven coiuinn
quarto, whose advertising columns are crowded
with advertisements from the best houses in
central Illinois. It is a live local sheet, and
ranks among the sterling Democratic papers
of the State. Mr. Frank has labored hard to
bring it up to its present standard, and the
success that has attended his efforts, is no
more than he deserves.

The people of Virginia and the surround-
ing community, have two as able local
newspapers in the Enquiriir and Gazette as
are to be found in any c- unty in the State.
They should feel proud of tlieir city press,
and support it as it deserves to be supported.

Court Houses. — Virginia has twice been
the seat of justice of Cass County. The
county was organized in 1837, and Bjardstown
was made the seat of justice, but, as we learn
from Judge Shaw's Centennial address, failed
to comply with the act of the legislature re-
quiring the sum of ten thousand dollars to
be paid in to the county treasury for the erec-
tion of public buildings, and the County
Commissioners, under a provision of the act,
locatiHl the county seat at Virginia. The fol-
liiwiiig act was passed by the legislature and
ai)provcd M.irch 2, 1839;

He it enacted by the People of the State of
Illinois, represented in the General Assembly.,
That the county seat of Cass County shall hi
and remain at Virginia, and the courts of said
countv shall hereafter be held at that place;
and the several county officers who are required
to keep their offices at the county seat, are ro.
quired to remove their respective offices, and all
bonds, documents, books and papers pertain-
ing to the same to Virginia on or before the
first day of May next, and thereafter hold and
keep their offices at that place, etc., etc., etc.

Thus the county seat was moved to Vir-
ginia in an early period of the county's exist-
ence, and also in an early period of the exist-
ence of Virginia, which had been laid but a
j-ear or two before. Fifteen acres of land were
d(mated by Dr. Hall, the proprietor of Vir-
ginia, for the purpose of erecting public build-
ings. A public s(|aarL> had been laid out, be-
ing tiiat in th.i west end of the town, upon
which the public scliool building now stands.
Upon this square a court house was erected at
a cost of near ^•3,000. It was a two-story
brick, and served as a temple of justice until
the county saat was moved back to Bjards-
town in 1843-44. The vote was taken in
September of 1843, resulting in the '■'■perma-
nent location of the county seat at Bvirds-
town," but which proved to be otherwise than
" permanent." It was not, however, until
tiie famous election in 187'^, that tiie ques-
tion of the county seat was settled, perhaps,
forever, by again moving it, or re-locating it
at Virginia. There is little fear of its ever
being moved back to Beardstown, and, in-
deed, looking at the matter from a disinter-
ested standpoint, we can really see no reason
why it should not rem lin where it now is. It
is near the geographical centre of the county,
has two railroads crossing almost at right
angles, an excellent court house and jail, all
of which considered, will no doubt conspire t j
keep it at Virginia henceforth.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The present court house is a modern brick
structure, erected on the new public square
of Virginia, " Washington Fountain Square,"
in anticipation of the removal of the county-
seat back here. It cost about $25,000, and
was built bv the business men and citizens of
the town, and presented to the county for a
court bouse. The removal of the county
seat was, in a manner, caused by this liber-
ality of the citizens, as its removal involved
the county in no expense. The court house
is a substantial and elegant building, con-
taining the county offices, court room, jury
rooms, etc., and stands in the center of a
beautifully shaded square. But few counties
in the State have a better court house for the
money it cost, than the one that now decks
the public square of Virginia.

The jail building was erected in Virginia
in 1876, and is a substantial building, costing
about $15,000. It is a safe depository for
criminals and evildoer.^, and is finished off in
the strongest manner possible. To it is at-
tached a sheriff or jailer's residence, which
is quite a comely building. The prison part
of the building is of stone, containing eight
cells ; the sheriff's residence is of brick, with
stone trimmings, which sets it off in handsome
style.

Virginia has never been troubled very se-
riously with fires. It is an axiom of military
law, that " in time of peace prepare for war,"
and no one can say just when some mischiev-
ious cow will take it into her head to kick
over a coal-oil lamp. There are many wooden
buildings in town that would burn like — ,
well, just like houses. For instance, if a fire
was to break out some day — windy day or
night, on the east side of the square, and get

five minutes the start, it would take some-
thing more than the little machine pointed
out to us the other day as Virginia's fire ap-
paratus, and which might be taken, at acaus-
ual glance, for a wheelbarrow or a delivery
hand cart, to extinguish it. A few public
wells or cisterns, and a good fire engine, may
sometime save the town from a destructive
conflagration.

It has ever been a custom of mankind to
care for the dead. Loving hands lay them
away to their last rest, with faces looking up-
ward and eastward; because, from the ele-
vated Orient, the Archangel will come to
summon them to judgment. In an early
period of Virginia's history, a cemetery was
laid out west of the town, upon land donated
b}- Dr. Hall; this was used until the laj-ing
out of the present cemetery, when most of
the bodies were taken up and moved to the
new burial grounds. Walnut Ridge, the
present city cemetery, was surveyed and laid
out July f<, 1873, and the plat made by J. S.
Lynch, county surveyor. The cemetery was
established under an act of the legislature,
authorizing cities and towns to buy, hold and
improve cemeteries as public property, under
restrictions adopted by city councils. Thus
Walnut Ridge Cemetery was purchased and
improved. It is a beautiful location for a
burying ground, and with plenty of time
and money spent upon its improvement, it
can be made a place of surpassing loveliness.
Already there are many beautiful lots laid
out with taste, and ornamented with flowers
and shrubbery, while neat stones and monu-
ments, rising here Tind there, symboliza the
affection of surviving friends for their loved
and lost ones.

HISTORY OF CASS COTIXTY.

5)7

a^-

CHAPTEE X.

VIRGINIA— RELIGIOUS HISTORY— FIRST CHURCHES AND PREACHERS— THE DIFFERENT

DENOMINATIONS AND THEIR TEMPLES OF WORSHIP— SUNDAY SCHOOLS, ETC.—

EDUCATIONAI^THE EARLY SCHOOLS OF VIRGINIA— PIONEER TEACHERS—

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS— C. P. COLLEGE— WAR HISTORY— SECRET AND

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS, ETC., ETC.

CHRISTIAN truth is the superstructure on
which every society which appro.ximates
perfection, must rest. Said an old minister of
the Gospel : " It used to make my heart sick
in the early years of my ministry to dismiss
members of my charge to churches in distant
regions, and have brothers and sisters and
neighbors leave us for the new settlement in
the opening Territories. But as I have
grown older and followed the^e emigrants to
their new homes, and have found them far
more useful in church and State than they
ever could have been in the regions they have
left behind, where others held the places of
influence — as I have seen them giving a
healthy and vigorous tone to society, while
the separation causes a pang of sorrow, the
good accomplished more than compensates
for the pleasure lost." It was to such emi-
grants as those mentioned in the foregoing
extract, that Illinois is indebted, for the
Christian civilization she to-day enjoys. The
good seed brought hither by these humble
pioneers, have produced an hundred fold.

The first Church Society formed in Virginia
was by the Protestant Methodists. They
built a church edifice upon the site of Traph-
agan's horse barn, in the rear of Mrs. Free-
man's. It was a frame structure about 30x50
feet, and without any of the modern improve-
ments. The Protestant Methodist organiza-
tion h;is been extinct in Virginia for a num-
ber of years.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was
the next organized in Virginia. It was form-
ed of members principally from Shiloh church,
b}' Rev. Thomas Campbell, February 2(5,
18-i3. Among the original members were:
William Naylor, Bsnjarain Bjasley, William
Shilly, Harvey O'Neil, William Blair, David
Blair, Daniel Cornell, Louise O'Neil, Susan
Beasley, Melville Blair, Mary A. Cornell,
Mirgiret Woavor, Mary A. Lindsley, Marv
Lorance, and Elizabeth Biddlecome. The
first elders were William Naylor, Benjamin
Beasley, and William Shilly. Their first
place of worship was the old court house,
which stood where the public school building
now stands. In 1843, they built a frame
church on Job street, opposite Dr. Tates,
which would seat about 250 persons. The
new church, which stands in the eastern part
of the city, was built in the summer of 1879,
by J. F. Black, and cost about 84,000. It is
a handsome brick edifice of modern architec-
ture, and will seat some fifteen hundred peo-
ple. Rev. J. E. Roach is the present pastor,
and the membership is perhaps fifty. A Sun-
day school of some fifty or sixty children is
maintained, under the superintendence of
Mr. S. A. Gould.

The Church of Christ, of Virginia, was re-
organized in 1875 (of its previous history we
were unable to learn anything definite), by
electing C. W. Elder and .J. E. Turner an
church elders, and C. W. Black and J. B,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Black, deacons. These officers resigned in
1877, and C. W. Elder, J. F. Black, and
F. A. Wade were elected elders; C. W. Black,
I). D. Wilson, J. B. Black and T.J. Kemper,
deacons. M. Graves, Joseph F. Black, T. J.
Kemper and J. E. Turner were elected trus-
tees, John Wear holding over, making five
trustees. The church began holding Sunday
meetings in 1873, without electing officers,
elder C. W. Elder preaching occasionally un-
til the organization was perfected. He was
then employed by the church, and preached
until 1878, when elder J. L. Richardson was
emplo^'ed, remaining two years, when he re-
signed, and accepted a call to Europe. He
preached there one year, and then returned
and resumed his charge here in 1881, and is
now pastor of the church. During the time
Elder Richardson was - in Europe, Elder
.lames McGuire was engaged as pastor. Up
to the fall of 1879, services were held in the
old church building in the west end of the
town. The house was then torn down,
the material removed, and a new church
erected (in 1879) on the corner of Cass and
Beardstown streets, at a cost of about $4,000,
including furniture. It was dedicated by El-
der B. J. Radford, president of Eureka Col-
lege, in Woodford County. J. F. Black was
architect and builder of the new church edi-
fice, and displayed much taste in the design.
The church now has 142 members.

The Sunday school was organized contempo-
raneously with the re-organization of the
church, and has continued ever since. The
present superintendent is Charles Martin; Dr.
D. G. Smith, assistant, with an average at-
tendance of about 85 children.

The Ladies' Christian Missionary Society
of this church, was organized November 7,
1880, with eleven members, of whom Mrs. J.
A. McGuire was elected President; Mrs. James
Black, Vice-president; Mrs. Mattie Rummel,
Secretary, and Mrs. A. A. Leeper, Treasurer.

The contributions of the society for the first
year, were twenty-three dollars. Its present
officers are Mrs. Charles Black, President;
Mrs. James Black, Vice-president, and the
Secretary and Treasurer as above given. The
society is growing in strength and increasing
in usefulness. Its contributions will probably
reach near thirty dollars the present year.

The Catholics have had a partial organiza-
tion in Virginia since about 1840. For a
number of years mass was said in the houses
of catholic families, until something like or-
ganization was effected, when they used as a
church an old building which stood on the
south side of the square, in the west end, and
in which the present St. Luke's Catholic church
was fully organized. The present handsome
church was commenced in 1880, and is about
40x90 feet. When finished, its cost will be
near $10,000, and it is by far the most elegant
church edifice in the city. The painting and
frescoing is just finished, and reflects great
credit on Messrs. Peters & Son, the firm who
did it. Rev. Father Michael Ryan has been
pastor of St. Luke's church since 1876. About
45 families compose the present membership
of the church, and a Sunday school of about
50 children is regularly maintained.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Virginia
was organized about 18.36, as a part of the
Petersburg circuit, under the Presiding Elder-
ship of Rev. Peter Cartwright. Among the
first members were Rev. Levi Springer, a local
preacher, and his wife, P. S. Oughten and
wife, M. H. Baadles, G. W. Harris, and his
wife and daughters, and others not now re-
membered. Rev. Enoch Faulkner was one
of the first pastors, and when this church was
a part of a circuit, large in extent. For some
time the society held its meetings in the old
Protestant Methodist Church, already fre-
quently alluded to in these pages, and after-
ward the court house in the West End was
used as a place of meeting. The present

f^'"^'' fi

J -^^cij^

459269

HISTORY OF UASS COUNTY.

101

I'rame church, standing on Springfield street,
west of the court house — was erected in 1856,
at a cost of about $3,500. The membership
is now 120, and is under the pastorate of Rev.
Mr. Airer. The Sunday school has a regular
attendance of about 100 children; Mr. Henry
Berry is the superintendent, and devotes con-
siderable attention to its interests, and the
moral improvement of its members.

The Presbyterian Church of Virginia. —
The following sketch was furnished by Rev.
J. P. Dawson, the pastor : Although the
present house of worship was erected in
1857, and was occupied as a preaching sta-
tion, by stated supplies, there was no regular
Presbyterian organization until the year 1863.

On the 12th day of June, 1863, the follow-
ing petition was sent to the Presbytery of San-
gamon. '■'■ Dear Brethren: — We, your petition-
ers, members of Providence Church, and
others, respectfully ask you to organize us in-
to a separate church, to be called the 'Presby-
terian Church of Virginia, Illinois,' under your
care and supervision, if in your judgment
the same should be for the interest of Christ's
cause." (Signed) G. W. Goodspeed, Sarah
W. Goodspeed, Alice H. Goodspeed, I. N.
White, George Wilson, Jane B. Wilson, Be-
linda M. Wilson, John N. Wilson, R. M. Wil-
son, WUiam C. Wilson, Rev. J. Dale, N. S.
Dale, Eliza J. Dale, G. Clendenin, Helen Clen-
dcnin, Mary H. Stowe, Mary McCawly,
Mary E. Haynes, Eliza C. Heslep, D. R.
Downing, Mary Downing, N. H. Downing,
A. G. Angier, Eliza A. Angler, Robert Barr,
Jane Barr, Hattie Angier, Grace Suffren,
Mildred Berry, .John .T. Bergen, S. S. Bergen,
James McAllister, William McAllister, Eliza
McAllister, Charles Sloan, and Mary A. Sloan.

In compliance with this petition, the Rev.
J. G. Bergen, D. D., as commissioner of San-
sjamon Presbytery, preached at Virginia, on
the 4th day of July, 1863, and afterward pro-
ceeded to organize the " Presbyterian Church

of Virginia." George Wilson, Dr. G. W.
Goodspeed and David R. Downing, were
elected and installed as elders, and Glasgow
Clendenin, J. N. Wilson, .1. J. Bergen and
A. G. Angier, were ordained deacons.

The organization of the church was largely
due to the efforts of Rev. John Dale, who as
stated supply of Providence Presbyterian
Church, had preached at this point for several
years. After the organization the church em-
ployed Rev. George K. Scott as stated supply,
who labored acceptably for nearly two years.
After he was called to another field, a young
licentiate named David J. Strain, labored here
until April, 1865. The people were well
pleased, and through the Presbytery extended
to him a regular call to become their pastor,
which call was accepted, and on the 30th of
June, 1865, the Presbytery of Sangamon met
in Virginia, and ordained Mr. Strain to the
gospel ministry, and installed him as pastor of
this church. The blessing of God followed,
and he remained the faithful and elBcient
shepherd of this flock for more than fourteen
years. But on account of failing health he
was led to resign the charge, and the pastoral
relation was dissolved in July, 1880. In Oc-
tober of the same year the church, employed
Rev. J. P. Dawson as stated supply, and at
the end of the year extended to him a regular
call, which was by him accepted, and he was
dulj' installed as pastor of the church by a
commission of Springfield Presbytery, on the
23d day of October, 1 881, and he is now (1883)
the pastor of the church.

The church is united and prosjjerous ; has
a comfortable house of worship and parsonage;
has about 120 memliers, anda Sabbath school
of about 100 members.

Educational. — Through the medium of the
common schools are the rising generation of
all nationalities assimilated readily and thor-
oughly, forming the great American people.
The common shools are alike open to the rich

102

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

and the poor, the citizen and the strang'er. It
is the duty of those to whom the administra-
tion of the schools is confided, to discharge
it with magnanimous liberality and Christian
kindness. Diligent care should be taken by
instructors, to impress upon the minds of
children and youth committed to their care,
the principles of morality and justice, and a sa-
cred regard for truth, love of their country,
humanity and universal benevolence, sobriety,
industry and frugality, chastity, moderation
and temperance, and all other virtues which
ornament society.

The early residents of Virginia v/ore alive
to the value of education, and opened schools
as soon as tlioy could support tliem. The
first school of which we have any reliable ac-
count, was taught in the second story or attic
of the old Protestant IMethodist church, al-
ready described. It had been fitted up for a
school room, by lathing and plastering to the
rafters, making a room about 14x50 feet, and
in this unique building the youth of the early
town learned the first rudiments of an educa-
tion. The first teachers were Miss Ann Jour-
dan, a Protestant Methodist preacher, a Miss
Williams, Mrs. Blackman Ross, now of Jack-
sonville, Miss Mary Ann Lindsley, now Mrs.
John Ruckley, of Philadelphia, and others
whose names are forgotten. The first school-
building owned by the city was the old court
house, wliich was purchased by the county for
school purposes after the county seat had been
moved back to Beardstown, and was occupied
as such about 1846. It was used until 18G7,
when it was torn down and re-built, and has
since served the city, until the purchase of
the old Cumberland Presbyterian College
building, now used by the city for a high-
school department, and which will be again
referred to further on. The city schools are
in a flourishing condition, and compare favor-
ably with any other town in this section of
the State of a like population.

The High School was organized by Prof.
Loorais, the present principal of the city
schools, though he has not been principal
ever since. Several who have filled the posi-
tion have become somewhat distinguished
men. Prof. J. A. Johnson, one of these ex-
principals, is now a practicing lawyer at Oak-
land, Oregon. Another, Prof. R. H. B sggs,
is the present Superintendent of the schools
at Denver, Colorado. We are unable, how-
ever, to sketch each and every one of them,
and tell whether they rank as great or small,
among the men of the time.

The teachers for the ensuing year are as
follows, viz.: Prof. John Loomis, Principal ;
]\Iiss Lucy B. Duer, Assistant Principal ;
Miss Rachel Berry, teacher 6th, grade ; Grao.
J. Kelley, 5th grade ; Miss Monie Tate, 4th
grade ; Miss Belle Rodgers, 3rd grade ; Miss
Mary Billings, 2nd grade ; Miss Mary E.
Wright, 1st grade ; attendance about 350
pupils. Springer School, Edward M issie,
teacher ; about 15 in attendance.

Union Gollecie. — -The history of this insti-
tution is brief, and its career wai short and
unprofitable as a school. When the Sanga-
mon Presbytery of the Cumberland Pres-
byterian Church, concluded to build a
Seminary, three diiferont p'aces were des-
ignated as the point where the school should
be located, and the choice was to fall to the
most liberal bidder. In other words, the
town, which would extend the most liberal
contribution toward building the Seminary,
was to become the place of its location. This
led to the erection of three buildings at as
many different points, viz.: at Virginia, Cass
County ; at Mt. Zion, Macon County, and at
Lincoln, Logan County. The school at Mt.
Zion died an early but natural death, soon
passing out of existence.

The school, in the meantime, which had
been establislicd at Virginia, was changed
into the Union College, but never prospered

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

to any extent. It becamg involved in debt
and was finally sold to the city of Virginia,
and is now known as the City High School
Building. The school at Lincoln flourished
in proportion to the decline of the others. It
became a college, then a university, and is
now known as Lincoln University. The
Virginia school was run under denomina-
tional rule from its commencement, about
1865. It was sold to the city about 1870, for
$7,500, and the proceeds used to strengthen
the Lincoln school,- which is still owned by
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

War History. — In a work of this kind, it is
not intended to write a history of the late
civil war, but to allude very briefly to the
part Virginia took in the matter. A war of
any sort, from a " war of words " to bloody
battles between contending armies, is but a
sickly detail of horrors, and a civil war is the
most deplorable of all. It would be well if
we could drop a veil over our late war be-
tween the States, and blot out the remem-
brance of it forever. It is a species of history
better forgotten than perpetuated.

The Nineteenth Illinois Infantry was the
first regiment that drew anything like a com-
pany from Virginia and vicinity. Company
F was from this place, and was officered as
follows: Luther S. Allard, Captain; K. H.
Chandler, First Lieutenant; and James G.
Campbell, Second Lieutenant. Captain Al-
lard resigned December 1, 18G1, and Lieu-
tenant Cliandler was promoted to Captain,
and afterward killed in battle, when Lieu-
tenant Campbell became Captain, who re-
mained as such until the expiration of the
regiment's term of service. Upon the pro-
motion of Lieutenant Campbell, Samuel L.
Himilton was promoted to Second Lieuten-
ant, and then to First Lieutenant, and mus-
tered out with the regiment. John Hill was
promoted Second Lieutenant, January 3,
18G3, and resigned (says the Adjutant-gen-

eral's Report), "for the good of the service."
The same authority makes the same report of
Silas W. Kent, who was promoted Second
Lieutenant on the ord of June, 1863.

Of the service of the Nineteenth, the Ad-
jiitant-generars report gives no record, fur-
ther, than that it was mustered out of the
service at the close of its three years term of
service.

The Thirty-third Illinois Infantry was the
next regiment in which Virginia was repre-
sented. In the Thirty-third almost an entire
company was enlisted from Virginia and the
immediate vicinity. Company K was the
Virginia company, and Charles E. Lippineott
was its Captain. None of the other commis-
sioned officers, however, were from Cass
County, except Second Lieutenant William
H. Weaver, who was from Beardstown.
Lieutenant Weaver resigned March 23, 1862,
came home and raised a company for the 100
days' service, of which company he was Cap-
tain. Capt. Lippineott was promoted to
Lieutenant-colonel, March 1, 1862, and to
Colonel on the 5th of September following,
he was mustered out of the service with the
reginlent, and was promoted Brigadier-gen-
eral for gallant and meritorious services. We
have not space to give the names of the entire
company, but from the Adjutant-general's
report will give a synopsis of the history of
the Thirty-third, of which Company K formed
a part.

The Thirty-third Infantry was organized at
Camp Butler, Illinois, in September, 1861, and
mustered into the United States service by
Capt. T. G. Pitcher, U. S. A. Its first service
was in Missouri, where it did little but scout
duty, until March, 1833, when it moved into
Arkansas, and was engaged in a number of
skirmishes, and several rather severe battles.
It remained in Arkansas until in the spring
of 1863, when it was onlered to St. Genevieve,
Mo., from whence it embarked for Milliken's

104

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Bend, La. Attached to the Thirteenth Army
Corps, it participated in all its battles — Port
Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge,
siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, etc. In
August it was ordered to New Orleans, where
it was engaged in several raids and expedi-
tions, and in November was ordered into
Texas, where it did considerable manceuvering,
if nothing more serious. The regiment re-en-
listed in the spring of 1864, and on the 14th
of March arrived at Bloomington, 111., where
they received veteran furlough. It was re-
organized in April, 18ij4, at Camp Butler, and
proceeded to New Orleans. It remained in
Louisiana on guard duty at different points,
and in March, 1865, was ordered to join the
Sixteenth Army Corps. On its way the train
was thrown from the track, and 9 men killed
and TO wounded. Company K had fortunately
remained behind, guarding transportation,
and escaped the catastrophe. After the cap-
ture of Mobile the regiment moved to Mont-
gomery, Ala., where it arrived on the 25th of
April, and where it received the news of Lee's
surrender. It was mustered out of the service
November 24, 1865, at Vicksburg, and was
sent home to Camp Butler for final dischare,
after more than four years continual service.

The One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois
Infantry contained two companies from Cass
County, one from Virginia and one from
Beardstown; the latter company will be writ-
ten up in the chapters devoted to Beardstown.
Company D. was :rom Virginia, and was or-
ganized with the following commissioned of-
ficers: Benj. C. Berry, Captain, Thos. S.
Berry, First Lieutenant, and David N. Down-
ing, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Berry resigned
January 3 ', 1865, and George H. Martin was
promoted Captain June 26, 1865, but mustered
out as Sergeant August 3, 1865. Lieutenant
Thomas S. Berry was honoral)ly discharged
May 15, 1865, and Henry D. Freeman was
promoted June 26, 18 35, to First Lieutenant,

but nmstered out as Sergeant with the regi-
ment. Second Lieutenant Downing died at
Duckport, La., May 32, 1863. The following
facts are gleaned from the Adjutant-gen-
eral's reports of the movements of the regi-
ment to which this company belonged.

The One Hundred and Fourteenth was re-
cruited during the summer of 1862, and mus-
tered into service on the 18th of Sep-
tember at Camp Butler, Illinois. The regi-
ment left for Memphis, Tenn., on the 8th of
November, arriving on the 26th, and starting
at once on the Tallahatchie campaign. Early
in 1863 it returned to Memphis. It was or-
dered to Louisana, and on the 2nd of May
returned to the rear of Vicksburg, and was
engaged in the battle of Jackson, Miss.,
where it lost five men, killed and wounded,
and arrived in the rear of Vicksburg on the
18th, participating in the siege, with a loss of
twenty in killed and wounded. It did little
but scout and guard duty until in .June, 1864,
when it went against Generals Forrest and
Lee at Guntowu, Miss. The battle at this place
commenced early in the afterno;in, and the
troops, worn down and exhausted by a double
quick march of three miles, were hurried into
action, and after fighting five or six hours,
were repulsed. The 114th remained as rear
guards, and assisted in holding the enemy in
check during the whole of the first night's
retreat. Out of the 397 men of the Ulth
engaged, it lost 205 in killed, wounded and
missing. Among the wounded was Lieuten-
ant T. S. Berry, of Company D.

The regiment, from this time until August,
was engaged in numerous scouts and expedi-
tions, and had many skirmishes with detach-
ments of the enemy, in which it did consider-
able severe fighting. In August, 1864, it
was ordered to Duvall's Bluff, Ark. It left;
Brownsville, Ark., in pursuit of Gen. Price,
and marched to Cape Girardeau, Mo., in sev-
enteen d:ij'S on ten days' rations. After long

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

105

and tedious marches, and travel by rail and
boat, it reached Kansas City, whence it was
ordered to St. Louis, arriving there Novem-
ber 15. From St. Louis it was ordered to
Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived in time to
take part in the battles of the 15th and 16th
of December. The One Hundred and Four-
teenth was attached to McMillan's brigade,
McArthur's division of Gen. A. J. Smith's
corps, which brigade was especially compli-
mented by Gen. Thomas in his report to the
War Department. After the surrender of
Mobile, the regiment marched to Montfrom-
ery, Ala., arriving April Hi, 1865, and bridging
the Alabama river with pontoons, remained
on duty at the bridge until July 17, when it
was ordered to Vicksburg, and mustered out
of service August 3, 1865. It arrived at
Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 7th of August,
and on the 15th was paid off and discharged.
These regiments are all that contained any-
thing like an organized body of men from
V^irginia. A number of men from the city
and vicinity, were scattered through various
other regiments, but none in organized
bodies. From the foregoing sketch of the
33d and the 114th, it will be seen that Vir-
ginia's gallant sons performed their duty
nobly, during those four long and dreary
years, and that some of them came not back
when the contest ended. From bloody fields
of war and carnage, they crossed over the
river to join the grand army on the other side.
They need no mausoleum ! Their fame is a
part of the nation's history; their epitaph is
engraved upon the hearts of men. In the
language of the gallant O'Hara :

" The muffled drum's sad roll has beat

The soldier's last tatoo ;
No more on life's parade shall meet

The brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping-ground,

Their silent tents are spread ;
Ani glory guards with solemn round

The bivouac of the dead."

Secret and Benevolent Institutions. — Be-
nevolent institutions have existed so long,
that no records tell of their organization,
and tliey will, doubtless, continue, " until
time shall be no more." The history of Free
Masonry is veiled and clouded by almost un-
written centuries ; yet amidst the political
fluctuations of the earth, and the downfall of
States and Empires, its traditions have been
borne to us on the current of time, and been
gathered together by the Masonic student for
the meditation and instruction of the Craft.
All who have considered the origin of Free
Masonry have been convinced that the germ
from which it sprang was coeval with that
wonderful command of Jehovah: "Let there
be light," and from the coincidences found to
exist between it and the ancient mysteries,
they were very similar in character. We know
that the aims of these institutions are good,
because the results achieved are so grand and
glorious. We believe that the world is better
for their existence, secret though they are in
their workings, and agree not with those who
believe that everything is evil which is veiled
in secrecy, and hidden from the eyes of the
curious.

Free Masonry is represented in Virginia by
the Blue Lodge only. The institution, it
seems, has never flourished very vigorously
here — the more 's the pity. Like the seed that
fell in stony ground, it h;is probably been
choked by the briars and brambles. Virginia
Lodge No. 544, was organized under dispen-
sation, April 2, A. L. 5867, and was chartered
October 1 following. The charter members
were G. F. Hellig, W. A. Harding, L. P. R.
Yaple, Casper Magel, F. Underwood, H. H.
Hall, James Smith, James M. Rodney, William
Cox, L. S. Allard, Lee Carpenter and H. Bar-
den. The first Master was G. F. Hellig ; the
first Senior Warden, William A. Harding ;
and the first Junior Warden, L. P. R. Yaple.
The lodge now has some thirty members, and

106

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

is officered as follows: G. F. Hellig, Wor-
shipful Master; D. G. Smith, Senior Warden;
A. A. Leeper, Junior Warden; Thomas Dun-
naway, Treasurer; T. M. Hubbard, Secretary;
George Davidson, Senior Deacon ; Parker
Thompson, Junior Deacon; and Robert Chet-
tick, Tiler.

There has never been a Chapter, Council
nor Commandery of the order in the town,
and, as we remarked above, the institution,
from some cause, has never flourished here as
in the majority of Illinois towns. With the
amount of first-class material at hand, how-
ever, the time will come, perhaps, when it
will flourish here as it deserves to flourish
everywhere.

Odd Fellowship, the twin-sister of Free
Masonry, though comparatively modern in
organization, possesses the same virtues, and
exerts the same wide-spread influence for
good. It is represented in Virginia by Saxon
Lodge No. 68, which was instituted in Virginia
by Deputy Grand Master James Leonard,
March 14, 1850, with P. O. Bryan, N. B. New-
man, R. S. Lord, I. N. White, Charles Boyd,
W. H. H. Carpenter, and William Collins
charter members. The first officers were:
R. S. Lord, N. G.; W. H. H. Carpenter, V.
G.; L N. White, Secretary; and N. B. New-
man, Treasurer. Charles E. Lippincott (now
General Lippincott), was the first member
admitted into the new lodge. He was a mem-
ber of mini Lodge No. 4, at Jacksonville,
and as soon as Saxon Lodge was instituted,
took out his card of withdrawal, presented it
for admission to this lodge, and was elected a
member. H. H. Hall, now of Jacksonville,
was the first initiate, being elected and in-
itiated at the first meeting.

The first hall or place of meeting used by
the lodge, was in a church that stood near
where Traphagan's livery stable now stands,
and was burned in 1872. This building was
used for town hall political meetings, school

house, and preaching place for all religions
denominations, and was not the most secret
and retired room for the meetings of a lodge.
It was used however, for four years, and in
1854, the lodge moved to the upper room of
the frame building on the southwest corner of
the square, now occupied by D. J. McCon-
nell as a grocery store. After remaining here
two years, it was moved to the West End, where
most of the business of the town was then
done, and occupied the brick building now
used by Harry Thompson as a residence. In
ISGO, it bought the property now owned by
J. G. Campbell, and occupied by the Dan
Leonard saloon, on the west side of the square.
It used the upper story for a lodge room, and
rented the lower story until 1864, when, owing
to the rapid increase of membership, which
had reached fifty-four, it became necessary to
again move to larger quarters, and the prop-
erty was sold to Mr. Campbell, and the lodge
rented the room over the Farmers' National
Bank, which gave it very commodious quart-
ers. With the proceeds of the sale of its old
building, it bought the lot on the north side
of the square, on which it afterward built a
hall. It bought also at the same time the lot
adjoining it on the east. The lodge remain-
ed, however, in the room in the bank build-
ing until 1873, during which time it had ac-
cumulated something over $1,300. It now
determined to build on its own lots, and ac-
cordingly contracted for a brick building
20x80 feet, two stories high, to cost about
$5,000, and with its $1,300 issued bonds to
the amount of $3,700, which were sold, and
in the fall of the same year the building was
completed. The lower room was occupied by
John Rodgers' furniture store, and the upper
room was occupied jointly by the Odd Fel-
lows' and Masonic Lodges. The crisis of
1873-74 caused many of its members to drop
out of the lodge, and the debt under which
the lodge was laboring so embarrassed it.

HISTORY OF CASS COU^'TY.

107

that in 1881, after struggling long and hard
against many difficulties, it succeeded in re-
ducing its debt to 82,600, had $175 in the
treasury, and but twenty-two members on the
roll. Under this state of circumstances it
proposed to the bond-holders to give them
the $175, and a deed to the property, to be
released from all further obligation, which
was accepted. The lodge then rented the
upper room for one year, and at the close of
1881, rented the suit of rooms now occupied
in the Skiles building, on the southwest cor-
ner of the square, and moved into them in
January, 1B82. Here it has one of the best
arranged halls in Central Illinois, and at the
present time (1882), has a membership of
over ninety, comprised of the best men in the
county.

The present officers of Saxon Lod^e are as
follows : Henry H. Berry, N. G., Geo. L.
Warlow, V. G., Geo. J. Kelly, Recording
Secretary; George R. Berry, Permanent Secre-
tary, and MattYaple, Treasurer.

Advance Encampment No. 139, was insti-
tuted November 39, 1871, at Paxton, Ford
County, 111., and the charter members were
Stacey Daniels, A. F. Blake, Charles Guth-
man, Dan. Guthman and H. C. Funk. The
original charter was destroyed and a new one
issued by T. Warren Floyd, Grand Patriarch,
October 13, 1874. The Encampment was re-
moved to Virginia, and re-organized under
a dispensation June 33, 1880, from W. E.
Carlin, Grand Patriarch. The first officers at
Virginia were S. M. Colladay, C. P., F. E.

Downing, H. P., A. A. Leeper, S. W., S. P.
Henderson, J. W., C. W. Black, Scribe, and
J. W. Wilson, Treasurer. The present officers
are: E. D. C. Woodward, C. P., Jas. A. Mar-
tin, H. P., H. H. Berry, S. W., S. M. Colladay,
J. W., J. W. Stanley, Treasurer, and F. E.
Downing, Scribe. The Encampment has
now about thirty members, and is in a flour-
ishing condition. It owns no property, but
uses the hall in common with the lodge.

mini Lodge No. 854, Knights of Honor,
was organized January 16, 1878, with the
following charter members: J. B. Black, C.
W. Black, W. W. Bishop, C. A. Bruce, John
Black, J. T. Black, George Conover, C. A.
Crandall, F. E. Downing, J. M. Epler, W. W.
Easley, H. D. Freeman, M. Graves, James
Hunt, C. M. Hubbard, Reuben Lancaster,
Wm. Murray, T. L. Matthews, T. A. Morrison,
E. T. Oliver, W. B. Payne, J. L. Richardson,
J. W. Rearick, J. W. Savage, C. N. Savage,
J. H. Tureman, J. W. Virgin, N. S. Vance,
Jno. H. Wood, W. W. Walker, D. T. Walk-
er, D. N. Walker and J. B. Vanderveuter.
They have paid out for widows and orphans'
benefit fund about $3,000, and have lost two
members. The officers are T. L. Matthews,
P. D., M. Graves, D., C. W. Black, V. D.,
J. W. Savage, A. D., W. W. Easley, G., J.
L. Richardson, C, Wm. Murray, R., C. A.
Bruce, F. R., George Conover, T., W. W.
Bishop, G., W. W. Walker, Sentinel, J. B.
Black, J. H. Wood and D. N. Walker,
Trustees.

108

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTEE XL*

BEARDSTOWN— CITY AND PRECINCT— LAYING OUT OF THE TOWN— ITS LOCATION-

GANIZATION— FIRST OFFICERS— THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION— CHURCHES—
' SCHOOLS— THE PRESS— RAILROADS— THE PROFESSIONS— EARLY SET-
TLERS— BUSINESS INTERESTS— WAR RECORD, EIC.

-OR-

THOMAS BEARD and Enoch C. March
entered the northeast quarter of Section
15, in Township IS, North of Range 12 West,
on Sept. 33, 1826, and Oct. 8, 1827; the same
parties entered the northwest quarter of said
section. Thomas Beard entered the west
half of the southwest quarter of the afore-
said section on Oct. 10, 1827, and March and
Beard also on the same date entered fraction-
al section 10 in said Township, embracing all
the lands upon which Beardstown is now lo-
cated, except the southeast quarter of section
15, and the west half of section 14, which
two last mentioned tracts were donated by
Congress, in lieu of the deficiency of section
16 for school purposes. The School Commis-
sioner of Morgan county divided this land
into 173 blocks and fractional blocks, which
was designated as the School Commissionevs'
addition to Beardstown, and the first sale or
blocks in said addition was on April 16, 1832,
when seventy-five blocks were sold therein,
and the remaining blocks were subject to pri-
vate entry at affixed prices.

The original town of Beardstown was laid
ofi" and platted by Enoch C. March and Thom-
as Beard, Sept. 9, 1829, and recorded at Jack-
sonville, Morgan County, in Book B, page
228.

The town having grown rapidly, an addi-
tion was made, called " March & Beard's" ad-
dition to Beardstown, recorded March 6, 1833.
Soon afterward, Mr. March, having sold his

* By Judge J. A. Arenz.

interest in Beardstown to N. A. Ware, ati-
other addition was made by Beard & Ware
May 10, 1836, and also a further addition was
made by Beard & Arenz, July 1, 1837.

There were also additions made to Beards-
town by John Ayres, David Clendenin, A. B.
Dennison, and many school blocks have been
subdivided into lots.

The location of Beardstown is a very favor-
able one, being situated on the Illinois River,
about midway between Peoria and St. Louis.
It is connected directly with St. Louis and
Chicago, by the Chicago, Burlington and
Qnincy Railroad, and with Springfield and
Southwestern Illinois to the Ohio River at
Shawneetown, by the Ohio & Mississippi
Railway. Another railway from Burlington
to the Ohio River is contemplated, runnino-
through Beardstown, which in all probability
will soon be built.

For purposes of manufacturing, Beardstown
is not surpassed by an}' town in Illinois, pos-
sessing all facilities; for there is plenty of
water at all times, and coal, timber and other
building materials can be obtained in its im-
mediate neighborhood.

The first licensed ferry across the Illinois
River was granted by the County Commis-
sioners of Schuyler County, to Thomas Beard
June 5, 1826.

The first organization of the town govern-
ment of Beardstown, was by the election of a
Board of Trustees in September, 1834. Hay-
wood Reed was elected President of the
Board; John B. Fulks, Clerk; Edward Tull,

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

109

Assessor; Martin S. Trent, Collector; Isaac
C. Spence, Treasurer; William H. Nelms,
Supervisor.

The first set of ordinances were passed
Sept. 23, 1834.

This town govern'ment continued from year
to year, by the election of new oflScers, until
Feb. 4, 1850, when a city organization was
estal)lished.

" By an act of the General Assembly of
March 3, 1837, declaring the County of Cass
to be one of the counties of the State of Illi-
nois, Beardstown, the largest town in Cass
County, and having the most numerous popu-
lation in said town and immediate vicinity,
was designated to be the county seat, pro-
vided the citizens or corporation of Beards-
town raise the sum of $10,000, to defray the
expenses of erecting public buildings, and
that the Corporation of Beardstown shall be
al lowed the period of one, two and three years,
for the payment of said sura, in three equal
payments. The court house shall be erected
on the public square of Beardstown."

At that time it was not a very easy matter
to raise $10,000 at short notice, and the
handy mode of running a town in debt by the
issuing of bonds had not then been discovered.
There was also a great diversity of opinion
among the people of Beardstown ; some would
much rather pay nothing, alleging that the
county ought to pay for its own buildings;
others objected to erecting the buildings on
the public square; and others, although wil-
ling to furnish their proportion of the funds
required, were unwilling to foot the bill
alone.

Therefore, in order to raise the amount re-
quired upon equal terms, an act of the legis-
lature was obtained July 21, 1837, authoriz-
ing tiie corporation to levy a tax of six per
cent, per annum on all real estate in Beards-
town, according to the value thereof, for the
purpose of raising the sum of $10,000.

But the County Commissioners, then in
office, Amos Bonney, Joshua P. Crow, and
Geo. F. Miller, were determined to locate the
county seat at Virginia.

February 24, 1838, the board of trustees at
Beardstown appointed a committee to inform
the County Commissioners that Beardstown
will comply with the requirements of the law,
establishing the county seat at Beardstown.
This committee consisted of Thomas Graham,
Edward TuU and Thomas R. Saunders, and
having brought the matter by the County Com-
missioners, reported to the town trustees that
they had presented the matter to said County
Commissioners' Court, while in session, and
Mr. Bonney, the presiding officer of said court,
had treated the same with contempt.

In March, 1838, another effort was made
by the board of trustees to satisfy the Com-
missioners' Court, if possible, by informing
said court that Ben. H. Gatton had made
proposals for building the court house and
other public buildings at Beardstown, to
which the following answer was returned by
order of said court:

"To Thomas Wilbourn, President of the
" Board of Trustees, Beardstown.

"I am directed by the County Commis-
" sioners' Court to inform you that they have
"considered the propositions submitted to
" them from B. H. Gatton through your
"board, and regret that they do not feel
"themselves authorized by law to acceed to
"it.

" Signed, J. W. Peatt, Clerk."

The County Commissioners had entered
into an agreement with H. H. Hall, a resi-
dent and large property holder of Virginia,
on the 21st of April, 1838, for erecting a
court house and jail, at Virginia; and said
Hall reported at the September term, 1839,
that said buildings were completed ; where-
upon the commissioners accepted the same,
and notice was given at said September term,

llL'

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

1839, to the county officers, that their offices
were roadj' for use in the court house at Vir-
ginia.

The manner, in which the county seat of
Cass was thus located was by no means satis-
factory to the citizens of Beardstown, and the
western portion of the county, and it is to be
regretted, that out of this proceeding, arbi-
trarily and highlianded, as some called it,
and a desire that Beardstown again wished
to obtain, what Virginia then had got, grew
up that unfriendly feeling between these two
places, which existed, and still exists, to the
detriment of both.

That the county seat has never been any
material benefit to either place, has been
demonstrated, for each town has had it long
enough to prove this. The only benefit in
reality is the convenience of access to the
records, offices and courts. The strife for
county seat, between the two rival places,
has cost the people immense sums of money,
caused much hard feeling, and prevented
or ruined many a useful enterprise.

The next election about the county seat
resulted in favor of Beardstown, and at the
March term of the County Commissioners'
Court, H. E. Dummer, Esq., on behalf of the
corporation of Beardstown, presented before
said court, a deed from Thomas R. Saunders,
to the County of Cass, for Lot 1, in Block 31,
in Beardstown ; also a receipt from B. W.
Schneider, contractor for building the court-
house at Beardstown, and a receipt from
Thomas Beard, contractor for the erection of
a jail, and also the certificate of the suffi-
ciency of said buildings from the Hon. Sam-
uel D. Lockwood, presiding judge of the
Cass Circuit Court; all of which papers were
ordered to be filed. Upon which the Court
adjourned, to meet at Beardstown, on Mon-
day, March 3d, 1845. Beardstown remained
in possession of the county seat until 1875,
when it was removed to Virginia, after the

election in 1873 had been contested and car-
ried through the courts, resulting finally in a
decision that said election had been in favor
of Virginia by a majority of eight votes.

Beardstown adopted a city organization on
February 4, 1850, when the following persons
had been elected as officers:

John A. Arenz, mayor ; Eli S. Houghton,
marshal.

Aldermen of the 1st ward — Thomas Eyre
and Jesse Riggins; 2nd ward, .Tames Hope
and Joseph Stehlin; 3rd ward, George
Guenther and Jacob Ritcher.

S. Emmons was appointed city clerk, and
T. A. Hoffman, treasurer.

The present officers in 1883 are:

J. J. Beatty, mayor.

Aldermen of the 1st ward — H. C. Meyer
and S. O. Buck; 2nd ward, B. F. Epler and
H. B. Wilson; 3rd ward, H. Schmoldt and
Henry Huge; 4th ward, George F. Frauman
and H. Schroeder.

Charles E. Fulks, clerk; Franklin A. Ham-
mer, treasurer; J. G. Listen, marshal.

Churches. — The first church was erected
in 1841 or 1843, at the corner of Fifth and
Washington Streets, and designated as, "the
German Evangelical Church at Beardstown."
Mr. Beard and wife executed an amended
deed for the lot of ground, upon which it had
been built in June, 1843.

Mr. George Kuhl, Christian Kuhl and Wil-
liam Hemminghouse, were elected trustees of
said church, to hold their offices until suc-
cessors should be elected and qualified. The
church was open to all denominations, and
independently of synods, bishops or confer-
ences. For some years it proved to be a very
useful institution, filled to its full capacity on
Sundays for worship, and for school purposes
on other days of the week. After the expira-
tion of several years, some of the most ortho-
dox members came to the conclusion that, in
addition to services on Sundays, there should

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Ill

also be held prayer-meetings and religious
exercises on certain evenings during the
other days of the week. In this movement
Mr. Herarainghouse and Mr. Geo. Kuhl were
the leaders, and for a considerable time such
meetings were held in the town school-house,
or in a building on Main Street, belonging to
Geo. Kuhl, and resulted finally in the organ-
ization of the German Methodist Church,
about the year 1845.

Although the German Evangelical Church
continued on for several years, it decreased
in members, because other religious societies
had been established, erecting places of wor-
ship of their own until finally it was dissolved
as a church organization, and the building
was sold in 1881, to Mr. H. T. Foster, who
constructed it into a dwelling house, which
he now occupies as a family residence.

The second church in Beardstown was
erected at the corner of Third and Washing-
ton Streets, in 1845, as a Presbyterian Church,
but in February, 1850, the Congregational
form of government was adopted, and it be-
came, " the first Congregational Church at
Beardstown."

Horace Billings and Dr. V. A. Turpin were
the first deacons. Mr. Billings continued to
hold office until his removal to Jacksonville
in 1867. The Rev. Socrates Smith was the
first minister of the church, and Dr. B. F.
Grey is pastor now.

The Methodist Church was organized in
Beardstown at an early day, supposed to be
in the year 1837 or 1838, and a church was
built on the corner of Fifth and State Streets
in 1848, and an addition in 1874.

Rev. J. K. Miller is the present pastor. In
the year 1846, the German Methodists erected
a building for worship on State street, which
was also used for school purposes. In 1848,
when William Bauermeister was pastor, a
diiforence arose between the members about
some question of belief, or government, of the

nature of which we are not informed, and a
division occurred, Mr. Bauermeister and
thirty-two members withdrawing from the
church and forming the Evangelical Lutheran
Church.

In 1851, the German Methodists built their
church at the corner of Fifth and State
streets, and the old building was converted
into a dwelling for the pastor.

The first pastor of the church was Peter
Wilkens, and the present one is John Ritter.

The members who had withdrawn from the
German Methodist Church with William
Bauermeister organized as " the First Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church at Beardstown," with
William Bauermeister as pastor, and in 184S
erected a building used as church and school-
house, and shortly afterward erected a church
at the corner of 4th and Lafayette streets, in
1850. This church has a fine organ, and is
well fitted out. Rev. William Bauermeister
was its pastor from May 22, 1848, until Oc-
tober, 1850. The present pastor is Rev. John
Bond.

The church increased rapidly in members,
and in 1871, when Rev. Robert Knoll was its
pastor, dissention arose between the members,
and the result was that the pastor with his
adherents withdrew, and established another
Evangelical Lutheran Church on 6th street.
This later church claims the same name as the
former ; the one on 4th street adhered to the
synod of Illinois, and is now connected
with the general synod, whilst the church on
6th street is under the Missouri synod.

The first pastor of the 6th street church
was Rev. Robert Knoll, and his successor is
Paul Merbitz.

In 1871 the church on 6th street built a
house, which was used for a place of worship
and school purposes, and in 1873 erected a
very neat church at the corner of 6th and
Jefferson streets. This church contains a fine
organ, and the windovi's are of stained glass.

112

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The erection of this church shows what can
be accomplished hy determined jieople. Al-
though the number of members was small at
firsr, they nevertheless put up buildings cost-
ing over $8,000, without calling for any aid
outside of its own members. Both the Lu-
theran Churches are in a very flourishing con-
dition. The services on Sundays are well
attended, and each congregation keeps up a
school, with a teacher.

The Catholic Church was built in 1855, on
5th street, and was considerably enlarged in
1860. Its present pastor is Rev. Father Weig-
and.

Schools. — The first school-house was built
by Thomas Beard and F. Arenz, in 1833,
which was also used as a place of worship on
Sundays.

In 1853 a commodious school-house was
erected on block 36, on 4th street. This
buildinor and the former court-house are now

used for public school purposes, but additional
buildings are much needed.

The Catholics and two Lutheran Churches
have also schools of their own. There is also
outside of Beardstown a school- house near
Casp. Stock's farm.

The enumeration of children in township
18, range 13, of which Beardstown alone
contains nearly the whole population, in July,
1882, shows that there are

Males under 21 years 797

Females « " 867

Total, 1,664
The population of Beardstown is about
5,000 inhabitants.

NeirsjMjyers at Beardstown. — The first
newspaper was established by Francis Arenz,
and was published in 1833 and 1834; Francis
Arenz, editor, and J. B. Fulks, publisher. It
was called The Heardstotcn Chronicle and
Illinois Military Bounty Land Advertiser.
Then for some time there was no newspa-

per published here, until in 1845; Sylvester
Emmons established and published The
Beardstoion Gazette, the first number being
issued in August, 1845. At this tiuie the
newspapers nearest to this place were publish-
ed, to wit: one at Jacksonville, two at Spring-
field, two at Quincy, two at Peoria, and one
at Burlington, Iowa. In 1846, the Gazette
published the delinquent tax list for the
counties of Cass, Mason, Schuyler and Brown,
it being the only paper located nearest the
county seat of the respective counties. This
paper was continued by Mr. Emmons until
1852, when it was sold to C. D. Dickerson
who published the paper about eighteen
months; when it was sold to J. L. Sherman,
who afterward sold out to B. C. Drake, who
issued the paper, and for some time also pub-
lished a daily; then the paper was published
for a time by a Mr. Mitchell, and afterwards
passed into the hands of L. U. Reavis. Mr.
Reavis having published the paper for sever-
al years, it passed into the hands of a com-
mittee, composed of members of the Repub-
lican party, of which J. A^ Arenz was the
chairman. This committee were the owners
of the paper for several years, and it was
published by different persons, until in 1867,
the paper came into the hands of John S.
Nicholson.

From the time of sale by Mr. Emmons, the
name of the paper was alternately the Gaz-
ette and Central Illinoisan, which latter
name it still retains.

Mr. Nicholson has published the paper reg-
ularly, and under many trying circumstances,
to the present day. It was first located in the
building known as "the Great Western,"
which burnt-d down. Then he moved the
printing office into the Billing's block, in the
third story, when in the night of Nov. 26,
1875, the entire block was consumed by fire,
which destroyed the press and everything be-
longing to the office. The Illinoisan is now

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

lis

]iublislied up stairs in the building owned by
SheriflF Sielschott, on Main street. From its
long publication, and faithfully and ably advo-
cating the interest of Beardstown, it deserves
ti;e patronage of the citizens of Beardstov?n.

In 1876 another paper was established,
called The Cass County Messenger, of which
Mr. George Dann was editor and publisher.
This paper was purchased by Joseph P. Sailor
in 1880, who changed its name to Cass
County Democrat. The paper is published
on the second floor of the building owned by
the estate of H. Mohlmann, at the corner of
Main and Jefferson streets. Mr. J. P. Sailor
is its editor, and the paper is well gotten up
and full of news.

The German newspaper was first established
in 1877, by Rev. A. Schaberhorn, under the
name of The Seohachter am Illinois Fluss.
Mr. Schaberhorn being the editor and pro-
prietor until 1878, when it was purchased by
Mr. Theodore Wilkins, who edited the same
under the name of The Beardstoicn Wochen-
blatt, until his death in 1881, when the paper
was purchased by Ross & Son, who continue
to edit and publish the same.

This paper has a very large circulation, and
is gotten up with considerable ability and in-
dustry. It is of large size with a supplement
to each number, and deserves the support
and patronage it at present enjoys among its
German readers.

Railroads. — When the era of railroads had
come, causing a great revolution in business
matters, benefiting some places, and cuttino-
off the trade of towns which were not so for-
tunate as to obtain a railroad, Beardstown
was for some years at great disadvantage, and
desperate efforts were made by its citizens to
secure railroad facilities.

Large sums were siibscribed by the cor-
poration, and large amounts were subscribed
by private citizens, and Beardstown has now
the benefits whicli arise from two railroads,

and there is a very fair prospect that there
will be very soon a third one added.

The first subscription of the corporation
was made March 1, 1857, to the Rockford,
Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad Co., of *50,-
000, and between Dec. 1, 1857, and Feb. 1,
1869, another subscription of §40,000 was
made to the same company, and on Nov. 1,
1869, a further subscription was made to the
same company for §12,000.

January 1, 1871, there was issued to the
Pana, Springfield & Northwestern R. R. Co.,
the sum of §8,000, and to the Rockford, Rock
Island & St. Louis R. R. Co., Aug. 1, 1871,
the further sum of §-1:0,000.

Bonds were issued for said amounts, run-
ning twenty years, and bearing interest at the
rate of six, seven, and ten per cent., respec-
tively. The whole amount issued is §150,-
000, of which $125,000 remain unpaid at this
time.

The Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis R.R.
is now in the possession of the C, B. & Q. R.
R. Co., and the Pana, Springfield & North-
western is now controlled by the O. & M. R.
R. Co. The Ro kford, Rock Island & St.
Louis was completed between 1869 and 1871,
and the Pana, Springfield & Northwestern in
1871.

Luicyers and Doctors. — The lawyers of
Beardstown are: J. Henry Shaw, who is now
the oldest practicing attorney here; Thomas
H. Carter; Charles E. Wyman, city attorney;
R. Hewitt, prosecuting attorney of Cass
County; B. F. Thacker.

Doctors of Medicine are: H. H. Littlefield,

II. Ehrhardt, B. Halm, George Bley,

Aver}', T. A. Hoffmann, B. F. Grey, Moses
M. Dowler.

Dentists. — F. Smith and William Hare.

Danks. — The Cass County Bank is man-
aged by F. A. Hammer, president, and Charles
E. Fulks, cashier; and the People's Bank,
J. H. Harris, president, and Thomas K. Con-

114

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

dit, cashier. Both banks do a flourishing
business.

The American Express Company has an
office here, which is managed by its efficient
and popular agent, E. F. Derr.

Secret Societies. — The Masons, Odd Fel-
lows, Knights of Honor, Druids, A. O. U.
Workmen, Mutual Aid, Young Men's Social
Club, and other societies have lodges here.

There is also a temperance organization
with a large membership, who meet once
every week.

Husmess Affairs at Heardstown. — Before
the railroad era, when the rivers were the
main channels for carrying merchandise and
produce, Beardstown was in possession of
the most extensive pork trade of any western
town, competing even with Cincinnati.

From 40,000 to 75,000 hogs were slaughter-
ed annually, between the months of November
and February.

Among the firms most largely engaged in
pork-packing, of which some were large deal-
ers in grain, were: Houston & Co., Cincin-
nati, Ohio; Gano, Thorns & Talljot, Col.
McKee, Wheeling, Va.; Sydam, Sage & Co.,
New York.

The Beardstown grain dealers were: Nolte
& McClure, S. M. Tinsley&Co., H. F.Foster,
Horace Billings, D. Kreigh & Co., John
McDonald, H. Chadsey & Co.

There were also many others, pork-packers
in smaller quantites.

Among the dealers in grain before the rail-
road era, were Knapp & Pogue: Basset &
Taylor; George Kuhl; Chase, Rich & Parker;
George Volkmar & Co.; E. J. Dutch & Bro.;
Thompson & Eames; J. W. Thompson & Co.;
H. F. Foster & Co.

The present dealers in grain are: Garm
Wilson & Co.; George Kuhl; Hagener & Bro

The business at the present time in Beards
town, in full operation, are: three houses deal
ing in agricultural implements, two banks

four bakeries, four boot and shoe stores, four
barber shops, four blacksmith shops, four
butcher shops, one brick yard, one brewerj',
nine boarding and eating houses, four clothing
stores, five dry good stores, one distillery, four
drug stores, one foundry, two flouring mills,
two furniture stores, eleven grocery stores,
eight halls, three hardware stores, three hotels,
ten large ice houses, four jeweler stores, two
lumber yards, two livery stables, four milli-
nery stores, one opera house, two photocrraph
galleries, two saw mills, throe saddle and har-
ness shops, one scouring and dying establish-
ment, three dealers in sewing machines, three
stores of general merchandise, two tinware
and stove stores, two undertakers, four watch
a:id clockraakers, one sash and door factory.

There are also the shops of the C. B. & Q.
railroad located here. Two railroad depots,
one telephone office, having also connection
with the city of Virginia, 13 miles distant.

Among the prominent men, now resting
amonw the dead, who whilst living hero,
spent much of their time and means for pro-
motino- the interests of Beardstown, should be
mentioned: Thomas Beard, Francis Arenz,
Thomas and John Wilbourn, Thomas Gra-
ham, Knapp and Pogue, Thomas and Ed-
ward Saunders, B. W. Schneider, Bassett and
Taylor.

Some of these honored dead have left no
children or near relations living here to fur-
nish a narrative of their lives, and a short
sketch is therefore prepared by one who knew
these men personally. The most of them
were doing extensive business here at an
early day in Beardstown. Messrs. Knapp
and Pogue occupied the front rank in busi-
ness affairs at the time when Beardstown be-
came a town, and when that firm finally failed
in business, Mr. Pogue acted as justice of the
peace, until his death. Mr. Knapp went to
New Orleans. The firm built several large
business establishments, among which was

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

115

that capacious storehouse called "the Great
Western," none of which buildings are now
standing. Messrs. Thomas and John Wil-
bourn, among other buildings, erected a large
mill, which afterwards burned down, and
upon the lot where it stood, Messrs. Buujan
& Co. erected a few years ago, their new mill.
Wilbourn built also a store building upon the
lot upon which the opera house now stands.
That firm dissolved, and Nolte and McCluie
purchased their store goods. This latter firm
moved their store to Main street, where for
many years they transacted a very large
amount of business, erected several subst-m-
tial buildings, and contributed very materially
to advance the interest of Beardstown.

Thomas Graham was a native of the city of
Philadelphia, where his father was a promi-
nent business man. He came here at an early
day, and for several years kept store. His
wife, also a Philadelphia lady, brought with
her a piano, which was the first and only
piano for several years in this part of the
country. After the death of his wife, and re-
versals in business, he returned to Philadel-
phia.

Messrs. Basset & Taylor came here from
Springfield and entered into the forwarding
and commission business, dealing also in
pork, grain, dry goods, groceries, etc., for
many years. After the death of Mr. Bassett
Taylor left here.

Thomas and Edward Saunders came from
Philadelphia at an early day. They were en-
gaged in business here for several years.
Thomas R. Saunders was Recorder of Cass
County. He died in Beardstown, leaving a
widow and several children. Edward Saun-
ders went to Chicago, where he died some
years ago.

B. W. Schneider came to Cass County in
1834; was engaged in farming near Arenz-
ville for several years. He then came to
Beardstown and purchased from F. A enz

his store on Main street, which he occupied as
a liquor dealer and for other purposes. He
purchased the lot of ground upon which the
Opera house now stands, and erected a large
hotel, which was carried on by himself and
others, called the " Schneider House." He
erected also other houses, but none of those
buildings are now existing. He died here,
leaving a widow and several children, none
of whom are now living in Beardstown.

Mr. Thomas Beard was born in Granville,
Washington County, N. Y., in 1795, from
whence his father moved to Burton, Geauga
County, (3., in 1800.

Thomas Beard came to the State of Illinois
in ISIS, and for some time lived about Ed-
wardsville and Alton, where he formed the
acquaintance of Enoch March. Then he came
to Beardstown in 18'20, where his immediate
neighbors, for a considerable time, were In-
dians and a few white people. He established
the first ferry across the Illinois river, and
obtained a license therefor from the County
Commissioners' Court of Schuyler County, in
1826. In 1827 he, with Enoch March, a man
of means, entered the land upon which Beards-
town is located, and in 1829 the original
town of Beardstown was laid out, platted and
recorded; and several additions were made
t the town afterward.

Mr. Beard was twice married. His first
wife was Sarah Bell, by whom he had three
children, of which only one is now living, in
Nebraska. This marriage proved unhappj',
and after his wife left him, a divorce was ob-
tained in 1835, Mr. Beard retaining the chil-
dren. Some years afterward he married a
widow Dickerman, who had an only son, Wil-
lard A. Dickerman, who afterward became
Colonel of the 103d Illinois Regiment, and fell
in battle near Atlanta, Georgia, in the v.ar
for suppressing the Rebellion.

With his second wife, a lady of the most
amiable and excellent character, esteemed by

116

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

every one, he had three children, of whom two
are now living. Mr. Beard died here in No-
vember, 18 H 9.

Mr. Board, although he had not the advan-
tages of a superior education, neve theless
was a man who had educated himself to such
degree that he could get along very well in
ordinary business matters. For industry, lib-
erality, kindness and honesty, he had no
superior.

The widovy of Mr. Beard resides now in
New York city, with her married daughter, a
Mrs. Doane.

Mr. Horace Billings was a native of the
State of Vermont, and came to Beardstown in
the year 1843. Having been engaged in
business in New York, Canada, and other
places, he dashed into business here at once.
There was nothing salable or purchasable
in which he did not trade. Trading and
speculating seemed to be his element. He
was very quick of perception and in deciding
the course to pursue, and there was no enter-
prise in or about Beardstown wherein Mr.
Billings had not a leading hand. Sometimes
he would miss his aim and sustain a loss,
which, however, he bore like a true philoso-
pher, neither lamenting nor fretting; but he
generally succeeded, and his pork and grain
speculations at times brought him very large
returns, which he again applied to the exten-
sion of his business, and new enterprises. No
one man has done more to build up the town
and put it on the track to future prosperity
than Mr. Billings. Among the many build-
ings he erected, the Park House is one. Some
of these buildings are now standing, and some
were consumed by fire. His energy was also
directed to discover new channels for employ-
ment and traffic, and he added much to increase
the population of Beardstown by inducing
skillful mechanics and business men to settle
here. Mr. Billings was a very good citizen,
stricUy temperate in his habits, using neither

strong drinks nor tobacco. He was a highly
valued member of the Congregational Church,
to which he contributed very liberally.

Mr. Billings married twice. His first wife,
a very estimable lady, from New York, with
whom he had two daughters, died here. His
second wife, a very highly educated and very
worthy lady, he married here, with whom he
had one daughter.

When advanced age prevented Mr. Bill-
ings from active business engagements, he
took up his place of residence in Jacksonville,
in 1867, where he died in 1870.

Henry E. Dumnior came to Beardstown
about the year 1813, after he had resided in
Springfield and Jacksonville before, and was
the first, and for several years the only attor-
ney-at-law, and his influence and counsel has
been of very material benefit to the citizens
of Beardstown. Very amiable and kind in
disposition, and reliable in his counsel, he
enjoyed the esteem and respect of all classes.
Although a man of law, he never encouraged,
instigated or favored litigation, and always
advised amicable settlements and comprom-
ises, if possible; but when a case was carried
through court he advocated faithfully and
skillfully the interests of his client. He was
very moderate in his charges, and felt more
disposed to render services to his fellow men
than to make money. In Beardstown he
married Miss Phebe Van Ness, a very worthy
young lady, which marriage proved to be a
very happy event for both.

Mr. Dummer made himself useful when
and wherever his fellow citizens desired his
services. He served in the town and school
board, as Alderman, City Attorney, Judge of
Probate, member of the Constitutional Con-
vention, State Senator, and other offices, all of
which he filled with honor, and for the best
interests of the people. He joined the church
here, and became a sincere, true Christian.
In 1805 Mr. Dummer removed to Jackson-

PT«^^"*f-^

e/^/yn.£^e^g^^

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY

119

ville, where he at once obtained a lucrative
practice until tlie time of his death, about two
years ago. He left a widow, two sons, and
three daughters. As a lawyer he occupied
the front rank, and as a citizen he had no
superior. His memory will live in the hearts
of his many friends until they also niolder in
their graves.

War Record. — The following comprises
the names of the persons, who entered into
the service of the United States from Beards-
town and Piecinct, for the suppression of the
late Rebellion:

Third Regiment of Illinois Cavalry, Com-
pany C: Captain, Charles P. Dunbaugh;
Adjutants, .1. S. Crow and Theodore Lelland;
Lieutenant, August Tilford; Q. M. Sergeant,
Burr Sanders; Sergeant, Norman Parsons;
Corporals, M. Richards, C. E. Burns, James
Nason.

Privates: Joseph Anderson, Charles Box-
nieier, William Boxmeier, Robert Bailey,
Thomas M. Cuppy, William H. Ch.imblin,
Charles Coleman, Martin Finney, Daniel
Grant, Adam Gruling, Josiah McCandlcss?
John Minick, William Nicholson, W. H. Per-
cival, Horatio G. Rew, jr., John G. Reeves,
George Spicker, H. C. Simpson, George Wag-
ner, William Wells, Joseph Barwick, .John H.
Beadles, John Hatfield, John Miller, Martin
Tread way.

Recruits: Aaron Abney, Henry Coleman,
George Chamblin, William De Haven, David
Griffin, William Snovv, George W. Snow, John
R. Stepiiens, Henry Sturtevant, David A Tull,
David H. Wells.

Thirty-second Illinois Regiment, Co. G.:
First Lieutenant, Charles A. Eames; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, William Hitchcock, and mu-
sician, William .7. Center.

Privates: John Beals, promoted to first
lieutenant Co. E, Sixty-first 111.; Mclvin Burk,
Thomas Barry, Thomas Bird, James Burns,
Edward Cottrell, David Connell, Thomas Dar-

kin, Samuel DeHaven, Hugh Donnelly, Ben-
jamin Eyres, John Fitzpatrick, John Flani-
gan, Andrew Gemming, Peter Grime, John
Haven, James Harrell, William Hugo, Anton
Hoffman, John B. Looman, William McDow-
ell, George Swan, .John Trihey, Seth Thomp-
son.

Thirty-third Illinois Rog-iment, Company K.
Captain, Charles E. Lippincott (promoted
Colonel); Quarter-master of Regiment, R. B.
Fulks.

Company Officers: Captain, E. H. Twining;
1st Leiutenant, J. H. Schuler; 2nd Lieuten-
ant, W. H. Weaver; 1st Sergeant, H. P.
Grund.

Privates: Herman Bohne, George Boem-
ler, J. H. Betz, Moses M. Dowlor,Thomas Eyre,
George French, Conrad Hendricker, George
C. Kuhl, George S. Kuhl, John Lauler, R.
F. Lasley, David Matson, Charles Oiten,
William Paterson, Louis Benz, Joseph Sis-
sick.

Recruits: Edwin Carman, David .J. Curi^',
Thomas Foxworthy, Josiah Hawkenberry,
John Hawkenberry, George Hucke, Samuel
Lyon, John Orr, Ab. Shoemaker.

F»>rty-seventh Illinois Regiment, Company
F. — Privates — A. F. Cottrel, Benjamin Harris,
Dewitt McCandles, Thomas Paschal, Wood-
ford Sills.

One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Regi-
ment. Major, Joseph M. McLane; Second
Lieutenant, Albert McClure.

Sergeants: Norman Hitchcock (promoted
First Lieutenant, Company K. 71 U. S. col-
ored), Frederick Haid, Joseph Milton Mc-
Lane.

Corporals: Joseph Wright, John Mar-
shall, Joseph R'ffer, Christ. Pilger.

Captains: Richard B. Adams, A. D. Ad-
kins, John Anderson.

Privates: Louis Boemler, M. L. Brown,
J. M. Cafferberger, William F. Crow, F. M.
Davis, Asa Dean, Peter Douglas, Ezra Fish,

120

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

(promoted First Lieutenant Coinpany K.), R.
F. Kippenberg, C. E. Lawson, Riley McLane,
Robert McCarty.

Eleventh Illinois Regiment: Luther J.
Main, Thomas Miller, Asa N. Pascliall (died in
Anderson ville, Aug. 20, 18G4), Zacli. Taylor,
Geo. F. Unland, John T.Webb, Henry Weber,
John Worm, John H. Wedeking, Thomas H.
Williams, John Kleinsteuber, John Davis,
John Truebswasser (died at Mound City hospi-
tal).

Recruits: Charles Boekemeier, Henr\'
Fredenberg, Wm. Meizer, Philip Smith.

Second Illinois Battery : Lieutenants,
Hoyer, Adolf Geils.

United States Navy: C. H. Gnlick.

One Hundred and Forty-fil'tli Illinois
Regiment — 100 day men:

Captain, W. H. Weaver; Second Lieutenant,
Ebenezer Fish; Sergeants, William De Haven,
Edwin C. Foster; Corporals, James Caldwell,
James A. Lindsay, William McClure, Edward
Logan, Samuel Webb, Clinton Garrison, J.
B. Sanders.

Privates: Abraham Black, Randall Block,
Louis Cowan, Allen Cunningham, Thomas
Cowan, David Clendenin, Ernest Corte, J. W.
Chase, Charles Dunbaugh, Thomas J. De
Haven, John S. Fulks, James Griffin, J. W.
Hamilton, Guilford Judd, H. Livingston, H. C.
McLane, George McDonnel, William Mayer,
Henry C. Milnor, James H. Mathews, A. J.
Norton, Rudolph Oliver.

One Hundred and Forty-Fifth Illinois Reg-
iment. Privates: Frank Paterson, W. C. Rew,
S. W. Robinson, William Roach, J. H. Rose, L.
O. Spangler, Charles Schneider, Louis Ware,
Eason White, Willis White, Christ. Mertz.

Third Illinois Cavalry, Company I. Ben-
jamin F. Barron, Casper Coleman, James
A. Geer, Warren H. Monett, Joshua Mibb,
George Olden, William Ruif, William Rhodes,
David Schrader, J. L. Wolford, Peter T. Wol-
ford.

Second Illinois Cavalry. Private : F. Ab-
bott.

Twelfth Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Com-
pany A: Thomas Bernhard, Martin Gott-
lieb.

Eighteenth Regiment Illinois Infantry.
Company G: Sergeant, George Ranch; Cor-
porals, Jas L. Black, W. O. Willis.

Privates: Andrew Blattner, Henry Brocker,
Peter Flanery, Fred Holden, Thomas Har-
mel, Joseph Heine, Henry Knoess, Henry-
Lynn, Adam Lafie, Hugh Lyden, William
Meyer, George J. xMcD.nrel, F. K. Shaver,
George Taylor.

Eighty-second Illinois Regiment, Company
E: Corporal, Simon Benz.

Privates: Anton Bihl, Charles Boeke-
meier, John Hieg, August Petri, William
Ram, Anton Seller, Philip Schmidt.

Fourteenth Regiment Illinois Infantry,
Company A: Major, J. F. Nolte; Captain,
Thomas M. Thompson; Captain, Charles
Opitz; 1st Lieutenant, Henry Rodecker;
and Augustine Snow; 2nd Lieutenant, Da-
vid S. Finney; Sergeant, Eben H. Richard-
son; Corporals, Ed. E. Foster, Charles H.
Harris, W. H. Dutch, David Carr.

Privates: William Armstrong, Lester
Beals, Amos Burkhardt, Alonzo Buck, George
Cummings, Ernest Corte, August Christianer,
Joseph Ewing, Joseph Heine, John Hess, Jo-
seph Hul)er, Caleb James, Edward Knight,
Christian Kuhl, Thomas Lincoln, Abner Liver-
more, Dexter Loomis, Charles Luecking,
Archibald McConnel, John S. Morgan,
William. C. Marrow.

Company G: Conrad Me3'res.

Company A: Wm. Nelson, Charles Nickel,
Andrew J. Norton, Lester J. Parmenter,
William H. Parson, Henry C. Phelps, Reu-
ben B. Pool, George M. Rhineberger, Will-
iam Roach, Abraham J. Saylor, Christian
Schramm, William Snow, William Sales.

Company G: William Stauf.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

121

Company A: George H. Tracy, William
Wisbey, Charles Williams.

Recruits: Charles Burrows, Henry C.
Brown, James M. Ewing, Martin Finney,
James S. McLin, George H. Parmenter, John
W. Richardson, Henry Roach, Alonzo Snow,
John F. Switzer, Louis Weaver, Benjamin
Wood.

Sixty-first Regiment of Illinois Infantry,
Company E. Privates: Edward W. Ellkin,
John W. Glover, Anthony Hill, Daniel Row-
ley, William A. Squires, George W. San-
ders, Nicholas Shoopman, Jacob O. Wells,

Madison Woods, Alpheus Wells, Asa F. Win-
free.

Recruits: John C. Menkel, John McCor-
mick, Peter Baxton, Walter Beals, Daniel B.
Grant, William T. Melton, Charles Meyer,
George T. Ruby, George L. Stone, George
W. Shoopman, John H. Shoopman, Frederick
Schnitker, Jacob Trommen.

The names of the persons serving during
this war in the United States army, from the
adjoining precincts of Arenzville, Indian
Creek, Hickory and Monroe, are not herein
given.

122

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER XII.*

CHANDLERVILLE PRECINCT— TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES— PIONEER-TIMES- EARLY FAM-
ILIES— EDUCATIONaU-SOCIETIES— MILLS— VILLAGE OF CHANDLERVILLE.

" Ye pioneers, it is to you
The debt of gratitude is due;
Ye builded wiser than ye knew

The broad foundation
On wliicli our superstructure stands ;
Your strong rlglit arms and willing hands,
Your earnest cft'orls still command
Our veneration.'*

CHANDLERVILLE Precinct lies on the
southern side of Sangamon river, where
a broad strip of bottom land, varying from
one to two iniles in width, forms the entire
northern boiitidary of the precinct. This
bottotn land is, no doubt, the richest soil in
the county, for the Sangamon river may be
called the Nile of America, for it annually
overflows, adding new dejjosits to the present
richness of the soil.

Where the bottom lands terminate inland,
a series of very high hills tower in natural
majesty above the surrounding coutitry, ap-
pearing at a distance like a range of moun-
tains. These hills are now mostly overgrown
with scrubby timber and dense underbrush,
but in the memory of some of the old settlers,
not a twig- or tree could be seen over the
broad surface of this elevated height. The
Indians annually burning off the prairies, the
fire would sweep over the hills, destroying
the young timber that had started during the
year. The oldest settlers say that at the
present time there is five times as much tim-
ber in this part of the county as there was
when they first settled in the country.

At the present time there are many beauti-

*By J. L. Nichols.

ful groves clustering at the foot of these hills,
where many fine residences and beautiful
gardens peep out amid their inviting foliage.
There is considerable good timber on the
hanks of the Sangamon, along the bottoms of
Big and Little Panther creeks, and along the
valleys winding among the hills. The kinds
of wood that grow native, are oak, maple, elm,
sycamore, walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon,
and paw-paw. On the low grounds in early
days the grass grew very tall, reaching to a
man's waist on horseback, and the' grass on
the hills grew much higher and thicker than
it does at the present day. Game at that
time was very plenty. Wild turkeys and
prairie chickens were without number; deer,
wolves and raccoons were very numerous,
and an occasional panther and lynx wandered
through. All the game that is left now that
in any way can interest the sportsman, are
wild ducks, which yet continue to visit the
Sangamon Bottoms when overflowed, in great
numbers, hunters of ordinary skill killing
from 80 to 100 ducks per day, 50 being con-
sidered a very poor day's work during the
duck season.

The Pottawatomie Indians lived here till
the year 1825, but they were of a very friendly
character, and never molested in any way the
peace and prosperity of the settlers. The
precinct back from the hills is considerably
rough and broken, and a large portion of that
land was sold for 25c. per acre; the United
States giving it to the State, and the State in
turn gave it to the county, and the county
sold it to the settlers at the above rate; much

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY:

123

of that land, however, at the present time is
worth from S25 .o S40 per acre. There was
governmeat land in tiiis precinct as late as
1856. The precinct at first was mostly settled
by Sjutheni people, and very few other aiui-
lies c ime till about 1832, except a few Yan-
kee peddlers, who occasionally visited the
settlement.

Who tlie first settlers were the writer finds
some difficulty in ascertaining. Robert Leep-
er, James and Elijah Garner, William Myres,
Tl:omas Plasters, Ma k Cooper and Dr.
Chandler, were probably among the first.

The settlers here, as in other new countries,
came very poor. They lived in log cabins,
many of them without floors or windows,
using greased paper for the latter, and what
littlij grain they raised had to be hauled to
Beardstown and sold at a nominal price, and,
there being no bridges at the time, it was
often a difficult and dangerous journey.

The first bridge that was built was across
Panther Creek, in 1838, just south of the vil-
lage. A bridge was built by a Mr. Stindy
across the Sangamon, but being so poorly
framed and constructed, it gradually sunk,
broke and separated by its own weight. It
was re-built by Sam-uel Cook, of Chandlerville,
in 1874, and is a permanent structure that
will stand till its timbers decay. It braved
the torrent of 1883 without yielding a timber,
or the fragment of one. This bridge is a
great bom-fit to the village of Chandlerville,
as it brings a large proportion of trade from
Mason County.

The first school taught within the present
limits of the precinct, was the one taught by
Mrs. Ingalls, given in the village history
below ; the second that the pioneer families
patronized, was located about two and a
half miles northeast of Chandlerville, on
the land now owned by Moses Harlinson.
Mr. Martin Morgan taught the first school,
and the following were some of his schol-

ars: John Hash, James Dick, and his
sister Sallie, and the children of the My-
res family. The school-house was built by
the charity and energy of Robert Deeper, and
as a pioneer he deserves the highest en-
comium. There are now five district schools
in the precinct ; they are respectively known
as the Levi Spring School, Brick School, John
Way School, German School, and the Wil-
son School. The schools are well attended,
and teachers are paid a salary, varying from
$25 to $50 per month, according to the
qualification and experience of the teacher.

The first saw and grist mill was built in
1828, on Panther creek, by A. S. West and
William Morgan, Mr. Z. Ha^h getting out
most of the timber for the mill. Robert
Deeper subsequently bought the mill and run
it for several years, when it was earried down
stream by extraordinary high water. The
second mill was built by Richard McDonald,
one-half mile above Mr. Leeper's mill, on the
same stream, and shortly after the building
of the McDonald mill, Henry L. Ingalls built
a mill about one-half mile below Mr. Leeper's
mill. There were then three mills within one
and a half miles of each other. Their princi-
pal business was sawing, but they also
cracked corn. These two latter mills were
also swept down stream, leaving scarcely a
trace of their former existence. Panther
creek was subject to a very sudden rise of
water, and it came in such torrents as to
sweep every thing before it. There are no
mills on that stream at the present day. It
does not run more than six months of the
year in ordinary seasons, and could not in any
way be considered a stream that would support
the power for a mill of the smallest character,
except in these extraordinary torrents that
spare neither roads, bridges, or railroads.

The first road that received any degree of
travel was called the Bottom Road to Beards-
town. This was a winding route over the

124

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

most elevated portions of the bottom, as the
low places were often marshy and very diffi-
cult to cross. On the ridge formed in the
middle of this road by the horses and oxen
wearing out foot-paths, as is often seen now
on our prairie roads, there used to grow and
flourish some of the finest wild strawberries
that were produced on the bottoms. They
looked like a row of cultivated fruit, and in
their season were truly an inviting curiosity.
Travelers that came during that time can
never forget the richness and beauty of those
almost endless rows of native berries. Wild
fruit was very common here in an early day.
Plums, persmimons, raspberries, blackberries,
and strawberries were very plentiful and
much more numerous than at the present day.
It was all the change the early settlers had
from coarse bread and pork, as but very little
sugar or dried fruits could be afforded or in-
dulged in, in those days of pioneer economy.
The wild land has all been subdued or
turned into fine pastures. Beautiful homes
and cultivated fields smile all over the pre-
cinct. The farmers have improved their stocki
and some of the finest horses, hogs, and cattle
that the State produces are raised in this part
of the county.

CHANDLEEVrLLE.*

Early in the spring of 1832, a colony from
Rhode Island were about to leave their native
hills and seek homes in the distant wilderness
of the West. But the members of the colony
hearing of so many Indian massacres in the
Western States, there was but one of the
party that dare venture and carry out the or-
iginal design; that man was Dr. Chas. Chand-
ler. While coming up the Illinois river with
his wife and little daughter Jane, now Mrs.

*The writer, having found some matters particularlv ap-
ropriate to Chanrtlcn-ille, in the oration delivered in'lSTi;
ly Hon. J. H. Shaw, he lias taken the liberty of incorporat-
ing them in this article.

f:-

Shaw, and hearing of the Indian troubles at
Ft. Clark, since called Peoria, the place of
destination, they concluded to go no further,
and consequently landed at Beardstown.
While there Dr. Chandler took a ride up the
Sangamon bottom with Thomas Beard, and
was so charmed by the lay of the land and
richness of the soil, and the thrift of vegeta-
tion, that he determined at once to make a
settlement, and immediately entered 160 acres
of land where Chandlerville now stands, and
before the summer of his first arrival had passed
he had built a comfortable log cabin and found
a crop of buckwheat blossoming at his door.
His cabin was erected on the spot now occu-
pied by the Congregational Church, and his
plow was the first that stirred the native soil
within the limits of the village. He was a
man of untiring industry, and began at once
the practice of his profession, performing
wonders in the healing art, and prodigies of
toil, often riding seventy or eighty miles,
and not unfrequently one hundred per day.
His practice extended over what is now known
as Cass, Morgan, Brown, Schuyler, Sanga-
mon, Menard, Mason, and Fulton Counties. In
December, 1833, the humble cabin received a
brother of the Doctor, Marcus Chandler, wife
and only son Knowlton, with Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Ingalls. In 1834, Squire Bonney and
family, with a nephew, Geo. Bonney, also Mr.
Hicks and family, were added to (he coicmy.

A Sabbath school was early in 1835 organ-
ized through the united efforts of Mrs.
Marcus Chandler, Mrs. H. S. Ingalls, and Mr.
Robert Leper, which was well attended and
did much good.

The Sabbath school was held at the resi-
dence of Mrs. Ingalls, and may be said to be
the first religious assembly ever held in the
community.

The settlers at this time marketed all their
grain and farm produce at Beardstown, and
purchased all the necessary articles within

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

125

their means that their families and farms were
most seriously in need of; also most of their
repairing was done there.

In 183-1: or '35 Dr. Chandler built a black-
smith-shop, and the year following built the
first store, where now Mr. Pilcher's place of
business stands. Dr. Chandler did not do
this so much as a business speculation and to
make money, as he did to benefit and accom-
modate the settlers, many of them having
nothing but ox-teams, and a journey to Beards-
town was not at all a desirable trip, or one
that many of our farmers desire to-day with
all our modern improvements.

Dr. Chandler continued in business about
two years, when he closed out his stock to C. J.
Newberry, who was shortly after succeeded by
Mr. Chase, and he,arter continuingbusiness for
several years, was bought out by Dr. Chandler
and his brother Marcus. They did a very
flourishing and extensive business, and in
connection with their general ; they bought
and packed pork, putting up about three
thousand hogs annually for many years in
succession. In 1849, the two prosperous
brothers met with the misfortune of having
their store burned down, and their stock
badly damaged, but the store was quickly re-
built, and their former business re-established.
At one time they had about four hundred
bushels of pecan nuts, for which they paid
one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, and
shipped the same to St. Louis, and sold them
for three dollars per bushel. In 1850, Dr.
Chandler and his brother sold their entire
business to William Way, who has been in
business, and witnessed the prosperity of the
village from that time to the present.

The early growth of the village was not
rapid, for in 1848 there were but the following
families within its limits: Dr. Chandler, Rev.
S. Smith, O. Hicks, J. B. Shaw, Elisha Olcutt,
D. Marcy, Levi McKee, H. L. Ingalls, Widow
Harbeson and Mr. Chase.

The mail at this time was brought from
Beardstown by the little sons of Dr. Chandler,
and distributed at his place of business, he
being the regular appointed postmaster, and
assisted by Mr. Shaw, then a clerk in the
store. The post office was known as Panther
Creek till 1851, when Gen. C. E. Lippincott
wrote to Col. E. D. Baker,* then member of
Congress, and had the name of the office
changed toChandlerville.

A cooper shop was started about this time,
also a wagon shop. The latter business was
one of the most successful enterprises of the
settlement, Levi McKee being the proprietor.
And the McKee wagons were known all over
the country as the most durable and best
made wagons of the county. Dwight Marcy
in 1849, kept the first hotel just north of
Panther creek, on the land now owned by
Gen. Lippincott, where he continued business
till the present hotel was converted from a
warehouse into a hotel, being built by Dr.
Chandler, and used for a general house of
storage, etc., while he continued in business.

In 1850, Mr. Olcutt, who had for several
years been a clerk for Dr. Chandler, built a
store and warehouse in company with Mr.
Sanders, where a thriving business for several
years was carried on. The firm dealt largely
in wheat, hogs, tallow, &c. In 1854, Dr.
Reed and T. N. Canfield built the first regu-
lar drug store, drugs having been kept and
sold by the other stores many years previous,
but no separate store had been built before for
that special purpose. The building was erected
in the western part of Dr. Reed's present lot,
and long since has been removed. This store
was a very attractive place of business for
many years. Dr. Reed had an extensive prac-
tice, and like Dr. Chandler, not unfrequently
traveling 100 miles a day to visit a patient.

There was an unusual custom among the

* Who was killed at Ball's Bluffa.

126

HISTOIiY OF CASS COUNTY.

settlers that every man should be entitled to
eighty acres of land on each side of his first
entry as soon as he could pay for it at govern-
ment price, 81.25 per acre. And it was con-
sidered as mean as stealing for another man
to violate this established custom of the set-
tlers. Shortly after Dr. Chandler settled here,
a man by the name of English came to the
settlement and was much pleased with the
country. The Doctor assisted and befriended
him all he could, and offered to give up a
a claim to one eighty to induce him to stay,
but English, hog-like, told him that he was
going to Springfield and enter the whole
tract adjoining ; that he did not care for the
customs of the country, and that he was go-
ing to have it right or wrong, and started at
once for Springfield. The Doctor went to his
cabin, counted his money, and found only
fifty dollars. The deficit was made up through
the kindness of his neighbor, McAuly. Thus
provided, he started at once for the State cap-
ital with the determination of beating Eng-
lish if possible. He took a different route
through the woods and prairies from that
chosen by his greedy friend. When about
ten miles from the land office, he overtook two
young men on horseback, and his horse foam-
ing in perspiration was about tired out ; and
while riding along with these young men, he
related to them the cause oi his haste, when one
of them, the tallest of the two, was so indignant
that he offered the Doctor his own horse, which
was comparatively fresh, so that he might
defeat the plans of English; but the Doc-
tor declined the courtesy, got there on his
own horse, and entered his land before his
rival got to the city of Springfield. Some-
time after Dr. Chandler wanted his land sur-
veyed, and sent for a young surveyor who
lived at Salem, Sangamon county, and when
he arrived he proved to be the same young man
that the Doctor had overtaken on his way to
Springfield, and that had so kindly offered his

horse. That man was Alir.ilnm Liiiei>ln, and
the land, where Chandlerville stands, and
some considerable country adjacent, was sur-
veyed by him.

Dr. Chandler was a man of stirring energy.
He built the first frame house, 10 by 12, one
story, ever built in Cass County, and he built
the present large residence on the Chandler
estate in 183(3, which is yet among the finest
residences in the village. He was one of the
first physicians in Central Illinois who adopt-
ed quinine Ln his practice as a remedy, and the
first who opposed bleeding as a remedy for
disease. When he first came to the Sanga-
mon bottom he was called into practice before
he could build a stable for his horse, and when
at home, for weeks his wife cut grass with
the, shears to feed it, as there were no scythes
in the vicinity to be had for love or money.

The Doctor was also a man of charity
as well as enterprise. He gave all the lots
on which all the churches are built, except the
Christian church, and that he sold to the society
for half its real value ; he also gave the lots for
the three public parks, and donated the land
for the cemetery. He was always a liberal
contributor to the church, and all benevolent
institutions. He was the founder of the town,
and a father to it while he lived.

Since 1856, many valuable accessions to
the social and business power of the commu-
nity have been made; good mechanics, active
business houses, sustained by a large intelli-
gent farming population, energized by the
iron aid of a new railway, passing directly
through their midst, and all tolerably per-
meated by Christian character and influence,
Chandlerville hopes a future of useful thrift.

The present village was laid out in 1848,
when the first lots were sold. The town was
first incorporated in 1858, under the General
Act, and under a more special act in 1861.
The incorporate area is exactly one mile
square.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

127

The first members of the first village coun-
cil were Dr. Chas. Chandler, J. W. Gladding,
W. S. Way, Elisha Olcutt, Levi McKee,
with Gen. C. E. Lippincott, as clerk. The
present members of the board are: A. G.
Colson, W, K. Mertz, Robert Clark, August
Zorn, C. C. Brown, W. H. Pilcher, with A.
G. Colson, as president, E. H. Henkel, clerk,
and S. C. Fielden, treasurer.

At present there are twenty-nine business
places in the town; many of the buildings
are of brick, and the village, in general, has
very a promising business outlook.

The first Masonic Lodge was chartered
October 7th, lb74, with the following charter
members: Linus C. Chandler, C. C. Brown,
John Chandler, J. A. Paddock, L. M. Dick,
Robert Clark, N. H. Boon, H. T. Chandler,
N. S. Reed, Isaac Buther, John Kershaw,
John Mullen, Thos. Mullen, J. M. Telles, Wm.
Swartwood, T. A. Skaggs, Henry C. Neif,
Commodore Silvernail, and John C. Morse.
L. C. Chandler was elected the first Worship-
ful Master, and John Morse, secretary. The
present officers: Levi M. Dick, W. M.; Rob-
ert CUrk, S. W.; Thomas Skaggs, J. W.; T.
P. Renshaw, Treasurer; Arthur Pendleton,
Secretary; L. C. Chandler, S. D.; J. B. Mor-
gan, J. D.; August Zorn and M. D. Skaggs,
Stewards; T. R. Say, Tyler. The Lodge was
first organized through the efforts of L. C.
Clfandler. At first a dispensation was re-
fused, but Mr. Chandler went to Dixon, inter-
viewed the grand master, and by urgent ap-
peal, he set aside his former decision and
granted a dispensation and charter. The first
meeting was held in June, 1874.

In the spring of 1882, Chandlerville suffered
considerably from high water; many of the
houses were surrounded with water up to the
windows, and the water reaching up Main
street as far as the Chandlerville mill. The
water was higher than it ever was known be-
fore.

The Sangamon Valley Mill was built in
1872, by Messrs. Paddock & Slink. It is a
handsome brick structure, costing $10,000 to
complete it. The above parties did a success-
ful milling business for two years, when they
sold two-thirds of their interest to James Ab-
bott and William Howarth, Mr. Paddock
holding a third interest till his death, which
occurred two years after. Messrs. Abbott &
Howarth then purchased the remaining third
from the heirs of Mr. Paddock. In 187-4, the
boiler exploded, damaging the mill to the ex-
tent of $2,000, and killing the engineer,
Joseph Davis. Mr. Davis had been a success-
ful engineer all his life, and the cause of the
explosion will no doubt always remain a mys-
tery; whether it occurred by neglect, or
through some defect of the machinery can not
be ascertained.

Smith & Carr's grist mill was raised in 1875,
at a cost of 15,000, by G. B. Skaggs & Bro.
They continued in the mill sixteen months,
when they sold it to James Tantrum, who, in
turn, sold it to W. W. Baker, and shortly af-
terward it was sold to the present owners,
Messrs. Smith & Carr, who have been
doing a very flourishing business for the past
two years, grinding about 50,000 bushels of
grain annually. The engine is in charge of
Mr. A. Garrett, who is an old R. R. engineer,
and thoroughly understands the business. The
millers are also men of tried experience, and
Chandlerville can boast of as good flour as is
made in the State.

In 1874, the first newspaper of the village,
called the N'ew Era, was edited by J. J.
Bunce & Son. After running the paper with
very moderate success about one year, they
closed out their interest, for the people did
not seem to appreciate the depth of their ed-
itorials, or the newsy merits of their local
columns; or in other words, were not as hun-
gry for " Era " news as the proprietors of the
paper had at first anticipated.

128

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The next paper that broke the monotony
of villajre gossip, was the Cass Counttj Jour-
nal., which was established by Chas. A. Pratt,
August 5, 1876. This paper was fairly
patronized, and prospered with a good home
reputation. It continued under the name
and management to the middle of February,
1878, when the office was purchased by G. B.
Skaggs, who was assisted by his brother, J.
W. They brought out their first issue, March
16th of the same year, under the firm name
of J. W. & G. B. Skaggs. As the paper
was of different parentage from the Journal,
it was no more than right that they should
give it a name of their own choice. They
called it the Chandlerville Independent, a
name well chosen, and adapted to the posi-
tion the paper politically assumed. It was
successfully conducted by the two brothers
till Nov. 11, 1878, when J. W. Skaggs re-
tired from the publishing business. The pa-
per was then under the sole management of
G. B. Skaggs up to Dec. 5, 1879, when the
name of the firm was changed to Skaggs &
Spink, Mr. E. Spink, of Havana, having as-
sumed one-half interest. The Independent
was then very satisfactorily managed till Sep-
tember, 1881, when Mr. Spink, by mutual con-
sent, withdrew from the firm, leaving the paper
under its present manager. The paper is now
on solid basis, nearing its 7th year of unabated
prosperity, and having a fine run of advertising,
a growing subscription list, and a man widely
kndwn and highly respected for its editor and
manager. Its future truly looks promising.

"Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword."

Schools. — One of the most popular and in-
teresting features in the history of Chandler-
ville, is the growth and prosperity of her
schools. The village spares neither labor nor
money to make the public school one of the
most progressive of the county. The civilized
world is fast realizing that one school master

with his primer is worth a legion of soldiers.
The sword with its blood and carnage has
done its cruel work. We now have more
need of teachers than of soldiers; reason and
common sense are fast taking the place of
the musket and the cannon, and books have
become the arsenals of great nations. After
a few families had clustered beneath the
shadows of the great hills that overlook the
site of the present village, they began to look
after educational interest of their growing
families. About the year 1835, Mrs. Henry
Ingalls opened a select school at her own
residence, aud among some of her first
scholars were: Mary J. Chandler, now Mrs.
Shaw, Sarah Perrin, who became the wife
of Marcus Chandler, Nancy Leeper, after-
ward the wife of Mr. S. Paddock, Nolton H.
Chandler, Louis Bonney, Mary Wing, and
J. Plasters. Mrs. Ingalls, after teaching
several terms, discontinued the work, owing
to the increasing cares of her family, and was
succeeded by Emily Chandler Allen, who
tauErht one year in the residence of Dr.
Chandler. Mr. John Rickert then opened
his private residence for the education of the
youth, three-fourths of a mile south of the
present village, on what is known as the Hash
farm, and taught one of the best pioneer
schools of the country. He was a Quaker by
profession and practice, and ruled not with
the ferule and rod, but with love and Christ-
ian kindness.

In 1838, Dr. Chandler built a small frame
building about 13 by 12, in the eastern part
of the village, and ficted it up with necessary
seats, etc., for a school-room, and gave the
use of it free of all charge to the community
for three years. Mrs. Ingalls, meantime, had
resumed the work of teaching, and taught till
the spring of 1841, when the building put
up by Dr. Chandler became too small for
school purposes. It was concluded to re-
move the school to the Congregational Church,

HlyXORY OF CASS COUNTY.

129

which was built that same year, and complet-
ed before the winter term of school was to be
opened. The school was then successively
taught by Miss Dunham, who afterward be-
came the wife of Amos Bonney, Miss E.
Pease and MissHosford; the latter was sent
from Vermont by Gov. Slade, Dr. Chandler
guaranteeing a certain salary, but the people
failing to patronize the school as much as he
anticipated, he was compelled to make up the
deficit by paying it out of his own pocket.
Mr. D. Craig, Peter Rickert, and Emily Chand-
ler, were among the successful teachers that
followed.

Miss Helen Cotton and a Miss Harris, in
1851, came West, to follow the profession
of teaching; one was to land at Beardstown,
and the other at Chandlerville, and they con-
cluded to decide by lot where each was to
settle in the chosen work. It fell to Miss
Cotton's lot to come to this embryo village
and assume ihe work of teaching. No better
fortune could have favored the citizens of
this place. She was a woman of brilliant
talents, and made use of every opportunity
to do good and ennoble the minds of those
under her care and supervision. She after-
ward became Mrs. Goodell, but losing none
of her energy and influence by assuming the
duties of the family. Mrs. Ingalls, Mr. Rick-
ert and Miss Cotton, were the pioneer teach-
ers of Chandlerville, who have yet among
modern teachers to find a rival. The schools
up to this time were all selec':, each scholar
paying $3.50 per quarter tuition. The teach-
ers were usually boarded by the patrons or
friends of the school, free of charge.

Previous to 1841, a log cabin was used for
a time as a school house, where the boys
with baited fish-hooks and lines, used to fish
for rats through the open cracks in the floor,
that being their only pastime, while the
vigilant eyes of the teacher were not upon
them. In 1S56, a common frame building

was erected on one of the same lots now en-
closed within the limits of the present school
yard. Mr. N. S. Canfield was among the
first teachers who taught in the new building.
The school now began to assume some pro-
portions of size, and much more attention
began to be paid to educational matters.

In the autumn of 186 ^, a part of the pres-
ent brick building was designed and built by
the following committee: Dr. Chandler, P.
NefiF, and P. T. Norton. In 1878 the school
building seemed insufficient to comfortably
seat all the pupils attending school, and an
addition of two rooms was added by the di-
rectors, L. C. Chandler, Robert Clark, and R.
R. Cromlich. The whole building now con-
tains five rooms, and cost the village $6,000.
The first principal in the new building was
Maria Elam, and her first assistant Ella
Duneway. The present board of directors
are: Robert Clark, B. Bowman, and Albert
Smith. The building now is used exclusively
for school purposes, but the wooden building,
previous to the present structure, was built
with the understanding that its doors should
be open to all public speakers, lecturers.
Church services, shows and elections, or any
thing by way of public instruction or enter-
tainment of a moral ch iracter.

The public school of Chandlerville is very
popular. It is patronized by citizens of all
classes and of all denominations; sectarian
and political biases have been sedulously
avoided in its management, and it is the sin-
gle aim of those in charge of the school, and
of the citizens alike, to give the youth of the
town the best possible training, both in intel-
lect and morals. The course of study is
so arranged that pupils leaving school at the
age of twelve or fourteen, are able to write
and read well, have a good understanding ol
the fundmental principles of arithmetic, and
a general knowledge of geography, and a
good preparation for business in general.

130

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Congregational Church. — In the fall of
1836, October 16th, a Presbyterian church
was organized by Revs. Albert Hale and
Slierron Baldwin, holding their services for
the time being in the house of Dr. Chandler.

The church at first was composed of five
members only, Mr. and Mrs. Sewall, Mr. Mar-
cus Hicks, Mrs. Marcus Chandler, and Mrs.
Lavinia Ingalls, all being Presbyterians in
their religious proclivities, except the two lat-
ter, who bringing letters from Congregational
churches, were united with the society.

About 18 il or 1842, a church building was
erected at cost of $700. It was then decided
by a vote of the members (the number hav-
ing been increased to nearly twice the origi-
nal number), that the building should be
known as a Congregational church; but there
remains no formal record of any formal
change in the ecclesiastical relation of the
church organization till October, 1847, when
it became Congregational, according to the
reports made to the Southern Association of
Illinois, with which it is at present connected.
In the early beginning, the little band of
Christ's disciples were indebted to the mem-
bers of the Illinois College Faculty for nearly
all their spiritual food — President Sturtevant
and Professer Turner preaching to them, and
administering the Sacrament. Revs. Hale and
Baldwin also visited them at stated times, to
aid the society in their Christian work.

The first pastor was Prof. J. B. Turner,
from Jacksonville, who in 1841 was succeed-
ed by Rev. Mr. Pond, and Mr. Pond was
succeeded by Rev. Socrates Smith, who came
under the auspices of the American Home
Missionary Society, and he was followed by
the following ministers: Thomas Lippincott,
the father of General Lippincott, AUyn S.
Kellogg, Wm. Barnes, O. C. Dickinson, J. R.
Ki'nnedy, George Paddock, P. A. Beane, S.
B. Goodonough, Htauy Perkins, aad. J. M.
Bowers.

The present officers of the Church are Dr.
N. S. Read, Thomas Ainsworth and J. H.
Goodell, and this Church has a membership
of 51, who are all liberal and enthusiastic in
their Christian work.

The Sabbath school is a very prominent
feature of the Church, largely attended, and
far superior to most of the Sibbath schools
found in similar villages. Dr. N. S. Read has
been its Superintendent for the past twenty-
seven years, beginning with but 25 scholars
and now numbering over 200. Di\ R^aJ has
been a zealous worker, and the prosperity
and progress of the Sabbath school is largely
due to his untiring energy. He is the right
man in the right place.

Methodist Church. — A few Methodist fam-
ilies held their first meetings at the resi-
dence of Squire Bonney, whenever they were
able to secure the services of a minister from
the neighboring settlements. Revs. Springer,
Cartwright, Ridgeley, Garner and Wyatt,
were among the first clergymen that ad-
ministered to the spiritual wants of their
brethren at Chandlerville. The Society was
first placed in circumstances to employ a reg-
ular minister by Messrs. Bonney, Richard,
McDaniel, Proctor and Hicks. These were
men of energy, and labored not only for
themselves, but for the benefit of the com-
munity and the moral elevation of their fel-
low-men. They hired the Congregational
church for their Sabbath services, and con-
tinued there for about three years, when they
found themselves sufficiently strong to build
an edifice of worship for themselves. This
latter enterprise was largely brought about
by the labors of Elisha Olcutt. They built
their present church about the year 1851, at a
cost of $1,200, the lot being donated by Dr.
Chandler.

The church grew very prosperous, and its
membership quite large. It was doing a noble
work in the Christian cause, when it was des-

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

)31

tined to suffer greatly from emigration, many
of its leading members going West, or set-
tling in different parts of the State, among
whom were: Mr. Oloutt, John Boycourt, N.
Canfield and T. Way. The church, how-
ever, though somewhat embarrassed, did not
lose courage, but kept its armor bright, and is
still " marching along " with moderate pros-
perity. Rev. Charles Forree is the present
pastor.

Catholic Chvrch. — The members of the
Catholic Society held their first meetings at
the residence of Mr. P. Neff for about three
years, when they formally organized in 1874,
and thereafter continued their Sabbath wor-
ship in the hall, over the store of Mr. Neff.
Father Ryan has officiated as pastor for the
past four years.

Mr. Neff was the leading spirit in originat-
ing and pushing the society organization; he
organized a Sabbath school about one year
before the church society was organized, pay-
ing twenty-five dollars rent out of his own
pocket. He has kept up the Sabbath school
ever since, and no doubt will continue to
figure as one of the most prominent men of
the society till a church is built, furnished
and supplied.

Christian Church. — Elder D. W. Shurt-
leff came from Beardstown in the winter of
1862, and preached to a few Christian families
in the vicinity of Chandlerville, and February
15th, of the same winter, at Pleasant Ridge
school-house, the church was first organized
with the fellowing members: Mr. and Mrs.
C. J. Wilson, W. D. Leeper, S. B. Jones, Mr.
and Mrs. Wm. Bradshaw, Smith Wilson,
Nancy Smith, Lucy Curtis, Julia Curtis,
Clarissa Briggs and Barbara Lucus. W. D.
Leeper, assisted by S. B. Jones, were the
prime movers in getting Elder D. W. Shurt-
leff into the settlement. They were the men
that formed the first nucleus of the church,
and around which clustered the developing

interest of the Christian work. The church
was greatly stimulated and strengthened by
some stirring revivals. Prof. McCaukle, of
Eureka College, and Elder A. G-. Kane, of
Springfield, were among the most prominent
that awoke the community to a Christian
sense of duty. Their words of warning and
entreaty sank deep and reverently into many
hearts, and great numbers were converted
and added to the fold of the Master. The
members were united, and as one, in their
social and religious relations, brotherly and
sisterly love ruled every motive, and ere three
years had scarcely passed from the date of
their first organization, they found themselves
sufficiently strong to build a church of their
own; the present handsome, convenient frame
building was erected at a cost of §"2,700. The
building committee that designed and con-
structed, and supervised the work in general,
consisted of the following persons: Robert
Cole, J. A. Ritines, S. B. Jones, and James Arm-
strong. Elders John Raines and Ali)ert Rice
preached on alternate Sabbaths, the first year
after the church was completed. The church,
under the leadership of J. W. Monser and
M. R. Elder and the two pastors, just men-
tioned, saw its brightest days ; its member-
ship was swelled to one hundred or more
members ; peace and prosperity smiled upon
the church.

A Sabbath school, numbering some seventy
or eighty scholars, was among one of the
most interesting and progressive features of
the society. Dr. N. H. Boon and Douglass
McGee were among the most earnest workers
in the Sabbath school, one or the other being
superintendent most of the time for many
years.

It was wonderful to see how rapidly the
church grew, but more wonderful to see how
quickly it crumbled and its members divided
and scattered. " A house divided against
itself can not stand."

132

aiSTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

For the past two years no regular Sabbatli
services have been held, though occasional
services occur.

Lutheran Church. — The German Evangel-
ical Lutheran church was built in the year
1870. The society was organized about six
months previous and held their meeti ngs in the
Congregational .^nd Christian churches.

The original members of the cburch were:
J. Eichenaur, H. Schneider, J. Craft, J. Mush,
G. Zorn, F. Brauer, H. During, C. Boensel
and H. Joeckel. Eichenaur, Schneider, Brauer
and Boensel being all that are left of the orig-
inal little band of worshipers. The church
has been very progressive under the following
pastors: Mr. Weisinger, Mr. Baumann, A.
Willner and A. D. Greif; the latter being
the present pastor, and of an earnest, indus-
trious turn of mind. He has organized a
day school, and teaches four days of the
week. The church building is an ordinary
wooden frame, not large but pleasantly situ-
ated. The membership is thirty, which is
considered large for the number of German
families residing in the vicinity.

Professional. — The legal or forensic inter-
est of the village is exclusively in the hands
of Hon. L. C. Chandler, a son of Dr. Chand-
ler. He has been prosecuting attorney one
term of four years, and a member of the leg-
islature. He is a man widely known, and
does all the business in his line that origin-
ates in the town.'

Dr. Reed and Dr. N. H. Boon lead the
medical profession of the village, being men
of large experience, and widely known.
People do not hesitate to employ them. They
have a large practice and are among the old-
est and most respect«d citizens of the village.

In closing our chapter of Chandlerville, we
can not refrain from ofiFering a brief tribute to

the memory of its founder, Dr. Chandler. The
early community of Chandlerville was patri-
archal in its characteristics. It originated in
the self-sacrificing devotion of its founder; its
first steps were directed and carefully guarded
by his judgment, and in its niaturer years
bears his name and the impress of his char-
acter.

It is difficult to imagine the early prosperity
of this settlement without the material and
moral support of Dr. Chandler. He was the
central figure in its early history, and lost
none of his prominence while he lived. Com-
ing as a benefactor, he allowed no desire for
private ends to swerve him from his chosen
course. He sought to establish a center of
civilizing influence; his was a mission of good,
and the records of his time bear ample testi-
mony of his faithfulness to such a cause; the
sick, the unfortunate, found in him a helpful
friend; public enterprises were placed beyond
the danger of failure by his efforts; struggling
merit never failed for lack of material aid
when solicited of him, while his old account-
books, bearing the names of every member of
the settlement in those early days, tell many
a tale of his devotion to his people. His sup-
port of the Church and school was liberal,
frequent and voluntary. He labored for the
common good and the elevation of mankind.
Some three years ago, to the regret and sor-
row of all who knew him, " God's finger
ouched him, and he slept."

All honor be, (hen, to these gray old men.
When at last they are bowed with toil ;
Their warfare then o'er, they battle no more,
For they're conquered the stubborn soil.
And the chaplet each wears, is the silver hairs,
And ne'er shall the victor's brow
With a laurel crown to the grave go down,
Like the pioneer sons — of fame, renown.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

133

CHAPTER XIII.*

ASHLAND PRECINCT— PHYSICAL FEATURES— EARLY SETTLERS— PIONEER TIMES— SCHOOLS
AND CHURCHES— THE VILLAGE OF ASHLAND.

THE first settlers, who gazed upon the broad
waste of prairie, the unmolested groves,
dense and tangled with brush and briar, be-
fore a plow had touched the virgin soil, or an
ax had struck a tree, little thought that all
this wilderness, in their own day, before their
own locks were silvered with the thread of
time, would be made to blossom as a garden.
Little thought had they of seeing beautiful
homes, waving fields of golden grain, green
pastures and grazing herds, where the
bounding deer, crouching panther and howl-
ing wolf, held unmolested sway.

Little thought they that in their time, fur-
naces, forges, fire and steam, amid the noise
and whirl of swift and bright machinery,
would sow, reap, bind, thresh, grind and
market their grain. Labor and invention are
man's greatest functions, and wonderful are
the changes the past half century has wrought.

Ashland Precinct has an area of twenty-
two miles. It formerly was much larger, in-
cluding a greater portion of Philadelphia
Precinct within its original boundary. There
is but little timber within its present
limits ; Panther Grove, in the northern por-
tion of the precinct, with here and there a few
scattering trees, may be said to be all the
timber worth mentioninar. The land origfi-
nally was mostly prairie ; it is quite level
but very productive. The soil is of a dark
color and varies from one to three feet in depth.

There are no streams worthy of mention in
the precinct; Panther Creek takes its rise in

* By J. L. Nichols.

Panther Grove, and becomes quite a stream in
its coarse to the Sangamon River.

Mr. Eli Co.x was the first settler who came
into Ashland Precinct; he " blazed " the first
tree on the corner of his claim in 1818,' and he
is one of the olde t settlers of Cass County.
He is very peculiar and anomalous in his
ways, accumulating; considerable property and
money, but never could be induced to deposit
his surplus money outside of his own house
or premises, deeming the banks very hazard-
ous and unsif , and consequently he has beeu
the victim of robbers for the third time. The
last time he was assaulted was Aug. 19, 1882.
A party of masked villains burst into his
apartments, thinking he had some 83,000 in
his possession, and tortured him in a vtry
brutal manner; they placed burning coals at
his feet, heated a poker, and cruelly and dan-
gerously burnt other portions of his body;
also hanging him by the neck several times,
hoping thereby to force from him a confession
as to th;^ whereabouts of his money, but the
Wednesday previous he had been prevailed
upon by his lawyer in .Jacksonville to de-
posit his money in a bank, and consequently
the fiends secured but 145 as the reward of
their midnight assault upon a helpless and
defenceless old man. A family by ;he name
of Shiltz occu])ied a portion of the house, but
their guns being unload d, the family were
rendered helpless, and with cocked revolvers
at their door were quietly requested to lemaiTi
in their apartments.

In 1820, Mr. Cox settled on his prespiit
farm, where he has ever since resided. Will-

134

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

iam Crow and William Cooper settled in the
precinct soon after Mr. Cox had located.
Ashland Precinct was not generally settled
till comjjaratively a late date, the land being
mostly prairie, and the first settlers, coming
from timbered countries, thought it impossible
to locate on the prairie, where there was no
timber. David R. Short made an effort in
1830, to get away from the timber, and took
up a claim where .loshua Atkins now resides,
but after the first year's trial he became dis-
couraged, and sold out his interest in the
land to his uncle, Samuel Short, who resided
then in Sangamon County. Even at that late
date it was thought by most of the settlers
that the^prairies would remain an " everlasting
waste," but they were soon undeceived, for
the prairie lands soon became the most desira-
ble to be secured. In 1831, Stephen Lee
built a cabin in Panther Grove, and John
Miller and Alfred Dutch soon moved into the
precinct, and began improving farms. In
1834, when Adams, Jackson and Clay ran for
president, there were not enough settlers in
the precinct to organize an election, and it
was several months after the election before
they heard the result.

The deep snow occurred in the winter of
1830 and 1831, and this seems to be the
principal data the old settlers have, dating
most of the events of their early history in
the settlement of the county, as occurring be-
fore and after that winter. Charivaring and
dancing were the principal amusements of the
young. The charivari is of French origin,
but quite generally practiced as a means of
amusement in that early day, and to some
extent at the present.

Mr. Alfred Dutch built the first frame house
ever erected in the precinct, in 1834. It was
an elegant building for those early times, but
he came with some means, and took pride in
making himself and family comfortable.

The first settlers received but little mail.

and the first post office was at .Jacksonville.
Their market was St. Louis, and the journey
there, a distance of 100 miles or more, took
from seven to eighteen days, the roads being
very roundabout, and often very difficult.
They drove, also, their cattle and hogs to that
distant market, a task which the farmers of
to-day would deem almost an impossibility.
Those who have lived only in the era of rail-
roads, steamships and electricity, know but
little of the privations, hardships and suffer-
ings their pioneer fathers endured; they know
but little of what it was to build cabins, subdue
the wild prairies, and narrow down the groves,
with no tools or machinery except the ax,
spade and plow; but those times have forever
passed away, and will only be known as facts
of history.

The first pioneers of the precinct were not
a Godless people, but early and devotedly
counseled together, devising every means
possible for promoting religious and moral
influences in the community. They held
meetings in private cabins, school-houses
and groves; wherever a few Christian families
could assemble, the word of God would
be preached. Peter Cartwright, the famous
pioneer preacher, was a devoted friend to the
early settlers in this section of the country.
As early as 1833 we find him preaching in
the cabin of Mr. Crow, to the following fami-
lies: Samuel Short, William Cooper, Stephen
Short, John Cox, Samuel Robinson, K. Heads-
peth, William Miller, and James Watson.
Many similar meetings in various cabins of
the settlers were held for many years.

The Centenary M. E. Church, in the north-
ern part of the precinct, took its name from
the Centennial year of Methodism in America.
The church society was first organized at the
the residence of Samuel Sinclair, in 1853,
with the following families: Joseph Bowers,
John Cheatham, John Gill, and Jonathan
Gill. Mr. Sinclair was a minister of the

<iJ^i^/ui^-C ^ydltx^^^

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

137

gospel himself, and he and his wife, Myra
Ann, did more than all others in working up
the interest which finally culminated in the
present prosperous church organization.
They opened their own house for church ser-
vices, entertaining and feeding all that came.
They were a very hospitable family and did
much good, not only as christian workers,
but as citizens and neighbors; they were ever
ready and willing to assist those who were
less fortunate than themselves.

Rev. .James Garner was among the first
ministers of that neighborhood, and held oc-
casional services at the residence of Mr. Sin-
clair, till the fall of 1857, when the school
house was built, where he, in connection with
Lewis Mathews, M. Monroe, and Revs. Ayers
and Hewitt continued preaching for three
years or more. The Circuit was then organ-
ized ind Rev. J. Mitchell was appointed as .
the regular pastor. Mr. Mitchell was one of
the most successful revivalists that was ever
appointed to the charge; he often preached
five and six weeks in succession without any
assistance, holding meetings every afternoon
and evening. Peter Cartwright, the Presid-
ing Elder, called him " Whalebone," a terra
very appropriate, considering his ambition
and endurance. The society built their pres-
ent church in 1866. It is a beautiful frame
building, very conveniently adapted for the
purpose for which it was built.

Rev. William Stribling, from Jacksonville,
a retired minister, gave five acres of land for
the building and support of the church. Mr.
Stribling was very generous in the use of his
acquired property, giving a greater portion
of it to the schools and churches of the coun-
try. The building committee was made up of
the two Samuel Sinclairs and John Beggs.
The first trustees of the church were: John
Beggs, Samuel Sinclair, Joseph Bovvers, and
Levi M. Ream. The present membership of
the church is forty.

A Sabbath school of considerable inter-
est has been successfully conducted in con-
nection with the church. It was first organ-
ized in Fly Point school-house, with about
thirty scholars. At present both church and
Sabbath school are very interestedly at work,
and the work of both has become a strong,
stimulating force in the community.

There were no schools organized in the pre-
cinct, till a comparatively late date, for the
prairies were not generally settled till about
1858 or '60. The first school-house built in
the precinct in 1855, was known as the
Begg's school-house. The children in the
southern part in an early day, attended a
school in Morgan County, located in the grove
near Mr. John Cox.

At the present day school-houses are con-
veniently located all over the precinct, no
scholars being compelled to walk to school
more than a mile, or a mile and a half, at
most. The educational interests are well
guarded, and the general intelligence of the
growing youth is ample testimony that the
present schools and present school systems
are not, and have not been, a failure.

Ashland Village. — The name was taken
from the home of that great Kentucky states-
man, Henry Clay, who was long known as the
Sage of Ashland. Many of the earlier settlers
coming from Kentucky, it is not strange that
they should associate the name of their town
with the memory of that noble and eloquent
orator, so long the pride of their native State.

In 1857, shortly after the Tonica & Peters-
burg Railroad, since known as the Alton, was
surveyed, a company was organized for the
purpose of laying out a town and speculat-
ing in the sale of lots. This company con-
sisted of Elmore Crow, James L. Beggs, Will-
iam G. Spears, Richard Yates (the famous
war-governor of Illinois), and others, whose
names we were not able to obtain. The
trustees of the Jacksonville Female Academy

138

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

purchased a half interest, for the purpose of
adding the net proceeds of the sale of lots to
the general fund of the school.

The land upon which the village is located
■was originally owned by Elmore Crow, who
reserved a proportional interest when ho
deeded the land to the company. He owned
about GOO acres, of which nearly one half was
laid out into village lots. The boundary of
the village, as originally laid out, was as fol-
lows : Commencing at a point one-fourth of
one mile due west of the southeast corner of
section twenty-nine, township seventeen,
range eight, west of the third principal mer-
idian in the County of Cass, State of Ills.,
running due north one half mile, thence due
east one mile, thence due south one mile,
thence due west one mile, thence due north
one half mile, to the point of starting. Be-
side the public squares and commons, the
lots were divided into 144 blocks.

The laying out of Ashland was not a mat-
ter of speculation alone. Those that invest-
ed in lots, made the purchase with the view
of improving them for either a residence or
place of business, and often both. A thriving
corn crop was growing on the ground when
the lots were staked off. Several who are
now residents of the village, remember dis-
tinctly when they bound wheat and husked
corn on the very ground where the principal
business places are built. Mr. Crow's house
was the first building erected within the
present limits of the town; he being a farmer
and owning the land, had improved it to a
limited extent. The old building yet stands,
and is known as the Douglass boarding house.
About forty buildings were on the grounds
the first year. A little village or burgh, con-
sisting of perhaps a dozen houses, and known
by the name of Rushaway, was moved to
Ashland and became a part of the town. The
first two public sales of lots amounted to
$102,000. There were also many private

sales, and the business of selling lots for a
time was financially a success.

W. R. Hunter was among the first merch-
ants of the village. He built a store on Main
street and began a general grocery and dry-
goods trade, and continued in business at
the above named place some four years,
when he entered into partnership with J. M.
.lones. They continued business under the
firm name of Hunter & Jones, buying grain in
connection with their general store trade till
1872, when Mr. Hunter sold out his interest
in the store and entered exclusively into the
grain trade. Mr. Hunter may be called the
oldest business man in the village, he being
one of the first to engage and has ever since
been identified with the business of the town,
being at present largely interested in the
grain trade.

William Goble and Alexander Mansfield
built a store and began business about the
time Mr. Hunter opened his store. They
continued business about two years, when
they became financially embarrassed, and
their stock was sold out under the Sheriff's
hammer. The building which they erected,
however, is still in existence, being changed
to a dwelling, and at present is owned by Mr.
O. P. Lewis.

From 1S63 to 1866, there was but one gen-
eral store in the town, viz.: Hunter & Jones.
They did an extensive business, and were
widely known as straightforward, thorough
business men. The first post office was kept
in their store, and W. R. Hunter was the regu-
larly appointed postmaster. He was succeeded
by W. AY. Redman, who has held that position
ever since. Mr. Redman was also interested
in the drug business previous to the fire. He
is a man widely known and universally re-
spected.

Previous to the opening of the present post
office, the settlers procured their mail at Lan-
caster, some three and a half miles distant.

IIISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY.

139

The first hotel of the village is the present
brick building now used for that purpose, and
owned and run by J. L. Clark. The building
was first built by a company consisting of the
following persons : Elmore Crow, James L.
Beggs, and William Spears.

The first blacksmith shop was put up by
Leander Grandy, just north of the present
site of the Methodist Church.

Another about the samo time was started
by Andrew Henderson, who was shortly after
bought out by John L. Douglas, and he in
turn after continuing the business for one
year or thereabouts, sold out to Messrs.
Crow and Beggs. This shop stood just west
of the present hotel, on the south side of the
street. It has long since disappeared and
others hive taken its place. About the samo
time the blacksmith business was begun, a
■wagon shop was opened by William Bready.
He followed the business with moderate suc-
cess for three years. The present wagon
shop is doing a prosperous business, and is
run by Charles Goodman. In 1872 the pres-
ent elevator was built by Messrs. Hunter,
Duey & Co. It is the only building of the
kind in the town. Mr. Hunter, since the com-
pletion of the building, bought out the inter-
est of his partners and conducts the business
himself. It is a frame structure, conveniently
built and modernly improved, costing $8,000.
Mr. Hunter is one of the prominent grain
dealers of the village, and handles over 100,-
000 bushels of grain annually. The other
grain firms doing business in the town are,
E. Beggs, and Hamilton & Duey.

January 18, 18G8, a meeting of the promi-
nent citizens took place for the purpose of
arranging an election for the puipose of in-
corporating the village. The election which
shortly afterward followed, resulted in thirtv-
five ballots in favor, and four against, incor-
poration, and the following persons wore
elected as members and olficers of the village

board : Stephen Barn3s, President ;. W. R.
Hunter, Clerk ; J. G. Smith, Police Magis-
trate ; James L. Beggs, A. L. Corson, and J.
G. Smith.

Previous to the building of the O. & M. R.
R., in 1871, the growth of the town was not
rapid, and the business it did was not of a
very pressing character ; but on the comple-
tion of the new railroad, real estate business,
and building took a new start, and Ashland
at once took her place as one of. the most
prosperous business towns of the county, and
at its present ratio of progress it will soon
rival the county-seat itself.

In 1877 the village met with a serious
draw-back and heavy losses by fire. The
most central and thriving business portion of
the town was totalh' consumed. The fire
originated in a small barber shop some time
early in the evening, and was not discovered
till midnight, when it was found to be entirely
beyond all control; but new and better build-
ings have taken the place of the old, and the
prosperity of the town seems in no way to
feel the effects of that devastating fl.ime.
There are now many brick buildings orna-
menting the business streets, and many more
are contemplated ; the future business out-
look seems very flattering.

The members of the present village board
are David Middour, President; Myer Hexter,
Treasurer ; Samuel Short, Police Magistrate ;
William Duke, Street Commissioner ; John
Fansher, Frank Lohman, T. A. Duey, Eli M.
Wyatt, John King, and J. G. Pearn, Clerks.

Schools. — The founders of the village of
Ashland early looked after the culture, char-
acter and education of their children. They
seemed to heartily indorse the idea of plac-
ing them early under the influences which
awaken their faculties, inspires them with
higher principles, and fits them to bear a
manly, useful and honorable part in the
world. To take the child in all his ignorance.

140

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

weakness, ami depeinlence, exposed to evil
influences and temptations on every hand,
and lead him through the devious and danger-
ous paths of childhood and youth, and finally
place him upon the battle-field of life, with
the proper armor of truth and education, is a
duty and a responsibility that no parent should
neglect or set aside with inilifFerence for the
purpose of economy or the care of business,
for no language can express the folly of that
economy, which, to leave a fortune to a child,
starves his intellect and impoverishes his heart.

The citizens of Ashland, mindful of these
weighty responsibilities, organized a school
in 1859, in an old grocery building, near
•where Mr. John Huston now resides. The
building had previously been used for a store-
house, then a saloon, and finally metamor-
phosed into a school-room. Mr. George
Coffin had the honor of governing and teach-
insr the first school within the villan-e limits.
He laid the foundation to the present school
system, which, in past years, has reflected so
much credit upon the town and surrounding
country. The school was continued here till
the fall of 1862, when it was moved to the
present site, or near where the present brick
school building stands. The school was then
continued in the old building till 1866, when
the present building of two rooms was erected.

The directors that designed and directed
the work were W. S. Douglass, Madison Dad-
isman and J. M. Jones. But the following
year tested the strength and durability of the
walls ; quite a severe storm occurred, and the
upper portion of the building was totally de-
stroyed, the walls of the lower story alone re-
maining. It was not so much in the extra-
ordinary severity of the storm, as it was in
the defect of the masonry and architectural
structure of the building in general. It was
poorly built and its fall was only a matter of
time. The community were very fortunate, for
there was no s iiool in progress, or otherwise

many scholars might have been seriously in-
jured, if not killed.

The building was at once repaired, and is
yet in a state of good preservation. Mr. .lohn
Full was the first teacher in the new brick
building, and did much credit to himself in the
able manner in which he conducted the school.

A new building is now in progress, the
cost of which is estimated at ?i8,000. The
citizens of Ashland do not propose to be be-
hind their neighboring villages in school
buildings or in general school work. The
contemplated building will probably be the
finest and best building in the town, and no
pains or cost will be spared to make it one of
the best schools of the county. The di-
rectors who have the building in charge are
William S. Douglass, ^^'illiam M. .Fones and
Silas Hexter. The present teachers are John
Pearn and Carrie Redman.

Churches. — Ashland M. E. Church was
first organized in 1857, at what was known as
the Miichell school- house, one mile southwest
of the present site of the village of Ashland.
The members that constituted the first organ-
ization are as follows: Asel, Jane, Ann, Mary,
Maria J., Mahala, and A. C. Douglass, Samuel
and Lavina Short, John L. Douglass, Mary
Holaway, Thomas Foxworthy, Andrew Welch,
Nancy and G. W. Foxworthy. The first
minister that administered to the spiritual
wants of the settlers, was Rev. W. J. Newm;in,
with Rev. G. M. Crays as assistant. Rev.
George Rutledge was the first presiding
elder. The society held irregular meetings
at the above named place for several years.
A Sabbath School of some considerable inter-
est was annually organized, and successfully
conducted through the year by leading mem-
bers of the Society. The meetings were usu-
ally well attended, and the children were well
represented in the Sabbath School. In 1861,
the church was re-organized in Ashland,
with the following members: James and Sarah

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

14]

Cresse, Asel, Jane, Ann, Mary, Mahala, and
A. G. Do.uglass, J. Boycourt, Basil Green-
wood and wife, Mary Buycourt, Richard Arn-
old and wife, Mary Campbell, George Coffin
and wife, Jane Hii^h, John Townsen, Charles
and George Zirkle, Israel, Mary and Cecilia
Towsen, Jacob, Mabel, and Margaret Shuck,
William Boarden, Samantha Bready, Francis
Mitchell, Elizabeth Bready Hathaway, Leland
and Addie Mitchell, S. E. Beogs, Trifena
Greenwood, William W. and Nancy J. Red-
man, Henry HoUinshead, Eliza, Madison,
Silva and William Cainpljell.

Ashland had been laid out but a few years,
and a place of meeting was with some diffi-
culty secured. The first meetings were held
in a store or store house, now owned by
Austin Lewis. These were the first religious
services held in the village of Ashland. In
those first devotional Christian meetings, dedi-
cating the embryo village with its business,
with its prosperity, and with its prospects to
God, has not been entirely without fruit.
There are many happy homes, happy wives,
and happy children, who owe their pleasant
circumstances and surroundings to the social
and religious influences of the Methodist
Episcopal church. Though there is much
wickedness in their midst, the friends of
strong drink are numerous; religion and tem-
perance have not the desired control, but
those dedicating prayers were heard, and will
yet be answered. "Though the mills of God
grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding
small; though with patience He stands wait-
ing, with exactness grinds He all."

The meetings were continued for a time in
the above named place; the building being
needed for other purposes, the society con-
tinued their regular sabbath services in the
rooms of the hotel, and shortly after occupied
the Ashland school house, where regular ser-
vices were continued till the present church
was built. During the time the meetings

were held in the store, hotel and school- house,
Rev. Jeremiah Mitchell officiated as pastor.

The present church was built in 1870, at a
cost of $4,000. It is a handsome frame struc-
ture, built upon the lots given to the society
by the village authorities. It is at present
the finest church edifice in the precinct. It
was dedicated by the Rev. Mr. Buck, who
preached a very appropriate and soul-stirring
sermon. The building committee was made
up of the following members viz.: James L.
Beggs, Jesse Newman and J. M. Jones. The
present trustees are Samuel Hamilton, Edwin
Beggs, Robert G. Hewit, and W. W. Redman.
The present membership is 70. The promi-
nent pastors who have labored for the spiritual
interests of the society, were E. K. Shields, J. J.
Garner, Wingate Newman, G. Garner, and E.
B. Randle, the latter being the present pastor.

A Sabbath School of more than ordinary
interest has been successfully kept up in con-
nection with the church ever since its first
organization. At present about 100 scholars
are in attendance, and M. F. Short is the
present Superintendent. He is a man well
qualified, and has long been identified as one
of the most energetic Sunday school workers
of the county.

The Church has at times been greatly
strengthened, and its membership considera-
bly increased, by the zealous labors of some
of its prominent pastors. Perhaps the most
prominent revival in the history of the Church
was that conducted by the talented E. K.
Shields, who in the winter of 1875, converted
nearly one hundred persons. The town be-
came thoroughly awakened by his stirring and
pathetic appeals; his sermons, though strong,
forcible and eloquent, were touching, and
reached the heart of many an erring sinner.

The church at present is very prosperous;
Rev. Mr. Randle is a young man of consider-
able ability, and is earnest and untiring in
his ministeral labors.

142

ITISTORY OF CASS COCTXTY.

The Ashland Catholic Church was first
organized at the residence of Martin Tyos, in
February, 1871, by the Rev. Father August
Joseph Sauer, and the following members
with their families, professing the Catholic
faith, were present: Thomas Guley, Edward
Leahy, Wm. Kenned-,', John Martin, Morris
Burus, Cornelius Hurley, and some others
whose names the writer was not able to ob-
tain. The society, after being formally organ-
ized, as above mentioned, held their next
meetings in the Ashland school-house, where
they continued their regular Sabbath services
for nearly two years, when they purchased
two lots of Matthew Jones, and built a small
frame-building, in which the society has held
its regular meetings till the present time.
The capacity of this building was too small to
conveniently accommodate the increasing
membership of the church, and in 1880 Rev.
Father T. M. Hogan was appointed to the
charge, for the purpose of investigating the
prospects of building a new church. He
found the members not only financially able,
but enthusiastic, willing, and ready, to enter
heartily into the work. Father Hogan is a
man of stirring energy as well as talent, and
ably fitted for the work that is now so
prosperously in progress. His first collection
in the winter of 1881 amounted to $1,800.
The fair in January, 1882, under his immediate
supervision, netted $1,314, making a total of
§3,114 as a preparatory fund for beginning
the contemplated church. Fivj lots, located
in the western portion of the town, were at
once purchased from William Mathers, at a
cost of 8300, and the work of building imme-
diately begun. - The building was begun
May 6, 1882, and it measures ninety-six feet
in length and forty feet in width, its spire
■ seventy-five feet in height. It is a frame-
structure, and when completed will be one of
the finest churches in the county. Its cost is
estimated at $5,.500.

The members that constitute the building
committee are James Collins and Edward
Leahy. Father Hogan, however, personally
supervises the work and sees that suitable
material is used and proper labor employed.

The Church at present has sixty members
as heads of families. The pastors of the
Church, from the first organization to the pres-
ent time, are as follows: J. A. Sauer, Michael
Ryan, Father O'Hare, and T. M. Hogan.

The Church has a prosperous outlook for
the future, and, no doubt, will in time become
one of the strongest and most permanent of the
Churches of the country.

Societies.— Osik Lodge I. O. O. F., No. 341,
was first organized at Prentice, Morgan Coun-
ty, Oct. 9, 1867, and moved to Ashland Oct.
10, 1877. The members that were most en-
ergetic in originating the movement of organ-
izing a lodge were the charter members,
which are as follows, viz.: John L. Douglass,
John M. Berry, John M. Brockman, John W.
Daniel, Martin Berry, Sumner Daniel, Samuel
Hurt, Benjamin Berry, and John W. Crura.

The first election of officers in the order re-
sulted in the following choice: John M. Ber-
ry, N. G., John Crum, V. G., John Brockman,
Secy., Albert Short, Treas., John L. Douglass,
Warden, and John Daniel, Conductor. The
lodge meets every Tuesday evening, and has
a membership of twenty-three. The present
officers are: David Middour, N. G., T. A.
Duey, V. G., Myer Hexter, Secy., John L.
Douglass, Warden, Eli J. Salsenstein, Treas.,
Silas Hexter, Conductor.

The following members have been honored
with the office of Noble Grand, viz. : John
L. Douglass, Albert Short, John Daniel, Sum-
ner Daniel, Silas Hexter, Myer Hexter, B. C
Elmore, Eli J. Salsenstein, T. A. Duey, Wil-
liam Duke, and a few others, whose names
could not be obtained. The lodge, though
not large, is progressive, and a large member-
ship is but a matter of time.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

143

OHAPTEE XIY.^

ARENZVILLE PRECINCT-ITS EARLY HISTORY-THK THREE MILE TERRITORY-EARLY
RESIDENCE OF THE SETTLERS-EMIGRANTS FROM CERMANY-SCHOOL-HOUSES
AND CHURCHES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS-THE VILLAGE OF ARENZVILLE-
FIRST LOTS SURVEYED— BUSINESS OF TdE TOWN— CHURCHES AND
SCHOOL-HOUSES IN THE VILLAGES-SOME OF THE PROMI-
NENT MEN OF THE TIME— FRANCIS ARENZ, JOHN L.
CIRE, DR. GEORGKENGELBACH, AND OTHERS-
MISCELLANEOUS, ETC., ETC.

IN order to prepare a complete history of
the precinc-t of Arenzville, it will be nec-
essary to refer to some events which preceded
its orEfaiiization.

By an act of the legislature, passed in
183 r, it was declared that the County of Cass
should be one of the counties of this State,
that the county seat should be located at
Beardstown on the public square, that the cit-
izens or corporation should raise ten thousand
dollars to defray the expenses of erecting
public buildings, payable in one, two and
three years from the passage of the law afore-
said; that an election for county officers should
be held on the first Monday of August, 1837;
that Thomas Pogue and Dr. O. M. Long, no-
taries public in Beardstown, should open and
examine the poll books in presence of one or
more justices of the peace, etc.

This act contai led in it the germs from
which afterward bitter contentions arose
about the county seat.

Cass County having been formed from the
northern part of Morgan, this last mentioned
county had retained the south halves of the
townships north of the line, dividing town-
ships Sixteen and Seventeen. This caused
considerable dissatisfaction among the inhab-
itants of what was generally called "the

« By Judge J. A. Arenz.

three-mile territory," because the geograph-
ical situation of the country and the then ex-
isting settlements, were of such nature as to
incline the people to prefer to belong to
the County of Cass.

Arguments were futile, and it was useless
to expect to obtain relief by means of a new
election when it was known by everyone
that the county of Morgan could outvote
Cass ten to one upon any question upon
which both might be interested.

Finally John W. Pratt, the member in the
legislature from Cass, with the assistance of
Francis Arenz, who at that time was one of
the six members from Morgan and a resident
within this three-mile territory, succeeded in
obtaining the passage of an act of the Gen-
eral Assembly on Feb. 26, 1845, allowing the
people within said three miles to decide by
their votes, at an election to be held on the
first Monday of May, 1845, to which county
they would prefer to belong. This act further
provided that all justices and constables in
Morgan, who may reside in this territory,
should hold their offices in the county of
Cass, and for judges of election at the desig-
nated places of voting; the following persons
were appointed: David Epler, John A.
Arenz and Edward W. Turner, at Arenzville;
Jacob Yaples, George Petefish and Peter Con-
over, at the house of Henry Price; Jonathan

144

HISTORY OF ( ASS COUNTY.

C. Borgen, William Montgomery and Z. W.
Gatton, at Princeton; William Berry, Alfred
Dutch and John Miller, at the house of Will-
iam Berry.

This election resulted in nearly a unani-
mous vote for Cass County, only a few dis-
senting votes having been cast.

John A. Arenz and Charles Coffin, having
been elected justices of the peace in Morgan
County, continued to hold their offices in the
new precinct of Arenzville, with the following
boundary: commencing on the line between
Morgan and Cass Counties, at the southeast
corner of section 33, town 17.11, thence run-
ning west to the Illinois river, thence along
said river to the dividing line between sec-
tions 2 and 11, in township 17.13, thence run-
ning east on said section line to the northeast
corner of section 9, township 17.11, thence
south to the place of beginning.

The persons voting at Arenzville, for or
against attaching the three-mile territory to
Cass County, are as follows: Joseph Thomp-
son, Thomas Thompson, Jacob Lawrence,
John Altman, Frederick Lang, G. H. Rich-
ards, David Epler, William Taylor, E. Hardy,
H. B. Dun, Shad. Dun, Henry Meyer, Will-
iam Kimball, L. B. Kimbal, Thomas Cook,
Peter Light, Julius Philippi, Jacob Heinz, Jno.
Orchard, James Jackson, J. L. Cire, Omar
Bowyer, David Griffin, James C. Robertson,

D. Wagner, Joel Stewart, Christ. Lovekamp,
Frederick Brauer, Charles Sandman, W. H.
Houston, Peter Arenz, I. P. McLane, Francis
Mitchell, J. Creson, Goorge W. McLane,
Jep. Weagle, Jacob Epler, James New-
man, George McPherson, Richard Mathews,
N. Carter, Frederick Lovekamp, Henry
Howell, Alexander Ferguson, Henry Wede-
king, Jacob Drinkwater, Frederick Kilver,
Sq. Houston, H. Lippert, James V. Pierce,
Charles Cooper, Jeremiah Cawood, Joseph
Houston, Daniel Sumner, Peter Schaaf, Elder
Hardy, George A. Treadway, Charles Rob-

e rtson, Christ. Rahe, John Marshall, Christ
Grave, Victor Krueger, Henry Goedeking,
Philip Yaeck, Louis Boy, Isaac I^i-inkwater,
Henry Phelps, Silas Miller, Randal Miller,
Thomas Burnet, Samuel Harris, George Heg-
ener, Henry Lovekamp, Frederick Fricke,
Daniel D. Comstock, David Sharp, Isaac
Houston, Adam Schuman, Frederick Wede-
king, William Teilkemeier, Herman Love-
kamp, Frederick Hackman, J. L. Comstock,
Daniel Dun, Henry Carls, .John Carls, Henry
Krems, John Houston, William Hackman,
William Meyer, Herman Eherwein, J. F.
Skinner, George Manuel, Alexander Pitner,
Henry Detmer, Joseph M. Webster, George
Gunther, John Thompson, George Diehm,
Henry Buck, J. C. Carter, John James, Tenna
James, Nicholas Houston, Theo. Burchird,
Isaac Coy, Henry Menke, Jacob Menke,
Frederick Kummel, Charles Merz, John Wies,
John Doell, Christ. Crowell, John Masch, M.
P. Bowyer, V. G. Smith, J. A. Arenz, Joseph
Thompson, Joseph Kircher, G. Hackman.

There were also inhabitants of the Arenz-
ville Precinct, who voted at the house of
Henry Price, which was their nearest voting
place; among that number were: Oswell
Thompson, Christ. Crum, .Tames Crum, who
came from Indiana in 1830, and who is the
only living person among the first settlers in
that neighborhood, and nearly 76 years old.
There also voted Thomas Fozzart, John
Wood, Charles Jockisoh, William Reside,
Ernest Fletcher, David Wilson, John Dobson,
John Clark, William Nesbit, Anthony Boston,
William C. Miller, L. C. Pitner, Thomas
Nesbit, David Hamacker, J. H. Melone,
Samuel McClure and others.

The residences of the people at an early
day were log houses, having generally one or
two doors, one little window, or none at all,
a big fire-place, and the furniture therein was
generally a table or big chest, a bed and a
a few split-bottom chairs, which so completely

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

145

covered the floor, that only a few visitors at a
time could get inside the house. The door
had on such occasions to be left open, so that
one could at least see who his next neighbor
was. These cabins were so open and airj',
that in winter the snow would blow through
the cracks, and in summer swarms of mosqui-
toes would surround the sleeper, and if 'jhe
party could not aiford the luxury of a bar, he
must either have the hide of an elephant or
be entirely insensible to pain. To scare off
mosquitoes, some people made a big fire of
weeds before their cabins in the evening, or
in the fire-place, and under cover of the tre-
mendous smoke arising, under coughing and
sneezing, the evenings were passed, and
thus the nights. Very early rising was the
order of the day, for as soon as daylight
faintly approached, every one hurried to leave
his bed. There was no necessity of calling
any one to get up; the flies would relieve the
mosquitoes from duty and perform this work
effectually. In almost every house, or in the
shed part of the cabin, was found a spinning-
wheel and loom, to manufacture the yarn and
weave the clothing and bedding for family
use. The women were exclusively the manu-
facturers of these useful things, and on days
of gatherings, or on Sundays, when people
assembled for church purposes, before the
service commenced, it was spoken of, how
many yards of jeans, linsey-woolsey, socks,
etc., had been manufactured by Mrs. So and
So. The surplus of these articles not used
for family purposes, were brought to the stores
for sale, and jeans, socks, knit gloves and mit-
tens, came in such abundance, that the store-
keeper could not dispose of the same here,
and had to ship them to St. Louis, then the
New York of the western country.

Among the early emigrants from Germany,
were many who had been accustomed to good
society, and had enjoyed the advantages of
superior education. Some held diplomas from

colleges and universities. As most Germans,
they were lovers of music, and some could
play on one or more musical instruments.
The pioneer lives in a new country, where
hard labor, coupled with innumerable priva-
tions, without amusements of any kind, neces-
sarily drew that class together, who could not
bring themselves to the belief that the only
aim and object in life should henceforth be
devoted to hard work only, for which they at
best could only get board and clothing.
They were generally called the " Latin farm-
ers."

A club, or society circle was formed, and
social gatherings were had, sometimes at the
house of one member, sometimes at another.
Little concerts were gotten up, the instruments
being piano, violin, flute, and violoncello.
Dancing parties were occasionally arranged,
and large hunting parties. A musical band
was afterwards organized under the leader-
ship of a Mr. Holtzermann. This social circle,
continued for many years, until finally, when
the number had increased to such proportion
that no room was large enough to hold them,
and some of the original members had by
death, or removal to other parts of the country,
made their places vacant, this very pleasant
and useful club came to an end.

Whenever an opportunity offered to play
some practical joke upon a new comer, it was
eagerly seized. One of these, which caused
considerable merriment, is herewith narrated:
Several new emigrants having arrived, some
of the older settlers went with them into the
prairie, to select a piece of land for farming
purposes. A skunk, or pole-cat, was seen in
the grass, and it was given out that these
animals were highly prized for their beauty
and valuable fur, and it ought to be secured
by all means. To shoot it would d. image the
fur, as it was alleged. One of these new
ones was told to approach very cautiously
and cover it with his hat, which he adroitly

146

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

accomplished; but the animal at that moment
squirted its perfume at him, some of which
reached his face and bosom. The man ran
and jumped about, gesticulating -wildly with
arms and body, vomiting and hallowing, "Oh
Lord! Oh Lord!" He was asked what was
the matter, whether he was sick; to which he
replied, "Don't you smell that infernal stink,
or are your noses lined with cast iron?" Al-
though it was at first pretended that no bad
smell was noticeable, the hearty laughter of
some of the party brought him to realize that
a joke had been practiced upon him. Noth-
ing could induce him to take the skunk, which
had then been shot, home with him. He
picked up his hat, which was a new one,
carrying it at arms length from his body,
marching sulkily in the rear of the party, and
when Arenzville was reached, the hat was
gone too — he had lost it willfully.

The hunting parties also furnished a great
many amusing incidents. Game of all de-
scription, was found in abundance. The ponds
along Indian Creek were, in the spring and
fall at times so covered with ducks that no
water could be seen.

In the summer of 1844, when the river had
been the highest ever known, the deer had
to leave the low land and retreat with their
young to the sand-ridges, which were also sur-
rounded with water. Mr. "William Carter,
then living nearest to the Illinois river, caught
a great many fawns, which he penned up, and
when fully grown, shipped them to St. Louis.

The eastern portion of the Arenzville Pre-
cinct is upland and hilly, and from Arenzville
to the river, fine bottom land, interspersed
occasionally with sand-ridges. Indian Creek
is the main water course, into which the
Prairie Creek empties. The bottom lands
about Arenzville were covered with the finest
body of timber that could be found anj'where.
Oak, maple, sycamore, hackberry and walnut
trees, were of such gigantic growth, that many

furnished three saw logs, from three to four
feet in diameter.

After the population had increased, the
precinct was divided, and the western part
was named Indian Creek Precinct *

These precincts contain parts of Town 17.-
11, nearly all of Town 17.12, and Town 17.13.

In Town 17.11 are the following school-
houses:

District No. 1. Schoolhouse, also a church
near Monroe.

District No. 2. Schoolhouse, also a Ger-
man Methodist Church.

District No. 3. Two schoolhouses at Arenz-
ville, also three churches.

District No. 4. One schoolhouse, also a
Union church.

District No. 5. Schoolhouse, near Spring-
ger's.

District No. 6. Schoolhouse near Mathews.

District No. 7. Schoolhouse near Love-
kamp's.

Township 17.12.

District No. 1. Schoolhouse near Teilke-
meyer.

District No. 2. Schoolhouse near Wagner.

District No. 3. Schoolhouse near Thomas
Wilson.

District No. 4. Schoolhouse near A. Schu-
man ; also a German Methodist and Lutheran
church.

Township 17.13.

District No. 1. Schoolhouse.

District No. 5. Schoolhouse near H. Kors-
meyer; also German Lutheran church near
Korsmeyer, and a Lutheran church near G.
H. Jost.

The Toicn of Arenzville. — The first lots
were surveyed by J. A. Arenz in 1839, and

*The precinct of Indian Creek was set off from Areuzrille,
in 1857. but the history of the two precincts (Arenzrllle and
Indian Creek), are so closely interwoven, that the one can
hardly be written without the other, and all the history per-
taining to Indian creek, will be lound in this chapter.
—Ed.]

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

147

he also made a survey of the town, to be called
Arenzville, in 1852, which plot was filed and
recorded, August 3, 1852. In 1857, the ex-
ecutors of F. Arenz, made an addition to said
town, and finally Thomas V. Finney prepared
a plot of Arenzville and additions, which was
recorded October 20, 1876, in Vol. 31, page
304, and adopted by the town trustees as to
the limits of said town, on Mav 22, 1878, and
organizing the town under the State laws.
The first organization of the town of Arenz-
ville occurred July 9, 1853, when the first
election for town trustees was held. Of the
board elected, Francis Arenz was the Presi-
dent; Dr. Julius Philippi, Clerk; Herman En-
gelbach, Treasurer; John Goebel, Supervisor;
Charles Heinz, Town Constable.

A set of ordinances were adopted.

The present officers of the town of Arenz-
ville, are: William L. McCarty, President; L.
J. Wallich, Clerk; R. J. Cire, Treasurer.
Town Trustees: Joseph Amtzen, Christopher
French, Daniel F. Fischer, Frederick Bode,
and J. W. Swope; W. B. Smith, Super-
visor; Henry Schaefer and James Wood,
Justices of the Peace in the Arenzville Pre-
cinct; and Christopher French and Joseph
Richards, Constables.

The funded debt of the town amounts to
^4,000. Saloon license is fixed at $200, and
beer license at |40 per annum.

There are in the town of Arenzville eighty
dwellinjr houses, with about five hundred in-
habitants. The town is in a flourishing con-
dition, and the following m.entioned branches
of business are carried on there:

Estate of Herman Engelbaoh — General
store of merchandise, lumber yard and flour-
iiio- mill, with five runs of stones and a capac-
ity of eighty bbls. of flour per day; also an
elevator.

Hysinger & Graham — General store of mer-
chandise, clothing, boots and shoes. Sale,
last year, about $30,000.

J. L. Dyer — General store of merchandize.

Rigler & Shoopman — Grocery store.

L. Adams — Grocery store.

Cire & Cire — Books, stationery and no-
tions.

Swope & Yeck — Drugs and hardware.

William L. McCarty & William F. Arenz—
Drugs and hardware.

Mrs. C. H. Dahman — Millinery and ladies'
furnishing goods.

Mrs. S. E. Cutler — Millinery and ladies'
furnishing goods.

George Weeks — Saloon.

Edward Heinz — Saloon.

Michael Koerner — Brewery and saloon.

Charles Rewitz — Shoe and boot maker.

Henry Schaefer — Shoe and boot maker.

Joseph Richards — Barber.

Charles Rewitz, Jr. — Barber.

W. W. Dickerson — Barber.

Christopher French — Blacksmith and agri-
cultural implements.

John Rogge — Blacksmith and agricultural
implements.

William Dreesbach — Tannery.

B. F. Weeks— Tinner.

E. Heinz — Harness maker and saddler.

H. F. Meyer — Wagon maker.

Frederick Nordsick — ^Wagon maker.

Henry Joeckel — Wagon maker.

G. F. Gerbing — Butcher.

Daniel Fischer — Carpenter and builder.

C. W. Kuechler — Carpenter and builder,
and paper hanger and painter.

L. J. Wallich — Furniture and undertaker.

M. B. Shewsbery — Painter.

J. W. Norton — Painter.

H. E. Rahn — Painter.

Frederick Bode — Brick yard.

Joseph Baujan — Brick yard.

Adam Herbert — Mason and bricklayer.

Val. Herbert — Mason and bricklayer.

Joseph Herbert — Mason and bricklayer.

Adam Herbert — Summer garden.

148

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

William Kraft — Cooper shop.

J. M. Swope — Physician.

John Dorpat — Physician.

W. B. Rigler — Physician.

JohnRahn — County assessor and treasurer.

E. Heinz — Boarding house.

F. Eastman — Dealer in grain.
Hagener Bros. — Dealer in grain.
A. J. Saylor — Shipper of stock.
Theo. Launer — Shipper of stock.
L. J. Wallioh— Notary Public.
C. H. Condit— Notary Public. '

There is also a branch of the Peoples' Bank
at Arenzville: C. H. Condit, Cashier, and A.
J. Saylor, Vice President.

The public school at Arenzville is visited
by about one hundred scholars: T. W. Dyer,
Principal, with one assistant. There is also
a private school. The first school-house was
built in 1839, and the present public school-
house was erected in 18G6. The old school-
house was also used for church purposes for
all denominations.

Churches. — In Arenzville are now three
churches, belonging to the following denomi-
nations: The Cumberland Presbyterians, the
Lutherans, and Catholics. The Presbyterians
have at present no regular minister. The
pastor of the German Lutheran is J. Dron-e-
miller, and the Catholics are supplied from
Beardstown.

After the new church had been built, in
1860, by the citizens of Arenzville, there was
a deficiency of funds to pay the contractor,
George Gunther, and the building was used
by all denominations, until finally in 1870, the
Cumberland Presbyterians became the owners
by paying the debt.

The first building used for religious services
was erected in 1839. It was open to all de-
nominations on Sundays, but at all other
times was devoted to school purposes. In the
year 18-14, a German Lutheran church was
iu the Howell neighborhood, an J soon after-

ward a German Methodist church, and in 1870
a very handsome new Lutheran church was
erected, and the old one used for a school
house. R. G. Linker is the pastor of the
Lutheran church, and Mr. Barth of the Meth-
odist church. About the year 1875, a Meth-
odist church was built in the neighborhood of
L. D. Graham's; also, five or six years ago,
two German Lutheran churches were erected
in the neighborhood of the farm of G. H. Jost,
of which Revs. Bosin and Merschroth are the
pastors.

A Union church was lately built near the
farm of J. Molone.

School Houses. — Among the first school
houses outside if Arenzville was one near
Pitner's farm, one on the land of George
Engelbach, and one in the Skinner neighbor-
hood. There were also schools established for
teaching in the winter in several neighbor-
hoods. Some person who was able to read or
write was engaged as teacher, and when the
season for farm work commenced again, these
teachers hired themselves to farmers.

An Odd Fellows' I^odge was organized in
1874, and the Order of the United AYorking-
men in 1876. Both were organized by L. J.
Wallich, who moved to Arenzville in 1869.
He is a native of Pennsylvania, and is 54 years
old; was also the Superintendent of the Union
Sabbath School from 1869 to the present
time, and for many years a Justice of the Peace
of the precinct, which office he filled worthily
and with ability.

Arenzville is a station on the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy Railroad, 11 miles south-
west of Beardstown.

At the northern edge of the town of
Arenzville was a nice locust grove, wherein
generall}' the political meetings were held.
Men, who afterwards became distinguished
in the State and national councils, have made
speeches in this grove. Among the names
are mentioned: Stephen A. Douglas, Jas. A.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

14S

McDougal, John J. Hardin, Newton Cloud,
John Henry, Richard Yates, Murray McCon-
nell, Thos. M. Kilpatrick.

Morgan County then had two Senators and
four members in the House. In 1836 it was
customary that the candidates for office of
both political parties, at an appointed day and
place came together to address the people,
speaking alternately, the bank and tariff
questions furnishing the main subjects, the
speaker's stand being a large box or a table.

At such a meeting, in 1836, Mr. McDougal,
who was somewhat of a dandy, always neatly
dressed, in his speech anathematized theWhig
party, calling the Whigs bankworshipers,
monopolists, aristocrats, silk stocking gentry,
etc. Mr. Hardin, who was slovenly in dress,
and cared nothing whether his shoes had any
strings to them or not, and who had taken his
seat on a corner of the speaker's table, seized
one leg of Mr. McDougal, held it up, point-
ing out to the crowd the fine prunella shoes
and silk stockings which he wore, saying that
the silk stocking gentry strutted upon Demo-
cratic legs, which raised a tremendous laugh-
ter.

The first funeral at Arenzville was that of
John Fuschka. He was an old bachelor
without any living relatives, had drifted
about in the world from place to place, never
receiving kind words or treatment, as he told
it, until he came to Arenzville, and found em-
ployment with Francis Arenz. By industry
and frugal habits he had saved his wages and
acquired possession of eighty acres of good
land near the town. His last will and testa-
ment was writen by J. A. Arenz, to whom he
offered to bequeath one half of his land, and
the other half to his brother Francis. It was
pointed out to him, that neither of them need-
ed any such gift, and that he would perform a
generous act of benevolence, and perpetuate
his memory, by bequeathing his farm to the
school at Arenzville, to which he cheerfully

assented. Mr. Fuschka was not captivating
in appearance, small in size, but he possessed
a large soul, full of honesty and trustwonhi-
ness. The citizens of Arenzville should honor
his grave and remember his generosity. The
farm is now cultivated by Casper Becker, and
the annual rent goes to the school fund.

John L. Cire came with Henry Kircher,
Frederick Diekel, Charles Cou per. Dr. Engel-
bach, H. Lippert, and others, in the latter part of
1831, having finished his education in the
seminary at Fulda. He built the first frame
house in Arenzville, where he kept a little
store, increasing his business from time to
time, as circumstances would permit. He
was Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, Town
and School officer, for many years. At the
time of his death, in 1881, he held the office
of County Assessor and Treasurer, to which
he had been elected for the second time. He
left seven children.

Dr. George Engelbach came here in 1834,
and bought the farm of Peter Taylor, where
he resided till his death, in 184:1. By pro-
fession he was a doctor of medicine, but gave
up his practice and devoted his energies to
farming. Having lost his wife by death, he
brought with him to this country his only
child, a boy about four 3'ears of age, named
Herman, and his aunt Link. Although un-
used to farming, by his iron will and industry
he became in time a pretty good farmer.

In 1840, he was elected to the office of
County Commissioner of Morgan County,
which place he filled with honor to himself,
and the approval of the people. He was the
only person of the so called "Latin farmers"
who held out, all the others having arrived
at the knowledge that farming was not profit-
able or pleasant, in the long run, and had
chosen other employments.

At the death of Dr. Engelbach, his son was
left under the care of Henry Kircher, as his
guardian, and exceedingly well and faithlul

150

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

was this trust performed. Young Engelbach
received a very good education, and when he
had become of age, he made a trip to Europe,
visiting his relatives there. Upon his return,
in 1853, he associated himself witli Peter
Arenz, and they bought the mill, store, and a
tract of land of Francis Arenz, and did a
very successful business until 1859, when
that firm was dissolved, and H. Engelbach
carried on the business thereafter in his ovvn
name, until his death, on December 16, 1880,
caused by being caught in the machinery
of his elevator.

He was a very honorable man, of exceedmg-
ly industrious habits, never idle forone moment
from morning till night. He left a widow with
s xr.hildren, and a considerable estate.

In the board of town trustees he has filled
for several years the offices of President or
Clerk.

Francis Arenz was born in Blankenborg,
Province of the Rhein, Prussia, Oct. 31, 1800.
While yet very young he engaged in mer-
cantile business, and in 183,7 emigrated to
the United States, making his home for two
ye;»rs in the State of Kentucky, following the
business of merchandising. In the year
1839, he went to Galena, Illinois, and was
for a short time engaged in the lead trade,
and then came to Beardstown, where he again
followed the business of merchandizing and
dealing in real estate. He very soon foresaw
that Beardstown, on account of its favorable
situation and surroundings, was destined to
have a prosperous future, and used every
means in his power to draw attention to this
place and invite emigration. He expected tha
best mode to accomplish this purpose to be the
establishment of a newspaper, and he accord-
ingly, in 1834, commenced the publication of
The Beardstown Chronicle mid Illinois
Sounty Land Advertiser^ of which he became
the editor and proprietor, with John B. Fulks,
as publishor. Tliis paper was then th' o:i'y

newspaper west of Jacksonville and Spring-
field. It could not be expected that at this
early day such an undertaking would prove
profitable, and having been published for
nearly two years at considerable loss, its pub-
lication was abandoned, after having accom-
pliahed, however, its object. Beardstown, a
very good landing point on the Illinois River,
had become the port of entry for all the goods
designed for Springfield, Petersburg, Rush-
ville, McComb, and other places, and from
here were also shipped the produce and ])ork
of the surrounding towns and country.
Heavy loaded teams with merchandise and
produce, could daily be seen on the roads
leading to and from Beardstown, and there
was no point in the West where more hogs
were slaughtered than here.

During the Black Hawk war, Beardstown
was the general rendezvous for the State
troops, and Mr. Arenz furnished supplies for
the army at the request of Gov. Reynolds,
and also a portion of the arms, which had been
purchased by Arenz, and originally destined
for the South America service.

New roads were surveyed and opened, and
the plan was conceived by Mr. Arenz, that
the construction of a canal from Beardstown
to the Sangamon River, to a place called
Miller's Ferry, and then by slackwater naviga-
tion to continue to the neighborhood of
Springfield, whereby also the bottom lands of
the Sangamon valley would become drained
and useful for agricultural purposes, would be
of great benefit to Beardstown.

An act of the Legislature was obtained in
1836, for the incorporation of the Beardstown
and Sangamon Canal Company, of which
company Mr. Arenz was elected President,
and Dr. O. M. Long, Secretary and Treasurer;
William Pollock, as Engineer, and John A.
Arenz, as Assistant Engineer, commenced the
survey on September 1, 1836, and in December
rollinving a very favorable report was Uiade ;

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

151

but for want of sufficient means and on account
of the hard times soon following, this project
failed.

The citizens of Beardstown and the north-
ern portion of Morgan County had become
aware that their interest would be better
promoted by a separation from Morgan, be-
cause every public improvement, and partic-
ularly the contemplated railroad, ruiinino-
from Springfield, by Jacksonville to Quincy,
which in their opinion, ought to have been
located by the way of Beardstown, being the
nearest and best route between Springfield
and Quincy.

Morgan had at that time six and Sangamon
nine members in the Legislature, and the two
counties combined, could carry most any
measure, and Jacksonville and not Bear Is-
town, would be the recipient of its benefits,
for all the members from Morgan were either
citizens of Jacksonville or vicinity. For
these and other reasons, a division of the
county was agitated, and continued until 1837,
when the county of Cass was formed. In all
these matters Mr. Arenz was the leader and
main worker. In the year 1835, he gave up
his mercantile business in Beardstown, and
took up his residence on his farm, about six
miles southeast of Beardstown, which he
named " Recluze." Here he had a house
built, which had a good sized room in the
center, surrounded by shed rooms and a
porch. It was covered by shingle roof, weath-
er-boarded and painted, and was built on
the brow of a high hill, near the edge of
the timber, commanding a very fine view.
It was certainly the hottest place in the
summer and the coldest in winter, and the
house appeared from a distance very much
like a good sized tent. Here he resided un-
til 1839, when be made his permanent home
at Arenzvilie.

In 1833 he had purchased of a Mr. Smart,
who had a little mill on Indian Creek, that

mill and a large tract of land in Section 3!,
Township 17, North of Range 11 West,
where now Arenzvilie is situated.

Indian Creek forms here a considerable
bend, and to increase the volume of water, a
large ditch was cut between said bend, and
at the upper end a dam was constructed. A
new saw mill was built on said ditch, Mr. John
Savage, afterward Sheriif of Cass County, be-
ing the budder. It was a difficult matter to
keep up the dam, which was constructed of
timber and earth, no stone being at hand.
The soil being rich and alluvial, the minks,
musk-rats and crawfish would in some way
undermine or work around the edges of the
dam, so that at times of high water it would
be damaged or carried away entirely, which
required the time of low water for making
repairs.

When the timber yielding saw-logs had
been consumed, the saw-mill was turned into
a flouring mill and rebuilt ; but the dam stdl
proved a failure, until finally steam power
was applied. These drawbacks would have
discouraged most men, but not him, although
he had several times either sold or leased the
property, but it always came back to his
hands, like counterfeit money.

Mr. Arenz was pretty successful in his
many enterprises, but in the milling business
he proved to be a complete failure, and by it
sunk a great deal of money.

In 1838 he engaged also in the mercantile
business, and took in partnership his brother,
J. A. Arenz, and the name of the firm was F.
Arenz & Co. This partnership continued for
about six years, when his brother withdrew
from the firm. Finally in 1853 he sold thj
mill and store with a tract of land, to Herman
Eiigelbaoh and Peter Arenz, in whose hands
the concern proved very profitable.

It seemed to be a great relief to Mr. Aronz,
when he got rid of his business and obtained
more leisure time for other matters. Tie was

]-1

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

very often absent from home, attending meet-
ings of all sorts, having an object for the im-
provement of the country. He was very fond
of politics and a member of the Wliig paity.
He liked company, was of a very generous
and social disposition, and his house was
scarcely ever without visitors. There was no
session of the legislature, when he failed to
go to the capital of the State, to be on hand
whenever anything could be accomplished for
the benefit of Cass County. He was ac-
quainted with the leading men of the State,
and many of them were his warm friends.

In 1853 he was the bearer of dispatches
from the Secretary of the United States, to
the embassadors at Berlin and Vienna. He
was one of the organizers of the State Agri-
cultural Society at Springfield, on .lanuary 5,
1853, and was elected one of its vice-presid-
ents, which position he continued to hold to
time of his death.

He also organized, on January 5, 1855, the
Cass County Agricultural Society, and was
elected president thereof.

Men of the stamp and character of Francis
Arenz, gifted with power to look ahead, and
shaping matters for paving the way to accom-
plish praiseworthy results, have to encounter
and overcome a great many obstacles; such
men necessarily have and gain many friends,
but they will also have envious, bitter enemies.
This was also the case with him.

Mr. Arenz died April 2, 1856.

The executive committee of the State
Agricultural Society, then in session at Spring-
field, adopted April 3, 1850, the following
resolutions :

Hesol'ved, That in the death of Francis Arenz,
late member of this board, it lost a co-worker,
kind, courteous and able, and always in his
place; the society, one of its most talented,
energetic and ardent friends; the State and

community at large, one of its most honor-
able, respected, and revered citizens; and
that while we bow in humble humility and
awe before Almighty God, we tender our
most sincere and heartfelt sympathies to the
family and friends of the deceased, hoping
that their loss and our loss is his gain.

Jiesolved, That a copy of these proceedings
be sent to the family and friends of the de-
ceased, to the Prairie Farmer, and to the
papers in Beardstown, Jacksonville and
Springfield, with the request that the same be
inserted in the papers indicated.

There are now eight children of Mr. Arenz
living, four boys and four daughters, all of
whom are married.

Among the men who contributed their
share to the development of the town of
Arenzville, must be mentioned the firm of
Kircher & Goedeking.

Mr. .Jos. Kircher came in 1834. He had
received a collegiate education, and settled on
a farm near Arenzville. When some years
afterwards Mr. Henry Goedeking arrived, he
took up his residence on the same farm. Mr.
Goedeking was a native of Berlin, Prussia,
where his father was an oflBcer of the royal
mint.

After farming a few years, they arrived at
the conclusion that such employment was
neither suitable nor profitable for them, and
they moved to Arenzville and engaged in
mercantile business. About five or six years
afterward they took up their permanent res-
idence at Belleville, Ills., where they estab-
lished a hardware business. Mr. Goedeking
became Mayor of Belleville, and died some
years ago, never having been married. Mr.
Kircher is still living and is the father of five
children, honored and loved by all who are
acquainted with him.

^'i^v^w

^-^un^

Hyiyf^yy^-^

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

153

CHAPTER XY.

PRINCETON PRECINCT— GENERAL DESCRIPTION— BOUNDARIES, TOPOGRAPHY AND SUR-
FACE FEATURES— THE EARLY SETTLEMENT— PIONEER HARDSHIPS— FIRST MILL
AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS— WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL-HOUSE— PRESENT
SCHOOLS— CHURCHES— OLD PRINCETON, AND ITS BUSINESS ENTER-
PRISE-LITTLE INDIAN VILLAGE.

A3 we travel along the highways that trav-
erse this beautiful section of Cass
County, it is difficult to realize that scarcely
half a century ago these luxuriant plains were
peopled by a few wandering savages and
formed part of a vast, unbroken wild, which
gave but little promise of the high state of
civilization it has since attained. Instead of
the primitive log cabin and diminutive board
shanty, we see dotting the land in all direc-
tions comfortable and eh^gant mansions of
the latest styles of architecture, graceful, suli-
stantial and convenient. We see also the
bosom of the country decked with churches
of all religious denominations, and well-built
school-houses at close intervals. The fields
are laden with the choicest cereals, pastures
are all alive with numerous herds of the finest
breeds of cattle, and other stock of improved
quality, while everything bespeaks the thrift
and prosperity with which the farmer in this
fertile division of the county is blessed.

Princeton Precinct lies on the Southern
border of the county, and is one of the smallest
divisions, containing scarce fifteen sections or
square miles; and a story told of the State of
Rhode Island, may be applied to Princeton;
that when the people wish to communicate
with each other, they do not write letters or
send messages, but go out in the yard and call
to them. Although small in extent, it is in
many respects, one of the best precincts in
the county. Virginia and Philadelphia Pre-
cinct bound it on the North, Philadelphia lies

on the East, Morgan County is its Southern
boundary, and Virginia Precinct, a narrow
strip of which extends to the south line of the
county, bounds it on the West. It lies in
township seventeen, and in ranges nine and
ten. Little Indian Creek is its only water
course of any note, and flows southwest,
through a corner of the precinct. The land
lies well, and is all susceptible of cultivation,
an 1 when first seen by white people, contained
much valuable timber, as well as prairie land.
The Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad,
now a divison of tlie Wabash system, traverses
it from north to south almost through the
center, with one station. Little Indian, in tiie
precinct, from which much stock and grain
are annually shipped.

Among the earliest settlements in Cass
County, made by white people, was that, in
what now forms Princeton Precinct. From
old Kentucky, that famous land of blue grass,
fine stock, pretty women and good whisky,
came the pioneers of this portion of the coun-
ty. They were, so far as we could learn,
Jesse Allard, Nathan Compton, James Tilford,
James Stevenson, Jacob Lorance, Samuel
Montgomery, Thomas Gatton, William Con-
over, Alexander Beard, Isaac Mitchell, John
Epler, and others. These families, with one
or two exceptions, were, as we said, from Ken-
tucky, and came hither in the usual pioneer
style, on horseback, in wagons drawn by
oxen, and even on foot. Some had left homes
of affluence behind them, others were poor.

ir,(j

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

and all came for the purpose of bettering
their condition, and laying up something for
that proverbial rainy day. Mr. Allard came
about the year 1820, and settled on the place
now owned by Philip Buracher, of Virginia;
Nathan Compton arrived previous to 1828,
and was one of the pioneer school teachers.
He married a daughter of one of the Bergens,
boiio-ht a farm, but sold out afterward, and
moved to Schuyler County. Tilford located,
in 1827, on the place now owned by William
Black, in Walnut Grove timber, township
seventeen, range nine. He sold out in 1840,
and moved away. James Stevenson, with
five grown sons, Wesley, James, William,
Robert and Augustus, came in 1829, and
bought land of Thomas Gatton, who had pre-
ceded him several years, and had taken up
land in section twenty-six, township seven-
teen. He was from Maryland, but had resid-
ed in Kentucky several years before coming
to Illinois. He opened one of the first stores
within tlie present limits of Cass County, and
was long a jirominent business man. He has
a son, Z. W. Gatton, residing in Virginia,
who for years has been identified with the
town.

Mr. Stevenson was a native of Virginia,
but like Mr. Gatton, had emigrated to Ken-
tucky in the pioneer period of the dark and
blood}' ground, M'here he was forced to con-
tend with the Indians for his very life. He
bought land, as already stated, from Thomas
Gatton, upon which he settled and upon
which he died in 1851, at the age of T4 years.
His son, William Stevenson, now lives on the
place and is noticed in another chapter, as
one of tlie most extensive breeders of short
horn cattle in this section of the State. Lor-
ance was originally from North Carolina, but
like hundreds of other early settlers in South-
ern Illinois, hoi had stopped for a time in
Kentucky. He located on North Prairie, on
section 25, township 17 and range 10, on the

place now owned by Wra. Hemerron, who
also lives on it. Mr. Lorance has one son still
living in this region. Montgomery was from
Adair County, Ky., and came here in 1829,
locating on section 30, township 17, on the
place where his son now lives. John Epler
came here from Clark Count}', Ind., abcjut
the year 1831-32. In another department
will be found an extensive sketch of the Ep-
ler family, and anything said here would bo
but a repetition. Mr. Conover settled at
W^alnut Grove in 1832, on the place now owned
and occupied by George Virgin. Beard set-
tled here in 1826, on the farm now owned by
his son, George Beard, of Virginia. Isaac
Mitchell was from Logan County, Ky., and
settled on the place in 1827, where Robert
Taylor nosv lives.

Other pioneer settlers in township 17 and
range 10, and many of whom were in what is
now Princeton Precinct, were Peter Conover,
Jacob Yaples, John Dorsey, a man named
Chambers, George Bristow, a widow Cantrel,
a widow Richardson, and Thomas Hanby.
These were all among the earliest settlers in
this region, and some of them will be further
mentioned in the history of Philadelphia Pre-
cinct. A few years later the " Indian Creek
Settlement," as it was called, and a part of
which still remains in Morgan County, and in
the edges of Virginia and Philadelphia Pre-
cincts, was further augmented by the airival
of the following pioneers: .Jacob Epler, John
Hiler, Charles Beggs, a man named Nancesy,
Rev. John Biddlecome, William Kinner, a
widow named Pratt, with four stalwart sons,
and several more, whose names are forgotten.
The first of these pioneers settled in the tim-
ber, avoiding the prairie as they would a
desert. It was not until all the timber-land
had been taken up that emigrants began to
venture out on the prairies. Single families
tried it at first, then they came in groups of
three or four, locating at different places,

HISTORY OF CASS COU>fTY.

157

until soon the prairie was thickly dotted with
pioneer dwellings. Soon school houses were
built, churches were organized, mills were
erected, and the foundation laid for a pros-
perous community, where shortly before had
been a desert-prairie and wilderness. This
remarkable development has been broagiit
about within a comparatively short time, for
looking back through the vista of fifty odd
years, these broad plains were the grazing
places of numerous herds of wild denizens
of the forest and prairie, and the camping-
ground of savages. Now the rich soil is
broken everywhere, woods have fallen, pleas-
ant drives, well-tilled fields, beautiful orchards
and delightful homes, checker the view, speak-
ing volumes for the enterprise of the pioneers
of this portion of the county.

The people in the early days lived in the
most frugal manner — corn bread and wild
meat being the principal diet during the
first years. The clothing was cheap, and
that for both sexes was made at home by the
pioneer mothers, who were no more afraid of
work than their husbands. In the words of
Eugene Hall —

" They worked with the spindle, they toiled at the
loom,
Nor lazily brought up Iheir babies by hand;"

and all members of the household, male and
female, men, women and children, were
usually employed in some part of the manu-
facture of this family clothing. It is still a
mystery how the people lived and prospered
in those early days. The manner of cultivat-
ing the crops was so simple, the tools so dif-
ferent and rude, and the distance to market
so great, and tire prices so incredibly low,
that we wonder how any one, even with the
strictest economy, could prosper at all. The
farmers of to-day, who have reduced agricul-
ture to a science, and cultivate their lands al-
most entirely by machinery, know little of

what that same work required here fifty or
sixty years ago. The farmer now would
expect to starve if he had to sell his corn
at from six and a-half to twelve and
a-half cents per bushel, and wheat for twenty-
five cents, and haul it to St. Louis or Chicago,
even at those figures. But times have
changed, and the world, or the people who
inhabit it, have grown both older and wiser.

The emigrant, when he locates in a new
country, generally thinks of a mill, as the first
improvement. He can do without fine clothes
and many other luxuries, but he can not get
along very well without bread. The first mill
of which we have any reliable account, was
built by John Epler, and was of the most
unique and primitive style. This mill was
run by horse power, but geared in a peculiar
manner. Mr. Epler had cut off smoothly, a
stump, into which he bored a hole. Upon
this he fastened a shaft, which had a wheel at
the other end, running upon a circular plat-
form, and from this singular arrangement a
shaft extended, which operated the mill. It
was a great benefit to the community, and
people came from the Sangamon country,
camping all night, in order to secure the first
turn in the morning. With a good team the.
buhrs would grind from one to two bushels
of corn per hour. This was the way the
pioneers had of getting their bread. " In the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," was a
text they could all appreciate. But other
mills were built in the neighborhood as the
increasing population demanded, and this
trouble of procuring meal was forever set at
rest.

The first school house in the precinct, and,
in fact, in all that region of country, was a log
building, about 18x20 feet, of the usual pioneer
type, and was built in the fall of 1833. In
this old log school house, where the floor

"Was naked earth, with weight-pole roof,
That seldom proved quite water-proof;

158

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

With slabs for s"ats. with rough split-pegs,
In two-inch auger-holes, for legs,"

the youth of the neighborhood learned their
A B C's. It was constructed mostly of bass
wood, and finally was treated to a plank floor,
a shingle roof, and was heated by a stove, the
first stove ever in this part of the county. It
wa» known far and wide as Walnut Grove
schoolhouse, in consequence of standing near
a body of walnut timber, on section thirty-one,
township seventeen, and range ten. Joel C.
Robinson was one of the first teachers in it;
he taught there in 1835-36, and afterward went
to Kentucky, near Louisville, where he was
shot in a difficulty with a pupil. Among those
who attended at this old school house, were
the children of Samuel Montgomery, John
Epler, Isaac Mitchell, Jacob Lorance, James
Stevenson, Nathan Compton, Charles Beggs,
and others. The house stood and was occu-
pied for school purposes until June, 1844,
when it was blown down in a wind storm.
Previous to this, however, other school houses
had been erected in the precinct, and the loss
of this pioneer relic was not, after all, a serious
backset to the cause of education.

School houses now dot the country through-
out the precinct, and the facilities for receiving
a good common school education are excel-
lent. For the usual term each year, good
schools are taught by competent teachers,
and every means employed to furnish knowl-
edge to the masses.

The first church building erected in the
precinct of Princeton, was at the village of
Old Princeton, in 1835, and was Missionary
Baptists. Afterward a Christian Church was
built about 1838, but both of these have past
away, and there are now but two churches in
the precinct, viz.: Zion Presbyterian, and
the Swedish Church at Little Indian.

Zion Presbyterian Church first held its ser-
vices in Zion brick school Hoiise, arid in Jacob
Lorance's barn, which was Sufficiently large

for chui'ch service, having a partition with
folding doors in it. The church building
now standing, is owned jointly by the Metho-
dists and Presbyterians, who use it in com-
mon. The Presbyterian Church Societv was
organized April 35, 1830, by Rev. J. M. Ellis,
then living at Jacksonville. The first elders
were: Jacob Lorance, Benjamin Workman,
and Samuel Montgomery. Rev. W. J. Eraser
was the first regular pastor. Among the first
regular members were: Jacob and Isabella
Lorance, Delilah Richards, Benjamin and
Margaref Workman, Mary Tilford, Samuel
and Mary Montgomery, James and Harriet
Stevenson, Daniel and Susan Stone, Morgan
and Sarah Green. The Methodist Society
was not organized until some years later.

Old Princeton. — The village of Princeton
was laid out by Jonathan Berger, February
19, 1833, and was the second town laid out
in what is now Cass County. It was located
on the east half of the southeast quarter of
section oG, township ] 7, range 10, and was,
at the time it was laid out, in Morgan County.
Bergen, the proprietor of the towji, was one
of the early settlers of this section, and a
stirring, energetic man.

The first goods sold at Princeton, was by
Stephen Mallory, or the firm of Mallorv &
Lewis, who opened a store about 1826, sev-
eral years before the town was laid out. Mal-
lory sold out and returned to Kentucky,
whence he came, and Lewis carried on tlie
business until 1833-34, and then sold out to
Talraage, who shortly after sold to Parrot &
Alcott. After continuing the business about
three years, Alcott bought out Parrot and
took Jacob Bergen in as a partner, about the
year 1836. Alcott retired about 1840, and
Mr. Bergen continued the business up to
1869. Wra. Kinner opened a stock of goods
at Princeton about 1838-39, and Wm. Brown
started a store there also about 1840 and took
Kilmer's stand. Thus Princeton became

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

159

quite a thriving little town, and did a large
business. Thomas Cowan and Henry Murray-
were early blacksmiths of the place. Wm.
Brown was the first Justice of the Peace in
this whole section of country, and was com-
missioned as such in 1840. The town in-
creased until at one time it had some two
hundred inhabitants.

A wool carding machine was started by
John Camp, about 1836, and was operated for
several years. It had a tread-wheel, and the
power was furnished by oxen, placed upon
this large wheel. About the year 1841 it
was removed to Virginia, where it did good
service for a number of years. Clifford Wear,
a wagon-maker, plied his trade for a long
while ; a shoe-shop was also carried on by a
man whose name is now forgotten. Zirkle
Robinson carried on tailoring, and all other
branches of business common in a country
town were established. But the time came
when it began to decline, and as steadily as
it had grown, it now faded away. The town
of Virginia was rising into a place of note ; a
railroad was built which left Princeton out

in the cold, and it was finally vacated April
31, 1875. Princeton is blotted from the map,
and may now rank with the lost cities of ti;e
plain ; — Sic transit gloria, etc.

Little Indian Village, or Station, is located
on the Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville iUilroad,
about four miles south of Virginia. It stands
on the northwest quarter of section 35, town-
ship 17, range 10, and is but little else than
a shipping station on the railroad. It has
never been laid out as a village, and, indeed,
makes no pretensions to that dignity. Jacob
Epler was the first white man to locate near
the place, and afterward James Stevenson
settled there. A burying-ground was laid
out very early, where the water-tank of the
railroad now stands. Human bones were
exhumed, when the road was being built, and
were buried at Zion Church, about a mile
distant.

Little Indian merely comprises a railroad
station, a shipping point, one store and a
Swedish church. Mr. Stevenion is the agent
of the railroad here, and has been ever
since its completion and opening to business.

160

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

RICHMOND PRECINCT— PHYSICAL FEATURES-INDIANS— PIONEER
TLERS— SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND STORES.

TIMES— EARLY SET-

' It was all a wilderness, a wild waste."

SUCH are the expressions that everywhere
meet the ears of the inquirer seeking in-
formation of the early settlement. To the
generation of to-day the phrase has become
trite and nearly meaningless, but the thought-
ful observer can not fail to notice that it is far
otherwise to the man who knew the country
when it was houseless, roadless and pathless—
" Wiiere nothing dwelt but beasts of prey,
Or men as fierce and wild as they."

The present generation knows nothing of
trackless forests, unbridged streams, pangs of
hunger, days of struggle and niglits of fear.
We can not get any degree of experience of
pioneer life in our day; no adequate idea can
possibly be presented; it is lost only as we see
some of the efifects of those early trials and
hardships in the wrinkled brows, scarred hands,
and tottering limbs of a few of the old pio-
neers, who leaning upon their staffs in the
helpless infirmities of age, are to be spared
but a few short summers at most. We are
apt to forget in the whirl and hum of the
nineteenth century, with one invention hurry-
ing another out of date, that there ever was
any necessity for pioneers. The man who
opens up a new country to-day, can not be
called a pioneer in the true sense of the word.
In seeking a home in the West, the traveler
sits in a palace coach instead of an ox cart,
and is hurried over streams and rivers, through
State after State, with the swiftness of an
eagle's flight; his pockets are crammed with

*By J. L. Nichols.

maps and information of the great railroad
corporations, which offer him land on a long
time and easy payments. Deciding to buy
land, his household goods and a house framed
and ready to be put up, are shipped almost to
his door (!) at reduced rates, while improved
implements and all the advantages of a
pioneer experience of a hundred years,
unite to make his work effective. In ten
years he is in the center of civilization, com-
bining more privileges than the proudest and
oldest community of New England knew,
when the pioneers of this land were young.
What difficulties they encountered, and with
untiring fortitude overcame the hardships that
so numerously were heaped upon them, it is
the purpose of these pages to relate. When
they sought the untried country of the West,
they launched out like a mariner, on an un-
known sea; following a wagon track till that
ceased, they passed the frontier and entered
an unmapped wilderness, guided only by
compass and deed; arriving at their destina-
tion without protection or shelter, they built
a house of such material as the scrubby tim-
ber permitted, unassisted by mill or machin-
ery. Their log house, with mud to make it
tight, the rude doors, and for a time, win-
dowless, and chimneys made of a tottering
mass of mud and sticks, the remains of which
here and there are seen, was their home.
The fitful flame of the hickory was their light
and fire, the babbling brook furnished them
water till the spade penetrated the unsounded
depths, securing a purer source of God's
sparkling liquid. But all this is of the past.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

161

About us are gathered the fruits of their toil
in a civilization to which the world elsewhere
is a stranger, and, looking back along the
way over which the pioneers have strolled and
toiled, we can say with a full and overflowing
heart of gratitude, " Well done, thou good
and faithful servants."

The land-marks of pioneer times are fast
passing away with those that placed them,
and all is change.

Richmond Precinct is bounded on the north
by Sangamon river, which in pre-histoiic
times formed a broad surface of bottom land on
each side of its present course, and there is but
little doubt that the original channel once ex-
tended from bluff to bluff, and as the waters
gradually settled and were withdrawn, the
present bottom lands were gradually formed.

In 1882, the water, owing to the heavy
rains of the winter and spring, covered the
entire bottoms, leaving scarcely a perceptible
spot above the vast ocean of water; in conse-
quence of which a large portion of the bottom
land the past year has been without cultiva-
tion. These overflows are not uncommon,
however, for they occur nearly every year, but
not to such a height, bringing so much ruin
and destruction to the settlers, as the past
year. The water during the year was higher
than it was ever known by any of the settlers,
but Shick Shack, a chief of the Pottawatomie
tribe, pointed out a high water mark to Philip
Hash, one of the first settlers, that reached
nearly one third of the way up Shick Schack
Knob, one of the highest hills of Richmond
Precinct; whether he saw this himself or
whether it was simply a matter of tradition,
can never be ascertained; but this we know,
should such a flood as that occur at the present
day, every building on the bottoms, and Chand-
lerville with all her trees, bridges and im-
provements, would be swept down the Illi-
••ois River, and not a trace of human existence
left in the course of the torrent.

The surface of the precinct we find is con-
siderably broken after entering what is called ■*
the upland; there seems to be nothing but a
succession of hills, as though some mighty
force had collected those majestic heaps and
then promiscuously threw them together, some
falling upon each other, and others sparingly
strewn over the remaining surface. These
hills may be called the Alps of Illinois, with
a scenery as beautiful as any elevated upland
in the State. Amid these apparent mountains
where a half century ago the foot of a white
man had scarcely trod, there are now beau-
tiful homes, cultivated fields and grazing
herds.

The farmer, long toiling in subduing his
fields, impt-oving his buildings, would not ex-
change his hilly home for the sunniest and
fairest of Illinois prairie; the hills are no
longer obstacles to the owners and tillers, but
a source of pleasure and satisfaction. Many
of the farmers have become wealthy, some
have retired from active labor and removed to
some quiet village; others are quietly enjoj'ing
life on the scenes of their pioneer struggles.

The timber, where in an early day there was
but little, is now quite numerous. Puncheon
Grove, about the centre of the precinct, was
the principal source of timber from which
many of the earlier cabins were built, and is
yet one of the best localities for good useful
timber.

In the Spring of 182G, Mr. Philip Hash, be-
ing of a roving, hunting turn of mind, found
himself on the bottom lands of the Sangamon
river, as the first white settler. He hastily
constructed a temporary cabin, and at once
beo-an preparing for a crop. The Indians were
then his only neighbors, and it was here that
his little son, Zachariah Hash, now^ one of the
oldest and most esteemed citizens of Chand
lerville, first made his acquaintance with
them, and learned considerable of their lan-
guage. The following year a man by the

](i2

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

name of Richard Chowning came from the
South and located near the cabia of Mr. Hash,
on the land now owned by the widow Tan-
trum. He having a large family of boys, be-
gan at once the cultivation of tobacco, a crop
which he had always cultivated as a business.
He sold his crop at Springfield at a handsome
price, and after continuing on the bottoms a
few years, he moved to parts unknown, none
the poorer for his short sojourn on the Sanga-
mon Bottoms.

Robert and Eaton Nance and Peter Dick,
with his two sons, Levi and Henry, were
added to the little colony about 1S29, and
others soon followed, among which were John
AVitley, John Lucus, James Fletcher, Thomas
Jones, Joshua Nance and Gary Nance. This
made up a happy, lively and prosperous
colony. But previous to the coming of the
last named settlers, the community were con-
siderably agitated and scared over the float-
ing reports that the Indians were preparing
to attack and massacre the settlers; they all
left their cabins and took refuge at Clary's
Grove, where a few settlers had located, but
after remaining three weeks in a militarv
state of defense, they all returned to their
deserted firesides and resumed their usual
labors. The Indians were of a friendly
character, and never molested the settlers ex-
cept by the annoyance of begging, which
they practiced to no small extent. To show
their native customs in heaping drudo-ery
upon their wives one incident will suffice.
An Indian and his squaw came to the cabin
of Philip Hash, when Zachariah was a boy,
and begged a bushel of corn; being very
cold and wintry, Mr. Hash gave them the
corn, and invited them into the cabin to shell
it, that it might be less bulky and burden-
some to carry. They both sat down upon the
floor, before the fire-place, and silently began
their work; the Indian, after shelling an ear
or so, broke the silence with an " och," and

pointing to the palm of his iiand, as though
it hurt, said to Mr. Hash: ''Huit Indian;
squaw no hurt;" and she without a word, or
without even lifting her eyes from her work,
completed her task, shouldered the sack of
shelled corn, and then followed her master on
a dog trot homeward toward the wigwam.

It is said by some of the early settlers, that
there was a custom prevailing among the
Indians that when they married, the Indian
presented his wife with the shank-bone of a
deer, and she in turn presented her husband
with an ear of corn, the ceremony indicating
that he will furnish the meat, and she the
corn.

The first crops that the early comers prin-
cipally raised, were mostly wheat, buck- wheat,
sod-corn, cotton and melons ; the latter article
was very largely raised. In those days people
buried them some four feet in the sand, kept
them till Christmas, when they had, what was
called their melon-breakings," which were
among the liveliest entertainments of pioneer
times.

Cotton was considerably cultivated till
after the big snow in 1831. Previous to that
people raised enough for their summer cloth-
ing, and plenty for their quilts and bedding
in general.

People in an early day did nearly all their
J;eaming and farming with oxen. Many of
the settlers were not able to own horses, and
those that were, were not able to use them
during the greater part of the day in the fly
season, as these green-heads were so numer-
ous that a horse could not resist them, but
would lie down and roll in the harness, or
under the saddle, or do anything to shake off
the blood-sucking swarms that would literally
cover its body.

Rattlesnakes at this time were very num-
erous on the bottom lands. Mr. Hash had
one field of oats in which he killed over forty
of these venomous reptiles. They were so

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

1G3

iiuniTOUs that he was unable to secure har-
vest help, and consequently had to do it all
himself, and did it without accident or harm,
though often binding bundles under which
the drowsy rattlers lay coiled.

Till 1833, there was no physician nearer
than Beardstown or Petersburg. Dr. Chand-
ler then came and did a humane work among
the early comers. He traveled night and
day, giving all of his patients the same care
and attention; whether rich or poor, with or
without money; a noble, generous man was
Dr. Charles Chandler.

Many of the first settlers did not remain
long, coming in from eastern and southern
States and settling in a wild country; poorly
clothed and more poorly sheltered, they
would be taken with the ague or other fevers,
and as soon as they could close out their in-
terest in the land and harvest their crop, they
departed wiser, but not richer than they
catne.

The first mill patronized, was a mill run by
horse power, on Rock Creek, a Mr. Bowen
owning the mill, and also a cotton gin. Jn
those days there was no bolted flour; every
patron bolted their own, or ate it as the
chronic dyspeptics of to-day do, bran and all.
There was little farm machinery used; sowing,
reaping, mowing and threshing, was all done
by the muscle of men and sturdy youths, who
labored for health as well as wealth. Grain
was hauled to Beardstown or to Petersburg;
cattle were driven often to St. Louis, a dis-
tance then averaging from 1.30 to 170 miles,
as the roads were often impassible in places,
and much time and distance taken to go
around in search of better and more passable
places.

The only road in Richmond Precinct in
1832, except here and there a lone wagon
track, was the Bottom Road, leading from
Beardstown to Petersburg.

The second road was called the State Road,

leading to Springfield and going through
Puncheon Grove.

The settlers of 1832 were Philip Hash,
James Hickey, Henry McHenry, John Hamby,
John Taylor, Peter Dick, Jesse Armstrong,
Wm. P. Morgan, and C. J. Wilson. These
pioneers in their war with nature were not
entirely without amusement, religious wor-
ship or educational training for their children.

Mr. Zachariah Hash tells us that it was not
uncommon to see a young man with his girl
start out with an ox team and go eight or ten
miles to a dance. Cotton pickiners, carding
and spinning parties, were very common, the
girls working all day, and the boys coming
in the evening to participate in the dance,
and to see that their girls got home safely.
They did not then have halls and waxed floors
to glide over in whirling the dizzy waltz ; it
was a puncheon-floor, with such openings
that often the broad foot of the pioneer girl
would slip through or become entangled, so
it became necessary for her partner or lover
to show his gallantry by helping her out. For
many winters a negro by the name of Robert,
from Tennessee, was the noted musician of
the Sangamon Bottom. The sweet strains
of his violin roused the most indifferent, and
brought the heaviest of cow-hide boots quick
and strong down upon the heavy timbered
floor. Such was the dance of the pioneer.

In 1829 or 1830, the first religious assembly
that ever convened in Richmond Precinct,
was at the residence of Philip Hash, Reddick
Horn, an old pioneer minister, preaching.
Revs. Levi Springer and Peter Cartwright
also quite frequently visited the settlement
on their spiritual missions, but Rev. Reddick
Horn was quite a constant visitor of the settle-
ment for many years.

Meetings were held in the cabins of the
settlers till Chandlerville churches were or-
ganized, when all church-believing and
church-going people attended there.

164

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The second church society that was organ-
ized in the precinct was at Big Puncheon
Grove, and the first settlement around the
vicinity of that grove was made about 1830.
In 1838 we find the following families in that
neighborhood: John Lucus, George Thatcher,
Joshua and Robert Nance, John Chesser,
Joseph Goble, John Howton, John Bingley,
Bartlet Conyers and Elijah Walking.

The Puncheon Grove Baptist Church,
sometimes known as the Iron Side Baptist,
was first organized by the religious zeal of
Wm. Watkins, Thomas Plasters, Daniel Atter-
berry, Wm. Armstrong, JamesWatkins, Elijah
Watkins. The society held their first meet-
ings at private houses, till 1843, when they
built a church near the site of the present
school house. As to the cost, it is difficult
to say, for the members of the society con-
tributed miscellaneously money, labor, lumber,
timber, etc., till the religious edifice was com-
pleted, Cyrus Wright was their first pastor,
and continued till his death; since then no
regular services have been held.

The church was used for school purposes as
soon as completed ; elections, law-suits, etc.,
were held within the sacred sanctum, and
consequently, considering the numerous uses
to which its doors were open, it did not last
very long, and has since been torn down, and
its decayed timbers replaced with a house of
education.

No Sabbath school was ever conducted in
connection with the church, as the Old School
Baptists do not believe in that system of
teaching and propagating religion.

One peculiarity about the members of this
church, was their extreme enthusiasm, but
though extreme in their religious views, they
were in a secular sense among the best and
most honest citizens in the precinct; at present
there are but four male members remaining
out of their former number of forty.

Schools. — The first school of the precinct

was a rude log house built on the Sangamon
Bottom, on the Beardstown and Peters-
b\irg Road, on the land now owned by the
heirs of Joshua Morse; the land was then
owned by Henry McHenry, who was most
active in planning and carrying out the enter-
prise.

The first scholars that attended that school
are now gray headed old men and women
whose shadows are fast lengthening in the
path of life, and nearing the eternal sunset.
Many already have gone; the rest soon must
follow. C. J. Wilson, one of the first schol-
ars, retains in memory the names of but few
of his school mates, John Hash, Pollie Dick,
Henrj' Taylor, James and Levi Dick, and the
children of Absalom Bowling are all he can
mention.

The school was taught by an Englishman who
came from the East, by the name of James L.
Grant. He was a man of excellent intellectu-
al understanding, a good scholar and good fel-
low, and taught a good school, but he had one
weakness, and that was taking a little too
much grog under very frequent circumstances.
Drinking spirits in these days was considered
a necessary matter of health. Every farmer
kept it in the pressing seasons of work, and
many of the farmers keeping a little copper
still, where they manufactured their own
whisky and supplied their neighbors. Then
it was a pure article that men drank, now the
man that desires his morning dram must pour
into his stomach four parts of poisonous com-
pound to one of pure whisky. No wonder
we have drunkards. The school continued its
progressive work, till the present building
known as the Dick school house was erected.
Girls in the first schools of the country
brought their work and knitting just as much
as their books. They were expected to im-
prove their noon and recess in preparing
stockings for the family, and doing such other
work as could be conveniently carried to the

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

165

Louse of instruction. Such were our pioneer
schools.

There are now four district schools annually
taught in the precinct. The Dick school
house has already been mentioned. The
Lynn school, Pontiac school, and Green Ridge
school, are the other three.

Shick Shack Knob, known as the summer
resort of an Indian chief of the same name,
was first entered by James Hickey, and he
purchasing other lands adjoining, found it nec-
essary to have it surveyed that his boundary
lines might be more definitely located. He
being acquainted with a young surveyor in
Menard county, by the name of Abraham
Lincoln, had him come and survey the land;

Shich Shack Knob consequently can never be
forgotten. The land will ever be sacred to
the memory of the martyred President.

The business of the precinct is of a very
limited character outside of farming and
stock raising.

Henry T. and Abner Foster kept store
for a time on the land since owned by John
P. Dick; at that time the mail was distributed
there and the post-office was known as Rich-
mond. Their goods were hauled from Beards-
town and Petersburg; they kept a good stock
for that early day, and continued a successful
business for several years. They closed out
in 1837 or 1838 and Richmond ceased to be
the centre of pioneer trade.

166

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVII.

PHItADELPHIA PRECINCT— DESCRIPTIVE— TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-OR-
GANIZATION AS A PRECINCT— THE SETTLEMENT OF THE WHITES— THEIR LIFE ON
THE FRONTIER— PIONEER IMPROVEMENTS— CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, ETC.—
PHILADELPHIA AND LANCASTER— A LOST CITY, ETC.

FANCY yourself standing upon yonder
swell of the ground fifty years ago. It
is June, say; your senses are regaled with the
beauty of the landscape, the singing of the
birds, the fragrance of the air, wafting
grateful odors from myriads of flowers of
every imaginable variety of size, shape and
hue, blushing in the sunbeam and opening
their petals to drink in its vivifying rays.
While gazing enraptured, you descry in the
distance a something moving slowly over the
prairies, and through the forest and among
the gorgeous flowers. As the object nears
you, it proves to be a wagon, a " prairie
schooner," drawn by a team of oxen, contain-
ing a family and their earthly all. They are
moving to the "far West" (now almost the
center of civilization), in quest of a home. At
length they stop, and, on the margin of a grove
rear their lone cabin, amid the chatterinsr of
birds, the bounding of deer, the hissing of ser-
pents, and the barking of wolves. For all the
natives of these wilds look upon the intruders
with a jealous eye, and each in his own way
forbids any encroachments upon his fondly-
cherished home, and his long and undisputed
domain. From the same point of observation,
look again in mid-summer, in autumn, and in
winter. And lo! fields are enclosed, waving
with grain, and ripening for the harvest.
Look yet again, after the lapse of fifty years,
and what do you see? The waste has become
a fruitful field, adorned with ornamenal trees,
enveloping, in beauty commodious and even
elegant dwellings. In short, you behold a

land flowing with milk and honey (figuratively
speaking), abounding in spacious churches,
schools and academies, and other temples of
learning; a land of industry, and wealth, check-
ered with railroads and public thoroughfares.
A land teeming with life and annually send-
ing off surplus funds with hundreds, not to
say thousands, of its sons to people newer
regions beyond. A land whose resources
and improvements are so wonderful as to
stagger belief, and surpass the power of de-
scription. It reads like a magic story, like a
tale of enchantment, and yet, it is the true
history of our own country — our great West.
Philadelphia Precinct lies east of Virginia,
and is one of the most recently created in the
county. It was made from a part of Oregon,
Lancaster, Virginia and Princeton Pre-
cincts, and embraces about twenty-four
square miles. Like Virginia and Princeton,
it is a fine body of land, lies well, and was
originally both prairie and timbered land, the
prairie predominating. It is bounded on the
north by Virginia and Oregon Precincts;
on the east by Ashland (formerly Lancaster);
on the south by Morgan County; on the west
by Princeton and Virginia Precincts, and lies
in township 17, and range 9, west of the third
principal meridian. It has but few natural
streams, and they are very small. Little Indian
and Cox Creeks are all that are laid down on
the map. The Springfield division of the Ohio
and Mississippi passes through the precinct,
and the station affords a shipping point for the
surplus products of the surrounding country.

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

107

Philadelphia Precinct, as we have said, is
but a newly created division of the county. It
was organized September 6, 1876, and was
formed principally out of what was formerly
known as Lancaster Precinct, though a small
portion was taken from each, Virginia, Ore-
gon and Princeton Precincts. The remainder
of Lancaster was called Ashland, and thus
old Lancaster Precinct whs blotted out of
existence, just as whole States iu Europe are
often blotted out in some war or revolution.
From its ruins have arisen Ashland and Pliila-
delphia, two precincts that will compare fav-
orably with any in Cass County, in fine land,
wealth and general prosperity.

The settlement of Philadelphia Precinct is
so interwoven with that of Ashland, Vir-
ginia and Princeton, of which it was a ])art,
until so recently that little here need be said
upon the subject. Indeed, there can be but
little said, without repeating what has been
said elsewhere, of the set lement of the sur-
rounding community. Many of the early se'-
tlers mentioned in Virginia, Orecron and
Princeton, were residents of those parts now
embraced in this.

Among the early settlers in this seotiou
were the Cunninghams, Redmoiis, and others,
who have already been mentioned as settlino-
in Sugar Grove, and the other bodies of tim-
ber which were in the present limits of Phil-
adelphia Precinct. James Davis, William
Crow and Eli Cox were also early settlers in
this region. But, as already stated, the
names of the early settlers of this entire re-
gion have been given in other chapters of
this volume, and it is superflurous to recapit-
ulate them. As the larger portion of the
present precinct was prairie, it was not set-
tled so early as the timber portion of the
county, save in the few small groves it con-
tained. The early settlers of Cass County, as
well as of the entire State of Illinois, were
mostly from a timbered country, and believed

that the great prairies would never be fit for
anything but pasture. Hence, it was not un-
til the timber land was all occupied, and
farms had sometimes changed hands several
times, that settlers begun to venture out on tlio
prairies. Slowly at first, they occupied the
vast plains, and that too, near the timber.
But time and experience soon proved the
merits of the prairie lands for agricultural
purposes, and as this knowledge dawned up-
on the people, they lost no time in securing
prairie land, with as much zeal as they had
avoided them. Thus, family after family came
into Philadelphia, until the entire precinct
was occupied.

The young men and women of the present
time have no conception of the mode of lile
among the early settlers of this country from
forty to sixty years ago. In nothing are the
habits and manners of the people in any res-
pects similar to tho.-^e a half century ago.
We are at a loss where to begin, so as to give
the youth of to-day anything like a just idea
of this matter. The clothing, the dwellings,
the diet, social customs — in fact, everything,
has undergone a total revolution. The houses
were all built of logs, the cracks filled with
" chinks," and then daubed over with a mor-
tar made of clay or " prairie dirt." The floor
was the smooth earth or was made of rough
" puncheons," and the spaces between these
were often such that the younger children
had to exercise great care not to step through
these crevices. The roof was made of
" boards," as they were called by the west-
ern people, but known among the Yankees as
'• shakes," and when put down, were held to
their places by weight-poles. The fire-place
occupied one end of the cabin, and is
described elsewhere in this volume. The ar-
ticles used in cooking were as few and simple
as can be imagined. An oven or skillet, a
frying-pan, an iron pot or kettle, with occas-
ionally a coifee-pot, completed the outfit of

368

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

the best furnished kitchen. Stoves were en-
tirely unknown, and all the cooking was done
in and around the fire-place, a fact that our
modern young ladies would not relish, as it
would burn and spoil their pretty faces.

Among the clothing of the pioneers, every-
thing was plain, simple, and in conformity
with the strictest economy. This was not
only true of their dwellings, furniture and
provisions, but also of their clothing. The